The inauguration
This is a big week for our country everyone is preparing themselves for the inauguration of our 44th president.
All of my friends leaving for Washington DC
This inauguration is a big deal for everyone. I can’t speak to any one my friends about anything this week, because they have all left for Washington DC
Wouldn’t it Be nice if 4 millions people came from all over the world to welcome you and I to our first day of work. There is only one person on the world who gets that honor.
But our lesson for today is that all of us get an inauguration. A new day a new start. This is the season of new inaugurations. New days are actually quite common and come in many different ways. Days when our lives unfold like a picture and we realize new things.
For Jesus it was his baptism, the day that God spoke to him and gave him affirmation that he was on the right trail.
This week, we have a new inauguration story - the story of Samuel.
This is the day that Samuel recognized God speaking to him.
Scripture points out that not only did God not speak very often to others, but Samuel did not know God either.
He was a young man, he didn’t know his own greatness, or his destiny, nor the urgings of his own heart.
God calling him was the beginning of his relationship with God
Wayne Dyer story
Wayne Dyer tells the story of a family with two small children. One very rambumcous 4 year old boy – who was always into everything. When his little brother was born, he was a little happy, but he seemed to think he was a toy to play with. There didn’t seem to be any acknowledgment that the younger child was a human, until one day the mother found the 4 year old sitting over the crib talking with the child. He was asking the baby to remind him of what heaven was like because he was beginning to forget. Children have a special connection to God, as we get older we get more attuned to what is happening in front of us, and we forget to look within ourselves to talk with God.
St. Augustine’s quote also
St. Augustine went on the say that God is within us, but for some reason as we get older, we start to step outside of ourselves our hearts in order to please others. This puts us out of touch, with the one thing that we are looking for – our relationship with God.
The point is that Samuel as a young child, was beginning to look within himself – to be quiet to learn to listen to what God was telling him.
Samuel went on to become the greatest prophet God ever knew, leading them into a new era.
His Journey Started with addressing the situation. He Addressed the sinful nature of his life and the world.
Eli was well intentioned, but his sons had forgotten what it meant to serve God and were literally taking advantage of others, by being priest.
We are good at addressing sin in others, but we are not good at identifying the sin in ourselves.
Paul helps us with that. This is not my favorite verse, but I think one of the most important – summarizes our life at a Christian.
As a Christian, I can do whatever I want, there is nothing wrong, but there are some things that are not in my best interest.
Our bodies are a temple of God, honor it. But not just our bodies, but our minds and our souls. It is our thoughts that determine the state of our minds and souls, and it is the state of our minds and souls that determine what we do with our bodies.
Sin, missing the mark, not doing what is in your best interest is what stands in the way of our relationship with God, our call in the world.
Can’t get rid of sin unless we address it honestly and we realize that our bad behavior is only a stand in for good intentions. We all mean well, we just don’t always do well. Why we need to be willing to listen to God’s call to us.
Paul makes one more important point about the Christian life.
Being called by God is not about you- or what you think is right. Being called by God is about God. A lot of us misunderstand that.
If you find that you are the hero to your own story – you are not being called by God. If you are convinced that you have all of the right answers to someone elses life you are not being called by God. If you are more concerned about taking away the pain of others – not called, if you need to build yourself up by intentionally discrediting others you are not called by God.
Living the Christian life is never about you – it is about the good of the community. Salvation is being reminded that you are absolutely nothing without being connection to the entire body of Christ.
Mother Theresa’s call
Mother Theresa speaks of her call to go out into the streets of India to help people who had literally been thrown away by society. There was a voice who told her that it would be much easier to just go back to her convent and live in peace for the rest of her life. But she listened to the voice which told her these people needed her, and that she needed to be there for them, to help and heal them and make sure that they knew that no matter what their circumstance they were children of God.
Borden’s call story
William Borden graduated from a Chicago high school in the 40’s. as a graduation present, his parents gave him a trip around the world. He was heir to the borden dairy fortune. While on the trip, he was introduced to the living conditions of others around the world – and he decided that the had to become a missionary. When he went to seminary, he wrote in his bible about his call – no reserves. He had given his life to God. As he graduated, he started bible studies all over America, and still travelled throughout the world – he wrote again in his bible – no retreats. No matter who hard things got, he was not turning around. He served all over the world – in Egypt he acquired spinal mennengiitis. Months before his death at 25 he wrote again in his bible – no regrets. He call led to sacrifice, pain and eventually death- and yet he knew he was willing to follow Christ wherever it led, even to death.
Being called by God is never an easy job.
Called by God there are a lot of days when you don’t have all of the answers, lots of people who are convinced that if they were in your shoes they could do ten times better than you, lots of days when you find that you fail more often then you succeed. All good indications that you are following God.
But through it all – you know that no matter what – you will be faithful and continue to God calling in your heart.
When we live life for others, when we answer their questions, when we take away pain instead of giving them the tools to live for themselves- we deprive them of listening to their call. Of their relationships, and from coming up with the answers for themselves.
God calls us all to be – our best selves, in our best relationship with God. A journey we take together, but we can only take walking on our own two feet.
Final word – not God or Samuel – but Eli – the sinner, the one blind and unable to hear
It is the Lord; let him do what seems good to him.
The Lord is here – doing what seems Good to him –How are we responding.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Two Sermons, Two Men, One God - January 25, 2009
Modern tale of Jonah
Jonah hated Mall Mart World. It was the biggest company in the city, and it was putting all of the smaller company’s out of business. When his mother died, that was the only place she could get a job. His mother liked standing at the door greeting people, but Jonah hated the fact that she had to work there. They were a cruel company. They refused to give their workers a living wage, refused to give them benefits. They were the biggest polluter in the community. To him they were just a big nuisance overall. He wished something would happen that would drive them out of business. One day while walking down the street – he noticed a billboard – which said Jonah – go into Mall Mart World and save my people. Was this a figment of his imagination – or a message from God. Why would he want to go into Mall Mart World and save them – he secretly hoped they would be driven off of the face of the earth. He dismissed the message all together.
The next day – he was riding on his motorcycle, when all of a sudden a giant blue tarp fell off of a semi in front of him – swallowing him and his motorcycle. Inside of the bubble – he could read the writing on the inside of the tarp – go into Mall Mart World and save my people. Of course he dismissed this message again. Even though he knew it was a message from God. Just as soon as the blue tarp engulfed him, it opened and let him go on. Inspite of his better judgement he drove straight to Mall Mart World. Even if I obey God and tell them to change their ways – I know they wont listen. Jonah needed to complete his task. His mom was there to greet him as he entered the door – but she assumed that he was there just to shop for a birthday present for his wife. He went in, grabbed the loudspeaker and starting speaking – Mall Mart World – you have 44 minutes to change you ways. The customers all stopped and listened. As he talked of the sins of he store – they all agreed. They walked to the door and agreed they would not shop there anymore until things changed. Jonah was furious, it was not the shoppers he wanted to change – it was the owners. It turned out that members of the Walton family were there in the store – they heard him. Boardmembers were there, they heard. Managers were having a meeting and they too heard. They went to Jonah as said that all he said about them was true. They would change their ways and become a socially conscious store who cared about their employees and their community. You would think Jonah would be happy – he was furious. How dare such a sinful people repent and change their ways. What did that mean for good Christian like him? Jonah went home defeated, yet obedient.
We can apply this to many situations
This is a very familiar story. Could not just be about Walmart, could be about New York, Gotham City, Washington DC, Chicago, any big city or company that has gotten so big that it has become out of control in its morals.
The familiar tale of Jonah and the whale
The story of Jonah and the whale is one of the most familiar stories in the bible. We all learned it in Sunday school. It is a humorous story of what it means to listen to God, to be told to do something and to be hesitant about what we are being told, even when we know that there is nothing we can do to stop God’s will.
Shows us that not everything has to be serious
The story of Jonah and the whale is funny story – which shows us that not everything in the bible is so serious. Can also be fun and lighthearted. Jonah never even mentions the name of God until the end.
Life shows that God has real sense of humor
God can be lightherted and fun, not all of God’s rules have to be painful. I think the story teaches us that God has much of a sense of humor than any of us. When you pay attention to life, even the events of your own life, you can always see proof of God’s sense of humor.
Also shows that human nature does not change
Story also teaches us that human nature does not change. There is a portion of Jonah in all of us.
Jonah represents the idea of being a part of the in crowd of being special. Jonah was an isrealite, who believed they were God’s chosen people. He wanted to prove that their destiny was not determined by others, but only by helping themselves. If they were God’s special people and they accomplished all they needed on their own – what did that mean for everyone else. In Jonah’s mind it meant they deserved to be punished by others. They deserved to be destroyed by God.
Which also leads us to thinking that others are not special.
Insiders/ outsiders Those who are right, so there must be others who are wrong. If God was for the isrealites then surely, he must be against everyone else.
God wants us to know that we are all children of God and God wants to save us all – not just some of us.
And yet God is speaking directly to Jonah, telling him that is not the case. God is a God of all children. No matter what. The ninevites were the others, who just needed to hear God’s word in the same way God’s chosen had already heard. They were chosen not because they are special, but because it is their job to pass the message on to others who don’t know.
Who are the ninevites of the day?
History says that the ninevites were Assyrians. Their land was in what is now Northern Iraq. They were pagans, who had their own way of life. The bible story says that it took three days to walk across ninevah. In actuality, the land was probably about a mile and a half wide. But the countryside of people who supported the city, could have been much bigger. Being pagans, they would not have heard of Isreal’s God. But when they heard – they listened they believed, and they repented. They were willing to be change. I guess the question for us is who are the ninevites of today? Who are the people who are going about their business, not thinking of God, because they have never heard of God. Who are the people who might be willing to change – if just given a chance. I would think there are ninevites, the unchurched all around us –in the neighborhood, our jobs, our clubs. Everywhere.
Jonah’s sermon to them
When Jonah speaks to them – he gives one of the worlds shortest sermons – Forty Days more and Ninevah shall be overthrown. That was his message – not very encouraging
Their response
And yet they did respond
Repentance
Jonah’s preaching was a lot like the preaching of John the Baptist. All he is asking people to do is to be sorry for what they have done. To repent and admit they have been living wrong.
But Jesus comes to do more.
Jesus’ sermon
The book of Mark also contains a one sentence sermon to those who are listening. Jesus says the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news.
How is Jesus different?
Jesus also preaches about repentence, but Jesus also preaches about redemption. To repent and turn from our evil ways – but to also know that God loves you, so God has come to save you and your life.
Jesus determination that change is for all people, not just for some.
Now is the time
We are the people
Jonah was reluctant, Disciples were immediate, what do we do when we are asked to follow Jesus?
Midrashim of Abraham
Last week I attended a dinner sponsored by the Niagara Foundation. A foundation determined to bring people of different religions together in dialogue to determine their differences. This was a dinner of the abrahamic religions, the people of the book – Jews, Christians and Muslims. A leader from each spoke. The rabbi told a story of Abraham – a midrashim – a expansion of the biblical story. Abraham did not like to eat without a guest at his table. One day when he had not visitor, he went out through the countryside searching for someone. He finally found an old man and invited him to his table. On the way home he decided that this man had no religion. He really hated eating alone, but he hated eating with a nonbeliever even more. Before he opened his mouth and sent the man home, the angels spoke to him. And said Abraham we have tolerated this man’s unbelief for 70 years, surely you can tolerate him for 70 minutes. Abraham understood, and was intentional about sending him God’s love.
Who do we need to tolerate?
End of the story – God changes God mind
The moral of the story is that prayer changes things
Situations, people, lives. God longs to be in relationship, wants us to speak of our lives, wants us to stand up against our destiny – and know that God cares enough to change God’s mind.
If God can save a sinless nondeserving people like Ninevah, like the owners of Walmart, surely God can save us and those whom we pray for. Amen.
Jonah hated Mall Mart World. It was the biggest company in the city, and it was putting all of the smaller company’s out of business. When his mother died, that was the only place she could get a job. His mother liked standing at the door greeting people, but Jonah hated the fact that she had to work there. They were a cruel company. They refused to give their workers a living wage, refused to give them benefits. They were the biggest polluter in the community. To him they were just a big nuisance overall. He wished something would happen that would drive them out of business. One day while walking down the street – he noticed a billboard – which said Jonah – go into Mall Mart World and save my people. Was this a figment of his imagination – or a message from God. Why would he want to go into Mall Mart World and save them – he secretly hoped they would be driven off of the face of the earth. He dismissed the message all together.
The next day – he was riding on his motorcycle, when all of a sudden a giant blue tarp fell off of a semi in front of him – swallowing him and his motorcycle. Inside of the bubble – he could read the writing on the inside of the tarp – go into Mall Mart World and save my people. Of course he dismissed this message again. Even though he knew it was a message from God. Just as soon as the blue tarp engulfed him, it opened and let him go on. Inspite of his better judgement he drove straight to Mall Mart World. Even if I obey God and tell them to change their ways – I know they wont listen. Jonah needed to complete his task. His mom was there to greet him as he entered the door – but she assumed that he was there just to shop for a birthday present for his wife. He went in, grabbed the loudspeaker and starting speaking – Mall Mart World – you have 44 minutes to change you ways. The customers all stopped and listened. As he talked of the sins of he store – they all agreed. They walked to the door and agreed they would not shop there anymore until things changed. Jonah was furious, it was not the shoppers he wanted to change – it was the owners. It turned out that members of the Walton family were there in the store – they heard him. Boardmembers were there, they heard. Managers were having a meeting and they too heard. They went to Jonah as said that all he said about them was true. They would change their ways and become a socially conscious store who cared about their employees and their community. You would think Jonah would be happy – he was furious. How dare such a sinful people repent and change their ways. What did that mean for good Christian like him? Jonah went home defeated, yet obedient.
We can apply this to many situations
This is a very familiar story. Could not just be about Walmart, could be about New York, Gotham City, Washington DC, Chicago, any big city or company that has gotten so big that it has become out of control in its morals.
The familiar tale of Jonah and the whale
The story of Jonah and the whale is one of the most familiar stories in the bible. We all learned it in Sunday school. It is a humorous story of what it means to listen to God, to be told to do something and to be hesitant about what we are being told, even when we know that there is nothing we can do to stop God’s will.
Shows us that not everything has to be serious
The story of Jonah and the whale is funny story – which shows us that not everything in the bible is so serious. Can also be fun and lighthearted. Jonah never even mentions the name of God until the end.
Life shows that God has real sense of humor
God can be lightherted and fun, not all of God’s rules have to be painful. I think the story teaches us that God has much of a sense of humor than any of us. When you pay attention to life, even the events of your own life, you can always see proof of God’s sense of humor.
Also shows that human nature does not change
Story also teaches us that human nature does not change. There is a portion of Jonah in all of us.
Jonah represents the idea of being a part of the in crowd of being special. Jonah was an isrealite, who believed they were God’s chosen people. He wanted to prove that their destiny was not determined by others, but only by helping themselves. If they were God’s special people and they accomplished all they needed on their own – what did that mean for everyone else. In Jonah’s mind it meant they deserved to be punished by others. They deserved to be destroyed by God.
Which also leads us to thinking that others are not special.
Insiders/ outsiders Those who are right, so there must be others who are wrong. If God was for the isrealites then surely, he must be against everyone else.
God wants us to know that we are all children of God and God wants to save us all – not just some of us.
And yet God is speaking directly to Jonah, telling him that is not the case. God is a God of all children. No matter what. The ninevites were the others, who just needed to hear God’s word in the same way God’s chosen had already heard. They were chosen not because they are special, but because it is their job to pass the message on to others who don’t know.
Who are the ninevites of the day?
History says that the ninevites were Assyrians. Their land was in what is now Northern Iraq. They were pagans, who had their own way of life. The bible story says that it took three days to walk across ninevah. In actuality, the land was probably about a mile and a half wide. But the countryside of people who supported the city, could have been much bigger. Being pagans, they would not have heard of Isreal’s God. But when they heard – they listened they believed, and they repented. They were willing to be change. I guess the question for us is who are the ninevites of today? Who are the people who are going about their business, not thinking of God, because they have never heard of God. Who are the people who might be willing to change – if just given a chance. I would think there are ninevites, the unchurched all around us –in the neighborhood, our jobs, our clubs. Everywhere.
Jonah’s sermon to them
When Jonah speaks to them – he gives one of the worlds shortest sermons – Forty Days more and Ninevah shall be overthrown. That was his message – not very encouraging
Their response
And yet they did respond
Repentance
Jonah’s preaching was a lot like the preaching of John the Baptist. All he is asking people to do is to be sorry for what they have done. To repent and admit they have been living wrong.
But Jesus comes to do more.
Jesus’ sermon
The book of Mark also contains a one sentence sermon to those who are listening. Jesus says the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news.
How is Jesus different?
Jesus also preaches about repentence, but Jesus also preaches about redemption. To repent and turn from our evil ways – but to also know that God loves you, so God has come to save you and your life.
Jesus determination that change is for all people, not just for some.
Now is the time
We are the people
Jonah was reluctant, Disciples were immediate, what do we do when we are asked to follow Jesus?
Midrashim of Abraham
Last week I attended a dinner sponsored by the Niagara Foundation. A foundation determined to bring people of different religions together in dialogue to determine their differences. This was a dinner of the abrahamic religions, the people of the book – Jews, Christians and Muslims. A leader from each spoke. The rabbi told a story of Abraham – a midrashim – a expansion of the biblical story. Abraham did not like to eat without a guest at his table. One day when he had not visitor, he went out through the countryside searching for someone. He finally found an old man and invited him to his table. On the way home he decided that this man had no religion. He really hated eating alone, but he hated eating with a nonbeliever even more. Before he opened his mouth and sent the man home, the angels spoke to him. And said Abraham we have tolerated this man’s unbelief for 70 years, surely you can tolerate him for 70 minutes. Abraham understood, and was intentional about sending him God’s love.
Who do we need to tolerate?
End of the story – God changes God mind
The moral of the story is that prayer changes things
Situations, people, lives. God longs to be in relationship, wants us to speak of our lives, wants us to stand up against our destiny – and know that God cares enough to change God’s mind.
If God can save a sinless nondeserving people like Ninevah, like the owners of Walmart, surely God can save us and those whom we pray for. Amen.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
The Voice of God Still Speaks - January 10, 2009
The story of the drunk man and the plunge
A church is at a river, some of its members are being baptized. Along walks a drunk man, which disturbs the pastor. The irritated pastor grabs the man and tells him he needs to find Jesus. He dunks him in the water, and asks if he has found Jesus. No replies the man, so the pastor dunks him again. Have you found Jesus the pastor Asks. At no, the man is dunked again and gives the same no answer. Upset, the pastor dunks him again and leaves him down there for almost a minute. Have you found Jesus yet? Asks the pastor. No says that man, are you sure this is where he fell in?
Sometimes I feel like I am like the man dunked looking for Jesus but never finding anything.
That is the concept of baptism for us – taking the plunge into the same waters that Jesus plunged into
Ministry and work begins with baptism,
But why John? Why did Jesus come to John to be baptized? John baptism was a forgiveness ritual calling people to repent – if Jesus never sinned why was he baptized?
Was Jesus being An example for us? Or did he Want to be a part of John’s ministry. And was he surprised by the voice which called him from above?
This was an important event for all gospel writers, but only Mark was this a personal event, a time when God speaks only to Jesus. And affirms him an calls him to go forward.
Perhaps he knew that God was there all along, but was not expecting to meet God in the water. Not expecting what would come later in his life. Not really expecting the change.
Good morning America has this program – the year that changed your life. The one event in your life that made all of the difference. Each host is looking back at their lives, but perhaps God calls us to look forward.
Baptism is a change, a new way of thinking, a break with the past.
The story says that the voice broke through the firmaments. The Jews believed that there was a dome around the world separating the heavens and the earth. Keeping God in his place – and God broke through that firmament. In a violent way.
That is how God works in our lives, not in what we are expecting, but in what we are not expecting. Not in entrances that we prepare for him, but in openings that he has forced in our lives. Circumstances that are hard and difficult and sometimes even violent.
Psalm 29 compares the voice of God to the violent thunder of a storm. Thunder which creates rain and a whole new earth. Creation depends on that thunder to grow and become. In the psalm, the voice of God speaks 7 times.
I think that our lesson is that the thunder can be loud and scary and that our natural tendency is to run and to be afraid. And yet God calls us not to run from the thunderstorm, but to learn to stay in it, to hear the voice and the expect to be changed, because we are getting stronger.
There is a saying, that life is not about running for cover in the storm, but in learning to dance in the rain. One of my favorite portraits is a picture of a young girl, dancing in a thunder storm, saying that there is no rain like a holy ghost rain.
We may never really know what baptism was for Jesus – but the point is that we know what it is for us. Baptism is our invitation to dance in the holy ghost rain with Jesus.
Our chance to realize that we don’t have to be afraid of the storm – it is only God talking to us. And if we are willing to respond – then we will be given affirmation of who we are, a sense of belonging into God’s family and an open road to continue on the journey of life, even in times when we are afraid and not certain of what to do next. Have you heard the thunder of storms in your life? How did you hear God speak to you – How did you get encouragement to go to the next step?
The voice of God still speaks to us through the events in out lives, baptism is our chance to not only listen, but to be willing to respond. The voice of God still created, not only our lives, but nature. The voice of God still leads us into unexpected pathways ahead. Let us remember our baptism and be thankful.
In a recent Olympics, and American runner was determined to win the 400 meter relay. Even though he had only trained for the 100 meter relay. But he knew he was up to the challenge. Until the day of the race, he started out okay, but he realized that he had this great pain in his ankle, he was only half way through the race. This was his chance in history to shine, and he did not want a little pain to stop him. He kept running, and his condition was getting worse with each step. All of a sudden there was a commotion with the police on the sidelines – his father was trying to get to his son. You don’t have to do this you know – you don’t have to finish, in tears, his son said but dad you don’t understand but I do. The father tore through the crowd onto the field and said that if it was something that had to do done, then they would do it together. And he held his son and they ran to the finish line together. The crowd roared with approval.
Who know why Jesus went to the water that day, who knows why he felt that he had to go through with that act, who knows why he spent the rest of his life giving us lessons to lives by, or why he loved us so that he had to go to the cross for us. We may never understand the mysteries of Christ’s love.
But what we do know is that God was there for him that day. God broke through all of the securities of life to ge with him that day. And when we are baptized – we join Jesus in those waters, in that moment. And that is the moment which makes all of the difference in our lives – and in the lives of those we touch and serve. Remember your baptism and be thankful.
A church is at a river, some of its members are being baptized. Along walks a drunk man, which disturbs the pastor. The irritated pastor grabs the man and tells him he needs to find Jesus. He dunks him in the water, and asks if he has found Jesus. No replies the man, so the pastor dunks him again. Have you found Jesus the pastor Asks. At no, the man is dunked again and gives the same no answer. Upset, the pastor dunks him again and leaves him down there for almost a minute. Have you found Jesus yet? Asks the pastor. No says that man, are you sure this is where he fell in?
Sometimes I feel like I am like the man dunked looking for Jesus but never finding anything.
That is the concept of baptism for us – taking the plunge into the same waters that Jesus plunged into
Ministry and work begins with baptism,
But why John? Why did Jesus come to John to be baptized? John baptism was a forgiveness ritual calling people to repent – if Jesus never sinned why was he baptized?
Was Jesus being An example for us? Or did he Want to be a part of John’s ministry. And was he surprised by the voice which called him from above?
This was an important event for all gospel writers, but only Mark was this a personal event, a time when God speaks only to Jesus. And affirms him an calls him to go forward.
Perhaps he knew that God was there all along, but was not expecting to meet God in the water. Not expecting what would come later in his life. Not really expecting the change.
Good morning America has this program – the year that changed your life. The one event in your life that made all of the difference. Each host is looking back at their lives, but perhaps God calls us to look forward.
Baptism is a change, a new way of thinking, a break with the past.
The story says that the voice broke through the firmaments. The Jews believed that there was a dome around the world separating the heavens and the earth. Keeping God in his place – and God broke through that firmament. In a violent way.
That is how God works in our lives, not in what we are expecting, but in what we are not expecting. Not in entrances that we prepare for him, but in openings that he has forced in our lives. Circumstances that are hard and difficult and sometimes even violent.
Psalm 29 compares the voice of God to the violent thunder of a storm. Thunder which creates rain and a whole new earth. Creation depends on that thunder to grow and become. In the psalm, the voice of God speaks 7 times.
I think that our lesson is that the thunder can be loud and scary and that our natural tendency is to run and to be afraid. And yet God calls us not to run from the thunderstorm, but to learn to stay in it, to hear the voice and the expect to be changed, because we are getting stronger.
There is a saying, that life is not about running for cover in the storm, but in learning to dance in the rain. One of my favorite portraits is a picture of a young girl, dancing in a thunder storm, saying that there is no rain like a holy ghost rain.
We may never really know what baptism was for Jesus – but the point is that we know what it is for us. Baptism is our invitation to dance in the holy ghost rain with Jesus.
Our chance to realize that we don’t have to be afraid of the storm – it is only God talking to us. And if we are willing to respond – then we will be given affirmation of who we are, a sense of belonging into God’s family and an open road to continue on the journey of life, even in times when we are afraid and not certain of what to do next. Have you heard the thunder of storms in your life? How did you hear God speak to you – How did you get encouragement to go to the next step?
The voice of God still speaks to us through the events in out lives, baptism is our chance to not only listen, but to be willing to respond. The voice of God still created, not only our lives, but nature. The voice of God still leads us into unexpected pathways ahead. Let us remember our baptism and be thankful.
In a recent Olympics, and American runner was determined to win the 400 meter relay. Even though he had only trained for the 100 meter relay. But he knew he was up to the challenge. Until the day of the race, he started out okay, but he realized that he had this great pain in his ankle, he was only half way through the race. This was his chance in history to shine, and he did not want a little pain to stop him. He kept running, and his condition was getting worse with each step. All of a sudden there was a commotion with the police on the sidelines – his father was trying to get to his son. You don’t have to do this you know – you don’t have to finish, in tears, his son said but dad you don’t understand but I do. The father tore through the crowd onto the field and said that if it was something that had to do done, then they would do it together. And he held his son and they ran to the finish line together. The crowd roared with approval.
Who know why Jesus went to the water that day, who knows why he felt that he had to go through with that act, who knows why he spent the rest of his life giving us lessons to lives by, or why he loved us so that he had to go to the cross for us. We may never understand the mysteries of Christ’s love.
But what we do know is that God was there for him that day. God broke through all of the securities of life to ge with him that day. And when we are baptized – we join Jesus in those waters, in that moment. And that is the moment which makes all of the difference in our lives – and in the lives of those we touch and serve. Remember your baptism and be thankful.
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