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

Thankfulness as a path of Faith

October 14, 2007 October 13, 2013 – retooled and repreached Thankfulness as a path of faith 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Luke 17:8-19 Year C Makeover’s have become really popular these days – their lives. Extreme makeover is not just a show about houses that have rebuilt – but about people who have been rebuilt. We hear the stories of their past- we hear their dreams for being fixed – we watch their progress as they go through countless surgeries or other things will totally erase their past. We celebrate with them as their share with the community the new them – after they have lost weight, or whatever they needed to do. There are a lot of shows that use this as a concept – but I would imagine that an even more exciting show – would be extreme makeover follow up – what happens to these people after the show- how do they deal with the changes after all of the excitement is over with. Do they become the person they were before the makeover? Or do their lives really change. And are they really emotionally prepared for these changes. Afterall, the changes that are made are always cosmetic changes – things are fixed on the outside – but who these people are on the inside is never addressed. What inner habits may have created the outer reality is never addressed. What scars have been permantly formed from being the person they are, is never even talked about. But I think that for ages, we have all bought into the concept of living happily ever after – but we don’t want to hear the real story of what that means. Imagine being a young man, in the prime of your life, just married the woman of your dreams, and one day she notices some white spots on your neck – and your life as you know it is over – because she has to report to the community and the priest that you have leprosy – and have to immediately move away from the community. Or imagine that your first child has been born two months ago – a son to carry on your name – and you too are diagnosed with leprosy- Or after a long period of trying to find your life work – you realize that you want to go into farming with your father – and as you celebrate your new found life – you lose it to leprosy. The laws in the book of Levitcus are very clear – if anyone notices a swelling in his skin or a scab or boil or pimple with transparent skin they are to be brought to the priest for examination. If the spot turns white – or if it looks more than skin deep, then the priest must declare him a leper. It could happen to anyone at any time in life. If they were a leper- the most important thing was protecting the rest of the community from they – so they were to live outside the gates of the city. They were to keep their distance from everyone and to declare to all that they were one of the untouchables. Life as they knew it was over – no family, no job, no meaning in life. Just gathering together with other lepers – totally dependent on the goodness of others to live. I could imagine that anyone in this condition would think of themselves as likely candidates for an extreme makeover. Even back in that day – they had heard of an extreme makeover – they listened to that man Jesus as he talked about makeovers. They listened to his sermons as he talked about being restored to community. How even though the whole world treated them as outsiders, that there was a God who loved them and would treat them like anyone else. No one really knows why Jesus would have been in this no man’s land on his way to Jerusalem. He was somewhere between Galilee and Samaria. Galilee was the home of the Jews, the people he was trying to reach with his message. Samaria was the home of their cousins – those who were no longer considered Jews. Yet Jesus noticed that these were the people most likely to listen to his message and to apply it to their lives. So as he was traveling to Jerusalem, this was the perfect place to stop and to preach. As he passes by the lepers – they cry out – Lord have mercy on us. To ask for mercy is to ask for what it due to you – what you deserve but for some reason it has been denied you- They wanted their lives back – they wanted the right to return back to their lives, their wives, their children, their jobs, their community – all the things that made life worth living. They had heard enough to know that Jesus had the power to give them just what they asked for. With no special potions, no special words – Jesus tells them that they will be healed. All they need to do is to show themselves to the priest, so that they can be restored into community. They don’t even question Jesus – they immediately go back to their lives. Only 1 returns to thank Jesus for what he has done. Jesus gives him an additional blessing and tells him that his faith has made him whole. The others are healed on the outside – and yet Jesus knows that this one has been made whole on the inside too. Jesus was in between Galilee and Samaria – his audience was mixed – we really have no idea how many of the lepers were Jewish and how many were Samarian. We never hear what happens in their lives after they return. What we do know that the one who thought to return to thank Jesus was a Samarian. Maybe he did not have a priest to return to. Maybe he did not have a family or life to return to. Maybe his mom had always taught him to say thank you – we don’t know what it was that made this one leper out of ten return to Jesus. What we do know is that this one was different – when all ten asked for mercy – nine were looking for cosmetic changes. Leprosy back then was understood as any type of skin condition. One was looking for changes in mind, body and spirit. Nine lepers were looking to get on with their lives – one wanted to live. Nine were looking for the acceptance of society – one was looking for the acceptance of God. One was looking for their past to be restored – one was looking toward the future. Nine were looking for changes – one was looking to be transformed. He was changed from the inside out. He was not the same person that he had been. He knew that from this moment on, once he had been touched by Jesus – things would never be the same. His life would be so much more than those dreams of the life that had been taken away from him. God had shown him a love that he could never imagine in a million years. When you look at your life, which one are you – one of the nine or the one who stood out? Bear in mind that in those days- to say thank you was the last thing that you said to someone when the knew the relationship was over. If you knew you would never see the person again – you said thank you. The nine others had their lives restored – they were a part of the community again – they probably were not quite ready to saw good bye to Jesus Nine Reasons They Did Not Return Why did only one man cleansed from leprosy return to thank Jesus? Someone has made a list of nine suggested reasons why the nine did not return: One waited to see if the cure was real. One waited to see if it would last. One said he would see Jesus later. One decided that he had never had leprosy in the first place. One said he would have gotten well anyway. One gave the glory to the priests. One said, "O, well, Jesus didn't really do anything." One said, "Any rabbi could have done it." One said, "I was already much improved." That's not surprising, is it? I doubt that more than ten percent of us are ever truly grateful to God. In fact, it often seems that the more we have, the less gratitude we feel. King Duncan, Collected Sermons,www.Sermons.com – whereas the one – realized that no matter how hard he tried – things would never be the same for him- he could never go back to the man he used to be. That gesture of thanks seemed to really make a difference to Jesus. But this is not a sermon on gratitude – but on faith. 4 men were standing on the el platform, when one fell in the path of an oncoming train. The other three immediately went into action and grabbed the man and put him back on the platform. The three became instant celebrities. They were interviews by all of the news shows, they received a letter from the mayor, people on the street would walk up to them and say thank you for what they had done. One day they were interviewed by a talk show host who asked if they had ever heard from the man rescued. As a matter of fact they hadn’t. the man never even bothered to say thank you. I am sure he was thankful, he was grateful, he was glad to have his life. But he never bothered to say thank you. But this is not a sermon about being thankful, it is a sermon about being faithful. It is our faith that makes us well. Now Thank We All Our God You can even be thankful during the most difficult of circumstances in life. It's true! We see an especially inspiring example of a brave and thankful heart in the story behind one of the church's most popular hymns, "Now Thank We All Our God." This particularly hymn was written during the Thirty Years War in Germany, in the early 1600s. Its author was Martin Rinkart, a Lutheran pastor in the town of Eilenburg in Saxony. Now, Eilenburg was a walled city, so it became a haven for refugees seeking safety from the fighting. But soon, the city became too crowded and food was in short supply. Then, a famine hit and a terrible plague and Eilenburg became a giant morgue. In one year alone, Pastor Rinkart conducted funerals for 4,500 people, including his own wife. The war dragged on; the suffering continued. Yet through it all, he never lost courage or faith and even during the darkest days of Eilenburg's agony, he was able to write this hymn: Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom the world rejoices ...[So] keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all ills, in this world and the next. Even when he was waist deep in destruction, Pastor Rinkart was able to lift his sights to a higher plane. He kept his mind on God's love when the world was filled with hate. He kept his mind on God's promises of heaven when the earth was a living hell. Can we not do the same - we whose lives are almost trouble-free, compared with the man who wrote that hymn? Whom can you say "thank you" to? Erskine White, Together in Christ, CSS Publishing Company I am sure that we can all identify with these stories. Some probably were healed – some did go on with their lives – some were genuinely grateful for being saved on that night, some probably even remembered that courageous seminary student who saved them. They just never got the chance to say thank you in person to him. Having no idea of what difference it would have made in the life story of the one who gave his legs, his hopes, his calling to save them. We are all grateful for the saviors that God has sent into our lives – who have given us life in so many ways. We really are grateful in our hearts – even though we don’t think to say it with our lips. Today is a perfect day to write a note, to make a phone call, to take someone out to lunch – to say thank you for all of the in our life. But this is not a sermon about being thankful – this is a story about being faithful. This is not a sermon about the nine lepers who went on with their lives – it is a sermon about that one who had been transformed and given new life by Jesus Christ. Jesus told the Samaritan- that his faith had made him well – not his thank you. It is our faith that makes us well- not our thank you’s. The more faith is focused on Christ – the easier it is for us to remember to say thank you for each and every gift that we have been given. Faith is about what we do with our whole lives, not just how concerned we are about our present condition. Someone pointed out that in Matthew – Jesus says that we should be made perfect. By perfect who means whole and complete. We are thankful when one thing in our lives has gotten better, when we get what we ask for or what we need. Being faithful means that we are healed and complete in mind, body and soul. We are grateful for everything, not just the things in our lives that we have. We give all of who we are to Christ, not just our thanks. This is not a sermon about being thankful, but about being faithful, being whole, thanking God with all that we are. Greg Anderson, in Living Life on Purpose, tells a story about a man whose wife had left him. He was completely depressed. He had lost faith in himself, in other people, in God--he found no joy in living. One rainy morning this man went to a small neighborhood restaurant for breakfast. Although several people were at the diner, no one was speaking to anyone else. Our miserable friend hunched over the counter, stirring his coffee with a spoon. In one of the small booths along the window was a young mother with a little girl. They had just been served their food when the little girl broke the sad silence by almost shouting, "Momma, why don't we say our prayers here?" The waitress who had just served their breakfast turned around and said, "Sure, honey, we pray here. Will you say the prayer for us?" And she turned and looked at the rest of the people in the restaurant and said, "Bow your heads." Surprisingly, one by one, the heads went down. The little girl then bowed her head, folded her hands, and said, "God is great, God is good, and we thank him for our food. Amen." That prayer changed the entire atmosphere. People began to talk with one another. The waitress said, "We should do that every morning." "All of a sudden," said our friend, "my whole frame of mind started to improve. From that little girl's example, I started to thank God for all that I did have and stop majoring in all that I didn't have. I started to be grateful." We all understand and appreciate the importance of gratitude. How it can radically change relationships. In fact, one of the first things we were taught and that we teach our children is to express their gratitude. Someone gives them some candy and we say: “Now what do you say?” And the child learns from an early age the answer “Thank you.” And certainly we all know as adults that we appreciate being thanked. Yet, when it comes to giving thanks to our heavenly father, we so often miss the mark. And when it comes to giving our thanks to God, I don’t suppose there is any story in the Bible that is so endearing to us, so timelessly appropriate, as the story of Jesus healing the ten lepers. We have all heard the story many times, but like so many Bible stories, we never tire of it… Christ is always faithful, Christ always hears our cries of mercy. Christ always gives us love and life, but it is our response to Christ that gives us transformation and new life. It is our desire to say thank you that indeed makes the world a wonderful place to live for all people. What do you have to be thankful for today? How will you choose to live a thankful life today? Ten Broken Pencils by WESLEY T. RUNK Passage: Luke 17:11-19 • Lectionary: Proper 23 Item 3 of 20 | Back to Results Then said Jesus, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Objects: Ten pencils with broken points and one pencil sharpener. Lesson: Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like to write with pencils? (Let them answer.) Good pencils are very hard to find. Whenever I am looking for a pencil, I either cannot find one, or when I find the pencil, it has a broken point, or has never been sharpened. Do you have that problem? (Let them answer.) I have a little story to tell you about ten pencils that I found around my house, and every one of them was either broken or had never been sharpened. This is their story. I found these pencils in different places. One of them was on my dresser, several of them were in a kitchen drawer where they had been for several years. I even found one of them on the kitchen floor beneath the refrigerator. It seemed like everywhere I went I found a pencil, but all of them were broken in one way or another. On a shelf in a beautiful tea cup, I found some paper clips, rubber bands, and another pencil. Of course it was broken also. There were others in different places, like on top of the washer, since someone had forgotten to empty his pockets before sending his slacks to the laundry. There was another on my workbench, one in the garage, and a couple behind the cushions of the couch. Every one of them was broken, and they looked sad in their terrible condition. A pencil is meant to have a sharp point and to write; to leave them in this kind of condition was awful. So I decided to do what I thought should be done. I got out my special pencil sharpener and went right to work. Soon each pencil I sharpened looked happy and relieved to be back at work again. I could hardly work fast enough, I felt so good. But as I finished sharpening one and putting it down, it would disappear before I could pick up another. All ten pencils were sharpened like they had never been sharpened before, and not one of them who left even said thank you. Excuse me, that isn't true. There was one that said thank you. The one that I found on the floor under the refrigerator. It came back to tell me how grateful it was for what I had done for it. You know the story of my pencils is not original. Jesus told a similar story about something even more important. He told about healing ten men, only one of whom thanked God for what happened. I hope that you remember the story, but I hope even more that you remember to thank God every day for the wonderful things that he does for you. That is one of the most important parts of our life - to be grateful to God, and to praise him for all of the glorious things that he does to help us. CALL IN THE CLOWNS!, WESLEY T. RUNK, C.S.S. Publishing Co., 1988, 1-55673-071-3

Don't Sing When you are Mad

October 6, 2013 Psalm 137 Luke 17:5-10 20th Sunday After Pentecost Year C Don’t sing when you are mad A few years back, I went to a talk – it was a Rotary meeting in which one of my high school teachers talked about his trip to Russia. He told us a Russian folktale, and as you know I love stories. I don’t think that I told you this one yet, but if I have, it is in a different context and meaning. It is the story of a little bird – a little bird who loved to sing. One day a peasant was walking done the road, and he noticed this little bird singing his heart out. He was so happy to listen to the bird. But he also noticed that it was getting cold outside and the bird was cold. He tried to think of a way to keep the bird warm. Being a peasant, who relied on the simple solutions of life, he covered the bird in cow dung to keep him warm. As the bird got warmer, he sung even louder. And soon another peasant came down the road, and he too was impressed by the birds singing. He stopped to admire the bird’s singing, but he felt sorry for the bird. Somebody had covered him in cow dung. How cruel. So he set about cleaning the bird up and setting him free. Unfortunately, with the changing temperature from being covered up, and sweating, and then exposed to the cold – the little bird died. The moral of the story – sometime it does not always matter who it was that put us in the mess, sometimes it doesn’t matter who it was that got us out of the mess. The one thing to remember, is that when you are in the mess up to here, don’t sing. Don’t sing? Isn’t that what we do as Christians – we sing our faith in God. Is there ever a situation in our lives when we don’t sing. I am sure that you can see – coming from Russia – a country that was once communist and did not believe in God. It is a political statement about faith. Saying that in the realities of life that sometimes our faith, our need to sing, to pray, to have faith in God can sometime get us in trouble. 3786 No Singing At His Funeral When the noted agnostic Robert Ingersoll died, the printed funeral notices said, “There will be no singing.” Look not for hymns, anthems, oratorios, carols, and spiritual songs among infidels, agnostics, or skeptics. Without God, without Christ, without redemption, without a divine revelation and without hope, what have they to sing about? —Sunday School Banner 85 Two Singing Religions Judaism and Christianity are singing religions. Atheism is songless. It has nothing to sing about. The funeral notices of Robert Ingersoll, the noted agnostic, stated, “There will be no singing.” The psalm-singing of Christian martyrs going to their deaths in the arena alerted the Roman Empire to the fact that a new and revolutionary force was coming into being. When the pleasure-bent populace saw the Christians singing as they fearlessly entered the amphitheater where hungry lions awaited them, they were filled with awe. Heaven is vibrant with song: “And they sing the song of Moses … and the song of the Lamb” (Rev. 15:3). —Walter B. Knight 3786 No Singing At His Funeral When the noted agnostic Robert Ingersoll died, the printed funeral notices said, “There will be no singing.” Look not for hymns, anthems, oratorios, carols, and spiritual songs among infidels, agnostics, or skeptics. Without God, without Christ, without redemption, without a divine revelation and without hope, what have they to sing about? Atheist have grief, pain and suffering in their lives just like we do – but they don’t have a relationship with God. With no connection to God – there is no need to sing. People of faith sing all of the time, we sing when we are happy, we sing when we are sad, we sing when we feel blessed, we sing when we are in need. Singing is at the heart of our faith, and at the heart of God. October is domestic abuse month, I went to this workshop on the causes of abuse and how to stop abuse. It was sponsored by the salvation army. One of the director’s started out the program by talking about the scripture that you should not sing when you are angry. But for some reason, he did not quote the scripture that he was referring for. Don’t sing when you are angry, or perhaps when you are in it up to here – don’t sing – where is that in the bible? I spent all last night searching for a scripture that talks about singing when you are angry. And wouldn’t you know - I couldn’t find one. As a matter of fact – psalm 137 is an angry psalm. The Isrealites have been taken from their land and forced into slavery. And if that isn’t bad enough, their captors torment them by forcing them to work and expecting them to sing while they are working. And to sing not just any songs – but the sing the songs of God. I love that question – how can we sing the songs of God in a strange land. Or some of us who are truly in a painful situation, who are truly in a hopeless situation, in a situation where there is no way out – may truly begin to ask – how can I sing when I am angry, or hurting, or sad, or grieving or in pain or discouraged? I remember going to annual conference one year, feeling deeply discouraged by the church, feeling like my faith had been betrayed, and that there was nothing that the bishop could possibly say that would make me trust him or this conference, again. I remember him looking at me and noticing my anger at everything that happened. There wasn’t anything that he could say to make me feel better. But after his sermon, we stood and and sang amazing grace. And somewhere in the midst of the song – it became more important to sing than to be mad. By the time the song was over, the situation was the same, but my feelings about the situation disappeared. The song that had deeply touched my heart, took to another place and allowed me to go on. I don’t think it is so much that we should sing when we are angry, but we shouldn’t sing and stay angry. Because it is our singing that brings us to the heart of God and the source of our faith. There are 150 psalms in the bible – psalm means song – and they run the gamit of human emotion. Some are songs of triumph, some are pleading for vindication, some are thankfulness for what God has given, some are praise for when God has done, some are a celebration of community, some are a plea for health. Anything that happens in our live, is mentioned somewhere in one of the psalms. As a matter of fact, when I think of singing in anger – psalm 137 is an angry psalm. Not only does the person say I really feel like singing right now, but it is also a request that their captors be killed, and that their babies be killed – how angrier can you get than that? There is not peace in this psalm, no resolution, no forgiveness, just anger and a request for vindication. And yet even in the midst of the anger – is a need to praise God. To be faithful to God, and a promise that they will never forget the home that God promised them. A psalm is a praise of God in the midst of all of the circumstances of life. Serving God begins with how I feel. In order to be honest with God about how we feel, we have to have a relationship with God. God is God all by himself. Faith is where we are in our lives in relationship with God. And sometimes, in order for us to get right with God, we first have to deal with how we feel. In order to make peace with the situation, we have to make peace with God. Faith is not about God – Faith is about us, and our feeling and our lives. It is how we feel about God. Faith does not have to do with God, heaven, or anything else spiritual. On the contrary, faith changes the landscape of this world. It moves mountains and transplants trees. It is not a passport to heaven nor is it a belief about God. Faith is not even belief in God. It is a new understanding of the way this world can be. Faith sees with amazing clarity a reality that others do not yet see. Sometimes we long for a faith that can move mountains, uproot trees, heal the sick, or raise the dead, when sometime all we really need is faith to get us through the day. Luke chapter 16 talks about having that faith to move mountains. We all know the story of the faith of the mustard seed. But before we think about that kind of mountain moving faith, I want us to think about the rest of the story. Jesus starts to talk about the role of a slave, he says that a slave should not expect a place at the table, when they are expected to serve. He says that we are worthless slaves, we have done only what we have ought to have done. Jesus is reminding us that we are the slave and that God is the master. More importantly he is reminding us that we can never have any claim on anything that God does. In other words, no matter what happens in life – we can never tell God that he owes us. He is the master – and he doesn’t owe us anything. I will always remember the words of Job 1:21 – the lord giveth and the lord taketh away – blessed be the name of the lord. Whatever we might be feeling about life right now – God is always worthy to be praised. Life could always be worse. Our anger is not about God, it is about how we feel about God. How can I praise God when I am angry? In Luke 17:5 the disciples ask Jesus – how can I have more faith? If I am angry, or hurt or discouraged and need to get right with God, then that must mean that I need to have more faith. Because if I had more faith, I wouldn’t have negative feelings? Right? In this life that is wrong. Jesus reminds us – trusting in God is not so much about how much faith we have in God – it is whether we have any faith in God at all. A little faith does just as much as a lot of faith. How many times in our life, have we truly believed that if we think hard enough, or pray hard enough, or fast enough that things will get better, and they don’t. and the reality is they wont. Because our faith doesn’t change anything – it is only the grace of God that changes things. A seeker once challenged a faithful servant – “convince me of the existence of God.” Knowing that the man had traveled in the seas, the preacher asked him, “Have you ever been caught in a fierce storm in the middle of a voyage, your rudder gone, your sails torn, your vessel in danger of capsizing, and no land in sight? The man replied yes. The Iman then asked him, “Yet was not there always, despite your black despair, a glimmer of hope in your heart that someone, somewhere – some unnamed and unknown power- could still save you? Yes, the man answered again. To which the faithful servant replied, “that power is God”. We don’t have to have great faith in God, we have to have faith in a great God. Someone asked the question Why do we sing? When we lift our hands to Jesus What do we really mean? Someone may be wondering When we sing our song At times we maybe crying. And nothings even wrong I sing because I'm happy I sing because I'm free His eye is on the sparrow That's the reason why I sing Amen. ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Homework Is a Duty by WESLEY T. RUNK Passage: Luke 17:1-10 • Lectionary: Proper 22 Item 1 of 12 | Back to Results "So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.' " Objects: Some homework papers. Lesson: Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you are glad to be in school? (Let them raise their hands.) Most of you like to go to school, but some of you are not too happy about it. Not all of us like the same things, but I am glad that most of you like to go to school. School is really very important, because it is there where we learn to read and write and work with numbers. All of those things and many others are really very important, and school is the place where we learn them. How many of you have homework to bring home with you after school is out? (Let them answer.) Do you like to do homework? Most boys and girls like to play outside, or watch TV, or do something else when they come home instead of doing their homework. But still we must do it. It is our duty. How many of you know what the word "duty" means? (Let them answer.) Most all of you know the word "duty." It is when we have something to do that is our responsibility, something that we do not receive special thanks for doing. It is something that is expected. I think that there are things like that between us and God. There are some things that are our duty to God, and we should not expect God to send us a special message of thanks, or have one of his workers pat us on the back, for doing it. I know some people who think that they are doing God a favor when they come to church or Sunday church school. That is not a favor, or something that you should be thanked for doing. That is your duty. Some people think that they should be thanked for telling the truth or helping someone who needs help. If you see someone who needs you, then you should help them because you are a Christian. We don't need to be thanked and patted on the back for doing good things, because that is what we are supposed to do. No one thanks you for doing your homework. Doing homework is your duty. No one should thank you for doing Christian things, either, because you also have Christian things to do. That's what Jesus thought, and he told the disciples that very thing one day when they asked him about doing special things to be special people. Do what is right, and you will be doing your Christian duty. The next time that you do some homework and you think about it, I hope that you think about your Christian duties, and then remember to do them. CALL IN THE CLOWNS!, WESLEY T. RUNK, C.S.S. Publishing Co., 1988, 1-55673-071-3 Back to Results | Item 1 of 12 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Acts, Not the Dreams The sales manager of a large real estate firm was interviewing an applicant for a sales job. "Why have you chosen this career?" he asked. "I dream of making a million dollars in real estate, like my father," the young man replied. "Your father made a million dollars in real estate?" asked the impressed sales manager. "No," replied the young man, "but he always dreamed of it." Have you ever noticed that the Bible never mentions the dreams of the apostles? It doesn't even mention the ideas of the apostles. However, it devotes an entire book to the "Acts of the Apostles." Chane M. Hutton, Jesus Says, 'Just Do It' One day the great Michelangelo attracted a crowd of spectators as he worked. One child in particular was fascinated by the sight of chips flying and the sound of mallet on chisel. The master was shaping a large block of white marble. Unable to contain her curiosity, the little girl inquired, "What are you making?" He replied, "There is an angel in there and I must set it free." Every Christian at their confirmation or conversion is handed a large cold white marble block called religion. We must then take the mallet in hand and set to work. Religion is not our goal but we must first start there. Now there are many names for religion. At times we do call it religion but we often use other words and images to describe it. Sometimes we call it our faith. Jesus spoke in terms of the Kingdom of God. We say we are the Church, Christians, or Disciples. There are many names with varying nuances of meaning but in the end they all describe the same thing. We are a people of Faith, faith in Christ to be sure, but faith nonetheless. We are not a business or institution. We do not sell or produce anything. We advocate no earthly cause. We serve no worldly authority. We come to a church building made by men. And to do what? Practice our faith. But we just as well could have met on a hillside or cave… 3787 She’d Rather Sing PARABLE OF THE CANDLES There was a blackout one night. When the lights went out, I fumbled to the closet where we keep the candles for nights like this ... I lit four of them. I was turning to leave with the large candle in my hand when I heard a voice, "Now, hold it right there." "Who said that?" "I did." The voice was near my hand. "Who are you? What are you?" "I'm a candle." I lifted up the candle to take a closer look. There was a tiny face in the wax. "Don't take me out of here!" "What?" "I said, Don't take me out of this room." "What do you mean? I have to take you out. You're a candle. Your job is to give light. It's dark out there." "But you can't take me out. I'm not ready," the candle explained with pleading eyes. "I need more preparation." I couldn't believe my ears. "More preparation?" "Yeah, I've decided I need to research this job of light-giving so I won't go out and make a bunch of mistakes. You'd be surprised how distorted the glow of an untrained candle can be..." "All right then," I said. "You're not the only candle on the shelf. I'll blow you out and take the others!" But right then I heard other voices, "We aren't going either!" I turned to the other candles, "You are candles and your job is to light dark places!" "Well, that may be what you think," said the first one, "You may think we have to go, but I'm busy ... I'm meditating on the importance of light. It's really enlightening." "And you other two," I asked, "Are you going to stay, too?" A short, fat, purple candle with plump cheeks spoke up. "I'm waiting to get my life together, I'm not stable enough." The last candle had a female voice, very pleasant to the ear. "I'd like to help, "she explained, "but lighting the darkness is not my gift ... I'm a singer. I sing to other candles to encourage them to burn more brightly." She began a rendition of "This Little Light of Mine." The other three joined in, filling the closet with singing. I took a step back and considered the absurdity of it all. Four perfectly healthy candles singing to each other about light but refusing to come out of the closet. Here is a question for you--when was the last time you shared the gospel to someone? This world is full of darkness, with many people stumbling around trying to find their way. You can be a light for them, and believe me, there's a light waiting for you. It can all happen with something as sharing the faith, to just a smile across the room, to a quick hello to a forgotten friend. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN." Matthew 5:14-16 - Author unknown

How to be Rich and Happy

Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Year C 19th Sunday after Pentecost How to be rich and happy What would you bring back if you could travel through time? It’s a common gambit in science fiction stories: some people build a time machine, or uncover a rift in the space time contimuum, or stumble into a wormhole. Before they know it, they find themselves in the future. After walking around in the future for a little while – tasting the future food, smelling the future flowers, - they decide it is time to go back home. But before they leave the future, these time travelers look around for somethine to take back withthem. What will it be. What is the one thing they can bring back that will make the most difference for tem as they return to their former life? Just to make things more interesting, let’s say their leap into the future is fairly short: just a week or two. If we were one of those time travelers, journeying a week into the future and back, what would we choose to bring back home with us? There is one answer that may come immediately to mind: winning lottery numbers! That one tidbit of factual information, gleaned from the mysterious future would be enough to transform our lives? Our omnipotent God can give us the same advice as the future It would certainly turn that little piece of paper into a blue chip investment. If we trust in God don’t need a time machine. God knows the future, God know everything. Not only the winning numbers, but other countless ways for us to get rich quick. Listen to God may get the answers. And yet we know God may have the information, but no desire to give it to us. God has different ideas about riches, investment, the future. But if we have a relationship with God, then we really learn how to invest in our future, and get riches beyond belief Timothy is failproof advice on getting rich Today, I want us to look at 1 Timothy 6:6-19 because this is where we get fail proof advice on how to gain riches and happiness. If we follow this advice, we can be sure that we will hit the jackpot on our lives. But in order for this advice to work in our lives, we have to be clear that there is a huge difference between the definition of having money and the love of money. Money Speaks I have this quote from money as it tells us the difference….. Money talks, we have been told since childhood. Listen to this dollar speak: “You hold me in your hand and call me yours. Yet may I not as well call you mine. See how easily I rule you? To gain me, you would all but die. I am invaluable as rain, essential as water. Without me, men and institutions would die. Yet I do not hold the power of life for them; I am futile without the stamp of your desire. I go nowhere unless you send me. I keep strange company. For me, men mock, love, and scorn character. Yet, I am appointed to the service of saints, to give education to the growing mind and food to the starving bodies of the poor. My power is terrific. Handle me carefully and wisely, lest you become my servant, rather than I yours.” —Ray O. Jones Message for us about money Money within itself is not good or bad, money is a means to an end. We get in trouble when we start to think that money is the end itself. Did you notice that we talked about money last week, and here we are talking about it again. I think that as we enter into a new economy in our church as as we approach stewardship season, the spirit is talking to us for some reason. As I looked at the lectionary texts for today, I noticed that all 4 of them talked about money. I actually choose Timothy because it was the most …benign. It expressed it message in a positive way and not as an accusation. Godliness is contentment Paul, as a spiritual mentor is giving advice to Timothy. He is actually preparing Timothy to became a pastor. But the advice that he gives is important for all of us who are genuinely seeking to be in service to God. If we want to call ourselves a Christian, we need to take this advice to heart. In the beginning of chapter 6, Paul bringing some clarity to what it means to serve God and to get rich. There are some who think that the scripture tells them that if they consider themselves to be godly people, then they will automatically become rich. I know a lot of Christians who are faithful, because they are well off. Paul is telling us that serving God is a little bigger than that. In the first sentence of today’s lesson, Paul starts out by saying – Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world so that we can take nothing out of it. In other words. Godliness is not about being well off, godliness is about being content with what we have. The word for contentment used here means self sufficient. Not so much depending on our selves, but in living inside of our own skin and not looking outside of ourselves for things that we don’t have. Contentment means – having enough, trusting in God’s provisions and promises. True happiness in our lives comes from relationships, not things. And our most important relationship is the relationship that we have with God. Contentment is always inside of us Contentment never comes from the possession of external things. As George Herbert wrote: “For he that needs five thousand pounds to live Is full as poor as he that needs but five.” Contentment comes from an inward attitude to life One of the sayings of the Jewish Rabbis was: “Who is rich? He that is contented with his lot.” Most of us are content with what we have until we look around and see what others have. I AM REALLY CONTENT... I am really content — until I start looking through the Sears catalogue. I liked my car — until I saw the new P T Cruiser. I am satisfied with my clothes — until I stroll through American Eagle, or the other Mall stores. I love our home — until I think of what it would be like to own a log cabin on the shore of some remote lake. I am satisfied with every area of my life — until I start comparing with someone else’s life. I feel like I have enough of everything — until I see someone who has more. SOURCE: Rodney Buchanan in "An Attitude of Gratitude" on www.sermoncentral.com. If an egg is broken from the outside then life ends, if an egg is broken from the inside then life begins. Great things happen on the inside. True contentment comes from within ourselves. And we can only find it in our own heart. Someone pointed out that millionaires rarely smile – there is so much going on in their lives. We celebrated when a group of coworkers won the powerball. Now one of them is saying that he wished he could give the money back – his life has changed way too much. Charles Barclay – an old preacher says that the love of money is based on an illusion. Money Will Buy: A bed BUT NOT sleep. Books BUT NOT brains. Food BUT NOT appetite. Finery BUT NOT beauty. A house BUT NOT a home. Medicine BUT NOT health. Luxuries BUT NOT culture. Amusement BUT NOT happiness. A crucifix BUT NOT a Saviour. A church-pew BUT NOT heaven. Timothy’s mentor spends so much time trying to make sure that we know the difference between money and the love of money. Between being rich and being content. the difference goes back to making sure that you have a relationship with God. And making sure that all parts of our life are a part of that relationship with God. Paul says pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. He tells us to fight the good fight of faith. And in verses 17-19 Pauls stresses that there is nothing wrong with having money. As long as you trust God, do right, and put your relationship with God first. Paul is preparing Timothy for future service. He gives advice, but he also calls Timothy a man of God. That is a huge honor! Moses was called a Man of God, David was called a Man of God. But when we honor God, He honors us. When we respect God, he respects us. When we give to God, God gives to us. there is nothing wrong with money – when we understand that it carries with it a responsibility. . In the Third part of Henry the Sixth, Shakespeare draws a picture of the king wandering in the country places unknown. He meets two gamekeepers and tells them that he is a king. One of them asks him: “But, if thou be a king, where is thy crown?” And the king gives a great answer: “My crown is in my heart, not on my head; Not deck’d with diamonds and Indians stones, Nor to be seen; my crown is call’d content— A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.” Contentment is not about what we have in our pocket, it is about what we have in our hearts. God’s failproof advice to us on getting rich – flee from those who mislead us, follow the ways of God, fight the good fight, be faithful to the truth, so that we can finish our race with God. I want to end with this prayer – on how to get rich – just listen PRAYER FOR GETTING RICH Lord, Source of all that is good, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Giver of awesome gifts and undeserved blessings, Help me to be rich. Shower me with enough That I will no longer worry my way through each day, But instead live in gratitude, Cherishing my utter abundance. Help me to have enough of this world's treasures That I may know the joy of sharing what I have, Spreading it around instead of holding on tight. Let me feel rich with wonder at the great mysteries, Receiving each day with anticipation Of the surprises you have in store for me. Remind me that my wealth is best measured In the love that I give and the love that I receive, And that what I own are small things compared to The splendor of the stars, the brightness of sunlight, The joy of music, the sweetness of food, And the glory of this amazingly beautiful world. Teach me, Lord, to be content, So that my heart may know peace even in lean times, And so that my laughter and my joy May add to the richness of those around me. And when it is time to leave this world, Let me go with a thankful heart, my Lord, Knowing that, through you, I have been rich indeed. Amen. --Timothy Haut, for September 29, 2013 Right on the Bull's-Eye Passage: 1 Timothy 6:11-21 • Lectionary: Proper 21 Item 6 of 9 | Back to Results But as for you, man of God, shun all this; aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Object: A target. Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever used a bow and arrow? (Let them answer.) A lot of you have shot an arrow with a bow. How many of you have ever played the game of darts? (Let them answer.) Some of you have done this also. Now, when you use a bow or throw some darts, what do you aim at? (Let them answer.) That's right, a target. You need a target if you are going to shoot an arrow or throw a dart. Otherwise there would be no fun to it. What do you try to hit on the target? (Let them answer.) That's right. The bull's-eye. That is the most important point on the target. If you hit the bull's-eye then you have really done the job. That is the center of our target, and it means you have very good aim. The Bible tells us we should be aiming at some things also. The Bible teaches us that we should be aiming at the good things in life and not just at anything. If you are not aiming, then your shot might end up anywhere. For instance, the Bible tells us that we should try to aim at being gentle. How many of you know what being gentle means? (Let them answer.) What would the opposite of gentle be? (Let them answer.) I think that "rough" is probably the opposite of gentle. Would you like your mother to be rough with you or gentle? (Let them answer.) You want her to be gentle. We would like everyone to be gentle with us. And, of course, other people would like you and me to be gentle with them. Being gentle is in the target's bull's-eye. Another quality we find there is love. What is the opposite of love? (Let them answer.) The Bible says that we should aim at love and never hate. Loving other people and being loved is one of the very best things about life. These are just a couple things the Bible teaches us we should aim for in our lives. In the bull's-eye of the target is gentleness and love. We have to aim at the target. We may not always hit the bull's-eye, but if we are aiming at our target we will come much closer than if we forget to aim. The Apostle Paul gave this kind of advice to his young pastor friend, Timothy, and today I can pass it on to you. Try to think about doing right all day long. Think about it a lot and you will do what is right most of the time. That is what we call taking aim at the good things and having a good life. 1-55673-114-0 ¬¬¬¬¬¬ Long ago the Greek philosophers had gripped the right end of the matter. Epicurus said of himself: “To whom little is not enough nothing is enough. Give me a barley cake and a glass of water and I am ready to rival Zeus for happiness.” And when someone asked him for the secret of happiness, his answer was: “Add not to a man’s possessions but take away from his desires.” The great men have always been content with little. It pleads for the realization that it is never in the power of things to bring happiness. E. K. Simpson says: “Many a millionaire, after choking his soul with gold-dust, has died from melancholia.” Happiness always comes from personal relationships. All the things in the world will not make a man happy if he knows neither friendship nor love. The Christian knows that the secret of happiness lies, not in things, but in people. Two things alone a man can take to God. He can, and must, take himself; and therefore his great task is to build up a self he can take without shame to God. He can, and must, take that relationship with God into which he has entered in the days of his life. We have already seen that the secret of happiness lies in personal relationships, and the greatest of all personal relationships is the relationship to God. And the supreme thing that a man can take with him is the utter conviction that he goes to One who is the friend and lover of his soul. Content comes when we escape the servitude to things, when we find our wealth in the love and the fellowship of men, and when we realize that our most precious possession is our friendship with God, made possible through Jesus Christ. Money in itself is neither good nor bad; but the love of it may lead to evil. With it a man may selfishly serve his own desires; with it he may answer the cry of his neighbour’s need. With it he may facilitate the path of wrong-doing; with it he may make it easier for someone else to live as God meant him to do. Money is not itself an evil, but it is a great responsibility. It is powerful to good and powerful to evil. What then are the special dangers involved in the love of money?