Faith in Jesus Christ

November 24, 2013 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43 Christ the King Sunday Year C Our Happy Ending One of my favorite things to do on Sunday night, after my afternoon nap, is to just lay on the couch and watch television. It used to be Grey’s anatomy. And then it seems that ABC got even more daring with there shows with titles like Revenge, and Betrayal. But honestly the once show recently that has caught my attention – Once Upon a Time. I love a good story and I am a sucker for any fairy tale. And in once upon a time – several fairy tale characters come alive and come to a modern day town. In this town, they spend their lives trying to get back to neverland and their fairy tale lives. But you know what really drew me into this story – it is a story of people in search of their happy ending. And after all, isn’t that what we are all in search of – our happy ending. We are all seeking the perfect life, the perfect spouse, the perfect family, the perfect house, the perfect situation where we can truly live happily ever after. As a matter of fact, I hear the actors take their life, the character who plays prince charming and the character who plays Cinderella, are expecting a baby. But they are just like all of us – looking for our happy ending, and for some reason life always gets in the way. We get sick, relationships end, things never quite turn out the way we dreamed of in our fairly tales. The world is full of sin, we are full of sin. And eventually, sin will get in the way of our happy ending. Christ the King Sunday Today is a special day- a special time of the year. It is the Sunday before thanksgiving. There are going to be a lot of changes that happen this week. The decorations are going to change from fall to winter overnight. This is the last Sunday of the Christian year, next Sunday is a whole new year, the first Sunday of advent. The last Sunday of the year is Christ the King Sunday. A day when we look at all of the lessons of the year – and think about the greatest lesson of all. We have been studying the book of Luke all year. I am going to miss Luke because luke has a special message for us…. Possible Sermon Intro – The Year of Luke Throughout the "Year of Luke" in our lectionary series we have heard Luke's favorite theme. The ready and generous grace of God is shown repeatedly. In recent Sundays we studied the story of the healing of 10 lepers, an act of God's love and grace. We have watched as Jesus, like the promised shepherd of Ezekiel, came searching for the lost and hiding Zacchaeus. We have overheard the prayers of the Pharisee and the Publican as they prayed in Jesus' parable, all the while being reminded of our need to trust God's grace. None of us can forget Jesus' words just before the beginning of today's lesson: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The ever-present grace of God is one of Luke's gospel themes. From the parables of the waiting father and the "good" Samaritan, and now from the story of the penitent thief on the cross, all of these reported only by Luke, we have heard forthrightly the good news of Jesus Christ. Gentile and Jew, sinner and saint, young and old, it makes no difference. The full blessings of forgiveness here and hereafter are available to all who repent. The love of God reaches out for all, even to those who would arrange the crucifixion and taunt its victim. "Father, forgive them...." Theodore F. Schneider, Until the King Comes, CSS Publishing Company Christ the King This is Christ the King Sunday. We have heard the whole story; we have all the information. So now—how do we recognize Jesus as King? We “independent, stand on our two feet, nobody tells us what to do, rugged individualist” Americans, how do we recognize Jesus as King? In Luke’s story of the crucifixion nobody there seems to recognize Jesus as King. Luke has painted us into his story as well. He describes the people who do nothing except to stand there and watch. “And the people stood by, watching.” That’s us, isn’t it? Grinding poverty is slowly destroying our urban youth and we just stand by and watch, preferably from a distance, preferably from inside a gated community. Watching the world turn secular, we know that there is a spiritual side to life but it just can’t crack our tightly wound schedules. We think about a Bible study but just can’t tolerate the idea of one more thing to attend. We won’t even pull off the road to watch a sunset for fear that we will be late to the next appointment. In trying to do everything, we are doing nothing of lasting value for our souls. When a king passes by in your life, you don’t just stand and watch. You respond. Bill McDonald, How Do You Recognize a King? Starting next week will be looking at the gospel of Matthew. But this week – what it the last lesson in luke – the cruxificion. The last words and actions of Christ as he dies on the Cross. A sign is put above his head – this is the king of the jews. He is given not a crown of jewels, but a crown of thorns. He is not exalted – but humiliated and crucified. What does this story have to do with Christ being the king. It reminds us that we are a people of happy endings. The king we are looking for is a hero, Accepting a Human Messiah In contrast to the theology of the cross and our suffering/dying king. Robert Capon in Hunting the Divine Fox presents a wonderful picture of our typical American Messiah -- and it doesn't look much like Jesus on the cross. . . . almost nobody resists the temptation to jazz up the humanity of Christ. The true paradigm of the ordinary American view of Jesus is Superman: "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. It's Superman! Strange visitor from another planet, who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American Way." If that isn't popular christology, I'll eat my hat. Jesus -- gentle, meek and mild, but with secret, souped-up, more-than-human insides -- bumbles around for thirty-three years, nearly gets himself done in for good by the Kryptonite Kross, but at the last minute, struggles into the phone booth of the Empty Tomb, changes into his Easter suit and, with a single bound, leaps back up to the planet Heaven. It's got it all -- including, just so you shouldn't miss the lesson, kiddies: He never once touches Lois Lane. You think that's funny? Don't laugh. The human race is, was and probably always will be deeply unwilling to accept a human messiah. We don't want to be saved in our humanity; we want to be fished out of it. We crucified Jesus, not because he was God, but because he blasphemed: He claimed to be God and then failed to come up to our standards for assessing the claim. It's not that we weren't looking for the Messiah; it's just that he wasn't what we were looking for. Our kind of Messiah would come down from a cross. He would carry a folding phone booth in his back pocket. He wouldn't do a stupid thing like rising from the dead. He would do a smart thing like never dying." [pp. 90-91; this book has been reprinted, along with two others under the title The Romance of the Word One Man's Love Affair with Theology] Robert Capon, quoted by Brian Stoffregen, Exegetical Notes Colossians says that Jesus is indeed King of all. Christ is the visible image of all that God is. He goes on to say that Christ is our savior, our creater, our Lord and a peacemaker. He is indeed our King! A king is someone who has power over our lives. But the point is how that power is used. Is it used to help us or to hurt us. The true power of a King is in the power to forgive. And those who serve him- appreciate forgiveness. This last scripture of the year also talk tell the story of Jesus, and the two thieves who were crucified next to him. One taunts him- If you are truly a king, then why don’t you save yourself. What would have happen of you, if Christ has truly saved himself and not you. The second asks for forgiveness and makes a special request. FATHER, FORGIVE THEM... Many years ago, long before any of us were born, and long before our great grandparents were born, a young man walked into town. His clothes were old and well worn. His shoes had holes, and he carried all of his possessions in a small, dirty bag. When he first arrived in town he slept under an apple tree, and the residents of the town quickly got to know him because he was always asking if he could do jobs for people. "I can do anything that needs to be done; and I promise I will never ask for payment," said the scruffy young man. Some were suspicious of him, and some told him to get lost, but slowly and surely more and more people trusted him, and the quality of his work was superb. He could paint, do the garden, fix broken furniture, run errands and entertain children. He was a great shoe shiner, a blacksmith, and a builder. Some people paid him by giving him a meal. Some gave him water to drink. Some gave him money, but there were many people who took advantage of him. They asked him to do enormous jobs that lasted all day and then gave him nothing; but the young man never complained. He had said he would work for nothing, and so at the end of a hard day’s work, he would leave with a cheerful smile on his face – even more cheerful than the smile that greeted the people of the town every morning. As time went by, stories of the man passed from house to house and to other towns; and more and more people realised that they didn’t have to give the young man anything for his efforts, so he began to receive less food, and less water. But still he worked hard, smiled with an infectious smile, and slept under the apple tree. One day there was no work. The man was hungry and thirsty. There was no work because it was the King’s birthday! It was a national holiday. Everyone was dressed up in their finest clothes, because the king was coming to town. Music was playing. Laughter filled the air. Children couldn’t wait to get their first glimpse of the king. The young man’s smile was broader than ever, but the people of the town told him to keep his distance because his clothes looked out of place for such a grand occasion. In fact, they tied him to his apple tree so that he would not spoil the day. When the King’s carriage pulled into town there was a fanfare to greet him, and applause as he waved to the crowd, but they were surprised to hear that he knew about the scruffy man who had been working hard in the town recently. "Where is the hard working young man? Where is the man who works for nothing?" Very embarrassed, they took the King to the apple tree where they found the young man, exhausted, tired, hungry and thirsty. "What have you done to him?" demanded the King. "I sent him to come and work amongst you, and you have done this to him!" There was silence amongst the people of the town. The young man smiled lovingly, and looking into the eyes of the King he said, "Father. Forgive them. They don’t realise I am your son." The shocked crowd fell to their knees in sorrow, as they realised what they had done. (Story by Warner Pidgeon – March 2009) Luke leaves us with a story of three crosses –the cross of rebellion, the cross of repentance, and the cross of redemption. We are all sinners, the question is are we sinners of rebellion or sinners in search of repentance. Do we acknowledge that Christ is our only redemption? Christ makes a promise to the thief who asks for forgiveness – on this day you will be with me in paradise. The word Paradise is a Persian word meaning a walled garden. When a Persian king wished to do one of his subjects a very special honour he made him a companion of the garden which meant he was chosen to walk in the garden with the king. It was more than immortality that Jesus promised the penitent thief. He promised him the honoured place of a companion of the garden in the courts of heaven. We will have a chance to walk with God, and live with God. Forgiven from our sin – we can return to the garden of eden and live in the faith of Jesus Christ. You see, in the end – the quest of the soul is not so much to find freedom, it is to find a master. Who is in control of your life? You or Jesus? Who knows what it best - you or Jesus? Who are you willing to obey – your voice or the voice of God? When Christ is the master of our lives, everything falls into place. Christ has promised that we will live happily ever after – if we are willing to obey him. In giving our life to Christ – we really do get our happy ending. There was once a farmer who had two mules. One was named Willing and the other was named Able. However, Willing was willing but was not able. Able was able but was not willing. The farmer did not get much done. Christ needs people who are willing and able. And the ironic thing is that when we subordinate our desires to His desire, when we enlist as privates in His army, when we serve as priests in His temple, which is the world, when we give ourselves in His service, it is then that we are lifted up. In losing ourselves we find ourselves. That is the nature of His kingdom. King Duncan, Collected Sermons,www.Sermons.com When we are willing and able – Christ is indeed our King! Amen. If You Are The King Of The Jews . . . by King Duncan Passage: Luke 23:26-43 • Lectionary: Christ the King Item 2 of 9 | Back to Results Object: Bottle of A-1 Steak Sauce Good morning, boys and girls. Why is something great referred to as "�A-1?" According to Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things both the phrase and the steak sauce date back to the 1820s in England. At that time, Lloyd's of London began classifying ships numerically for insurance purposes. "�A Number 1" was the highest rating, and quickly caught on in English society as a way to signify any person, place or thing that was of superior quality. The phrase was sustained by its use as a brand name for steak sauce originally developed for Kind George the IV. The King's personal chef developed the condiment, and popular legend has the King exclaiming "�This sauce is A-1!" after his first taste. The chef manufactured the sauce privately after the King's death, ultimately making a deal with a Connecticut-based producer who ensured that A-1 became a staple of American language and barbecues for decades to come. Today we celebrate Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is A #1 in our world. There has never been anyone like him and there never will be anyone like him. But you know, he wants us to be A-1 too. He wants us to live excellent lives. He wants us to be healthy and happy. He wants us to learn and grow and to love one another. He wants us to be the very best people we can be. That way everyone will know that we are his followers, because we are A-1 too. Collected Sermons, King Duncan, Dynamic Preaching, 2005, 0-000-0000-20 There was once a farmer who had two mules. One was named Willing and the other was named Able. However, Willing was willing but was not able. Able was able but was not willing. The farmer did not get much done. Christ needs people who are willing and able. And the ironic thing is that when we subordinate our desires to His desire, when we enlist as privates in His army, when we serve as priests in His temple, which is the world, when we give ourselves in His service, it is then that we are lifted up. In losing ourselves we find ourselves. That is the nature of His kingdom. King Duncan, Collected Sermons,www.Sermons.com Working for Christ’s Kingdom The application to those of us who love Jesus Christ is clear. What He loved and desired, we should love and desire and work to complete. His work is to see lost men saved and built up. His work is to see this world redeemed. His work is to see this unfinished world be brought to completion. We who love Him are called to complete the task. Hellen Keller once said, "The world is moved along not only by the mighty shove of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker." That's who we are and that's what we are called to do. Sermon Opener – The Prayer of a Thief Not everybody who takes up a life of crime is all that smart. Sometimes movies or television glorify criminals. They make them appear sophisticated, even cool. Most criminals do not fall in that category. Like the guy who walked into a little corner store in England with a shotgun and demanded all the cash from the cash drawer. After the cashier put the cash in a bag, the robber saw a bottle of scotch that he wanted behind the counter on the shelf. He told the cashier to put it in the bag as well, but the cashier refused and said, “I don’t believe you are over 21.” The robber said he was, but the clerk still refused to give it to him because he didn’t believe him. At this point the robber took his driver’s license out of his wallet and gave it to the clerk. The clerk looked it over, and agreed that the man was in fact over 21 and he put the scotch in the bag. The robber then ran from the store with his loot. The cashier promptly called the police and gave the name and address of the robber that he got off the license. They arrested the robber two hours later. Not the brightest tool in the box. Charles Cortez, a sheriff’s deputy from Los Angeles tells about investigating a late-night break-in at a local factory. Someone had broken a window in the factory, stolen a large industrial sewing machine, and gone out the front door with it. But in their haste, the burglars must not have noticed that one end of the industrial thread had caught on a splintered area of floor. Officer Cortez began following the string as it wound out of the factory, down the street, and into a nearby neighborhood. Eventually, the length of string led him straight to the front door of the band of thieves. The three men were arrested without incident, and the sewing machine was returned to its rightful owner. I believe those burglars need to find another profession. Michael E. Hodgin tells of pair of robbers who entered a record shop nervously waving revolvers. The first one shouted, “Nobody move!” When his partner moved, the first bandit was startled and shot him. Of course, some criminals are smarter than others. Jesus hung on a cross between two thieves, according to Matthew and Mark. Luke doesn’t specify their crimes. He simply calls them criminals. According to Luke one of the thieves joined in the mob that was mocking Jesus. He hurled insults at the Master. One of those insults particularly stung: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other thief had a better grasp of what was happening there. He rebuked his colleague in crime. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he turned to the Master and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” What a remarkable statement of faith. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com

Even God has work to do

November 17, 2013 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Isaiah 65:17-25 “Even God has work to Do” 26th Sunday After Pentecost Year C What does the word impossible mean to you? When someone says that things are impossible, what does that mean? The dictionary says something that is not possible, something that cannot be done, or unable to occur. Something where you can see a brick wall between what is possible, and what cannot be done. I was encouraged by one definition, which said that impossible is something that is difficult to occur. Something difficult, but can be done. This is one story, where a mom explains to her son that what is difficult takes time, what is impossible just takes a little longer. The Impossible Takes a Little Longer At the age of 20, Art Berg was a very happy man. Everything was going right. He was a gifted athlete and had started his own tennis court construction company. And he was engaged to a beautiful woman. Leaving California one Christmas eve, he was headed to Utah with a friend. He was going to meet his fiancée and complete their wedding plans. During the long drive, he fell asleep while at the wheel. His car hit an abutment and rolled down a hill. He was ejected from the car and found himself laying on the desert with a broken neck. He was paralyzed from the chest down. He completely lost the use of his legs and arms. The doctors told him he would never work again. They concluded that he could never play sports again and would be dependent on others the rest of his life. One even suggested he forget getting married. Art Berg was really afraid. It was the darkest moment in his life. The "end times" were upon him. In the midst of his peril his mother came and whispered a few words in his ear. "Art, while the difficult takes time, the impossible takes a little longer." In other words, "don’t panic!" Suddenly, Art’s darkness was filled with a light of hope. That was years ago. Today Art Berg is president of his own company, a professional speaker and author. He has gained back some of the use of his arms and legs and can now drive. He travels across the country sharing his message, "that the impossible just takes a little longer." Art married his fiancée and they have two children. He has even returned to the world of sports, swimming and scuba diving. In l993 Art was the first quadriplegic to race 32 miles in a marathon, all because he didn’t panic. Don’t panic, is the message of the day. Keith Wagner, Are You Having an Anxiety Attack? Muhammad Ali defines impossible this way…. “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali What is it that makes the impossible, possible? What is it that brings things that were not so into reality? Faith, hope, love. We have to remember that all things in life are possible through God. What does not make sense to us, makes perfect sense to God. What we cant do, God can do. How do we makes things that are impossible possible? We have to practice our faith in God. New Heavens and a New Earth 17 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. 20 “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach[a] a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. Explanation of Isaiah 65 These words were written by third Isaiah. The book of Isaiah is a series of impossible visions of the future, designed to give hope to a people who were convinced that change was impossible. That things would be in a state of devastation forever. Each vision in Isaiah builds upon making what was impossible possible, and as the doorway is opened, the vision becomes clearer and clearer. But each vision is designed to remind us all – that things that make sense – in the presence of God. The day is coming, when there will be nothing that separates us from God. And with God – we will live in total peace, and wellbeing. How many things in your life are behind the wall of impossibility right now? Are they impossible, or will God make a way someday for what you cant see, to come to reality? The message of Isaiah 65 – is to have hope, that if we have faith in God – it will all turn out, and we will all live together in harmony in life. the key is to have hope. There is a fundamental difference between hoping for something and wishing for it. It is essential to distinguish between hoping and wishing. They are not the same thing. Wishing is something that all of us do. It proects what we want or think we need into the future. Just because we wish for something good or holy, we think it qualifies as hope. It does not. Wishing extends our egos into the future; hope grows out of our faith. Hope is oriented toward what God is doing; wishing is oriented toward what we are doing. Wishing has to do with what I want in things, or people or God; hope as to do with what God wants in me and the world of things and people beyond me. Wishing is our will projected into the future, and hope is God’s will coming out of the future. Picture it in your mind: wishing is a line that comes out of me, with an arrow pointing into the future. Hoping is a line that comes out of God and points toward me. Hope means being surprised, because we don’t know what is best for us or how our lives are going to be completed. To cultivate hope is to suppress wishing – to refuse to fantasize about what we want, but live in anticipation of what God is going to do next. – Eugene Peterson Wishing is dependent on us – hoping is depending on God. Wishing is about what happens on earth, hoping is about what happens in heaven. More importantly – wishing does not require anything on our part. Hoping requires all of our life. Hoping for something means that we not only pray for it, we not only wait for it, but we live for it. We live as if we trust God to make it so. This morning, I also wanted us to think some more about the message of 2 Thessalonians. Last week we talked about the thessalonian error – the world was coming to an end- so people thought they did not have to do anything. Paul had to remind them that they still needed to work. Well Paul continue that conversation in chapter 3. He goes as far as to say that those who do not work – should not eat. I am not going to go that far this morning. But I did think that it was important for us to continue this conversation. To be reminded that God indeed had a vision for heaven, but he also has a vision for earth. God had a vision for the future, but he is here working in the present. God has a plan for all things in life. And God knows that in order for that plan to work – the we all need to work. Working is not what we do with our hands, but it is also what we do with our heart and our mind. As a matter of fact, what we do with our hearts and minds, determines what we do with our hands. The word idle Paul says – Now we command you, beloved in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness. There is a lot of debate about that word idleness. What does it mean to be idle, and what harm does it do to be idle. Paul uses the greek word – ataptkos – which means truant. It means that in he body of God, some people are just absent. You see them in body, but they are not contributing anything. We all know those people, they are the people who.. An unknown author said he met the strangest man on his way to church. Here is how he described this man: “He said he believed in the Bible, but he never reads it. “He said he thought well of the church of which he is a member, but he never attends or invites others to share in its ministry. “He said a person should be honest with God in money matters, but he never tithes. “He said the younger generation needs the Lord, but he isn’t leading them in that direction. “He said the church needs dedicated Christian members, but he isn’t one. “He offered some ‘constructive’ criticism of some of the workers but he never works. “He said the church should do more n ministering to people, but he doesn’t help. “He is critical of the way the church is ‘run,’ but he never participates. “He says he believes in the Second Coming, but he lives as though the Lord will never return. “He says prayer will change things, but he never prays. “He was,” says this author, “a strange man, indeed!” (3) Not so strange. Their number in the church is legion. Paul is saying that the harm done by those people are to their fellow brothers and sisters. It is to the community that is working for Christ. Those who work, have to bear the burden of those who don’t. People judge us by the work that we do. When people do not work – that is a reflection on us all. The truth is – we all get tired, we all want to give up, we all want to take a break sometime. What is it that keeps us going, when we are tired? Our love for God and our faith that God will give us strength , and that our hope will get us through. God Renews Our Strength In times of need, Jesus promises his disciples, you will receive strength from beyond. Rabbi Harold Kushner reflects on this strength. "I have seen weak people become strong," he writes, "timid people become brave, selfish people become generous. I have seen people care for their elderly parents, for bra iin damaged children, for wives in wheelchairs, for years, even decades, and I have asked myself, where do people get the strength to keep doing that for so long? Where do they get the resources of love and loyalty to keep going? The only answer I come up with is when we are weary and out of strength, we turn to God and God renews our strength, so we can run and not grow weary, so that we can walk and not feel faint." Rabbi Harold Kuschner, quoted by King Duncan,www.Sermons.com Dr. Tom Long tells about a friend of his who was telling him about taking a church youth group on a mission trip to Jamaica. “On their trip they visited one of the local elementary schools, and they spent some time observing in a classroom seriously overcrowded with children, most of them very poor, all of them needy and wiggly and noisy and unruly. It was a difficult, sometimes even chaotic, learning environment; but the youth group marveled to see that the teacher carried herself with great calm and patience, treating all of the children with love and respect, despite the poverty and the chaos. They decided that the only way she could do this was that she must really love being a teacher. But they were surprised to hear her say, ‘Oh, I don’t come here every day mainly because I love teaching. I come here every day because I love Jesus, and I see Jesus in every one of these children.’” (5) In those times when we are tempted to stop working, let our faith in God’s vision sustain us. When you hear Paul’s words – he reminds us that everyone has to work. Paul uses himself as an example of someone who worked hard to do what it right. The back story to Paul’s words is that in the jewish tradition – hard and honest work was important. Even as a rabbi – you were not supposed to accept money for your work. You needed to have another way to support yourself. Paul wants to make sure that everyone knew that he had a job like anyone else. There is a wonderful legend concerning the quiet years of Jesus, the years prior to his visible ministry. The legend claims that Jesus the carpenter was one of the master yoke-makers in the Nazareth area. People came from miles around for a yoke, hand carved and crafted by Jesus son of Joseph. When customers arrived with their team of oxen Jesus would spend considerable time measuring the team, their height, the width, the space between them, and the size of their shoulders. Within a week, the team would be brought back and he would carefully place the newly made yoke over the shoulders, watching for rough places, smoothing out the edges and fitting them perfectly to this particular team of oxen. That's the yoke Jesus invites us to take. Do not be misled by the word "easy," for its root word in Greek speaks directly of the tailor-made yokes: they were "well-fitting." The yoke Jesus invites us to take, the yoke that brings rest to weary souls, is one that is made exactly to our lives and hearts. The yoke he invites us to wear fits us well, does not rub us nor cause us to develop sore spirits and is designed for two. His yokes were always designed for two. And our yoke-partner is none other than Christ himself. The work of Christ may not be easy – but it is well-fitting for us and makes us comfortable. Whatever God calls us to work to do, God always equips is to do it. But most importantly he gives us the strength to see it through. So let us always remember to serve God, love Christ, work towards God’s vision, in order to make what is impossible today, possible tomorrow with God. Amen! Do What Is Right by Brett Blair, Tim Carpenter Passage: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 • Lectionary: Proper 28 Item 10 of 12 | Back to Results Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate that we should not be weary in doing what is right. Props: Three stuffed animals that you will use as puppets (two alike and one a dog, e.g., two toy birds and a toy dog), a wallet, and a piece of candy. Lesson: [Introduce the two puppets as John and Joe. All through the story have them talk and walk as needed.] I want to tell you a story about John and Joe. They were brothers who wanted to go for a walk. Their mother told them that if they were good, they could have a piece of candy when they returned home. So they went on their walk. After a short time, they came across a puppy dog. Have the toy dog lying on the floor or on a table where everyone can see it. The puppy dog was lost. John said, "I think we should help that puppy dog find its way home." Joe said, "Nah, I don't feel like it. Let's just go on." But John looked at its tag, and found that the address on the tag was just around the corner. So he took the dog home. Then they went a little further. They found a wallet lying in the road. Just as the stuffed animal was laid out previously, have the wallet out in the open before you begin. John said, "We need to find out who owns the wallet and get it back to them." Joe said, "Nah, I don't feel like it. I'm getting tired. Let them find it themselves." But John picked up the wallet and found that it belonged to a man who lived just up the street. So he took the wallet to the man. When they got home, their mother asked if they were good. What do you think? (response) Both boys said that they were good. So the mother asked what they did. John told the mother how they had found the dog and the wallet, and took them to their owners. Joe said, "I told him to come on, but he went ahead anyway." The mother said, "Why did you tell him to come on when he saw the dog and wanted to help it?" Joe said, "Because I just didn't feel like it." So the mother said, "Well then, only John gets a piece of candy, because only John was good." Have John pick up a piece of candy that is sitting out. Joe said, "But I didn't hurt anyone or anything. I wasn't bad!" The mother replied, "No, but when there is something you can do to help and you don't do it, then you have not been good and you should not be rewarded." Application: Why didn't Joe get any candy? (response) That's right. Joe didn't have a good excuse for not helping the dog or for not helping with the wallet, did he? Neither do we have good excuses when we choose not to help someone who is in need. The Apostle Paul said that we should never ever get tired of doing good things. And he said that people shouldn't get rewarded if they don't want to help do good things. You see, Jesus gave everything because he loves us. Jesus was so good to us, and he never got tired of being good. We should always try to do the right thing and be like Jesus! Let's Pray: Help us, dear Lord, never to get tired of doing good things. In Jesus' name. Amen. Children's Sermons A to Z, Brett Blair, Tim Carpenter, CSS Publishing Company, 2000, 0-7880-1780-2

Are you Ready for the Resurrection?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 Luke 20:27-38 Get Ready for the Resurrection 25th Sunday After Pentecost Year C The Questions we ask A Theological Curveball A certain minister has made it a policy for many years to refer "six-year-old theology questions" to his wife. Since she has taught very young children for many years, he says, she has a much better grasp than he does of how to address the questions which little kids ask. The other day, a first-grader brought a drawing of a skeleton into class where she teaches English as a second language. The titled across the top of the drawing read "Inside of Me." It was designed to teach children that everyone has a skeleton inside of them. He unfolded it proudly and showed it to the class. One little girl from India was astounded at the thought that she and others had this scary-looking skeleton inside them, and so she pressed the issue a bit farther. "Even you got one of these inside you, Mrs. K?" The teacher replied, "Yes, I have one, too." The next question was the theological one. "Even God got one inside him?" Now in a class made up of children from many different countries, cultures, and religious backgrounds (most of them not Christians), you can imagine that this question had the potential for major theological debate. I doubt if I'd have had the presence of mind to give the answer the teacher did; but, as usual, her expertise in six-year-old theology saved the day. "If God needs a skeleton, I'm sure he has one," she replied. "God has everything he needs." This apparently satisfied the theological curiosity of the class, and they got on with the lesson. Asking questions is an essential part of learning. If we don't know something, we look for someone who does and we ask. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask. We learn by asking questions about what we don't know. Larry R. Kalajainen, Extraordinary Faith for Ordinary Time, CSS Publishing Company Sadducees – not stupid question, but stupid people We have all heard that saying that there are no stupid questions. The only dumb question is one that you don’t ask. I think that Jesus would agree with me – that there is no stupid questions, but sometimes there are stupid people who ask questions. I know that is a pretty strong statement, but it is an explanation of the story in Luke 20. This story is included in both Matthew and Mark. But for Luke he puts this story on the Tuesday before Jesus is crucified. The priest have been looking for any excuse at all to attack Jesus. Each time they ask a stupid question – a question that will prove that Jesus is a fraud – Jesus understands the trap well enough to avoid it. And this question is no different. The Sadducees where rich priest, who were in charge of the temples. They were very conservative – anything that was not expressely written in the first five books of the bible – did not exist as far as they were concerned. The words of Job - I know that my redeemer[a] lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[b] 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet[c] in[d] my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Means nothing to them. The did not believe in the resurrection – even though the words are in the old testament. The sadduccees were sad u see – because they did not believe in anything that they could not see. In their world there was nothing to hope for, nothing more than words on paper to believe in. There was no eternal life. That is why in this case there were stupid people asking a stupid question. If there was a resurrection – which they didn’t believe in anyway, and a woman married seven different men, who would be her husband in heaven. Jesus had to explain that not only do you not understand resurrection, not only do you not understand heaven, before you try and talk about life after death, you should have an understanding of life. I love it when Jesus tells us that god is not a god of the dead, but the living. Nothing in life disappears Dr. Wernher von Braun, well-known for his part in the U. S. space program, says he has “essentially scientific” reasons for believing in life after death. He explained: “Science has found that nothing can disappear without a trace. Nature does not know extinction. All it knows is transformation. If God applies the fundamental principle to the most minute and insignificant parts of the universe, doesn’t it make sense to assume that He applies it to the masterpiece of His creation—the human soul? I think it does.” What is life? what is death? Jesus says that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But he says that they are indeed alive. But if we cannot see them, if we know that they have passed on, if we know where their graves are – then how are they among the living? What is the relationship between life and death? Thessalonians was written in a different time, it answers different questions, but at the heart of the scripture is the meaning of eternal life. Paul comes to Thessalonica in order to address the Thessalonian error. We all as Christians are susceptible to that error. Because we all live in the anticipation of Jesus coming soon – and we get confused about what that means. When Paul told the Thessalonians that Christ was coming soon – they forgot that God is the God of the living. They thought they could stop living for themselves, because Christ was coming soon, so nothing mattered anymore. My Thessalonian error There was a time in my life when life was so crazy for me, that I thought for sure that Christ was coming soon. I was so desparate for God to come and fix my life, that I made myself sick and ended up in the hospital. One day the nurse bought my clothes to my room, telling me that he washed them so that I could wear them again. I looked at the nurse and said I didn’t need them anymore. I looked out the window – waiting for Jesus to come out of the sky. The nurse left them on the counter – saying trust me, I think you will need these again. I thought he was just an unbeliever, who did not see the signs. Paul tried to help us understand that waiting for Christ to come, does not mean that it is time to give up living. It does not mean that our life is over. Life goes on, the work continues. We cant give up In the challenges of life – the Jews had stopped believing in the power of God. There was no God, There were no miracles, there was nothing to hope for beyond what they could see and understand. And the Christians believed that if there was a God, then there was no need for them to keep living. They could stop working and just let God handle it. They could just give up on everything and wait for the miracle. Paul tried to help us understand that one is just as bad as the other. God is the God of those who live. And those who live, are constantly growing and moving forward. As a matter of fact Thessalonians spells it out in verses 13-16. God called you to be the first fruits of salvation. Along with being called and chosen comes a task – a job, work for you to do. If you are called, and have work to do – then God will send others to help you in your task, If we are here, then we are set apart and saved for something better. If we consider ourselves to be Christians, then we are alive, anything that is alive, grows and moves forward. We don’t get to give up. A Girl learns to skate A father bought a little girl a pair of ice skates. In learning how to skate, she fell down time after time. Wanting to spare her the pain of failure – he asked her if she was ready to give up. She got up, and said I didn’t ask for these skates in order to fail- but to be a skater, and she got up and kept trying. What about you? What are you here for? Why do you call yourself a Christian? Are you a sad u see? Only believing in what you can see? Or are you waiting for something more? Are you one of the dead? or the living? Tradition Must Leave Room for Revelation The apostle Paul, in his letter of encouragement to the struggling young church at Thessalonica, wrote, "Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions we taught you, either by word of mouth or by our letters" (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Tradition is important. But tradition has to leave room for revelation, because the Spirit blows where it wills, right? That has always been a problem in the church, from day one to this day. We don’t seem to want to leave any room for revelation when we’re talking about tradition. A well-known theologian has commented, "Any church that is alive lives on the edge of heresy," meaning that its members won’t refuse new ideas or new programs or new challenges simply because there are those in the church who say, "WE NEVER DID IT THAT WAY BEFORE!" and want these to be the final words on the subject matter. These have been called "the seven last words of the church," and in many cases they have been. Johnny Dean Heaven and Earth There are a lot question the Bible doesn't answer about the Hereafter. But I think one reason is illustrated by the story of a boy sitting down to a bowl of spinach when there's a chocolate cake at the end of the table. He's going to have a rough time eating that spinach when his eyes are on that cake. And if the lord had explained everything to us about what's ours to come, I think we'd have a rough time with our spinach down here. Michael Green, Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, Baker, 1993, p.184. What would life be like if we ate chocolate cake, and avoided the spinache? Somewhere along the way – we would have lost sight of the true meaning of life. and we wouldn’t have the nutrients we need to grow, to move and to live. I leave you with the benediction in the last part of chapter 2 of Thessalonians – Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father, who loves us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. Amen. Big Changes by Brett Blair, Tim Carpenter Passage: Luke 20:27-40 • Lectionary: Proper 27 Item 1 of 3 | Back to Results Exegetical Aim: As we grow in life and as we grow with God, we will always have to deal with changes. Sometimes it means letting go of the old and accepting the new. Heaven will bring about the biggest of these changes. Props: A diaper, wipes, a baby bottle (or a jar of baby food and a baby spoon), and a pacifier. Lesson: I have something this morning I think you need. Hold up the diaper. Okay, who needs his diaper changed? (response) All right, don't be shy. Who needs his diaper changed? Anyone have wet britches? (response) I even brought the wipes. What? (response) What do you mean you don't wear diapers? (response) Ignore their statements about being grown-up. Well, then, here's something you need ... a bottle. Okay, who is hungry? Who needs his bottle? (response)What? (response) But you use a bottle all the time. (response) All right, no bottle. Here's something you can use. (response) You mean you don't even use pacifiers anymore? (response)Why not ... you used to use them all the time? (response) You're grown up? (response) How old are you now? (response) Tell me what growing up has to do with no longer wearing diapers and no longer eating baby food. How come you no longer need these things? (response) Keep the pacifier in your hands as you speak with the children. Application: My, how you've grown! It's sad sometimes to let go of diapers, bottles, and pacifiers, but it means we are doing some new things. Tell me some things you can do now that you are big boys and big girls? (response) What else can you do now that you are big? (response)Let me ask you a question: Do you miss the diapers? (response) Why don't you miss them?(response) I understand. Pause. Are you sure none of you would like to wear the diaper? (no!) If there is a wise guy who takes you up on it, motion him to come over. He'll back down. Jesus said as we get older, things happen to us: we grow up, and we change. We have to make decisions to let go of some things like diapers, bottles, and pacifiers. Hold up the pacifier. He even said when we go through the biggest change of all ... when we go to heaven ... some very big changes are going to occur. We will never have to brush our teeth again. And, we will never have to take a nap, and we will never have to eat all our broccoli again. Did Jesus say that? (no)You're right, he didn't say it exactly in those words, but he did say when we get to heaven some very big changes are going to take place. (Optional: He said we won't have to get married ... I know some of you are very happy about that ... and no one will ever die again.) You will no longer have just one or two brothers and sisters; you'll have millions of brothers and sisters. We will all be one big family. We will all have one Father and we shall all be God's children. That will be the biggest change of all! Let's Pray: Father, we look forward to growing up and the changes to come, but more than all that we look forward to the biggest change to come: being in heaven with you. Amen. Children's Sermons A to Z, Brett Blair, Tim Carpenter, CSS Publishing Company, 2000, 0-7880-1780-2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------THE THESSALONIAN ERROR The Thessalonian error was misunderstanding the purpose of end-time prophecy. The purpose is not to identify the anti-Christ or to inform us of events. Others have misunderstood the purpose of second-coming prophecy. Many people have been identified as the anti-Christ. Early Christians suspected some of the Roman emperors who persecuted them. Victims of the inquisition suspected some leaders of the Catholic Church. Some of you may have heard sermons comparing Hitler, Mussolini, or Hirohito to the anti-Christ. In my lifetime, I have heard or read speculation about Henry Kissinger, Prince Charles, and, more recently, Barack Obama. Do any of you remember a booklet, "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988"? Matthew 24:36 says no one knows the day or hour. The writer ignored that by pointing to a 3 day period, the feast of trumpets, in October, 1988. He said we can’t know the day, but we can know the 3 day period. He was wrong. The most famous group for setting second coming dates may be the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Charles Russell believed Jesus would return in 1874. In 1877, he taught Jesus returned invisibly, contrary to scripture that says “every eye shall see him.” Jehovah’s Witnesses later predicted that in 1914 Armageddon would end. It had not even begun. They said 1925 was a date firmly established in scripture, that they had more reason to believe the kingdom would be established in 1925 than Noah had to believe there would be a flood. Jesus did not return in 1925. Jehovah’s Witnesses again expected Jesus to return in 1929. Before his return, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be resurrected to announce his coming. A house called Beth-Sarim was built for them to live in when they came. Judge Rutherford, then President of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, graciously offered to live in the mansion and supervise its maintenance until they arrived. They did not rise and Jesus did not return in 1929. I have heard testimonies of ex-JWs who believed the prophecies of Jesus returning in 1975. They talked about going door to door in affluent areas, picking the houses they wanted to live in when Jesus came again. Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught only 144,000 will make it to heaven. Other faithful Witnesses will be resurrected to live forever in paradise on earth. Many thought nice houses left behind by people who were not Witnesses would be free for the taking. Sometimes, men of great learning be great fools, and sometimes they suffer for it. Listen to this. "In view of the short time left, a decision to pursue a career in this system of things is not only unwise but extremely dangerous... Many young brothers and sisters were offered scholarships or employment that promised fine pay. However, they turned them down & put spiritual interests first," (Kingdom Ministry, July 1969, p 3). Some Jehovah’s Witnesses, graduating high school, turned down scholarships. Some graduating college turned down promising jobs. Why? Because their leaders told them Jesus was coming in 1975. When their leaders were proven wrong, again, those scholarships and jobs had been given to others. "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end.” (Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, p 3). Some Witnesses sold their homes and quit their jobs. They lived off the money from selling their homes while going door to door teaching a false gospel. In 1976, when their leaders were proven wrong, again, they had nothing left. Many people and groups have committed the Thessalonian error. They misunderstood the purpose of end-time prophecies. Sometimes, they suffered for it. (From a sermon by Mark Stepherson, The Purpose of Second Coming Prophecy, 5/29/2012) Unfriendly Fire It’s a fact: Sometimes the commercials are better than the programs. A few years ago, the all-sports network ESPN had a series of commercials set in a mythical University of Football. In one of them, an earnest-looking student admits to Tom Jackson, an ESPN analyst who was himself once a professional football player, that he’s probably asking a stupid question. Maybe at this point you expect Jackson to repeat the common saying “The only stupid question is the one that never gets asked.” But what Jackson actually says is “There’s no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people asking questions.” Jesus answered a good many questions during his ministry, but this one about the bride who marries seven brothers comes pretty close to being a stupid question. It is not being asked by a stupid person, however. There’s a high-stakes game being played here — nothing less than life or death — but the only life on the line belongs to Jesus. Keep in mind that the scriptures do not condemn asking God serious questions, even angry questions. Consider Job’s vocal complaints, the laments of the psalms, Habakkuk’s extended complaining and Martha taking Jesus to task after the death of her brother Lazarus. God actually seems to welcome serious questions. A living faith is a questioning faith. How else will we get answers? God’s word invites us into an honest dialog. These questions show that we take God seriously, as someone who, though greater than we can imagine, invites us into a real, not a sanitized, relationship. But a little common sense wouldn’t hurt, either. Over the triple doorways of the Catheral of Milan there are three insciptions spanning the splendid arches. Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath is the legend. “All that which pleases is but for a moment.” Over the other is sculptured a cross, and the words, “All that which troubles us is but for a moment.” But underneath the great central entrance to the main aisle is the inscription, “That only is important which is eternal.” —Current Anecdotes

Remembering the Future

November 3, 2013 All Saints Day Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 Ephesians 1:11-23 Year C A world-class woman runner was invited to compete in a road race in Connecticut. On the morning of the race, she drove from New York City, following the directions -- or so she thought -- given her over the telephone. She got lost, stopped at a gas station, and asked for help. She knew that the race started in the parking lot of a shopping mall. The station attendant also knew of such a race scheduled just up the road and directed her there. When she arrived she was relieved to see in the parking lot a modest number of runners preparing to compete. Not as many as she'd anticipated; an easier race than she'd been led to expect. She hurried to the registration desk, announced herself, and was surprised by the race officials' excitement at having so renowned an athlete show up for their race. No, they had no record of her entry, but if she'd hurry and put on this number, she could just make it before the gun goes off. She ran and, naturally, she won easily, some four minutes ahead of the first male runner in second place. Only after the race--when there was no envelope containing her sizable prize and performance money-- did she confirm that the event she'd run was not the race to which she'd been invited. That race was being held several miles farther up the road in another town. She'd gone to the wrong starting line, run the wrong course, and missed her chance to win a valuable prize. As we gather on this Sunday morning, we have a special task this morning to honor those in the body of Christ who have run the right race, and have won the prize of eternal life in Jesus Christ. God’s promise for all of those who have led a faithful life, who have remembered to love God even in the midst of their struggling, is triumph over all troubles, by living in God’s lights forever. Last year, Pope Benedict said that as we remember the lives of those who have departed, we have an opportunity to deepen our relationship with the promise of eternity. This day reminds of our destiny, where we will dwell with the truth of the universe and realize the fulfillment of our purpose. This life with all of its darkness, sickness, evil, pain and death is not all that there is. God has promised that if we are faithful, then we too will prevail and overcome. On this day, as we get a chance to look up in heaven, it is important for us to realize that in Christ we are connected. Our loved ones are a part of the communion of saints, and so are we. In this life we cant touch them, or hear their voice. But in Christ, we are united. The book of Ephesians talks about the gifts that we have received from Christ. If we die in Christ, then we will rise again in Christ. Paul reminds us that life does not begin, until we are united in Christ. Once the holy spirit seals us with baptism – we have been given our inheritance The man stuck out his hand. “I’m Ben Hooper. I was born not far from here across the mountains. My mother wasn’t married when I was born so I had a hard time. When I started to school my classmates had a name for me, and it wasn’t a very nice name. I used to go off by myself at recess and during lunchtime because the taunts of my playmates cut so deeply. “What was worse was going downtown on Saturday afternoon and feeling every eye burning a hole through you. They were all wondering just who my real father was. “When I was about 12 years old a new preacher came to our church. I would always go in late and slip out early. But one day the preacher said the benediction so fast I got caught and had to walk out with the crowd. I could feel every eye in church on me. Just about the time I got to the door I felt a big hand on my shoulder. I looked up and the preacher was looking right at me. “’Who are you, son? Whose boy are you?’ “I felt the old weight come down on me. It was like a big, black cloud. Even the preacher was putting me down. “But as he looked down at me, studying my face, he began to smile a big smile of recognition. ‘Wait a minute,’ he said, ‘I know who you are. I see the family resemblance. You are a son of God.’ “With that he slapped me across the rump and said, ‘Boy, you’ve got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.’” The old man looked across the table at Fred Craddock and said, “That was the most important single sentence ever said to me.” With that he smiled, shook the hand of Craddock and his wife, and moved on to another table to greet old friends. Suddenly, Fred Craddock remembered. On two occasions the people of Tennessee had elected an illegitimate to be their governor. His name was Ben Hooper. (from Power for Living, by Jamie Buckingham, 1983) The good news of Ephesians, is a reminder that we are all children of God. God claims us all. God cares about us all. God loves us all. And that we have all inherited the gifts of God. Paul is praying for the wellbeing of all that are under the seal of the holy spirit. He wants us to know that we have inherited 3 things from God. Paul says that the first thing that we can see and experience is the hope to which he has called you, the second is the realization of the preciousness of the saints in our lives, and the third is the power of immeasurable greatness. The December 11, 2002, online issue of Forbes magazine carried the story of a family feud in one of the richest families in America. The Pritzker family of Chicago owns the Hyatt hotel chain. They also own many other businesses, including cruise lines, railroads, and banks. In 2002, 18-year-old Liesel Pritzker sued her father and other family members, claiming that they drained her trust fund of more than $1 billion. Because of their mismanagement, Liesel claims, her inheritance has been greatly reduced. She is suing for $5 billion dollars in punitive damages. (1) One billion dollars! Poor Liesel! Some of us would like to have her problems. She didn't have to lift a finger to earn this money. It's just there, what's left of it, earning interest, and waiting for her to collect it. Don't you just weep for her? Perhaps we should. No amount of money is worth being alienated from your family. It is sad to think that Ms. Pritzker didn't trust her own father to protect her inheritance for her. What would you do if you knew you had an enormous inheritance waiting for you? Would it make a difference in how you live while you wait to receive it? Reflect on that as I tell you another story I heard recently about a man who came into some money unexpectedly. But when we understand our inheritance of God, we realize that we have things that cannot never be taken away from us. Things that money cannot buy. Anne Graham Lotz sat down and made an alphabetical list of the eternal blessings that cannot be taken away from us. Listen to the items on her list and notice her clever use of the letters of the alphabet. She wrote: I am: Accepted by God / Beloved by God / Chosen by God / Delivered by God / Enlightened by God / Forgiven by God I have: Grace of God / Hope for the future / Inheritance in heaven / Justification / Knowledge of God / Love / Mercy of God / Nearness to God / Oneness with God / Peace / Quickening of the Spirit I am: Redeemed / Sealed with the Holy Spirit / Treasured by God / United with other believers / Validated as an authentic child of God I have: His Wisdom And one day I will be: Exalted with Him! (4) A lady, when her husband was absent, lost both her children to cholera. She laid them out with a mother’s tenderness, spread a sheet over them, and waited at the door for her husband’s return. “A person lent me some jewels,” she told her husband on his return, “and he now wants to have them back. What shall I do?” “Return them, by all means,” said the husband. Then she led the way, and silently uncovered the forms of their children. On this day we remember the jewels in our life that have been returned to God. We miss them dearly, as we acknowledge that they are now present in the bosom of God. They are resting in the bosom of Christ. They have realized the fulfillment of the inheritance that is for us all. Their life with us was a glimpse of heaven. A glimpse of eternity. A chance for us to look into heaven and to see that God will not break his promise. God is with us in life and in afterlife. That which is born of the flesh shall die, but that which is born of the spirit shall have eternal life. We are connected here on earth to heaven in our spirit. In our ability to life a life of holiness. And hope. The greatest gift of our inheritance is our ability to have hope. To know that no matter how much we suffer, that pain is never god’s final word. God promises that life will be better, we will feel better, those who we remember are in a better life and are living in God’s peace. All Saint’s day is a time for us to look up, and to have a better relationship with eternity. For us to realize that our hope in life is in Christ. In Christ, we are all connected. We are united. When we look up to heaven and see eternity, let us also look around and see those on this earth with us. Those who Christ has sent us to journey with. A holy life, is a life connected to brothers and sisters. Showing the love of God to all of God’s children – living with us and living in eternity. "Holiness is the very principle of eternal life, the very beginning of eternal life in the heart, and that which will certainly grow up to eternal life." ~Jeremiah Burroughs Mrs. Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, who was ninety-three years old on July 22, 1983, applauded and admired by millions, was quoted by many before and during her celebration. Knowing the sorrow she has gracefully borne, I was challenged by words that appeared in Parade magazine addressed to and about her grandchildren: I hope they will have the strength to bear the inevitable difficulties and disappointments and griefs of life. Bear them with dignity and without self-pity. Knowing that tragedies befall everyone, and that, although one may seem singled out for special sorrows, worse things have happened many times to others in the world, and it is not tears, but determination that makes pain bearable. May we inherit the determination, the hope, the power, the spirit of those who now with Christ. And may we life a holy life, that shows others the way to their inheritance in Christ. Amen. Hope For A New Year by King Duncan Passage: Ephesians 1:1-14 • Lectionary: All Saints Item 12 of 19 | Back to Results Object: A letter An Upbeat Word for a Downbeat World, #1 Boys and Girls: Suppose a member of your family--your grandparents or an aunt and uncle--lived hundreds of miles away. Suppose it was not possible for your family to visit them or for them to visit you. And suppose they had never seen you. Your parents are very proud of you. Now imagine that they want to tell your family members all about you. How could they do it? They could send a letter like this one, couldn't they? They could describe the color of your hair and your eyes and how tall you are. What would be a better way? They could send a picture of you. Or if you have a video camera, they could even send a video. But what would he better? Maybe they could send you to spend a few days with them. That would be the best way. Then your family living far off would know exactly what you are like. God wanted people to know what He was like. He tried speaking through great leaders of the Bible like Moses and Elijah and others. But somehow people still couldn't accept God's great love for His children. So He sent a living letter. That living letter was Jesus. John called Jesus the Word of God. We don't know exactly what he meant. But we think it was something like this. That rather than sending a letter like this one. Or a photograph. God came in person in the life of his Son. That way we could know exactly what God is like. belong to the Kingdom of God The story is told of Frederick William IV of Prussia who once visited a school and quizzed the students. He held up a stone and asked the children: to what kingdom does this belong? They responded: mineral. He then, pointed to a flower and asked: to what kingdom does this belong? They answered: plant. He then pointed to a bird flying by outside the window and asked: to what Kingdom does that belong? They replied: animal. Then he asked: now, to what kingdom do I belong. He had raised a profound theological question. To what kingdom do we belong? On a literal sense, we are, off course, part and parcel of the animal kingdom. I belong to the same kingdom as my dog Ruff. He has many human traits. He can pout, he can get excited, he has a temper (as some of you who have visited the parsonage have discovered). But yet, Ruff does not understand time. He cannot grasp that there is a point beyond which he will not live. Only humans can grasp time. Ruff cannot tell right From wrong. It is not within him to share. His limited mind cannot set goals. All of those are human traits. The magnificent thing for humans is that it is within us to rise above purely animal desires and become a part of another kingdom----the Kingdom of God. Staff,www.Sermons.com If a man is filled with anger, than anger controls his life. If a man is filled with greed, then greed dominates his life. If a man is filled with lust, then lust governs his life. If a man is filled with love, then love influences all he does. And if a man is filled with the Holy Spirit, he is controlled by the Spirit - it is, if you will, "control by consent." Realizing that he would soon be gone from this world one day, Moody said to a friend, “Someday you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody of Northfield is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. “At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone higher, that is all—out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that sin cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned into His glorious body. I was born in the flesh in 1837; I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die; that which is born of the Spirit will live forever.” POSTED BY JOSHUA HEARNE AT 7:00 AM Collected Sermons, King Duncan, Dynamic Preaching, 2005, 0-000-0000-20