The Importance of Passing on the Mantle

June 30, 2019 The Importance of passing on the mantle 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Year C Mentors By Lois Parker Edstrom This is the story of two great men. Moses was the man who led his people out of Egypt where they had been held as slaves. The Bible teaches us that Moses was a strong, powerful man. Joshua was a younger man, and the Bible tells us the he was “full of the spirit of wisdom” (34:9). I like to think that Joshua may have become wise by watching Moses work and listening to his advice. After Moses brought the people out of Egypt they came to a beautiful land where the people could work and find a better life. Moses had completed his work. Now he turned over the job of leading them into the new land, to Joshua. Think of people you admire who can help you “gain wisdom” as Moses did with Joshua. I like to write poetry and I especially admire the poetry of one woman whose poems are lovely and wise. I have a book of her poetry on my table and read her poems often. I study the words she uses and how she puts certain words together. I want to learn all I can from her. (Personalize this part of the lesson by relating a story about a mentor who has been helpful to you.) What is it you want to do? What is it you like to do? There are wonderful men and women all around you who can teach you many things. It may be your mother, father, an older brother or sister, a friend or teacher… Look to someone you admire and learn all you can from that person. Try to become “filled with the spirit of wisdom” just as Joshua did. Scripture quotations from the World English Bible Copyright 2012, Richard Niell Donovan 2 Kings 2:1-2 Common English Bible (CEB) Elijah goes to heaven 2 Now the LORD was going to take Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, and Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, because the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives and as you live, I won’t leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 2 Kings 2:6-14 Common English Bible (CEB) 6 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, because the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives and as you live, I won’t leave you.” So both of them went on together. 7 Fifty members from the group of prophets also went along, but they stood at a distance. Both Elijah and Elisha stood beside the Jordan River. 8 Elijah then took his coat, rolled it up, and hit the water. Then the water was divided in two! Both of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “What do you want me to do for you before I’m taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Let me have twice your spirit.” 10 Elijah said, “You’ve made a difficult request. If you can see me when I’m taken from you, then it will be yours. If you don’t see me, it won’t happen.” 11 They were walking along, talking, when suddenly a fiery chariot and fiery horses appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went to heaven in a windstorm. 12 Elisha was watching, and he cried out, “Oh, my father, my father! Israel’s chariots and its riders!” When he could no longer see him, Elisha took hold of his clothes and ripped them in two. Elisha succeeds Elijah 13 Then Elisha picked up the coat that had fallen from Elijah. He went back and stood beside the banks of the Jordan River. 14 He took the coat that had fallen from Elijah and hit the water. He said, “Where is the LORD, Elijah’s God?” And when he hit the water, it divided in two! Then Elisha crossed over. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible Question for you. Who are the people in your life who are responsible for who you are today? Who was it that mentored you? Who looked after you, who was willing to show you the ropes, especially as you started out in your life. I remember when I was about 3 or 4, my grandmother would have this well mannered well dressed lady come and pick me up every Sunday and take me to church. I remember one morning my grandmother told my mother that this lady was teaching me how to be a lady. For the life of me, I have no idea of who that lady was. Everyone who would know is gone now. And truth be told, I am not sure my mom was all that crazy about me taking etiquette lessons. I learned a lot from all of the female relatives in my life, and I have always thought of all of them as very special giants in the world. When I think about who I am as a pastor – I am greatful for the day that I met Jack – a campus minister at Northwestern who welcomed me and introduced me to the United Methodist Church. And Dr. Edmund Perry who was also a United Methodist Pastor and chairperson of the religion department at Northwestern. After much a few years, when I was ordained as a deacon in the United Methodist Church - I told the cabinet that I wanted to be pastor of a large church. So after serving for two years as a local pastor – they paired me with Fred. My District Superintendent told me that the only way to learn how to run a large church, was to run a large church. So they made me an associate with Fred with the stipulation that I would have equal preaching time. Fred was a really good sport about letting me preach every other Sunday. Fred has passed, but I treasure his support of me as a pastor. I am grateful to Gates and to Steve – my other Senior pastors. They didn’t let me preach every other Sunday, but they were supportive and I learned a lot from them both. Steve is Jaime Geiger’s best friend. Today as the world is changing, so is ministry and so is the role of the pastor. All of my ministry mentors have either passed away or retired. While I still have 2o years left. This scripture about the relationship between Elijah and Elisha was always resonated with me. Even today, whenever I have my yearly evaluation with my District Superintendent, when they ask what my ministry goal is – it is the same as it was 23 years ago – to be Senior pastor of a large, white, suburban church. They respond that is a little arrogant of me – that is okay – that is all I know. I have always been clear with all of my mentors – that I want to know everything about what you do, so that I can be prepared for that day. Of course today – the world that I pastor in is different from the one they pastored in – there are fewer and fewer large white suburban churches to pastor. So I can relate to Elisha’s request of Elijah – that I want twice as much of God’s spiritual gifts than you have. Not I want what you have – I need even more of God’s presence in a changing more challenging world. Elijah and Elisha were two very different people with two very different ministries. Elijah was a loner who preferred the desert, Elisha was a community person who preferred to stay in the city. Elijah was a big personality, Elisha was an even bigger personality. One day a group of teenagers made fun of Elisha for being bald, Elisha sent a ball of fire to destroy them. Elijah was one of two men who didn’t die, they were taken up to heaven. Elisha lived a normal life and died a normal death. I am pretty sure Elisha would have trained a protégé to take his place – but we don’t know his name. Elisha’s passion was for the community of prophets to carry on his work. We don’t know much about Elisha but the community remembered his name. the community continues to tell his story – and to honor his mentor Elijah as the most important mentor who ever lived. After looking at this story this year –it is a very rich story of the importance of reaching out to the younger generation. God came to earth in a chariot of fire to show Gods presence. Elijah passed the mantel on to a new generation. But the most important part of the story today – there were 50 fellow prophets who saw everything. – they were witnesses to God’s presence, they have kept this story alive even today. Instead of assigning his work to one person he assigned it to a community of witnesses. When you do the work of God, you never know who is watching, and how they are imitating you. A little boy said to his mother, “Can I go outside and help Daddy put snow chains on the car? I know all the words.” Always remember that those who come behind you are copying you. Centuries later, there was another young man who heard about Elijah, and aspired to be just like him in every way. Who aspired to do everything he could to save God’s people. Just like elijah’s protégé his name was God saves – but his name is god for a new day saves in a new way. Just like Elisha, his focus was not on one person taking his place, but forming a community of people to do his work. Very few people are expert in anything all by themselves. They need a supporting community. Do you know a good musician who was not trained, nurtured and sustained by the music community? Show me an athlete who achieves excellence all alone, apart from the athletic community. Very few wise men become so without the accumulated wisdom of the centuries as expressed in colleges and universities and libraries. Medical people are more like ensembles and symphonies than soloists. What business tycoon does it all on his own without dedicated experts in finance, engineering, personnel, and marketing? Excellence requires participation in, and support of, a community of like-minded people. Likewise in the church -- a forerunner of the new kingdom. Very few achieve Christian maturity all by themselves. Seldom is the Bible studied diligently without the aid of scholars and teachers. Rarely are people led to generosity by their own impulses. Maurice A. Fetty, The Divine Advocacy, CSS Publishing Company The word apostle means a witness, one who witnessed for themselves the presence of God. Like his namesake, Jesus put his efforts into his witnesses. It is their story that we tell today. It is the power that they say in Christ, that still fuels our ministry in an every changing world. It is said that our lives are shaped by those who love us and who we witness. So my question still stands – who is it that shaped your life? who mentored you, who formed you? But more importantly, who is it that is watching you? Who is it that you are shaping their life through love and care. Who is it that will carry on your spiritual gifts when you no longer possess them. We have to realize that there is someone out there who is watching each one of us? How is what we show them a witness to God? Are we passing the buck or are we passing the mantle? Guiding Angels Thanksgiving weekend 1994, Trey Dodson was in a car crash in Darlington, SC. – that left the most popular boy ins St. John’s High forever seventeen. Everyone was devastated by his death. Trey was the star pitcher on hi school’s baseball team. He was buried wearing his uniform. He teemmates vowed that they would dedicate the next season to Trey. When the next season came, they all wore his number on an armband. They won game after game. When it came time for the payoffs, they were finally defeated. But that only inspired them to play harder. They went on to win the state championship the week before graduation. Trey’s father was a crew chief for a race car driver, that driver won the championship. Both teams reported they had an angel in the outfield. Some teams had more muscle then they did, but they had the motivation – the motivation to do the best they could. We too have that motivation, in Jesus Christ – who encourages us to go out and save the world. Let us pray….. The inheritance story Hyrkanus was a happy man. Every morning, he awoke with joy in his heart and he said his prayers every day. He has everything, a wonderful house, lots of land, plenty of food. The greatest gift that God could give a man he had. He had lots of sons. And he was thankful that all of his sons were on the farm with him working with him. Well after they had all grown and had families of their own, they all worked on the farm with them. He was happy because they were farmers just like their dad. Hyrkanus would keep watch over is sons. One day he noticed that his youngest son Eliazer was not working. When he talked with his son, Eliezer confessed that he did not enjoy working on the land. Hyrkanus asked his son what he would do if he could do anything else, the son confessed that he wanted to study the bible and get to know more about God. He wanted to devote his whole life to studying God. The father dismissed the young man’s dream and reminded him that is place was with his family and with the land. But Eliezer could not dismiss his dream. He could not eat, drink, and he certainly couldn’t be productive tilling the land. One day Elijah came to him in a dream and asked what he desired. He told Elijah his dream. He told Eliezer that if he really wanted that more than anything that he should go to Jerusalem without delay. Eliezer left the very next day without even saying goodbye to is family. He studied under the best teacher. When the father found out that the son deserted his family, he vowed to take away his inheritance and to disown him. But in order to do that – he had to go to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem he was invited to the house of the greatest rabbi. He sat next to his son, who was a student, but he did not even recognize him. The son was invited to teach from the torah. All were amazed at is teaching, even the father. It was not until the rabbi point out that he recognized his son. He needed to confess that he came to Jerusalem to disinherit him, but instead he would disinherit his other sons for encouraging him. Eliezer said no, that the work that each did was of value. If had had desired to be a great farmer and he prayed, god would have granted him that. If he had desired riches, he could have prayed and god would have granted him that, instead he prayed to serve god with all of his heart – god granted him that – and he was indeed blessed. And we too are indeed blessed that god listens to the prayers of the faithful. This is a true story – not a fable of someone who desired to be a great follower of a great leader. When we follow – Jesus leads us- blesses us and hears the prayers of our hearts. Discipleship Occurs Only In Community

The Small Still Voice

June 22, 2019 A Small Still Voice 2nd Sunday After Pentecost Year C Object: A dish with water in it Boys and girls: How strong is water? Some of you probably think water is not very strong. It's gentle and soothing to swim in this time of year, isn't it? And it's true that if I stick my hand in this dish and scoop up some water and let it seep through my hand, the drops of water don't seem very strong. But suppose I let one tiny drop after another keep falling on one spot, how strong is it? Did you know that it could wear a hole in a mighty rock, drop by drop, over a number of years? How about the water that goes over Niagara Falls or over a dam? Enough water going in the same direction can turn mighty motors that can produce electricity to light great cities. Our lesson from the Bible is about a man named Elijah who forgot two important lessons: You can win great victories if like the drop of water falling on a rock you hang in there and keep trying. Don't give up. The other lesson he forgot is that you can also be victorious if you find other people to help you. Of course Elijah's greatest help came from God. That's where our greatest help comes from, too. We can even be more powerful than Niagara, because God is with us. Dynamic Preaching, Collected Sermons, by King Duncan 1 Kings 19:1-15 Common English Bible (CEB) Elijah runs to Mount Horeb 19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, how he had killed all Baal’s prophets with the sword. 2 Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this message: “May the gods do whatever they want to me if by this time tomorrow I haven’t made your life like the life of one of them.” 3 Elijah was terrified. He got up and ran for his life. He arrived at Beer-sheba in Judah and left his assistant there. 4 He himself went farther on into the desert a day’s journey. He finally sat down under a solitary broom bush. He longed for his own death: “It’s more than enough, LORD! Take my life because I’m no better than my ancestors.” 5 He lay down and slept under the solitary broom bush. Then suddenly a messenger tapped him and said to him, “Get up! Eat something!” 6 Elijah opened his eyes and saw flatbread baked on glowing coals and a jar of water right by his head. He ate and drank, and then went back to sleep. 7 The LORD’s messenger returned a second time and tapped him. “Get up!” the messenger said. “Eat something, because you have a difficult road ahead of you.” 8 Elijah got up, ate and drank, and went refreshed by that food for forty days and nights until he arrived at Horeb, God’s mountain. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. The LORD’s word came to him and said, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 10 Elijah replied, “I’ve been very passionate for the LORD God of heavenly forces because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars, and they have murdered your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left, and now they want to take my life too!” 11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand at the mountain before the LORD. The LORD is passing by.” A very strong wind tore through the mountains and broke apart the stones before the LORD. But the LORD wasn’t in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake. But the LORD wasn’t in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake, there was a fire. But the LORD wasn’t in the fire. After the fire, there was a sound. Thin. Quiet. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his coat. He went out and stood at the cave’s entrance. A voice came to him and said, “Why are you here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I’ve been very passionate for the LORD God of heavenly forces because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars, and they have murdered your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left, and now they want to take my life too.” 15 The LORD said to him, “Go back through the desert to Damascus and anoint Hazael as king of Aram. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible So it is official, in May of this year, CNN reported that burnout is officially classified as a bonifide disease. The term burnout, breakdown has been around what seems like forever. Actually a phsychiatrist coined the phrase in an article in 1974, and it seems to have caught on like wildfire. Now the World Health Association says that burnout is not the same as depression or anxiety. Burnout is expressly defined as a work related issue. Burnout is a feeling of exhaustion,a callousness or carelessness of work. There are 5 stages of burnout – the honeymoon phase, when you are gungho about everything , and excited to work. But as reality sets in you get stressed out about problems, then you start to obsess about the stress all of the time, and then stress becomes a way of life, and then you get to the point where you can’t deal with anything. . A study back in 1993 (1) showed that people who work in the care industries, such as nurses and social workers and others who have frequent intense or emotionally charged interactions with others are especially susceptible to burnout. But burnout can affect workers in any field. Take prophets, for example. Since many prophets were commissioned with the idea that most of those to whom they prophesied were going to reject their message, burnout was practically part of the job description for being a prophet. (Stan Purdam) Our scripture for today is the story of the prophet Elijah and his bout with burnout. This biblical story happened thousands of years ago, Elijah experiences the classic symptoms of burnout. When I talk about a lot of scriptures, I say they are my favorite. But I love this one for so many reasons. But there are few stories in the bible as important as this one, with such a wonderful message of faith as this story. First of all Elijah is a really big deal to the Jewish faith. There are a handful of stories in the bible about him, but there are many other stories and legends about this man. Elijah – means I believe in God in Jah. The more I think about it, Elijah was an important prophet because Elijah was an important example of an ordinary man, who did extraordinary things for God. Today, we use Jesus as our example and say what would Jesus Do. But Jesus used Elijah as an example, as Jesus began his ministry – he would ask himself what would Elijah do. In this story Elijah runs out into the wilderness to find god, In the new testament, Jesus runs out into the wilderness to find God. Elijah is a prophet, Jesus is a prophet. They kill Jesus for being a prophet and telling the truth, they threaten Elijah’s life. That is part of a prophet’s job – to tell people what they really don’t want to hear –hence the chronic stress. But a prophet also helps people, is an example to people, listens to God, and does God’s work in the world. We are all called to do God’s work in the world. We are all called to have a relationship with the creator. I really think Elijah is so important, because there is a part of Elijah inside of each of us. you know that World Health Organization says that burnout is only work related, but I think that burnout is also very common amongst God’s people. Burnout is faith related as well, that is why this story is so important. ! Kings 18 and 19 are two parallel lessons, which may or may not have happened chronologically. Elijah is this strong determined figure who comes out of the middle of nowhere, with no back story. But he comes on the scene determined to show the love of God both to those in need and even to those in power. In chapter 18 he challenges the kings wife – Jezebl to a dual that his God is stronger than her God. Elijah wins the battle, by killing 400 prophets of another God. but now Elijah is afraid for his life and he runs. He runs and hides in a cave. That pattern of starting out gungho and determined, and then starting to realize the stress of what you are doing starts to set in. Elijah retreats – he is so discouraged that he just wants to die. The angels come to feed him and nourish him. I love this story – because the story tells itself. One preacher says that the cause of burnout are unrealized expectations, traumatic events, worry, poor decisions, lonliness, negative self talk – negative prayers – It is all here in this story. God ask Elijah – what are you doing here – and all Elijah can do is complain and think negative. He doesn’t even answer God’s question – but whines- I have been zelous for the Lord, I have been doing all I can, no one listens, they are out to get me, I am a failure, I cant do this , I am all alone……unrealized expectations, tramatic events, worry, poor decisions, lonliness, negative self talk – negative prayers. Elijah has it all. God never responds one way or another, he gives Elijah no advice, no sympathy. He simply ask Elijah one more time – what are you doing here. It is Elijah who goes off on this quest to find the real God – the god of the fire – like the one who appeared to Moses. The god of loud noises and big things. shipwrecked man prays to God to save him. A boat approaches, but the man tells it to go away because God will save him. The boat leaves. A second boat arrives, and the man sends it away, saying God will save him. The man dies of exposure. When he gets to heaven, he complains to God for not saving him when he prayed. God tells the man he sent two boats to save him but the man sent them away." Elijah looked in all of the places he heard God would be – and found nothing. Until he was able to calm down and find God in the still small voice. The Greek says a thin whisper, or a light murmuring sound.- I like to call it a God whisper. It is that moment in life, not so much when God speaks, but when your spirit is quiet enough to listen. In his book Directions, author James Hamilton shares this insight about listening to God: Before refrigerators, people used icehouses to preserve their food. Icehouses had thick walls, no windows and a tightly fitted door. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the icehouses and covered with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer. One man lost a valuable watch while working in an icehouse. He searched diligently for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn't find it. His fellow workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the icehouse during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch. Amazed, the men asked him how he found it. "I closed the door," the boy replied, "lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking." Elijah is still stuck in his burnout – his complaining, unrealized expectations, tramatic events, worry, poor decisions, lonliness, negative self talk – negative prayers God speaks to Elijah one more time. First of all he tells Elijah that he is not alone – there are 7000 other prophets just like him. But I love it, in the end he tells Elijah to go back to the desert and get back to work. In other words get over it and move on. He doesn’t stop elijah’s complaining, but he doesn’t acknowledge it either. But after it is all over Elijah is able to renew his own spirit. He is able to continue in his calling, rather than giving in to his burnout. But this time as he goes out and continues his ministry – he is not only restored, with a new purpose. But he has the confidence and skills to change the world, instead of allowing the world to change him, and his meaning and purpose. Faithful living can be hard, draining, thankless work. It can burn even the most determined person out. I am convinced that in life, we all have a Jezebel to face – that one challenge that will take every ounce of strength that we have. Burnout is okay – sometimes it forces us to take the much needed break to regroup. Pastor Jim Erwin gives this 7 fold prescription to renewed faith based in Elijah’s experience – sleep and nourishment, accept help from the angels, feel free to vent your frustations, listen to God’s small still voice, renew your purpose, be reassured that what you are doing is right, and finally find some friends – those 7000 others who just like you are zealous for the Lord – they are out there. Burnout is real – we don’t need to don’t need the world health organization to tell us that – all we need to do is come to church a couple of Sundays and be with God’s people. But the good news for us is that the demons of despair don’t have the final word. God’s still small voice still speaks. I have just one more story to share – in 1952 composer John Cage wrote a song called 4 minutes 33 seconds. – it is a song written in three parts. But in each part instead of playing, the musician is forced to sit and listen – for 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Where in your life can you go to find God – a place in your life where you can be fed by the angels and hear God’s voice speaking to you. So many times in our life we seek God in the miracles, in the extraordinary , in far away places. When God is present right here in our ordinary lives. Let us pray…. Amen. Additional illustrations… Have you heard about the cell phone ringtone that junior high and high school kids are using to keep teachers from discovering that they are using their cell phones in school? The pitch of this ringtone, called the "mosquito tone," is too high for people over 25 to hear. So the kids can still send and receive text messages during class without the teacher knowing. The mosquito tone was first developed in Great Britain to irritate teenagers who were loitering around convenience stores and keeping customers away by their loud and obnoxious behavior…Some kid simply figured out how to use that sound as his cell phone's ringtone and—voilà—kids are downloading it by the millions.

A Sign of the Lord

1 Kings 17:8-24 Luke 7:11-17 A Sign of the Lord 3rd Sunday After Pentecost June 9, 2013 Year C Modern Day funeral Procession The time that I most conscious of the presence of death is not during a funeral, it is in the procession to the cemetery. It is the pastor’s job to accompany the person in their final earthly journey, and to see the soul off to heaven and the body into the ground. At the beginning of my ministry, in the suburbs funeral directors would insist that I ride in the hearse with the casket. But lately, funeral directors have told me that their insurance doesn’t cover my presence in the hearse. So I have to drive my own car, behind the hearse. One of the scariest things in the world for me is driving through the streets of Chicago, ignoring street signs. I consider it a real miracle when we finally make it to the cemetery. My survival strategy is to do whatever the hearse does, and to make sure that there is no room for anybody or anything to have room to get in between us. If Jesus and a band of angels appeared and wanted to get in – I would have to explain that now is just not a good time and place, because I am not letting anyone in front of me until I get to the cemetery. Jesus and funeral procession Funeral processions then and funeral processions now are very different. In Jesus day, the procession was on foot. There were no hearses, no caskets, no busy traffic to have to strive through. As Jesus was coming down the road in Nain – as he heard to grieving, it was pretty easy for him to join the procession, and to learn more about the person being buried. A widow was burying her only son. She may have well have been burying herself, because without him to take care of her, she had no means to live. Scripture says that Jesus has compassion on her situation. He knew what was in store for her – and he gives her life back. It is not the son that is bought back to life, it is her. Why does Luke like this story so much? This is the only place in the gospels that we hear that story. Only Luke tells this story. Luke wants us to be clear that this man Jesus, this son of God, this prophet of the people, is the messiah. He is the sign of God’s presence in our lives. If Jesus has the power to give this grieving widow what she needs to live – he has the power to help us to – to restore our lives – to give us what we need in order to be saved. Luke uses these miracle stories in order for us to be clear of who the messiah is. This story is a set up for Ejsus encounter with John the Baptist. In the next story, John’s disciples send word – are you the messiah, or should we be waiting for another. Jesus says the dead have been restored – what more proof do you need. Luke is also a fan of the prophet Elijah. He knows his Elijah stories well. He knows that in order for the prophet to return – that Elijah has to come first. So he records this story that reminds us of Elijah. Luke even mentions this story in chapter 4:26. God loves all people God tells Elijah to visit the widow in Zarepath. Zarapath is the hometown of Jezebel, is arch enemy. God wants to make sure that Elijah understands that the effects of the drought affects everyone. Suffering affects us all – no matter who we are. Our family ties, our money, our status, not even our relationship with God can protect us from suffering. And yet God calls both Jesus and Elijah to visit the most vulnerable of our people- and to realize that they are the ones most affected by life. Elijah asks a widow for food. She too assumes that she must prepare herself for death. When her son dies, her future has disappeared. Elijah prays for god to restore her son. Nephesh Also, what Elijah prays for and receives is that the nephesh (the life, the animating principle of life) return to the young man. What is said to have left and then to have returned here is the same word (nephesh) used in Psalm 30. A person who has lost one's nephesh shows no signs of life. A person is still a person without one's nephesh, but without one's nephesh a person can do nothing. Differences of Elijah and Jesus There are differences, of course, between the stories about the power of Elijah and the power of Jesus perceived as the Christ. Within the stories about Jesus as the Christ there is no necessity for Jesus to pray to God for the power to restore life. Jesus as the Christ is represented as inherently having the power and authority of God to be able to restore life. Jesus as the Christ in the Newer Testament is presented as similar to Elijah and to Elisha, but vastly superior to them. For us as Christians, God acts in a unique way in and through Jesus perceived as the Christ. We should note that the power to renew life in the young man in this text comes from the Lord (Adonai). The power is not inherent in Elijah. The primary purpose of 1 Kings 17:8-16 (17-24) apparently is to demonstrate that the power of Adonai was active in Elijah. Elijah was obviously a man of God, divinely inspired and empowered. Similararities of stories The point of both of these stories is to remind us of the power of the word of God. When we call on God to be presence and to intercede on God in a bad situation, it is God’s love that makes a difference, not us. God can work in the world through our faith. the miracle stories show us that God is more than willing to demonstrate his power in the midst of our story. God uses faithful people to bring his power on earth. But finally, God wants us to know that if he cares for the least in society. God cares about you and me. God freely gives out nepesh – the life force in order for us to live a better life. Whatever works for us to restore our life, our life force God will provide. Some will asks, if god as the power to restore life, why doesn’t he do it for all of us in every situation. Don’t know – that is a mystery of god. But what we do know, is that God constantly gives us what we need to be able to praise God and to realize that God is good. We Are in the Middle of It Years ago a man was traveling by ship with his young daughter across the ocean. Earlier that particular Sunday he had preached a sermon about God’s love. It had been a very difficult service to preach, because he was newly widowed. He was standing against the rail of the ship, looking out at the vast and magnificent ocean, when his daughter asked him if God loved them as much as they had loved her late mother. “Of course He does,” answered her father. “There is absolutely nothing bigger or more powerful and all-consuming than God’s love for us. It’s the biggest thing there is!” The little girl pressed on for more information, wanting to know exactly how big God’s love was. Finally her father with great tenderness said, “Well, look across the sea as far as you can. Look up and down and all around. God’s love stretches around to cover all of that; above the blue sky and deeper than the deepest part of the ocean underneath us.” The little girl pondered for a minute and replied, “And to think Daddy, we’re right in the middle of it.” And we are. We’re right in the middle of God’s love. We don’t need a miracle to tell us that. Most of us have known God’s love all our lives. Of course, that is not to say that miracles do not occur. They do--to the eyes of faith. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com I think it is important for us to remember that God’s love works for us – but we also have to remember that God’s love works through us. God needs us in order to show love to others. Jesus Christ is our messiah – he is our life force. And he gives us the power to raise people from the dead. In both of these stories, someone who was literally dead was raised. But the dead person was not the focus of the story. The life force the nephesh runs through all of us. there are many ways for us to be dead. We can be dead inside of our minds, our souls, our relationships, our dreams, our hopes, our needs. Jesus came into the world in order to restore us all to true life. but Jesus needs us to give that love to others. We have to same power of God, of Jesus, we can find Elijah present in our lives too. Elijah introduces the Messiah A Rabbi met his teacher and friend Elijah standing near the entrance of a cave, of another rabbi. All three men greeted each other. And one asked Elijah if the messiah would really come. Elijah replies – “why not go and ask him yourself”. And where can I find him asked one of the rabbi’s. he is sitting near the entrance of the town. So the rabbi asks how will he recognize the messiah. Elijah said, the messiah sits among the poor people and the beggers who are suffering from various diseases and illnesses. Most people treats these people by taking off all of the bandages and putting them all back on at the same time. The messiah on the other hand, treats each person one at a time and bandages their wounds one at a time. I do this as fast as I can, so that when people call on me, I am ready to help. The rabbi saw the man, wrapping bandages of the poor, and he asked him when he was coming. The messiah replied I come today. The rabbi returned to Elijah, and said that he has met the messiah, but that he lied. He said he was coming today. Elijah noted that if he talked to the messiah, in greeting him he had given him a blessing, wished him peace, and promised that he would be with him in the new life. The rabbi said he appreciated the blessing and the promise, but what about the lie – why did he say he would come today. Elijah responded – he did not lie- he said that he would come today – but the he would come today when you called upon his name. He is still waiting on you to call. There is power in our prayer. The power only comes into the world when we call on Jesus. When we invoke Jesus in the midst of our situations. God works for us, but most importantly he works through us. He is waiting for us to call – so that the power of the lord can be seen by all who need it. Amen. "There is an old story about a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline. Once a month he would receive a new supply of oil to keep the light burning so that ships could safely sail near the rocky coast. One night, though, a woman from a nearby village came and begged him for some oil to keep her family warm. Another time a father asked for some to use in his lamp. Another man needed to lubricate a wheel. Since all the requests seemed legitimate, the lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone and grant the requests of all. Toward the end of the month, he noticed his supply of oil was dangerously low. Soon it was gone, and one night on the light on the lighthouse went out. As a result, that evening several ships were wrecked and countless lives were lost. When the authorities investigated, the man was very apologetic. He told them he was just trying to be helpful with the oil. Their reply to his excuses, however, was simple and to the point: "You were given oil for one purpose, and one purpose only - to keep that light burning!" A church faces a similar commission. There is no end to the demands placed on a church’s time and resources. As a result, the foundational purposes of a church must remain supreme." James Emory White, Rethinking the Church (Baker Books, 1997), 27-28. This account is another excellent example of how the inspired Lukan writer used the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible to move beyond Mark's account. In this instance, the event is Jesus' raising the daughter of Jairus who had just died and returning her alive to her grateful parents.

At the Foot of the Master

At the foot of the master 1 Kings 18:20-39 Galatians 1:1-12 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Year C June 2, 2013 Elijah loves to party, whenever, there is a party, Elijah is there. The more wine the better. Jesus is a party person also. Afterall, Jesus said where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there. Elijah and the wedding One day Elijah was walking down the street and he heard a lot of noises coming from a backyard. That could mean nothing but a party. Elijah takes his cane and poof, changes into some drab grey robes, and knocks on the gate to the household. The father of the bride opens the gate. “May I help you” – I can hear your party from out here. Can I come in and join you? The father takes one look at him and says no – this is a private party just for my family and friends, and he slams the gate in Elijah’s face. Hmmph – says Elijah, his feelings are a little hurt from the rejection. Poof- this time he takes his cane and changes clothes again. This time he is in the finest white suit that you ever did see. White jacket, a white top hat, he even turns his cane white with a gold header on it. He takes the cane and he knocks on the door again. The father answers the door again. Elijah says “ I can hear that you are having a party, it sounds like you all are having a lot of fun. Can I join your party. The father takes one look at Elijah and says sure come on in. Elijah comes in and starts to mingle with the guest. When it is time to eat – there is a feast – all kinds of food everywhere. The guest start to line up at various tables to get their meal. Elijah gets in line at the meat table – and when it is his turn – he takes some roast beef and stuffs it in his pocket. The woman behind him sees him, but she doesn’t want to say anything. Elijah then gets in the dessert line – and he takes several pies – the first he smashes all over the front of his suit, and the chocolate cream pie, he takes and smears it on the back of him. Now this time everyone sees him – but no one wants to say anything, the don’t want to disrupt the party. So Elijah goes to the drink table, he picks up the whole punch bowl and he pours it all over himself, even on the top hat. No one can ignore this – and it disrupts the whole party. Finally the father feels that he has to do something. He walks up to Elijah and starts to yell. What is going on – I invited you to my party, I let you in my house, I let you celebrate with my family. And this is how you treat me. Elijah responds – I come to your front door dressed like a bum and ask if I can come in, and you slam the door in my face. So I come again, dressed to the nines and you immediately let me in. So the best I can tell, you didn’t invite me to the party at all. You invited my clothes, not me. So I am feeding them. I want them to have a good time at the party. Of course by this time – everyone at the party has stopped to hear Elijah Speak. They realize that it is Elijah himself who has come to their party. “ I Elijah have spoken” he says and poof – he disappears leaving only his white cane on the ground. Elijah today Elijah loves to party. Rumor as it, Since Elijah didn’t die, and he was taken up directly into heaven, he also has the power to return. Rumor has it that before the messiah returns, Elijah will return. In Jewish tradition whenever you have a gathering, you always set a place for Elijah, because you never know when he will stop by. Elijah loves to party – the more wine the better. Elijah will be our guest for communion today. Elijah is a big folk hero in the jewish tradition – there are many tales about the appearances of Elijah in the everyday lives of the faithful. For the next six weeks, we will look at the stories of Elijah in the books of 1 and 2 Kings. I love this time of the church year, because I love Elijah. I love stories about him, those in the bible and those that are not. And this one, in 1 Kings is a perfect example of the larger than life character of Elijah. This is a story between Ahab the king of Israel and the prophet who comes to him and holds him accountable for misleading his country. He marries Jezabel, no only does he take on her religion, but he encourages people to worship God and Baal. Elijah comes to him and tells him that until he changes his ways- it will not rain. And the rain stops for 3 ½ years. After 3 ½ years the king decides to solve the problem, not by repenting of his sin, but by killing Elijah. This is the story where Elijah challenges the priest of Baal to a game of my God is stronger than your God. Whichever God that shows up and consumes the offering on the altar is the real God. Elijah is pretty mean in is taunting of the priest of Baal. Elijah asks where is your God? When scripture says that perhaps he has gone away – that is just a euphemism – he is really saying Your God is not present because he went to the bathroom. Elijah challenges bystanders to douse the altar with water 4 times. In the natural world, water quenches fire. there is no way you can start a fire in the presence of water. But fire comes and consumes the altar. The fire wasn’t started by human hands it was started by God. God showed up, Baal didn’t – maybe Baal had to use the bathroom. But this is not a story about the presence of God- it is a story about the faith of Elijah. The rest of Israel were going with the flow of the day. Elijah chose to stay faithful to God. He was strong enough to stand up for what he believed in. Because he knew that he worshipped the one true God. And have you ever noticed that what is true always has to compete with a lie. A lie always spreads with speed, but the truth always endure. What is 2+2 A few years ago, a major Multinational company was looking for a new Marketing Director. After much advertising and many application, three candidates entered the final selection process. A mathematician, a statistician and a solicitor. The first to be invited in for the final interview was the mathematician and the Managing Director asked him a simple question: What is 2+2. The mathematician was surprised, thought about it for a bit, wondered if it might be a trick question and then simply answered 4. The Managing Director looked at the Board, shook his head and thanked him for coming, but he wasn’t the candidate they were looking for. The statistician was the next in and and the Managing Director asked him too the simple question: What is 2+2. He paused, thought about it for a bit and then replied that statistically it was a number between 3 and 5. The Managing Director smiled and Board were quite impressed. The candidate was thanked and ushered out. The last candidate, the solicitor was then invited in to the interview and the Managing Director asked him too the simple question: What is 2+2. Without batting an eyelid he replied: “What do you want it to be”. And was promptly hired on the spot. You might call it creative accounting – sometimes things don’t always add up. Story of battle between the same faith The thing that strikes me the most about this story- was that this is not a story about us and them. Ahab and Elijah were both jews. They both worshipped the same God. The difference was that Ahab worshipped God and Baal. Elijah stayed loyal to the one God. This was not a show for Ahab, Elijah was after the hearts of those who were listening. Before the show – Elijah addresses the people and asks how long will you continue to limp between two opinions. In other words, how long will you continue to walk on two crutches? I think that this is an important question in our faith, to the followers of Christ – us. We all believe in God, but we let other things creep into our faith. Lectionary As we hear the stories if Elijah for 6 weeks, the epistle lesson will come from Galatians. There are more holidays to prepare for, no more important events in the life of Christ. The summer is the time for us to develop our discipleship. Our ability to serve Christ. – Christ only. Paul – different gospels? Paul is also caught in the middle of the battle between the human gospel and the divine gospel. And he too is concerned about Christians making up their own rules. Creating their own gospels. There is the gospel of good works, the gospel of hard work, the gospel of being right, the gospel of what I think, there is the gospel of prosperity, the gospel of popularity. We tend to make up our own gospels according to what works in our lives. We have to be reminded that there is only one God, one savior, one gospel. The one that we find in the bible. Sometimes I think that we are the churches worst enemy. There are times when we get in God’s way when He is trying to tend to the business of His kingdom here on earth. "A man was struggling with a large box at the back edge of his truck. A passing neighbor saw his plight and came over to help him. He put his shoulder to the box. After a few tiring moments the neighbor exclaimed, "What’s in that box anyway? I don’t think we will ever get it on the truck." "Get on!" the exasperated man shouted, "I’m trying to get it off!" … Well-meaning Christians can be God’s worst enemies. When we judge and condemn others, when we set up our own standards of what it means to be saved, when we claim absolute knowledge of God’s will and of his Scriptures, we take over God’s role and attempt to run his business" (Hoefler, p. 47). That is the very reason that we sometimes fail to see that we are trying to put the box on the truck when God wants the box off the truck. The fight between Elijah and Ahab was not a fight between the Good and Evil or right and wrong. It was a fight between worshipping God and worshipping God correctly. It was a fight between the many ways to worship and the one God, with one path. It is a fight for our faith. To make sure that we serve Go with all of our hearts, minds and souls. What type of faith does the lord require? An unselfish faith, a Christ centered faith, a humble faith, a faith which trusts completely in God’s word. A faith that thinks of others, not self, looks to Christ as God, depends on God’s grace. What faith do you have? Which gospel to you live? The battle of Elijah was a battle for the hearts and souls of God’s faithful people. Who fights that battle today? Let us pray….

The Moment Everything Becomes Clear - February 22, 2009

February 22, 2009
Transfiguration Sunday
2 Kings 2:1-12
Mark 9:2-9
Year B
“The Moment when Everything Becomes Clear”

Elijah story
Elijah loves to party. Whenever there was a party – you always knew he would be there. One day while walking down the street he heard a wedding party. Dressed in his street clothes, a drab gown, he walked up to the door and knocked. A man answered, the father of the bride. I see you are having a party said Elijah, can I come in. The man took one look at Elijah and said I am sorry, this is a private party and slammed the door in his face. Elijah was horrified and thought what to do next. He took his gold cane, waved it in the air, and all of a sudden he had a wonderful white tuxedo, hat and of course his gold cane. He wrapped on the door again with his cane. Once again, the father came to the door – I hear that you are having a party. I love to party – can I come in. the man took one look at Elijah and said of course you can come in. Elijah joined the party. He danced and talked for a while. Soon it was time for a very lavish meal. The guest went to different tables to get various types of food. Elijah walked up to the fruit table and grabbed an orange and put it in his pocket. One of the guest saw it, but she did not want to make a big deal of it. He walked up to the dessert table and grabbed a few cakes, and put them into his pocket. People noticed, the even noticed when he started to rub his pockets smashing the cake. People thought he was weird, but no one wanted to say anything out loud, but of course this was a close knit family – so word had spread. Then Elijah went to the meat table, ordered a piece of roast beef and put that in his pocket. Now by this time people were looking and paying attention. So when he went to the drink table and took a cup of fruit punch and poured it all over his white suit – the host could stand it no longer. He confronted Elijah and asked what was going on. I don’t even know you, and I let you into my daughters party, and instead of just fitting in, you are making a nuisance of yourself and ruining my party. How dare you – yelled the host. Elijah yelled even louder – yes you let me into your party. First when I knocked on the door in shabby clothes, you slammed the door in my face. But when I dressed up in this suit – you let me in. So the best I can tell – you invited my clothes, not me. Elijah grabbed an apple, and slammed it into his chest, so I am feeding my clothes – I want to make sure they have a good time at the party. I Elijah have spoken – and he disappeared leaving behind his gold cane.

Elijah is a larger than life figure in the jewish worldview
I am sure that story has a moral – but I tell it to represent the reputation that Elijah holds in tradition. There are many stories of Elijah appearing all throughtout history.
Elijah is one of the few people who did not die – but in our story is taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire. And it is believed that when the messiah comes back to the world – that Elijah will appear and come back to usher in a new age for God.

Elijah represents the faithfulness to God
The other person who had such a faithful relationship with God was moses. But in the moses story – moses grave was never found, but he did pass on. The story says that when Elijah was taken by god, that they searched for his body, thinking God swept it up but dropped it somewhere. But it was never found. Elijah was so faithful and passionate for God in his life, that God continues to use him.

Story of his passing on his knowledge to Elisha
There are many stories of Elijah works on the earth. 1 and 2 Kings are about his life. But there are many stories like the one I told you. The story for today is about Elisha. They know that Elijah is going to be taken by God. Elisha asks for a double portion of his spirit – that he can do many of he works that he has witnessed.

I think Elisha was asking for more than that

Elisha gets it

Elisha mourns for someone – who no one knows if he really died.

The new testament story is another appearance of Elijah. He appears to Jesus in the dark of the night.

Tell story of mark.
This is the transfiguration story. On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus takes some time to climb a mountain to pray. He takes three of his disciples with him. The disciples witness Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus. Jesus shines in the night, and a voice speaks saying listen to Jesus.
This is not just about Jesus transfiguring, but the symbol of God presence and faithfulness comes to confer with Jesus and his mission to save the world. This moment shows the disciples that Jesus is indeed not just a wonderful teacher, but he is indeed God’s chosen messiah.

It was a cold and dark night.
It would have been hard to see what was going on in the dark on the top of a mountain. But they noticed that they had night vision, and could see what was going on clearly.

They say that when you descend into the ocean – that you enter into different worlds

Each darker and colder than the one before – until you enter into a strange world – where everything glows.

A world of strange animals, and strange plants. You realize that you are in a place where you could never imagine in your everyday life.


This was not something that happens everyday. Not something that anyone would ever believe How did they get to that place?

How do we get to the place where we listen to God, where we see visions clearly, and things that we are struggling all of a sudden start to make sense.

There is no pathway to that place – we all have to find it for ourselves. God speaks in ways that only we can recognize. Our task during lent is to find those places.

Stories to give us the tools to get through the days ahead. Tools we need are imagination and prayer. Time dreaming of what God would have us to do, praying for God to lead us .

Will start to see God in ways we never imagined

Read poem.
"A person whispered," God, speak to me" and a meadowlark sang. But, the person did not hear. So they yelled,"God, speak to me" and the thunder rolled across the sky. But, they did not listen. The person looked around and said, "God, let me see you" and a star shone brightly. But, the person did not notice. Then they shouted, "God show me a miracle" and a life was born. But, the person did not know. So, they cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here." Whereupon God reached down and touched them. But, they brushed the butterfly away, and walked on.

We have come through epiphany season – sort of like scuba diving down into the ocean. Going deeper and deeper into darkness and coldness until we reach the bottom of the ocean. Lent is our journey on the bottom – until Easter when we get to revel in the brightness of daylight.

As you enter into lent – remember the tools for a deeper relationship with God. Your prayers, your imagination, your dreams for the future.

Be present when God reveals the divine to you – in so many ways.

This is an Elijah cup – you use it for maunday Thursday. Whenever you have dinner for Passover, the jews are supposed to set a place for Elijah at the table. When everyone else gets something to drink – you always pour something in the Elijah cup. It is done to remind us that Elijah could come back at anytime. And that when he comes back – he is not just passing on his spirit to his protégé, but to all of us.

That tradition spreads also to Jesus. What would happen this lent, if everytime we set the table, we left a place for Jesus. To come to us, to speak with us , to live with us, to guide us. To be reminded that Jesus is present when we realize it and when we don’t. As we begin our Lenten journey – whatever you plan to do – know that God is with you. Pray for as many things as you can – and look earnestly everywhere for answers.

Finally – a group of middle school girls were talking about inner beauty and the importance of being a Christian. They talked about how they needed to pray for those who needed it and even for those who were mean to them. A teacher asked if prayer changes things – no but prayer does change you and how you look at the situation.
This lent - if you are a faithful follower of jesus – the world may not change, but if you pray – you will. When you change – the world changes with you.
Amen.