The Voice of God still Speaks (II)

Psalm 29 Mark 1:4-11 The Baptism of the Lord Year B The Voice of God Still Speaks The story of the drunk man and the plunge A church is at a river, some of its members are being baptized. Along walks a drunk man, which disturbs the pastor. The irritated pastor grabs the man and tells him he needs to find Jesus. He dunks him in the water, and asks if he has found Jesus. No replies the man, so the pastor dunks him again. Have you found Jesus the pastor Asks. At no, the man is dunked again and gives the same no answer. Upset, the pastor dunks him again and leaves him down there for almost a minute. Have you found Jesus yet? Asks the pastor. No says that man, are you sure this is where he fell in? That is the question of the day – Have you found Jesus? Where have you found Jesus in your life? What is the best place for you to go- and to know that Jesus will be. Jesus is found in communion and baptism In the church there are two places that we can go and know that Jesus will be there. We know that we can come here, and find Jesus in the singing, on our praying, in listening to the word. We can find Jesus in our praise. We can find Jesus in our children. We can find Jesus in the wonderful and special times and places in our lives. But for the church, there are two very special places that Jesus invites us to come. Two special sacraments – that the presence of God is with us. Communion and baptism Mark starts his story with baptism It is interesting that Mark begins with the baptism of Jesus – not the birth, not the childhood. Not even with the word. Mark chapter 1:1 says – the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah as it it written in Isaiah the prophet. Today as we begin our journey into Mark – we hear the story of how Jesus was baptized. His cousin John is out in the wilderness, all to come and listen to him and to repent and believe in God. Jesus comes to the water, comes to baptism – because that is the place in his life where he knows he can be close to God. John says that Jesus was with God in the beginning. He was not a sinner, He did not need John’s call of repentance. And yet he needed to hear God’s voice. He needed to know that God would be with him on the journey. And as he comes out of the water – the spirit of God says you are my son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. Jesus baptism important This has to be an important step in Jesus live and his ministry, because this event is notes in all four gospel stories. Mark is the only one that makes this a personal event. God talks to Jesus and says you are my son, not this is my beloved son. Jesus needs to hear those words of affirmation in order to go forward and start his ministry. Jesus has to come to the water in order to hear the voice of God. The voice of God is over the waters Psalm 29 says the voice of the lord is over the waters, the god of glory thunders. The lord thunders over the mighty waters. I think of looking over a still body of water, and looking and seeing the clouds hovering over the water. Before a storm hits – you can look over the waters, and see the clouds and the wind hovering over about to cause a storm. In Hebrew the spirit and the wind are the same word – ruach. When the ruach, the spirit of God blows into our lives – things start to happen, things start to change. When wind start to move the water- then a cool breeze starts to flow into our lives. In the summer, whenever I can feel a storm coming, I come out and welcome it, because it brings a fresh breeze into my life. There is something about wind storms and water, that speak God in a way that nothing else can. I go back to psalm 29 – the voice of the lord is over the waters. That is why water is the most important part of our baptism. The spirit of God is always in the water. Waters in the civil rights movement During the civil rights movement, when police aimed fire hose at protesters to discourage them, Martin Luther King said, we may not understand their motives for aiming water at us, but that is okay – as we march together in unity as Christians, we now the water. If we are Baptist, we are immersed in it, if we are Methodist, we are sprinkled in it, but as long as we are Christian, we know water, and whatever their motive for dousing us, we know that God is in the water. Clinton and repentance Even Bill Clinton understood the importance of the waters of baptism. When he was impeached, and all of the scandalous behavior that he was involved in came to light. He made a statement to the nation about repentance. About turning around and starting a new life. Clinton read this passage from the book: "Now is the time for turning. The leaves are beginning to turn from green to red to orange. The birds are beginning to turn and are heading once more toward the south. The animals are beginning to turn to storing their food for the winter. For leaves, birds and animals, turning comes instinctively. But for us, turning does not come so easily. It takes an act of will for us to make a turn. It means breaking old habits. It means admitting that we have been wrong, and this is never easy. It means losing face. It means starting all over again. And this is always painful. It means saying I am sorry. It means recognizing that we have the ability to change. These things are terribly hard to do. But unless we turn, we will be trapped forever in yesterday's ways." Clinton's quote ended with this prayer: "Lord help us to turn, from callousness to sensitivity, from hostility to love, from pettiness to purpose, from envy to contentment, from carelessness to discipline, from fear to faith. Turn us around, O Lord, and bring us back toward you. Revive our lives as at the beginning and turn us toward each other, Lord, for in isolation there is no life." That was the message that John was trying to get all to learn as he preached of one who was coming that was greater than he. That coming to God, meant turning away from yourself and your behavior. When we come to the waters of baptism it is time for us to turn around from self centeredness to community, from jealousy to understanding, from resentment to love. And the list goes on for us today. Little boy begins a new life A little boy came to his third grade Sunday school teacher after class one day. She had talked about baptism to the class, encouraging the kids to remember their baptism. He told her that all of his classmates had been baptized, but he had never been baptized. He wanted to be baptized to. But he told her, he did not want to do it in front of the church. He wanted it to be a private affair at the lake, with his best friend. Trying to help him understand the true meaning of baptism. She explained that it had to be done in front of the church. Remembering the story in Mark 1 he replied, but Jesus was baptized by his cousin. So why cant I be baptized by my best friend. But how will people know that I have changed? They will know that I have changed, when they see me acting different. When they see me being a better person, they will know that I have been baptized. Baptism is my chance for a new beginning. She realized that he may not know the true meaning of baptism, but he did understand the truth of baptism. This was not just an act to fit in, he had thought about this and been able to make a decision. And that this was his chance to start all over again, and to begin a new journey in his life. Why did Jesus come to the water? When Jesus came to the water to be baptized by John. He may not have needed to confess his sins and repent. But what he did know it that it was time to begin a new chapter in his life. That it was the time to acknowledge the power of a new start. he knew that the voice of God was hovering over the waters. And that he needed to come to the waters of baptism in order to hear God’s favor upon his life. The abc’s of baptism I want to tell you a little secret. The abc’s of baptism. Repentance, Affirmation, belonging, and continuation. The Christian alphabet starts with R. First of all when we come to the waters, we have to repent. But once we turn to god. We are given the gift of affirmation, belonging, and continuation. We too are given God’s favor, we too are baptized into god mission. We too hear God’s voice speaking to us, saying that we are all his beloved sons and daughters. We are God’s sons and daughters A famous governer talks about growing up in the 50’s without a father. Single parenthood was not so glamourous in those days. So he spent his life in shame. Whenever, he would go to church, he would always leave by the back so that he did not have to talk to the minister. He did not want to be acknowledged ever. One Christmas, it was so crowded that he could not sneak out the back. He got caught up in the crowd and had to go out the front and pass the minister. Having never seen the boy before, he asked who he was. Whose boy are you asked the minister, who is your father. The little boy was terrified, he had no idea of how to answer that. In his silence, the minister replied – oh yeah I recognize you now – you are God’s son. It was in that moment that the boy recognized the abc’s of baptism. Affirmation, belonging and continuation. No longer did he have to life in shame, he could live in God’s favor. The voice of God still hovers over the waters today. God is still creating today, every day with God is a new day with a new beginning. Every year with God brings us to a new chapter, a new journey with God. When we remember the power of our baptism, we remember the power of God in our lives. God’s voice brings with it peace, harmony, creativity, love, joy and the list goes on. Psalm 29 says the lord sits enthroned over the flood. The lord is enthroned as the lord forever. The lord gives strength to his people, the lord blesses his people with peace. When God speaks, how do you respond. I want us to continue with the commitment phase of our covenant. How will you walk with God this year. This is another tool to think and to pray and to listen with. The true meaning will unfold throughout the year. Amen.

Someone is Calling Your Name

January 10, 2010 Someone is calling your name Isaiah 43:1-7 Luke 3:15-22 Year C The Baptism of the Lord – Second Sunday of Epiphany Hearing Voices Harry Potter heard it, Joan of Arc heard it, and some say that even Jesus heard it. It being a voice that comes from beyond with a message for us. I am in the middle of reading the Harry Potter series – and in the second book the chamber of secrets – Harry Potter is able to hear a voice that no one else can hear. A voice that tells him that someone must be killed. He eventually follows the voice into the chamber of secrets to learn why someone must be killed. Joan of Arc said that she heard voices all the time. The voice of God telling her to do certain things, to fight for justice. Once again, she was the only one who heard that voice. And Jesus hears a voice, a voice which claims him and tells him the he is beloved and doing the right thing. But this time, the voice was for everyone to hear. It was the voice of affirmation. It is a voice that we all listen to today – a voice that tells us that we are also beloved. What it means to be baptized That is what it means to be baptized, to be accepted in the family and told that you are never alone. Not only is God with you, but so are all of us. The family of God. The voices of our world In a world where there is the radio, the television, the computer, the MP3 player, and all sorts of other electronic devices. We can hear a lot of voices – voices that give us lots of messages. Some in our best interest and some not. Henri Nouwen – a catholic priest who teaches spirituality says that in our world there are many voices which ask for our attention. There is a voice which says prove that you are a good person, another which says you should be ashamed of yourself, there is a voice which says nobody really cares about you, and one which says be sure to become successful popular, and powerful. But underneath there is a small still voice that calls us forward to come to the water. The story version of the baptism of Jesus People came from all over to see John. They came from all walks of life, a soldier, a civil servant, a maid. Some walked a long way. Some came because they thought it would be interesting to hear the voice of God after all of these years. Some came to be a part of the crowd. Some came because they thought he was a little weird – no one needs to wear animal clothing anymore. Some came because they were genuinely hungry for God. They felt that if they could just feel God in the water they would be okay – they would be fulfilled. No matter the reason that they came, John had a message for them all. They needed to get ready for the one – the one who was coming. He was baptizing with water, but he would baptize with fire. This one has been spoken of, but never named. John was doing this because God has called him by name to prepare the way. Even with all of the people coming out in the desert to see him – he knew that was no enough – there was something more – but he was not qualified to give it. His job was to be faithful until that one appeared. As each person came to be baptized – John prayed. He held them each under the water, and then prayed that God would fulfill them in some way. Whatever it was they were looking for they would find it, and in return they would give their lives to God. Jesus comes and prays He never expected that the one he was praying for would come to him – Jesus. Jesus came looking to be named, to be empowered, the affirmed. To be confirmed. He had been praying of what to do, and now it was time to go forward. But he wanted to be sure that it was really the voice of God that he was hearing and not the voice of his conscience, or worse yet his ego. After John dipped him into the water he stood there a long time praying. Hoping, listening and as he was praying the skies opened up. And a spirit came upon him like a dove. And there was a beautiful voice that said the words he needed to hear – you are my child, I love you and I am well pleased. Steve’s reaction For some reason when Steve heard that story he ran out of the church. He couldn’t take it. He hated that story. Those were the words that he waited his whole life to hear from his dad – and his dad never said them. And now his dad was gone. He couldn’t explain this to his family who were sitting in the pew next to him. But he talked about it with the pastor after church. The pastor told him to pretend that his dad was still here and he could still talk with him – and tell him how he felt. As he poured out his heart – he remembered the early days of his life – he saw his dad pick him up and tell him that everything was going to be alright – and then he hugged him and then said that was his boy. Steve was able to return home – and to take in the message of powerful acceptance that Jesus received. The effect of hearing the voice We all long to hear that voice of acceptance which tells us that we are loved. That we are not alone. That what we experience in life in not in vain, that we have someone who is with us no matter what. We all long to hear that voice in some way. Sometimes we hear it and sometimes we don’t. It all depends on our life circumstance. The message of baptism is that God sent Christ into our lives – so that we could know that all words that have been spoken to Jesus are intended for us to hear, and to take into our hearts. After Jesus heard the voice – he was able to go on. He was able to fulfill his call, and he knew that he was not just hearing voices – but that he was being led. When we are baptized we are called my name – literally we are called by our name. and we are told that we are loved and that we will be cared for. In calling us – God gives us each a job to do – a meaning a purpose. Through the waters of baptism we have been given to the strength to go forward. The words of Isaiah Isaiah says I have called you by name – when you walk through the waters I will be with you –when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned. And the flame shall not consume you. For I am the lord your god, your savior. Looking up instead of looking in When the people were looking to be saved – like many of us do – they looked up in the sky- waiting for miracle to come down. But the missionary told them that if they wanted to get water, that they needed to dig in the ground. Water for the crops comes from God – from the sky – what was this man doing – he knew that water was in the ground. He dug a well and the crops were saved. We are a lot like those people waiting for water to come into our lives – but for us the living water of salvation. We look in the sky waiting for a miracle to fall down – when the real miracle is down here – way down inside of us. Inside of our hearts. The miracle is in our prayers – our conversations with God. That is where we hear the voice of acceptance. In solitude, silence and a strong determination to listen – we hear that voice which tells us we are beloved. All of us are beloved children of god. The words of Isaiah 43:1-2 as a prayer Instead of saying an individual prayer – I want us to say a collective prayer – everyone needs a partner. First I want you to say the words of Isaiah 43:1 and 2. "(From the beginning).I have redeemed you, ______; I have called you by name, ______, you are mine. When you, ______, pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you, ______; when you walk through fire you, ______, shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Now I want you to insert the name of your partner as you say each phrase. Talk to them, not to me “God says (From the beginning).I have redeemed you, ______; I have called you by name, ______, you are mine. When you, ______, pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you, ______; when you walk through fire you, ______, shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Amen.