RADICAL REFINEMENT




by Janice Troyer




12/10/2006

On this second Sunday of Advent, we continue to build the excitement for the birth of Jesus.  I’m curious what the preparations for Christmas are like at your house.  Growing up they usually included my mom, myself and my brothers doing lots of the decorating, putting up the tree, etc…my dad never got into it much.  He was often an observer of some of these traditions.  By his personal preference he chose to watch us or some years just show up to see the end result…maybe when we were getting ready to plug in the lights on the tree…he would come to the living room for the great revealing…

Now Dallan and I are just beginning to create our own Christmas traditions.  And I often don’t give him the choice on whether he participates in the holiday preparations or not!  Probably the first thing we do is decide when we will spend time with his family in Pennsylvania .  Once the travel arrangements are taken care of we often focus on the family gatherings we will need to attend locally.  Then there’s putting up the Christmas tree (which if you read the youth newsletter, you’ll know this tradition is an interesting one.)  We also like to set aside a day for baking.  We have our favorite goodies we like to bake and stick in the freezer early…so that when Christmas roles around we have things to take to all these gatherings.  Then there’s the present buying.  This year we got organized and actually did some budgeting for our gifts.  I did a spreadsheet and everything!  So what are your preparations like this time of year? And are you one who dives into preparations or do you like to watch from the couch?

As I wrote this list out earlier I was kind of overwhelmed by the amount of things we have to do to get ready for this season.  And I know sometimes we think these things are only bad distractions but I happen to think that these preparations can be just fine…in fact I wonder if we can use them to our advantage.  Rather than think about these preparations as things that get in the way of our celebration of Jesus, could they perhaps help us remember that we should be doing just as much in our hearts in preparation for Jesus’ birth?  Are all these physical things we do before Christmas good reminders for what should be going on at the same time inside? But contrary to putting up decorations, I don’t think we can simply observe from the couch when it comes to preparing our heart.  We must be actively involved in making the necessary preparations…not just passively waiting for the big birth at the end.

 I read in an article that perhaps this time of year is about vacuuming the dust-balls out of the corners of our faith, baking up a batch of our best beliefs, polishing up our convictions… and why wouldn’t we do these things?  The One we’ve been waiting for is coming!

So what are those heart preparations we should be making?  Advent is a time filled with anticipation, love and light.  I would like to suggest today that advent is also a time of repentance.  We don’t often link repentance with this time of year.  And yet today’s New Testament reading calls out to prepare the way for the Lord.  How might we do that?  By repenting and becoming clean before God or as stated in Malachi, become refined by God.  Preparing for the Lord's coming is a matter of purification.  True spiritual preparation involves repentance.

I did some pretty heavy research into the refining process and learned a decent amount.  Probably my best discovery was how much I don’t get science which caused researching this to be kind of awful at times and hard to understand.  But I was able to decipher enough to learn the basics on what it takes to refine silver.  So bear with me as I try to explain it!

The thing about silver is that you don’t just find it in a nice chunk that you can then melt down and shape into a classy pair of candlesticks.  Silver comes mixed in with lots of stuff (that’s my scientific term!).  In any case…this “stuff” is much like the stuff that’s mixed up in our lives.  Perhaps it represents our sin, our addictions, or trials… we all have it: the junk of life.  On our own we are a far cry from pure. 

So going back to our silver…what has to happen first in order to separate the silver from the other impurities or “stuff?”

It’s called smelting. And it takes place in a blast furnace.  I won’t go into detail (mainly because I can’t) but basically they take the silver and “stuff” and add things to it…ash, different dusts and residues and this acts as a purifier because it actually absorbs the impurities.  What absorbs our life impurities?  What has God added to your life recently that might act as an absorber of life’s impurities?  Maybe you’ve joined a small group and the support you’re getting there has been absorbing some of your extra “stuff”.  Maybe you’ve added volunteering to your schedule each week and that has been challenging your priorities and absorbing some of your busyness.  Or maybe a trial or really tough situation has been added to your life.  Could that possibly be absorbing some of your impurities?  Perhaps a strange thought…but let’s go back and see how our silver is doing in the blast furnace. 

At the base of this blast furnace is a removable fixture called the crucible where the silver is continuously separated from the other materials…Basically where it collects…Where the pure stuff comes to rest.  A crucible by this definition is a container where metal or other substances can be heated to very high temperatures.   So here’s the crucible collecting all the good stuff at the bottom of this furnace.  Well, the word crucible has another meaning.  It is also defined as a severe test.  Is it the severe tests of our lives that collect all the good stuff?  Could it be that it is during our trials when God is coaxing out our purities from our impurities?  Maybe, just maybe, we are cleansed, renewed and reborn after the many severe tests of life.

We often find in Biblical texts that the voice of God calls to people in the wilderness…  I think that it’s not so much that God speaks only to us in our time in the wilderness.  But maybe we are more apt to hear God when we are there.  It’s amazing how the tough things that come our way often cause us to get on our knees before God calling out for help, confess our shortcomings and “get things right” with God…perhaps re-adjusting our priorities.

Now just because something good can come from it, certainly doesn’t mean that trial is fun.  I imagine that if silver had any feelings, the refining process would be very painful!  The temperatures during the smelting process are extremely high!  And it seems the same could be true in our own lives.  The refining process might be painful…Is becoming pure worth the cost for you?

            Well, after smelting we still don’t have pure silver.  Instead we have a lead/silver mixture that must go in a cupel.  Here the lead is separated from the silver.  From the cupel, the silver goes to the refinery.  It’s at the refinery that the silver is melted down for the final time and molded into bars to be sent out and used in various ways!  Think of everything that silver is used in or for…in this same way God wants to take us at our purest, most refined form and send us out to various jobs in order that we might point the way back towards him….prepare the way…I think Christians should be like compasses.  It doesn’t matter which way we are turned, whether we are upside down…we constantly point towards Christ showing others the way.  And the more real we are before God, the more God can break us, heat us to high temperatures and refine us… the more consistently we can point in the right direction.

            What impurities are choking your life today?  What refining needs to be done?  I invite you to take it all…the junk, the “stuff”, and lay it down before God.  The temperatures are hot; the process could be painful, but think of the product in the end.  And don’t fear….God is overseeing our refining.  In fact Malachi tells us he will sit over us as a refiner does over their silver.

A story is told of a woman who upon studying this exact scripture from Malachi on the refinement of silver went off to find a silversmith.  Without telling him the objective of her visit, she asked to learn about the silver refining process.  He proceeded to tell her but when he came to the end of the description the lady pushed him, “but sir,” she asked…”do you sit while the work of refining is going on?”  “Oh yes, ma’am” replied the silversmith.  “I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining is exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured.”  Christ might find it needful to put his children in the furnace but his eye is intent on us and his wisdom and love are both engaged in the process!  We will not be injured.  As the woman was leaving the silver shop, the silversmith called her back, and said that he had one more thing further to mention, that he only knows when the process is complete, by seeing his own image reflected in the silver.

How well do you reflect Christ?  Can others see Him in their interactions with you?  What if for one day this coming week we focused on reflecting Christ in every single interaction we had for a full 24 hours.  What if we consciously thought about our words and reactions to our children, our parents, our friends, strangers at the grocery store, our co-workers, our spouse and list can on and on?  Could you do it?  Maybe by practicing pure reflections of Christ, it will become so much of who we are that we can’t NOT reflect him!  Pick a day this week and try it.

God is calling you in your wilderness….prepare the way… come to God and be radically refined…Don’t just talk about it.  We can decide to repent, make up our minds to change, even tell God we’re sorry, but until we actually do something different – not much has changed.

I read something by a pastor once how likened it to going out to eat at a restaurant but never ordering your meal.  I go and I look at the menu and then I get up and leave…“that was a great meal!” Now instead if I go to the restaurant and actually order a meal…  What happens next?  I get served.  People attend to my needs much like God sitting over us like a refiner of silver.  And while there is most certainly a bill to pay at the end, (perhaps like the high heat of a blast furnace.) It is a bill that I am prepared to pay.  A bill small in comparison to the bill that I pay if I continue on my old path, the path of "good intentions", the path that leads me further and further away from God.

Repentance entails recognizing that we have been our own god, or that there have been other gods controlling our lives.  It involves acknowledging that we NEED refining…maybe even turning around 360 degrees.

Wabush, a town in a remote portion of Labrador , Canada , was completely isolated for some time. But recently a road was cut through the wilderness to reach it. Wabush now has one road leading into it, and thus, only on one road leading out. If someone would travel the unpaved road for six to eight hours to get into Wabush, there is only way he or she could leave, by turning around.

Each of us, by birth, arrives in a town called Sin. As in Wabush, there is only one way out, a road built by God himself. But in order to take that road, one must first turn around.

What we are called to do is to confess our need for God, to acknowledge that there are spots in our lives where we aren’t on the right path, and to turn the car around in a new direction…towards God…and to begin to drive the road he sets for us...to jump head first into the heat of refinement.

And so I invite you in your preparation for the birth of a Savior…repent, change direction, turn towards God, allow the refining to begin.

Christ is coming and I want to be ready.  Do you?

“Don’t Worry.  God is here to help!”     Advent 3    December 17, 2006      Gary Martin

Zephaniah 3:14-20;  Isaiah 12:2-6;  Philippians  4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18          

The people who heard the words of Zephaniah, Isaiah, and John the Baptist had reason to worry.  Life was hard.  Israel had been occupied by enemy nations for many years.   Many of the people who heard these words realized they had brought it on themselves—they had sinned.  To hear that God was coming to help them was very good news.

Zephaniah:

Zion , your punishment is over. The LORD has forced your enemies to turn and retreat. Your LORD is King of Israel and stands at your side; you don't have to worry about any more troubles. Jerusalem, the time is coming,  when it will be said to you:

   "Don't be discouraged or grow weak from fear!

The LORD your God wins victory after victory and is always with you.

Isaiah:

I trust you to save me, LORD God, and I won't be afraid. My power and my strength come from you, and you have saved me."  Sing, people of Zion ! Celebrate the greatness of the holy LORD of Israel .  God is here to help you.

John the Baptist:

Someone more powerful is going to come.    The Messiah.

And years after Christ came, there was the Apostle Paul, on death row, writing to other Christians who knew martyrdom could be ahead for them as well:

Always be glad because of the Lord! I will say it again: Be glad. Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here. Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

The advent stories are about people who had good reason to worry and be afraid:  Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, John the Baptist, Anna, Simeon.     

Somehow, all these folk, could hear and believe the good news in the midst of extreme hardships and persecution.  They could find peace and joy, in the worst of circumstances.  The theme of the third Sunday in advent is always the joy.  There is now enough light from God’s promises of the coming Messiah, to light up the darkest and longest night. 

What do we do with these texts in 21^st century North America?  What is the fear factor today?  The answer is in the question:  we manufacture fear for our entertainment.  With all the horrible, unimaginable, frightful suffering and pain going on in our world today, it is obscene that in North America we create fear for entertainment. 

To hear the good news today, that God’s love frees us from fear, that we don’t need to worry about anything, because God is here to help us—I believe we must first deconstruct the constructs we have created about fear.   

Henri Nouwen, a Dutch theologian who left a teaching position at Harvard to join a community of people with disabilities for what would become the last decade of his life, wrote: 

“We are fearful people.  Fear has become… an acceptable basis on which to make our decisions and plan our lives...Those who can make us afraid can make us do what they want us to do.”

A post 9/11 commentary?  No, he wrote it in 1987.  If Nouwen was correct in his assessment of our nation in 1987, we could perhaps make the following post 9/11 adjustments to his statements.

We are a very fearful people.  Fear has become the primary basis on which to make our decisions and plan our lives.  Those who can make us afraid have made us do what they want us to do.

That truth has tragically played itself out in two ways in the last five years:   our leaders convinced us to be afraid of the wrong enemy, and we did what they wanted us to do—support the war in Iraq .  And worse yet, the terrorists, by making us afraid, have got us to do exactly what they wanted us to do:    become weakened militarily and economically, even more divided politically, and increase support around the world for their cause.  The terrorist threat is real, it is frightening.  No one questions that. The question is how do we respond.   

Fear happens.  Fear is normal emotion.  No fear—is a big problem.  It’s what we fear, and whether our fears are rational, and how we respond to fear that makes all the difference.

Throughout history, it’s the people on top, with the most power and resources, who are most likely to respond to their fears in the most irrational ways.  Pharaoh and Herod ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be slaughtered.  In the first Century:  Jesus and thousands of Christian.  The established churches in the 16^th Century:  Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed, slaughtered Anabaptists.  I’ll stop there—but the list continues up to the present. 

Before we can hear the words of Zephaniah, Isaiah and John the Baptist, and truly put our trust in God and realize that God has come to help us, we must accept the fact that as a nation, we are on top, and are therefore more prone to responding to our fears in irrational ways.   Let’s look at fear in our nation in three ways—hopefully we can all see at least one of these ways at work in our own life, so we can confess it, and turn around and repent, and in the words of John the Baptist, do something to show that we have really given up our sins. 

1.  We are very confused about what to fear, because we let others tell us what to fear.  I grew up in an era when we were taught to fear African Americans, Russians, the atom bomb, and in my narrow world, even the British…invasion of the Beatles and Rolling Stones. 

Today:  we are told to fear aging, illness, illegal immigrants, same sex marriage, drug addicts, inner city neighborhoods, Muslims, and even hot coffee at McDonalds.   Politicians tell us what to fear.  Talk radio is notorious for whipping up fear.  Unfortunately, too many church leaders are doing the same.  Even the way news is presented—what makes the headlines, gets the most air time:  horrendous crime, deadly virus for our bodies or computers.  When it comes to news, I believe fear sells even better than sex.    

Our mainstream media tells us essentially what we want to hear and protects us from what we don’t want to hear.  On Friday, Nov. 3, at 7am on the Ohio feeder ramp over the Kennedy expressway in Chicago, Malachi Ritscher, 52, well known in music circles in Chicago , a man who attended as many jazz performances as possible in clubs, who brought recording equipment

and produced a cd and gave it to the artist as a gift—a man who loved music and people, set himself on fire as a protest to the Iraq war.  Thousands saw it happen from the expressway below.  The mainline media went out of their way to ignore it—even in Chicago . You can ponder the reasons why when every hint of a celebrity marriage or divorce makes it into our newspapers, Malachi Ritscher’s death did not. 

Who has the Truth, besides Elkhart , when it comes to knowing what to fear, what not to fear?

Jesus told his followers to fear what harms the soul, not the body.  We can get a lot of mileage out of that in knowing how to prioritize our fears…if we really want to.  John writes, 1 John 4:17-18     

If we truly love others and live as Christ did in this world, we won't be worried about the day of judgment. A real love for others will chase those worries away. The thought of being punished is what makes us afraid. It shows that we have not really learned to love.

Many of our fears ultimately have spiritual roots—we fear we are not doing enough to please God;  we don’t think we are good enough. Beyond the Word, where do we turn for the Truth?  Any specific recommendations I’d make will get me into trouble, so I’ll simply say, listen to the voices of Christian brothers and sisters around the world.  They have a way of putting life in perspective, in Kingdom ways. 

Perhaps you are one who does not allow others to tell you what to fear—you do your research well, and make your own decisions.  Great.  Here’s another area in which our fears can become distorted.

2.  A materialistic worldview looks at the half full glass of water as half empty.  A Christian worldview sees it half full.  THE Apostle Paul writes:  be content with your circumstances.  Rejoice in everything, even a half full glass.   Our fears take over when we focus on what we don’t have:  I don’t have enough security, protection, finances, respect, love, stuff, vacation days, fill in the blanks.

When we focus on the empty half of the glass, we cannot  be generous with the half we have, because if we give away anything that we have, the empty portion will be larger.  When we focus on the full half of the glass—what we do have, we can be generous in giving what we have, because we’ve already concluded that half is all we need, so we can certainly share some of that with others.

I was blessed this past week by a Christmas newsletter from an individual:  one who had many reasons to be afraid, to complain, to worry;  but instead the letter exuded joy and peace as this person simply recounted many simple blessings in life;  not because of being in denial about the pain and struggles, but because this person was clearly satisfied with a half full cup. 

Compared to the rest of the world, we have 30 or 40 glasses full—and we still want more.  We want to protect what we have.  Can’t think of living with less.  That makes us fearful in an irrational way, and leads us into destructive behaviors. 

3.  Another irrational fear:  what other will think.  We want to go along with the crowd.  Not speak up for fear of what others will think.  We fear that if we radically follow the Jesus way in our lifestyle, our children won’t have friends. 

At the end of the today’s gospel reading, Luke tells us that John the Baptist confronted Herod.  When the top leader of his nation sinned, he named it.  And it cost him his life.  But thousands were pointed to Jesus because John the Baptist was not afraid of what others might think if he proclaimed the truth.    

I had a creative business idea once, a guaranteed market among Bible believing Christians:   start a line of Christmas Cards featuring the image and words of John the Baptist:   “You bunch of snakes.”  “Do something to show that you really have given up your sins.”  “Any tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into ha fire”  “Be satisfied with your pay.”  

It’s the stuff that Christians should be hearing during Advent, to prepare for Christmas; but, alas, Christians too are tempted to be selective in what they listen to, even in Scripture.  Yet thousands listened to John, and repented and were ready for the Messiah.  Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that their fears were appropriate fears.    

But don’t worry.  God is revealing his love to us, in new ways.  God wants us to realize that his Love is stronger than our fears.  Even our fear of terrorists.   God is here to help us, if we let him.  God can even help us with our distorted fears.   

Please note the bulletin outline for a time of silent confession time.  Hopefully, one of these will speak to you. 

  Advent 3    Reflect and Confess

Loving God, I want to rejoice, but I am afraid…

because I have listened to those who tell me to be afraid. 

      I will turn around and listen to your Word and your people throughout the world.

because I focus more on what I don’t have, than what I have. 

      I will turn around, and see your blessing in the gifts, skills, relationships and possessions I do

      have, and bless others by generously sharing them.

of what others will think if I take the less traveled road. 

      I will turn around and get (back) on your Way, and be at peace knowing that You are pleased

      with my choice.     

“What time is it?”                Advent 1                 December 3, 2006                 Gary Martin

Psalm 25:1-10; Jeremiah 33:14-16; 1 Thess. 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

I recently traveled 3,000 miles by car in a 10 day period, and experienced all the signs of being away from home:  a suitcase, Senegalese food and Portuguese bread, stumbling into things in the dark in an unfamiliar rooms, following someone else’s schedule, and asking for directions. 

Signs we are away from home:

·         suitcase

·         strange food, language and culture

·         stubbed toe

·         someone else’s schedule 

·         seeking directions from others

When you have been traveling a lot, it feels good to finally be home.  When you are trying to get things done outside in the cold and you’ve worked an hour or two beyond sunset, it feels good to come inside from the cold and dark, to warmth and light.  For many, home is where we are at peace, where we find security and safety.  

Advent is a reality check, welcome to some, unwelcome to others.  A reminder that somewhere in our life, we are away from home.  In some part of our life, we are not at peace.  We have real fears, real insecurities.   Advent reminds some of us that we are out in the dark.  Perhaps some of us have been away from home for so long, we don’t know where home is any more.  We don’t know in which direction to take the first step to find peace and security and safety.  Advent is a reminder to all of us who are paying attention, that we need a Savior.

That is why advent begins with darkness and fear.  

Strange things will happen to the sun, moon, and stars. The nations on earth will be afraid of the roaring sea and tides, and they won't know what to do. People will be so frightened that they will faint because of what is happening to the world. Every power in the sky will be shaken .  (Luke 21:24-25)

But then we hear various voices with Good News:  a Messiah will come and save us.  Gradually, as the announcements become more frequent and clearer, darkness and fear are replaced with light and hope. 

Advent makes sense only for those who know they are in the darkness.  It’s time to come out of the darkness—into the Light;  it’s time to come home.  Love is lighting the darkness. 

Advent only makes sense for those who realize they are in the dark, are afraid, or are insecure.  Advent only makes sense for those who realize they need a Messiah.  Advent only makes sense for those who know they cannot find their way home on their own.

If you are not lost or afraid, if you don’t think you need a messiah for yourself, I suppose you can still celebrate Christmas… somehow, by being happy for those desperate folk out there who need a messiah.  But that kind of impersonal celebration on behalf of someone else seems a little odd.  Kind of like the celebrating I did when the Cardinals won the World Series—which consisted of being happy for the two Cardinal fans I know.  It’s hard to celebrate when there’s nothing in it for you. 

Jesus :  Know what time it is:  God’s Kingdom will soon be here.   

So, when you see these things happening, you know that God's kingdom will soon be here.   Luke 21:31

Jesus’ point in the gospel reading in Luke 21 on this first Sunday in Advent:  know what time it is.  We don’t need prophecy charts and timelines.  All we need is what Jesus said:  When you see these things happening, you know that God’s kingdom will soon be here.   Luke 21:31.   We see these things happening in our day, as have many generations before us have seen in their day. 

Since we know that God’s Kingdom will soon be here, loyal subjects of King Jesus will be about what’s important to Him.  They will know there is no time to waste.   

Last year in Goshen it was time to decide whether we were going to save our schools, hungry children, substance abusers, or women before they got beat up by husbands or boyfriends…but no, many of us were focused on whether or not to save daylight.  As that debate distracted Goshen for a year, gang violence moved from our fairgrounds to our highways to as of four weeks and 9 hours ago, our neighborhoods.  Hearing an assault weapon being fired in your alley is in my category of strange things.       

Jesus said, “Know what time it is:  God’s kingdom will soon be here.”  If we are watching, we will experience God revealing his love to us.  God’s love is lighting the way for us to come home—to real peace, safety and security.

The other three texts for this First Sunday in Advent provide a framework for staying focused on watching for God’s revelation of his love.  That framework will help us sort through the many good things we could be doing, and discover what is most important for us as individuals and as a congregation.

David:    Now is the time for WORSHIP.

I offer you my heart, LORD God, and I trust you.  Psalm 25:1, 2a

David understood darkness, hunger, homelessness, fear—and terrorism.  What did David do?  He worshipped.   I offer you my heart, Lord God, and I trust you.  Psalm 25:1-2

David found his way home out of the darkness to peace, safety and security through worship--continually offering God his heart. No home, no food, no safety—drove him to worship.  Is it possible that too much home, too much food, too much safety could steer us away from worship?  Something to at least think about. 

Do you want to find your way home by Christmas, to genuine peace, safety and security?  Worship with God’s people each Sunday in Advent.  If you come here, you will experience a little more light each Sunday.  Come this Wednesday evening—it’s about hope for light emerging from darkness.  Come Dec. 21, and find hope and comfort in the midst of the darkness of grief and loss. 

Find time for personal worship:  find a quiet space, turn the lights and music off, light a candle; sit in the silence, read the scripture texts, the advent meditations that are available;  be quiet and listen.  Come and experience God’s presence some evening in the silence of this sanctuary.  Call the church office—we’ll see that it’s open if you want to come.      

Paul :   Now is the time for COMMUNITY LIFE.      May the Lord make your love for each other and for everyone else grow by leaps and bounds.  1 Thess. 3:12

Finding peace, security and wholeness also involves relationships within the body of Christ.  Paul writes in 1 Thess. 3:12:  Now is the time for Community Life:     May the Lord make your love for each other and for everyone else grow by leaps and bounds.

Perhaps Paul was thinking about small group type relationships…random acts of love for each other are nice, but disciplined acts of live are much better.  The latter is what enables our love for brothers and sisters to grow by leaps and bounds.  To enter into the lives of others, and allow others into your life.  To walk with each other through life’s struggles. 

Jeremiah:   Now is the time for OUTREACH. 

In those days, Judah will be safe; Jerusalem will have peace and will be named, "The LORD Gives Justice."     Jeremiah 33:16

Jeremiah was a career prophet.  From age 20 until his death, he spoke what God told him to speak.  Judah and Israel were falling apart.  Nations to the North, South and East were conquering and being conquered, which meant Judah & Israel ended up like pawns caught in the middle of warring Kings Queens Bishops Knights and Rooks on a chess board 

But they had not hit bottom, yet.  God told Jeremiah to tell Israel and Judah that they were in this predicament because they had turned away from God for many generations…and that it was going to get worse.  In fact, God told Jeremiah to tell the people:  it's not worth fighting against their oppressors--because their oppressors were going to win.  

Those are words a nation does not like to hear. Jeremiah was thrown into prison a number of times.  For 40 years Jeremiah devoted his life to calling Judah and Israel to spiritual renewal, so they would be spared from destruction.  How ironic that he was sentenced to death for treason--betraying his country—when in reality he was telling them how to be saved.  We’ve heard that line of reasoning all too often in the last three years.    

48 of Jeremiah’s 52 chapters are doom and gloom.  Only chapters 30-33, where today's OT lesson is found, offer hope.  These chapters say to Judah:  “You will not be able to escape being carried off to Babylon .  Jerusalem will be destroyed.  But some day, God will bring you back home.  Jerusalem will be rebuilt;  there will be peace, justice, safety and security. Commerce will resume.” 

And as was the pattern, God told Jeremiah to not only prophecy, but to take action.  God told Jeremiah to buy a piece a property that was being sold by a relative, so it would stay in the family.    In 32:16, Jeremiah objects:  Lord, it's not the time to buy real estate--it's too risky. You've told me that Nebuchadnezzar's army will run over us soon.  That's not good stewardship.  The Lord expected Jeremiah to take risks which would make him look like a fool--to help communicate the Good News of the Lord's promise that some day, Jerusalem would be rebuilt. 

Reaching out to others, working for justice for all people—results in peace for everyone—the one treated unjustly and his or her advocate.   One does not have to look far to see injustice in our community—some here this morning know well what injustice feels like.   

One example of injustice in our nation, in the “call it something else so it doesn’t sound so bad” category: Hunger in America has risen over the past six years, and shows no sign of slowing.  Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided that since it has been so difficult to define what hunger means, the word “hunger” will not longer be used by the USDA.  It has been replaced with, get this:  “very low food security.”  Douglas MacKinnon, author of a forthcoming novel, “ America ’s Last Days” has one word for that USDA decision:  obscene.

Worshiping Jesus Christ, deepening our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and seeing that our love grows by leaps and bounds for everyone else—did you note that outreach concept in Paul’s words?  These are the three priorities for Christians—as individuals and as congregations.  If it’s not about strengthening our relationship with Jesus, with each other, or reaching out to others…then perhaps we better put it in the less important category.

While many things are changing at Silverwood; one thing is not:  the practice of signing up is deeply embedded in congregational culture.  Want to get home by Christmas?  Sign up to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ—for either of two Bible classes which begin in January.  There’s a lot more we all can learn from the Word. 

Sign up to deepen your relationships with brothers and sisters here at Silverwood—join one of the new small groups announced next Sunday, to begin in January.   To date, 37 of us have experienced a new small group.  Along with paying off the mortgage in December, let’s get that number up to 50 by Dec. 31. 

Sign up to reach out to others:  sign up as you leave today, to serve this  week with GIHN;  or sign up for the Goshen as a Mission Field class—you might hear God’s call in that class for where you are to serve—that’s what it’s about.

No matter how far you are from home, you can get there by Christmas—if you start the journey today.  God promises to light the way home with his Loving Revelations. 

Start the journey today, to arrive home by Christmas.

In a moment, we will take time for silent confession.  One or more of the thoughts on the insert, underneath the calendar, may be helpful as you confess.  

Advent 1    Reflect and Confess:                   Loving God…

·         I have been carrying a suitcase too long.  I’m on my way home now, without my suitcase.

Perhaps you realized today that you are not at home—you’re carrying too much stuff around in a suitcase—material or emotional baggage. 

·         my food, speech or ways of doing things have been aligned with this world.  I’m on my way home now, longing for your Living Bread, Word and Way.   

Perhaps you realized today that you are not at home because you have embraced the values of this world, rather than the values of God’s Kingdom.

·         I have been bumping into things in the dark.  I’m on my way home now, where your Light will reveal life’s obstacles.  

Perhaps you realized today that you’ve been hurting yourself by bumping into things because you are in the darkness, far from home.

·         I have been following the worldly schedule of busyness.   I’m coming home now for your schedule of peace and wholeness.  

Perhaps you find your schedule out of control because you have been away from home for a long time.

·         I have been seeking direction from Madison Avenue, self-help gurus, or anyone with an interesting idea.  I’m coming home now to your Word, Spirit and Body for direction in my life.

Perhaps you realized today that because you are away from home, you have been looking for direction in all the wrong places.        

It’s time to confess, and begin the journey home to real peace, safety and security.

Wise Receivers         Advent 4          December 24, 2006            Gary Martin

Micah 5:2 – 5a; Psalm 80:1–7; Luke 1:39–5

Marketers, retailers and bankers are committed to helping us navigate our way through the giving season with a forest of newspaper ads, bankruptcy level credit lines, giving guides, and even advice for finding a parking space at the mall for our Navigators.  Ever run across a guide for gift receiving?   The church year suggests that Christians need at least 28 days of Advent preparation, to be ready to receive God’s gift, and only 12 days to celebrate Christmas.  Where did the church get that kind of preparation to celebration ratio?  From the Bible! 

There’s a good reason why Luke’s account of Jesus birth is the most popular—it’s the only one.   Matthew focuses on what Joseph went through after finding out that Mary was pregnant, and covers Jesus’ birth in five words:  “Then Joseph named him Jesus.”  Mark & John don’t even mention Jesus’ birth!  Luke provides 20 verses of birth details, and 100 verses of stories about the wise receivers, men and women who were preparing to receive God’s gift of the Messiah.

A Wise Receiver…studies the playbook, knows the passer:     preparation

What is a wise receiver?  A wise receiver comes to the game prepared:  she has read the playbook, and knows the person who is going to pass the ball very well:  his strength, capabilities, values, preferences

·         knows where to be at the right time:                         position

A wise receiver knows where to be at the right time.  How can one possibly know that?  By simply doing what we’re called to be doing, whether that’s being the best parent or son or daughter or grandparent or employee or employer or neighbor or volunteer…we can be.  We will be in the right position to receive God’s gift, if we are doing what we are called to be doing. 

·         has hands outstretched ready to receive:                 posture 

A wise receiver has empty, outstretched hands.  The play book has to be in our head and heart, not our hands.  The correct posture of a wise receiver is critical. 

·         hangs on to the gift God is sending his or her way: purpose

A wise receiver is clear about the intended purpose of God’s gift coming his or her way:  it is to be held, no matter whom or what knocks them off their feet.  Thursday’s Longest Night service was a time for wise receivers who felt more like they had been decked by a linebacker than decking the halls with boughs of holly.  But one thing was evident as we worshipped:  we were all holding on to God’s gift of grace. 

  Luke’s team had some depth at wise receiver: 

·         Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary, the shepherds, Anna and Simeon. 

Luke tells us that God’s team had some depth at wise receiver:   Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, shepherds, Anna, Simeon.  No one superstar, but a number suited up, ready to play the wise receiver position.    

Getting the Christmas story straight: God gives      the world receives

Christmas is about giving…if one looks at Jesus birth from God’s perspective. But from our perspective, the story of Jesus' birth is about receiving God’s gift—his offer of abundant life.    Christians claim to give gifts at Christmas to honor God’s gift to humanity. But is it possible, that in all of our focus on giving, we have missed the main point—of our desperate need to receive God’s gift of abundant life, of wholeness—what the word salvation actually means?    

When we focus on giving, we are in control.  Are arms are full of gifts we want to give.  But when we focus on receiving, we are vulnerable—we don’t know what we will receive.  When we focus on receiving, we acknowledge that we are in need.  If we don’t recognize our need, we won’t have our arms open to receive.   Wise receiver is a difficult position to learn. Luke’s wise receivers all knew that they, and their nation, needed a Messiah.   GOD GIVES; WE RECEIVE.  THE CHRISTMAS STORY IS THAT SIMPLE.   There’s nothing to celebrate, until we have first received.

How do we receive? I promise you this.  If you don’t change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.  –Jesus Mt 18:3

So, where do we turn for a handy “guide for receiving gifts?”   How about children! Here is another illustration of Jesus’ important teaching about the Kingdom of God :  “I promise you this.  If you don’t change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.” Children know there are four steps in preparing to receive a gift: 

A Child of God’s Guide to Receiving:              ask for your gift

Most any child will tell you—If you want a gift, you have to ask for it!  Jesus taught his disciples that same point:  “Ask, and you will receive.”   Mary & Joseph, along with many other faithful Jews of their day and for generations before them, repeatedly ASKED God to send the Messiah.  Wise receivers know they need God’s ongoing gift of wholeness, so they ask God for it. 

·         expect to receive your gift

Once children have asked for a gift, they expect to receive it.  They know their parents will come through.  Mary, in her song of praise in Lk 1:46-55, spoke in the past tense about what the Messiah would do in the future.  All Mary needed was the promise of a coming Kingdom, and she could see these things as having already taken place.   In Luke 2, when the prophet Simeon holds the infant Jesus, he praises God for what he has already done in saving Israel .   Wise receivers, ask God for wholeness and abundant life, and expect to receive it.

·         wait actively for your gift

The third step:  children then wait actively. They look around, pay attention to every shopping trip, every hiding place. What they know they will receive is constantly on their mind.  They are looking for it to come….counting the days.  They tell others about the gift that is coming.  Luke tells of Anna, the 84 year old prophetess, who served God night and day by praying and fasting in the temple.  She was there when Mary & Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple :  Luke writes in 2:38:  “At that time Anna came in and praised God.  She spoke about the child Jesus to everyone who hoped for Jerusalem to be set free.”     

·         behave as if you have already received your gift  

Fourth, children behave as if they already have the gift—they include the puppy they expect to receive in their play.  If they expect a Wii, they are making the motions in front of the TV.  Mary & Joseph, along with many other faithful Jews of their day, like Simeon & Anna, LIVED AS IF the Messiah had already come--they lived in hope, in joy in the midst of hopeless and discouraging circumstance.   

Jesus taught his followers to live out the Kingdom ways--as if the kingdom were already here in its fullness, even in the midst of persecution, and a world which repeatedly rejects Kingdom values.       

Why did God choose Mary?  Could it be in part because she was willing to focus her energy on preparing to receive Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.   Luke 1:38

Why did God choose Mary to be the mother of Jesus?  Could it be because she was focusing her energy on preparing to receive?  Could this be why she could respond to the angel’s announcement, “ Lk 1:38 Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word. The Beatles are not known for their theology, but Paul McCartney nailed it in “Let it Be” which is based on Mary’s song:  But when in times of darkest trouble, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be, let it be. 

How do we prepare to receive from God?

1.  Acknowledge our need for God’s grace—the most difficult step.  Ask for God’s gift of healing and wholeness. 2.  Expect to receive God’s grace—be assured that God will deliver.

3.  Actively wait:  talk about receiving God’s grace, watch for it, hang out where it might arrive—Scripture suggests that is you’ll have better luck if you hang out among the poor, the oppressed and the foreigner. 

4.  Live as if God’s grace has already come into your life. 

Fredrick Buechner, a well known Christian writer, was asked to summarize what he has been trying to communicate in all of his books.  His  Response:  “Listen to your life; pay attention to what happens to you.”   He explains further:  If God was concerned enough to enter our world, to live In it, and finally die and rise again in it—if he is really involved with the world, then one of the most powerful ways He speaks to us is through what happens to us.” 

He tells the story of a Christmas Eve in rural Vermont :  he was exhausted from a day of focused on giving:  getting presents assembled and wrapped.  Exhausted, he headed upstairs to bed, looking forward to sleep—when

he remembered his promise to feed his neighbor’s sheep that week.  So he reluctantly bundled up and trudged out into the cold, snowy night—walked over to the neighbor’s barn.  Cut the twine on several bales of hay—

scattered it around.  The sheep came bumbling up to him.  He took in a deep breath—the smell of the barn, the hay—and the sheep, in the context of the cold and snow….suddenly he realized where he was—he as in the stable, spreading hay in the manger.  He was in a holy place, overwhelmed with God’s presence.  

While only a few here this morning could possibly have a similar experience with sheep tonight, Buechner applies his experience to everyone by concluding:  the world itself is a manger, where God is continually being born into our lives—in the things that happen to us…. Wise receivers, with arms outstretched, are paying attention for what God is sending their way.   

2000 years ago, through the life of Jesus, God came into a troubled world.  God continues to come into our troubled world today. “Where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.”  

If we have prepared to receive God’s gift, we will recognize it, and accept it like Mary, with a “let it be to me according to your word.”  If we have not prepared to receive God’s gift, we’ll return it because it won’t appear to fit, or we won’t like the color or style, or we don’t think we need it. There are 12 more hours of Advent--plenty of time to change, become like a child, and prepare to receive God’s gift that is coming your way.  If you have not yet prepared to receive, you can begin right now.      

“A Gift to be Returned”    1^st Sunday after Christmas   December 31, 2006   Gary Martin

1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26;  Colossians 3:12-17;  Luke 2:41-52     Love Produces Growth

If I were a conference minister, I would have a talk with every pastor in the last stages of a congregational search process:   among other things, I would say:  Someday you will leave this congregation.  If you can’t leave well, don’t come.  Deal with it.  When that time comes, no excuses:  “but my children and grand children are here,” “we can’t leave town because we can’t sell our house or because of my spouse’s job and this is the only Mennonite church for miles;” or “all my friends are here.”   A former pastor not leaving well is a contributing factor in many congregational conflicts.  Leaving well doesn’t begin when you resign. Leaving well begins when you begin a pastoral assignment.  If pastors understand that simple principle, it will guide them through the many minefields of pastoral ministry and lead to long and effective pastoral tenures.    

I have similar advice to newly married couples:  babies are adorable and wonderful--but before you decide to have one, be aware that a child is a gift to be returned.  Don’t have one unless you can let him or her go in 18 or so years.  They will either leave the nest on their own, or need to be gently pushed out—but one way or another, they will need to fly on their own.  The time for a parent to start dealing with that reality is at conception.    

Counselors find that many who come to them for help, are struggling with issues that relate in some way to something that went wrong in that infant to child to teen growth process that ideally should result in a healthy parent/son or parent/daughter relationship as adults.   

Parenting has always been a challenge, but cultural trends in the last generation are making it an even greater challenge.  One example:  When our children were at home, virtual reality was very low tech—it was called imagination.  Today, technology has enabled virtual reality to replace reality for many.  An ominous trend.

The Bible keeps things real:  many stories about parenting that do not turn out well.  There’s one interwoven into our OT text in 1 Samuel 2 & 3—about Eli and his sons.  But our two stories today, happen to be success stories.  Which requires that I ask a big favor of everyone, before I proceed. 

Whether we are sons, daughters, parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles this morning, I invite everyone to look at these stories in light of what’s ahead in our lives.  They are instructive for what we can we choose to change now to be a better parent, grandparent, son or daughter of aunt or uncle or member of the body of Christ.  If you feel you need to go back and reflect on what happened as a son or daughter or parent…do that with a trained therapist because that’s difficult to do on your own—hard to be very objective about it.  

In considering these examples of good parenting, our goal this morning is not to induce guilt related to the past.  Most parents I know have done the best they could in parenting, given who they were, what they knew at the time, and their unique circumstances .  Beating ourselves up over what we could have done differently, doesn’t help anyone now.  As I look back on the

parenting years, I know I would do some things differently.   There are no perfect parents here, and no one here had perfect parents.  The two sets of parents we are considering this morning were not perfect either—but they must have been close.   

Two stories:   two sets of godly parents: 

             Hannah & Elkanah, Mary & Jose ph

Hannah & Elkanah, Mary & Joseph were godly parents.  They had a personal relationship with God:  they talked to God, they listened to God.  Worship was a routine in their lives. They paid attention to what happened in their lives:  angel visits, dreams, they were wise receivers. 

Want to be the best parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle you can be?  Before we focus on what we need to do in that regard, focus on who we are:  a child of God.  Let’s give attention first to our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  It’s the oxygen mask principle on an airplane:  put your own mask on first—if you don’t, you won’t be any help to anyone else.   

·         two mothers proclaiming good news

After the writers establish that all four parents were godly, they zero in on the mothers.  We are told much more about who Hannah and Mary were and what they did, than about Elkanah and Joseph.  In most stories about couples in Scripture, the man’s name precedes the woman’s name. Often, the woman’s name isn’t even mentioned. 

When the woman’s name comes first—the writer is making a point!  Pay attention to the woman in this story!  Both Hannah and Mary saw God at work in their lives, and proclaimed the good news of God’s Kingdom—in song.    

·         two children dedicated to God, both before and after birth

Both mothers dedicated their child to God—before birth.  Hannah offered her child to God before he was even conceived.   Both Hannah and Mary were quite clear on the concept:  a child is a gift of God, a gift that is to be returned to God.  According to the story tellers, the fathers got involved in the after birth dedications.  Some of us may know what our mother did for us in dedicating our life

to God before we were born. Perhaps many of us don’t know.  But the truth is that many mothers over the millennia, instinctively do this.   

Dedicating children in a worship service is a powerful symbol for everyone: for parents, child, and congregation.  Ultimately though, it’s what is in our heart that matters.   

·         two children left behind…in God’s house

No child left behind?  The two children in our stories today, were left behind.  As a parent, I can’t comprehend what Hannah did:  cutting the apron strings at age four or five instead of 18.  But perhaps, at least in part, that’s my failure to really grasp the depth of what it means that a child is literally a gift from God.  It’s one of those principles that’s hard to fully comprehend in a possessive, materialistic, narcissistic culture.  When we think we literally own land and property, that these things are ours to use or control selfishly as we desire—something Native Americans or Hebrews could not fathom—it’s easy to extend that attitude to our children.   

And then, there’s the delightful story about Jesus as a child, being unintentionally left behind at the temple, the only story about Jesus as a child.  It’s a story that has been misunderstood.  A good place to start in interpreting scripture is to read what the text actually says:   

they found Jesus sitting in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was surprised at how much he knew and at the answers he gave.

We may have the image in our mind of Jesus being so knowledgeable that he ended up teaching the religious leaders.  But the text doesn’t say that.  The custom of the Sanhedrin was to meet in public in temple court during Passover to discuss religious and theological questions in earshot of all who were interested.  Listening, asking and answering questions--is the regular Jewish phrase for a student learning from his teachers. Jesus was simply being an excellent student—one who eagerly searches for knowledge.   At age 12, Jesus was aware of God’s call on his life.  He desired to learn all he could about God. 

·         two children growing in favor with God and people

Both stories make the point that these two children grew in ways that pleased God and people.   I believe that their parents understanding that they were a gift from God, and the consequent focus on preparing them to leave the nest in a healthy way, was foundational in their well rounded development. 

When I was a teen, adult responsibilities began at age 16.  A recent survey asked Americans at what age one becomes an adult:  the most common answer:  26.  What’s wrong with this picture?  The Silverwood saints among us would probably say that adult responsibilities began at 12 for them.  I call it responsibility creep.  It has creepy implications for our society.        

The word Luke uses for Jesus’ growth in v. 52 is instructive:  prokopto –to progress, to advance, to make one’s way forward by chopping away obstacles. The teenage years are the time to grow by chopping away your own obstacles, not having them chopped away by your parents until you are 26. 

·         two children growing up listening to God’s voice

Both children grew up listening to God’s voice.  Samuel received a very difficult message from God, to deliver to Eli.  Another story that’s difficult to imagine.  Listening to God had to be front and center for Jesus in his formative years.   

·         two children growing up to make a positive difference in their world

There are many values parents can instill in their children…but one that may rise above the rest that is foundational for wellbeing as an adult, is to help a child incorporate into their being, the concept that the world does not revolve around them.  We are here to do what we can to leave this world a better place for others—and that may mean making sacrifices in our own lives.  Hannah and Mary must have done this one well. 

·         begins in the home

Parenting first and foremost is about what happens at home.  But parents need support and encouragement.  They can’t do it by themselves.   It has been a blessing to see infants being held by other than parents here at church.   Just in case you haven’t noticed, our infants and toddlers are begging us to hold them, and play with them.  Sign up today. 

·         reinforced in the congregation

Nurturing children toward wellbeing as adults, is to be reinforced in the congregation.  Silverwood historically has done that well through a strong C.E. program for children.  But is there more? Can parents grow and find support only from other parents with the same age children?  What is the role of inter-generational small groups in nurturing parents?    

·         to be shared with the world

Silverwood has received a gracious gift:  strong families, godly parents, godly educators, a dynamic C.E. and youth ministry.  Our community desperately needs these resources.   Mayor Kauffman has repeatedly challenged parents to keep track of their kids in the effort to stop gang activity.  It’s the right thing to say, except that many of these parents likely did not have parents who kept track of them. Many of us received that gracious gift from our parents, so we knew how to do it with our children.  It’s time to invest that grace in the community.  James warns his readers in Chap 2 of his letter:   What good is faith that doesn’t act?  What good is faith that blesses someone without responding to their needs. 

How can we convince our children that life is about serving others,  when so much of what we do at church has been about us?  Boldly sharing our parenting skills with the community will enhance the nurturing of our own children in the congregation.  In the new structure, Discipling and Outreach Commission will work together in leading the congregation in this new, missional direction. 

The Good News:   God’s Love produces growth…

God loves us!  God’s love enabled Hannah and Elkanah, Mary and Joseph to be good parents.  God’s love enables each one of us to continuing growing in Christ, and in so doing, be better equipped to participate in the nurturing of our own children, those of the congregation, and community.  

“Through the Church”                               Epiphany Sunday                            January 7, 2007

Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

When we are very young children, our world focuses on our immediate family.  The way our family does things is right—what all other families do is either wrong, or at best, very strange.  Among my early memories: playing with cousins at extended family gatherings at the homes of either set of grand- parents.  My cousins had different toys and talked about different things.  I was fascinated at identifying cars at an early age, and driving into either grandparent’s drive was an unsettling experience—why are there Chevys or Dodges here?  I accepted that Fords were better for a few years as a child, but I never could understand what was inherently wrong about the miniature slot cars my cousins had.  

As we grow and develop as children and youth, we gradually come to realize that our immediate family is not the center of the universe.  It’s always home, but slowly we realize there is a big world out there in which we can learn and grow.  In that process we hopefully learn two things:  that some aspects of our own culture are really valuable, and that other cultures have found even better ways to do some things. We gradually learn to see diversity as an opportunity to learn and grow, not as something to fear or view as threatening.  While several childhood food favorites will forever be among my top ten, most of my top ten were never served at my family of origin dinner table. 

People form clans

But most of us can only take that appreciation of diversity so far.  We still find comfort in being aligned with people who are like us.  We develop clans, and if too much of our life is focused within these clans, a tendency develops to look down on people beyond our clan.  It’s the us verses them syndrome, one of the basic realities of human existence.   East or West Coast; Union or Confederates; Colonialists or British; Democrat or Republican.  Sunni or Shia.  White Folk or Native Americans.  Cubs or White Sox.  Black or White.  Urban or Rural.  Management or Labor.  MC or GC.  Bluffton or Goshen .  Catholic or Protestant.  Jew or Gentile.   Mennonite or other than Mennonite.  IBM or Apple.  Northwood H.S. has been around 35 years now, but I understand that at sports events some fans still sit in distinct Waky or Nappanee sections. 

Us and them.  A dynamic that has a very primal purpose in our need for security, but that human beings inevitably take too far, resulting in sense less violence.  Joan Chittester, a popular Catholic writer, has said that “Religion is the glue meant to bind us together on our way to God.”  But all too often, the bloodiest of conflicts throughout human history have been fueled by appeals to religious differences.  

God had a plan… to break down the barriers that divide humanity.    Eph. 2:14;  3:1-4

The Apostle Paul tells us that God had a plan to break down the barriers that divide humanity into warring factions and clans.  Eph. 2:14   Christ has made peace between Jews and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall of hatred that separated us.   He even brought Jews and Gentiles together as though we were only one person, when he united us in peace.  On the cross Christ did away with our hatred for each other.  He also made peace between us and God by uniting Jews and Gentiles in one body.   Paul is saying there is something very basic here—that we can only be in right relationship with God when we are in right relationship with human beings around us.

In Eph. 3, Paul explains that this was a mystery—a secret plan that God has always had, because God knew that human beings would always have this tendency to become clannish, and end up killing each other.  Paul tells us that God revealed this plan over time.

1.  Isaiah foretold it     Is. 60:1-6;  Eph. 3:5

The prophets gave us clear clues.   Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord .  

2.  The wise men symbolized it    Mt. 12:1-12

The story of the wise men visiting Jesus as a child, is a symbol of what was to come.  Foreigners from far away saw God at work in the birth of this Jewish child—God was up to something special here, that had global implications. 

3.  Jesus fleshed it out   Eph. 2:11-22

Early in his ministry—in his hometown, Luke 4, the gospel reading in two weeks, Jesus made this point—and it nearly cost him his life.  As he explained the reading from Is 61 & 58, Jesus made it clear that he has been sent to proclaim good news beyond Israel .  That God cares for more than just us—God cares for them, also.  Us folk don’t like to hear that kind of talk.  Jesus ministry made it clear:  there are no them folk.  God cares for everyone, all peoples, and all nations, alike.   

4.  Paul proclaimed it…everywhere, in all his letters!

And then there was Paul, whose many writings cannot be understood apart from the realization that this point was central in his theology, biblical interpretation and ecclesiology—understanding of the church. Gal. 3:28:  Faith in Christ is what makes each of you equal with each other,   whether you are Jew or a Greek, a slave or a freeperson, a man or a woman.  So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham’s family, and you will be given what God has promised. 

In the Epistle reading for Epiphany Sunday, Paul concludes his explanation of how this mystery has been revealed, with a profound statement—Eph. 3:10             

Through the church , the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Through the church…  KJV:  the manifold wisdom of God.  One reason for using a 20^th century translation rather than a 17^th C.;  I think that by far the most frequent use of the world manifold today—steers one to a car engine, and the bringing together of exhaust from all the cylinders into one exhaust pipe. Not the best image for God’s wisdom.  The Greek word, translated manifold or rich variety, or multi-varied, was used to describe an intricate, many colored tapestry.  Wisdom is used in Jewish thought to refer to God’s wise, all encompassing designs for the world.  Paul is painting the big picture here:   God’s plan to unite human kind through Jesus Christ, reveals the great, rich variety of all of God’s wisdom.

While Jesus came and demonstrated it in a point in time, it is his body, the Church that will continue to make this plan known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.   That language—the powers in the heavenly places, should not be taken only to refer to the “removed from our immediate awareness” spiritual realm.  In Paul’s thinking—these principalities and powers that work against God’s Kingdom, are represented in many of our human institutions, and can take root in our lives.   This point will be clarified during CFN Bible classes March.    

             Through the church, Paul writes, God’s infinitely complex wisdom is made known to the powers that appear to be in control in our world.  This is perhaps the most comprehensive description of the function of the church in scripture.  There is another way—we do not have to kill each other over our differences.  And it is the church’s job to make this known to the powers in the spiritual realm and those they have infiltrated here on earth. 

How can the church do that?

The church informs the powers of the wisdom of God by…

The church informs the powers of God’s plan, first of all be simply being the church:  a community of folk who should not want to be a community.   A community that crosses the divisions of clan and race and ethnicity.

1.   Being the church:  a community of diverse folk

The first century church was that kind of church.   It broke down the barriers between men and women, Jew and Gentile, slave and free, wealth and poverty.  The 21^st Century church in North America remains the most segregated hour of the week.  Let’s forget the excuses and the guilt or the improbability of changing this dramatically…let’s just do what ever we can to keep moving in that direction.  We have made commitments as a congregation to become more diverse.  And it is already taking place. 

Many Mennonite congregations are in areas where there is little ethnic or racial diversity to integrate.  But all Mennonite congregations have significant economic differences in their community.  I believe that is where Christians should start;  when we learn how to break down the socio-economic barriers, a significant part of the racial barriers have also been  dismantled. 

In Goshen , we have significant ethnic and socio-economic walls to tear down.   Christ has made peace between Jews and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall of hatred that separated us.   He even brought Jews and Gentiles together as though we were only one person, when he united us in peace.  On the cross Christ did away with our hatred for each other.  He also made peace between us and God by uniting Jews and Gentiles in one body.  

We can’t do everything, but we can each do something.  See this week’s Milepost—on the web or in your newsletter, for more on that thought from Archbishop Romero.  One specific objective in our three year vision:  40 of us will have developed a relationship with someone who is different from us.   That’s the way walls are torn down:  one brick at a time. 

Jesus said the world knows how to love those who return that love.  According to Jesus, that’s no big deal.  Jesus calls us to love those who we think will be unable to return that love—the unlovable and the folk we might think of as enemies.  The truth is, in doing so, we often do receive love returned.  I have had the privilege of participating in several very diverse churches.  That dynamic, all by itself, drew others to participate.  They have to find out why folk who should not like to be together, love each other so much.

2.  Doing the work of the church:  breaking down the barriers that divide.

A church that is the church—made up of diverse folk, will naturally DO The work of the church—they will see their ministry in their congregation, community and world.  2 Corinthians 5:  the ministry of reconciliation.   Again, Paul makes a rather sweeping statement about what following Christ is all about—continuing the ministry of reconciliation Christ began.   Yes, peace-making in a holistic sense. 

3.   Possessing a bold and confident faith in Jesus .

Paul concludes his thought in Eph. 3, about this revealed secret plan about what God is doing through the church, by reminding his readers that it is their faith that will see them through.   Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so that we can come to God by faith. 

Through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places

We have started to tear down walls here at Silverwood.  Some Silverwood folk are tearing down walls in the community.   If that’s a new concept for you, join a new small group—a great place to learn tearing down wall skills that will prepare you for that work in the community.  Our existing clans within the church, as helpful as they have been, might be limiting the flow of grace into our lives. 

EPIPHANY SUNDAY GOOD NEWS from Isaiah and Paul:     Open your eyes!  Look around!  A new day is dawning!  God desires to bring light into the violent wall building darkness of our world.  His plan has always been to do that THROUGH THE CHURCH, even before the church existed!  

Risky Business:  Putting Servants in Charge                              January 14, 2007

  2^nd Sunday after Epiphany                      Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 

God’s manifold wisdom is made known Through the Church to the powers that be.   So who has Jesus put in charge of this work?

A legend has Jesus looking down on earth right after ascending to heaven.  He’s watching the eleven disciples stand there with desperate “what are we going to do now?” expressions on their faces.   An angel asks Jesus, “Do you have a back up plan if they fail?”  Jesus replied, “I don’t need a back up plan.  They are my disciples.

Luke has a parable that is similar to the one that was just read in Matthew 25.   In Luke 19, 10 servants are all given the same amount:  The equivalent of about $50,000 today.   In Matthew, there are only three servants, and each one gets a different amount to invest:  $1.5 million; $600,000 and $300,000.    

The most common application of either parable is to be good stewards of all Kingdom resources:  time, spiritual gifts, material resources, God’s grace….    In two hours, we will be reflecting on the past year, and making commitments for 2007 at our annual meeting.   Underlying questions will be:  “Have we been good stewards of Kingdom resources in 2006.”   “Do our projections for 2007 represent good stewardship of Kingdom resources?”          

I suggest however, that in our rush to get to the “be a good steward” point in these parables, we may have overlooked a much greater point:  to be a good steward, one must first BE A steward.  It’s the identity thing.  

In God’s Kingdom…Servants are in charge!

…a man went a way and put his three servants

in charge of all he owned.  (v. 14)

There would be some laughter if I announced that I have a goal of joining the pro golf circuit a year from now, because that would be quite a challenge for any

golfer here this morning.  But my announcement would be far beyond quite a challenge, because I’m not even a golfer.  I’ve been on a course once in my life…to cut firewood before the course opened to the public.  

Could it be that most of our calls to be GOOD stewards fall short because we don’t really grasp what it means to be a steward?  When Jesus left his disciples almost 2000 years ago, he left his followers in charge of all of his resources.  Jesus is counting on us. 

           This is where we start in our understanding of what it means to be a missional congregation and in understanding how our new structure works.  Every follower of Jesus is a steward of unlimited Kingdom resources.  Every follower of Jesus is a missionary.  Every follower of Jesus is equipped, trusted and expected to invest Kingdom resources so they are multiplied many times. 

In God’s Kingdom, there are no CEOs or executive vice-presidents with years of top-level management experience.  In God’s Kingdom, there are just servants:  common laborers; assembly line workers; custodians; sales clerks.   

But someONE has to be in charge, we cry out!  Paul replies in today’s epistle reading:  no, someONE within the body is not in charge.  We all have different gifts like parts of a human body—every part is in charge of doing what it is called to be doing.  Everything works fine, if Jesus is the head of that body. 

In our new structure, the Board governs—but they are not in charge.  The Pastoral Team leads—but they are not in charge.  The Commissions give direction to all the ministries of the congregation—but they are not in charge.  Every member of the body is in charge, because we are all Jesus’ servants.

Now that’s a risky thing for a wealthy person to do.  Take off for several years, and leave your servants in charge of ALL of your assets.  Not just to protect them—but to invest them, to take risks with YOUR capital.  How could the man in this parable do that? 

God knows our potential!

The man knew what each servant could do (v. 15a)

Underline v. 15a.  He knew what each servant could do!  How did he know that?  He probably had never left town before for such a long time--which means the servants had never been put in charge of such large sums of capital.   

The man somehow knew the potential of each servant!  He knew what each servant COULD do!   As parents, we believe in our children.  We see potential in them before our children see it in themselves.     

Our Father, like a loving parent, sees potential in his children far beyond our present level of development. Jesus didn’t select his disciples based on their present skills and character. There were some real characters among the twelve.  None were ready for prime time. But Jesus called them on the basis of their potential—what he knew they could become.    

          My hunch is the servants in the parable didn’t know their capabilities:  they didn't respond when the master gave them the large amounts of capital:  "Well it's about time he recognizes my potential."  Instead, I think they responded, "I can’t believe it!  My master trusts me with all that he has!  I don't know what I'm doing--but that doesn't matter, because I know HE knows what HE is doing.  HE must know that I can do it.”   They were so empowered by the master’s trust in them that they could take the risks necessary to double the resources entrusted to them!   

God gives each of us exactly what we need, to do what he has

called us to do. WE are Jesus’ hands and feet, eyes and ears—

together we are the body of Christ

Yes, God’s call on our life is an awesome responsibility.  If it doesn’t seem overwhelming at first, it isn’t God’s call.  So how do we move beyond the overwhelmed stage?  By realizing, the Holy Spirit gives each of us exactly what we need, to do what God has called us to do.

I imagine that quite a few of us have some frustrations with our jobs.  Not enough time or support staff or appropriate equipment to do your job?  Too much red tape and bureaucracy to make necessary changes?  Too many hours wasted in unproductive meetings?  Not enough training?  No encouragement?  A clueless boss?    Imagine what your job would be like if you could walk in Monday, open a closet and find a magic key that would solve all of the challenges I just mentioned. 

When Jesus asks us to work in his kingdom, he makes available to us everything we need to get the job done:  authority in the powerful name of Jesus, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, encouragement through supportive brothers and sisters, mentoring and supervision, the best salary and benefit package. 

There are many reasons why each of us is here.  But behind all of our reasons, is one common reason, a much more important reason:   we are each here because the Holy Spirit has put us here, because the spiritual gifts he has given us are needed in this place at this time to build up this body to become what Jesus Christ the head of this church wants us to become. 

God expects a return on His investment.

...if you have faith in me, you will do the same things that I am doing.

You will do even greater things not that I am going back to the Father.

(Jn 14:12)

True thankfulness for such a gift is expressed by using it—not just looking at it, or keeping it safe.  The first two servants took risks in investing their 1.5 million and $600,000. The fact that they doubled their initial investment means they took GREAT risks.  The third servant was punished for protecting his capital.  He was cautious and kept it safe—he didn’t lose any of it.  Isn’t there some reward for that?  No, the rule of Kingdom economics:  use it or lose it.  Risk taking is rewarded; caution is punished. 

155 years ago, the gold rush captivated this young nation.  A log cabin on my uncle's farm four miles west of here was built by a man who abandoned the farm in 1849 to look for gold in California .   Belief that gold was out there in the wild West fueled the gold rush.  No reason to dig for what you don't think exists. 

The passions and spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit are right here, in this sanctuary, in us.  They are infinitely more valuable than a sanctuary full of gold.  Unlike the gold rush, the odds are clearly in our favor—if we look, these passions and gifts will be discovered.  

It is exciting to see that happening this past year, and to observe others who discovered their passion and gifts years ago.  I encourage you as a congregation to invest what it takes to enable everyone to discern his/her passion and spiritual gifts.

Go d calls us to be accountable.

Some time later…He called them in and asked what they

had done with his money.  (v.19)

If you are suddenly handed 1.5 million to invest, it would be wise to retain a trustworthy accounting firm.  Investors rely on accountants who produce the quarterly reports that accurately reflect the value of the corporation.  C reative accounting is an oxymoron.  Exhibit A: Enron.  Exhibit B:  WorldCom.    

Well led small groups serve as trustworthy accounting firms for the Christian.  A small group helps us place an accurate value on our investments; at times they will help us see that we are over-valuing some assets and undervaluing other assets.    

An investment tip, and in the interest of full disclosure, yes, I own stock in this company:  Invest in pastoral leadership, the training of pastors, and the support systems they need to do their work.  Yes, it’s a long term investment—don’t expect returns immediately.  You have to stay in it for the long haul.  If you do, Kingdom investments will multiply many fold—because well trained pastoral leaders know that their job is primarily to equip others, not to do the ministry themselves.

If you have not become a servant in God’s Kingdom by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, call God up right now.  He’s actually waiting for you to return his call.  He’s called you many times, and left many messages.  Perhaps you are hearing his message for the first time today.  God is always hiring.  But don’t put it off, because no one is guaranteed a tomorrow. 

And remember, when you show up for work in God’s Kingdom, and you hear God’s specific call—what he has for you to do, don’t be afraid.  God knows you can do it—that’s why he is calling you to do it and not someone else.     

Reflect:

1.    Do I know what Jesus has put me in charge of?

2.    Am I willing to go with Jesus’ assessment of my potential?     

3.    Am I aware of my Holy Spirit given spiritual gifts?

4.    Have I retained a trustworthy accounting firm? 

Chosen, Empowered and Sent         by Gary Martin 

3^rd   Sunday after Epiphany         January 21, 2007

God is making his manifold wisdom known to the powers Through the Church , by Putting [His] Servants in Charge.  Where does this begin?

          46 years ago, a relatively young prophet was invited to speak at Goshen College on the topic, “The Future of Integration.”  His name:  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.   As a six year old in Dunlap at the time, I have vague memories—simply that King was stirring things up.  My mother purchased a number of his books; today they are in my library.   Goshen College was exhibiting leadership on the cutting edge of righting societal wrongs, because back then, integration wasn’t doing too well in the polls in Indiana .       

          1,976 years ago, a relatively young prophet was invited to speak at the synagogue in Nazareth .  His name:  Jesus of Nazareth .  Since he had grown up there, the worshipers thought they knew him, that is, until he started talking about the future of integration.   But we won’t go there, since that’s next Sunday’s gospel reading.  Integration wasn’t doing too well in the polls back then in Israel , either. 

          2007, back home in Goshen, Indiana :   Would we recognize a prophet of God if we saw one?  A person who is speaking what God wants his people to hear, like perhaps something about the future of integration?    

            Today, four young men who grew up in this congregation, are saying to this body, “I will follow the prophet Jesus Christ for the rest of my life; I am becoming one of his disciples:”   Jared Christophel, Matt Diller, Trenton St. Germain and Tony Yoder.

          In today’s Gospel reading, Luke 4:14-21, Jesus delivers his first sermon in his hometown synagogue.  In it he sets forth the agenda for his ministry.  Since Jesus’ agenda is our agenda, it seems appropriate for new and old disciples alike to review it occasionally, to make sure we are staying on message.

          While most politicians choose themselves to be candidates, and choose their own agenda, Jesus was chosen and given his agenda.  Jesus makes that clear by starting there.

The Lord's Spirit has come to me,           because he has chosen me

          The action begins with being chosen.  Let’s go back to the playground when we were children.  Kickball’s the game:  there are two captains, and we’re standing there hoping to be chosen sooner rather than later.   Being chosen feels good, whether to be on a team, or in a choir, or to receive a scholarship, or to be someone’s friend or partner.   The analogy breaks for many of us when that summons to jury duty arrives in the mail. 

          Jared, Matt, Tony and Trenton have chosen to follow Jesus, but in order to do that, they were first chosen by God.  And when God chooses us, God has a specific mission for us to accomplish.  Peter makes this point crystal clear in chap. 2:9 in his first letter:  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Called out of the darkness of sin, to proclaim his mighty acts. 

          For some reason, Jesus’ was chosen   

to tell the good news to the poor .

Now why should the poor get this kind of special treatment?  Could that be because the poor are more likely to be interested in God’s mighty acts, because they don’t have the resources to make mighty acts happen on their own?   Could it be because the “other than poor” have enough good news to get by in life?  Could it be because the poor really need to hear good news? 

          So what does it really mean to tell good news to the poor?”   It’s a tough question, right up their with our government’s struggle in defining hunger. The way vv 18-19 are constructed, Jesus seems to be saying that telling good news to the poor is the overarching agenda:  the four additional agenda items are all facets of telling good news for the poor. 

Perhaps all we need to know to define what it means to “tell good news to the poor,” is right here in another one of Jesus’ profound sound bites. I’ll come back to that in a moment. 

The Lord's Spirit has come to me,           because he has chosen me

          We bypassed the first seven words in Jesus statement, because they are the result of being chosen.  Because God chose Jesus, God’s Spirit came to Jesus.  Jesus was chosen by his Father, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Baptism symbolizes both:  We are saying YES to Jesus, because God has first chosen us, and because we are chosen for a mission, our baptism also symbolizes receiving power from the Holy Spirit. 

          When God chooses us, God empowers us with his Spirit. 

The Lord's Spirit  has come to me, because he has chosen me

As we will see in a moment, telling good news to the poor is a difficult task,

in part because the powers that be don’t want the poor to hear good news.  We need Holy Spirit empowerment to carry out Jesus’ agenda.  

At Baptism we embrace a new reality—we are CHOSEN by God,

EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit, and SENT to do what Jesus did.

            Chosen, Empowered and Sent.  Two out of three won’t cut it.  Like their master, disciples don’t sit on their hands, disciples go.  v. 14-15  Jesus returned to Galilee with the power of the Spirit. News about him spread everywhere. He taught in the Jewish meeting places, and everyone praised him.   The region of Galilee was considered one of the most densely populated area of the Roman Empire—that stretched from Spain to Iran .   Galilee

Had many cities-- Nazareth was 3-4 miles from Sepphoris, a city of 20,000—very large for that day. Jesus began His ministry after the 40 days in the wilderness, in urban Galilee.  He went to where the people were. 

          Open your bulletins:  note the last thing we do in worship each Sunday: Sent forth in the Power of the Holy Spirit.  Not just a nice thing to say—It’s a weekly reminder of Jesus’ agenda which is our agenda:  We are sent to tell good news to the poor.   So what is good news for the poor?

The Lord has sent me            to announce freedom for prisoners,

          When we hear the word prisoner, some of us immediately go to the thought:  If you do the crime, plan on doing the time.  People in prison deserve to be there.   Oh if it were only that simple.  In Jesus’ day, it was not unusual to be unjustly imprisoned.   Say the wrong thing to a powerful person, and you’re in prison—perhaps even executed.  Joseph, Jeremiah were imprisoned; Jesus, John the Baptist, James, and Paul were imprisoned and executed.  In those days, you could be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and end being tortured in prison for years…just like today at Cook County Jail or Abu Grhaib or Guantanamo .  Fortunately, we have Mike Yoder to make sure none of that happens in Elkhart County . 

          If you are innocent and in prison:  what better news could you receive than to be set free.  What does that have to do with the poor?  If you have money, you can buy a good defense lawyer who will prove your innocence, sometimes, even when you ARE guilty. If you’re poor and innocent, all too often all you can do is pray that the jury will see the truth.  Over 70 death sentence convictions have been over- turned in recent years in the United States , most through DNA evidence.  There have been thousands of other sentences overturned, after 10 and up to 20 years in prison.  

          Jesus agenda:  Literally:  seeing that the poor are treated justly; figuratively,

Seeing that people are set free from what ever is holding them captive.  Plenty of

opportunities to be about this agenda in our community, nation and world right there.

The Lord has sent me        to give sight to the blind,

          Jesus gave sight to blind eyes and minds.  Jesus agenda included physical, emotional and spiritual healing.  Literally seeing things, and seeing things in new ways.  That’s good news for the poor, especially in a nation where 50 million do not have access to quality health care.  If you can’t pay the rent or put food on the table, you are not going to a doctor until you have pneumonia.  Other nations have figured out that this is not cost effective:  $100 for an office call and meds, prevents a $3,000 hospital visit.   

The Lord has sent me       to free everyone who suffers, and

          Being poor anywhere, is to know suffering:  being looked down on, ignored,

made to jump through hoops.  The poor in America pay more for food, auto insurance, health care, banking, and even housing, considering the quality they receive for their

dollar.  To be constantly faced with questions like, “Will the car start this morning?  Will NIPSCO give me another week before they shut off the electricity and gas?  Will this last

diner’s tip be generous enough so I can buy diapers on the way home tonight?” …is a weight many of us cannot understand.

The Lord has sent me       to say, “This is the year the Lord has chosen."

          To hear that God is looking favorably on us this year, is good news for everyone, but especially the poor.     

God Chooses us… and uses us to help others recognize what God is doing .

The Holy Spirit Empowers us…and uses us to help other believers

recognize the Holy Spirit’s work.

Jesus Sends us out to continue his ministry…and uses us to

 help other believers recognize a specific call.

As the body of Christ, a congregation’s agenda is to be holistic,

like Jesus’ agenda

          I encourage the new Board and Commissions as they begin to meet in a few months, to ask if their meeting agendas are enabling the congregation to work at Jesus’ agenda.   Is Silverwood’s agenda focused on telling good news to the poor in the holistic described by Jesus?    

As individuals, we can’t do it all; our calling may be focused

in one of the items on Jesus’ agenda:

·         bringing good news to the poor                                                         

·         setting the captives free 

·         healing those who are ill

·         freeing people from suffering

·         telling people the time:  the year of the Lord’s favor  

          No one can do it all, but together, we are the body of Christ, when all the parts are doing their task, whether that’s setting captives free, healing, relieving suffering, or telling people that now is the time to accept God’s grace.    

          The Word of our Lord:   You are chosen, empowered and sent.  Go my children, with my blessing, you are my own.  

A True Fish Story          February 4, 2007

Sermon by Gary Martin

Luke 5:1-11;  Isaiah 6:1-13; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Eight years ago, I celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with our youngest son, ice fishing a few blocks from here.  It was one of those memorable days: crisp winter air, watching the sun come up, Canadian geese flying in formation overhead.  And, yes, the bluegills were biting—we soon had 18 keepers.  One almost jumped out of the hole. By 11am we were having a late fried fish breakfast.       

Since that was a fish story--you don't have to believe it. But our gospel text this morning, is a true fish story.  Like many fish stories, it may be hard to believe.  

Rarely do the OT, gospel and epistle readings on a given Sunday have so much in common:  all three are about individuals becoming aware of being in God’s presence, experiencing total unworthiness, and receiving their life calling. The only thing that is different, is the individual. Perhaps all of us, with a little imagination, can identity with one of them:  Isaiah, a church vocation type; Peter, a physical labor average Joe or Jane type; and Paul, a keep things the same because it’s good for the financial markets businessperson type.       

It was just another day on the job for

Isaiah in the temple (your religious type)

Peter in his boat (your hard working average Joe/Jane type)

Paul on the road (your conservative businessperson type) …

when suddenly, they found themselves in the presence of God!

Yes, it was just another day on the job for Isaiah in the temple, Peter in his boat, and Paul on the road.    Let’s consider what we can apply from these stories to our own process of hearing and following Jesus’ call on our lives?

Steps in hearing and following Jesus’ call:

1.   go to work:  do what we are supposed to be doing

Sometimes we skip over the first step because it seems so easy.  Like when assembling something:  lay all the parts out to make sure they are all there.  The first thing to note:  Isaiah, Peter and Paul went to work that day.  They were all doing what they thought they were supposed to be doing:  Isaiah—serving in the temple;  Peter—fishing;  Paul:  doing his patriotic duty--persecuting Christians who threatened the Jewish status quo. 

The writer of the David and Bathsheba story seems to making the flip side of this point as he begins the story 2 Sam. 11:1.  It was now spring, the time when kings go to war.  David sent out the whole Israelite army…but David stayed in Jerusalem .  David would not have had the opportunity to mess up big time, had he gone to work that Spring.    

Want to hear God’s call?  Do what you are supposed to be doing:  whether that’s parenting, grand parenting, work beyond the home, volunteer work, going to school, or for those who are retired--enjoying life, blessing others as you are able and allowing others to bless you as your independence diminishes. 

2.  be alert:  God will make His presence known—

but perhaps in the least expected way

The second step requires a little effort and imagination.  God will come to us, but we need to be alert as we do what we are supposed to be doing each day, because God will likely come in a most unexpected way.  It may be through something that happens to us, through a person we encounter, perhaps through someone who makes our life difficult, perhaps through something that doesn’t make sense.   If we are not alert when we see a burning bush, we’ll call 911 instead of taking off our shoes

Peter was a professional.  He had been fishing all night.  Nothing, nada, zilch.  And along comes a carpenter turned rabbi, who tells him how to do his job.  My response probably would have been, “I don’t tell you how to teach, so don’t tell me how to fish.”   But that’s precisely the attitude that can prevent us from hearing God

speak through unexpected circumstances, like the Gregory’s God brings into our lives.  If you don’t know about Gregory, listen to Eliza’s sermon from last Sunday. 

Distractions make it difficult to be alert.  Back in the old days, the Super Bowl was just a football game with beer commercials.  Today, it has evolved into a national economy boosting distraction from reality.   And within the event, the distractions clearly overshadow the game.

You’ve heard the saying, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.  Well, one person’s distraction, may be another person’s source of renewal.  Distractions serve a helpful purpose, as long as we know how much is enough. 

To make sure that everyone suits up and gets out on the actual competitive penny pandemonium turf, we are banning all fantasy penny pandemonium leagues and penny pandemonium scrapbooking. 

We all have a distraction or two of choice: busyness, worry, materialism, self pity, buying into politically hyped fear. Each morning, begin the day by asking God to help you stay focused, to be alert, to not be distracted. Say, “Surprise me Lord—speak to me in some unexpected way today.”  A well led small group where trust is high provides brothers and sisters who can say to us occasionally:  “It seems like you’re getting distracted from more important things, with _______”

God will speak to us when we are doing what we are supposed to be doing—we simply need to be listening attentively for his voice in any situation.

3.  get down:  acknowledge our sinfulness 

When Isaiah, Peter and Paul realized they were in God’s presence, their immediate response:  I’m a sinner—I can’t be this close to your holiness. 

Isaiah:  “I am doomed!  Everything I say is sinful.”

Peter:   “Lord, don’t come near me.  I am a sinner.”

Paul:    “I was the worst sinner of all.”  (1 Tim. 1:15)

This is not an awareness of daily sins, the things we do which hurt others and us; or the things we don't do, which also hurt us or others.  It’s an awareness of our separation from the holiness of God.  Isaiah, Peter and Paul probably all thought of themselves as good, decent folk like most of us do.  We look around and say, "I'm not that bad.  Sure I mess up here and there--but everybody does."  

When Isaiah realized he was in the presence of God;  when Saul realized on the Damascus Road that the risen Christ was speaking to him;  when Peter realized that Jesus was not just another rabbi, but One sent from God…  When the created one faces his or her creator, how you compare with anyone else on earth is irrelevant.  Which is why comparing ourselves to others is something to avoid all the time.   

Acknowledging our sinfulness, our complete unworthiness to be in the presence of God—is the step where I see the calling process breaking down most of the time.  To be clear about our individual call from our Creator, requires that we come to the realization that we are utterly incapable of following through with God’s call—apart from God’s redeeming work in our life.   Often it takes something that knocks us off our horse and blinds us for a while.

4.  get up:  receive God’s gracious forgiveness and restoration

Which leads to the fourth step:  getting up—receiving God’s gracious

forgiveness and restoration.  That’s the good news in all three stories for us this morning:  God doesn’t leave us in that painful terror of being aware of our complete separation from him.  God reaches out, lifts us up, touches our lips—assures us that our sins are forgiven.   

When we most need it, Grace Happens. But that’s the key—only those who acknowledge their complete and utter sinfulness, unworthiness to be in God’s presence—can receive God’s gracious forgiveness.  To fully accept God’s grace, we must understand why we need it so desperately. No matter how good we think we are, we are doomed without it.

5 .  get going:   our call will become clear 

God doesn’t forgive and restore us, just to forgive and restore us.  We are forgiven and saved for a purpose—to work in the Kingdom vineyard.  There’s a job for each one of us, and when God lifts us up out of the mess we get ourselves in, he cleans us up and sends us to work.  It’s a process—it took a while for Peter and Paul.  Isaiah, like we learned last week, was young, when he received his call to confront a nation and its leaders of their sin. 

We are not going to hear God’s call if we hold tightly to the plan we have already worked out on our own. 
 

We must be willing to get rid of the life we planned so as to

have the life that is waiting for us.                  –Joseph Campbell

Peter’s life plan was to fish;  Paul’s life plan was to stamp out Christianity.   Jesus had a very different and unique plan for each of them.

Biblical calls…                      are straightforward and clear;

                                                   are seemingly impossible to carry out;

                                    send us on a journey full of mystery;

                  result in deep joy & peace when pursued.                                                                                         

                                                                -Gordon & Mary Cosby

We have been focusing on calls.  Some of us may be very clear about our calling.  We have already got rid of the life we planned and are experiencing the life that God had waiting for us.  

If that’s your situation, tell others about your calling.  It will help the

rest of us.  And especially tell Quinci (in writing), so the Spiritual Gift Discernment Committee has all the information available to do its work.   Yes, that’s a very different way of doing things here at Silverwood.   In the past, it was “don’t call us, we’ll call you.”   But now it’s:  “Call us—let us know your calling, and we’ll get back to you.”  If you are not clear about your calling, work on it in your small group.  Talk with one of the pastors, an overseer.    While the Pastoral Team Search Committee is working on calling a team of pastors to lead us, let’s focus our attention on hearing our own calls.   

I will close with applying this to our transitional experience in the congregation.  We started by doing what we were supposed to be doing:  being the church.  Our alertness increased as we learned new things about ourselves, about Jesus’ desire for his church.  We have had moments of being aware of God’s presence among us, enabling us to realize our need for God’s grace, and in that openness, we have heard God’s call—a new direction as a congregation.

It really is about the fish….

STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE                                February 11, 2007

Luke 6:17-26; Jeremiah 17:5-10; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

Jesus’ words for us today call us to trust God completely for everything—the essence of what it means to be a Christian.  Over the next two months, there will be many opportunities in which we can grow in this direction.  See the newsletter or our website for details.

Dr. Renee Padilla speaks at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart , Wednesday & Thursday—internationally known theologian speaking on evangelism, mission and social justice from a global perspective.

Next Sunday, Jim Bertsche will share stories from the Congo that show how the poor know how to trust God for everything, how they understand God’s grace in profound ways.

Next Sunday afternoon, a biblical story telling workshop at the seminary.  

The first CFN adult session is an Ash Wednesday worship service.  Ash Wednesday, the church holy day that marks the beginning of Lent, is a time of preparation for the most important week of the church year:  Holy Week.  Many of us associate Lent with giving up something.   I suggest we think of it as seven weeks of concentrated spiritual spring cleaning.  It’s a time when we open up the windows of our soul, clean out the cobwebs, shake out the dust, get rid of the junk that’s piled up in our lives over the last year, and allow the fresh new winds of the Holy Spirit to blow into our lives.  An Ash Wednesday service is a time of reflection—a time to be reminded of our weakness and frailty as human beings, and our desperate need for God’s grace.   I believe it will help us embrace the words of Jesus we are wrestling with this morning. 

The March CFN sessions, provide quality teaching about the book of Revelation from AMBS professors J.Nelson Kraybill and Loren Johns.  Their approach to this confusing book, will be refreshing—most likely quite different from what you have heard before.  Understanding this book from its First Century context, will help us understand what it really means to trust God for everything.      

No matter how hard some folk try to stay away from trouble, trouble seems to always find them. That kind of small “t” trouble, finds all of us at times.  In Luke 6, Jesus refers to a different kind of trouble:  Trouble with a capital T.  Eternal TROUBLE.   Or as the youth today might call it:  EXTREME TROUBLE.

Small t trouble comes with being human—no one can avoid it.  But Jesus tells his followers that there is a guaranteed way to avoid TROUBLE with a capital T.  The problem is that we don’t hear sermons from Luke 6:17-26 very often because Matthew’s version of Jesus’ beatitudes is much more palatable. 

And now, a word from our sponsor. 

When you need a beatitude to lift you up, turn to the fifth chapter of Matthew.   Matthew’s beatitudes offer nine models to choose from, and compared to the competition, Matthew’s beatitudes are less irritating, and have fewer embarrassing effects on your lifestyle.  It’s no wonder that when North American Christians need a beatitude, 9 out of 10 choose Matthew’s.  Ask your pastor if Matthew’s beatitudes are right for you.  Matthew’s beatitudes:  when you don’t have time for the guilt.  

Luke’s beatitudes are less popular than Matthew’s (5:1-12)

Just before today’s gospel reading begins, Jesus finished the process of calling his disciples.  He took them up into the mountains for an all night prayer retreat.  As they come back down in the morning, they are met by more of Jesus’ followers, and crowds of sick people. Jesus healed many, and then Luke tells us in v. 20:  Jesus looked at his disciples and said….   Those words are important:  Jesus looked at his DISCIPLES and said:   “God will bless you people….   

What follows in chap. 6, is material similar to what is called the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.  Luke’s version of this sermon is briefer—and more direct.  Matthew has nine beatitudes; Luke:  four.  Matthew writes in the third person--“they” language that allows the beatitudes to be spiritualized, rather than taken only literally:  “Blessed are THE poor in spirit.”  Luke puts his four beatitudes into the second person:   Jesus looked at his disciples and said:  God will bless YOU people who are poor, hungry, crying, and insulted.    

Luke’s are more descriptive than prescriptive.

Jesus:  If you follow me, this is what you can expect.

From Matthew, they sound like a doctor’s prescription:   do these things, and you will be happy.  Luke presents his four beatitudes as descriptive:   If you are my disciples—this is what will happen.  You will be poor, hungry, weeping, despised, ignored, insulted.  The point that comes through in Luke:  You are blessed because you are my disciples.   Its just happens that my disciples will be poor, hungry, weeping, insulted, despised, and ignored because disciples cannot expect to be treated better then their Master.   

Jesus has just called his 12 disciples.  For some, it’s the first day on the job—Jesus was orienting them to their new vocation as disciples.  “This is what the Kingdom of God is all about.  Here is what it will be like now, and what you can expect later.”    Appropriate words for Alex, Noah, Rachelle, Jenae, and Taylor as they declare their faith in Jesus Christ and for all of us as we renew our commitments to Jesus Christ today.

 How do you want your life story here on earth to end:

BLESSED by God?                 or in TROUBLE?

There is no mistaking the fact that Jesus is referring to the end of our life—he uses the word “now” four times, for contrast.  “Blessed are you who are hungry NOW, for you will BE filled. 

According to Jesus, those who are now (follow the left list) poor, hungry, crying, despised ignored, insulted—are BLESSED.   And those who are now (right list) rich, well fed, laughing, respected, recognized, praised, are capital T TROUBLE.   

According to Jesus, those who are now

                      poor                                  rich

                      hungry                              well fed

                      crying                                laughing        

                      despised                            respected

                      ignored                              recognized

                      insulted                             praised

                 ARE BLESSED               ARE IN TROUBLE

Last week in Southern California, a homeless paraplegic man was released from the hospital in a dangerous part of town—literally dumped on the sidewalk.  He was dragging himself across the sidewalk, dressed in a hospital gown.  His homeless friends had compassion and called for help.  He was poor, hungry, crying, despised, ignored, insulted.  Most everyone one would say—he’s in trouble.  Jesus said, he’s blessed. 

When we see poor, hungry, crying despised ignored insulted Darfur refugees, does Blessed come to our mind? 

When we read of an individual from a humble background who has worked hard, and is now rich, well fed, laughing, respected, recognized and praised, does “He or she is in trouble” come to our mind? 

Perhaps we should make sure we understand what Jesus meant by Blessed and in Trouble.

 
BLESSED (makarios):   deep joy resulting from knowing one

                                           has abundant life now and forever.

The word blessed, as Jesus used it in the sermon on the mount:  refers to the deep joy and contentment that results from knowing one has abundant life now and forever, and knowing that forever deep joy and contentment cannot come from material possessions, from fame, or wealth—only from being right with our Creator. 

And what makes us right with our Creator?  Faith.  Heb. 11:1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Indeed by faith our ancestors received approval.    Rom. 4:3  God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith in him.  Abraham trusted God.  Not Abraham was perfect, Abraham did lots of good things

Simply stated:  you are blessed if you trust God completely with your life.   

IN TROUBLE (ouai):   an expression of pity for those who

                                         stand under divine judgment.            

The Greek word—ouai –  is translated woe, or alas, or in trouble.  It is not an expression of judgment or threat—but rather an expression of regret and compass- sion, because someone stands under divine judgment.        

When Jesus said, God will bless you people who are poor—he means you will be well off, you will have it all—you will be happy.   Not just in the next life—but now.   How can that possibly make sense?

The key is in v. 24, in the Woes section.  The word “HAVE”   You have already had an easy life.  The word HAVE means “receiving full payment of an account”   You HAVE the money owed you.  Paid in full.  You won’t receive any more.  No one sends

NIPSCO an extra $10.  When they get what you owe them, they don’t expect a penny more.
  

If you set your heart and bend your whole energies to obtain the

things which the world values, you will get them—but that is all you

will ever get; you have had it!     v. 24, paraphrased by William Barclay

The poor have so much more to look forward to.  Those who have a lot now have all they are going to get.  They have had it.  

This passage that is so troublesome for many of us brings great joy and comfort to the vast majority of Christians worldwide.  Why?  Because they are poor, hungry, crying, despised, ignored, insulted—or they have a profound awareness of such life experiences. 

Our culture misleads us in many ways—two relate to Jesus’ words today:  The first is more obvious—the thinking that we must have nice things to be happy.   A recent study measured whether happiness increased with more income.  Researchers were surprised to discover that there was no significant difference among income levels when it comes to being happy—those with much were no happier than those with little.

Except in one area:  being able to pay for health care.  That was the only area where those with less income expressed less happiness.  What does that say about the fundamental right to health care that virtually all industrialized nations acknowledge, except our own?   

The second is less obvious:   We must have many nice things NOW!   The concept of looking forward to has been lost in our culture today.  We want it now!   

Some of you here are old enough to remember the days when one could find great joy in looking forward to something that would happen in the future.  In pre-modern cultures, that was the purpose of holidays—feast days—festivals.  Joy could be found in the midst of painful, oppressive life situations—simply by knowing that a feast day would take place in six months. 

That’s the basic principle of the Christian life:  complete joy and contentment, no matter what the circumstances around us presently, because we know what we have to look forward to. 

According to Jesus, FREEDOM is not the ultimate virtue in the Christian life!  repeat.  Love is the ultimate virtue.  We don’t need to be free, to be able to love God and others, and to remain faithful to God.    

Michael was a 16 year old Christian in Chicago .  He was arrested and unjustly convicted of rape.  He served 17 years, before DNA evidence cleared his name, and uncovered the fact that police and prosecutors knew Michael was innocent.   Michael remained faithful to Jesus Christ while in prison.  He knew what his faith promised him in the future—so he could find deep peace in the midst of a 17 year nightmare without his freedom.   

Be assured:

1.  A life of poverty, tears, and insults won’t get you into heaven.

2.  A life of wealth, ease and fame won’t keep you out.

3.  There is no reason to glamorize the poor or oppressed.

What Jesus IS saying very clearly:  the poor and oppressed have a tremendous advantage, because poverty, hunger, tears, and being mistreated makes it easier to trust God for everything.  And wealth and a life of ease, makes it more difficult to trust God for everything.  Not impossible, just very difficult.  The point is TRUST.  We are declared right with God only when we TRUST him with our life. 

Trust between two persons doesn’t just happen.  Two things are needed:  

1)  A relationship—you must know a person before you can trust him or her. 

2)  Recognize that you need something they can provide.  Trust develops as someone comes through for you repeatedly.    

Children trust their parents, because all they have known is their parents providing for their needs.   Jesus came so we could know the Father, to show us how to establish a relationship with our Creator.  But we need to actually receive our daily needs from Him, for trust to develop.  If we think we’re taking care of our selves, we will not learn to trust God for everything. 

It’s interesting that Jesus’ challenging blessings and woes are the prelude for his teaching about loving our enemies.  Jesus’ teaching about peacemaking cannot be understood apart from the lifestyle orientation found in the beatitudes

In my 37 year journey with Mennonites, I have observed that the most passionate and effective peacemakers tend also to be equally passionate about living out Luke’s beatitudes, including a simple lifestyle.  I observe the same as I peruse the pages of history for the lives of the great peacemakers:  Jesus, St. Francis, Ghandi, Jane Addams, Martin Luther King Jr., Jimmy Carter….      

Why does Jesus’ advice for staying out of Ultimate Trouble…sound

so troublesome? It requires us to TRUST GOD for EVERYTHING!

As we live among and identify with the poor and the oppressed, and experience the blessing of God on their lives that Jesus described, the more we learn to trust God completely for our lives.  That kind of trust requires experiencing God directly providing our needs.

Only complete trust in Jesus Christ, FOR EVERYTHING, can keep us out of CAPITAL T TROUBLE in the end.  

“A Confessing Community”             Ash Wednesday, February 21, 2007

by Gary Martin

Joel 2:12-16;  Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

 
As human beings, we like to focus on what we have accomplished, and what we know we could accomplish if we set our minds to it.  Once a year, the Church Year calls Christians to gather together on the first Wednesday of Lent, to be reminded that despite all we can do and want to do, in reality, we are quite frail and weak. We are like a blade of grass, here one day, gone the next.

For 1000 years, the church has used the imposition of ashes to remind us of our mortality at the beginning of the Lenten season.  Not a pleasant thought, just a very necessary one. 

To experience the deep joy of being raised to new life in Christ at Easter, we must begin the Lenten journey at the appropriate starting point:  hungry and thirsty in a wilderness.  That’s where Jesus began his ministry, as we will see in the Gospel lesson for the first Sunday in Lent.  

Why begin there?  Because when we are lost in the wilderness, we recognize our inability to save ourselves, and therefore, our need for a savior.  When we are lost in the wilderness, our senses are sharpened to see, hear, taste, feel—any sign of salvation, a way out of the wilderness.  When the props are knocked out from under us, we are more attune to God’s voice, and more attune to confessing who we are in relationship to God—children of the Heavenly Father, and what we have done to hinder or block that relationship. 

Throughout our Lenten worship experiences, we will be using the word confess in a broader, more appropriate way:  to confess is to state who we are in relationship with God. We confess Christ, we confess what we believe.  And when we are reminded of the Creator/Created relationship, the need to confess the brokenness in that relationship also becomes clear.  Throughout Lenten worship experiences, a number of us will confess Jesus Christ in this way, so we are all encouraged as we follow Jesus on the way to the cross. 

The OT reading for Ash Wednesday, from the Prophet Joel, begins with Good News from our God:   “It isn’t too late.  There’s still time to return to me with all your heart.”  You haven’t missed the flight.  

But to do so we must change directions.  One cannot return without turning around.  And when we turn around, and return to the Lord, things look different—because we are going in the opposite direction.

Friday morning, Pat and I left South Bend on an early flight to the West Coast.  About 30 minutes into the flight, we were above the clouds and the sun was shining brightly. The only problem was that we were headed into the sun, which is not a good thing if you think you are headed West in the morning.  I was not aware that during a brief time of closing my eyes, the pilot had turned around and was heading back to South Bend because of a mechanical problem. 

Returning to the Lord means changing direction.  Returning to the Lord, repentance, means changing our ways. 

Both Joel and Jesus in Matthew 6 make one point clear:  our turning around, our repentance, is a matter of the heart.  It’s not about going through motions which can be observed by others.      

While it’s an individual decision to repent, to return to the Lord with all our heart, the Lord concludes his invitation to return through the Prophet Joel with the call to repent in community:  “Sound the trumpet on Zion !  Call the people together.

Make sure that everyone is fit to worship me. Bring adults, children, babies, and even bring newlyweds from their festivities.”  

We, the body of Christ called Silverwood Mennonite, have come together to return to the Lord.  The prophet Joel encourages us to call others to join the Lenten journey.   Let’s do that!  Call a brother or sister who is not here tonight. Remind them of the

Special Lenten worship services being planned, and as we have done so well tonight, to enter the sanctuary in silence, to enter hungry, and leave filled.      

Why is confessing in community so important?  It’s difficult to change.  It’s difficult to stop trying to save ourselves.  It’s difficult to acknowledge we are dust.  In a moment, in a prayer from Menno Simons, we will acknowledge that we are blind, naked, wounded, and dead.  It’s less difficult to do this humbling work in a community of others who are doing the same.  I’m not alone.  My brothers and sisters are walking with me on the same journey. 

I invite you to take advantage of the daily meditations during Lent, written by Goshen College staff, faculty, and students.

Lent is more than a time to give something up—it’s a time to change directions, to return to the Lord, and to fast, give to those in need, and to pray.  I invite you in the silence that follows, to say, “Lord, I am turning around.  I am returning to you.  I want to journey with you these 40 days on the way to the cross.”

“Two Things to Remember”        Lent 1   February 28. 2007

by Gary Martin

Deuteronomy 26:1-11;  Luke 4:1-13   [Feb 25 service rescheduled]

God’s hand delivers us.   When we enter the wilderness of wandering and temptation, God’s hand delivers us.  We confess our trust in a saving God.

          Our response to the bulletin cover statement might divide us into two groups.

One group might say:  “That’s me. No doubt about it—I’m in a wilderness of wandering and temptation.  Hearing that God will deliver me is truly good news.”

Another group might say:   “What wilderness?  What wandering? What temptation?”

          I invite everyone to come with me into the wilderness of wandering and temptation tonight.  For some of us, it’s familiar territory.  And perhaps the rest of us may come to realize we have been in a wilderness without knowing it.  

          Luke emphasizes the Holy Spirit’s role in this story:  Right after Jesus was baptized, Luke writes:  The Spirit was with Jesus as Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.   If you get the point:  Jesus was supposed to be there.   The devil didn’t make him do it.  The Spirit led him into the wilderness.   That’s a sermon by itself—and a difficult one, so I won’t go there. 

          Jesus knew his calling:  he was sent to demonstrate God’s love to humanity.  But before he could begin his ministry, he had a score to settle.  No, it wasn’t so much with the devil.  It was with himself.  Would he be able to stay on the high road in his campaign for the Kingdom of God ?       

          Heading into the wilderness is not a subtle clue, it’s a flashing neon sign answer to that question.  The wilderness Luke cites was 500 square miles of rocky desert, inhospitable to man or beast of burden.  1200 foot cliffs dropped down to the Dead Sea on its eastern boundary.   If Survivor was really about testing survival skills, they’d be there.  No tropical rains or fish to eat.  If Jesus could trust his Father to provide his needs for 40 days in the wilderness, he could trust him for the rest of the journey to Jerusalem .   

          The temptation of Christ is always the gospel reading for the First Sunday in Lent because it’s good news for those of us who are in the wilderness, and it may just rouse from denial, those of us who think we are not.    

          Jesus resisted the devil’s temptations and knocked him down in the first round—a sign of good things to come.  Sure, the devil got back up to slug it out several more rounds.  But, not to worry—the bout ends with a knockout on Easter Sunday.  

          How did Jesus do it?  He used scripture to win this first round with the devil.  But unlike some who claim to be his followers today, Jesus did not use Scripture as a club.   Shakespeare had a line for what we call proof texting today--misusing scripture to prove a point:   “There is no error so gross but that some sober brow will bless it with a proper text.” 

          Jesus doesn’t win the Scripture wars with the devil because of his superior knowledge of Scripture.  No, it was Jesus’ obedience to the Word that gave him power over the devil.   We need to know and understand the Bible, not to be able to out quote an adversary, but rather to demonstrate God’s love to others through our obedience to the Word.  Talk is cheap.  Walk is costly.  Lent is about walking, not talking.  That’s one reason we want to begin our worship experiences in silence—to help us focus on our walk.         

           We are also tempted by the three temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness.     

The devil tempted Jesus to fear what harmed his body above what would harm his soul.   Jesus was hungry.  If anyone deserved a divine stone to bread miracle—Jesus did at this moment.  By resisting this temptation, Jesus clearly demonstrated:  it’s not about him.  It’s about the advancement of the Kingdom of God .                                                                                                                              

          We are constantly tempted to fear material poverty.  Our fear of material poverty drives us to all kinds of unhealthy, self-destructive behavior.   But Jesus taught us to FEAR THIS, like the pick up truck decal:  spiritual poverty. 

          Lent is a time for a serious evaluation of our spiritual investment portfolio.  Is it going South like the Dow Jones did yesterday?  Are we bankrupt?   Perhaps we are having trouble even finding our monthly statement.  

          The devil tempted Jesus to abuse his power to accomplish good.   Think of all the good you could do if you had great political power.  You could legislate morality and require people to pledge allegiance to the Kingdom of God . Jesus knew Israel was longing and praying for a military Messiah.  With the power Jesus had access to, the battle would be over in a few days.  There would be quick regime change in Palestine .   

          With a little compromise in means, think of the ends that would be accomplished.  As a military messiah, Jesus could have restored Israel to its God ordained role:  spreading the light of Theocracy, a country where God is king, to the nations.  It’s right there in Isaiah 49:6.  Wasn’t Jesus paying attention to the end time prophesies about which so many Christians today seem to be so certain?      

          Our culture and national leaders frequently tell us that the ends justify the means.  Jesus says, the means are the end.  God is love.  Sounds like a never ending end point to me.  Unconditional love is the means and the end.  Jesus chose to reject the means of political power and glory, for the way of the cross.   

          A very popular end time theology based on misinterpreting the Bible in general, and the books of Revelation and Daniel in particular, has had an unprecedented influence on our nation’s foreign policy in recent years.  It can be traced back 180 years to one man:  John Darby.  I urge you to take advantage of a unique opportunity on Wednesday evenings in March, to learn from two scholar/pastors who will first help us understand the first century context of Revelation, so we can attempt to apply it appropriately today.         

             The devil tempted Jesus with fame .  Consider the wonderfully positive things certain famous people are doing today.  People get behind the issues Oprah raises. Jesus would have become famous over night with a sensational jump without a bungee cord off the temple mount.  Angels would have caught him 450 feet later just before he hit the valley floor. 

          But again, Jesus was clear about his approach to ministry:  it’s not about him.  It’s not about drawing attention to his miracles.  It’s only about pointing people to the Kingdom of God .   Crowds would follow, but it’s not about the crowds.  It’s about training a few disciples, who would expand his ministry exponentially in a few years.    

          Silverwood’s three year vision, if reduced to two words could be:  make disciples.    In three years, we want to be a church—

·         Excited about following Jesus (sounds like a disciple to me)

·         Organized around spirit empowered gifts (that was the key to the disciples effectiveness in the early church)

·         Sharing our faith boldly in word and deed (exactly what the disciples did)

          In his temptation in the wilderness, Jesus rejected the power grabbing, glory seeking ways of survival in the world, and instead selected the role of the suffering servant--the Way of the Cross.   Because he did, we can be encouraged to begin and stay on the way of the Cross during the next 40 days.  Like Jesus, and the Children of Israel, all we need to do is cry out to the Lord in our wilderness.  God will answer.       

          Lent is a time to heighten our awareness of things spiritual through prayer, fasting, giving time or material aid to those in need.  In doing so, we will realize our need to cry out to the Lord for deliverance.  Still not convinced you are in a wilderness of wandering and temptation, and needing to call out to the Lord for deliverance? 

          Recall the OT lesson in Dt 26.  The children of Israel were at the end of the 40 years of wilderness wanderings. They would soon take possession of the promised land.  Through Moses, God gave them an annual ritual designed to remind them of how God delivered their ancestors for hundreds of years, from many dangers.

          At the annual harvest festival, the Israelites were instructed to bring the first fruit—the best of the harvest, as an offering.  And as they brought it as an act of worship, they were to recite the same words, year after year.  Yes, liturgical worship predates the beginning of the church! 

          “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor” (NRSV) the poetic way of saying “My ancestor was homeless, an Aramean who went to live in Egypt .) CEV   The recitation continued to recount the various stories of their many ancestors who called out to God, and were delivered by God.      

          At some point in our ancestral trees, we have all had some homeless folk, most likely as near penniless, as three of the age groups’ jars in the foyer.     Remember—to keep that one age group from winning—put plenty of green in their jar.   A $20 bill covers a multitude of pennies.  A $100 bill covers many multitudes of pennies!    

          If God’s grace had not come to our own ancestors, we would not be here.  Such a reminder should help us to be gracious to the homeless and undocumented folk among us today.  You can walk the walk, by signing up for GIHN ministry next week, as you walk to your car in a few moments.

          Wouldn’t you know it, that’s precisely where God’s instruction through Moses concludes:  “And as you are planning your feast of thankfulness for God’s deliverance, don’t forget to invite the Levites (ministers without land as a source of income), and the foreigners in your land, to your feast table.    

          These are two things Jesus did repeatedly:  acknowledged his need for God’s strengthening grace, and extended grace to those on the margins of society. 

Our “remember to do” list before coming to worship (Deut. 26):

·         bring your basket of thankfulness to God for keeping his promises—he delivered our ancestors from their wilderness.

·         invite the Levites and foreigners in your town to eat with you.  

       If we know we’re in a wilderness tonight—let’s call out to God.  God will

deliver us. If we don’t think we are in a wilderness, remember God’s grace to your

homeless ancestors and invite some foreigners to eat with you.   The scenery will

quickly change around you—and you’ll realize you are in a wilderness of wandering

and temptation and recognize your need to call on the Lord.   

“Safety in the Gathered Community”           Lent 2            March 4, 2007

Luke 13:31-35;  Genesis 15:1-21;  Philippians 3:17-4:1         Gary Martin

          If you knew you were in the path of a tornado, and it was 60 seconds away, would you not move quickly to the safest place available?  Do we know where to head for shelter from the storms of life? 

          Today’s gospel reading has good news and bad news.

                        Good News:     Jesus offers to gather and protect us!

I have often wanted to gather your people,

as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.

          The Good News:  Directions to that shelter for the storms of life.

                        Bad News:   We may resist his efforts

But you wouldn’t let me.

          The Bad News:   Some folks just don’t want to go there.   

          Some Christians don’t find this shelter because they have missed a central piece of the image Jesus uses in today’s gospel reading.  It’s quite unusual to find a hen with just one chick.  Jesus saves and protects each one of us, but he does that in community, not in isolation.

                        Jesus gathers his flock together!    Scattered chicks don’t survive!  

          I haven’t observed many hens gathering chicks—but my hunch is that hens don’t look out for interpersonal conflicts between the sibling chicks; the hen is not concerned about who is going to end up squeezed next to each other.  The hen swoops them all up together out of equal concern for all.  And my hunch also, is that for the most part, the chicks don’t care which brother or sister they are squeezed next to under the hen’s wing.  They are happy to be warm and safe—that’s the uppermost concern for them.

          But we’re not chicks—we’re humans.  So we fuss about who’s next to us.  It’s great to be part of a church family—but I want to keep my distance from so and so;  or my favorite place is on the tip of the wing or the elbow or the shoulder, or I need some personal space. 

          For some reason, we often miss the community dynamic in biblical texts.  Jesus gathers his flock together!  Yes, the relationship of the individual chick with the hen is important—but equally important is the fact that the hen has many chicks, and the gathering is done together—not individually. 

                      What kind of chicks allow themselves to be gathered?         

          The question I invite us to ponder this morning:  what kind of chick, am I?   Am I the independent chick, who resists Jesus’ offer to be gathered and protected—either because he doesn’t want to be close to Jesus, or she doesn’t want to be close to your brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.  Or the chick who allows Jesus to gather and protect—squeezed together closely with other brothers and  sisters.

          Jesus made the point repeatedly:  we cannot be in right relationship with God, if we have broken relationships with brothers and sisters in the body.  Neither can we be in right relationships with brothers and sisters in the body, if our relationship with Jesus is broken.

          There are common themes in all three readings this morning that I believe can help us evaluate which kind of chick we are:  one who resists Jesus’ gathering efforts or one who welcomes Jesus’ gathering efforts.       

          Let’s begin with Jesus.  But, you say, isn’t he the hen?  Yes, he is, but Jesus was also sent by his Father, to be one with us, to show us God’s love.  Jesus’ entire life and ministry show us how God intended human beings to live. 

                        Jesus was focused, v. 32

            In the gospel reading today, Luke 13:31-35, Jesus receives a death threat from Herod, through the Pharisees.  What is important in that part of the story, is Jesus’ reaction to Herod’s death threat:  “I have a job to do:  demons to cast out, people to heal.”  Jesus was so focused on his calling—that even a death threat didn’t faze him. 

                 Jesus was future oriented   vv. 33, 35

          Jesus also was keenly aware of the future:   “I know how this story will end, and it can’t end here--it’s going to happen in Jerusalem .  Jesus connected his daily work—with the future.  Those of us with financial assets, are likely planning to leave them for our children and grandchildren.  But money won’t be of much value to them, if the world we leave them is spiritually, morally, educationally, economically and environmentally bankrupt.  Few people seem to be concerned about what subsequent generations will inherit from our behaviors today.

             Jesus was faithful  v. 33

          Jesus didn’t have to see results, to remain faithful to his Father.  He was so confident of his Father’s protection, he could say with boldness in response to Herod’s death threat:  GO TELL THAT FOX.   Of all the options scholars put forth, it seems to me that Jesus was making reference both to Herod’s craftiness and to his very limited power.  The lion was the image for kings in that day, so to refer to a King as a fox—was clearly putting Herod in his place in a spiritual worldview.   Another example of where the Jesus of the Gospels often does not match the Jesus we grew up with in sermons and Sunday School.

          Like John the Baptist had already done, and Jesus’ disciples would do in the near future, Jesus spoke the truth to political leaders.  Countless millions have died throughout history—because Christians somewhere got the idea that they should not speak the truth to political leaders.          

               Jesus one who followed  vv 32, 33

          The fourth characteristic:  Jesus was following his Father.  Yes, he was the leader of leaders—but as such, he was still accountable.  Jesus was not doing his own thing as a leader.  His life was in complete submission to his Father’s will. 

          Of course, Jesus is the perfect example of these four qualities: living a focused life, living each day in light of the future, faithfulness, and an accountable follower.  But God enables human beings to possess these qualities as well.   Consider Abram:

                        Abram was focused 

          It took some help from God, but one doesn’t wonder across the deserts of present day Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Palestine , without remaining focused.

               Abram future oriented   Heb. 11:10

          In Hebrews 11:10, we are told that Abram obeyed God’s call to leave his homeland, to journey to a new land—because he was waiting for the eternal city that God had planned band built.  The future was constantly on Abram and Sarah’s mind. 

                      Abram was faithful   Gen. 15:6

          Gen. 15:6   Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord was pleased with him.  Abram and Sarah were commended for their faith.  It was their faith that saved them! 

                Abram was one who followed   Heb. 11:16

          In Hebrews 11:16:  Abram and Sarah remained faithful, were able to follow God—because they were glad just to see things from far away; they agreed they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth.  They were looking forward to a better home in heaven

            The same themes emerge in Paul’s words to the Christians at Philippi:

                        Paul encourages First Church at Philippi to be focused, v. 17

            T he entire passage is about staying focused on what’s most important.

                future oriented  vv 20-21

          Paul warns them to not be like non-believers who can only think about the things of this world.   “But we are citizens of heaven and are eagerly waiting for our savior to come from there.

                faithful   v. 1

          v. 4:1  concludes with  “Please keep on being faithful to the Lord”  

                followers   v. 17

          Paul begins the passage in v. 17:   “follow my example, and learn from others who closely follow the example we set for you.”   

                        I am not doing my own thing if:

·         I’m focused on God’s calling on my life.

·         I live as if each day matters for the future

·         I am faithful, putting my trust in God only.

·         I am following Jesus’ example

          These four qualities contradict an independent spirit.  If I’m focused on what God has called me to do, I’m not doing my own thing.  If I live as if each day matters for the future—for this earth and for eternity in God’s presence—then I can’t be out doing my own thing, selfishly feathering my own nest.  If I am faithful—if my trust is in God only—then I must do things his way—not my way.  If I follow his example—then I can’t be charting my own course, doing my own thing.

                        Chicks know a good thing when they see it!    Do we? 

          Sounds restricting?  Not if you’re a chick!   Chicks may wander off a little—but a chick would not resist the warm, protecting, gathering wing of their mother.  Chicks know a good thing when they see it!  The question:  do we?

                   Jesus desires to gather and protect us…in community.

          Jesus desires to gather and protect us in communities!  It’s happening here:  God is protecting, blessing individuals here--because you are committed to the body—brothers and sisters squeezed next to you.  We feel God’s warmth and protection through our brothers and sisters as our relationships deepen.    

          Allowing Jesus to gather is into community is really a life or death matter—because scattered chicks don’t survive! Jerusalem was completely destroyed 40 years later.  Jesus offered to gather/protect it’s people, but they refused his offer.  They were scattered, and destroyed.  

          Millions of Americans are homeless—hundreds of thousands do not have physical homes to live in; but millions are spiritually homeless, trying to survive out there without spiritual shelter.  Many resist the offers for shelter, just like many physically homeless folk resist staying in shelters. 

          How we relate to each other is one way that non-believers are drawn to faith!  When we allow Jesus to squeeze us together tightly, so that we begin to love even folk we don’t like or don’t know or are very different…the world pays attention.   

          The story is told of a Jewish man who got upset at something at the synagogue, so he stopped attending for months.  A rabbi went to visit him.  They sat in silence for 30 minutes, watching the fire in the fire place.  The rabbi got up, and took out one glowing coal, set it on the hearth in front of the fire, and returned to his seat.    It quickly burned up into nothing.

The man said, "Rabbi, I now see what I must do."

          If we are aware of our need for Jesus’ protection, we’ll stay close to Jesus.  If we are not, yet we stay close to those who know their need, we’re fortunate, because we’ll be swept to safety with our brothers and sisters.  Then again, if we stay close to those who are

Acknowledging their need—we’ll begin to see our need as well.  The only precarious place to be is to be wandering off on our own, beyond the reach of Jesus’ sheltering arms. 

R & R

Who came today tired and needing rest?

Who came today yearning to be satisfied?

Who came today searching for fulfillment?

Who barely made it here today because your tank is on empty?

This morning I invite you into R & R with God.

But before I let you think of the traditional meaning…I must admit that for now I’m talking about repentance and reconciliation with God.  Now I know what you’re thinking…How is repentance and reconciliation going to give me rest, satisfaction, or nourishment?  Well, let’s take a look…you might be surprised.

Jesus is like a smoke alarm sounding off a warning in the Luke 13 passage.  People were pushing up to him asking him about the Galileans who had been killed and about those killed at the tower of Siloam … “Surely it was b/c of their sin that they had died!”  But how does Jesus respond? “Do you think those murdered were worse sinners than anyone else?  Not at all…unless you turn to God, you, too, will die.”    Jesus makes it quite clear here that there is no equating tragedy and punishment for sin.  But what IS ALSO clear from this passage is that we must turn to God before it’s too late.

         There is this idea as Jesus continues with the story of the fig tree that we are called to be productive people…our fruitfulness must be evident…  Turn to God, become fruitful….don’t waste time on this!  There is something to be said here for seizing the moment…really, what time are we guaranteed with absolute certainty except for this very moment…right now…?

Jesus is realistically warning us that we can’t waste our time on good intentions.  We can’t postpone whatever it is we need to do to live more kindly, more humbly, more justly…we can’t delay in repenting our sins to God.  We can’t put off reconciling ourselves with God.  In fact, if you need to go leave right now to take care of something I won’t be offended.  Just make sure you pick up a CD later to hear the rest.

I want to clarify that I don’t think this is meant to be a threatening passage.  I mentioned earlier that Jesus is much like a smoke alarm sounding off the repentance warning.  This is what I mean: Let’s say you left a candle burning and went to bed.  Sometime in the night, your smoke alarm starts screaming at you and you jump out of bed to find that a small fire has started.  So you call 911, soon fire trucks pull up and what could have been a huge tragedy turns out to be a small misfortune all due to your smoke alarm.  That smoke alarms warning, much like Jesus warning today is not bad-news…its cause for celebration.  This so-called “warning” is also really an invitation.  God is calling us into union with Him.  God is calling us home!

Perhaps this all seems like a daunting task…especially to begin a sermon with!  How do we get it all right?  How do we become a fruitful, productive people?  I think that’s probably a topic for a different sermon but the good news to me is in the fig tree parable…Jesus tells of a Gardner who will give lots of care and attention.  We’re going to get all the raking, fertilizing, and water we need for this undertaking!  We never do this R & R alone!

In Isaiah we find the same plea for repentance.  “Turn to God…He can still be found…call out to God! He is near.  Give up your crooked ways and your evil thoughts; return to the Lord our God.  He will be merciful and forgive your sins.”   Again God is part of this R & R.  Mercy and forgiveness… Don’t these sound like wonderful gifts that could help consume our human emptiness?  And yet we so often look in other places for “wonderful gifts” to consume our emptiness.  Through-out lent we are focusing on this image of needing God’s fullness to overpower our human emptiness and today is no different.

I think it must be a human instinct to yearn to be satisfied.  It seems to be an innate part of who we are.  When we are satisfied, we are content, we are happy; but what do we do when we don’t feel satisfied?  We look for ways to BE satisfied.  And where do you look for satisfaction?  (Our instinct is probably generally not to look towards God’s mercy and forgiveness)  Instead, we perhaps look to our job.  We throw ourselves into our work to attempt to be content and fulfilled.

Relationships are another biggie.  People often wish to be in a relationship to create satisfaction while those already in relationships wish for something to be better or different.  Where else do we look to fill discontentment or emptiness?  Perhaps food, addictions, TV, shopping, money…

I want to share with you some stats that were collected back in 99 by PBS….who knows what these stats would look like today…8 years later

³     The size of a typical 3 car garage today is comparable to the size of the average home in the 1950’s

³     Since 1950 Americans have used more resources than everyone who ever lived before them.

³     Americans throw away 7 million cars a year, 2 million plastic bottles an hour and enough aluminum cans annually to make 6 thousand DC 10 airplanes.

³     Americans total yearly waste would fill a convoy of garbage trucks long enough to wrap around the Earth 6 times.

³     The number of people in America who called themselves “very happy” in a survey peaked in 1957 and since then has remained either the same or has declined from year to year….even though we consume twice as much as we did in the 50’s it appears that people were just as happy then when they had less..

So it seems that stuff doesn’t satisfy us.  Listen to the words of Isaiah:  Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy?  Listen to me, listen well:  eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest.

Here’s the warning:  stop wasting your time on things that you think are satisfying…because they are generally only bad news in the end!

Last fall when our Swiss exchange teachers Philip and Stefan were living with us, they decided to cook us a meal one night.  We were delighted to eat a meal that they considered to be a favorite from home.  When they called us to the table they brought out 2 small bowls of appetizers.  This appetizer upon closer inspection looked an awful lot like canned dog food and smelled an awful lot like canned dog food…Philip and Stefan…always looking for a laugh were attempting to tell us that this was a Swiss delicacy.  Fortunately we recognized it for what it was and they admitted they had actually gotten it as a treat for Manny, not us.  Now a side-note about Manny…when we picked up Manny for the first time, the breeder told us exactly what dry food he was used to eating, said it was one of the best kinds out there and recommended that we continue to use it to feed him.  She also said that in her opinion you never give a dog canned-food unless you want to KEEP giving them canned-food, b/c the dog might just quit eating the dry stuff once he knows about this great-tasting soft stuff.  Well, we heeded her advice and so up until this fateful day last fall; Manny had never experienced the heavenly taste of canned dog food.  But this seemed like a nice treat…Stefan and Philip had bought it special for him so we decided it would be ok for him to have it.  We proceeded to take the bowl off of OUR dinner plates and give it to Manny.  Well, he loved the stuff…it was quite an indulgence!  In less than 30 seconds Manny was licking the bowl clean….. And within 30 seconds of that he was over in the corner bringing it all back up….

This is so often what happens when we go looking for our own ways to fill our emptiness…or in the words of Isaiah…spend our money on the junk food…These things look so enticing and we think we should have them and have them fast and so often we are only left with an upset stomach and a mess to clean up.

Which sounds more satisfying to you?  The canned food and a stomachache?  Or the dry food digesting easily?  Empty promises from the world?  Or the promise of mercy, love and forgiveness from God?  In Jr. high youth group recently we went through piles of magazines searching for promises.  We came up with tons and tons of advertisements that promised millions of different things and we pasted them on a long banner.  But amidst those lies we also pasted Truth…from Isaiah:  My love won’t walk away from you…and from John:  If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love.   Can you see True satisfaction in the middle of so much falseness we encounter daily?

There is a clear call to R & R with God….but being called to repentance and reconciliation is not the end of the story… God also invites us to Him for some other R & R…and this time I mean rest and relaxation.

When will we realize that when we are empty…at the bottom of the barrel, it is God who offers the most refreshing, satisfying nourishment….Let’s read again from Isaiah…this is from the Message version… “hey there! All who are thirsty; come to the water!  Are you penniless?  Come anyway—buy and eat!  Come buy your drinks, buy wine and milk.  Buy without money—everything’s free!  Listen to me and listen well.  Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest.  Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life nourishing words.  I’m making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David: sure solid, enduring love.”  This is the good news that comes with laying our sins and our brokenness before God. 

³     God’s rest and relaxation is free.  What comes free these days?  There is really no fine print on God’s invitation.  The message is clear.

³     God’s rest is nourishing.  It has all the spiritual vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy.  It is the perfect amount of servings daily from the food pyramid. 

³     God’s rest is forever…God has promised an enduring love.  Now I don’t know a ton about how to build endurance in the physical sense mostly b/c exercise and I have more kind of a love/hate relationship but what I do know about endurance is that bigger isn’t always better….endurance is more about length of time…in it for the long haul…this is the kind of love that God promises…

And so how do we respond to this invitation?

³     Repent…and don’t delay…in a little while Trisha will demonstrate her public act of committing to Christ and becoming clean with baptismal waters.  But it doesn’t stop there.  We must all continuously seek after the water that God so generously offers us.  I love this quote by Jewish author, Adin Steinsaltz:  “Repentance does not bring a sense of serenity or of completion, but stimulates a reaching out in further effort.  Indeed, the power of the potential of repentance lie in increased incentive and enhanced capacity to follow the path even further…In this manner, the conditions are created in which repentance is no longer an isolated act but has become a permanent possibility, a constant process of going forward”   …a constant process of going forward.  Repentance is not about giving up stuff we enjoy or denying ourselves of pleasures…repentance is the path that leads to blessings!  Repentance is not the end…it’s the beginning of a forward process!  And once you’ve tapped into God’s nourishment, be prepared for what it can do for you. 

³     Be ready and willing to be changed…I heard this phrase once that says Spiritual food, it does a body good.   (or something close to that at least)  This spiritual food is so good, satisfying and filling that it might create some really strong faith in us and might urge us to be Bold for the Truth.  It could change who and what we trust!  … a cartoon once had the following caption: “This morning opportunity knocked at my door!  But by the time I pushed back the bolt, turned the two locks, unlatched the chain, and shut off the alarm system, it was gone.”  How often do we depend on ourselves?  But think what we could be missing?  If spiritual food brings opportunity and change, don’t be afraid and hide behind the door…fling it open wide and trust your heavenly caretaker for the rest!

³     And finally become intimate with God…That’s really what this invitation is all about.  God wants us more than anything to be in relationship with Him.

Ralph Milton put it this way:  Isaiah has a vision that rings with divine clarity and wisdom.  It invites us home to the heart of God and into the celebration of joy which is God’s promise.  The light shines brightly through the open door.  We clutch the invitation in our sweaty, anxious fingers, knowing that it is our own choice now, whether we enter or not.  If we enter, we have to leave the comfortable squalor we know so well where we can blame someone, something, the system, them, it, God for the pain we feel.  If only someone would decide for us.  If only someone would give us a push in one way or another.  And so we wallow in our indecision...  But not to decide is to decide.

So will you decide today? 

Choose the water.  Choose the nourishment.  Choose God’s invitation.  Choose a little R & R.

The Necessity of Being in Need           March 18, 2007

Joshua 5:9-12;   2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

By now we know the point:   the only way to experience the Holy Feast is to begin with blessed hunger.  Hunger is blessed because it is a very basic indicator of health.  No appetite is a sign that something isn’t right.  Since it is almost 11am, some of us are probably starting to get hungry or at least those of us who have adjusted to the time change.     

While illness can actually take away our appetite, other things can prevent us from being aware of our hunger.  Sometimes we can be so busy that we are not aware of our hunger.  Or we can be so obsessed with a particular task or a feeling that we are unaware of being hungry.  If we do not become spiritually hungry on a regular basis, might that be a sign of spiritual illness, spiritual busyness, or spiritual obsessing? 

In today’s gospel reading, one son becomes aware of his hunger and another son does not.   One ends up at the Feast; the other does not. 

At the first Wednesday evening Revelation session Nelson Kraybill stressed a very basic principle in interpreting Scripture:  try to find out to whom the specific book of the Bible was written.  Often we don’t know.   But when it is clear, we need to pay attention to the people and their context to which the book was written.  He pointed out what is so ironic:  John makes it very clear in chapters 2 & 3 to whom he was writing:  seven real First Century churches in what is now Western Turkey. Yet that obvious fact is ignored in the most popular interpretations of Revelation.  He pointed out that with just a little bit of study of the history of the first century, one discovers that of all the vast and various regions of the Roman Empire, emperor worship began in the region of these seven churches.  That’s a flashing neon sign clue for interpreting Revelation. 

We’re fortunate this morning in the same way:  Luke tells us not only to whom Jesus addressed this parable, but why.  Luke 15:1-3:  Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus.   The Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law were grumbling because Jesus was not only attracting the wrong kind of crowd, he seemed to enjoy being with these kind of people because he ate with them.

Why did Jesus tell this parable?  (vv.1-3)   The Pharisees were

____ because Jesus was ____  with the “people of the land. “

Luke writes, v. 3:  “Then Jesus told them (the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law) this story:  parable of the lost sheep.  v. 8  “Jesus told them another story:  parable of the lost coin.   v. 11 “Jesus also told them another story.”   You’d think one story from Jesus would be enough to make a point.  But even two simple, straightforward parables didn’t appear to get through to the religious leaders.  So he tells a third, and more complex story. 

Before we put down the religious leaders for not getting it, let’s make sure we get it.   What can we gather from Luke’s clue about who Jesus was speaking to, and why?  These parables must have something to say about how we look at others…and ourselves.   

In Jesus day, the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law put people into two Us and Them categories:    those who kept the law, and those who didn't.  Since keeping all these laws was basically a full time job that only the religious leaders could afford to do, most people could not keep the law.  The Pharisees called these people who didn’t keep the laws:  The People of the Land. 

A Pharisee was forbidden to have any contact with "the people of the land."  They could not buy from or sell to the people of the land;   they were not to even teach the law to the people of the land.  And sitting down at a table to eat with them was avoided at all costs. 

To get the full impact of these parables we need to be aware that strict Pharisees said just the opposite of what Jesus said about rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents. They rather said, "There is joy in heaven over one sinner who is obliterated before God."  They looked forward not to the saving of sinners, but their destruction.  To the Pharisees, the people of the land WERE the problem, because they made it difficult for Pharisees to keep the law.  If you brushed against one on the street, you’d have to take time to ceremonially purify yourself again.  On top of that, it was an embarrassment in front of your fellow Pharisees to not be bright enough to avoid such contact in the first place.      

Jesus was regularly eating with the people of the land—the people who Pharisees did everything possible to avoid, the very people strict Pharisees wanted God to wipe from the face of the earth.  In their view, Jesus was constantly soiling himself spiritually--behavior unbecoming anyone trying to be holy. 

But for Jesus, these were not  “put on a seed corn cap to mingle with common folk in a rural Iowa diner”  or “hold a malnourished child in Africa”  five minute photo op situations.

Jesus was into serious hanging out with the people of the land behavior. There are many directions one can go with this parable.  See this week’s milepost for another.  Let’s examine the parable. 

Jesus intentionally made the younger son look as bad as possible.  Jewish custom did not allow a son to ask for his inheritance while his father lived.  To ask for it was like asking your father to die.  A father could voluntarily give his property to his son while he lived, but even this was very rare and not considered wise.  If a son DID receive the property voluntarily, he could not dispose of it while his father lived. 

In addition, property like this was also the concern of the community.  People lived together in clans.   Squandering property was not only a family offense--it offended the community.    This guy was a rascal.  To the Pharisees, there was only one step lower, being a hog farmer’s hired hand.  So Jesus managed to build that into the story as well.  The Pharisees had to be eating this up to this point. "Yeh, Jesus, we know the ungrateful, foolish, selfish worthless scum you’re talking about.”     

The Younger Son actively chose behaviors which were:

unwise,  self-centered, and not life giving--exhausting

The Younger Son actively chose unwise, self-centered, life-destroying, not life giving behaviors.  This part of the parable stands powerfully all by itself.  Hymns are written about it. It has been called, the parable of THE prodigal Son.  When we stray and come to our senses, our forgiving heavenly Father welcomes us home with open arms.  But remember one of the interpretive principles about parables:  the point is usually at the end!  The story of the prodigal son, while powerful in itself, sets up the punch line for the Pharisees--the elder son's reaction.  

That’s why Rembrandt’s use of light in his painting creates two focal points of the story:   the Younger Son being received by the Loving Father, and the Older Son remaining separated from the Loving Father.  Rembrandt could have put the Older Son in the background with the Pharisees, but no, he’ s front right with lighting equal to the Father/Younger Son who are front left;  the two scenes are separated by darkness.     

You see, the Older Son also chose behaviors equally unwise, self-centered, and life-destroying.  But like the Frank Sinatra song, he did it his way:  through passivity, rather than activity. He was operating in the default mode.  One does not need to go far away to be far away. 

The Older Son passively chose behaviors which were:

unwise, self-centered, and not life giving--exhausting

He insulted and humiliated his father by not going in to the party.  As the older son, he had a role to play at the party:  chief steward, moving among the guests, making sure that their needs were being met.  He was conspicuously absent.  Although a dutiful son, he had a slave mentality-- "I have slaved for you all these years."

The Loving Father

waited patiently for both Sons to come to their senses.

came out with arms open to welcome both Sons home

into reconciled relationships

THE FATHER REACHES OUT TO BOTH SONS, FOR BOTH SONS ARE LOST.  Both sons have hurt him, have humiliated him, have rejected his love.

The Younger Son recognized his need, chose to turn around, and

fell into the graces of his Father’s abundance

But one, recognizing his hunger, recognizing that he has need that he can not meet by himself, falls in to the abundant graces of his Father.  A slave among the swine is restored to the status of a son. 

The Older Son chose to continue in unwise, self-centered and

exhausting behaviors, and he missed the party.

The other, has not realized the necessity of being in need, and is not restored--he remains a slave because of his thinking, his attitude.  Because of how he looks at himself and others, he remains distant from his Father’s love. Despite the father reaching out in an attempt to explain what grace is about, a son chooses to be a slave.   

Jesus is giving a clear message to the Pharisees, who thought they were pretty good people: God's attitude toward the people of the land was compassion, forgiveness, restoration--GOOD NEWS!  And in saying it, he was giving an indirect message about his own ministry:  God's love was being expressed through his ministry among the people of the land.  God wanted them redeemed, not obliterated.  Not only does God want them redeemed, each one is so valuable, that God rejoices and throws a party for each one that returns.

Today, some of us may identify with the younger son, we know we have sinned, we have squandered the gracious resources of our Father—whether abilities or material possessions or time—and that in doing so, we have hurt people we love, or an entire community. When we come to our senses, recognize our need for a divine makeover, and return to our Father, our Father gets to us first. 

But Jesus is making a clear point to the Pharisees:  “You think there are just two kinds of people:  those who keep the law and those who don’t?   OK, I’ll play along with that black and white approach:  There are only two kinds of people:  Younger Sons and Older Sons.  If you are not one, you are the other.  Take your pick—either one must recognize the necessity of being in need, and return to the Father.   So if we can’t identify as a Younger Son, we must be an Older Son.   Self-centered decadent living is sin.  Self-centered “I’m better than others” living is sin.   And sin is sin.

Older Son “I’m right, you are wrong and if only you were as spiritual as I am, you’d realize it” behavior is universal:  congregations can look down on other congregations. Denominations can look down on other denominations.  Nations can look down on other nations.   

Older Son behavior grows out of a misunderstanding of forgiveness.  God sees forgiveness as a way of life more than a specific action.  God is perpetually and spontaneously forgiving.  Someone has said, when we see forgiveness as a way life, “we clear a space, where no resentment can accumulate.” 

If you identify right now with sins of either Son, get up and turn around and start the journey home—your loving, forgiving heavenly Father is running out to meet you and embrace you, and throw a party for you.  If you can’t see yourself in this story, ponder the posture and expression of the Older Son. Ask yourself—is that me?  Check out this week’s milepost on the web or in your newsletter, for resources. 

God sees forgiveness as a way of life more than a specific action.

Our goal is to be “perpetually and spontaneously forgiving,

 to clear a space where no resentment accumulates.”

The Apostle Paul summarizes all this in 2 Cor. 5:16

God has done it all!  He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others.  …God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world.  And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace.     2 Cor. 5:18-19

We will trust the Lord today!  He has done it all.  Forgiveness is the way of life in his Kingdom—He is always ready and willing to forgive, and God calls us to do the same.  

Remembering the Future                 March 25, 2007

Isaiah 43:16-21; John 12:1-8;  Philippians 3:4b-14

          Many of us have had at least one caught between a rock and a hard place experience—facing death between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, trapped in a city as rebel forces approached, lost in a wilderness of years of pain or emotional illness, a family shipwrecked in one of life’s violent storms.

          But we are here this morning.  And there is one reason for that:  God created a new way through mighty waters.  God created a new road to find our way out of a barren dessert.  God created a wall of protection from the bullets of rebels or gangbangers. God created a lifeboat of new friends in the midst of a family shipwreck.  God created new healing power to restore us from a deadly disease.  Some of us are still waiting for God to create that new thing.  And perhaps, some of us are close to giving up on God creating a new thing.  

          In the passage from Isaiah that historians love to hate, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah to the children of Israel :  Is 43:18-19

Forget what happened long ago! Don't think about the past.

I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it?

Isn’t that called denial?  Don’t history teachers, therapists and transitional pastors encourage individuals and congregations to learn from the past so it’s not repeated?  What’s wrong with repeating the good things from our past?   If we are to forget the past, why do we gather once a week to recall words written thousands of years ago—like the words we have just heard from Isaiah, Jesus, John and Paul?    

          Here we find another example of how essential context is in interpreting Scripture.

Israel had turned away from God long ago to worship other gods.  Because of their sin, their nation was taken over by the Babylonian empire, and many Jews were carried off into captivity. After several generations, exile had become a comfort zone.  They knew who they were--a special people who had been delivered by a mighty God--from slavery in Egypt and brought to live in the promised land.  They were having such a great time remembering the past, that they were forgetting the future.   But how can one forget the future—the future has not yet happened? 

          Whenever we find ourselves trapped in between a rock and a hard place, when things are falling apart faster than we can hold them together, it is quite easy to forget the future.  We are consumed by the realities of the present day.  We can forget that God is One who is constantly doing new things.  And the way he creates a way through the might waters so amazing that even wild animals take note, and honor God for what he has done.

          I am told that older male Chimpanzees teach teenage males to conform by making fun of them in cruel ways when they behave inappropriately.  Recently, for the first time, zookeepers discovered a young male chimp with cerebral palsy.  The Chimp has both physical and emotional disabilities.  They anticipated that he would be treated cruelly by older males.  How could they possibly know that his behaviors were due to a disability rather than hormones?  But they do.  He is treated with care and respect—as if the older Chimps had empathy—the ability to put themselves in his place.  Sure looks like honoring their creator.  Perhaps Darwin got the evolution thing turned around….

          I believe God’s promise to Israel is for all of us.  God will do a new thing.  No matter how impossible or wonderful things seem to us today, God will do a new thing. No matter how deep the rut seems today, God will do a new thing.  Why should we claim this universal promise?

1.  It is God’s nature to create new things.  

It is God’s character--the pages of His word are full of God doing new things. A dry path through the sea was a new thing. Water flowing from a rock was a new thing.   Manna in the morning was a new thing.   Beating swords into plowshares is a new thing.   A messiah from Nazareth was a new thing.   Loving enemies is a new thing. Leading by serving is a new thing.   Transforming fishermen, tax collectors and henchmen into apostles is a new thing.   Resurrection is a new thing. 

2.  God’s new things are unexpected and abundant.

          Secondly, Isaiah tells us that the new thing God is creating will be unexpected and abundant.  As unexpected and abundant as streams in a desert.     Anne Lamott writes:  “When God is going to do something wonderful, He or She always starts with a hardship; when God is going to do something amazing, He or She starts with an impossibility.”

3.  Watch, look for God’s new things.

          Up to now, it’s all about God.  Then God tells us what we are to do, in light of who God is, and the fact that God is always about doing new things.   Watch for God’s new things.  Be alert.  Be looking.  They will still be unexpected, but the unexpected can be missed if we are not watching.   Even though the zookeepers were expecting the worst, they were still watching, they were paying attention—and they saw an unexpected and abundant new thing:  older male chimps with empathy.  We don’t have to help God make things new; that’s God’s job.  Our job is to simply be watching.

When facing a seemingly hopeless or impossible situation, remember the future:  God can make a way through mighty waters and barren deserts.   What can help us see the new things God is creating? 

1.   Desire God’s new things

          Comfort zones are dangerous places in which to dwell.  Comfort lulls is into apathy and complacency. Comfort zones create a false sense of security.   Successful business folk learn from the past: They know they must respond to current needs, like Martha; they know they must watch the bottom line, like Judas.  But more importantly, business folk know they cannot dwell on the past.  They avoid comfort zones—they are constantly remembering the future.  They watch for that new thing.    

            If we are to see the new things God is doing, we have to first desire God’s new things.  Do we?  Or are we content in our spiritual comfort zones.  New spiritual awareness means change.  When it comes to the things of this world, new is rarely questioned:  we don’t hesitate to buy new fashions, food, technology, homes, medical treatments, or even the newest thing we should fear from the voices on Pennsylvania or Madison Avenues.

          But new ways of being church? New people? New ministries? New hymns? New insights from scripture?  That’s what power brakes are for, right?  Slow down.  Not too fast.  New might not be wise, when it comes to matters of faith.    

          Why mess with success?  Well, that’s God’s very point through the prophet Isaiah.  It was success.  Delivering you from slavery in Egypt and leading you to the promised land—was success.  But there’s so much more.  I am doing a new thing every day.  Watch for it!  

2.   Discern difference between God’s new things and the new things of the world.

            There is a lot of new stuff going on out there in the name of Christianity.  It is a challenge to discern what new things God is doing, and what are simply the new things of the world.  It can get real tricky.

          40 years ago, there was a Mennonite congregation that was doing what Jesus called the church to do:  incorporated a number of broken folk from the community into congregational life. People were coming to Christ and bringing with them challenges that most Mennonites had not yet faced in the 1960s and 70s: abortion, divorce, sexual abuse, drug abuse, chronic unemployment and poverty, homosexuality, delinquent teenagers, young adults in prison.  Rather than perceiving that perhaps this was a new thing God was doing—an opportunity to learn about what other congregations would face in the future, the conference brought rigid answers.  Over time, without support and wise oversight, the congregation died.  No one was available to help them through these challenges. 

          The Lord says, through the prophet Isaiah:  watch carefully, be perceptive.  God is doing a new thing—but it may not be easy to see.  It may take some effort to see that it is what God is doing.    

          The things of the past, whether wonderful or painful, can keep us from seeing the new thing God is doing.

3.   Deal with your old things.   John 12:1-8

“The past got in my eyes.”   -Lucy

          In a classic peanuts cartoon, Lucy is explaining to Charlie Brown why she failed to catch the ball that came right to her in the outfield.   “I was ready to catch it, but then I remembered all the times in the past when I dropped the ball.  The past got in my eyes.”   Perhaps the Cubs should be looking for several good therapists rather than pitchers.   

·         Martha:  busyness

·         Judas:  self-centeredness

·         Mary:   was in sync with God’s future

          In today’s Gospel reading from John 12, Mary was in sync with the future.  Even though she didn’t understand, she got it right.  She knew God was doing something new.  Martha was distracted with busyness, and couldn’t see the new thing God was doing.  Judas was distracted with self-centeredness and the bottom line.

          Sometimes our unresolved issues or emotional pain can become so familiar; we subconsciously cling to the pain we know.  We may think that known pain is better than the unknown.  God is doing a new thing right in front of us—perhaps in the counsel or example of a friend, or colleague, but we may not be able to see it.  The past is getting in our eyes. 

          God is creating something new.  What God is creating probably won't fit into our over scheduled days and weeks.  What God is doing will look strange compared to the values of our culture.  If we are too comfortable with the captivity of our culture, we will miss the new things God is doing. 

          God is creating new things at Silverwood.  We are seeing some of them!  New small groups are bringing different people together—we are learning to know each others gifts and healing is happening simply because the Spirit is bringing people together who can bless each other with their life journeys.

          Some individuals are saying no to Spiritual Gift Discernment Committee calls—because they are very clear on the new thing God is doing in their life.  That’s exciting because some such folk are entering new levels of outreach or caring ministries, and know that serving on a commission is not their calling at this point.   In the new structure, serving on a commission is not any more important than any other role in the congregation—just different.

          Others are saying yes to new calls from the Spiritual Gift Discernment Committee that will stretch them.  They are seeing the new thing God is doing in their lives.

          God is doing a new thing among us in calling new pastoral leaders, and making it possible for them to begin seminary training. 

When have you seen a new work of God?

My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget

what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead.  I run toward

the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven.

Philippians 3:13-14

                                        -William Eason, congregational health consultant