2 Samuel 11: 1-15
John 6: 1-23
Year B
The eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Experience at Michael Jackson memorial
I told you a few weeks ago, that I had went to the Michael Jackson Memorial in Gary, IN. No one wanted to go with me, but all of my friends made a point to call afterward to see how it was. Even Theresa (our day care director) asked about it. I told everyone, I was really glad to be there. It is a memory that I will treasure forever, but it was the weirdest thing I ever attended. You weren’t quite sure if you were at a funeral, a celebration, a giant talent show, a concert, or a dance party. And it wasn’t all of those things combined.
The show was very well planned out – but no thought was given to logistics
The stage was positioned so people could not see, the sound went out halfway into the show, and the acts had not performed ahead of time. There was only one person who was professional enough to project her performance for 6500 people. And when Joe Jackson came out- he was booed, so they spent the rest of the night trying to get the crowd to say – We love Joe Jackson. It wasn’t true – so the crowd would not say it.
Logistics a very important part of life – Napoleon
My lesson for the night was that logistics in any event is very important. But particularly when you are dealing with a crowd of people. Napolean made a point that wars follow the course of the men’s stomaches. An army can only fight a war, where they are properly fed. The mightiest warriors of all time, finally lost his battle – because he sent his army to fight in a place where he had not logistically thought through how his men were going to be fed and taken care of.
Jesus speaking to a crowd of 5000 – the important thing logistics
Logistics is important in anything where you are dealing with a large crowd of people. Jesus was good at thinking about the logistics of his message. He always gave a lot of thought to how his message was going to be received, and what he needed to give the people to make sure they would take his message home. In a movie I watched, this is called the prestige – the hook that people will always remember. For Jesus crowd – the hook was food. People were hungry and needed to be fed. Jesus knew that his message involved feeding them – they would listen to him.
There was a crowd of 6500 at the memorial for Michael Jackson. Jesus looked and realized that he was speaking to a crowd of 5000 people. 5000 hungry people.
What are these people going to eat, how are they going to take this message, what will keep them peaceful
Jesus is tired of teaching to the crowds. He tries to take a break and get away. But the papporazi search him out and find him. And the crowd is not far behind. Jesus looks at all of these people and asks the disciples – how are we going to feed all of these people?
We have heard this story before – why are we hearing it again?
The feeding of the 5000 is the only miracle story which has been featured in all four gospel. We are reading the book of mark, and this is a convenient time to switch gears and listen to John. We have heard this story before – even this year – we have heard this story before. Many of my colleagues have asked why are we reading and preaching in it again. And why are we reading it in John, in the middle of our study of Mark.
John has a very interesting perspective – and an interesting message
Well, it is because Matthew, Mark, and Luke like to tell the human story of Jesus. They want to fit Jesus into our lives, and things we can relate to. John was Jesus best friend – but he wants us to get a deeper understanding of Jesus – who is Jesus for us and why is so special to all of mankind? Jesus is the son of God, he is the messiah, He has the power of God on his side, because he is the power of God. He has the power to feed all of our hungers.
Tell the story.
In John’s feeding of the 5000, the disciples go out into the crowd. Andrew finds a young boy with three fish and five loaves. He brings it to Jesus, jesus blesses it and it is enough to feed 5000, with twelve baskets left over. After it is over with, jesus takes the disciples into a boat and walks on water.
What are we to get out of that story? We have heard it all before?
Jesus is thinking about the logistics – using this as a teaching moment.
Ask Philip – how are we going to find bread for these people?
Asks Andrew the same thing – and goes looking
Not looking for food – looking for opportunity for God to step in
The story is not about bread and fish, but about the miracle of God’s work - For John everything is a symbol.
People wanted Jesus to become their king – a reincarnation of David for their time. They wanted to good days of David to be restored. They wanted peace, stability, and a chance to be taken care of.
Jesus wanted them to know that we cannot eat by bread alone – but by God’s power.
Says I am he – but it is not what you think
Not a physical kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom
The nun and three pennies
There was a nun who got a vision from God to build an orphanage. As she got this idea- she thought of the logistics. How was she going to pay for it? In her search and her prayer, she found three pennies. She grabbed the pennies and ran to her superiors to tell them her vision.
With Three pennies and a dream from God you can do anything
When questioned about the logistics, she showed her superiors the three pennies. They laughed at her and told her there was nothing she could do with three pennies. She explained that with three pennies, and a dream from God you can do anything.
It is not the three pennies, not even the dream – but the power of God that makes it possible.
Jesus is the bread of life
The point of John’s feeding of the 5000 is the Jesus can satisfy all of our hungers. Jesus is the bread of life. Our hope is not in the food we receive, it is in the jesus who gives it to us. This story is so important to us. Jesus knows that we will be talking about the day he created enough food for he crowd out of a little boys lunch for 2000 or more years. All we know is that the people were hungry and they were fed. That’s the prestige, the hook. But this is not a story about loaves and fishes, it is not a story about food, it is not a story about being hungry. It is a story about acknowledging Jesus as our savior. And recognizing that Jesus provides all of that and more for our lives.
We will hear Jesus teaching about this next week
We will hear from John 6 for a few weeks. And after preaching this sermon, Jesus gives his own explanation to this story next week.
But today remember – Jesus is the bread of life. Jesus is our lord and savior and king. Jesus is our hope. Jesus takes all of our earthly actions and makes them so much more – through the power of God.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
The House of God
2 Samuel 7:1-14a
Ephesians 2:11-22
Year B
7th Sunday after Pentecost
“The House of God”
July 19, 2009
Walls – why we need them
Walls are an important part of our life. What would we do without them, especially in our climate. They protect us, they help us define ourselves, it separates us from people and things that are not in our best interest. And there are certain walls, in certain buildings with have great meaning for us. They tell our story of who we are and what is important to us.
Houses – beautiful homes
Walls are an important part of our dwellings. They create beautiful homes and buildings.
Beautiful houses of God
Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world are the ones that we build for God. The cathedrals of Europe are amazing. Oak Park has some beautiful churches also, which sanctuaries which truly make you think of the throne room of God. St Edmunds is a truly amazing sanctuary. People constantly compliment our own sanctuary. The stain glass says worship God in a place of beauty.
Long tradition – tradition of all to say thank you
Creating a beautiful place to worship God is a part of our worship experience. So when David decided that he was going to build a beautiful house for God – he was just trying to make sure that his God, had the same respect that all of the others gods of the people around him had. When a national leader came into power, it was expected that you would build a momument for God. What better monument to God could there be besides a house to come and to worship, and say thank you and to acknowledge God as the king of our lives.
David’s intention -If he was going to be king – God had to be king
David’s intention were very pure. He realized that if he was going to be King, that God had to also be King. God ad brought him from a very long way. God had brought him through some pretty tough times. God had bought his people through some times which questioned the very foundation of who they were and who they were supposed to be. But God had bought David to a good place now, he had bought the country to a stable place. And it was time to make sure that God was in that same place, and taken care of just as well.
God grows with us – David’s relationship with God
In many ways, it seemed that as David’s life changed, God changed with him. There was a time when God was a war God. God was the one who called the Isrealites into war to conquer the land and take it from others. God was the one who supported them in battle, God was the one who strengthened them to survive and to establish a homeland, in the midst of enemies. God protected David when he was a warrior, and God anointed him when he became King.
Isreal’s relationship with God
There was a time when Israel was given strict instructions not to have a King. God was their king. But they realized that as time went on that they needed a king in order to survive as a nation of people. God permitted the change, because as the people changed, their needs and what was best for them changed.
History of God
God is still a God of change. And as we grow as a people – so does our God. It was not that long ago in history that churches used scripture to justify slavery, and the ensuing racism that followed. We still use the bible to justify wars, and killings and all sorts of bad things that hurt other people. And it has taken us years to change the definition of those words – to realize that there are other ways to treat people.
Example of road to freedom
Yesterday, a friend and I went to see the Road to Freedom exhibit with the Chicago Urban League at the field museum. It was a collections of photos from the civil rights era. It was a pretty moving event, but one photo struck my attention. It was a picture of one of the nine young people who first desegrated the school in Little Rock. One of the girls arrived a day early because she did not get word that the event had been postponed a day. This photo was of her walking to school – and there were a large group of girls from the school behind her – they were scowling at her, and her their fist raised. The girls in the picture were 15-16 years old. I would imagine that by now they would be grandmothers. Both my friend and I wondered what conversation would ensue if these women had a conversation with their grandchildren today about that picture. How would they respond when their grandchildren asked them why they were so upset with that little girl just because she was going to school.
Who is God today? Who do we worship as our God
The world which we live in had changed dramatically even in the last 40 years. And so has our view of God. Who is the God which we worship today? What does that God stand for in society? And it is will be interesting what views that we are stuck with and that we use God to defend, will be totally useless in 10 – 15 years, because the world has changed.
David learned an important lesson
Our view of God changes with our understanding of the world. Yet David had to learn an important lesson that day. Just because the world changes, just because our understanding of God changes – God remains the same.
Nathan said no
David was told that he was not the build God’s house. That God was not ready to join him in the mist of his success
God is still king. God lives with the people.God doesn’t live inside of walls.
David could not build a house for God – but God would build a house for David.
God promised David that there would always be a member of his family on the throne. That his son would build the temple That his sons would be blessed, and that his son would have to power to be raised up so that David’s name would be remembered forever.
People are the true house of God.
God doesn’t live within walls, and never will. The true house of God is the hearts of his people. That is where God has always lived and where God will always live. God is free to live with the people.
The real problem are walls of our hearts.
Walls are important to us, they protect us. They define us, they tell our story. But walls can also hold us in, they can keep us trapped in beliefs that no longer serve out best interest, they can keep other people out, they can keep us from really witnesses what god is doing in the world. They do not contain the spirit of God. The real problem is not the walls that we build around us, the real problem is the walls that we build inside of us.
Soldier story
In World War I, there was a soldier who was killed in France. His friends wanted to make sure that he was buried before they had to move on. They went to the nearest cemetery to ask if they could bury their friend. The priest asked if he had been baptized catholic – and he had not. So the priest said that he could not be buried. Distraught they buried their friend right outside of the walls of the cemetery. The next day – the priest feeling guilty for not allowing the soldier to be buried within the walls –went outside and moved the fence, so that the soldiers grave would be inside.
There are barriers that still need to be torn down
People still need to bring them down.
Ephesians talks about the walls of our hearts. The ways that we define ourselves in order to exclude those who are not like us. There were still ways that the congregation was dividing itself. Jews felt that they could not associate with gentiles. Greeks felt they could not talk to barbarians. - Anyone who is not like me is an outsider was the mindset. Ephesians message was that through Christ we are a new people. We are one people. Like to priest of the cemetery. He doesn’t change the rules, he just expands them to include everyone else. He changes definitions. The jews separated themselves as a way to get close to God – Through Christ, we are all bought near to God.
Ephesians – we go from strangers to family
All people, no matter who we are go from strangers and aliens to citizens, saints, members of the household of God. We go from divided, suspicious, self destructive to unified, loving and most importantly hopeful.
There are Changes in language, Changes in understanding,
Changing the way we include people
Kindergarten story
There is a television documentary about a kindergarten teacher who noticed that the thing she heard most on the playground was “No you cant play with us”. So she made a rule that from now on, all children had to play with whomever asked to play. Even in kindergarten, the children protested. How could we play with anyone who asked. We have a right to define who we want to play with. Other kids in the school could not understand this rule either. Why would you play with just anyone? The kindergarten agreed that they would try to go along with the rule for a week. When they say it worked – they agreed to do it all of the time. It helped them to meet new friends. A few years later, the teacher saw one of her former students in the store. Lisa was twelve now. She asked her old teacher if she still used the play with anyone rule. Yes replied the teacher. Lisa told her teacher that she too stuck to the rule – if including anyone who wanted to play with her in her world. It was very difficult. She got a lot of flack from her friends. A lot of people did not understand her, even more criticized her. But it was important for her to carry on with the rule to learn to play with anyone.
How do we play with others?
Walls are beautiful things. They are an important part of our life. But they also keep us locked in, they trap us, they stop us from seeing what God is doing in the world, and they stop us from participating in the real work of God. God inside of our walls, but God is also in the world. God dwells in the homes created for God, but God also lives in the hearts of his people. Those inside and outside.
Who are the outsiders today? Who are the ones asking to play with us, and what are the ways that we tell them no? Today we live in a world that is so global, that we are neighborhood is bigger them we can comprehend. Jesus is calling us to think beyond being a good neighbor – to become a family of brothers and sisters. In spite of our differences, inspite of our different understandings – there is only one God. One god who has been with the people and always will. Where are we?
Ephesians 2:11-22
Year B
7th Sunday after Pentecost
“The House of God”
July 19, 2009
Walls – why we need them
Walls are an important part of our life. What would we do without them, especially in our climate. They protect us, they help us define ourselves, it separates us from people and things that are not in our best interest. And there are certain walls, in certain buildings with have great meaning for us. They tell our story of who we are and what is important to us.
Houses – beautiful homes
Walls are an important part of our dwellings. They create beautiful homes and buildings.
Beautiful houses of God
Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world are the ones that we build for God. The cathedrals of Europe are amazing. Oak Park has some beautiful churches also, which sanctuaries which truly make you think of the throne room of God. St Edmunds is a truly amazing sanctuary. People constantly compliment our own sanctuary. The stain glass says worship God in a place of beauty.
Long tradition – tradition of all to say thank you
Creating a beautiful place to worship God is a part of our worship experience. So when David decided that he was going to build a beautiful house for God – he was just trying to make sure that his God, had the same respect that all of the others gods of the people around him had. When a national leader came into power, it was expected that you would build a momument for God. What better monument to God could there be besides a house to come and to worship, and say thank you and to acknowledge God as the king of our lives.
David’s intention -If he was going to be king – God had to be king
David’s intention were very pure. He realized that if he was going to be King, that God had to also be King. God ad brought him from a very long way. God had brought him through some pretty tough times. God had bought his people through some times which questioned the very foundation of who they were and who they were supposed to be. But God had bought David to a good place now, he had bought the country to a stable place. And it was time to make sure that God was in that same place, and taken care of just as well.
God grows with us – David’s relationship with God
In many ways, it seemed that as David’s life changed, God changed with him. There was a time when God was a war God. God was the one who called the Isrealites into war to conquer the land and take it from others. God was the one who supported them in battle, God was the one who strengthened them to survive and to establish a homeland, in the midst of enemies. God protected David when he was a warrior, and God anointed him when he became King.
Isreal’s relationship with God
There was a time when Israel was given strict instructions not to have a King. God was their king. But they realized that as time went on that they needed a king in order to survive as a nation of people. God permitted the change, because as the people changed, their needs and what was best for them changed.
History of God
God is still a God of change. And as we grow as a people – so does our God. It was not that long ago in history that churches used scripture to justify slavery, and the ensuing racism that followed. We still use the bible to justify wars, and killings and all sorts of bad things that hurt other people. And it has taken us years to change the definition of those words – to realize that there are other ways to treat people.
Example of road to freedom
Yesterday, a friend and I went to see the Road to Freedom exhibit with the Chicago Urban League at the field museum. It was a collections of photos from the civil rights era. It was a pretty moving event, but one photo struck my attention. It was a picture of one of the nine young people who first desegrated the school in Little Rock. One of the girls arrived a day early because she did not get word that the event had been postponed a day. This photo was of her walking to school – and there were a large group of girls from the school behind her – they were scowling at her, and her their fist raised. The girls in the picture were 15-16 years old. I would imagine that by now they would be grandmothers. Both my friend and I wondered what conversation would ensue if these women had a conversation with their grandchildren today about that picture. How would they respond when their grandchildren asked them why they were so upset with that little girl just because she was going to school.
Who is God today? Who do we worship as our God
The world which we live in had changed dramatically even in the last 40 years. And so has our view of God. Who is the God which we worship today? What does that God stand for in society? And it is will be interesting what views that we are stuck with and that we use God to defend, will be totally useless in 10 – 15 years, because the world has changed.
David learned an important lesson
Our view of God changes with our understanding of the world. Yet David had to learn an important lesson that day. Just because the world changes, just because our understanding of God changes – God remains the same.
Nathan said no
David was told that he was not the build God’s house. That God was not ready to join him in the mist of his success
God is still king. God lives with the people.God doesn’t live inside of walls.
David could not build a house for God – but God would build a house for David.
God promised David that there would always be a member of his family on the throne. That his son would build the temple That his sons would be blessed, and that his son would have to power to be raised up so that David’s name would be remembered forever.
People are the true house of God.
God doesn’t live within walls, and never will. The true house of God is the hearts of his people. That is where God has always lived and where God will always live. God is free to live with the people.
The real problem are walls of our hearts.
Walls are important to us, they protect us. They define us, they tell our story. But walls can also hold us in, they can keep us trapped in beliefs that no longer serve out best interest, they can keep other people out, they can keep us from really witnesses what god is doing in the world. They do not contain the spirit of God. The real problem is not the walls that we build around us, the real problem is the walls that we build inside of us.
Soldier story
In World War I, there was a soldier who was killed in France. His friends wanted to make sure that he was buried before they had to move on. They went to the nearest cemetery to ask if they could bury their friend. The priest asked if he had been baptized catholic – and he had not. So the priest said that he could not be buried. Distraught they buried their friend right outside of the walls of the cemetery. The next day – the priest feeling guilty for not allowing the soldier to be buried within the walls –went outside and moved the fence, so that the soldiers grave would be inside.
There are barriers that still need to be torn down
People still need to bring them down.
Ephesians talks about the walls of our hearts. The ways that we define ourselves in order to exclude those who are not like us. There were still ways that the congregation was dividing itself. Jews felt that they could not associate with gentiles. Greeks felt they could not talk to barbarians. - Anyone who is not like me is an outsider was the mindset. Ephesians message was that through Christ we are a new people. We are one people. Like to priest of the cemetery. He doesn’t change the rules, he just expands them to include everyone else. He changes definitions. The jews separated themselves as a way to get close to God – Through Christ, we are all bought near to God.
Ephesians – we go from strangers to family
All people, no matter who we are go from strangers and aliens to citizens, saints, members of the household of God. We go from divided, suspicious, self destructive to unified, loving and most importantly hopeful.
There are Changes in language, Changes in understanding,
Changing the way we include people
Kindergarten story
There is a television documentary about a kindergarten teacher who noticed that the thing she heard most on the playground was “No you cant play with us”. So she made a rule that from now on, all children had to play with whomever asked to play. Even in kindergarten, the children protested. How could we play with anyone who asked. We have a right to define who we want to play with. Other kids in the school could not understand this rule either. Why would you play with just anyone? The kindergarten agreed that they would try to go along with the rule for a week. When they say it worked – they agreed to do it all of the time. It helped them to meet new friends. A few years later, the teacher saw one of her former students in the store. Lisa was twelve now. She asked her old teacher if she still used the play with anyone rule. Yes replied the teacher. Lisa told her teacher that she too stuck to the rule – if including anyone who wanted to play with her in her world. It was very difficult. She got a lot of flack from her friends. A lot of people did not understand her, even more criticized her. But it was important for her to carry on with the rule to learn to play with anyone.
How do we play with others?
Walls are beautiful things. They are an important part of our life. But they also keep us locked in, they trap us, they stop us from seeing what God is doing in the world, and they stop us from participating in the real work of God. God inside of our walls, but God is also in the world. God dwells in the homes created for God, but God also lives in the hearts of his people. Those inside and outside.
Who are the outsiders today? Who are the ones asking to play with us, and what are the ways that we tell them no? Today we live in a world that is so global, that we are neighborhood is bigger them we can comprehend. Jesus is calling us to think beyond being a good neighbor – to become a family of brothers and sisters. In spite of our differences, inspite of our different understandings – there is only one God. One god who has been with the people and always will. Where are we?
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Dancing for God with all of our might
July 12, 2009
“Dancing for God with all of our might”
2 Samuel 6:1-19
Ephesians 1:3-14
Year B
6th Sunday after Pentecost
The story of David
This summer, we have been following the life of David. We have learned about his anointing as the King. And now we learn more about his life. What is it that makes him so special. Why is it that the people love him so much, that they follow him. We learn about his personal life. His first wife is Saul’s daughter Michal. They grew up together, and eventually got married.
The Story of Michal
In the story, David is the hero. But Michal is depicted as a bitter woman. She didn’t seem to understand David. And may have mourned her father’s role as the first king of Isreal. She scolds david in this story – and later it says that she never had kids because she could not accept David as the king of Isreal.
But I think Michal is getting a bad wrap- as many women in the bible usually do.
Imagine this – you have been sitting home all day cleaning house and waiting for your husband to come home after a long day at work. You hear a commotion outside, and you look out the curtain of the front window to see what is going on. You see your husband dancing – You notice that there is nothing under his outgarment – so his private parts are showing as he is dancing all over the place. If that is not bad enough – you notice that three young girls are standing on the corner - with their eyes glued to his groin area. All of these young girls are from your neighborhood – you have known them all since they were born, and today they are all staring at your husband’s private parts. When he finally comes in the house – what do you say to him? How was your day? Or why were you dancing like that in front of all of the neighborhood? Given the circumstance, that would seem like a very likely question. Not a sign of bitterness at all.
Some even say that Michal was actually a very wise woman, concerned about what others would think of her husband and protective of his reputation.
We will never know – because the story depicts her otherwise.
David’s point – dancing with all of your might
The story is not about Michal, but about David. More importantly about David’s faith, and the point of the story is that David was willing to worship God with all of his might.
David was not the best of persons, did some pretty bad things.
The bible is a very vulnerable story about David. It doesn’t depict him in a very good light. David did some pretty bad things. And the bible even admits that he did not pay as much attention to his family as he should have. Not only did he not listen to Michal, he never seemed to care about his wives, and he let his children do whatever they wanted. With no discipline.
This was a political story – he claimed the kinghood, not only over the past, but also the future.
There is also the fair accusation that the only thing David really cared about was becoming King. Marrying Saul’s daughter in the first place could have been a political move. He united Israel and Judah, and established Jerusalem as his capital. He did not want anyone to question him – or his ancestors behind them.
But he loved God – he devoted his life to God both the good and the bad.
But the one thing the Bible wants to make clear – David was not the best of persons – but he loved God. He worshipped God and he devoted his life to God. He was not the best of persons – but he bought God with him wherever he went.
The center of the story is not David, but the presence of God – the ark of convenant.
As a matter of fact, the center of this story is not Michal of David, it is the presence of God in the Ark of Covenent. The isrealites took the ark with them in every battle. It helped them to win.
What was in the ark of convanent?
The ark was a wooden box with angels on top of it. It was believed to have to tablets of the ten commandements inside, along with a lot of others things, which contained the power of God. Today there is a legend that the ark is in South Africa. A group of people who say there were descendents of the keepers of the ark, took it there and they keep it inside of a church – no one is allowed to come near them inside of the church so there is no way to verify if it is really the ark.
The presence of God represented both promise and danger - Uzzah was killed for touching the Ark, but Obed prospered.
The point is that the ark is thought to be very powerful presence. On the one hand, Uzzah was killed just for touching the ark to save it from falling. David asked another family to keep the ark for safekeeping. David noticed that for three months Obed and his family did very well while keeping the ark. One the one hand the presence of God is dangerous to handle, something to be feared, and yet on the other hand God is wonderful and someone to depend on. God is promise and danger – isn’t that a lot like our thought s on God. Someone to fear, yet someone to depend on?
David had reached a point in his life when he realized that he could not serve without God – He realized that he needed God in his life.
Weighing both sides of God – promise ad danger, David realized that he could not go forward as King, without the blessing of God. There was no way he could serve the people – without God’s presence.
We all have to reach the point in our lives – when we see that God’s power never serves us and our person power and plans – We come to understand that our power and our plansis to to serve God and God’s purpose.
Ephesians speaks to that point
Ephesians is a Lots of words – but basically it makes three points: God adopts us; God redeems us; God unites us
We are given a purpose in life – to praise God
We should Praise God in everything
Dancing on the chips
A friend of mine tells a story of a day in her life. She had had a long week at work, and she was having friends over for the weekend. Of course on Saturday morning, she had a lot that needed to be done before her friends arrived. She went to the bank – and the teller made a mistake. She went to the store and realized that she had forgot half of what was on her list. She had 45 minutes to fix lunch for her friends. She thought of soup – but realized she had forgot milk. She thought of leftover bake beans only to see they had been in the refrigerator too long and had molded. She thought she would have potato chips and hot dogs. She went to open the bag of potato chips that she had just bought. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t open them, when she got them opened them, she did not realize that she opened the wrong side. All of the potato chips fell on the ground. That was the last straw. She started to scream and cry. Her husband immediately came in to see what was wrong. She expected that he would at least help her clean them up. Instead he laughed at her, and then started to dance on the chips – grinding them into her floor. All she could do was laugh – laugh at herself, laugh at the situation. She had expected her husband to clean up her mess and make it all better, instead, he have her the moment of gladness that broke her mood and helped her to take her day in stride and keep on going forward.
How many times in life does God do that for us. We are waiting for God to come in an clean things up and make things better, and instead God comes into our lives and dances. Giving us a moment to stop and to think about the important things in life, and to realize that messes come and go, but we have to take it all into perspective. And just dance along with the situation. And with God.
Our purpose is not only to be aware of the presence, but to also respond to it – to dance to the rhythm of life.
Life flows, life comes and goes, there are ups and downs. Seasons of life
Question to you – what dance do you do? Foxtrot, the moon walk Just dance Where is your ark of convenant – the presence of God to keep you centered? What is God’s purpose for your life?
Lee Ann Womacks song – I hope you dance is one of my favorite songs – because it reminds us to dance like full out, without no regard for who is watching or what they think, no matter what.
She says….I hope you never lose your sense of wonder You get your fill to eat But always keep that hunger May you never take one single breath for granted God forbid love ever leave you empty handed I hope you still feel small When you stand by the ocean Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance I hope you dance I hope you dance
Live, love, serve, cry, pray with all of your might.
“Dancing for God with all of our might”
2 Samuel 6:1-19
Ephesians 1:3-14
Year B
6th Sunday after Pentecost
The story of David
This summer, we have been following the life of David. We have learned about his anointing as the King. And now we learn more about his life. What is it that makes him so special. Why is it that the people love him so much, that they follow him. We learn about his personal life. His first wife is Saul’s daughter Michal. They grew up together, and eventually got married.
The Story of Michal
In the story, David is the hero. But Michal is depicted as a bitter woman. She didn’t seem to understand David. And may have mourned her father’s role as the first king of Isreal. She scolds david in this story – and later it says that she never had kids because she could not accept David as the king of Isreal.
But I think Michal is getting a bad wrap- as many women in the bible usually do.
Imagine this – you have been sitting home all day cleaning house and waiting for your husband to come home after a long day at work. You hear a commotion outside, and you look out the curtain of the front window to see what is going on. You see your husband dancing – You notice that there is nothing under his outgarment – so his private parts are showing as he is dancing all over the place. If that is not bad enough – you notice that three young girls are standing on the corner - with their eyes glued to his groin area. All of these young girls are from your neighborhood – you have known them all since they were born, and today they are all staring at your husband’s private parts. When he finally comes in the house – what do you say to him? How was your day? Or why were you dancing like that in front of all of the neighborhood? Given the circumstance, that would seem like a very likely question. Not a sign of bitterness at all.
Some even say that Michal was actually a very wise woman, concerned about what others would think of her husband and protective of his reputation.
We will never know – because the story depicts her otherwise.
David’s point – dancing with all of your might
The story is not about Michal, but about David. More importantly about David’s faith, and the point of the story is that David was willing to worship God with all of his might.
David was not the best of persons, did some pretty bad things.
The bible is a very vulnerable story about David. It doesn’t depict him in a very good light. David did some pretty bad things. And the bible even admits that he did not pay as much attention to his family as he should have. Not only did he not listen to Michal, he never seemed to care about his wives, and he let his children do whatever they wanted. With no discipline.
This was a political story – he claimed the kinghood, not only over the past, but also the future.
There is also the fair accusation that the only thing David really cared about was becoming King. Marrying Saul’s daughter in the first place could have been a political move. He united Israel and Judah, and established Jerusalem as his capital. He did not want anyone to question him – or his ancestors behind them.
But he loved God – he devoted his life to God both the good and the bad.
But the one thing the Bible wants to make clear – David was not the best of persons – but he loved God. He worshipped God and he devoted his life to God. He was not the best of persons – but he bought God with him wherever he went.
The center of the story is not David, but the presence of God – the ark of convenant.
As a matter of fact, the center of this story is not Michal of David, it is the presence of God in the Ark of Covenent. The isrealites took the ark with them in every battle. It helped them to win.
What was in the ark of convanent?
The ark was a wooden box with angels on top of it. It was believed to have to tablets of the ten commandements inside, along with a lot of others things, which contained the power of God. Today there is a legend that the ark is in South Africa. A group of people who say there were descendents of the keepers of the ark, took it there and they keep it inside of a church – no one is allowed to come near them inside of the church so there is no way to verify if it is really the ark.
The presence of God represented both promise and danger - Uzzah was killed for touching the Ark, but Obed prospered.
The point is that the ark is thought to be very powerful presence. On the one hand, Uzzah was killed just for touching the ark to save it from falling. David asked another family to keep the ark for safekeeping. David noticed that for three months Obed and his family did very well while keeping the ark. One the one hand the presence of God is dangerous to handle, something to be feared, and yet on the other hand God is wonderful and someone to depend on. God is promise and danger – isn’t that a lot like our thought s on God. Someone to fear, yet someone to depend on?
David had reached a point in his life when he realized that he could not serve without God – He realized that he needed God in his life.
Weighing both sides of God – promise ad danger, David realized that he could not go forward as King, without the blessing of God. There was no way he could serve the people – without God’s presence.
We all have to reach the point in our lives – when we see that God’s power never serves us and our person power and plans – We come to understand that our power and our plansis to to serve God and God’s purpose.
Ephesians speaks to that point
Ephesians is a Lots of words – but basically it makes three points: God adopts us; God redeems us; God unites us
We are given a purpose in life – to praise God
We should Praise God in everything
Dancing on the chips
A friend of mine tells a story of a day in her life. She had had a long week at work, and she was having friends over for the weekend. Of course on Saturday morning, she had a lot that needed to be done before her friends arrived. She went to the bank – and the teller made a mistake. She went to the store and realized that she had forgot half of what was on her list. She had 45 minutes to fix lunch for her friends. She thought of soup – but realized she had forgot milk. She thought of leftover bake beans only to see they had been in the refrigerator too long and had molded. She thought she would have potato chips and hot dogs. She went to open the bag of potato chips that she had just bought. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t open them, when she got them opened them, she did not realize that she opened the wrong side. All of the potato chips fell on the ground. That was the last straw. She started to scream and cry. Her husband immediately came in to see what was wrong. She expected that he would at least help her clean them up. Instead he laughed at her, and then started to dance on the chips – grinding them into her floor. All she could do was laugh – laugh at herself, laugh at the situation. She had expected her husband to clean up her mess and make it all better, instead, he have her the moment of gladness that broke her mood and helped her to take her day in stride and keep on going forward.
How many times in life does God do that for us. We are waiting for God to come in an clean things up and make things better, and instead God comes into our lives and dances. Giving us a moment to stop and to think about the important things in life, and to realize that messes come and go, but we have to take it all into perspective. And just dance along with the situation. And with God.
Our purpose is not only to be aware of the presence, but to also respond to it – to dance to the rhythm of life.
Life flows, life comes and goes, there are ups and downs. Seasons of life
Question to you – what dance do you do? Foxtrot, the moon walk Just dance Where is your ark of convenant – the presence of God to keep you centered? What is God’s purpose for your life?
Lee Ann Womacks song – I hope you dance is one of my favorite songs – because it reminds us to dance like full out, without no regard for who is watching or what they think, no matter what.
She says….I hope you never lose your sense of wonder You get your fill to eat But always keep that hunger May you never take one single breath for granted God forbid love ever leave you empty handed I hope you still feel small When you stand by the ocean Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance I hope you dance I hope you dance
Live, love, serve, cry, pray with all of your might.
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Is this Jesus' Hometown?
July 5, 2009
“Is this Jesus’ hometown?”
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13
Year B
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
William Willamon – difference between experienced traveler and a new traveler. When you first take a trip you pack all sorts of things, you take your time to pack and make sure you have everything you need and everything you think you will need. But you soon realize – that it really doesn’t matter what you take. You learn to travel lighter.
Jesus sends us all on a journey – faith is a journey
With this message – Jesus sends us all out on that journey with this message: Travel Light, Stick together, and trust the wonders of God.
Independence day – celebrate the freedom of our country.
Yet reminder that independence is dependendence. Part of the paradox of life.
There is no where that the bible says that God takes care of those who take care of themselves.
Bible reminds us that we need each other, that we are to help one another. The message is all about living in community.
But Jesus takes it one step further and calls us to be a witness – to tell people who don’t want to hear you – the power of God.
The key phrase to witnessing is that you are to talk to people who don’t want to hear what you have to say. And will go through great lengths to tell you so.
Jesus learned about that , when his faith journey called him to go home.
We have been following Jesus journey around Israel, he has done some great things – he healed a crippled man, he healed a woman who has been suffering all of her life, he even bought a young girl back to life.
He found that his greatest challenge was witnessing to those in his hometown. He walks in the synagogue and speaks with authority, helping them to understand the scripture. And instead of listening to what he has to say – all they can think of is who is this talking to him. Isnt this Mary’s son? What does he know?
Isnt this the carpenter’s family what does he know about spiritual issues?
For us, it would be like our local plumber – deciding to teach a philosophy class at the community college. What does he can he possibility teach us about philosophy, when he has not spent the time studying?
It turns out that Jesus had a lot to teach them and us about our faith. His whole message was to look beyond what we know, what we study, what we have learned to be true all of our lives.
Jesus went against the grain, and he taught us to do the same. Tradition is a wonderful thing – but it is also something the gets us comfortable with the way things are. When we see pain, and suffering and violence, we get comfortable and don’t say anything, because every one else is comfortable with it too.
It takes a special person, with a special authority to talk to us and tell us that we need to listen to life in a different way.
Jesus was training his disciples and us to go against the grain – that is what it means to witness- to get comfortable with telling people things that they really don’t want to hear. And to stay the course.
The is the foundation of our independence – to tell England things they didn’t want to hear – and to be prepared to fight to make a change.
The three gifts of success in that process
Stick together
Travel light
And to trust God that if you are doing the right thing you don’t need to defend yourself. Trust in God that if you work for what is right – look for the wonders on your journey.
Witnesses for Christ is never an easy thing. Paul has to defend himself in Corinthians.
There are people who are questioning Pauls ministry. They think they are so much better than Paul. They think they have a better relationship with God. Paul uses Jesus advice – and says that he knows that he is right, and that he has a relationship with God, and that he trust in God to take care of him as he is persecuted. God’s grace is sufficient to take care of anything.
Bishop Romero in El Salvoador was certainly a witness for justice in the 1980’s He spoke out against the government, telling them they were not being fair to their peasants. That they were unfairly killing and oppressing them. He found that the more he spoke out against the status quo – it seemed the less people were willing to stand with him. Eventually, one Sunday morning the government killed him – while celebrating mass. But his witness lives on even today – he is honored for his words of justice to a country who was not willing to hear.
We are all called to be witnesses – but my question to you is not about your witness – but about the times when you hear a hard truth – when someone tells you something you don’t want to hear – how do you respond? Do you think? Do you pray? Are you willing to change? Do yo speak out?
Or do you remain silent in order to maintain the status quo? Are you in the forfront or in the background? Where does your faith in Jesus call you to be?
The same thing that prevents us from listening to others – is often the same thing that prevents us from speaking out ourselves.
Jesus tells his disciples that if people don’t accept them –to shake the dust off your feet and move on. Jesus finds that he has to walk away from his hometown – and notes that he was not able to do a a lot of work. Jesus has worked miracles in other places healing and renewing, but was only able to do a little work in his hometown. So he moves on.
There are lots of majc in wonder in Jesus words, the power of god is an amazing thing. But is is not the majic that matters – it is the witness. Our willingness to listen and to speak what we know.
They say that when Jesus returned to heaven, he was questioned by the angels – they were looking at how he was treated , how he was crucified, how he was criciticized. They saw that work that he had done with the disciples, how he talked with them and how they seemed to not quite understand what was going on. They saw how Paul had been treated, how bishop romero had been killed, and saw that the world was a force to be reckoned with. And they were afraid. Take nothing for the journey, travel light and trust God- is that all that it took. They told Jesus that was a pretty good thought – but did he have a backup plan for spreading the good news of love to the world. Perhaps he shouldn’t put so much faith in humans – maybe he should have a back up plan, a group of miracles to make things better when people fail. Jesus told the angels there was no backup plan – just the teaching to those who believe in him – travel light, stick together, and trust God
Travel light, stick together, trust god to work miracles.- Jesus is depending on you to get that and to witness to the world. You are the Lord’s only hope. Amen.
“Is this Jesus’ hometown?”
2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13
Year B
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
William Willamon – difference between experienced traveler and a new traveler. When you first take a trip you pack all sorts of things, you take your time to pack and make sure you have everything you need and everything you think you will need. But you soon realize – that it really doesn’t matter what you take. You learn to travel lighter.
Jesus sends us all on a journey – faith is a journey
With this message – Jesus sends us all out on that journey with this message: Travel Light, Stick together, and trust the wonders of God.
Independence day – celebrate the freedom of our country.
Yet reminder that independence is dependendence. Part of the paradox of life.
There is no where that the bible says that God takes care of those who take care of themselves.
Bible reminds us that we need each other, that we are to help one another. The message is all about living in community.
But Jesus takes it one step further and calls us to be a witness – to tell people who don’t want to hear you – the power of God.
The key phrase to witnessing is that you are to talk to people who don’t want to hear what you have to say. And will go through great lengths to tell you so.
Jesus learned about that , when his faith journey called him to go home.
We have been following Jesus journey around Israel, he has done some great things – he healed a crippled man, he healed a woman who has been suffering all of her life, he even bought a young girl back to life.
He found that his greatest challenge was witnessing to those in his hometown. He walks in the synagogue and speaks with authority, helping them to understand the scripture. And instead of listening to what he has to say – all they can think of is who is this talking to him. Isnt this Mary’s son? What does he know?
Isnt this the carpenter’s family what does he know about spiritual issues?
For us, it would be like our local plumber – deciding to teach a philosophy class at the community college. What does he can he possibility teach us about philosophy, when he has not spent the time studying?
It turns out that Jesus had a lot to teach them and us about our faith. His whole message was to look beyond what we know, what we study, what we have learned to be true all of our lives.
Jesus went against the grain, and he taught us to do the same. Tradition is a wonderful thing – but it is also something the gets us comfortable with the way things are. When we see pain, and suffering and violence, we get comfortable and don’t say anything, because every one else is comfortable with it too.
It takes a special person, with a special authority to talk to us and tell us that we need to listen to life in a different way.
Jesus was training his disciples and us to go against the grain – that is what it means to witness- to get comfortable with telling people things that they really don’t want to hear. And to stay the course.
The is the foundation of our independence – to tell England things they didn’t want to hear – and to be prepared to fight to make a change.
The three gifts of success in that process
Stick together
Travel light
And to trust God that if you are doing the right thing you don’t need to defend yourself. Trust in God that if you work for what is right – look for the wonders on your journey.
Witnesses for Christ is never an easy thing. Paul has to defend himself in Corinthians.
There are people who are questioning Pauls ministry. They think they are so much better than Paul. They think they have a better relationship with God. Paul uses Jesus advice – and says that he knows that he is right, and that he has a relationship with God, and that he trust in God to take care of him as he is persecuted. God’s grace is sufficient to take care of anything.
Bishop Romero in El Salvoador was certainly a witness for justice in the 1980’s He spoke out against the government, telling them they were not being fair to their peasants. That they were unfairly killing and oppressing them. He found that the more he spoke out against the status quo – it seemed the less people were willing to stand with him. Eventually, one Sunday morning the government killed him – while celebrating mass. But his witness lives on even today – he is honored for his words of justice to a country who was not willing to hear.
We are all called to be witnesses – but my question to you is not about your witness – but about the times when you hear a hard truth – when someone tells you something you don’t want to hear – how do you respond? Do you think? Do you pray? Are you willing to change? Do yo speak out?
Or do you remain silent in order to maintain the status quo? Are you in the forfront or in the background? Where does your faith in Jesus call you to be?
The same thing that prevents us from listening to others – is often the same thing that prevents us from speaking out ourselves.
Jesus tells his disciples that if people don’t accept them –to shake the dust off your feet and move on. Jesus finds that he has to walk away from his hometown – and notes that he was not able to do a a lot of work. Jesus has worked miracles in other places healing and renewing, but was only able to do a little work in his hometown. So he moves on.
There are lots of majc in wonder in Jesus words, the power of god is an amazing thing. But is is not the majic that matters – it is the witness. Our willingness to listen and to speak what we know.
They say that when Jesus returned to heaven, he was questioned by the angels – they were looking at how he was treated , how he was crucified, how he was criciticized. They saw that work that he had done with the disciples, how he talked with them and how they seemed to not quite understand what was going on. They saw how Paul had been treated, how bishop romero had been killed, and saw that the world was a force to be reckoned with. And they were afraid. Take nothing for the journey, travel light and trust God- is that all that it took. They told Jesus that was a pretty good thought – but did he have a backup plan for spreading the good news of love to the world. Perhaps he shouldn’t put so much faith in humans – maybe he should have a back up plan, a group of miracles to make things better when people fail. Jesus told the angels there was no backup plan – just the teaching to those who believe in him – travel light, stick together, and trust God
Travel light, stick together, trust god to work miracles.- Jesus is depending on you to get that and to witness to the world. You are the Lord’s only hope. Amen.
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