Mark 1:40-45
40 A leper* came to him begging him, and kneeling* he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ 41Moved with pity,* Jesus* stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ 42Immediately the leprosy* left him, and he was made clean. 43After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44saying to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ 45But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus* could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.Why is it that we are more than ready to believe that we could win the lottery or we can take a pill and be skinny or watch a DVD and be rich but when it comes to God if it’s to easy we are skeptical. It appears from our old testament reading that humans have been this way for a long time.
The line from the Gospel pierced my heart today. The leper says if you choose you can make me clean. Moved with pity, Jesus reaches out and touches the man and says, “I do choose, be made clean”
I was thinking this week about the little things that we never even think about and how each of us plants seeds in each other. On Friday my daughter Ann came home and when she was telling about her day at supper said that Mrs. Johnson had given her a high five for doing so well on her packet. Annie’s toothless smile beaming from ear to ear jumping up and down as she told us. If Mrs. Johnson had given Ann a check for $1000 it wouldn’t have even come close to that high five. It meant the world to Ann. How many hearts do you think Mrs. Johnson touches every day without her even noticing? It was in 1st grade that I was held back because my teacher told me that I tried hard I just wasn’t as smart as every body else. Ann doesn’t think she is smart she knows she is smart, it took me almost 40 years to figure the same thing out. Now that’s impact. How many opportunities a day do we have to be uplifting, to be and extension of Christ love? It is in the little things and not just the big. Some are called to go to the Sudan and feed the hungry but most of us can impact the world no less by the gentle touches in others lives that are available to us every day.
I was reminded of the story of the man sitting on the beach where thousands of starfish had washed up on the beach and he sat throwing one at time back in the ocean, someone walked up to him and said you can’t possibly make a difference for all these starfish and he said no but I just did for that one.
Is the world impacted any less if we do seemingly insignificant intentional acts of kindness and love that extend the love of God into the torn and battered parts of peoples’ hearts, into the forming parts of a child’s heart? Does God smile on us more if we go to Africa and feed the hungry than if we fed the hungry here or feed someone’s spirit?
The love of God is easy, being held by Christ is easy, and seeking the Holy Spirit is easy. It’s living that can be hard.
Go then and give 7 high fives, go then and save 70 cents and give it to the food pantry, go then and collect in a couple Sundays 2 huge boxes of soup so hungry people can feel warm in their stomachs and their hearts. Go them and win the race because Jesus does choose for us to be made clean and he works through incredibly powerful relationships, he works through Mrs. Johnson, and your can of soup and your phone call or hug. God says to us today in the name of Jesus Christ be healed and then go into the world carrying His light and being his love.
In the name of God
Archive for the 'Sermons' Category
3 Epiphany -Year B A Dare, a Test, and an Opportunity Jan. 25, 2009
Published January 25, 2009 Sermons Leave a CommentMark 1:14-20
14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
People, who know me, know that I love reading labels and I love catchy slogans. Well I was in the bathroom closet after my shower and another great slogan caught my eye, this one on my wife’s antiperspirant. The slogan said, “Dare to wear Black.” In this age of vocation shortages in all the major church denominations’. I have often said the reason men and women aren’t going into ordained ministry is because we never tell them how cool our job is.
I also began to think of our task as a church family for 2009. We had another budget meeting this last Wednesday. Coming away from the meeting I was filled with an overwhelming feeling of doubt. I have prayed hard since then and the message in my heart, which I believe is God’s answer to my prayer, is Dare to imagine, Dare to dream, Dare to rest in trusting in God to show us the way.
The Test – I believe that life is full of tests, and this is a test. How bad do we want to be a vibrant expression of God’s love? How hard are we willing to work to find ways to be more efficient in our use of God’s gifts to us? Walls are there to keep the people out who don’t want it badly enough.
The Opportunity – A young Israelite Rabbi came up to a bunch of middle class working people and dared them to dream of a different way of doing business. He gave them a test and an opportunity. They all passed the test, not with their great knowledge but with their great faith. How has that changed from Jesus’ time to ours?
If ever their was a time when the church had a relevant message, if ever there was a time when our families needed to support each other in a Holy way of life, if ever there was a chance to teach our children what is really important or possible it is now. At 5:45 this morning I dropped my parents at the Airport for their trip to Hawaii and I for the 1st time in my life, had a small taste of How God feels when God longs for something for us. I have been planning this trip and celebration of my parents love for each other and for all who touch their lives for over a year and I have sweated and longed and anticipated and waited for today for a long time and I won’t be completely at ease until they’re home with us again. That, I think, is what God feels like when he knits us in the womb with all the possibility, not completely being at ease for us until we are home with Him again.
As he holds us and walks with us on this part of the journey God says, Dare to dream, Don’t fear the test, I will give you the answer just keep asking the question, and use the opportunities I give you to spread my Love. That’s the job and I can’t think of anyone I would rather be on the road with other than you. May to God go the glory. In the name of God.
Baptism of the Lord -Year B Through the Door and on the team Jan. 11, 2009
Published January 17, 2009 Sermons Leave a CommentMark 1:4-11
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I Have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
con•ver•sion
Pronunciation:
\kən-ˈvər-zhən, -shən\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin conversion-, conversio, from convertere
Date:
14th century
1: the act of converting : the process of being converted2: an experience associated with the definite and decisive adoption of a religion3 a: the operation of finding a converse in logic or mathematics b: reduction of a mathematical expression by clearing of fractions4: a successful attempt for a point or points especially after a touchdown or for a first down <a 2-point conversion> <a third-down conversion
We celebrate today the Baptism of the Lord. Baptism is the gate for us. Once we pass through the waters of baptism we say and believe we are called and claimed by God. I.E we are on the team. We call the process of accepting this love and calling the process of conversion. The Bible churches call it being saved. It is about the on going process of giving your heart and Soul to God.
I found it ironic that under Merriam Webster’s definition of conversion was 10 the association and adoption of a religion and also an extra point conversion in football.
So being that it we are in Packer Badger country I though a good ole football prep talk may be in order.
(Blow Whistle and grab the football)
It is time to convert for the extra point. It is time to be on the team or off the team. It is time in our new year to up our reps. If we are going to win this game, this battle. We are going to need to up our reps. Do some spiritual weight lifting. Read our scriptures say our prayers and put our nose and our eye on the goal.
This is no time for spiritual slackers. It mean out there and our opponent is big and mean and sneaky. It is time to bring out the armies.
Connie Ott from St. Dunstan’s sent this little poem in my Christmas Card. I think it sums it up nicely. It’s a poem by Howard Thurman
When the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and the princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins. To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the Hungry, To release the Prisoners, To bring Christ to all, To make music in the heart.
I do believe that it is time to up our game and to realize that team means together everyone achieves more. Together we can do battle against the darkness. Times are going to be tight for a while and in tight times great opportunities present themselves. It all comes down for me to does our baptism mean something or not. Does being on God’s team mean something to you? As the Notre Dame Coach in Rudy says. No excuses do the work. I think the image of being in the trenches is a good one. In hard times we need to stay close together, pray hard and be ready for the opportunities that God sends our way. So we can continue to convert our heart to God’s love and score the extra point for Jesus when it is our turn.
In the love of God
2 Christmas Year B God taking you on a trip Jan. 4, 2008
Published January 17, 2009 Sermons Leave a CommentMatthew 2:13-23
13Now after they had left, (the Wise men) an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
16When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 18″A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
19When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20″Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”Just when you thought it was safe to get back into the water or to skate on the ice to use a more appropriate for today. That crazy priest uncorks that radical hospitality stuff again.
I have been thinking about radical hospitality and how we so it here at Good Shepherd as I think about Jesus and more particularly Mary and Joseph and how they were treated and how they treated others. Here are some questions to ask. Are we the inn keeper in Bethlehem or the Anna and Simeon? Are we Mary and Joseph in the stable or in Egypt or are we the Herod in fear of losing what we have? Which model of hospitality do we want to be known for?
I was thinking about the little touches, the cards the notes the thanks you the details. I also thought about the giants you as st chad Good shepherd have had as models of gracious and radical hospitality. Fr. Tom. Fr. Max Brown, Fr. Dean, Deacon Rick.
Again the question is what are they going to say about us as our legacy. Deacon Rick who will go home any day now didn’t know that he inspired any body with his faith.
Let be Radical hospitality giants in the tradition of this parish
Luke 2:1-20
2In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see-I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14″Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Sing -Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
Infant Holy Infant Lowly, for his bed a cattle stall. Oxen lowing, little knowing. Christ the babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging angels singing, Noels ringing, tiding bringing. Christ the babe is Lord of all.
Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping Vigil till the morning new. Saw the glory, heard the story, tiding of a gospel true. Thus rejoicing free from sorrow. Praises voices meet the morrow. Christ the babe was born for you.Find Him. Find Him. The reason the shepherd found Him was they were told to look and they did. Jesus is born today in a manger somewhere far off and somewhere very near. Find them. Wisemen came from the east to find him. Find him in your child’s eyes. In any Child’s eyes on Christmas. Find Him in your Partner or spouse. Find Him in each other. They found him and it changed their lives. Are you looking for him what will you do when you do find him? Are you ready to have your life changed? Because when you find him it will change your life. Here is a story about finding Him in Indiana.
The heart that gives,…. gathers.
In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket.
Their father was gone.
The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two.
Their Dad had never been much more than a presence they feared.
Whenever they heard his tires crunch on the gravel driveway they would scramble to hide under their beds.
He did manage to leave $15 a week to buy groceries.
Now that he had decided to leave, there would be no more beatings, but no food either.
If there was a welfare system in effect in southern Indiana at that time, I certainly knew nothing about it.
I scrubbed the kids until they looked brand new and then put on my best homemade dress, loaded them into the rusty old 51 Chevy and drove off to find a job.
The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town.
No luck.
The kids stayed crammed into the car and tried to be quiet while I tried to convince who ever would listen that I was willing to learn or do anything. I had to have a job.
Still no luck. The last place we went to, just a few miles out of town, was an old Root Beer Barrel drive-in that had been converted to a truck stop.
It was called the Big Wheel.
An old lady named Granny owned the place and she peeked out of the window from time to time at all those kids.
She needed someone on the graveyard shift, 11 at night until seven in the morning.
She paid 65 cents an hour, and I could start that night.
I raced home and called the teenager down the street that baby-sat for people.
I bargained with her to come and sleep on my sofa for a dollar a night.
She could arrive with her pajamas on and the kids would already be asleep.
This seemed like a good arrangement to her, so we made a deal.
That night when the little ones and I knelt to say our prayers, we all thanked God for finding Mommy a job. And so I started at the Big Wheel.
When I got home in the mornings I woke the baby-sitter up and sent her home with one dollar of my tip money — fully half of what I averaged every night.
As the weeks went by, heating bills added a strain to my meager wage.
The tires on the old Chevy had the consistency of penny balloons and began to leak. I had to fill them with air on the way to work
and again every morning before I could go home.
One bleak fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires!
There was no note, no nothing, just those beautiful brand new tires.
Had angels taken up residence in Indiana ? I wondered.
I made a deal with the local service station.
In exchange for his mounting the new tires, I would clean up his office.
I remember it took me a lot longer to scrub his floor than it did for him to do the tires.
I was now working six nights instead of five and it still wasn’t enough.
Christmas was coming and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids .
I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning.
Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches on top of patches on the boys’ pants and soon they would be too far gone to repair.
On Christmas Eve, the usual customers were drinking coffee in the Big Wheel. There were the truckers, Les, Frank, and Jim, and a state trooper named Joe.
A few musicians were hanging around after a gig at the Legion and were dropping nickels in the pinball machine.
The regulars all just sat around and talked through the wee hours of the morning and then left to get home before the sun came up.
When it was time for me to go home at seven o’clock on Christmas morning, to my amazement, my old battered Chevy was filled full to the top with boxes of all shapes and sizes.
I quickly opened the driver’s side door, crawled inside and kneeled in the front facing the back seat.
Reaching back, I pulled off the lid of the top box.
Inside was a whole 20 case of little blue jeans, sizes 2-10!
I looked inside another box: It was full of shirts to go with the jeans.
Then I peeked inside some of the other boxes. There was candy and nuts and bananas and bags of groceries. There was an enormous ham for baking, and canned vegetables and potatoes. There was pudding and Jell-O and cookies, pie filling and flour. There was a whole bag of laundry supplies and cleaning items.
And there were five toy trucks and one beautiful little doll.
As I drove back through empty streets as the sun slowly rose on the most amazing Christmas Day of my life, I was sobbing with gratitude.
And I will never forget the joy on the faces of my little ones that precious morning.
Yes, there were angels in Indiana that long-ago December. And they all hung out at the Big Wheel truck stop….
This Christmas we have a quest. A quest of a lifetime for a lifetime. To find him and to serve him. What do you think happened to the shepherd’s after they returned to the field. Did their lives change? I believe that anyone who encounters Christ cannot help being changed.
May you, this Christmas seek Him and Find Him. First in those you love and then in the world around you and may our world never be the same because we did.
Merry Christmas.
Isaiah 61:1-11
61The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3to provide for those who mourn in Zion- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.
4They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 5Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; 6but you shall be called priests of the LORD, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. 7Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs. 8For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.
10I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
12But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; 13esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. 15See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.
16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise the words of prophets, 21but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22abstain from every form of evil.
23May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. 25Beloved, pray for us. 26Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them. 28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
John 1:6-28
6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.
15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
19This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. 24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
The story is told of a group of college graduates who gathering for a class reunion on their old college campus took the chance to go and visit one of their favorite professors who was now retired but had been an inspiration to them. As they were chatting the conversation changed to complaining about the stress of work, lives, and relationship.
The professor asked if they would like some hot chocolate. They all answered yes and he brought out a pot of hot chocolate and a number of cups. The Cups came in a wide assortment some expensive, some plastic, some chipped and some very ornate.
The professor filled all their cups and then gave his thoughts.
Notice that a variety of cups were brought out and all of you picked the ornate and expensive mugs leaving the cheap and the plain mugs. He said, it is normal for you to only want the best for yourselves but there in lies the source of your stress.
The cup adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. It’s just more expensive in some cases hides what you are drinking.
What you really wanted was the Hot Chocolate. You did not want the cup. But you all consciously went for the best cups. Soon you began to eye one another’s cups.
Consider this, Life is the Hot Chocolate. Jobs, money and position in society are the cups. Tools to hold and contain life.
The cup does not define nor change the quality of the life you are living.
Sometimes by concentrating only on the cup. We fail to enjoy the Hot Chocolate that God has provided for us. Always remember God brews the Hot chocolate, He does not choose the cup.
The Happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They make the best of everything they have.
Live simply
Live Generously
Care Deeply
Speak Kindly
And leave the rest to God.
The Richest people are not the ones who have the most but who needs the least.
Enjoy your Hot Chocolate
This story summed up the scriptures in a nice neat advent package for me. The heart of our scriptures today is held in the few short lines from Thessalonians.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances. Do not quench the spirit. Abstain from every evil and be made Holy sanctified in the Peace of God. The one who calls you is faithful. Isaiah says the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news
And our job is a continuation a book end if you will. John was a man sent from God to witness and testify to the light.
I think the story hits the nail on the head we in advent need to hear the call to simplicity. Having things is not bad but how often do we confuse the things with real gift which is our life and relationships. In my own life I remember once thinking when the kids were missing me because I was on every community committee I could get on and what good does it do to make my community a better place and raise children who don’t understand how precious they are to me and God.
I call us this Holy Advent as we move just 10 days from the birth of the King to not lose sight of the sweetness of the Hot Chocolate because we are too focused on the cup.
In the name of God
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”Believe in something better. That is a billboard sign for a cell phone company. I have passed that sign many times and each time I say to myself that is a sermon waiting to be written. It never ceases to amaze me how my very life is framed by seeing life as preach able moments.
So this Billboard has been begging me to respond to the cultural belief that believing in something better could possible be handled by a cell phone company. You don’t see the church selling wireless packages do you. I wish they what leave the belief stuff to us.
It stuck a deep cultural cord in me. Why is it that as a people we turn to everything and everyone else for the answer when we know in the deepest part of our heart there is only one place to get the answer we really need? God!
Could that Billboard be better used by us, and if so, can we back up the claim? You know there are strict laws around truth telling in advertizing. Can we as good Shepherd indeed offer something better to believe in?
Believe in something better for your life. Believe in something better for your family. Believe in something better for your community, your church and your world. Believe in something better and it has nothing to do with what you have or don’t have in material things. It has to do with what you have or don’t have in your heart!
That again sounds trite to me. Do you brother and sisters have Jesus in your heart all ya got have is Jesus. You and I both know life is much more complicated than that but it is a place to start and I will put my hope in something better in the Lord’s hands and you’re your rather than a cell phone company and the culture.
I talk a lot about the culture and being counter cultural and I don’t want you to get me wrong. We are the culture but I think by our work and prayer together not only will we be in place to make better decisions in our world but also to be a standard a guide post for other who you influence.
A Christmas song came into my heart as I was thinking about how the more things change the more they stay the same
#112- In the Episcopal Hymnal 1982
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
I had taken to one of my favorite pastimes after last wed exec team meeting when we took a look at next year’s budget. Fretting!!!! Then as I prepared for this sermon and I read the opening collect. May greet with Joy the coming. To be ready. I read the Gospel and Isaiah about making ready the path. I read Peter’s letter that says a day is like a thousand years and thousand years is like a day. Be patient for God is being patient with you.
Not a single word about what do about a deficit budget. Actually if you look close enough and listen with your heart and your head there is plenty in there about our deficit budget. Prepare be ready and be patient. For God is not moving us any faster than we are ready to go. The Spirit is here. What more could we ask for. Cliff Perkins said it yesterday I been praying about the budget and every time we get a little momentum we cut to the bone on the budget.
The song says His mother only in her maiden bliss worshipped him with a kiss. If I were a shepherd or a Wiseman I would have a proper gift. Yet what can I give him. I give him my heart.
Once again I am reminded that this is not my church, my mission or my job I am just a vehicle a light bearer. I holder of the light and it is mine to trust that God will do what God will do. Ours is to be patient. To love God with all our heart. To prepare to be the love of Christ and receive the love of Christ as Jesus taught us and as John the Baptist and Peter and Isaiah did.
In the name of God
Mark 13:24-37
24″But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
25and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
26Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. 27Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
28″From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
32″But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. 34It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. 35Therefore, keep awake-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, 36or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
such a way as gives us breath,
such a truth as ends all strife,
such a life as killeth death.
2. Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
such a light as shows a feast,
such a feast as mends in length,
such a strength as makes his guest.
3. Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
such a joy as none can move,
such a love as none can part,
such a heart as joys in love.
Walt Wangerin Jr hosts Lutheran Vesper’s on the radio and who is my 2nd favorite story teller next to Robert Fulgum says there are 4 questions to ask our selves as we enter into Advent. He reminds us that Advent comes from the Latin Adventus which means the approach the arrival. The verb is I arrive, I come. I am coming. The 1st question he says is Who is coming?
Advent has been celebrated in the Christian church since the middle of the 6th century it is ancient as a tradition. Advent not only defines who is coming but who the faithful are. The 2nd question who are we who wait for the one that’s coming
By the 13th century the church universal had recognized the season of advent as the beginning of the church year. Who is coming, who awaits him and when will he get here?
For one thousand and five hundred years Christians have spent advent not passive but active in preparation. The 4th question who shall we prepare?
I love Walt’s image of advent not being passive but active as we prepare and as our preparation defines us as those who are ready when Christ comes. He says during advent we scrub and clean our lives and examine and repair our souls as one does as they prepare there house for a special and great guest.
I love that in this theology we are active participants in the story of God’s journey to fulfill the promise of God’s kingdom and love.
Advent is a journey, we do not watch the journey we are part of the journey. We know who is coming and as we prepare we know when In God’s time which is not our and we are to be ready like the wise bride’s maids. We are to use God’s gifts wisely and in doing that we define who we are in the kingdom.
As we are called to be on the journey God promises we will be given what we need including the tools and language we need and the knowledge. I was reminded of that knowledge and language as in the last year I have redefined in my own language to not use but in a sentence but look for God’s and. But stops the possibility and opens it. Fr. Johnnie Ross taught me that He also taught me the opposite of love is not hate it is fear, we are called to live in love so we must tame our fears. Fr. John rekindled the opposite of remember is not to forget but to dismember. We need to knit the body of Christ close to God and to each other’s hearts.
Advent begins. Our new year begins. Let us scrub and clean. Let us mend and examine. Let us fall more deeply in love in God and each other.
In the name of God
The Feast of Christ the King The King is coming Nov. 23, 2008
Published January 17, 2009 Sermons Leave a CommentMatthew 25:31-46
31″When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Christ Jesus Victor
To Jesus Christ, our Sov’reign King,
Who is the world’s salvation,
All praise and homage do we bring,
And thanks and adoration.Refrain:
Christ Jesus Victor, Christ Jesus Ruler!
Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer!
2. Thy reign extend, O King benign,
To ev’ry land and nation,
For in Thy kingdom, Lord divine,
Alone we find salvation.
(Refrain)
3. To Thee and to Thy Church, great King,
We pledge our hearts’ oblation,
Until before Thy throne we sing,
In endless jubilation.
(Refrain)
Tell the Ragman
The Rag Man
Early one Friday morning, I was walking through the streets of the town and I came across a giant man, 6 feet, 4 inches tall, pulling a cart filled with rags. Although they were but scraps of clothes, they were clean and bright, as was the peddler, calling out the wares… “Rags!” “Come get your Rags!” Clean, new Rags!” “I’ll take your old ones and trade them for new!”
I was very curious to see such a sight – not that I had never witnessed people trying to make a buck on the hard streets, but this fellow seemed so hardy and strong. Certainly, he could find work doing something other than pushing rags? I decided to follow him at a distance to see what he was up to.
At his first stop, he came across a sad woman, crying on the stoop of her apartment building. She held a stained scrap of cloth to her face as the man approached. He stepped over garbage and broken toys and offered the woman a clean handkerchief. As he did so, her tears dried up and her entire face brightened. But as he walked away, the Ragman, began to sob uncontrollably. He wiped his face with the old dirty cloth that he had taken from the sad woman on the porch. I shook my head in wonder.
Scripture reference: John 11:33-44
Illustration by Syd Jordan Brown
The next person that the Ragman came upon was a little girl. Her head was wrapped in a bandage that was dark with blood. As the Ragman approached, she lifted her eyes and asked for a lovely hat to adorn her head. How could he resist? He reached into his bag and pulled out an yellow bonnet that would fit her just perfectly. Before he laid it on her head, he unwound the bandage from the girl’s head and placed it around his own. As he did so, a thin stream of blood emerged from his own head and trickled down his cheek. He didn’t mind at all as he placed the cheery hat upon the girl’s head and went on his way. Happiness crossed her face for the first time in many days, and the Ragman staggered into the street.
Scripture reference: Mark 5:25-34
Illustration by Syd Jordan Brown
By this time, the sun had moved to a high point in the sky and the Ragman looked up and grew worried. He started to move more quickly and with a greater purpose. Eventually, he came to a man leaning against a telephone pole. “Can I offer you clean clothes for work?” the Ragman offered. The other man sneered and laughed. How can I work, when I have only one arm, and he lifted his jacket away, showing the empty right sleeve. The Ragman simply said, lets exchange coats. What happened next, I still cannot believe. The Ragman removed his jacket and with it came his right arm. He handed it to the man at the telephone pole, who gladly put it on and walked away whole and happy. The Ragman kept going, this time, a bit more slowly.
Scripture reference: Luke 6:6-11
Illustration by Syd Jordan Brown
The Ragman hurried down the street. Before long, he came up a drunk, huddled upon the edges of an overpass, covered in a blanket, the stench of which I simply will not relate here. It did not faze the Ragman, however. He lifted off that awful rag from the drunk and gave him brand new coverings. Immediately, the man stood up and walked away with a strength and purpose not seen in years. The Ragman stumbled and fell with the burden of the old cloths. Still, he moved along, even more urgently that afternoon.
He moved through the streets, crying, bleeding, pulling his cart with one arm, and stumbling along through a haze of drunkenness. He was in such a hurry, I could hardly keep up with him! Eventually, he reached a garbage pit. The Ragman climbed to the top of the landfill and laid out a large blanket. He fluffed up his jacket and laid his exhausted head on the top. The Ragman lay down, closed his eyes, covered himself with the drunk man’s army blanket, and died.
Oh, how shocking and terrible! I was not expecting this at all. I slunk away to my bedroom and cried myself to sleep. I had come to love the Ragman, and yet, he had seemingly died alone.
Scripture Reference: Luke 23:33-35
I was so distraught, I slept all the way through Friday night and Saturday too. All of a sudden, I was awakened on Sunday morning by a bright light! This amazingly hard, pure, shocking light came streaming into my room that day, I could hardly open my eyes. When I did, I had to blink several times. Yet, still I did not believe what I saw. There, standing before me was the Ragman! The only sign of his suffering the days before was a small scar on his forehead. Other than that, he was entirely intact!
I could not believe it, and was filled with shame. I lowered my eyes and my head and hesitantly approached the Ragman. Stripping myself of all my clothes, I stood before him, naked. “Please,” I implored him, “Dress me.” The Ragman turned and chose one of the many shining cloths next to him. The entire room was filled with His glory! He dressed me, then, my Lord, that day. With new rags, I am a wonder beside Him – the Ragman – the Christ!
We end our Liturgical year this Sunday with the feast of Christ the king. We celebrate a very different King. I think this is the perfect way to set our Hearts for the next 4 weeks that lead us to birth of the King of kings. If we remember the that our King modeled for us at every turn humility and simplicity then we will be ready to not look over next Thursday The feast of Thanksgiving which seems to be shifting farther and farther from the radar and we will be able to keep perspective during Advent as so many parts of the world try and sweep us into the secular Chaos of to much to do, not enough time to do it and more money than we actually have to get it done.
May the feast of Christ as our King blaze a base in our heart, a touch stone to ground us as we talk into the season of Advent, as we stop a nation and give thanks, as we prepare for the birth of a King like no other and may we walk as our King walks through this season with humility, simplicity and love.
In the name God
The readings today call us to use our talents, our giftedness to the honor, glory and benefit of God. The part that I really love is that God does not call us to success but rather to faithfulness. God calls us to be our best to do our best and try our best and that is all God asks.
As I reflected on this Gospel in particular I heard about the Iowa Hawkeye Football team’s incredible upset of the Undefeated Penn State Nittany Lions. But for me it wasn’t the story but the story within the story that caught my imagination. It was the story of Daniel Murray, who hadn’t made a field goal since the season opener, hit a 31-yarder with a second left and the Hawkeyes rallied to stun the third-ranked Nittany Lions 24-23.
Murray had lost the regular field-goal duties to freshman Trent Mossbrucker and was relegated to kickoffs. But with the winds swirling and strong, coach Kirk Ferentz opted for experience and Murray’s strong leg.
He drilled it down the middle, sending Iowa’s freezing fans spilling onto the field.
“I’ve always dreamed about it,” said Murray, who grew up in Iowa City. “I kept hoping and hoping I’d get my chance.”
The Nittany Lions perfect season and hopes for giving coach Joe Paterno another national title were dashed by Iowa’s backup kicker.
Imagine being Daniel Murray- sidelined for six weeks in a home game in your hometown with the game on the line and you in an instant are the hero or the goat. Imagine being Daniel Murray’s Mom and Dad. For me the great part as great as it is isn’t that he made the field goal but that he had the courage to try which I think is the point of the story of the talents in the Gospel. Then a story of using your gifts in a different way
This is one of the kindest things you may ever see. It is not known who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US postal service.
Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven.
I miss her very much I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim.
I am sending a picture of her so when you see her
You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love.
Love,
God
There is a uniqueness to each of us. We are called by God to use these gifts to the Glory of God.
What I try to keep also in front of me is If I see God after my next breath what do I want Him to say? Which servant do I want to be known as? I don’t want to say well I didn’t fail because I never tried. I felt the wrapper on the gift God just like you gave it to me. As the saying goes better to rust out than wear out.
I challenge us in our week and in our live to use our unique gifts to widen the circle of God’s influence. May we seek ways of being the face and heart of Christ to those whom we meet.
May God’s fresh grace be with us
In the name of God
