tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32839960492863476112023-11-16T00:47:30.862-06:00Pastor Heather's SermonsPastor Heather Jepsen from Warrensburg First Presbyterian Church shares her sermon archive.Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.comBlogger332125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-16208154265669280892020-03-09T09:26:00.001-05:002020-03-09T09:26:40.067-05:00To Follow on the Way
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<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">March 8<sup>th</sup>,
2020<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“To Follow on the Way”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mark 10:32-52</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning we continue our narrative
lectionary reading as we follow the story of Jesus as told in the Gospel of
Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in the season of Lent and
Jesus has turned his face toward Jerusalem and the suffering that awaits him
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week he will help the
disciples and us to understand what it means to follow him on this way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
pick up right where we left off last week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus has been traveling on the road to Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last week he was interrupted by a rich man
and we had discussions and lessons about how our wealth is an obstacle to our
ability to follow Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week it
will be our egos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We begin with Jesus and the disciples
walking along the road to Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
the journey Jesus pulls the disciples aside and begins to tell them about his
upcoming suffering and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
the third and final passion prediction in Mark’s gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus couldn’t be any clearer that they are
headed to Jerusalem and once there he will be arrested and will suffer and
die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also tells his followers that
after three days he will rise again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although the language is clear, the idea behind it is not, and even
though they have heard this twice already the disciples still fail to
understand what Jesus is talking about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That misunderstanding is made
abundantly clear by the brothers James and John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They approach Jesus and ask if they might be
granted the places of authority and honor, sitting at his right and left hand,
when he comes into his glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How thick are these guys?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus just told everyone they are going to
Jerusalem to suffer and they are asking about an earthly kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C’mon guys!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus makes it clear to them that if
they continue to follow him they will have their own time of suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, he does not have the authority to
declare who will sit at his right and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, when it comes time for Jesus’ suffering, he will have no more
than a pair of robbers at his right and left hand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once news of James and John’s arrogance
spreads to the others the disciples get riled up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are angry at the brothers for asking for
positions of honor and perhaps angry that they didn’t think to ask first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Jesus has another teaching moment when he
explains that leadership in this community doesn’t look like leadership
anywhere else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The political rulers lord
power over their people and act as tyrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But within the kingdom community, Jesus reminds us the highest place is
the one of service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus himself is to
be their example, as he has come to give his own life for this cause.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of course, the group is interrupted
again as Bartimaeus the blind beggar begins making a scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Calling out to Jesus, and giving him the
Messianic title “Son of David” he asks for Jesus to heal his sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People try to block his way but Jesus will
have none of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Calling the man to
him he offers him the gift of sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Surprisingly, even though Jesus tells Bartimaeus to go, Bartimaeus
instead decides to follow Jesus on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even though he had no earthly vision, it seems that Bartimaeus saw who
Jesus was better than the disciples who had the use of their eyes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All of these stories rotate around the
central idea of who we are as people of faith and what it means to follow Jesus
on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that we are
followers of Jesus but what does it mean to actually follow Jesus on this
Lenten path to Jerusalem?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the
disciples we struggle on this journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We hear Jesus offer the teaching about being servants and least of these
but we really have a hard time putting this into practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t want to do it, and really we don’t
know how.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything we have inside us
calls to us of a desire for status and recognition. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We want people to know who we are and to
admire us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t want to be servants,
we want to be leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is just how we
are hardwired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We want to follow Jesus because we can
feel he has something that we need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
we don’t really want to go to Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seriously, why would we?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I
said to you, “Come on, let’s go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
going to Jerusalem where I will be arrested and put on death row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will make fun of me in public and spit
on me and whip me in the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I
will be killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come with me!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one would go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one in their right mind would go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it any wonder that the people who follow
Jesus are amazed and afraid?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
afraid of the things Jesus says, and we are amazed that he would ask such
things of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would anyone ask us to
go and die like this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s awful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So what are we doing following this
Jesus on this way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are we chasing
him for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do we want him to do for
us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you catch that, Jesus asks it of
his followers multiple times in this passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When James and John approach asking for a favor Jesus says “What is it
you want me to do for you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Jesus give
me status” they seem to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they
will get it, James and John, numbered among the disciples, there is hardly any
higher status in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they
will drink the cup of suffering following the way of their Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When Bartimaeus interrupts the journey
Jesus asks the same of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What do you
want me to do for you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Jesus give me
mercy” he seems to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asks for the
ability to see and he gets it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just
to see with his physical eyes but to see truly and clearly who Jesus really
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why else would he abandon the life
he knows and follow Jesus on the way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
can see what is really happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
knows who Jesus really is and what is going on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Lent is a season where we often set
aside extra time for prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps you
are following along in the devotional or maybe offering a prayer each morning
before you start the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we set our
hearts to follow our Lord, chasing after him in prayer, I am wondering how we
would answer this question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Jesus
suddenly asked “what do you want me to do for you?” how would you respond?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is that desire deep within your heart?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus give me status, give me wealth, give me
healing, give me mercy, give me love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus give me what I need.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We are so hungry and we are always
seeking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are always trying to follow
Jesus on this way and it is scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
the disciples we are amazed and afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We aren’t as clueless as James and John to ask to sit at Jesus’ right
and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know the path is
service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But still, to become the least
of these is frightening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To follow our
leader into suffering, into death, it is not really a place we want to go.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think my favorite passage in this
whole reading is the first one, verse 32.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking
ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you notice that part about Jesus walking
ahead of them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus goes first into
suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus leads the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though this path to Jerusalem is scary
and painful, we are never alone, because Jesus is already there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wherever we follow our Lord to, whatever
suffering comes our way, Jesus is already there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is with us wherever we go, because
Jesus is walking ahead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That is what this communion table is
all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Lord walks ahead of us
into suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Lord is one who
knows the depth of human pain and sadness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no hurt that we can feel that our Lord hasn’t already felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no place in the darkness of our
lives and our world that cannot be touched by the light of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst thing that we can imagine?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is there, God is with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Lord knows suffering, our Lord walks with
us on the paths of suffering, and our Lord will lead us back out away from
suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Away from this table of Good
Friday and into the joy of Easter morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As Jesus tells his disciples he will be killed “and after three days he
will rise again.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To follow Jesus on the way is to have
the courage to follow wherever he leads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This path of service is a path of suffering and self-denial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the way we take up our cross and put
our own interests aside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would be
fools not to be afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we know that
God goes with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we know that no
matter how low we go, no matter how deep we fall, God will always pull us back
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We follow not only the Lord who
was killed; we follow the one who lives again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May we have the strength and courage to continue to follow Jesus on the
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-48515408737839931432020-03-02T09:12:00.002-06:002020-03-02T09:12:53.071-06:00Our Greatest Obstacle
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<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">March 1<sup>st</sup>,
2020<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Our Greatest Obstacle”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mark 10:17-31</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning we continue our narrative
lectionary journey through the gospel of Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Last week we read about Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountaintop and we
wondered about who the Messiah really was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were hard lessons about self-denial, taking up one’s cross, and
following Jesus on the path to Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today the hard lessons continue as Jesus teaches us about the obstacle
wealth creates in our quest for the kingdom of God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We begin with a familiar story that is
repeated throughout the synoptic gospels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A rich man approaches Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the other gospels he is referred to as being young, or being a ruler, but in
Mark his only identifying factor is his wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This man runs up to Jesus, kneels before him in a sign of deference, and
asks, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is some conversation about who or
what can be good as Jesus replies “why do you call me good? No one is good but
God alone.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we first read this it
sounds like Jesus is saying he isn’t good, but I don’t think that’s the
case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Jesus is pointing out that
true goodness only comes from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
perhaps, if the man thinks Jesus is good, Jesus is trying to draw out of him
the additional knowledge that Jesus is from God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus reminds the man about following
the 10 commandments, highlighting the commandments that are about our
relationships to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
murder, cheat, lie, or steal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like many
of us might, this man claims he is innocent of these sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His reply, “I have kept all these since my
youth” could mean different things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is
he puffed up and bragging?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I have kept
all these since my youth!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or perhaps he
is earnestly seeking more knowledge “Yes, I’ve kept all these since my youth .
. .” Either way, Jesus looks at him with love which is significant for the
gospel of Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In love Jesus offers the man one more
lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You lack one thing; go sell
what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; then come, follow me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an invitation
into a radically altered life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give it
all away and follow Jesus on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mark tells us the man is shocked and goes away grieving, for he had many
possessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is he sad because he can’t
do it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or is he sad because he will miss
his things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way, his many
possessions cause him grief.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus senses a wider opportunity for a
teaching moment and looking around at the gathered crowds he declares “How hard
it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone, disciples included, is shocked and
perplexed at this teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like in
our own time, wealth is a sign of blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are many pastors in our modern world who preach that if we are
faithful to God, God will reward us with material blessings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s called “Prosperity Gospel” and Pastor Joel
Osteen is a famous promoter of this theory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pastor Osteen is worth about $50 million dollars so he is clearly more
blessed than I am.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But not, unfortunately, according to
Jesus in Mark’s gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to
Jesus, it would be easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than
for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if Pastor Osteen has preached on
this text, I’m guessing not, but other pastors have, and a common story out
there is that there was a gate leading into Jerusalem that was called the “eye
of the needle” and only a camel without possessions on its back could enter
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds plausible right? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this kind of gets us off the hook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too bad, it’s not true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out this is a false story started by
some pastor somewhere who didn’t want to deal with the real truth of Jesus’
teaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How hard it will be for rich
people to enter the kingdom of God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Even the disciples are worried that
they will be left out of this blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Who then will be saved?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
want to point out, if the disciples think they have too much money, we probably
do too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ reply is that this is
impossible for us, impossible for those with wealth to enter the kingdom, but
through God all things are possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Peter pushes the point, and just like
us, he wants to highlight his own poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not that rich am I?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’ve
left everything to follow you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
replies that what we give up we will regain in the kingdom, albeit with
persecutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice here that he is
talking about relationships and not possessions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Followers will gain brothers, sisters,
mothers, and children along with houses and fields to share with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is about gaining community, not about
gaining wealth.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Just like the man who approaches Jesus,
and like Peter who follows him, we struggle with this lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are good with the 10 commandments but we
stand convicted when it comes to our wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think that’s ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the
beginning of the season of Lent and now is a perfect time to humble ourselves
and think a bit about our sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
wealth is something we should consider in our faith lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If our kids are going to honor Lent by
sharing their change with those less fortunate, (and I’m not going to call it
spare change because kids don’t have spare money, they count every penny),
perhaps we should also honor Lent by considering more fully our wealth.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a challenging text, and
therefore an appropriate lesson for Lent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No matter how we spin it, our wealth is an obstacle to our faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I would argue that in our particular
context it is our greatest obstacle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nothing has the power to divide us from God and keep us out of the
kingdom like our wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine with me
for a minute that wealth was truly, literally, an obstacle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All your possessions are like a mountain you
have to climb over to reach the blessing of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine climbing over your house, your car, and
your things all stacked atop each other. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine your 401K and your bank account as a pile
of pennies you must summit in order to reach the divine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How big is the mountain you have to climb? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And can you muster the energy to do it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our wealth is an obstacle to our faith. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Wealth, in and of itself, is not a
sin if it is earned by honest means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
earn my money by working here and I use my money to feed, clothe, and house my
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No sin there right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the issue is, my wealth blinds me to my
need for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like in Jesus’ time,
our wealth is also a sign of our power, privilege, and prestige.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our wealth is something that makes us feel
important, and it makes us feel safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lars
and I sold our house that we had in Washington State last year and I know I
have felt a lot more comfortable since then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The debt is gone, and there is extra emergency money in our bank
account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That makes me feel safe; it
would be a lie to say it doesn’t.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It can be hard to follow God when we
find our sense of safety in our possessions instead of in our faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus doesn’t invite the man to get rid of
his wealth; he invites him to use his wealth to form community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give your money to the poor, and follow
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like with Peter, the kingdom of
God is about community, new brothers and sisters, new parents and
grandparents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we share what we have
with those around us, community is formed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rather than being a place we go to, the kingdom of God is a way of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like our lesson from last week, it is about
sacrifice and self-denial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is about
moving ourselves out of the center of our value system and putting
relationships, community, and God there instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our wealth can be used, through God, to form
community, which is the kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is impossible to do alone, but with God we can do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last
week we found Jesus redefining the idea of the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Peter talked about Jesus being the
Messiah he imagined the next ruler of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Jesus talked about being the Messiah he imagined his suffering,
death, and resurrection. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week we
find Jesus redefining the idea of blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When the young man and Peter talk about being blessed, they are talking
about worldly riches and wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus
talks about being blessed, he is talking about a fullness of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a shared life in community that will be
the blessing, and our wealth is an obstacle to that shared life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our wealth hinders our need for
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I can help myself then I
don’t need you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our wealth can be a
blessing, but it is also a barrier.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a hard lesson for us to learn
and practice and that is why we keep talking our way around it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Joel Osteen and his million dollar
mansion, or whoever made up that story about the gate in Jerusalem, we would
like to hope that Jesus isn’t talking about us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We would like to hope that this lesson doesn’t apply to our own
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily for us, all things are possible with
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following the 10 commandments was
not about earning one’s salvation; rather it was about practicing
discipleship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same is true with this
lesson on wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving away everything
we have will not earn us our salvation, but it will help us on our path to
discipleship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In love, Jesus invites the man into a
new community, a community of generosity and sharing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In love we are also invited into this
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sharing what we have with others
is a way that we practice our discipleship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Giving away our money is a way that we follow Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forming new communities of faith, with new
brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents, will lead to a fullness of life
that in and of itself is a blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
kingdom of God requires sacrifice, self-denial, and sharing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a way of life that we will always be
journeying toward.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This Lent, in love, I want to invite
you to truly consider this lesson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How
hard it will be for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Consider this week how your money distracts
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does it make you feel
safe?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does it make you feel
important?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much are you
sharing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And are you willing to share
more?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is impossible for us to save
ourselves, but with God anything can happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We can even get over our greatest obstacle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us use the blessings that we have to form
a community of blessing in God’s name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
will be the kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-9849852464544371532020-02-24T10:33:00.001-06:002020-02-24T10:33:08.951-06:00Faith in the Fog
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">February 23<sup>rd</sup>,
2020<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Faith in the Fog”<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather
Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mark 8:27-9:8</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning our narrative lectionary
readings continue in the Gospel of Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the church this is Transfiguration Sunday and today we find ourselves
at the midpoint of Mark’s Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up to
now we have followed Jesus and his disciples throughout the countryside
watching Jesus heal and listening to Jesus teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today things shift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today Jesus turns his face toward Jerusalem
as he begins to talk about his upcoming suffering and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week we learn that Jesus has come to
redefine what it is to be the Messiah.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Most of the sections of today’s reading
you are familiar with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We begin with
Peter’s famous declaration of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus walking with his disciples asks after his own reputation, “Who do
people say that I am?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly he is
someone special as he is compared to Elijah, John, or another prophet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the test question, “Who do you say that
I am?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time Peter has the correct
answer “You are the Messiah.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Peter knows the right answer to the
question, but he doesn’t know what this really means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus begins to teach him and the others that
he will need to undergo great suffering, rejection, and death before this whole
thing is over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter is taken aback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not what he meant!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he tells Jesus so.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But Jesus will have none of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Get behind me Satan!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor Peter!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m sure these words cut him to the core.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the kids in Henry’s 3<sup>rd</sup> grade
class would say “Oh, he burned you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
burned you to the ground!”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I love Peter here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying so hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trying to be a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows what the right answer is and he is
confident that “Jesus is the Messiah” but he doesn’t really know what it means
to be the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how could
he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can any of us really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus accuses Peter of setting his mind on
human things and not divine things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
how can Peter know divine things if he is human?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can any of us know divine things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can any of us know what it is to be the
Messiah?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have my doubts.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the next section of our reading,
Jesus calls to the crowds as well, and attempts to teach everybody about taking
up their cross and losing their life to find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is upside down talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deny yourself to find yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take up the instrument of death in order to
live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give everything up and gain it
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it any wonder that people don’t
understand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The kingdom of God will
come in power before some here even taste death.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does that even mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is the kingdom here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these guys died hundreds of years
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Peter, I’m confused.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A whole week passes, which must be significant
because Mark rarely records the passage of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A whole week passes and Jesus takes Peter,
James, and John and they climb a mountain together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While up there, Jesus begins to glow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is transfigured, he is changed, and he
shines with the light of his true holiness and splendor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As if that weren’t strange enough, Peter and
the others see Moses and Elijah with Jesus, chatting like it’s any old
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Peter is in a daze, in a mental fog so
to speak and offers to build a tent or two for this awesome party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the gospel writer is embarrassed by
Peter and adds in as an aside “He didn’t know what to say because he was so
scared”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And suddenly they are literally
in the fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cloud descends and a voice
cries out “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then it’s all over and I’m sure Peter
didn’t know what to think, let alone what to say.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I love these texts about Peter and
Jesus because they are such a metaphor for our own life of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So often, like Peter, we are forming our faith
in a fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like being on the mountaintop
with Jesus, we have a glowing moment where we say “Yes, I see it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are confident about who God is and who we
are in relationship to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then
immediately a cloud descends and we are lost in the fog again wondering if
Jesus is even still up on the mountain with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or like Peter, we know the right answer to the question, “Jesus is the Messiah!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we don’t really understand what being the
Messiah means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when we find out
about it, we aren’t so sure we want to be part of this after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suffering and death, I didn’t sign up for
that!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The more time I spend in ministry, the
more I notice that we like to talk in a code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We use words like salvation, Bible, Jesus, God, and church and we really
do not know what we mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, we can
expand on these ideas with more church talk but we really have a lot of trouble
moving outside that realm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or we use the
same words to mean different things.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For example, this week there was a
really great Independent Lens movie on PBS about the building of the Ark
Experience in Kentucky by the “Answers in Genesis” Organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people working on that project and I are
all Christians, and we speak the same language, using the same words, but we
don’t mean the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I talk
about the gospel and when they talk about the gospel we are talking about very
different things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re even reading the
same book, but we are arriving at totally different conclusions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you see what I mean about using the
language but not knowing what we really mean, or using the same words to mean
different things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Another example can be found in our
Sunday school class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now we are
studying Atonement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
Atonement?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did Jesus do on the
cross that “saves us”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are studying
six different theological models that are all totally accepted by the Reformed
Church and all have Biblical support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
what are we talking about when we talk about Atonement?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am confident that something special happened when Jesus died but I am
not certain what exactly it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
have faith in atonement without being completely settled on one atonement
theory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church has been talking
about Jesus for over 2000 years and we still have very diverse explanations,
expectations, and claims about who Jesus is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Peter thought he knew what he was
talking about when he talked about Jesus as the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus was talking about something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Peter thought he knew what he was talking
about when he tried to put up some shelters on the mountain and build a church,
but that is not why they were there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
many ways Peter was lost in the fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
for like of trying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think just because
he was human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure we can really
know the divine things with certainty.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I read the Scriptures I always
find Jesus trying to clear the path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
way of salvation is this, “give up your life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know it sounds backwards but this does make sense to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Move yourself out of the way, move yourself
out of the center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand this concept
but I don’t want to take it literally, I don’t really want to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will if I have to, but I don’t want
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If discipleship is an act of
faithful self-denial and displaced self-interest, I can do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If discipleship requires torture and death
then I’m not so sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does God really
ask that of all of us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask us all to
die?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in the fog here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might be a Pastor, but I’ll be the last one
to say I have all the answers.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The more time I spend in this
profession and the more Sundays I stand up here and try to have an answer about
the Bible and God, the more I feel like Peter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope when they write it all down, someone adds in a bit about me not
knowing what I am saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If in the end
I am as wrong as Peter sometimes is, I hope someone says, “that’s ok, she tried
her best, she meant well.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All of life is like this with
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in that cloud with Jesus
on the mountain and not really knowing what is going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or we have a moment of clarity and then
something knocks us off balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
a plan for our lives and then illness or death or job loss, or something else knocks
us off course and we are in the fog again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We ask ourselves “who am I?” and “who is God?” and we may or may not
find an answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to set the
mind on divine things when you are just human.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think perhaps the clearest line in
this whole passage is where God speaks, “This is my son, listen to him!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s pretty clear isn’t it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is Jesus, listen to what he says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t talk about him, don’t spend time with
words yapping on about which atonement theory is correct or which church
doctrine is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t stand in a
pulpit trying to tell everyone who Jesus is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stop talking!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just listen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is my son, listen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No talking necessary.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But we like to talk, at least I
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love to talk about God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I should do more listening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so we are back to denying oneself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sit down, be quiet, and listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we shouldn’t talk when we don’t know
what we are talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we
should just relax when we find ourselves in the fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know God is there right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can be confident in that at least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if we listen we might even hear God’s
voice like Peter did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus teaches us that life is found when
we are able to release our grip on ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we let ourselves go we can find ourselves as part of something
greater than ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop trying to
have all the answers and just listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then maybe, together, we can confidently find our faith in the fog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-32722201594898561162020-02-18T09:44:00.001-06:002020-02-18T09:44:39.116-06:00From the Heart
<br />
<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">February
16<sup>th</sup>, 2020<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span>“From
the Heart”<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
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<div align="left" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mark
7:1-23</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
morning we continue our narrative lectionary with readings from the Gospel of
Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have marveled at Jesus’ ability
to heal people, to bring restoration to communities, to forgive sins, and to
dispel fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have also studied the
ways that folks come to reject the message of the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning, Jesus’ conflict with the religious
authorities escalates as he challenges traditional teachings of his faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At this
point in our story the Pharisees and other religious leaders are keeping a
close eye on Jesus and his followers and so they are quick to notice when the
disciples don’t follow the traditional customs of cleanliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before eating anything, Pharisees, and other
good folks of Jewish faith, were always sure to wash their hands and other
ritual items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike our modern
understanding of washing so we don’t get sick, this was a washing based on
tradition and religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not an
act of morals but an act of religious liturgy; it was about making oneself holy
or acceptable to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ followers
don’t appear to be following the customs of good religious people, so it is no
wonder that the religious leaders are disturbed by their practice, or lack
thereof.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Pharisees ask their question
politely as they are genuinely curious as to why Jesus doesn’t follow the usual
religious practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus, on the other
hand, shoots back a hostile response, accusing the Pharisees of a lack of
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quoting from Isaiah, he implies
that they do not really love God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
points out that often the religious leaders spend a lot of time talking about
how much they love God, but that what happens in their hearts betrays
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church gets too busy being
wrapped up in human things, like rules about washing, that the people forget
the things of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls everyone
together to teach them this lesson; “There is nothing outside of a person that
by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus’ teaching seems clear enough, but
this isn’t a lesson people really want to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, as soon as he is alone with the disciples they ask him to
explain the parable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you catch that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, Jesus didn’t tell them a parable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told them a plain and simple lesson; it’s
what is inside your heart that matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again he is forced to explain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What we eat, what goes inside of us goes to our stomach; our body
processes it and we poop it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
what comes out of us, meaning out of our mouths and our actions, those things
come from our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what lies within
our hearts that matters, and those are the things that have the power to
separate us from God and from each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At first Jesus’ lesson to the Pharisees
and to his disciples seems to be miles away from our lives today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who cares anymore about ritual washing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And being clean and unclean are not really a
part of our modern understanding of the world, unless of course we are talking about
baths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, the reality is that the
divisions Jesus is talking about are everywhere in our world and in our church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The question that the Pharisees are asking
is what makes us righteous before God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If it’s not ritual washing, then what is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ritual purity helps the Pharisees access the
sacred, so if we aren’t going to do that then what are we going to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could reframe the questions for our own
time by asking “what makes someone a good Christian?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do we have to do, how do we have to
live, if we are going to be able to have access to God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At one
point in the life of this church, being a good Christian meant that you didn’t
dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folks who dared to celebrate the
joy of living by moving their bodies to music (even in the privacy of their own
homes) were folks who were asked not to be a part of this church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At another time in the life of this church being
a good Christian meant that you didn’t play cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past life of this congregation,
members who enjoyed card games at home were no longer suitable to be on the
church’s Session.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course there are some churches where being
a good Christian means you don’t drink alcohol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, I have gotten in trouble in churches for suggesting that
members of the congregation might like to join me at a baseball game and enjoy a
hotdog and a beer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not kidding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone was so mad that I said that during
the announcements that they left the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Good Christians don’t drink beer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or apparently even talk about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So where are we on that spectrum
today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is it that we are worried
about when it comes to being good Christians or good people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From silly things like dancing and card
games, we can suddenly find ourselves treading other dividing lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Issues of sexism and racism are not far away
in this discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the role of
a good Christian woman?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does she work outside
the home or does she stay at home to be a good mother for her kids?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the role of Fathers for that
matter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, how about gays and lesbians,
can they take part in the life of the church?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What about the political divide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are good Christians Democrats who want social welfare programs or
Republicans who want an end to abortion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where do you think the edge is in this congregation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guarantee we have one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do we draw the line between us and
other people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the Pharisees it was
handwashing, what is it for us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have a feeling Jesus would enjoy the
discussion about how we divide ourselves but he really doesn’t care what the
answer is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God doesn’t seem to care too
much about the dividing lines that we draw at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was the whole point of what Jesus was
saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God doesn’t care if we follow the
church rules or not, God is interested instead in what is coming from inside of
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What comes out of our hearts and
enters the world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we choose to be one
people, a humanity united in love of neighbor?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or do we choose to divide ourselves into groups, declaring that some of
us are better than others?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think the things that Jesus warns
against are present in all of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That desire to judge, that desire to place people into categories, and that
desire to spend all of our time worrying about other people so that we don’t
have to worry about ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
things are a part of each of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
reminds us that it is what is within our own hearts that is sinful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what is within our own hearts that
divides us from each other and from our God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The list that Jesus offers is a scary
one: sexual immorality, taking what does not belong to us, causing and ignoring
the deaths of others, faithlessness, greed, pride, stubbornness, talking bad
about others, deceiving others, ignoring our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only do we do these things, we often
allow ourselves to do more than one of these things more than once a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are we to judge others when we carry
these things within our own hearts? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
reminds me of Jesus’ other teaching about the speck in our neighbor’s eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a lot easier to see what is wrong with
someone else than to face what is wrong within our own hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Henri Nouwen helps us understand this
by opening our minds to discover that the heart is so much more than simply an
organ pumping blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He writes, “The
spiritual life has to do with the heart of existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find the word ‘heart’ a good word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t mean by it the seat of our feelings
as opposed to the seat of our thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By ‘heart’ I mean the center of our being, the ‘place; where we are most
ourselves, where we are most human, where we are most real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that sense the heart is the focus of the spiritual
life.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nouwen is reminding us that the heart
is the core of who we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Jesus is
telling us that from within our heart comes the evil that separates us from
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would remind us as well this
morning that goodness comes from within our heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along with Jesus’ list of evils, our hearts
also contain the powers for love and joy, for care and concern, for humility
and generosity, for grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we may often
feel that we make little difference in the world, we also know that one kind
act can often make all the difference in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way we act in the world reveals the inner
workings of our heart, and the inner workings of our hearts reveal our faith.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And so we come up against the hard
lesson that Jesus was teaching his followers and the Pharisees that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t anything we can do to make
ourselves more presentable to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life
would be much easier if it was all about a checklist that we could work our way
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If all we had to do was come to
church each Sunday, dress nicely, bow our heads in prayer, and put money in the
offering plate life would be easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
that is not what God wants from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Going through the ritual motions of faith is no different than dressing
the part of a good person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will not
get us anywhere in the long run, and it will not make us right with God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus is challenging us to consider the
deeper more difficult work of cleansing our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we motivated by a desire to be good, or
are we motivated by genuine love of neighbor?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are we doing what we think we are supposed to do, or are we doing what
the love inside our hearts leads us to do in our world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we simply following the rules, or are we following
the guidance of a heart of faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I don’t know what is inside your heart
this morning, but I know what is inside my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While there is faith and love of God, I am also well aware of my own
ease at judging others or in acting selfishly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Judgy Mc Judge Face right here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
all have areas that could use work and we all have areas where we need to
grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning’s scripture reading
reminds us that nobody is perfect, even those people who seem to follow all the
rules.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I believe this morning that we are
called to thank God for the grace that enables us to follow Jesus despite our
sinful hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to thank God for the
love of God that helps us continually grow into better people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May we live each and every day better than
the one before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-57626854321460802442020-02-10T13:18:00.001-06:002020-02-10T13:18:54.774-06:00Resistance to the Gospel
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<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">February 9<sup>th</sup>,
2020<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Resistance to the Gospel”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
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<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mark 6:1-29</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning we continue our narrative
lectionary readings with the story of Jesus as told in the Gospel of Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past few weeks our sermons have been
all about the blessings that Jesus brings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus offer gifts of healing to individuals and to communities, he
offers the forgiveness of sins, he crosses boundaries to heal us of all
uncleanliness, and he encourages us not to be afraid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One might imagine that Jesus’ ministry is
without fail and that every person around would be drawn to this gospel of
hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our reading for this morning
reminds us that this is not the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, there are numerous reasons people rejected the gospel and we are tempted
to reject the gospel for those very same reasons today.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our first story, Jesus returns to
his hometown of Nazareth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there he
teaches in the synagogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The listeners
in the synagogue that day are astounded at Jesus’ teaching. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all, they are awed by his message and
wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they are also bothered by
the fact that they know this guy, he is from their hometown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people cannot imagine that someone who
grew up with them, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Simon
and Judas could possibly possess such wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They wonder how and why this carpenter would assume to speak to them in
such a fashion and the community begins to take offense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The issue here is one of
familiarity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people are too familiar
with Jesus and his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They already
know him, they have already formed conclusions about him, and they know he
could not possibly be the Son of God or some sort of prophet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is Jesus from the hometown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is Mary and Joseph’s kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the guy we shared a desk with in
woodshop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is no one special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cannot possibly possess any special wisdom
or blessing from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know his
brothers and sisters, and his family is just like ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Because the people already know Jesus,
or at least think they do, they are unable to hear the new message he brings of
the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So too, we are at risk of
missing the message of God because we are too familiar with the messenger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If someone we have known forever tries to
tell us something new about God or our faith, it is easy for us to write them
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe me; no one I went to high
school with can wrap their head around the idea that I am a Pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And those who went to college with me only
see a musician.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can be friends on
Facebook, but I cannot preach the gospel to them any more than I can offer them
pastoral care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just doesn’t work.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We do this too when we assume we
already know someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We make
assumptions about other people and we don’t allow new experiences or
information to inform our decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
ears are closed to hearing a gospel message because we imagine that we have
heard it all before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are too
familiar with the messenger we often miss the message all together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We aren’t even listening for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our gospel story Jesus declares that
“prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own
kin, and in their own house.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is
able to lay hands on a few people for healing, but overall he is not able to
perform deeds of power in this place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The writer tells us that Jesus was amazed at the people’s unbelief, a
most serious condemnation of their lack of faith.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our second story, Jesus sends the twelve
out to do the ministry of sharing the gospel with the surrounding
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He instructs them to rely on
hospitality alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sends them out
with no money, no lunch sack, and no change of clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disciples are to rely on the hospitality
of strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a daunting mission
and one that would not be accepted lightly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus knows already that they will be
rejected in their journey and gives them instructions for that time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When folks refuse to welcome them and refuse
to hear the message of the gospel, the disciples are told to leave the area and
to shake the dust off their feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Shaking the dust off one’s feet was a gesture of cursing a place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would be a testimony before God that the
community refused to hear God’s word.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Why would someone reject a visit from
the disciples?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine this is due to
their foreignness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than not being
able to hear the gospel because we know the messenger too well, this time we
are unable to hear the gospel because the messenger is a stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know at the Jepsen house, we are never
happy when the doorbell rings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is
friends come to play, that is wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If it is a stranger, my kids run and hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I don’t want pest control, my house
painted, or my carpets cleaned today.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To this day the Mormons and the Jehovah’s
Witnesses send out missionaries two by two to knock on doors across
America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine that they are about
as well received as the original disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some may invite them in for a chat but most of us are not interested in
strangers at the door trying to tell us about God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have already made up our minds about these
things, and it would have been no different in Jesus’ time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is hard for a stranger to teach us about
God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our final story for this morning is
about the death of John the Baptist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod
was a Jewish king put in power by the Roman authorities, and he was responsible
for arresting John the Baptist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod
had divorced his own wife and married his brother’s wife Herodias while his
brother (also named Herod) was still married to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John rightly condemned this marriage as being
against the Jewish laws, and so Herod held him in prison.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Herodias hates John but Herod is drawn
to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He liked to visit John and hear
him teach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also sensed that John was
holy and so was reluctant to take any further action against him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, all of this goes south when Herod throws
his own birthday party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His daughter
comes and dances for him, and in a drunken show of his authority he offers her
any gift she can imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll leave it
to you to imagine what kind of dance this may have been that would have moved
Herod so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a lot of blowback this
week making comments about the overt sexuality of the Super Bowl Halftime show
so I am not eager to visit that discussion again anytime soon.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The daughter asks her mother what she
should do, and Herodias, sensing her opportunity, asks for the death of John
the Baptist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only that, she asks for
his head on a platter, a disgusting show of dishonor and disrespect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod must save face in front of all his
party guests and so he concedes defeat and John is killed, his head paraded
around the party scene.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a violent and disgusting story
that is nonetheless about the rejection of the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod rejects the message of Jesus because it
is a threat to his power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John the
Baptist assumed he had the authority to tell Herod what he can and cannot do,
and a ruler cannot tolerate that kind of insubordination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though Herod is drawn to the word of God that
John brings, he cannot allow that knowledge to become public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To publicly acknowledge that he believes John
to be a prophet would forfeit his role of power and authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod cannot let that happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he keeps John in private as long as he
can, and when Herodias pushes the point he must concede, and John is killed and
humiliated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herod has to do it to save
himself from his own humiliation, and to keep his own power and authority.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So too, we are in danger of rejecting
the gospel because it is a threat to our power and authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The true message of the gospel seeks to alter
the balance of social power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a global
scale, we are among the most powerful and privileged people, being mostly white
and mostly wealthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in relative
safety and comfort here in Warrensburg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It can be hard for us to hear the true message of the gospel as it runs
the risk of condemning our wealth and lifestyles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is well received by those on the margins;
it is a lot harder for those in power to hear his words.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After weeks of marveling at Jesus’
gifts of healing and hope, this morning’s stories remind us that the message of
the gospel is also easy to reject.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is a dark side to this story of grace and mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is dismissed in his hometown and people
remain un-healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disciples are
rejected as they seek to spread the good news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And John the Baptist is killed for daring to speak truth to power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cost of discipleship is high.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning we gather around the
communion table and we remember that the cost was high for Jesus as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though these are the good days of his ministry,
soon he will turn his face toward Jerusalem and certain death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will be killed for speaking the truth to
power, by both his government and his church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fear his friends will abandon him to die a criminal’s death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in shame he will be buried in an empty
tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like John, it will appear that
Jesus is abandoned by his God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But of course, that is not the end of
this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the resurrection of Jesus,
God declares an end to the triumph of the powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God declares an end to unjust death and
destruction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God declares that this
pattern of lawless killing of innocent people cannot go on forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While many innocent people will die for the
truth before and after Jesus, in the resurrection of Christ God makes it clear
which side God stands on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God always
chooses the weak over the strong, the poor over the rich, and the just over the
unjust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God always chooses life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the world around us may continue to
condemn and kill the prophets, we know that this is not the way of our God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And so this week, I encourage you to
think on all the ways we are tempted to reject and resist the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we unable to hear the word of God because
we are too familiar with the messenger who brings it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we not see Jesus because we think we
already know who he is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or do we reject
the Gospel because it is brought to us by a stranger knocking on our door or a
person on the street?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we so sure of
our understanding of God that we reject any new message someone might
offer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally, do we reject the
gospel because it is a threat to our way of life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This last one may be the hardest one for us
to look for and understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is the
gospel speaking truth to our power?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The communion table reminds us that
those who would spread this good news will face great difficulty and
persecution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, the gospel will
continue to spread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God always chooses
life over death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God always chooses justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And God always chooses grace, continuing to
reach out to us in love each and every day, even in the midst of our own attempts
to resist the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-41231912642951974602020-02-03T09:20:00.001-06:002020-02-03T09:20:19.405-06:00Do Not Fear, Only Believe
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">February 2<sup>nd</sup>,
2020<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do Not Fear, Only Believe”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mark 5:21-43</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Following
our narrative lectionary, we continue reading the story of Jesus in the Gospel
of Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also continuing are our themes
from the previous weeks’ sermons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again,
we find Jesus informing us about healing, restoration of community, and the
role of fear and faith.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
morning’s reading is two stories stuck together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fancy word for this writing technique is
intercalation, but I like to call it a sandwich story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer of the Gospel of Mark is fond of
employing this technique where one story seems to interrupt the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two stories have an abundance of things in
common and they are meant to inform each other.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
first story is about the Synagogue leader Jairus and his daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Following right after our story from last
Sunday, Jesus has just returned from his time with the Gerasene Demoniac in
Gentile territory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gets off the boat
back on the Jewish side of the sea and is once again mobbed by the crowds
seeking his healing and attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jairus
falls at Jesus’ feet and begs him over and over to come to his home and heal
his daughter who is on hospice care and nearing the point of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly Jesus doesn’t say anything but
does begin to follow Jairus to his home.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
we can imagine, it is a slow affair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
large mob does not move very quickly and so although Jairus may wish to run
with Jesus to his house, that is simply not possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crowd moves at the speed it moves and
that is not very fast at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is into
this space of the crowd moving along that Mark interrupts Jairus’ story to tell
the story of the hemorrhaging woman.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hiding
among those in the crowd is an unnamed woman who has been perpetually unclean
for 12 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has a nonstop flow of
blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The text doesn’t say specifically
what her ailment is but scholars and others assume we are talking about a menstrual
problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This poor woman has had a never-ending
period for 12 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every lady here can
imagine how awful that would be! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it
is even worse in her setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time
of menstruation renders not only a woman unclean it also sullies everything she
touches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every chair she sits on, every
surface she brushes up against, every hand she shakes is made unclean by her
flow of blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of this
condition, this poor woman would have had to live separately from society for
these 12 long years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no wonder she
has spent all she has on doctors trying to solve this difficult and distressing
issue.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
Jesus moves with the crowd to Jairus’ house, this woman sneaks up behind him
and attempts to touch the fringe of his cloak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mark tells us what she is thinking, if she can just touch the edge of
Jesus’ clothes, his power will be sufficient to bring her healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The assumption is that she could then fade
back into the crowd without drawing attention to herself or her awkward and embarrassing
condition.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
the woman touches Jesus’ robe, they both become aware of his power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She immediately feels that she has been healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he immediately feels that someone has
touched him in faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now Jesus speaks
for the first time in the reading, “Who touched my clothes?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The disciples are
puzzled by the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the crowd
pressing in on all sides it is impossible to know who might have touched
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus knows though that this was
no ordinary touch, this was an act of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And in a further act of faith, the woman comes forward and tells him
“the whole truth”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus praises her
faith, calling her “daughter” and sends her on her way.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
interruption is nothing but pain to Jairus who knows his daughter is running
out of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before the crowd even gets
moving again, a servant arrives from his home to tell him that it is too late,
his daughter is dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus turns to him
and offers words of encouragement “do not fear, only believe”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they arrive to the house the
professional mourners are in full swing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They laugh at Jesus’ claim that the girl yet lives and he sends everyone
but the family and his disciples away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Asking
the girl to “get up” he raises her from the dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then tempers everyone’s amazement by
asking for them to fix some lunch.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>These
two stories have a ton of things in common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are both about women, they both surround issues of uncleanliness,
they both have the time frame of 12 years, and they are both healing
miracles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are issues of class
involved as Jairus is clearly an important person and the woman remains
unnamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, the issue of family, as Jairus
advocates for his daughter and the woman has no one until Jesus names her
daughter.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
are many avenues to pursue in a sermon on this text but the thing I want to
talk about today is the role of fear and faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Last week we talked about the things in life that frighten us, and we
marveled that nothing is frightening for Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He has the power and authority to enter any space of chaos and to bring
healing and calm and we can see those themes echoed in this reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last week we also talked about the fact that
nothing can make Jesus unclean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see
that in this week’s story again as the woman with the hemorrhage does not make
Jesus unclean by her touch and as Jesus is able to touch the dead girl (who is
unclean) without becoming unclean himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus can not be sullied by our uncleanliness.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
I read these stories, I find them centered on Jesus’ words to Jairus “Do not
fear, only believe.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though there
is much to fear, Jairus’ daughter is already dead, Jesus encourages Jairus to
belief and faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would it mean for
us to embrace this motto?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do not fear,
only believe.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
is a lot to fear in our world, and I shared some of my personal fears in our
sermon last Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we watch the
nightly news, we find that the whole world seems to be about fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fear of war and mass shootings, the fear
of climate change and bad weather, the fear of the stock market falling or some
group getting out of hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
politicians on both sides of the aisle specialize in fear, convincing us that
if we don’t vote for them our worst fears will come true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They use fear to maintain power and to
increase their personal wealth.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus
on the other hand, tries to banish all fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He encourages us not to be afraid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when we are in circumstances that are
rightfully scary, he offers us comfort and healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The acts of Jesus subvert fear and fortify
our faith.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Have
you ever noticed that fear is a lot worse when you are alone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watching a scary movie by yourself is much
more frightening then watching one with a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when we are afraid of the dark as
children, it helps to have a stuffed animal to keep us company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear grows when we are isolated and separated
from others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why politicians
like to keep us in our separate factions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are easier to control when we are alone, isolated, and afraid.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
the healing stories in today’s gospel, both Jairus and the unnamed woman are
isolated and alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what trauma
does, it isolates us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are sick,
like my kids with the flu this week, we are quarantined and isolated from our
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both missed nearly a
week of school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we have a long-term
illness like cancer we are isolated even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both the nature of our condition, our own vulnerability, and our sudden
life of suffering serve to isolate us from others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chronic illness is a further isolation, with
suffering that goes on for months and years separating us from others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Emotional
trauma is also isolating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trauma of
divorce isolates us from community as we seek to hide our brokenness and
shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A death in the family is
isolating, as no one knows what to say to us anymore and we lose our
connections with past friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trauma
isolates us, and it is in the midst of this isolation that fear grows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alone with only our thoughts the world can
become a very menacing and frightful space.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
is into this space of trauma, isolation, and fear that Jesus offers his advice,
“Do not fear, only believe”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus encourages
us to have faith and to have courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
belief alone will not heal us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our
belief will lead us to God and to the church community, the Body of Christ, and
it is there that we will find an end to our isolation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is here that we will find healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
these two healing stories may seem very different from our own lives, in
studying them we find that a lot of the themes present are our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The physical, emotional, social, and
spiritual dimensions of these stories are at play in our lives today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Jairus’ interrupted request for his
daughter, life does not go according to plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And like Jairus’ moment of heartbreak, death is a reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the woman’s experience, chronic illness
has the ability to isolate us from community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It takes all of our time and energy, and all of our money, and in the end,
we are still left broken and bleeding.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our
world has little to offer these people but our God offers hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do not fear, only believe”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not let your suffering and strife isolate
you from others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not let fear keep
you alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls us into
community, into the body of Christ, and if we are brave enough to follow it is
here that we will find healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As those already in
the faith community we need to recognize all the ways that fear seeks to
separate us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to reach out to
those in trauma situations and encourage them to come back home for Jesus’
healing touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have seen that Jesus
has the ability to heal from a distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we know that he prefers a human touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we need to be that touch for each other.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In a world
controlled by fear, a world that seeks to isolate us from each other, Jesus
encourages us to come together and to be the Body of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are encouraged to not fear and we are
encouraged to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our faith is not
about having all the right answers, but it is about coming together to seek
truth and healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Trust in God is hard
to come by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Jairus and the woman,
we grasp it, we lose it, and we reach out again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why we have this struggle in
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together we protect each
other from isolation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together we lift
each other up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together we are able to
follow Jesus’ words, whatever suffering life may send our way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do not fear, only believe.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-56985713797357621782020-01-28T10:31:00.001-06:002020-01-28T10:31:51.034-06:00Christ and Chaos
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">January 26<sup>th</sup>,
2020<span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Christ and Chaos”<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev.
Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mark 5:1-20</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We continue to follow the narrative
lectionary reading through Mark’s gospel and once again we find Jesus
challenging the power of evil in our world with the gift of healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always found this story of the Gerasene
Demoniac to be one of the most frightening in all of scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is just something about it that
disturbs me to my core and I have a feeling that’s the purpose of this
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gospel writer wants us to be
upset.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Everything about this story is crafted
to create discomfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus has left the
safe country of the Jewish territories and by crossing the sea has entered
Gentile realms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This in and of itself
would be enough to make a good Jew uncomfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would Jesus be doing in Gentile
territory anyway?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But this is just the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only is this a Gentile region, this is a
graveyard, the most unclean area imaginable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To even accidently brush up against a tomb would render one unclean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add to this the large herd of swine, also
unclean, and we begin to get the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a nightmare of a place that literally no Jew would be caught
dead in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a polluted region.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As if the setting weren’t scary enough,
the writer of the Gospel of Mark has placed into this story the most terrifying
character in all of scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon
as Jesus lands on the shore this madman comes running to meet him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This man is so violent that he cannot be
contained, breaking the chains of all who would try to hold him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wounds himself with rocks from the ground
and spends his days howling out in terror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When the writer of the gospel of Luke tells this man’s story he declares
that he is naked among the tombs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
imagine, a naked, bleeding, screaming mad man comes running at Jesus in this
most unclean place imaginable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
chaos and it is terrifying.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The man throws himself at Jesus’ feet
and screams at the top of his lungs asking Jesus to leave him alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus knows of course that this fellow is
possessed and asks the name of the demon that torments him as that is first
step toward exorcism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not one demon but
many haunt the man and he cries out that his name is “Legion”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whenever I imagine this scene I see the man’s
rolling eyes, wild hair, and spitting mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hear a deep many layered monster voice as he cries out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine him as a cross between the girl in “The
Exorcist” and the terrible fast moving zombies of “28 Days Later”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This man is one of the scariest things I can
think of and I would be terrified to witness him in person.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In an act of mercy Jesus sends the
demons into the nearby herd of swine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
imagine the pigs’ eyes rolling over in their heads and their screaming cries as
2000 swine become infested with demonic madness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sound of pigs screaming is one of the
most disturbing sounds there is and it is often used in horror movies because
it causes us such discomfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Magnified
by 2000 this would be deafening and terribly frightening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In absolute chaos and madness this screaming herd
gallops toward the cliff edge and drowns in the sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, with just a little imagination
this is the most disturbing story in all of scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find it extremely unsettling.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of course, so do those whose job it is
to monitor this herd of swine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They run
into the town and tell of all the frightening things they have seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is no wonder that the townspeople come and
ask Jesus to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has brought
complete chaos to the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, they
all knew the scary guy out at the tombs but if you stayed away you were
ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After what happened with the swine,
who knows what other madness Jesus will release in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the text says, when they saw what Jesus had
done the villagers were “very afraid”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So different from the other healing stories in Mark, instead of people
crowding around the area, Jesus is told to get back in his boat and leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The man though, the real man who we
haven’t met up to this point, wants to go with Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not hard to imagine either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he sits before Jesus and the disciples
finally clothed and in his right mind, one can imagine that there is little for
him left in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can’t stay
among the tombs and he probably has no home to return to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus is not interested in followers at
this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, he sends the man on
into the Gentile regions to tell his story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we end our story, Jesus sails back into Jewish territory and the
man spreads the good news of God’s mercy through the cities of Rome.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a very strange story and it’s
no wonder that it does not appear in our regular lectionary readings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be hard to know what to make of
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we take the story seriously and
at face value it is terribly frightening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is complete and utter chaos and yet Jesus enters into that space and
is in control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though it is the
most unclean space imaginable, Jesus is not made unclean by his presence
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the man is possessed
by the most frightening cadre of demons imaginable, Jesus is able to easily
bring healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although this story
terrifies me, there is nothing frightening here for Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the cyclone of complete chaos Jesus occupies
a space of pure calm.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When I was pondering the text this
week I tried to understand what I was so afraid of in the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I afraid of being in this frightening
place, seeing this demonic man, and witnessing the maddening rush to death of
the pigs?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I afraid that I am capable of being like
this man, so completely out of control of myself and harming myself and those I
love?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all honesty, I am afraid of all kinds of
things and all kinds of chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
afraid of tornados, and I am afraid that someone will come in here and shoot us
when we are trying to have church, and I am afraid of nuclear war, and I am
afraid of a complete failure of the power grid and collapse of the economic
system, and I am afraid someone will harm my children and I won’t be able to
help them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am afraid of all kinds of
chaos and I think you probably are too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chaos is completely frightening.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In this story and in others, Christ
wades right in to chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, I
would say that chaos is not chaos to the Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right before this reading is the story of
Jesus stilling the storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is sailing across the lake and
he is asleep in the boat and the disciples are in the middle of a giant storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As water fills the boat the disciples are
afraid they will drown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so they wake
Jesus up and ask for help and he quiets the storm and calms the waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water equals chaos in the Bible, and Christ
conquers that chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why it is one
of the symbols of baptism; God’s tames the waters of chaos.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the world of occupied Rome, the
power of empire was the power of chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The land of Gerasene is under the same Roman occupation as the Jewish
lands across the sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Legion is the name
of the Roman garrison of troops that patrol the area and the standard on their
flag?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wild boar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ wades in to the controlling chaos of
the unjust Roman occupation and executes power and authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chaos is not chaos to the Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Political, spiritual, environmental, Christ
is able to control it all.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When we read this story we find that
Jesus has authority over that which we most fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus has authority over that which makes us
most uncomfortable. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus can wade into
any space, any pollution, any brokenness, any chaos and bring the gift of
healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would it mean for you to
invite Jesus into the fear and anxiety in your own life?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I am certain there is something that
keeps you up at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the world is
fast asleep and you lie awake alone in bed, what is the thing that disturbs you
most?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is your fear, your chaos,
your source of infinite anxiety?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
would it mean to invite Jesus into that space, that fear, that worry?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sometimes I think we keep religion
and the “real world” too compartmentalized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is Sunday morning and then there is the rest of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is church and then there is my job and
my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is the Bible and then
there is the news and the impeachment hearings and one more mass shooting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is what I believe about God and then there
is what I believe about the rest of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We don’t do a very good job of bringing these two things together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t do a very good job of inviting Jesus
into the rest of our life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our scripture reading for this
morning reminds us that there is no part of our life, no part of our world,
that is off limits to our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
no place that Jesus does not have the power to enter and there is no illness
that is beyond his ability to heal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no uncleanliness that can make our God unclean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no graveyard that is beyond the
reach of our resurrected Lord and there is no nightmare that frightens our
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Paul writes later in his letter
to the Romans, there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love
of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no chaos, real or
imaginary, that can separate us from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no chaos to God, for God has authority over all things.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This week I want to invite you to
think on the place of chaos in your own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are certainly an ample amount of things that are beyond our
control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is nothing beyond the
reach of our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are certainly
ample things that can frighten us and cause us worry, but there is nothing that
can frighten Jesus and there is no place he can’t go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week, what would it mean for you to
imagine the power and authority of our God and what would it mean to invite God
into your life beyond the realm of Sunday morning?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would it mean to invite God into your
biggest worry and fear?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing
in this world that is beyond the reach of our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no part of your life that Jesus
cannot heal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Invite Christ into your
chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-27965989716386396582020-01-21T09:42:00.002-06:002020-01-21T09:42:23.829-06:00Lost in the Weeds
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">January 19<sup>th</sup>,
2020<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Lost in the Weeds”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather
Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mark 4:1-34</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning our narrative lectionary
continues following the story of Jesus as told in the Gospel of Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our past readings we have studied Jesus’ healing
of both individuals and community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
has battled the forces of evil and he has brought the gift of the forgiveness
of sins to the people of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we
find Jesus teaching his followers about the kingdom of God.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus’ preferred method for teaching in
the gospel of Mark is through parables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even though we associate parables mostly with Jesus, their use was
actually a common teaching technique in the ancient world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the parable, the teacher uses an analogy
to help people understand an idea or concept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus uses agrarian imagery in his parables because it would make sense
for the people he was speaking to at the time since theirs was a largely
agrarian society. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The problem with the parables is that
they don’t work as well in our modern setting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The agrarian imagery doesn’t translate well to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus, we are not standing on a hillside
listening to Jesus speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, we are
reading a Bible and trying to make meaning from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ parables were not meant so much as an
idea to be analyzed for answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather,
they were told as something that we might participate in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listening to parables is an experience that
discloses a reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t study it,
you participate in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t get an
answer with it, you get an experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rather than a math problem with one correct answer, a parable is like a
poem which gives us a sense of a deeper truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like so much of our faith, the parables of Jesus are open to
interpretation.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our reading this morning has too many
parables to look at in just one sermon so I am going to focus on the end of the
passage with the parables of the growing seed and the mustard seed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all of these parables Jesus is teaching
about the kingdom or the realm of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He says that the realm of God is like a farmer who planted seeds and
fell asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All by themselves the seeds
sprouted and produced grain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The farmer
then is ready for the harvest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The realm
of God is like a mustard seed; a tiny seed that one can barely see and yet
sprouts up to be a great bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The realm
of God is like a seed sprouting, it seemingly just happens by itself.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Modern readers love the mustard seed
parable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh yeah” we say “The mustard
seed, that’s great”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we forget is
that the mustard plant was a weed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First
century Christians would have hated it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is one of those places where things get lost in translation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Imagine if Jesus said, the realm of God is like a
dandelion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never know where it comes
from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gentle breezes blow the tiny
seed into your lawn, and before you know it, the most beautiful flowers
appear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That sounds silly to us but that
is how folks would have responded to the mustard seed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The realm of God is like weeds blowing around
in the air. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The realm of God is like
weeds that sprout up all by themselves, ruining your perfect lawn or garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus says the kingdom of God is like a
mustard seed, he is saying that it is like the most annoying weed you know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doesn’t that change things a bit?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As believers, we like to imagine or even hope; that
because we have faith our lives will be perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have often wondered where we got such a
silly idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t take much reading
of the Bible to discover that for believers throughout history life was far
from perfect.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We remember perfect Adam and Eve, but we forget their
sons Cain and Abel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remember Noah and
his family, but we forget that time he got drunk embarrassing his sons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remember perfect Abraham and Sarah, and
forget poor Hagar on the side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
remember the great David, and we forget his killing of Uriah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remember the wisdom of King Solomon, and
we forget his giant harem and how he leaves the kingdom in shambles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remember Jesus, and we forget how his
family called him crazy, his church killed him, and his friends abandoned him
to die alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We remember the teacher
Paul, and we forget Saul who willingly killed people who disagreed with him
about the nature of God.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">My friends, the realm of God doesn’t happen in a perfect
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people of God are not a
perfect people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not even close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the scriptures we find God not in
decency and good order, not when things are going according to plan, but in the
messy places of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus didn’t say
the kingdom of God was like a rose garden that you worked so hard on to make
perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, he said the kingdom of God
was like the weeds that sprout up when you are sleeping.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We see this messy streak in the other parables Jesus
tells in this chapter as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For what
is the parable of the sower if not a story of a reckless farmer who is
wastefully casting seeds willy-nilly all over the place and not carefully
planning and planting?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what could be
more messy and frustrating then the disciples not understanding the
parables?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus seems exasperated as he
spells everything out to them over and over again.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In fact, when we look closely the text itself is messy
and problematic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are we supposed to
do with the part where Jesus quotes from Isaiah?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“To you has been given the secret of the
kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order
that ‘they may look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not
understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are we supposed to do with that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would Jesus deliberately say things that
prevent people from understanding and receiving forgiveness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that’s not a patch of weeds I don’t know
what is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The good news of these parables is that God is with us
when we are lost in the weeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are
lost in the weeds of the scripture, God is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are lost in the weeds of our lives, God
is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find God in the messy
places of our lives, when things are falling apart, when we are weak and
tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find God when we are broken
and hurt and feel most alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find
God when we don’t understand what Jesus is saying so we just keep reading and
looking and searching through the weeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We find God among the weeds, because it is when we are lost in the weeds
that we most need God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is when we are
lost in the weeds that we most need grace and forgiveness, hospitality and
love, for others and for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just like the seed that grows while the farmer sleeps,
the realm of God just happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter
how messy and imperfect our lives are, the realm of God just happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how many weeds sprout up around us,
the realm of God just happens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the
little flower sprouting out of a crack in the sidewalk, the realm of God
springs up all around us of its own power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is just there, like the dandelion in our lawn, and it doesn’t need us
to do anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The realm of God just
is, weeds and all.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So today, as you think about our world I am sure you
will find that life isn’t perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
sure that while today might be a good day for you, overall you will find that
life generally doesn’t go according to plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes our world is more weeds then flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is in that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is there when it is all beautiful and
happy and works out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God is also
there, if not more so, when it is messy and just doesn’t click.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing’s perfect, nobody’s perfect, and
that’s OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is with us, especially
when we’re lost in the weeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because
what is the kingdom of God, if not a dandelion seed blowing on the wind?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-44164594205341935742020-01-14T09:58:00.001-06:002020-01-14T09:58:44.798-06:00Healing of Community
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">January 12<sup>th</sup>,
2020<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Healing of Community”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mark 2:1-22</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning our narrative lectionary
reading continues to follow the story of Jesus as told in the Gospel of
Mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last Sunday we read about Jesus’ confrontation
with the forces of evil using his powers to bring healing to those who were ill
or demon possessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week Jesus
continues to battle evil, bringing the gift of forgiveness of sins to the
people of God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Just like last week, we have a lot of
ground to cover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our reading begins with
the familiar story of the paralytic man and his friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again Jesus is mobbed by the crowds that
seek his healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark tells us that so
many gathered around him at home that there was no longer room for anyone, even
at the front door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A paralytic has been
brought by his friends for healing, and unable to bring the man into the space,
the friends devise an alternate plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Going on to the roof, they dig through the mud and straw to create an
opening, lowering the man into the crowded room and into the midst of Jesus.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Needless to say, this is quite the
distraction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of immediately
offering healing, Jesus is moved by the faith of the man and of his friends and
declares that the man’s sins are forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thus begins Jesus’ conflict with the religious authorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one has authority to forgive sins but God.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ declaration of forgiveness
equates himself with God which is surely a blasphemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though no one says this out loud, the
room immediately becomes tense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sensing
the thoughts of those around him, Jesus declares that he is the Son of Man and
he does in fact have authority to forgive sins. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And to illustrate his power he heals the man,
commanding him take up his mat and walk away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The conflict with the religious
community continues into the next story as Jesus calls Levi the tax collector
as one of his disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tax collectors
were some of the most unpopular figures in the ancient world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The job of the tax collector was to collect money
from their fellow Jews to pay off the Roman Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only were these folks making friends with
the oppressors of their nation, they were known to line their own pockets with
taxes, insuring their personal wealth as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These folks betrayed their nation and their people for personal gain and
were justly unpopular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine a
terrorist, a meth dealer, or someone who has made millions by selling opioids
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the people no one
likes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Not only does Jesus call Levi to be one
of his followers, he continues to associate and eat with the community of tax
collectors and other sinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
within the religious community cannot understand why Jesus would spend time
with such unsavory characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone
knows that the company you keep is important; those who associate with sinners
are sinners themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When asked about
this practice, Jesus replies that he has come to call not the righteous but
sinners.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The confusion among the religious
community continues as Jesus also neglects to observe the ritual of
fasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like its practice today,
fasting in the ancient world was about separating oneself from the world and
purifying oneself for worship of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus responds to this confusion declaring that we cannot fast while the
bridegroom is here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has come to be
part of the world not separate from it, and the time for fasting and holiness
will be later.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally Jesus lectures us on sewing and
viticulture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t sew new fabric to old
garments and we don’t put new wine into old wineskins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The old and the new don’t go together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly Jesus has come to do something new,
which may or may not fit with the religious authorities’ old ways of
understanding God and faith.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The theme I see running through our
readings for today is that of community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as Jesus comes to bring healing to individuals, now we find Jesus
bringing healing and transformation to the community that is the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whereas last week Jesus was fighting the
power of evil in the lives of individuals, this week he fights the power of
evil in community.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The story of the paralytic man features
two distinct communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First the
crowds that gather around Jesus and block the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the separate community of the man and
his friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first community are
insiders, they are literally inside the house with Jesus, and knowingly or not,
their position of privilege blocks access to those who are in need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second community are boundary breakers;
they literally break the boundaries of the house in an attempt to join the
community.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Moved by the faith of those who would
go to great lengths to join the community, Jesus offers healing not just for
the man but for the community as a whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For what is the forgiveness of sins if not a healing for the
community?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin by its very nature is a
breaking of the bonds that tie us together as one people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To forgive sin is to mend the bond of people
in community.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unfortunately it is not that
simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Insiders don’t like new outsiders
and the community bristles at this attempted healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus pushes the point, physically healing
the man and encouraging him to take up his mat and walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To walk is to join the first community, those
gathered together in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus now
physically mends the community bond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
to carry his mat, the man carries the memory and marker of his ailment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the very sight of him and his mat, he is
spreading the word of Jesus’ healing power which will inevitably draw more to
the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this story, not only is
the man healed, the community itself is transformed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jesus continues the transformation of
communities with the calling of Levi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once again, those that are outside the group are brought in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Jesus eats at Levi’s house with tax collectors
and sinners he begins to redefine community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Those that were purposely kept outside the community are now members of
the inner circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dangerous people, rule
breakers, and sinners are all welcomed in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only are they welcomed in the group of followers, they actually dine
at the table with Jesus, making them part of the inner circle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s no wonder that this boundary breaking
attracts such negative attention.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The religious traditionalists literally
do not understand what Jesus is doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s why they ask so many questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why does he eat with sinners?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why
doesn’t he fast?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why doesn’t he know how
to be holy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus on the other hand is redefining
holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is teaching that holiness is
something altogether different then what we thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where we once thought holy meant separate and
pure, Jesus is demonstrating that holy means bringing different people
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Holiness isn’t the rigidity of
separate communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Holiness is the
flexibility of strangers coming together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like sewing together garments or stretching a wine skin, we need to be
flexible to be the people of God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last week we wondered about Jesus
bringing the power of the kingdom of God to fight the forces of evil and to
heal us physically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week Jesus
fights the forces of evil that seek to divide us by healing us
spiritually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the man on the mat, we
are paralyzed by the suffering of our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we hear the drums of war beat, we don’t know what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are faced with poverty in our midst,
we don’t know how to respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
see the ravages of climate change destroy the continent of Australia, we feel
helpless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are paralyzed by our
collective sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Alone we can do nothing, but together
we can find forgiveness and healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as the man was helpless without his friends, so too we are helpless
without the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we can cross
boundaries and form community, we can get ourselves to a place where we are no
longer paralyzed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can accept the
forgiveness of our sins and mend the bonds that have torn us apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can take up our mat and walk into the
world together enacting healing change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The power of forgiveness frees us from our paralysis and unites us
together to make a change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to
admit our collective sin, receive forgiveness, and form new communities of
healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the only thing that can
fight war, poverty, and the destruction of our planet.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today we gather at the communion table
and this is always a moment and a meal of forgiveness and community
transformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We never eat this meal
alone, we always eat it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
need to recognize that God is inviting everyone to this table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a feast for tax collectors and
sinners, for terrorists and meth dealers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a place where Jesus moves us toward folks we want to push back
against.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This table has the power to
transform people from separate groups of Republicans and Democrats, of
Americans and Iranians, into one united people of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this table we find forgiveness, and in
forgiveness of our sins communities are made whole.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The message of our gospel today is a
challenging one but it is one we need to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus has come to bring healing to communities by offering the
forgiveness of sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To accept this
gift, we need to face the power of evil in our own lives and in our collective
lives together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to admit the
ways we have fostered division and allowed the sin of brokenness to grow and
fester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to accept Jesus’ gift of
forgiveness and be willing to move towards those we are tempted to push
against.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we need to work together to
form new communities made up of insiders and outsiders, of righteous folks and
sinners together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only as a community
can we receive Jesus’ healing powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As you go out into the world this week,
take the message of this table of transformation with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus has come to bring us together in new
ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you feel tempted to push
against those who are outside your chosen community, remind yourself that Jesus
wants to bring us together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May this
table of grace guide our lives this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>May we seek to be flexible, bringing old and new together, bringing
saints and sinners side by side, forming new communities of healing and grace. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this is what our world desperately
needs today. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-68403470554872815322020-01-06T10:30:00.001-06:002020-01-06T10:30:00.826-06:00Jesus the Healer
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">January 5<sup>th</sup>,
2020<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Jesus the Healer”<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Mark 1:21-45</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our narrative lectionary reading we
have finally gotten to the gospels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
spring we will read our way consecutively through the Gospel of Mark until we
reach Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will notice that Mark
packs a lot of story into a small space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mark’s gospel is filled with energy and everything happens at a break
neck speed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sense of urgency pervades
the gospel as Jesus’ time is short and he has much to accomplish.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If you were here last Sunday you heard
the beginning of the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus was
baptized, driven into the wilderness, and then immediately set about the work
of proclaiming the kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
gathered his first followers and today we find him in Capernaum and Galilee doing
the work of healing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His first encounter is in the
synagogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is busy teaching on the
Sabbath and it is clear from his message that he possesses an authority that
other teachers do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly a man
who is demon possessed appears in their midst and cries out with a loud voice
declaring that Jesus is the “Holy One of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus immediately silences the spirit and heals the man, which causes
word about him to spread throughout the region.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When they leave the synagogue they go
to Simon’s house and his mother-in-law is in bed with fever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus touches the woman, a forbidden act, as
it would render him unclean until he could fulfill the temple cleanliness
ritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman is healed and rises to
serve her guests.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The word of Jesus’ power has spread and
by that night the crowds surround Simon’s house, hoping for a chance to see and
touch Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Mark the whole
city was there, a nearly unimaginable crush of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus cured many people of illness and cast
out many demons that night.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the morning we find Jesus seeking
rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alone he wanders into the
countryside for a private moment of prayer and rejuvenation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the sun rises so do the crowds, once again
clamoring for his attention and his touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Simon and the others seek him out, encouraging him to return to the
city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus insists they must spread
this good news beyond Capernaum and the group goes throughout the Galilee
proclaiming the message and casting out demons.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our final story for this morning
Jesus is approached by a man with leprosy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ritually unclean and possibly contagious, this man would have lived
alone on the fringes of society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He calls
out to Jesus asking to be healed “Jesus, If you choose, you can make me
clean.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus touches the man, again
crossing boundaries between clean and unclean and the man is healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with other healings, Jesus asks the man to
keep his healing to himself, but the man cannot help but proclaim the good work
that God has done through Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the
end of our first chapter, Mark tells us that demand for Jesus has grown so
strong that he can no longer enter the towns but must remain on the outskirts
and the countryside, continually mobbed by those who seek his healing power.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Throughout the gospel of Mark we find
Jesus battling the forces of evil by healing those who are under the power of
demons or unclean spirits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our highly
educated American culture this can be a hard concept to relate to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other places in the world, demon
possession is still a real concern, but here we have written such things off
under the guise of mental health and other scientific explanations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I admit I am reluctant to believe in
demon possession, I think we have lost a vital component of our faith if we
toss out this idea all together.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Readers of my personal blog will know
that I recently had a mental health scare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the medications I was taking for the nerve pain in my foot had a
possible side effect of depression and suicidal tendencies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I continued to take my medicine, I noticed
that I was becoming more and more emotional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One day after little sleep the night before, I reached a breaking point
and got to a place where all I could do was lay on the bed and cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a voice in my head told me how worthless I
was, I began to realize that I probably shouldn’t be taking this medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was one of the people who had this strong
side effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am happy to report I am
off this medication but needless to say it was a frightening experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think we often like to tell ourselves
a narrative about how strong and free we are, how everything that happens to us
is of our own making and in our own control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Experiences like mine serve as a reminder that we are often not in
control, rather we are at the mercy of the forces of the world around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our mental health is much more fragile and
precarious then we would like to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While I was not possessed by a demon I
was certainly under the power of a force outside of myself that was causing me
real distress and danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps this
serious side effect was a force of evil in my life that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not beyond the scope of imagination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Couldn’t any mental illness be categorized as
so?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That which robs us of our ability to
live, be it PTSD, dementia, Alzheimer’s, addiction, or any other mental
struggle certainly feels like a force of evil in our lives and in the lives of
those we love.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In fact, many of our health struggles
feel like struggles against evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From
the cancer that robs us of our lives, to the diabetes that must be constantly
monitored, to chronic illness that changes the entire course of our life, these
mysterious forces shape our days in patterns of pain and anguish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one can answer the question of why we grow
ill; perhaps imaging a demonic possession isn’t too far out there after all.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our scripture for today we find that
Jesus is the one who combats these places of fear and pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls out to demonic forces and
commands them to leave us be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
touches the fever and brings the cool relief of healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When those who are ill are outcasts to the
world, Jesus crosses boundaries to bring a healing touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the gospel of Mark Jesus has come to do
battle with the forces of evil that keep people captive, be they the power of spiritual
corruption or the corruption of our very flesh.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It can be challenging to make promises
about God’s healing power in the midst of a world full of suffering and
pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As my own health becomes a daily
struggle I find that I wonder what exactly to pray for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind of healing has God promised to me
in the midst of chronic pain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What kind
of healing has God promised to you?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I look at the characters in our
stories for today, I cannot relate to those who receive Jesus’ miraculous
touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not know what that is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I do see myself in those that are hungry
for Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the crowds that gather at
the door of Simon’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the “whole
city” that gathers to catch a glimpse of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I see myself in the disciples that hunt Jesus out, saying “everyone is
searching for you.” Mark tells us that “Jesus could no longer go into a town
openly, but stayed out in the country, and people came to him from every
quarter.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can imagine that
hunger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I see it in your face and I know
it in my own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are beset by the
forces of evil, the pain of suffering, and we long for Jesus’ power and his
healing touch.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The presence of God in our lives brings
physical and spiritual healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Throughout this narrative we read that Jesus’ message is to proclaim the
good news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark tells us that Jesus
preaches “the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near; repent
and believe in the good news.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
calls us to repentance and to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus calls us to healing and oneness with our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus brings the kingdom close to us, if only
for a little while, with a promise of healing and new life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This New Year, as you look around and
catalogue your life, do not lose hope if you find yourself under the powers of
the forces of evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can seem at times
that evil has won and that corruption is endemic as the greedy prosper, war
wages on, and our health and well-being suffer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But God has come to combat that evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus brings the healing touch that we so long for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus battles all that threatens to hurt or
destroy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The power of God manifest in
Christ can be hard to imagine, but the longing for God’s healing is close to
each and every one of us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We may not know what form healing will
take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may continue to suffer as we
seek after hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we can be confident
that God reaches out to us in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no point in our suffering that is beyond the reach of our
Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no contagion or
brokenness that renders us untouchable to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God’s love and promise of hope has the power to pervade into every dark
place in our lives and to cast out any demon that may be tormenting us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This New Year, let us continue to hunt
after Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us continue to seek him
out and chase him down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us not give
up on the promise of healing but eagerly call out to our Lord; “Jesus, If you
choose, you can make me clean.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-20875370407632256522019-12-09T09:38:00.001-06:002019-12-09T09:38:22.264-06:00Make a Way for God
<br />
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">December
8<sup>th</sup>, 2019<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Make a Way for God”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Isaiah 40:1-11</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The season of Advent continues as does
our narrative lectionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last week we
read from the prophet Jeremiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
people of Jerusalem were on the brink of destruction and Jeremiah was offering
them a word of hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God would not
forget God’s promises, and a new day with a new king was on the horizon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we hear more about the work of God
through the prophet Isaiah.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Though collected together as one book
in our Bible; scholars think that the writings of the prophet Isaiah actually
come from three different time periods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First
Isaiah, chapters 1-39 was written by the prophet named Isaiah before the time
of exile. Our “Sour Grapes” sermon from last month was preached on the vineyard
text in first Isaiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second Isaiah chapters
40-55 was written by a different prophet during the exile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third Isaiah chapters 56-66 was written by
still another prophet during the return to Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the easy answer to a question still
in debate, as scholars find themes throughout the book as a whole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is one of those Biblical history issues
where we have a “it was probably like this” idea instead of a “we are sure it
was like this” understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All this to say that our reading for
today, Isaiah 40, is the introduction to the writings of Second Isaiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This prophet is speaking in the time of
exile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike last week, where Jeremiah
spoke a word of hope on the edge of destruction, this morning Isaiah speaks a
word of hope following great suffering and hardship.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Babylonians have come and destroyed
Judah and Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The temple is gone
and the people are in exile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time of
exile lasted around 70 years and with typical life spans of the period that
would be a whole generation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine
that most people were taken away, their culture destroyed, and they were forced
to assimilate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first generation
probably dies in exile, and it is their children who will hear the word of hope
that Isaiah offers. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Isaiah offers a word of great
comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people have suffered for
their sins, they have paid the price, and now the wrath of God will
relent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time has come when God will call
the people back home to Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Isaiah says to make a clear path for God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mountains will be made low and the
valleys lifted up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though the people
themselves are across the desert in Babylon it will not be them who take this
exodus road home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, God will
travel the road and come to them in their time of exile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In verse 6 we read that “a voice says
‘cry out!’ and I said ‘What shall I cry?’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are very familiar with this translation but we could also read the
Hebrew word for “cry” as “preach”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
voice says “preach” and I said “what shall I preach?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Sounds like me every week!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The word that Isaiah is given to preach
is that the people are nothing but grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our constancy is like the flowers
of the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we know that life is
short, what Isaiah is actually talking about here is our faithfulness. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The faithfulness of the people (their
constancy) is like a brittle flower or a blade of grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It only lasts a day or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have heard this theme all through the
narrative lectionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants
faithfulness from the people, God wants commitment, and the people can’t do
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our promises are like the blade of
grass, here one day and gone the next.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The preacher is called to say that when
it comes to promises the people are nothing, we stand empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God, on the other hand, stands
forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The preacher is told to climb
the high mountain and to cry out to the people of exile that even though they
have nothing and are in exile, God remembers them and will bring them home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The word of God, the work of God, the
promises of God; those things will last eternally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The preacher cries that the Lord is
coming now upon this highway, this clear path, and it is a very interesting
picture of God that we see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Lord
comes with might, and his arm rules for him, his reward is with him, and his
recompense before him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we read
this we imagine this is a God of war, a God of power, a God of might and
strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This God is coming to clear
the path and wipe out the enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
this God is more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“God will
feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry
them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a God who comes in tenderness and
care, a God whose strength is in love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike
what we might first imagine, the mighty arm does not wield the sword.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather
it gathers up the weak and brings them home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a beautiful picture of the power of our God, the power of
tenderness and love.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a challenging text to read in
our own time and place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we relate
to the people long in exile?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we
relate to a people longing to come home?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For many of us, we do not feel we are in exile at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have become so assimilated to the ways of
this world that we no longer notice the absence of our God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like we talked about a few weeks ago, some of
us have grown quite comfortable worshipping the false gods of money, sex, and
power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are happy with our place in
the economy, we ignore the toll our lives take on the environment, and we buy
into all the stories about how our nation’s military might and violence keep us
and others safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t feel our
exile, because we have gotten so used to telling a story that this is our
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have forgotten what it is our
God demands of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For others of us, the feeling of
exile is real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We buck underneath the
pressure of the competing gods of our day and culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us are outcasts and ostracized
because of who we are, we feel that exile and are longing to be welcomed home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us know well the inner workings of
power and the cost of our nation’s military might and we long to return home
from such brokenness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us have
been crushed by this nation’s economic system, we seek to find relief from
grinding poverty and we long for a way home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some of us feel the weight of sickness and pain, we feel exiled from a
healthy life we once had and we long to return home in healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">All of us, those who feel their exile
and those who don’t, need to hear these words of comfort today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is coming to us in our exile, and God will
bring us home, but we need to prepare the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like a house that is over cluttered, or a mind that is constantly
distracted, we need to make a way for God in our world.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">What mountain needs to be made
low?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What giant thing is blocking God’s
way in your life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What valley needs to
be lifted up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What deep hole do you need
to fill and smooth over so that God can reach you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What rough place is making it hard for you to
see your need for God today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From our
smart phones to our busy schedules to our constant hunger for things that are
not God, we need to clear this place up and make a way for God to come to
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The time of Advent is a time of
preparation, we need to take stock of what we have and who we are so we can
clean house and prepare for the coming of our God.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Today we gather at the communion
table and this is a wonderful time to consider how we might make a way for God
in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we come to the table we
remember our own sinfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We come
here confessing all the ways we have done wrong and all the barriers we have
put up to hide ourselves from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
after we confess, we come here to be fed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the meal of Christ’s body and blood we remember that this God comes
not with the might of the sword, but with the might of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the good shepherd, this God longs to
gather us together in God’s arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
God feeds us with God’s own body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
God loves us with God’s own heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we are in the depths of exile, this God comes to us with comfort and grace.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This Advent season, I want to invite
you to consider how you might make a way for God in your world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A voice says “preach” and I said “what shall
I preach?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These words aren’t just for
me, they are for you too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our busy
Babylon continues barreling on into a consumer Christmas, what word of hope
might you offer to those around you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What things of comfort might you say to a people who are in exile?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What might you do this week to make a way for
God in our world? </span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As our Advent continues may we
reflect on God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is coming
to us, to bring us out of exile, to bring us home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we make a way for God in our world
this week?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can we clear out of our
busy lives so that we have room for God to enter in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What word of hope and comfort might we preach
to those around us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Advent let us
be mindful of who and whose we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
promises don’t last a day, but God’s love is forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we make a way for the love of God to
enter our world this Advent season?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amen.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-61698571604742666422019-12-03T09:30:00.001-06:002019-12-03T09:30:10.745-06:00The Lord is our Righteousness
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">December 1<sup>st</sup>,
2019<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>“The Lord is our
Righteousness”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather
Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Jeremiah 33:14-18</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is not uncommon for the life of the
church to be out of sync with our contemporary culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be it our focus on generosity in a world
focused on selfishness, our calls for peace in a world bent on military might,
or our stories of grace in a world of unjust justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At no time is the church more out of sync
with the world then in Advent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today is
December 1<sup>st</sup> and the world around us is full into Christmas
mode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Celebrations have begun and will
continue on into the New Year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But here in the church we are telling
a different story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here in the church
this is not a time for celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead this is a time for darkness, for reflection, for prayer, and for
quiet preparation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is doing
something new in the relationship with the people of Israel, something
wonderful and powerful, and these days of Advent are days when we prepare for
this moment.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Throughout this fall season we have
been following the story of God’s love for God’s people through the
relationship of God and the people of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Things have not gone well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
people are hard hearted and selfish, and like us they are often led astray by
the idols of their day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people are
broken, and God’s heart has broken along the way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last week we read about Josiah’s period
of reform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He attempted to lead the
people in a religious reformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
nation celebrated the Passover and the people recommitted to following God
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it would not be enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tidal wave of suffering that sin had set
in motion could not be stopped, and after Josiah’s death the nation will be
destroyed by Babylon.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our prophet for today, Jeremiah, is
writing during this same time period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jeremiah was alive during Josiah’s reform and for the time of suffering
that follows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kings after Josiah are
not good and the nation falls into sin once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of Jeremiah’s preaching is negative
bitter words, as God again declares God’s heart break and sadness at the result
of this special love and this holy people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Days of great suffering are already present at the time of Jeremiah’s
writing and things will only get worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are on the cusp of the destruction of Jerusalem and the last remnant
of the nation of Israel.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is into this world of darkness, it
is into this impending suffering and death, it is into this gloom and
unrighteousness that Jeremiah preaches the word of hope we have for today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Destruction is on the horizon, but even in
the midst of that darkness there is hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the
promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The nation will be destroyed, the
people will go into exile, but God has not forgotten God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In those days and at that time I will cause
a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and
righteousness in the land.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is
preparing to do something different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like our reading a few weeks ago when we heard that a shoot shall spring
up from the stump of Jesse, today God offers the hope that once again a ruler
will come from the line of David, and this ruler will follow the ways of the
Lord.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It can be hard for us to understand
this word of hope and to imagine how long it took for this word to be
fulfilled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the time of Jeremiah’s
writing, there still was a king on the throne in Jerusalem, King Zedekiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not a good king but he is a king from
the line of David.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point in the
story, there has been a king on the throne in Jerusalem for 400 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But all that is about to end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Babylon will come and the king will be
removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then no king will sit on
the throne again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be over 500
years until Jesus is born.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is no way for the people of
Israel to understand or comprehend what God is doing in this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All they have is a word of hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have not been forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God remembers the promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God is doing a new thing and it will be
hard to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know now that Jesus will
be born, and as we heard in our first reading from the gospel of Mark, he will
be called the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus does
not sit on the throne in Jerusalem in the manner of a traditional king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, to this day, there has not been a
king on the throne in Jerusalem from the linage of David since that Babylonian
exile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s 2500 years, an awfully
long time to wait.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s become clear in our narrative
readings that the people of Israel really aren’t capable of being the people
that God wants them to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We too are in
the same boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t seem to muster
the sinless loyalty, love, justice, and righteousness that God demands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Paul will later write, “we have all sinned
and fallen short of the glory of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So where does this leave us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
how do we find hope this Advent?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jeremiah promises that “In those days
Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this is the name by which it will be
called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Remember from Isaiah a few weeks ago that God wanted the people to be
righteous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the vineyard song the Lord
expected justice but got bloodshed, righteousness but heard a cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord wanted the people and the city to produce
righteousness, but they couldn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
now, the Lord will be our righteousness.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is the deep word of hope for the
people of Israel and for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants
righteousness and we can’t do it, so God will step in on our behalf and God
will do the righteousness for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
will make things right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the word
of hope from Jeremiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Setting things
right is what God does, and now God is setting things right in a new way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A righteous branch will come, a shoot from
the stump of Jesse, a ruler like no other, who will sit on the throne of David
forever.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The thing about God making the world
right is that it is hard to see and it is hard to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t guess what God is doing each day to
make things right in this world. Jeremiah couldn’t guess that 500 years after
he preached this word that somehow a baby would be born and that would be God’s
righteousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disciples couldn’t
have guessed that the teacher they followed would be executed by the state and
that somehow that would be God’s righteousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The early church couldn’t have guessed that this misfit group of
sometime believers and most of the time doubters would be filled with the Holy
Spirit, travel far and wide preaching the word, and that this would be God’s righteousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we cannot guess what the next thing God
is doing is, what surprising action or turn of events will show us that the
Lord is our righteousness.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When God is busy setting things right,
that work is not obvious to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
cannot see or imagine or know or even guess what it is that God is doing to
make the world right today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we can
trust in the promise that Jeremiah offers, “The Lord is our righteousness” as
well as the word that God remembers God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will not forget us and our longing for
justice and peace in this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The season of Advent is about awaiting
the coming of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We focus on the Old
Testament story and the coming of the Messiah to fulfill the promises to the
nation of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we also remember
the promises made to the people of Jesus’ time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That someday Jesus would come back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That the world would be completely healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That God would reign supreme, wiping sin away
forever, and bringing an era of complete justice and righteousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in an already and not yet time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kingdom has come in Jesus Christ, and we
look ahead to the day when God will fully heal our world and the kingdom will
fully be realized here on earth as it is in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even now God is working to make things right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even now God is bringing this healing
about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But like the people of Jeremiah’s
time, we will never be able to guess what form this healing will take.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And so the story of God’s love for
God’s people continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the
people are unfaithful in their love, even though they fail and sin, still God
does not let them go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeremiah preaches
a word of hope in a world filled with darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The troops are amassing at the border and the destruction of Jerusalem
is imminent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is into this setting of
ongoing devastation that Jeremiah preaches a word of hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will not let this people go, God will not
abandon them forever, and God will remember God’s promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally, when the people fail at
righteousness, God will step in and be righteousness for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will be busy at work, behind the scenes,
making things right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Jeremiah’s time there is no obvious
sign of hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing on the
horizon but devastation and destruction, and yet Jeremiah hopes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the trees are cut down and chaos reigns,
the power of God waits just below the surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The bud is coming now to flower, the stump sends out its shoot, a
righteous branch is growing, from the very lineage of David.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This new king will reign in justice and
peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This new king will be like no
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This new king will make things
right in a way that no king before him ever could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This world will be called “The Lord is our
Righteousness”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-74655156247559868152019-11-25T09:50:00.001-06:002019-11-25T09:50:03.856-06:00Putting God First Again
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">November 24<sup>th</sup>,
2019<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Putting God First Again”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">2 Kings 22:1-23:3</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As you know, this fall instead of
preaching the revised common lectionary which is full of gospel readings we are
familiar with, we have been making our way through the narrative
lectionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike the traditional form
of preaching where each Sunday is a separate encounter with the text, in the
narrative lectionary each Sunday builds on the last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This larger scope helps us tell the story of
God’s love for God’s people as it is told through the dramatic story arc of the
Bible as a whole.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Earlier this fall we read about the
forming of the nation of Israel, a special people who would be in covenant with
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These past few weeks we have been
reading about the struggles of this fledging nation as they continue to fall into
sinful patterns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the prophet Hosea we
read about God’s heartbreak at the people’s unfaithfulness and yet also of
God’s compassion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the prophet Isaiah
last Sunday we read about God’s disappointment as the people have turned rotten
like a field of sour grapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today’s
reading is from the historical book of 2 Kings and gives us a glimpse of what
is happening in the nation of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Time wise we are about a generation after our readings from last week.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Northern kingdom of Israel is gone,
having been destroyed by the Assyrians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only the Southern kingdom of Judah remains and it is a mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have your Bible open you can look back
at chapter 21 and read about one of the worst kings Judah ever had,
Manasseh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manasseh could care less about
God’s covenant with the people; he was only interested in bowing down to
whatever were the most powerful gods of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He filled the temple with the idols of Baal
and Asherah, he made his son a sacrifice, and he followed all the false wizards
and mediums.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the most sacred spaces
within the temple he defiled with altars to other gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Manasseh wrecked the place and no one but God
cared.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Josiah, from our reading today, is
Manasseh’s grandson and unlike his father and grandfather, he has a heart for
the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He begins his rule by fixing
up the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sparing no expense he
sends workers to repair the temple and bring the place back to its former
glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the process a book is
discovered and this will change everything.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Scholars think that the book they found
was probably some form of Deuteronomy containing the laws that Moses gave the
people at the foot of Mount Sinai.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
the book is read to the king he is overcome with grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine how far astray the nation of Israel
has gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The religion is lost, the
books are lost, and no one knows what they are supposed to be doing or how they
are supposed to be following God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Josiah
is heartbroken at the discovery of this book and he tears his clothes in grief.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Josiah doesn’t know what to do, so he
sends for a prophet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who is this prophet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Huldah, a woman, a prophetess!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Take that all you folks who say women can’t
lead in the church!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The message that
the prophetess delivers from God is that it is too late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wrath of God is coming now and nothing
can stop it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Josiah’s heart is pure, and
he should follow through on his reforms, but the nation will be destroyed
anyway.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Josiah accepts this word and leads the
people in a great reformation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He reads
the law book before all the people, both small and great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He makes covenant on behalf of the people
that the nation of Israel will follow the path of God once again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then he gets busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the parts after our reading we find that
Josiah clears out the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
destroys all the monuments to false gods, grinding them into nothing so they
can never be used for idolatry again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
gets rid of the high priests who have worshiped other gods, he clears the
temple grounds of the religious prostitutes who have been housed there, he gets
rid of anything that has the name of other gods on it including horses and
chariots, altars and pillars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Across the nation Josiah wipes the
place clean of any idolatry, from false altars to false priests and
wizards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when he is done, the nation
celebrates the Passover, a tradition they had long forgotten and ignored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a complete reformation and re-embracing
of the covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a complete turnaround
as the nation once again commits to the worship of God.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think as modern Americans we don’t
have a lot of sympathy for the people of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Those silly Israelites and their false gods”
we think, “I wouldn’t be tempted to worship Baal and Asherah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why are they always doing the wrong
thing?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think we realize how
much we are like the Israelites, and how much we worship the Baals and Asherahs
of our day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Baal is a weather god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was in charge of lightening, wind, rain,
and fertility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather is about
crops, and in an agrarian society crops are about sustenance and money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baal is money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Asherah is the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is the female companion to Baal and
worship of her is all about sex and fertility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So sex and money, that’s what we’re talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people of Israel were led astray by
worshiping the idols of sex and money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Doesn’t sound so foreign now, does it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Not only that but Baal and Asherah
were the gods of the neighboring countries who were more powerful than the Israelites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To worship them was to worship their power
and to align oneself with the power of nations outside Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So money, sex, and power; I think that about
covers our idols today as well.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The people of Israel were no different than
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God made covenant for their loyalty,
and instead the people made altars to money, sex, and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money, sex, and power were not just outside
the church, they were inside it as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These elements were at play in all aspects of the life of the Israelites,
and that’s what broke God’s heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over
and over again God called the people back in love, but over and over again the
people loved money, sex, and power instead.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the story we are telling today, the
people have completely forgotten about what God really wanted of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were going to the temple, saying they
were worshipping God, but in the temple they only found money, sex, and power
instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The priests had lost their way
and the temple had become a false church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The people forgot God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When the temple is repaired and
restored, they find the book of Deuteronomy and they remember God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember Deuteronomy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We read it in early October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses was with the new generation on the edge
of the Promised Land and he said “God is making this covenant not with our
ancestors but with all of us here, alive today.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember that sermon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or have you already forgotten the covenant
that God was making with you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With
us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember these words, “Hear O
Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You shall love the Lord with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your might.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That wasn’t even
two months ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How easy we forget.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the cacophony of things which demand our attention, it is easy to
forget the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a nation that
worships the idols of money, sex, and power it is easy to forget the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like the people of Israel we live in a
world of competing loyalties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Social,
economic, and political forces demand our attention all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with the ever present pinging of our
smart phones there is literally no escape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All the idols are there for you 24/7; money, sex, and power on tap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The silence of prayer doesn’t hold a candle
to our world of instant gratification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It can be hard to know who or what really matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be hard to know where to place our
loyalties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The people found the book of
Deuteronomy and they remembered who they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They remembered who God was, promises that were made, and what God
required of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They made reformations
and cleaned things up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They stood
convicted of their sins and they put God first again.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We too, have these moments of
repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have these opportunities
to turn ourselves around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the
chance to hear the words of the scriptures convicting us and calling us back to
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the ability to cleanse our
lives of the competing gods of money, sex, and power and to make our hearts
shrines to the Lord again instead.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When we offer our pledges in worship,
we recommit to living our lives according to the Biblical witness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10 percent of everything we have belongs to
God, the Bible is clear that God demands a tithe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we may not be able to offer a full
tithe today, we can make a step by offering what we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We give what we are able to share to the work
of God’s good church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we tithe our
time as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>10 percent of my days I
will spend in the service of God and others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today we make a commitment to wean ourselves off of the worship of
money, sex, and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we make a
commitment to put God first again.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The hard part about the story of Josiah
is that it is not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Josiah does
everything he can to bring the people back into alignment with God but it is
not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember the prophetess
Huldah says that God will indeed bring disaster on Judah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Josiah dies King Nebuchadnezzar of
Babylon rides into Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will
destroy the temple, smashing to pieces all the holy things dedicated to the
Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will haul all the people away
into bondage, from the greatest king to the smallest peasant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be the end of Judah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Josiah’s repentance and reform cannot stem
the tide of destruction that sin has set in motion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And Josiah knows this, the prophetess
told him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he followed through on his
reforms anyway, because he loved God and he loved the people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Josiah’s actions make a difference in the lives
of individuals but they cannot save the nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So too our actions today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
story of Josiah is a reminder that we cannot earn our salvation from sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will have to be something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will need to do something else in this
story if these people are to be saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The stage is being set for something
different in the relationship between God and God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike hinted at it with his reading from Luke
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we turn our hearts toward
Advent next Sunday we will get an idea of where God’s love is heading and what
plans God has for our future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
meantime, we have an opportunity today, to make a reform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Josiah, we can say no to the idols of
money, sex, and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Josiah we
can make a recommitment to following the ways of the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By offering our hearts, our pledges, our
lives; today we have a chance to put God first again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s not waste this opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-27310077371211730232019-11-18T10:04:00.001-06:002019-11-18T10:04:30.354-06:00Sour Grapes
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">November 17<sup>th</sup>,
2019<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sour Grapes”<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev.
Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Isaiah 5:1-7, 11:1-5</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning the narrative lectionary
has us reading from the prophet Isaiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Similar to last week’s message from Hosea, Isaiah offers a word of
judgement and then grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those that
were here last week will remember that at this point in the history of Israel,
the nation has split between the southern and the northern tribes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The southern kingdom is called Judah and the
northern kingdom is called Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hosea
was a prophet for the northern kingdom, which was eventually destroyed by the Assyrians
and the people were sent into exile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Isaiah is a prophet for the southern kingdom where Jerusalem is located.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Isaiah begins, “let me sing a love song
about my lover’s vineyard”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
introduction does not translate well into our modern American culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all, this really is a song that was
sung, but as we discover later, it is being used as a musical device that points
out a cultural truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a political
song, like Bob Dylan’s “Blowing in the Wind” or maybe some of the tracks of the
rap artist Kendrick Lamar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another thing
lost on us is the imagery of the vineyard as a metaphor for love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t talk that way anymore, but if you
read Song of Solomon you’ll find similar imagery there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, Isaiah sings a song about the
lover’s vineyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beloved takes good
care of this vineyard, clearing the land, planting the vines, and following all
the directions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when the time for
the harvest comes, the grapes are rotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are wild and spoiled and no good for wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are sour grapes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Isaiah asks the listener to decide what
will happen now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What should the beloved
do with this rotten vineyard?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you
followed directions completely and the harvest is bad, what do you do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those of us who spend time in the garden know
that this is not an uncommon occurrence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From radishes that are too hot to eat, tomatoes that are too acidic to
save, sunflowers with empty seeds, or that one time my zucchini and my pumpkins
had some sort of strange inter-marriage I have certainly been in this position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the garden is rotten, and you don’t know
why, you tear it out and start over right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is the answer that Isaiah is looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sour grapes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tear them out!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And that is exactly the answer that
Isaiah gives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will tear out this crop
and tear down this vineyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
break down the walls and make it a waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The crop is spoiled and the land is spoiled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah even declares that the owner of the
vineyard will make sure no rain comes upon the land again, and we start to get
an inkling of where this song is headed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is no ordinary farmer; Isaiah’s beloved vineyard owner is the Lord.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In verse seven the listeners of Isaiah
are condemned “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel,
and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw
bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a pretty serious condemnation of God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the Hebrew poetry of this passage
there is a play on words which highlights the difference between what God
expected and what God got instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sort
of a the grapes look like grapes and look like they would taste really good but
they don’t. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The passage reads that the
Lord expected <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mispat</i> justice, but
instead got <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mispah</i> bloodshed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See it’s just a minor variation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And again the Lord looked for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sedaqa </i>righteousness, but instead found <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">se aqa </i>a cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can see here how the poetry expands on the
idea of things being off and wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
was looking for something good, and on the outside it might look good, but
everything was off and spoiled instead, like sour grapes or an empty sunflower.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">According to Isaiah, God decides to
mow this vineyard down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only have
the people produced sour grapes, they have actually committed evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember from last week the Israelites, those
released from bondage in Egypt, had been enslaving their neighbors to build
their empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And remember that those
who committed to worshipping this jealous God have been instead worshipping the
gods of neighboring countries, even to the point of building shrines and altars
to these false gods within their own cities and neighborhoods.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">God has had enough, and declares that
this vineyard will be destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
that will be left are the stumps of the grape vines, and that is where our
reading jumps to Isaiah 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know this
reading so well from our season of Advent when we prepare for the coming
Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A shoot shall arise from the
stump of Jesse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New life shall grow
where things have been cut down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
this new leader will finally lead Israel in the justice and righteousness that
the Lord so desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Isaiah’s story
of judgement this is the word of grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">So where does this leave us for
today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to admit that this
narrative lectionary is a challenge for a preacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These Old Testament prophets are difficult
and we still have a long way to go until we get to the familiar territory of
Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a treacherous path
for any preacher to attempt to navigate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We don’t like to hear sermons about what we are doing wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Last week, when we read Hosea, God
was angry and ready to destroy the people, but then compassion won over and God
relented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as I mentioned earlier, we
know that historically the people of the Northern Kingdom were destroyed and
taken into captivity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what do we do
with that?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">And what do we do with Isaiah here and
his vineyard of sour grapes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
declares that this vineyard will be destroyed, and though the southern kingdom
doesn’t suffer as much as the northern, they will suffer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let’s go back to the vineyard
metaphor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you really did have a field
of sour grapes, if your whole crop of tomatoes were too acidic to eat, if your
radishes are too hot for any man, then you tear out the crop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no mercy in gardening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would not make sense to continue
fertilizing and watering, and caring for a field of sour grapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not compassion; that’s crazy, that’s enabling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At some point, the farmer starts over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At some point, the people must suffer the
consequences of their actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Otherwise, no one ever learns.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Think of your own life and the people
that you love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure there have been
times when grace abounded, you were lucky, you scraped by, you didn’t get what
you deserved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But usually, that doesn’t
happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually, life gets you in the
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all of the time, but most of the
time, we experience the consequences of our own bad behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not saying life is fair and I am not
saying we deserve to suffer, I am just saying a truth you already know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we do matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How we live matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It matters in our daily life here and in our
spiritual life as well.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The word of hope from Isaiah is that
even in our destruction, there is hope for new life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in the stump of what remains, there is
growth and a future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when we think
all is over and lost, behold God is doing a new thing in our midst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Mike read from the next chapter of Isaiah,
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your
anger turned away, and you comforted me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We would be fools to tell ourselves God isn’t angry with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would be fools to only embrace God’s
comfort without facing our own sinfulness.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The people of modern America are just
as sinful as the people of Israel and Judah were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where God expected justice we have instead
offered up bloodshed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where God expected
righteousness we have instead offered up the cries of our neighbors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would be fools to not admit that we too
are sour grapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our vineyard is as
rotten as any.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like the nations of Israel and Judah,
our nation will suffer for our following after false gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we can see that today in how we have
become so utterly divided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
tearing ourselves apart, and have gotten to a place where we can no longer
speak to each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are wrecking the
vineyard ourselves.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">But even in the midst of this strife,
even in the midst of this suffering, we have another example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Jesus Christ, in the story of our faith,
we have the one who shows us a better way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have the one who demonstrates the justice and righteousness God is
looking for, we have the one who is the living embodiment of the Lord’s wisdom,
and we have the grace of a resurrected Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Christians have always told this
story of suffering and hardship that leads to new life and new growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be it the shoot from the stump of Jesse, or
the Risen Lord who conquers death and the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Be it the church that grows from a fearful band of followers to the
power of the Holy Spirit to lead the world in new ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This cycle is our story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Punishment to compassion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mistakes to second chances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is how we understand grace.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Its stewardship season and this is an
opportunity for you to make a fresh commitment to God’s ways of justice and
peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a chance for you publicly
to declare “I am not just living for myself, I am not worshipping the gods of
culture, but I will share who I am and what I have with God’s greater mission.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to invite you to bring a pledge to
worship next Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make a promise of
sharing your financial resources with the work of God as it is lived out
through the mission and ministry of this church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I want to invite you to make a commitment
of your time and energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make a promise
to come to worship, sing in the choir, serve on a committee, and share who you
are with the life of this congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
if you don’t want to be part of this church, or make your offering here, you
still can make a promise to share what you have with others and make a change
in your life for the better.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Through God’s grace we have the
chance, the opportunity, to change our lives and not be sour grapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Join me and we will make a commitment to be
the people we hope we can be, the vineyard that God has planted, in the year to
come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a New Year’s resolution, next
Sunday we promise to try harder to be better in the year to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stewardship is that simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We respond to God’s faithfulness to us, with
faithfulness of our own.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When we imagine a God who plants a
vineyard we imagine a God who has hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hope for a good harvest of righteousness, justice, and peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would it mean for you today to live as
if God is hoping in you, counting on you, investing in you, and trusting in you
to produce good fruit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May we be
inspired to be more than just sour grapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Amen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-55844715583495301682019-11-11T10:46:00.001-06:002019-11-11T10:46:48.088-06:00The Cords of Human Kindness
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">November 10<sup>th</sup>,
2019<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The Cords of Human Kindness”<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Hosea 11:1-9</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well friends, it is good to be back in
the pulpit and writing sermons again to share with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Special thanks to everyone who filled in
while I was away, we are lucky to have such bountiful resources here in our
congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to my surgery, we
were busy following the narrative lectionary which is the overarching story of
God’s relationship with God’s people.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our last chapter of the narrative
lectionary was the story of Ruth and Naomi which Henry Croes read as a
secondary text the Sunday before I left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have obviously missed a few readings since then so I want to catch up
on the story a bit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While I was gone David was anointed
king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people of Israel had longed to
be like the other countries around them and asked God to give them a king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God warned them that a king would inevitably
grow selfish but they were unable to hear that truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the lineage of David the kingdom
becomes divided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is where our first
reading for today comes in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The son of Solomon, Rehoboam is a
foolish and selfish king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both David and
Solomon set up oppression in the kingdom utilizing systems of slave labor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The God who frees slaves from out of Egypt is
not happy about the Israelites creating a slave system. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rehoboam continues in this foolish and selfish
path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeroboam challenges him for
leadership and the kingdom is split into the northern and southern countries,
sometimes called Israel and Judah.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The sin continues as the people begin
to worship other gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both David and
Solomon married brides outside the faith and set up altars to their wives’ gods
within the kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we get
to Jeroboam and Rehoboam the practice is rampant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Israelites are more likely to worship
Baal then the God of their salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the reading that Mike shared from 1 Kings, Jeroboam sets up two golden calves
for the people to worship declaring that these are the gods who brought them
out of Egypt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer is clear that
this is a sin as the people go up to these high places and worship their false
gods.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So while we have been away from the
story, the faith of the Israelites has faltered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have gone from the days of the people
receiving the 10 commandments on the edge of the Promised Land, to a people who
subject their neighbors to slavery and who worship foreign gods in the image of
golden calves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What began as a love
story is now a huge and total mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
can only imagine how God’s heart breaks at the ruin God’s chosen people have
become.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Enter today’s reading from the book of
Hosea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hosea is a prophetic book and
scholars know very little about its origins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We suspect it was written to the northern kingdom, Israel, in the time
when Jeroboam II reigned around 750 BCE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So basically this is written shortly after the events we just caught up
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kingdom is divided, the people
are unjust, and they worship other gods.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The book of Hosea is very complicated
and mostly awful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a really negative
story about God’s love for God’s people and has been rightly criticized by feminist
scholars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read it sometime and you and I
can have a discussion about the whole thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luckily for us today, we are focused on the one piece of good news in Hosea.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our reading, from Chapter 11 is a
testament to God’s love for God’s broken and hurting people.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here in Hosea we find a God in conflict
with God’s self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This God has loved
these people from the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When
Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I called them, the more they went
from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals and offering incense to
idols.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we have a picture of a
parental God who has raised a nation the way a parent raises a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And like so many parents today have
experienced, this child has gone astray and followed after the wrong things.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the next stanza God declares how God
has continued to provide for the people, even from afar and even though they
don’t even know it is God who offers them care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but
they did not know that I healed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was to them like those who lift infants to
their cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bent down to them and
fed them.” </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s beautiful poetry describing the
intimacy of parental love and care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
yet, the nation of Israel has gone astray, they have rejected God’s love and
broken God’s heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so God is
rightfully angry which we read about in the next stanza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They shall return to the land of Egypt, and
Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sword rages in their cities, it consumes
their oracle-priests, and devours because of their schemes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My people are bent on turning away from
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the Most High they call, but he
does not raise them up at all.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a God who is fed up and who is
ready to punish the people. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But right
away in the next verse we find a heart in conflict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How can I give you up, Ephraim? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can I hand you over, O Israel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can I make you like Admah?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can I treat you like Zeboiim?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart recoils within me, my compassion
grows warm and tender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not
execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and no
mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What an amazing testament to divine
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a God who is righteously
angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A God who set down laws and made
a covenant, all of which has been broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here is a God who deserves justice and who would be righteous in meting
out punishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God cannot do
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s compassion outweighs God’s
divine anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And moreover, it is this
compassion, it is this deep deep love that makes God God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All others would come in wrath, but as God
says, “I am God and no mortal”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only God
could muster this level of love and compassion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only God could be this faithful.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am not a fan of the book of Hosea,
but I love this story of a God who is known not for righteous punishment but
for love and mercy, and I find multiple pathways to connect this ancient
prophet’s writings with our own lives today.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First of all, I am drawn to this idea
of the cords of human kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the
second stanza of the reading, God declares that God has offered care to the
people of Israel but that they did not know it was God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God declares that God has led them with cords
of human kindness and with bands of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can’t get enough of how beautiful this is!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">As a person who did not grow up in
the church I find here a description of my personal experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many years I did not know God, and yet
God cared for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the generous caring of other people,
through the cords of human kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
cares for us through the actions of our neighbors and friends, and we show the
love of God, the bands of love, when we offer care for those in our midst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These cords of human kindness, the way we are
when we care for each other, whether we declare our faith or not, are the
manifestation of God in our world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
God takes up God’s children in God’s arms, God does it through us, with these
very arms, with these very hearts, with these cords of human kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a powerful and beautiful image.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hosea’s story of God’s grace and
compassion is manifest at our communion table today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know that God will welcome the people of
Israel back with love, and we know that they will continue to break God’s
heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet God loves these people,
loves this world so much, that God tries again in the form of Jesus
Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Jesus we glimpse this God who
rejects divine anger and righteous punishment and chooses instead love and
compassion, even if it means dying on a cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When we celebrate in November we always
practice what we call Harvest Communion which is sharing the elements together
around a table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reminiscent of a family
thanksgiving, this is another opportunity to celebrate this God of compassion
as we demonstrate the cords of human kindness, passing the elements to each
other as a family around the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is God in our midst, and these are the bonds of love.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally, this is the stewardship
season, and in the next few weeks I’m going to address the ways that we respond
to God’s faithfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people of Israel
are unfaithful, and they break God’s heart by following after idols.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We too are tempted to worship the competing
gods of our own day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it doesn’t have
to be that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Making a commitment to sharing our
time, our energy, and our money with the church and its mission is a way we
show our faithfulness to this God of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a way that we respond to the love and grace we have experienced in
this community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is the way that
we empower this community to continue the mission and ministry of love in this
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t be the cords of human
kindness, spreading the love of God in our world, if we don’t have the baseline
resources to keep this church going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
respond to God’s faithfulness with faithfulness of our own.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And so today we catch up on the story
of God’s love for God’s people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like us,
the people of Israel have wandered astray and have worshipped the competing
gods of their time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In righteous anger
God declares that God will destroy the nation, only to be moved by the
compassion in God’s own heart to relent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God loves the people of Israel, and us, and God’s compassion far
outweighs God’s desire for punishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Through the cords of human kindness, God has reached out to each of us
throughout our entire lifetimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
through our own acts of kindness, we show the bonds of God’s love in the world
around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As you go out into the world this week
I encourage you to be on the lookout for the cords of human kindness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do you see the love of God manifest in
our world?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to also encourage you
to consider the ways in which you might respond to that love, and express your
faithfulness to God, be it in making a stewardship commitment to the life of
this church, or be it in acts of God’s kindness wherever you may find
yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks be to God for who God
is, one who chooses to come to us in love and not wrath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-54871469347352465232019-10-14T11:35:00.001-05:002019-10-14T11:35:35.576-05:00Trust the Lord
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">October 13<sup>th</sup>, 2019<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Trust the Lord”<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Psalm 27</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As you might
know, this is a busy and difficult season for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being in the midst of a health crises and a
constantly changing plan, it can be hard to dig up sermon inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So following the advice of many, today I am
taking care of myself a bit and giving myself a break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today’s sermon is something I have dug up
from my archives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Preached nearly 10
years ago in a church far away from here, in a much different time of my life,
by the grace of God this sermon, and this Psalm seem to have something to offer
us still today.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The book of Psalms is a collection
of ancient songs that were sung during Hebrew worship services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I think the Psalms have many good things
to say to us, we often overlook them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They can be repetitive and challenging and it is not a book of the Bible
that you are likely to simply sit down and read straight through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather, the Psalms do better singled out one
at a time, instead of in a large group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most of us are very familiar with the 23<sup>rd</sup> Psalm but other
than that we probably spend little time in the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not surprisingly there are many other
wonderful Psalms in our Bible and today we are going to talk about Psalm 27.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Psalm 27 begins
with a declaration, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I
fear?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Psalmist is declaring that
they trust in God to protect them so there is nothing to be afraid of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then, the Psalmist goes right on to say
that there is something to be afraid of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Evildoers surround them, adversaries and foes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An army is encamped against them and war is
rising up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure sounds like something
that I would be afraid of!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, the
writer declares that they will not fear, they will have a confident heart.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the Psalmist seeks God as their
shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer is confident that
even though they are in danger, God will protect them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They write that God will hide them in shelter
and concealment, or place them high on a rock, out of the reach of
enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the Psalmist declares they
will praise God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In verse 8 the
Psalmist writes, “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t that a beautiful image, that our hearts
would call us to seek the face of the Lord?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The writer declares that even if their mother and father abandon them, they
know that God will be true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer
asks God to teach them the way of the Lord.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In verse 12
again the Psalmist recalls the danger they are in, false witnesses have arisen
against them and are breathing out violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And again, they declare that God will bring them out of this peril and
into the land of the living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Psalmist closes with a word of encouragement to all who listen, “Wait for the
Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I think that
sometimes the writings of the Bible can feel very far from our modern
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet here in this psalm,
we find reflections of our own lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This psalm is all about maintaining a faithful hope in the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is all about keeping our eyes focused on
God, when the world around us is trying to drag us down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all know good people who have experienced
suffering and hardship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is about
keeping your head up in the midst of trouble, and trusting that God will see
you through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though we are people of
faith, there are no guarantees that our lives will be without suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Psalm is for those who suffer, and
encourages them to look to the Lord for their help and salvation.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sometimes the
language of the Bible can be a barrier for us, so I want to read this Psalm
again, this time from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Message</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen again for the word of the Lord to you
this day . . .</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Light,
space, zest— that's God</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, with God on my side I'm fearless, <br />
afraid of no one and nothing. <br />
<br />
<sup>2</sup> When vandal hordes ride down <br />
ready to eat me alive, <br />
Those bullies and toughs <br />
fall flat on their faces. <br />
<br />
<sup>3</sup> When besieged, <br />
I'm calm as a baby. <br />
When all hell breaks loose, <br />
I'm collected and cool. <br />
<br />
<sup>4</sup> I'm asking <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span>
for one thing, <br />
only one thing: <br />
To live with God in God’s house <br />
my whole life long. <br />
I'll contemplate God’s beauty; <br />
I'll study at God’s feet. <br />
<br />
<sup>5</sup> That's the only quiet, secure place <br />
in a noisy world, <br />
The perfect getaway, <br />
far from the buzz of traffic. <br />
<br />
<sup>6</sup> God holds me head and shoulders <br />
above all who try to pull me down. <br />
I'm headed for God’s place to offer anthems <br />
that will raise the roof! <br />
Already I'm singing God-songs; <br />
I'm making music to <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span>. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <sup>7-9</sup>
Listen, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span>, I'm calling at the
top of my lungs: <br />
"Be good to me! Answer me!" <br />
When my heart whispered, "Seek God," <br />
my whole being replied, <br />
"I'm seeking God!" <br />
Don't hide from me now! <br />
<br />
<sup>9-10</sup> You've always been right there for me; <br />
don't turn your back on me now. <br />
Don't throw me out, don't abandon me; <br />
you've always kept the door open. <br />
My father and mother walked out and left me, <br />
but God took me in. <br />
<br />
<sup>11-12</sup> Point me down your highway, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span>; <br />
direct me along a well-lighted street; <br />
show my enemies whose side you're on. <br />
Don't throw me to the dogs, <br />
those liars who are out to get me, <br />
filling the air with their threats. <br />
<br />
<sup>13-14</sup> I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness <br />
in the exuberant earth. <br />
Stay with <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span>! <br />
Take heart. Don't quit. <br />
I'll say it again: <br />
Stay with <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">God</span>.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Eugene
Peterson’s version has some interesting phrasing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How wonderful is the idea of calling to God
at the top of our lungs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are in
moments of real terror, this captures the way our hearts feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also love the language that says “You’ve
always been there for me; don’t turn your back on me now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t tell you how often I have said something
just like that.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What is so
wonderful about Psalm 27 is that it really speaks to those of us who live in a
culture of anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All around us the
world tells us to worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to lock
our doors at night, in case someone might break in to get us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to carry our purses a certain way, in
case someone wants to steal them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
need to park under a light in the parking lot, so we are not vulnerable to an
attacker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to keep our eyes open
for someone with a gun, who might get angry and start shooting in a crowd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are told to watch out for someone who
looks or acts funny, maybe they are a terrorist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we take our shoes off and have our bodies
scanned at the airport, because maybe somebody there has a bomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in a world of anxiety and fear, and
it is all too easy to get wrapped up in the stress of our culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In this midst
of this world, it is important to be reminded that the opposite of faith is not
doubt, it is fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More specifically, it
is anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us are anxious about
two things, our time and our space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are afraid that someone else is going to take up our space or take up our
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about how you feel when someone
cuts you off on the highway or cuts in front of you in line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That immediate anger response is rooted in
anxiety about the fact that this person did not recognize your time or
space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This person did not recognize you
as a person. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As people of faith,
we trust that God will take care of us, and this helps control our
anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, anxiety frequently leads
to unfaith, and we subconsciously worry that perhaps God will not take care of
us and we need to take care of ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When this happens, we begin to tailgate the person who cut us off on the
highway or we start an argument with the person who cut in front of us in
line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When this happens, we sin, because
we let our anxiety get the best of us.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Psalm 27 is
all about trusting God in the midst of anxiety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is about being aware of what threatens us, and instead of responding
out of a place of fear, to respond out of a place of trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, the psalmist writes, the world is out to
get me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, I will trust in the
Lord to take care of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we are in
our down and out moments, and it feels as if the whole world is telling lies
about us, the psalmist encourages us to trust in God; for trusting in God is
the root of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The psalmist reminds
us that the goodness of God is greater than life’s trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As people of
faith, we are called to wait for the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When the world tells us to get anxious, get worried, and to hurry up and
grab what’s ours; the Psalmist tells us to be patient, to wait, for God will
make sure we have what is ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will
make sure to take care of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s good to
note that waiting for God is not about being passive; rather it is about
activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t wait for God by
staying at home every week and doing our own thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, we wait for God by nurturing our
relationship with God, and we nurture that relationship through the discipline
of worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is by coming to church
every week and singing the hymns and saying the prayers that we foster a sense
of God’s presence in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
make the commitment to meet God here, than we are better able to see God in the
other places of our lives as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
gathering regularly at the communion table, we nurture our faith and strengthen
our trust in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God provides for us
through God’s body and blood, surely God will provide for us in other ways as
well.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And so today,
the Psalmist encourages us to trust the Lord in the midst of our real lives;
lives that are broken and messy, lives that are full of hardship and
trial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though even our parents might abandon
us, God promises to be with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so,
in the midst of suffering, we are encouraged to wait for the Lord, for God
alone will lift us up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I want to
close by reading the Psalm again, this time from the Contemporary English
Version of the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, listen for
the word of the Lord to you this day . . .</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You, LORD, are the light </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that keeps me safe. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
am not afraid of anyone. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You
protect me, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and
I have no fears. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brutal people may attack</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and try to kill me, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> but
they will stumble. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Fierce
enemies may attack, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> but
they will fall. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Armies may surround me, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> but
I won't be afraid; </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> war
may break out, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> but
I will trust you. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sup>4</sup>I ask only one thing, LORD: </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Let
me live in your house </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> every
day of my life </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to
see how wonderful you are </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and
to pray in your temple. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In times of trouble, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> you
will protect me. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You
will hide me in your tent </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and
keep me safe </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> on
top of a mighty rock. </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027&version=CEV#fen-CEV-11164a#fen-CEV-11164a" title="See footnote a"></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<sup><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6</span></sup><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You will let me defeat </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> all
of my enemies. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Then
I will celebrate, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> as
I enter your tent </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> with
animal sacrifices </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and
songs of praise. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<sup>7</sup>Please listen when I pray! </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Have
pity. Answer my prayer. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<sup>8</sup>My heart tells me to pray. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
am eager to see your face, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<sup>9</sup>so don't hide from me. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> I
am your servant, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and
you have helped me. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Don't
turn from me in anger. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> You
alone keep me safe. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Don't
reject or desert me. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<sup>10</sup>Even if my father and mother </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> should
desert me, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> you
will take care of me. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<sup>11</sup>Teach me to follow, LORD, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and
lead me on the right path </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> because
of my enemies. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<sup>12</sup>Don't let them do to me </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> what
they want. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> People
tell lies about me </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and
make terrible threats, </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<sup>13</sup>but I know I will live </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to
see how kind you are. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<sup>14</sup>Trust the LORD! </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Be
brave and strong </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and
trust the LORD. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-19095547070214483302019-10-09T10:25:00.002-05:002019-10-09T10:25:35.262-05:00Re-embracing the 10 commandments
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">October 6<sup>th</sup>,
2019<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Re-embracing the 10 Commandments”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Deuteronomy 5:1-21,
6:4-9</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning’s biblical text is
probably familiar to most of us here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the 10 commandments, well known by Jews and Christians
alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you might not know is that
this is the second time Moses gives the commandments to the nation of
Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Exodus chapter 20 Moses comes
down from the cloud and fire upon Mount Sinai and brings this covenant to the
people of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were the same
people who Moses led out of Egypt and out of the bondage of slavery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But, as you may remember, the folks were not
ready for such a covenant with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were worshipping a golden calf at the bottom of that mountain, and they would
continue to long after other gods and past lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And so, Moses and the Israelites wander
in the desert for 40 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as the
wanderers begin to fail a whole generation of people dies off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where we find our story today, in the book of
Deuteronomy, Moses is giving the Israelites a set of sermons right before they
enter the Promised Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And included in
this set of sermons is a fresh reading of the Ten Commandments.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Moses begins by gathering the people
together, “Hear O Israel” and then he says, “The Lord made covenant with us at
Horeb.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That makes sense right, God
makes covenant with the people of Israel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But as Moses continues on, things get confusing, “Not with our ancestors
did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive
today.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, that sounds wrong doesn’t
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God made the covenant with the
ancestors and all of them are dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
people alive today, the people listening to Moses preach were not there the day
the covenant was formed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was their
parents and not them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To end any doubt
about his point Moses continues, “The Lord spoke with you face to face at the
mountain, out of the fire.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly
Moses wants the folks to think they were there that first day, the first time
the commandments were read, even though they weren’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So, what is going on here?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is happening is that Moses is trying to
get the people of Israel to understand that the covenant God is making, the
gift of the law, is for them as much as it was for their ancestors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though it was their parents at the
bottom of Mount Sinai 40 years ago, God is freshly making this covenant anew with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They now are God’s people, and
they now are the ones the covenant is given to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They now are party to this agreement, this set of promises, this law
system that is built upon grace and love.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Moses is clear that it is the job of
this people to carry the covenant forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we jump to chapter 6 Moses reminds the people that the following of
these commandments comes from love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
people are called to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and
might.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are told to keep these
words, to memorize them, to tell them to each other at home and at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a way of life that everyone is called
to remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a covenant that
will continue for the generations.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As Christians, we often think of
ourselves as belonging to this same family of faith, we certainly worship this
same God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through our understanding of
Jesus Christ and the words he speaks about being grafted into the family, as
well as Paul’s theology of adoption, we have come to understand ourselves as
included in this tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though
our ancestors were not literally at the bottom of Mount Sinai, still God has
given us this covenant as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Moses
says, “Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who
are all of us here alive today.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
includes all of us here this morning, all of us who are here alive today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This covenant, this law, is a gift to us, you
and me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It can be hard to preach about the 10
commandments, and this is one of my least favorite sermon topics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In so many ways, this beautiful text, this
gift of love, has been used as a weapon to crush people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From signs displaying the commandments in
courthouses that continue to thwart justice for the oppressed, to lawn signs
declaring that this is a Christian nation as we continue to follow paths of
greed and narcissism, these 10 commandments have been adopted by the religious
right, the evangelical conservatives as a sign of identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They put them everywhere, but it is like they
have never read them before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I honestly
hate when this scripture comes up because it turns my stomach to face this topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And like a minefield, no matter where I step
this morning, I am bound to upset somebody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, fair warning, my friends.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I see a real place for us in the
setting of our reading for today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
isn’t Exodus 20 where the first generation hears the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather this is Deuteronomy 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the second generations go at
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a fresh chance to make
the world better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like the second
generation of Israelites on the edge of the Promised Land, our parents before
us were sinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The generations before
us who have twisted and misused this good and generous law are in the wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have made God’s gift a weapon and not a
freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To hear Moses declare that this law is
given fresh to us, the very us that are in this room this morning, can be
liberating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God makes this covenant with
us, all of us here alive today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
would it mean for us as modern neighbor-loving Christians to re-embrace these
10 commandments?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First off, the Lord our God is a Lord
of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a Lord who brings
people out of slavery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not just slavery
in Egypt but slavery in the United States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a Lord who brings black people out of bondage, who demands reparations,
and who declares that the bondage of one person by another is always and
forever wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a God who demands
that we worship no others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No nation
deserves as much adoration as our God, no ideologies or political parties, no
sports teams or music groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
the Lord, the God of love, who demands our loyalty above all others.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We shall not make ourselves an
idol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be it money or the American flag,
be it our guns or our political ideologies, be it our Bibles or our
denominations, be it our nationalism or our pride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We shall not bow down to anything but our
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We shall not be beholden to
anything but out God.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You shall not use the name of your Lord
in vain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shall not display the 10
Commandments in public and ignore your neighbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shall not put a Jesus fish on your business
card and then engage in false or unfair business practices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shall not wear a prominent cross around
your neck and then walk by the stranger in need on the street.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shall not use religion as a cudgel for
hate and oppression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shall not take
this name, this faith, this God and form it in your own image to use for your
own ends.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not succumb to the glorification of the 24
hour work cycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not buy into the
theory that you are what you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not
let yourselves be tempted by endless work and busyness for busyness sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Observe the Sabbath, rest and honor your
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And not only that, but allow your
neighbor to rest as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that
you used to work for minimum wage and allow those folks to rest as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t go out to eat or go to the store,
everyone deserves a rest one day a week.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Honor your father and mother, they
brought you into this world and they are the source of this covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even these folks on the edge of the Promised
Land must remember that they are truly no better than the generation that
passed away in the wilderness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
nothing without those who came before us, but at the same time we are the ones
God is making this covenant with today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have a chance to live these promises anew, while honoring the faith
of generations past.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Those first five are the hard ones and
the ones we like to forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last
five are the laws that have lasted through time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t murder, don’t sleep with someone else’s
spouse, don’t take what’s not yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t lie about people either in court or via twitter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t greedily stare at anything anyone has
that you do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically, don’t be a
jerk!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These five we are better at
remembering, and truly they don’t ask as much of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t murder, I got that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t have an idol, well that’s a lot
trickier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rest on the Sabbath; don’t
even ask me about that!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This morning I want to invite you to
consider what it would mean for us to really honor this covenant God is
offering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to invite you to hear
these words as if they were spoken directly to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To take them back from generations that have misused
and mismanaged this good law and to instead realize that God makes this
covenant not with our ancestors but with all of us here alive today.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Moses tells the people not to forget
this word they are given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point
he has led the people of Israel for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows how stubborn and hard hearted they
are, and more than anything he knows how prone they are to forgetfulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will hold a grudge forever, but at the
same time they will forget the God who has given them freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses tells the people to put these words in
their hearts, to recite them to their children and paint them on their
doorposts, to make this law of love such an integral part of their day that
they can’t help but remember.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On this World Communion Sunday, we too
are called to remember this law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
called to remember that it was given to an oppressed people, an enslaved
people, a lost and wandering people as a sign of love and freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called to remember that this law asks
us to love our God and to also love our neighbor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we are called to remember that nothing,
ever, no matter how important or big or good should become god to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing deserves our worship and devotion except
the one true God of freedom and love.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We gather at this table with people from
all times and places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The communion
table goes back in time to those ancestors at Mount Sinai and the next
generation on the edge of the Promised Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It goes forward through time to the days of Jesus in the upper room and
the early church breaking boundaries by fellowshipping together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It includes us now, all of us here alive
today, members and participants in this covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it goes on to our children’s children,
into the future and days we cannot even imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of time meets us as this table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all of the world gathers together as the
children of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This table of love,
resurrection, and grace is for everyone, and like the law, this is a gift given
to us from a God whose name is love.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I want to encourage you today to
consider re-embracing these 10 commandments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In some ways we know them so well, and in some ways we really don’t know
them at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to invite you to
really consider what it is you worship in our world, what are you tempted to
put before the Lord. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do you face the
weakness of idolatry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a good look
at your values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also want to invite
you to practice Sabbath, I know I need to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What would it mean for us to live those first five laws and not just the
last five?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us listen to these
familiar laws as a fresh text, a fresh promise made to us here today. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the
Lord is one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
might.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-45469487207371414022019-09-30T09:36:00.001-05:002019-09-30T09:36:13.309-05:00Seen, Heard, and Known
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">September 29<sup>th</sup>,
2019<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Seen, Heard, and Known”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">Exodus 1:8-14,
3:1-15</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This morning we continue the story of
God’s love for God’s people as found in the overarching message of the
scriptures.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God fashioned humanity in Eden
and then chose Abraham to be the father of a nation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Promises were made to Abraham of a land, a
people, and a blessing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In Jacob’s
wrestling with God the name Israel is given to this people and this
nation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And when we find the Israelites
this week, they are a people and they are blessed, but they do not have a
land.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the opening of Exodus we read that a
new Pharaoh has come to power in Egypt who does not know the story of
Joseph.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son
and he will save the family by coming to power in Egypt and planning and
providing for folks when a famine strikes the land.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Years have passed and now Joseph is a distant
memory.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But the nation of Israel has
grown, and now they present a threat to the nation of Egypt.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Systemic oppression is the name of the
game as the Israelite people are rounded up and forced into slavery.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In an attempt to crush the spirits of these
people, Pharaoh encourages the Egyptians to be ruthless in their treatment of
the Hebrews.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Eventually the Hebrews cry
out for justice.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We read in Exodus 2:23
that “The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up
to God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God heard their groaning, and
God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God looked upon the Israelites, and God took
notice of them.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The divine will now intervene and that
intervention comes in the form of a man, Moses.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>In chapter three we find Moses minding his own business, watching over
his father-in-law’s herds.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wandering on
the edges of Mount Horeb, also called Mount Sinai, Moses sees a bush, burning
and yet not consumed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And so Moses turns
aside to look.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Lord has been waiting
patiently and as soon as Moses turns to look, God calls out of the bush.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I love that God draws Moses in not with fear
or commandment but with curiosity.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Moses
is curious, he is wondering, and so he turns from daily tasks to explore.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I love that God reaches out to Moses, and to
us, by engaging our intellect and sense of wonder.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God doesn’t crush us with call but instead
tempts our curiosity to draw us closer.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s
beautiful.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Moses hears his name called and so
replies “Here I am.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God then warns
Moses to keep a safe distance and remove his sandals as this is holy ground.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We know from last week’s story that
encounters with God can be dangerous, and so Moses is wise to keep back at a
safe distance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When God identifies
Godself as the presence in the bush, Moses even hides his face.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is not good for the fragility of man to
get too close to God, and so Moses seeks to protect himself from the holiness
of the divine.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Listening there in the wilderness, his
head down, his feet bare, Moses hears what God has been thinking about.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“I have seen the misery of my people,” God
says.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“I have heard their cries, I have
known their suffering, and I have come down to deliver them from the
Egyptians.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God has seen the people, God
has heard the people, and God knows the people of Israel.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God will now mobilize to be present with the
people.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God will come down and save
them.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As Moses continues to listen I imagine
his heart swelled with hope. God sees us?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>God knows us?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God will save
us?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What a tremendous blessing this will
be.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God goes on to tell Moses all about
a new land and home for the people, a good, broad land flowing with milk and
honey.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Their own home, free from
oppression, it’s a vision.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The people
would no longer be slaves but would be free to choose their path and
vocation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A dream come true.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I can just see Moses nodding his head,
his heart growing with hope and pride.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>They are God’s people; they will be saved by God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What glory and mercy, this sounds great!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And then God says “so come, I will send you
to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I can just imagine Moses’ stomach drop.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He stops nodding; his eyes grow big, his mouth drops open.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“What?!?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Hold on, what?!?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Me?!?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The writer tells us Moses says “Who am
I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I love this; it’s a true moment of identity
shifting.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Prior to this burning bush
encounter Moses knew who he was.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But
now, now God says Moses is someone else, someone he never thought of
being.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Who am I?” he asks God, and God
doesn’t answer.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“I’ll be with you,” God
says, “you can see my power in this burning bush sign and I will bring you and
the people back here to worship on this mountain.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Moses is having none of this.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He can’t get an answer about who God thinks
he is, (because clearly this is a mistake!), and so he asks who God is.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And now I totally imagine the divine eye
roll, “I already told you who I am!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m
the God of your father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But instead, God hears Moses’ fear and worry
and God has mercy on Moses and so he grants Moses knowledge of the divine name,
“I am.”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is a lot going on with this name
and we have lost some of it to time and history.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The name God gives in the text is four
letters YHWH, sometimes called the Tetragrammaton, but we have lost the vowels
so we don’t know how it was said.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Hebrew
people felt the name was too holy to say, just like the burning bush is too
holy to look at.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But some folks say this
name as Yahweh, and other folks still don’t say it at all out of respect for
our Jewish brothers and sisters.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The name given is a verb really, and not
a proper name.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is a “being” verb or an
“action” verb.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It can mean “I am”, or “I
will be”, or “I cause to be”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s
basically “being-ness”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Moses is told to
tell the others he has been sent by the one God, the God of the ancestors, the
God who is “being”.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The story continues and Moses goes back
and forth in his reluctance to accept this dangerous mission he has not asked
for.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Commentators have loved to belittle
Moses for his response but it is true to the form of all other call narratives
in our scriptures.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Every single person
says “no” in their own way, every single person refuses the mission at first,
and every single person ends up going in the end and is successful in doing
God’s work.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A sense of unworthiness or
inadequacy is inherent in being called by God; it’s a natural outgrowth of an
experience of the holy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Think of that
the next time you feel unworthy to do the Lord’s work.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Even Moses, the one who will get those Israelites
out of Egypt, said “who am I?”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The wonderful thing about this burning
bush story and the call of Moses is its continual timeliness.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is our God, this is the very God we
worship here each week and pray to at home each night.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is a God who sees us, who hears us, and
who knows us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we look at the
suffering in our world, we can be tempted to feel abandoned by God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We can be tempted to feel lost and
alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This text serves as a reminder
that we are not those things.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are not
lost and alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">God sees us suffer, God hears our
cries, and God knows who we are.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God
notices systemic oppression, be it the weight of poverty or racism, sexism or
nationalism.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God sees the sins of our
culture, and God hears the cries of those who are oppressed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God also hears our cries as individuals when
we are feeling squished and smooshed, when we cry out at the weight of the
world on our back.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God notices, God
remembers, and God mobilizes to make it better.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But God can’t do it alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God needs a human partner to make the world
better.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have seen this all along in
our story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God needed Adam to name the
animals and find the perfect partner, together they created the world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God needed Abraham and Sarah to agree to form
this covenant people and to wait in faith until the birth of Isaac in their old
age.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God needed Jacob to wrestle with
humanity and to find a way to go forward harnessing our power and strength for
the growth of the nation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And God needs
Moses to bring the Israelites out of slavery.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Sure there will be signs like the burning bush, the plagues, and the
pillars of cloud and fire, but there will be no exodus without Moses.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God needs human partners to do God’s work in
the world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God needs our co-operation to
get the good work of justice and salvation accomplished.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And so God calls to us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God engages our curiosity and tempts us to
turn aside from the mundane.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God asks us
to go into the world and be God’s people.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>And we always respond like Moses, “wait what?!? Who am I?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And God doesn’t tell us who we are, instead
God tells us who God is “I will be with you.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It doesn’t matter who we are.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>What matters that we are not alone, we are never alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God is partners with us in this good work of
healing this world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God sees us, God
hears us, God knows us, and God mobilizes us as partners to create change.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God brings hope to the Israelites through the
faith of Moses.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And God brings hope to
our world, through the faith and actions of all of us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are partners, helping God form this world
in paths of justice.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are called, to
serve God by serving each other.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The great theologian and historian
Walter Brueggemann writes that Israel is “the object of God’s intense
attentiveness.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Isn’t that a powerful
idea, God’s intense attentiveness, and we see that in these Old Testament
narratives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God loves this people, and
God will do anything to help them thrive.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>What would it mean in your own life to imagine that you, and your
neighbors, are the object of God’s intense attentiveness?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What would it mean to imagine that God sees
us, hears us, and knows us both personally and collectively?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How might we answer God’s call upon our lives
when we remember that everyone who is called feels unworthy, incapable, and
inadequate?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God knows who we are and what we are
capable of.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And God calls us to be
partners for change in this world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When
we ask for comfort and reassurance God reminds us who God is.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This God is “being-ness” itself.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This God is power, fidelity, and
presence.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This God’s name is “I am with
you.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What a wonderful and amazing
God!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-78634176282240697782019-09-23T10:11:00.001-05:002019-09-23T10:11:07.836-05:00Holding on for a blessing
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">September 22<sup>nd</sup>,
2019<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Holding On For a Blessing”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">Genesis 32:22-31</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our reading for today continues to
follow the story of God’s relationship with God’s people.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today we meet Jacob, the son of Isaac.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While our reading for today finds Jacob
wrestling at the ford of the Jabbok it is important to catch up on the back
story so we know what kind of character this Jacob guy is.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Some friends here might remember his story
since Jacob’s life was the subject of a summer sermon series a few years ago,
but in any case it is good for us all to review.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like many of our Biblical heroes, Jacob
is not really a good guy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Names are a
theme in these first few readings of the narrative lectionary, from naming the
animals in our first reading from Genesis, to the name of Jacob’s father Isaac
(he laughs) from last week’s reading.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
know that names in the Bible matter.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Jacob’s name is a fitting moniker for his life, as he is called “the one
who grasps the heel” or just “the heel”.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Jacob’s name works in English as well as it does in Hebrew because he
really is kind of a jerk.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob is most known for stealing his
brother Esau’s birthright.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He does this
in trade with Esau and then he actually completes the task by stealing Esau’s
blessing from their father Isaac.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob
is cruel and his treachery tears the family apart.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob flees for his life, only to mix it up
with his equal in trickery, his uncle Laban.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Jacob is fooled into marrying the wrong sister, but gets back at his
uncle by swindling him out of a large herd of cattle and sheep.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we meet Jacob, the heel, here in
chapter 32 he is on the run again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He
has finally angered Laban so much that he is forced to depart.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob is traveling back to his home country
with his two wives, their maids, and his 11 children who come from a
combination of him and these four women (that’s another sermon!).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He has all his animal herds and all his
servants and they are one big caravan headed back home.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What awaits Jacob at home is fear.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To come home is to face Esau, the brother he
wronged so many years ago, the brother who has sworn to kill him, and so Jacob
is afraid.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our reading takes place the night
before Jacob meets Esau.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He has sent the
herds and servants on ahead, he has sent the women and children on ahead, and
for the first time in a long while Jacob find himself alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This story here is really mysterious and
folks have pondered on its meaning for ages.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Suddenly, Jacob is wrestling with a man in the dark.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The text leaves us with tons of questions: Who
is the man? Why are they fighting? Who started the fight? <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did Jacob do something wrong?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And the truth is we really don’t have a lot
of answers.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob is just suddenly wrestling with a
man in the dark.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The two of them wrestle
all night and finally when daybreak is coming the man knows he cannot win.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He and Jacob are evenly matched and so the
man cheats in wrestling.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instead of
using a grappling move, this stranger resorts to a kickboxing rulebook and hits
Jacob hard in the hip socket.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob’s
hip is knocked out of joint, and yet he refuses to let go.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Hanging on to this man, Jacob asks for a
blessing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What he gets in return is a new
name.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No longer Jacob, “the heel”, he
will be called “Israel” the one who strives or wrestles, for Jacob wrestles
with God and man.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob continues to ask
after the name of the opponent but he has no luck.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He receives the blessing and then the dawn
rises and Jacob is left alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob believes
he has wrestled with God, seen God face to face and lived.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As he limps off into the sunset we can see
why this is one of the most popular stories in the Old Testament.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob believes that he wrestled with
God, and that is the most common interpretation of this text, and so we are
going to go with that version of events in our sermon today.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So, how do we understand a God who wrestles?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob is a scrapper.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We know that from his story and the way he lives
in the world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob argues with his
family, neighbors, and friends.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob is
one who grasps, who grabs, who strives, and who struggles.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When the stranger attacks in the night, Jacob
doesn’t shy away.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rather, he girds up
his loins and prepares for battle, “let’s do this!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Make no mistake, this is a genuine
battle.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God really is wrestling with
Jacob in the form of a man.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just like
God really was in conversation with Abraham last week asking “why did Sarah
laugh?” and “is anything too wonderful for the Lord?”, God really is really
wrestling with Jacob.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This God desires
real relationship with people, not some sham façade, so just as God sought real
conversation and not pat answers under the tree with Abraham, so now God seeks
to really wrestle with Jacob.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rather
than a superman holding his strength back, Jacob and God are equally
matched.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is no faux battle of cat
and mouse; this is real mano-a-mano wrestling and God ends up playing dirty.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For Jacob, this wrestling match is all
about his past, his future, and his identity.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He is on the cusp of returning home to a mess he created.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is a time of reckoning, a time to own up
to his past sins and mistakes, a time to make things right with family.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Everyone knows going home again is hard, and
facing the truth about our own past is even harder.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob is not only wrestling with God, he is
also wrestling with his identity.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Is he
only a grabber, is he only a heel, or is there more to his story?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the wrestling match, it becomes
clear that God knows who Jacob is.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God
knows Jacob is a scrapper, a fighter, one who doesn’t let go and doesn’t give
up.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob is a cheater in life, and God
cheats when he wrestles with Jacob.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God
meets Jacob where he is.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That becomes
abundantly clear as God wounds Jacob and Jacob still hangs on for a
blessing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When God does give the
blessing it honors the tenacity of Jacob’s character.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob is one who wrestles with God and man,
Jacob is one who fights for what he wants, and so Jacob is called
“Israel”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God makes it clear that he
knows who Jacob is, what a heel he really is, and God blesses him anyway.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And as he limps into the sunset, Jacob knows
who he is as well, he is “Israel” one who wrestles, one who doesn’t let go, one
who receives a blessing even if it does come with injury.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have to tell you, this is one of my all-time
favorite stories in our scripture.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I
just love this story of Jacob and God by the riverside, wrestling in the
dark.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I love that God knows what a
schemer Jacob is and loves him anyway.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I
love that God wrestles as equals with Jacob.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I even love that God wounds Jacob in the end, as well as offers the
blessing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I love all of this because in
this story I see the God I wrestle with.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So many folks will tell you that faith
is about surrender, faith is about letting go, faith is about just accepting
things and moving on. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And I am sure that
is true for some people, but that has never been true for me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In my own life, faith is a struggle, faith is
a wrestling match, and faith is me holding on to God with all I’ve got.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m holding on for a blessing.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just like in Jacob’s life sometimes
faith is hard.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob doesn’t really show
a lot of faith in his story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He is
always saying he will follow God, but then is scrabbling around the edges
trying to make things happen for himself.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He is scheming for the inheritance, working for the wife, and scamming
for the herds.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He is grabbing and
reaching and grasping and forming the world the way he is wanting things to
be.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He is doing all the work of blessing
himself, but he refuses to let go of his faith.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He is still looking for and asking of his God.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob’s identity is defined by this
struggle of his faith, and I can see that reflected in my own life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am always wrestling with ideas, grasping
for God, thinking new things, seeking after the truth.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am always questioning and learning, growing
and reaching.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am always wrestling with
God and faith, seeking a blessing somehow in the pain and sorrow that is
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And like Jacob, I refuse to let
go.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jacob is wounded by God and I don’t
think that’s a chance encounter or a mistake.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Real encounters with God can be painful.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>God asks a lot of us, and God brings us to our knees.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God will not leave us be, and if we refuse to
let go of God we risk getting hurt in the process.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But the pain is a blessing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As Jacob limps into the sunset he knows he is
blessed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am sure he wouldn’t change it
for the world.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sometimes life is easy, and faith is
easy, and we just love God and have it all together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But most of the time it isn’t like that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of the time life is hard, and God seems absent
or even hurtful.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of the time faith
is a struggle and we need to be scrappy fighters like Jacob.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When the hard times come, when the attacker
appears in the night, we need to gird up our loins and cry “Let’s do this!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m not letting go until I receive a
blessing!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I know that’s how I’m
approaching my current struggle.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“You
want a piece of this, (literally a piece of this foot) then bring it on!”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The story of Jacob at the ford of the
Jabbok reminds us that sometimes faith is a real struggle.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But it is a blessed struggle.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we wrestle with faith, when we wrestle
with God we are blessed with identity and favor.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We know who and whose we are.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like Jacob, we are far from perfect, but God
accepts us and loves us anyway.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And God
honors us with a true struggle.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God
doesn’t crush us under the weight of holiness; rather God patiently grapples
with our questions, our doubts, our fears, and our sin.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God doesn’t let us go.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And we don’t let go either.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rather we hold on for dear life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We hold on for that blessing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And eventually, we get it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-90757013429401858682019-09-16T11:55:00.003-05:002019-09-16T11:55:27.594-05:00Is Anything Too Ridiculous For the Lord?
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">September 15<sup>th</sup>,
2019<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Is Anything too Ridiculous for
the Lord?” <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">Genesis 18:1-15,
21:1-7</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This morning as we continue our journey
through the narrative lectionary, we meet the patriarch of our faith, Abraham
and his wife Sarah as they long for a family.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Decades before our reading Abraham was visited by the Lord, who promised
that one day Abraham would be the father of a great nation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Well, to be the father of a nation you have
to be a father first, and although they had tried for years, Abraham and
Sarah’s marriage remains a barren one.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>No kids means no dynasty.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It can
be hard to believe in the promise of God if it never seems to come true.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Years ago Abraham and Sarah left their
home country of Haran, that was part of the promise as well.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today our reading finds them camping out by
the oaks of Mamre, a good place to stop and stay awhile in their nomadic
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While they are there, a group of
three strangers approach.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is before
the time of rest areas, McDonalds, or Best Westerns.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Travelers from afar would have to rely on the
hospitality of strangers to rest and eat as they journeyed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham sees this group coming and hastens to
host them.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is an interesting thing happening
with time in our reading.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We start slow,
with Abraham sitting in the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I can just hear the cicadas and see the sweat
dripping off the old man’s brow.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But as
soon as the strangers arrive, Abraham is all business.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now everything happens very fast.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham doesn’t see them coming from afar;
they are just suddenly standing near him.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>But once he does see them he gets busy.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He runs to meet them, he bows to the ground in welcome, he hastens to
tell Sarah to make bread, he runs out to his herd to find the perfect calf, and
his servant hustles to get it ready.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Rush, rush, rush and before long Abraham has laid a feast before his
guests.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>With food on the table (veal no
less) and clean hands and feet, the group dines in peace and welcome.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I can just imagine Abraham saying a phrase I
hear so often when I am in Africa, “You are most welcome, feel free.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Hospitality was a big deal in the ancient
world, and Abraham was good at it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now time slows back down.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I imagine the group sitting in the shade of a
tree.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The gentle breeze blowing the hair
off their brows and the flies gathering, drawn by the odor of the fresh roasted
calf.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As the men tear the meat away from
the bones and chew the warm bread the conversation begins.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One of them turns to Abraham and asks, “where
is your wife Sarah?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Oh, this is something.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A stranger who knows Sarah’s name, even
though she has spent the whole time in the tent.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham is suddenly aware that this is no
ordinary visit.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>His response is simple,
“she is in the tent.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Then one says
something amazing, and unbelievable, “I will surely return to you in due
season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The promise, from years before, is spoken again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And a hush falls over the men.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But it’s not quiet in the tent.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sarah can hear this conversation and at this
announcement she can’t help but laugh.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A
child at her age?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A child now, after
trying so hard for so many years?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s
ridiculous!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“After I have grown old, and
my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>She’s not talking about the pleasure of a child; she’s talking about the
pleasure that gets you pregnant in the first place.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s clear from her statement that she and
Abraham no longer “know” each other in the Biblical sense, there can’t be any
babies now.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To have a child now, post
menopause, post intimacy, is ridiculous!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>And so she laughs.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“You’ve got to
be kidding me!”</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our narrator pulls back the curtain now
as he writes, “The Lord” turns to Abraham and says “Why did Sarah laugh and say
“shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is no everyday luncheon; this is the
Lord at the table eating Abraham’s veal and bread.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m going to stop halfway through this quote
and point out that God asks this question of Abraham, not Sarah.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Forever commentators have loved to criticize
poor Sarah and her laughter but I think Abraham is also to blame.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Its takes two to make a baby, and according
to Sarah, Abraham isn’t holding up his end of the bargain.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Lord is asking Abraham why Sarah doesn’t
believe in the promise of a son.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And
lest we blame her for her nervous laughter, I would point you to chapter 17
verse 17 where God tells Abraham that Sarah will have a son and Abraham falls
on his face and laughs.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Lord continues of course, beyond
this question of why folks don’t believe saying “Is anything too wonderful for
the Lord?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I will return to you in due
season and Sarah will have a son.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Feeling defensive Sarah denies her unbelief and her nervous laughter
saying “I did not laugh” but you can’t hide from God, who replies, “Oh yes, you
did laugh.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sarah might still be hidden
in the tent but nothing is hidden from God.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">We jump now to chapter 21 where the
promise is fulfilled.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham and Sarah
do give it another go, and they do conceive and bear a son.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Lord deals with Sarah as the Lord
promised, and they name the child Isaac which means “he laughs”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham circumcises his young son and welcomes
him into this budding covenant.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham
is 100 years old and Sarah can’t be far behind and yet their joy at finally
having this promised child is contagious.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>“God has brought laughter for me” Sarah says, and all others will share
in my joy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is a promise fulfilled, a
prayer answered, and a joyous miracle.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The laughter of derision and disbelief has become the laughter of joy
and celebration.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Most of us have heard this story
before.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And even if we haven’t we are
probably familiar with the saying “Is anything too wonderful for the
Lord?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The meaning of the word
translated as “wonderful” is obscure.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“pālē”</i> can also mean
hard or difficult making the question, “Is anything too difficult for the
Lord?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is not meant to be a
rhetorical question, any more than the question about why Sarah laughs.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God does not ask questions that have pat answers
given in return; God is seeking genuine conversation with Abraham.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is a real question, “is anything too
hard or too wonderful for God?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like a
good philosophy class, we could discuss this for hours without coming to any conclusions.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But it is something to make us think.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This story is all about God’s promises
and our ability to believe in those promises.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It is clear in the visit that both Abraham and Sarah have stopped believing
in the promise of a child because it’s such a ridiculous thing!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They are too old, they are no longer
intimate, there is just no way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What
once seemed like a logical possibility now seems like a pie in the sky dream.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It would be great, but it can’t ever
happen.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s just ridiculous.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But, is anything too ridiculous for the Lord?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m not trying to offend, but when we
read the Bible we find that God does lots of ridiculous things.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Merriam Webster defines ridiculous as “arousing
or deserving ridicule:<b> </b>extremely silly or unreasonable”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Synonyms for ridiculous are the words absurd
and preposterous.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is absurd that
Sarah would bear a child in her old age.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It is preposterous that this couple would create life, as their marriage
continues to age and fail.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The promise
that the visitor will return and Sarah will have a son is deserving of
ridicule, and that’s why Sarah laughs.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It’s crazy!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But God is always
doing crazy things.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Forming a covenant with a broken
people? Crazy!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Welcoming us back again
and again when we chase after other gods?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Unbelievable!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Leading the Israelites
out of Egypt with a pillar of cloud and fire?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Absurd!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Coming among us as Jesus Emmanuel,
a baby with dirty diapers?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Insane!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Feeding thousands of people with one loaf of
bread? No way!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rising from the dead? <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Preposterous!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Forming a church that will last for centuries from a rag tag group of
maybe believers?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ridiculous!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But is anything too ridiculous for the
Lord?!?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I can’t talk about this crazy joy about
all the strange and wonderful things God does, without pointing out how close
joy is to sadness.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How close we are to
laughing and crying at the same time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
cry when we are sad and we cry when we are happy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We laugh when we are sad and we laugh when we
are happy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I tell you there are a lot of
jokes at my house right now about my own illness.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s how I deal with sadness and
heartbreak.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If there’s a joke in there,
I’m going to find it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sarah laughs
because she is so sad, she laughs because it’s all she has, and even though she
laughs when Isaac is born, I’m sure she cried too.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s how we respond to deep emotion.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I apologize if you haven’t read it yet
but in the wonderful book, ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” there is
a lot of fear.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is a lot to be
afraid of in the world that Harry is growing up in, and there are very real and
threatening forces that put him in danger.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>In that book, JK Rowling imagines a spell that helps the children
conquer their fear, and the spell is “Riddikulus”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is a ghost like thing called a boggart
that will take the form of whatever you fear most.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So when it approaches you, you see the most
frightening thing in your world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To
conquer this fear, the wizard cries “riddikulus” and the boggart becomes
something silly instead.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The fear and sadness
are turned to laughter.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I bring that up, because I think this
idea of God being able to do, even being inclined to do ridiculous things can
be a powerful antidote to the fear and pain we live with every day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If we can laugh, if we can find humor in our
pain, then we have something to lift us up out of the mire.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s a way to deal with things.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just like the spell can zap away the
frightening power of the boggart, so the laughter about whatever ails us, can
take away some of our fear and worry.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It’s a way of gaining control again, over things that seem so out of
control.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m not saying we should laugh
at the pain of the world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But I am saying
that laughter is a key to hope.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For is
anything too ridiculous for God?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We love to say that Sarah laughed
because she didn’t believe, that’s what all the commentaries say and that’s how
everybody reads this, but I wonder if Sarah didn’t laugh because she did
believe.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Because she had hoped for so
long, because she still had faith, because it was a way of dealing with her
disappointment, because it was a way of finding joy in the sadness.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The promise the visitor makes is absurd, that
she would bear a child in old age.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And
yet she hopes she will, and so she smiles and laughs.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Why not?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Is anything too ridiculous for God?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As you go out into the world this week,
I want to encourage you to imagine and embrace all the wonderfully ridiculous
ways God is working in our world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the
face of suffering and hardship, faith itself can seem ridiculous and absurd.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But we know we worship a God who does absurd,
preposterous, and ridiculous things all the time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We worship a God who will fulfill promises
made.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We worship a God who longs to
bring healing and wholeness to our world.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>And our God will accomplish that through the ridiculous actions of a rag
tag bunch of believers like us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whatever
problem you face, whatever hopelessness you see, whatever place feels most
broken to you, feel free to laugh and cry.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Then ask yourself, “Is anything to ridiculous for the Lord?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I sure hope not! Amen.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-37672898841123081432019-09-09T09:43:00.002-05:002019-09-09T09:43:43.182-05:00Created in Relationship
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">September 8<sup>th</sup>,
2019<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Created in Relationship”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">Genesis 2:4b-25 with
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This morning we begin something new in
worship, the narrative lectionary.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This
preaching cycle will begin my 14<sup>th</sup> year preaching my way through the
church calendar.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After 13 years of the
revised common lectionary, which is over 4 times through the three year cycle,
I have decided to try something new.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>When I was at the Festival of Homiletics preaching conference last
spring I heard about this alternative cycle of readings, the narrative
lectionary.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is a four year cycle of
readings that annually cover the biblical narrative with a goal of centering us
as believers in God’s story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>From now
through Advent we will follow the cycle of the Old Testament, then we will read
the Gospel from Christmas to Easter, and then after Easter we will read about
the early church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The idea is that in a
whole year we will get the whole scope of the scripture readings, or the narrative
of the story that is the Bible.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Some of
these readings will be familiar to us, and some we may never have read
before.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Either way, this is new
territory for me and for you and my prayer is that this will be a season of
fruitful thought and reflection.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What better place to begin our reading
of the whole Biblical story then at the beginning?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today we will hear the story of creation, but
this is a story you might be less familiar with. Unlike Genesis chapter one
where God creates a new thing each day and calls it all good, Genesis chapter 2
tells a different story of creation.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Wait a minute!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Two different
stories?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Two conflicting accounts?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The ancient Israelites didn’t have any trouble holding these two ideas
in contrast to each other.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Unlike our
modern tension between evolution vs creationism, the ancient Israelites had no
such sense of things being either/or.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Rather, they were able to hold all these differing stories
together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The creation narrative was never
meant to be a scientific explanation of the beginnings of the world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rather, it was always meant to be a
story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is not about how we were
made or where we come from.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rather this
is about how much God loves us and how God created us to live in the
world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is all about relationships,
not about science.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So let’s read this
story together.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Genesis 2:4b-25)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wow, isn’t this a different telling
than the one we are more familiar with in Genesis 1?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Gone is the structure and order, gone is the
God who has a plan, and gone is the idea that creation was made good or perfect.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This creation tells a story of a God who is
learning as God creates and this creation is called “not good”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Let’s look closely at each element.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In this beginning everything is
connected.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We start with no plants
because we have no rain yet and no workers to till the ground.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There cannot be plants without the connection
of nature and man to work together. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
Lord begins by forming man from the dust of the ground.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like a potter with clay this is a “hands on”
activity.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The man is fashioned and
shaped, each curve and mark lovingly added.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Think of that the next time you bemoan your own shape in the bathroom
mirror.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>From your ear lobe to your elbow
all the way down to your big toe, all those curves and crevices were designed
by a loving creator.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But man is just a form of dust.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is no life in us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God must breathe into us spirit and that is
what happens next.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The breath of life,
the very air that is God’s life force, is blown into our airways, giving us our
own breath and life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is what makes
the man more than a dirt creature; this is what makes the man a living
being.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And now that we have a person to
work the earth, the lord plants a garden.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I love the word usage here.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes,
the Lord makes the plants grow but the Lord first plants the garden.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Anyone who has worked a garden themselves
knows the joy of digging a hole, planting a seed, and waiting for life to
sprout.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Lord doesn’t speak a garden
into being.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In this story, God plants a
garden with God’s hands.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The next section tells us about the
rivers near the garden.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We hear about
their origin source and into what other lands they flow.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Notice that there are other lands outside this
garden of Eden.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And if there are other
lands, then surely there are other people who named and lived in those
lands.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Why do we always assume that Eden
was the only place where people were?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The Bible doesn’t tell it that way.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Lord takes the man he has made and
puts the man in the garden.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The man has
a job.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes, work at creation!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Work is good and part of our created order.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The man is given the task of tilling the
garden the Lord has made.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The man needs
the garden and the garden needs the man.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Already, relationship is being established as the root of creation.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is so interesting here in verse 18
where the Lord God looks at the man and the creation and decides it is “not
good”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is so different from chapter
one where everything is good over and over.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Here is a creation that is “not good”.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Here is a creation that is unfinished, that needs more.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But what does creation need?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God will have to try a few things to come up
with the right answer.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>First God forms all the animals and the
birds.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just like the man, all of the
other creatures are fashioned from the dust and filled with the breath of
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Together God and man engage in an
act of co-creation as God presents all of the animals to the man and the man
gives all the animals their names.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Again
this is all about relationship.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Names will be an important theme in our
first few sermons of the narrative lectionary, and names are an important mark
of relationship.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here man names all the
animals, the first steps of forming community. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just like the first thing you do when you
bring home a new pet, you give it a name so a bond can be formed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Even farmers name their farm animals, like
all the cows out a Jeff and Dianna’s farm are named after hurricanes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is how we tell animals apart and it is how
we refer to the animals.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The first thing
you do when you meet someone is exchange names.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The act of naming is an act of creation and it is an act that is
grounded in relationship.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Even with all the animals, nothing is a
suitable partner for the man, and so the Lord God tries something completely
different.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rather than forming a new
creature from the dust, God forms a creature from the very substance of
man.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Taking a rib from the sleeping man,
God forms the perfect partner, a woman.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>And no, men don’t have fewer ribs then women.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Remember this is a story and not a science
class.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This new creation is just what was
missing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rather than being another mud
creature, this is bone of bone and flesh of flesh.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is the perfect complement to man.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Man looks at the woman in wonder; this is the
ish-ahh to the ish in Hebrew.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is
the whoa . . . to the man.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is what
will fulfill the need for relationship.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>With
only God, man was unhappy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>With only
animals, man was unhappy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We need to be
in relationship with other people for creation to be complete.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Creation was not good until relationship was
formed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And so, the story teller says,
we continue to pair off, attempting to share the whole of who we are with
another person.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We develop a practice of
forming new family units and sharing our lives without shame.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our text for today is a great example of
scripture as story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The God we read
about in Genesis 2 is learning and growing. This God doesn’t have a plan for
creation, rather this God is learning along the way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This God is trying new things and
experimenting.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This God is looking for
answers to problems.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And this God is co-creating
with man.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whatever man names the animals
God calls them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And it is man who
decides when the right partner is found, not God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The earth creature is driving the story as
much as the divine creator.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we read this text in our modern
setting it serves as a great reminder to us of the role we play in
creation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are made to be in
relationship with all of the things that God has made.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This story reminds us that all of these
things are connected.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There can be no
plants without the hand of man to sow and till the fields.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All of the animals, though not perfect, are
our partners.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We don’t stand atop some hierarchy
of creation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rather, we are simply one
part of an interwoven system.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
animals were made the same way we were and they possess the same breath of
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Doesn’t that call us to treat them
with respect?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The plants were formed by
the same God who formed our bodies; doesn’t that call us to treat them with
care?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This earth is not ours for the
taking.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rather this earth is part of a
system we were formed to be in togetherness with.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We were created to be in relationship with
all other parts of creation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As our
collective greed threatens death to our planet, we threaten death to our very
selves.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As generations have passed, God has
continued to form a people.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We were
created to be in relationship with God and with each other.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our Psalm for today reminds us that God has
lovingly fashioned each of us with care.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Paralleling the vision of a God forming us out of the clay of mud, the Psalmist
tells of a God who knits us together in our mother’s womb.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like a grandma knitting a scarf, God
carefully fashions each row upon row that will make up our being.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This God knows us intimately; this God is one
with us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are fearfully and
wonderfully made, and we are wonderfully known by this God who sees each moment
of our day.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our story for today reminds us that God
has formed each one of us, in all our unique ways, with love.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Not everyone will find a partner like the
story says, and some partnerships look different then woman and man, but
everyone needs to be in relationship.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
need our relationship with God and we need our relationship with each
other.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Be it the community of church or
work, school or home, family or friends, each of us is made to be with
others.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And so too, we were made to be
part of the beautiful and connected created world, from the plants and animals,
to the birds and fish.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All of these
things were made to work together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the creation story of Genesis 2 we
read that humans were made and it was not good for us to be alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And so God formed all the plants and animals,
as well as other humans, so that we could be in relationship with each
other.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>May we remember and honor all of
these relationships, from the ant under our foot to the birds of the air, from
the fish of the sea to our neighbor in the pew.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>All of the life on this planet is part of the good and glorious
interconnected creation made by a God who loves us and who loves all the rest of
creation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-44902444138736537652019-09-03T10:03:00.001-05:002019-09-03T10:03:11.602-05:00Table Manners
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">September 1<sup>st</sup>,
2019<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Table Manners”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rev. Heather
Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;">Luke 14:1-24</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Well, we are finished with Paul, and I
was all excited about starting the Narrative Lectionary today which is a new
cycle of readings that I haven’t tried before.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Imagine my surprise when I sat down early this week and realized the Narrative
Lectionary doesn’t start until next week!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>So we have one lone Sunday, just hanging out here between Paul and the
great arc of the Bible narrative.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So
what do we do?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We go to dinner with
Jesus . . .</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Luke 14:1-24)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wow!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>After a summer with Paul isn’t it great to get a dose of Jesus taking it
to the religious leaders with his crazy stories and parables.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This guy pulls no punches.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Context is always important to set the
story in its proper place.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is the
Sabbath, the holy day of rest, and Jesus has been invited to eat with the
Pharisees, or the religious elite of the day.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>This is not an invitation born of welcome, rather this is an attempt on
their part to watch Jesus and see if they can catch him making mistakes.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The story begins with a man with
dropsy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We call this edema now, an
excess of fluids in and around vital organs.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Uncomfortable today and probably unbearable in Jesus’ time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus is the one to start the verbal
wrangling, asking if it is lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus knows they are not here to dine
together in fellowship; rather this is a show down of religious opinions and
practice.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Pharisees don’t answer;
Jesus heals the man away from the crowd, and then reminds them that they too
should do no less.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We wouldn’t think
twice about getting our pack animal out of a hole on the Sabbath, so why do we
think twice about healing a brother or sister in the Lord?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It seems like the Pharisees only want to
follow religious law when it is convenient for them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Put a check mark in the Jesus column as the
Pharisees remain silent.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now it is dinner time and everyone is
lounging about on those silly couches like they did.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus is watching the religious elite
negotiate the places of honor at the table.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Who gets to sit where?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It
matters!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Once again Jesus comes out
swinging by calling everyone out on their arrogant behavior.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Who are you to assume you should have the
head seat at the table?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sitting down low
and being invited to move up is way better than sitting up high and being told
to move down.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Those who exalt themselves
will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Humble religious elite sounds like an
oxymoron doesn’t it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think that’s two
checks in the Jesus column.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Next up, Jesus insults the man who
invited him to the party.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now I know
this is Jesus and we love Jesus but he is being such a jerk at this party.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No sooner do the words about humility fall
out of his mouth, but then he turns around and chastises the host regarding the
guest list.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m just saying, step back a
bit and Jesus is really a bit of a know it all at this event.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No wonder he was always making people so
angry.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Anyway, Jesus tells the host that he
shouldn’t invite his friends or relatives or rich neighbors to a party.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The host should invite the poor, crippled,
the lame, and the blind.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In this we will
be blessed, for those who are in need, cannot repay the meal.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instead “you will be repaid at the
resurrection of the righteous”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No reply
from the host or the other Pharisees and so I guess this is a third checkmark
in the Jesus column for the night.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I love this guy in verse 15 calling out
“Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Way to try to ease the tension buddy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I can totally see myself raising a glass and
shouting that out!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Enough conversation,
let’s eat!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But of course Jesus won’t let
anyone off the hook that easily.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Out he
comes swinging again with yet another awkward parable.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All the up and comings are invited to a
dinner but no one will show up.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So
everyone else is invited instead.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As the
party gets rolling the master calls for even more of the earth’s vulnerable
rejects.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Fill the house with those no
one wants he cries, the last thing I want to do it let the jerks I originally
invited have the chance to come to the party now!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And that’s where Luke ends the
narrative of this Sabbath dinner party.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The Pharisees who invited Jesus to check him out sure got an earful that
night.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This Jesus guy makes it clear he
doesn’t give a hoot about our customs and cultures, he isn’t interested in our
status and social practices, and he does not care about religious
tradition.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus is here to challenge
everything and to pull the whole system down.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Of course, none of this is new to
us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We know that Jesus came to challenge
the status quo.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And we know that Jesus
made some very important people very angry.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Why else would the religious authorities and the government system
conspire to take him down?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Why else
would he be killed?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus challenges
everything we hold dear, that’s just the nature of who he is and what he came
to do.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So, obviously we weren’t at this dinner
party, and we are not Pharisees.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What do
Jesus’ words in this chapter of Luke have for us today?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The way I read it, all of these lessons
offered around the dinner table have something to say about privilege and how
we understand our place in the world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus
might have bad manners at the table but he is encouraging all of us to have
good manners out in the world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
Pharisees are on top of the religious and social order of their day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>These are the important dudes!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And all of the stories Jesus tells aim to
take them down a peg.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I imagine that is
a lesson all of us could hear every now and again.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is a lot that could be said about
arrogance in our modern world that connects with the position of the Pharisees
in our story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am thinking of Pastors
who say that God wants them to have private jets or million dollar
mansions.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s arrogance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am thinking of a certain someone in a
church I used to serve who would always walk around saying “I am the most
humble person I know.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No joke!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s arrogance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am thinking of all the ways we assume
positions of privilege like the Pharisees did at this dinner party.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just because you presume to be a priority in this
world doesn’t mean you are God’s favorite.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Just because you are someone important here, doesn’t mean you are
someone important to God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Arrogant
thought leads to bad manners.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We need to be careful of course with
all this up/down, humble/exalted language.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>All of these Biblical texts have been studied and preached on for centuries
by white men.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All of the things we say
in church are colored by that history.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>So it is one thing to read this text in a mostly white, mostly
heterosexual church and understand our need to step down a notch.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But oppressed groups, from women, to people
of color, to LGBTQ, might hear this a different way, right?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Those who have been stepped on might read
this text as an opportunity to step up to the table, right?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think that is where Jesus is going
with his parables about inviting everyone to the dinner party.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Those in power and authority, those in the
ruling class, the elite and the mighty, they are already going to dinner.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The 1% are living it up together and leaving
the rest of us behind.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus is instead,
calling everyone else to the welcome table.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Jesus is saying that everyone else is welcome in the kingdom of God and
they are welcome first.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The top places
in the kingdom of God are for the bottom dwellers here on earth.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Everyone is invited to the banquet, and the
last shall be first while the first wait their turn back at the end of the
line.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rather than trying to figure out where
we land on some heavenly hierarchy, I think the best lesson we can take from
this morning’s reading is in how we live our lives today.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All of this junk about who sits where and who
goes to what party is all sort of tit-for-tat thinking.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s all sorts of selfish thinking.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just like if I get my donkey out of a hole on
the Sabbath that helps me, but if I heal you on the Sabbath that only helps
you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A lot of people move through life
thinking if I do this for you, then what are you going to do for me?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think Jesus’ goal is to encourage self-less
thinking instead.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think Jesus is
trying to get us to approach each day not in a “what can you do for me?” kind
of mindset, but in a “what can I do for you?” kind of attitude.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think that Jesus would invite us to
consider how we approach the world each day.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Do we wake up looking for blessings for ourselves or do we strive to
find ways in which we can be a blessing to others?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I don’t think Jesus would tell us not to
celebrate meals with our family and friends.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>But I do think Jesus would challenge us to consider who else we might
invite into that circle of welcome.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When
we see those who are suffering do we judge them or do we welcome them?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do we place ourselves above them or do we
recognize their equal status in the kingdom of God?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>At the dinner party story Luke is telling,
Jesus doesn’t have very good table manners.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He does things that are upsetting and he criticizes the host.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When folks try to dial down the tension Jesus
just dials it back up an extra notch.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And
while I don’t recommend anyone ask themselves “what would Jesus do?” at their
next dinner party, I do think we could take a few of Jesus’ lessons to
heart.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How do we understand our place in the
world compared to others?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Who is God
lifting up and who is being humbled in the kingdom?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How do our religious rules block out those
whom God seeks to welcome?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Who do we
invite to our tables and why?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How do we
share our resources with those who have and those who have not?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And finally, when we get to the welcome table
and all are there, what sort of table manners will we have?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">My prayer is that we would strive
each day to be a blessing to others.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Live life humble, live life for others, have good manners, and share
God’s love. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-35621128783034605522019-08-26T11:48:00.001-05:002019-08-26T11:48:28.618-05:00Mission Accomplished
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">August
25<sup>th</sup>, 2019<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Mission Accomplished”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Summer
Sermon Series: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Amazing Adventures of
Paul</i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Acts
28</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wow friends!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is hard to believe that we have reached
the final Sunday of August and the end of our summer sermon series, “The
Amazing Adventures of Paul.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This has
been an exciting and informative summer as we have read nearly the entire Book
of Acts in worship and have discussed all of Paul’s many adventures.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’ve followed Paul as he was encountering
Jesus on the road to Damascus and surviving a stoning and being left for dead
in Lystra.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’ve marveled as he prayed
and sang his way to freedom in a Philippian jail and as he preached of an unknown
god on Mars Hill.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We laughed and smiled
as Paul preached so long in Troas that someone fell asleep and fell out of the
window to die, only to be healed by Paul.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>And we have held our breath as Paul has survived the constant threat of
mob violence, torture, imprisonment, and trial.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Last Sunday we read about Paul’s dangerous sea voyage, leaving Caesarea
under Roman guard and crash landing on an unknown island.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul’s faith was the only thing that kept him
and his shipmates alive and today we find out what happens next in this, the
last chapter of Acts.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 28:1-6)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The survivors of the shipwreck realize
that they are on the island of Malta.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A
common stop on the Roman shipping lines, the natives of the island have seen
travelers like this before.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As a large
fire is being built Paul helps out grabbing some sticks to add and unknowingly
grabbing a snake as well.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As the bundle
nears the fire the panicked snake tries to escape the heat, latching on to Paul’s
hand in the process.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The islanders have
been watching the scene and are sure now that Paul will die.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He is obviously a prisoner and has done
something wrong.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Since he survived the
shipwreck they figure karma is catching up to him now with the snake.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But Paul simply shakes the viper off his
hand.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God still has plans for Paul to
preach in Rome, he doesn’t have time for deadly snakebites!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For the second time in our story the people
around Paul begin to wonder if he isn’t a god himself.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 28:7-10)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The man in charge of this island
community, Publius, provides hospitality for the shipwrecked crew.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>His father is ill, and Paul visits the man
and offers healing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It doesn’t take long
for word of Paul’s power and status to spread and before long he has cured
everyone on the island who was unwell.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Paul and his powerful God are a hot commodity wherever they go.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The community is thankful and loads up the
ship with provisions once it is finally time to depart.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 28:11-15)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After three months the weather is
finally right to set sail again.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
merchant crew and prisoners of Rome finally arrive in their destination.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Believers come to greet Paul from miles
around and his spirits are lifted knowing not only has he reached his goal, but
that God has already spread the good news of Jesus here in preparation for his
arrival.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 28:16-22)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Even though he has arrived in Rome,
Paul is not free, and he remains guarded at all times.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Under house arrest, he encourages the Jewish
community to come to him to hear about his plight.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Once again he explains his case, that he is a
loyal Jew, and has done nothing deserving imprisonment or death under either
Jewish or Roman law.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Jewish leaders
though have heard bad things about this new movement and so ask to meet with Paul
another time for more information.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 28:23-28)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So Jews from around Rome come to Paul’s
apartment day and night and over and over again Paul explains his faith in
Jesus and his mission to spread the word.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Following a pattern we are well familiar with, some believe and some do
not.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul summarizes his time with them
using a quote from the prophet Isaiah, claiming that this generation has shut
their eyes and ears, and turned their backs on the God they say they love.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Again Paul declares that his mission will be
to the Gentiles.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 28:30-31)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The story ends here, saying that Paul
lived for two years under house arrest in Rome.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Though Paul is not free to visit the streets or the synagogues of the
city, his mission has been accomplished.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He has had many visitors and has had the opportunity to preach in the
great city, proclaiming the kingdom of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ to
all who would listen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And so our story ends.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Scholars have often wondered why the author
of Acts didn’t finish the story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
don’t have a historical record of Paul’s death but the church tradition teaches
that he was eventually beheaded by Emperor Nero, probably sometime between 64
and 68 AD.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Written sometime in the 80s
the writer of Acts surely knew that Paul was killed in Rome.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And yet they leave the ending of their epic
drama wide open, with Paul preaching the word in Rome unhindered.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Throughout this summer sermon series we
have sought to take inspiration from Paul’s story and I don’t think this week
is any different.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul’s road from mob
riots to shipwrecks has not been easy, and yet in many ways his challenges
mirror our own.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We all know what it is
to come up against seemingly unmovable obstacles.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And we all know what it is like to sail the
stormy seas with only our faith as a guide.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Throughout his life as told in Acts, Paul has a firm grasp on two
things: his deep faith in God, and his desire to share that faith with others.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I think we can get a sense of Paul’s interior
faith when we look deeper at his quote from Isaiah.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul is quoting Isaiah chapter six, and if
you flip back in your Bible you will find that this is the part where Isaiah
tells his own call story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is the
story of a heavenly vision, of six winged seraphs, of loud voices of praise,
earthquake and smoke.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The seraph touches
Isaiah’s mouth with a hot coal and urges him to go to the people.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Isaiah cries, “Here I am, send me!” and God
immediately tells him his mission will be a failure.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">And here is where Paul quotes him,
“Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and
you will indeed look, but never perceive.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of
hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their
eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn –
and I would heal them.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Isaiah knows
that people will not listen to him, and here at the end of his missionary
journey, Paul knows it as well.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He has
made it to Rome, but the people here are no more ready to hear the word of God
then the people of any other place he has tried to preach.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">And yet, Paul’s mission is a
success.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul preaches on.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He knows most people won’t hear and
understand, he knows that most people will write him off as crazy or worse as a
criminal, but he also knows that he has no choice but to preach the
gospel.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The call within his heart is
that strong, that nothing can stop him from telling other people about the love
of God he has found in Christ Jesus.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>What an inspiration.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I imagine that many of you can guess
where I am going with this sermon, for we too live in a generation like Isaiah’s
and Paul’s.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We too live in a time when
people listen but don’t understand, when they look at things but don’t really
see what is going on.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We too live in a
time when people have closed their eyes and stopped up their ears to the truth.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We too live in a time when people have turned
their hearts from God and reject the healing and wholeness that God
offers.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And so we too, are called, to
share our faith with the world around us.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We too are called to continue the mission and ministry of Paul.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I know it can be hard to talk to
other people about our faith.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
Presbyterians are not known for our strong sense of evangelism, and yet this
sharing is exactly what God calls us to do.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The hard part, at least for me, is a fear of rejection.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am so afraid of someone misunderstanding,
or judging, or getting in an argument that I just don’t say anything at
all.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here at church the light of my
faith shines like a beacon, out in the world I am quite a bit dimmer.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, I let it glow with good
deeds and kindness, but I’m not a spotlight kind of gal.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m more of a “show them who you are by what
you do” kind of person.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I totally admire
those who can invite strangers and friends to church but that is not me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God made me a pastor, not an evangelist.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m not Paul going out to find believers; I’m
someone who stays behind to tend to the faith community.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">But even though I am not Paul, I know
I am called to share my faith with the world.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>And of course, you are too.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Each
of us is given a life, each of us is given a space for mission and ministry,
and each of us are called to use the gifts we have to share the love of God
with the world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s hard work, because
we know some won’t be able to hear us, but at the same time, we know that some
will.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just like Paul, some will
understand and appreciate the word we share, and others will reject us
outright.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There will always be those in
the generation that are closed off to the love of God.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">And so today, as we conclude the
“Amazing Adventures of Paul” I want to invite you to consider the mission field
you find yourself in.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>From the freedom
to preach to his years in chains, Paul never stopped sharing God’s love in the
world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How is God calling you today to
continue Paul’s mission?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In your daily
life, from work to home to those quiet moments when it is just you and God,
what are you being called to share?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How
are you being called to preach?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What
acts of love and charity are God prompting you to do this week?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Who is God calling you to be in our world?</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">I believe that God is calling all of
us to minister where we are in our own unique ways.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The mission of sharing the love of God isn’t
just for Isaiah and Paul and it isn’t just for pastors like me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The mission of sharing God’s love with the world
is for everybody.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The writer of the book of Acts ended
his story not with Paul’s death but with Paul’s life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul is proclaiming the kingdom of God and
teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My hope today is that we would be inspired to
do the same.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That whatever hinders us;
be it our fear, our shame, our lack of faith, our depression, our neighbors, or
our world, whatever hinders us, may it fall away and may we preach the gospel
as free people.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">As we close this sermon series I thank God for
the amazing deep and abiding faith that Paul had.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is a faith that inspires us, here and now,
to be the people of God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>May we continue
Paul’s mission and ministry, and may we share the love of God with the world,
this day and forever more.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Amen.</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-65381113143184665642019-08-19T09:37:00.001-05:002019-08-19T09:37:17.676-05:00Shipwreck!
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">August
18<sup>th</sup>, 2019<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Shipwreck!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rev.
Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Summer
Sermon Series: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Amazing Adventures of
Paul</i></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Acts
27</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This morning we continue our summer
sermon series “The Amazing Adventures of Paul.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>All summer long we have been chronicling Paul’s journey throughout the Roman
world as told in the book of Acts.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For
several weeks now our story has become mired in legal drama.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like the second half of a “Law and Order”
episode, we have been busy reading all about Paul’s many trials at the hands of
the Jewish ruling elite and the leaders of the Roman Empire.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have tried to make things exciting but in
many ways these chapters have been a challenge.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Luckily today the adventures return as Paul is forced to travel by boat
from the city of Caesarea across the Mediterranean Sea to his trial in Rome.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 27:1-12)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It can be hard to imagine the distances
involved in this sea voyage and so today I have given you a map as a bulletin
insert.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul’s journey begins where we
left off in Caesarea.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He has been
transferred to the care of Julius, a Roman Centurion who will be responsible
for getting Paul to Rome for a trial.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The travelers stop in Sidon and Myra where they finally find a sea worthy
ship to carry them to Italy.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The weather is bad and the winds are
strong.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A ship at this time has no way
of navigating or choosing direction apart from the winds.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The ship tries to stop in Cnidus but the
winds keep them from being able to reach the port and so they are swept down to
Fair Havens.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now it’s time to make a decision.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The writer of Acts tells us that the time of
the Fast has already come and gone.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Referring to a Jewish holiday this lets us know that it is sometime
between late September and early October.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The shipping lanes of the Mediterranean would be closed at this point on
account of the turbulent winter seas.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Paul cautions the community to stop now; they must wait until spring to
continue the voyage.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But the crew of the
ship is not interested in spending the winter in Fair Havens so they encourage
Julius to return to the waters and to try to make port in Phoenix.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 27:13-20)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As soon as the ship sails again
disaster strikes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A strong wind comes
and blows the ship away from the island of Crete.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The sailors are lost now, floating out in the
open sea and unable to control the direction of the boat.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They drop anchor to try to slow the boat’s
travel off course and as the ship is pounded on by the violent waves, the men
begin to throw everything they can overboard.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>From the cargo to the tackle needed for navigation, everything is
sacrificed to the storm.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Darkness falls
upon the ship, and without sun or stars to navigate their hope is lost.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 27:21-26)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Supplies are low and the sailors have
stopped eating.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul rises now and
declares that he has had a vision from God.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He knows that they will survive.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The ship will be destroyed but all the people onboard will live.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul encourages the crew, nonbelievers all of
them, to be of good courage.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He has
faith in God, and his God will keep him and everyone else safe on this perilous
voyage.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 27:27-32)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>At this point the ship has been
drifting aimlessly in the sea for over two weeks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Around midnight the crew begins taking
measurements and realizes that they are near land.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The hardened sailors then make a plan to abandon
the ship to Julius the centurion and his prisoners.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The crew will escape in a small boat under
cover of darkness.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But Paul learns of
the plot and encourages Julius and his soldiers to stop the crew from
leaving.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul can only guarantee the
safety of those who stay within the confines of the ship.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The plot is foiled; the ropes are cut, and
the small dingy floats away empty.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 27:33-38)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul realizes that he needs to minister
to this lost party on the high seas.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It
has been two weeks since anyone has eaten and he encourages everyone now to
dine.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In a move reminiscent of the Eucharist,
Paul takes bread, gives thanks, and breaks it for all to see.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Even in the midst of these dire circumstances
Paul thanks God for all the blessings that he has.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Everyone accepts Paul’s ministry, and though
they do not believe in his God, still they break bread together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>After all are full, the remaining food stores
are thrown overboard.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 27:39-44)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the morning the sky clears and the
sailors can see land and a bay in which they might run the ship ashore.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They cut anchors and make for the beach but
run aground on a sandbar instead.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As the
waves continue to pound the ship, the vessel begins to break apart.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The soldiers decide to kill all the prisoners
for at this point they cannot guarantee that they won’t escape.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But wishing to save Paul, Julius once again
steps in and prevents his soldiers from carrying out their plan.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Everyone who can swim jumps overboard and
tries to head for land.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Those who cannot
swim grab a piece of the broken ship and allow the waves to push them into the
shore.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And as promised, though battered
and broken, everyone survives to arrive safely on land.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today’s reading is an excellent account
of Paul’s deep faith in the Lord.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul
knows that God plans to have him preach the gospel in Rome and so he has faith
that he will survive this perilous sea voyage.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>After his vision he knows as well that God intends to save the whole
company of the ship, all 276 people, though God makes no promises that the ship
itself will last the voyage.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Imagine the faith that Paul must have
had.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The trip is a nightmare.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The weather is terrible, no one will listen
to Paul’s guidance to wait, and as soon as they head out they are blown off
course.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Imagine over two weeks floating
in stormy waters, unable to see the sun or stars.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Imagine watching as first the cargo and then
the rigging for navigation are thrown overboard.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Imagine not eating for two weeks because they
have no idea how long the journey will last.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If not for Paul all hope would be
lost.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul is hope itself.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He is so confident in God, he is so sure of
God’s salvation, not just spiritually in this moment but actual physical
salvation from the storm, that Paul is able to offer hope for everyone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul is the only man of faith onboard the
ship and he carries the hopes of the entire crew.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Julius relies on Paul’s faith to keep the soldiers
and prisoners safe.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As cracks appear in the crew, as folks
try to abandon ship, Paul knows he is the one who must keep everyone
together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He breaks bread and he offers
hope to everyone on board.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They share a
Eucharistic meal which encourages their faith for the journey ahead.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And the next day they crash on an island, the
ship breaking up as it runs aground.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It
is a complete disaster, except for the fact that no one dies.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Everyone is scared, hungry, and hurt but no
one dies.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul’s faith is not in vain,
and the God he worships rescues everyone from the storm.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just like the stories of Jesus on
stormy seas, this morning’s reading offers hope to us when we are in the midst
of life’s pressures and challenges.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just
like Paul, we are often tossed about on the storms of life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And just like Paul, we have faith in God’s
future for us, even if we don’t know what the immediate future might hold.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul knows he will get to Rome, he just can’t
see the way there.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He doesn’t understand
how a ship lost in a storm could take him to the place God has called him to
be, but he does have faith that God will get him there.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So too, we know where God is calling us to
be, we just don’t always understand what the path will look like, or what the
journey will hold.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the voyage at sea, the crew of the
ship loses all means of navigation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They
throw their tackle overboard so they cannot steer the ship.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And in the midst of the storm they cannot see
the sun or stars so they have no idea which direction to head in anyway.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They are completely lost and without
guidance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But they do have Paul, and
Paul has his faith in God.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The crew leans on Paul and his
faith.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Julius the centurion encourages
everyone to trust in what Paul has to say.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Paul is guided by a higher power, and he promises to keep the crew safe
if everyone simply follows his directions and trusts in his faith.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So too, in our own lives, sometimes we can’t
do it alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When the storms get really rough,
when the way becomes nothing but unknown darkness, sometimes we have to rely on
the faith of others to see us through.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>If we can’t muster enough faith of our own, we can fall back on the
faith of the church community to help us through our dark days.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul’s faith kept everyone on the ship safe
and alive.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So too, our faith can be a
beacon for others.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Or, when we are low,
we can hang on to the faith of others to help us through life’s storms.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The story of Paul in Acts is a reminder
that God never promises us an easy road.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>From the moment he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus Paul has
been suffering for his faith.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God has
led him to conflict with religion and government.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God has rescued Paul from mobs seeking to
lynch him in the street for the gospel message that he preaches.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And now God sends Paul to Rome via a
shipwreck.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The amazing thing about Paul
is that even though life with God is so very very hard, he continues to give
thanks.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He continues to worship, he
continues to have faith, he continues to trust, and he continues to lead others
to the way of salvation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Paul’s faith in God is truly amazing,
and it is an inspiration for all of us.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>God does not promise us a life of ease and pleasure, but God does
promise to be there with us when the storms of life threaten to overtake our
ship.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And on the days when we can’t do
it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On the days when we struggle to
muster faith in the midst of hardship, God sends us a Paul.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God sends us a friend whose hand we can hold,
who will help guide us through until we land on safer shores.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>May God be with all of us in the midst of the
struggles of this life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">And so we leave Paul for today,
shipwrecked on an island, lost at sea with nothing but his faith to keep him
going.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Next week is our final chapter,
so come back then as we conclude “The Amazing Adventures of Paul.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283996049286347611.post-34890422613139172742019-08-13T10:02:00.001-05:002019-08-13T10:02:16.409-05:00Kicking Against the Goads
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">August
11<sup>th</sup>, 2019<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Kicking Against the Goads”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Rev. Heather Jepsen</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Summer
Sermon Series: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Amazing Adventures of
Paul</i></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Acts
24-2</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is a joy to be back in worship with
you and I am eager to return to our summer sermon series, “The Amazing
Adventures of Paul.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All summer long we
have been chronicling Paul’s journey through the book of Acts.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>From his early days as fanatical Pharisee
turned rabble rouser, to his later years as church planter and preacher, Paul’s
journey has been most extraordinary and inspiring.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we last left our hero, Paul was
waiting for his trial, kept under guard in the headquarters of Herod.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Those who were here might remember that Paul
had sensed an end coming to his missionary journeys.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He had said goodbye to his churches and
encouraged the believers to keep sharing the good news in his absence.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He went to Jerusalem and caused a great
uproar by claiming that through the work of the Messiah Jesus Christ, God sent
him to welcome the Gentiles into the promise of salvation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This message challenged Jewish ideas of
nationalism and favor, and an angry mob tried to kill Paul.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He was taken under guard and arrested by the
Roman authorities.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul appears to have
committed no crime under the Roman law, and yet the Jews claim he has committed
crimes worthy of death.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Unable to keep
him safe, the tribune in Jerusalem sends Paul on to Caesarea to the governor
there.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today our story picks up with Paul’s
trial in Caesarea under governor Felix.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We have a lot of ground to cover today, three chapters, so most of
chapter 24 I am just going to summarize rather than read.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As usual, the angry Jews have followed Paul
and once again they bring their charges.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>When Paul is invited to give his defense, he again claims that he has
done nothing wrong under Roman law but is simply preaching resurrection.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The governor Felix cannot make a firm
decision about Paul’s case.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He sees that
Paul is innocent of a crime against Roman law, and yet he does not want to lose
favor with the ruling Jews.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So, he
decides to simply hold Paul indefinitely in prison.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While he allows Paul’s friends to come and go
bringing comfort and aid, Paul must wait in chains for two years, until Felix’s
term expires.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The final verse of the
chapter reads, “After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius
Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in
prison.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Two years is a long time to
wait for justice.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 25:1-12)</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here we have Paul being tried once
again before the authorities in Caesarea.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Festus picks up where Felix left off, and he is not eager to keep Paul
imprisoned for no good reason.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Jews
ask the trial be moved back to Jerusalem, but they only want another
opportunity to ambush and kill Paul.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>They again make their case that Paul is stirring up trouble, which is
the only legal argument they have.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If
Paul is found to be causing an uprising or riot, then he would be committing a
crime worthy of death under the Roman law.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Paul again claims the disagreement is a religious one and not a civil
one and at this point he asks for his trial to be moved to the Emperor’s
court.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As a Roman citizen, Paul has a
right to a trial in Rome.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 25:13-27)</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>King Agrippa and his sister Bernice
come now to visit Festus in Caesarea.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Agrippa is a Jew of the Herodian family, those who have wedded
themselves to the Roman Empire for power.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Festus tells Agrippa all about Paul and his trial and as he is
intrigued, Agrippa asks that he himself be granted an audience with Paul.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 26:1-23)</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here Paul makes his most impassioned
defense yet.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Once again he retells his
story, from his days as a Pharisee pursing the law of God to his chance
encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul tells of his mission to spread the
gospel far and wide and claims that he has done nothing to deserve imprisonment
let alone punishment under Roman or even Jewish law.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Read Acts 26:24-32)</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In one of the better lines of
scripture, Festus declares that Paul has gone crazy, “Too much learning is
driving you insane!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s a great slogan,
especially for a college town.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But Paul
declares that no, he is not insane, and not only that but he thinks he may have
convinced King Agrippa of the truth that he preaches.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The King casts such thoughts aside, declaring
he will not be converted in a day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Though he has not converted to
following Paul, King Agrippa does appear to agree that Paul is innocent of the
charges brought against him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is too
bad Paul has asked for a trial in Rome, because at this point Agrippa would
encourage Festus to simply let Paul go. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As it is, their hands are tied; Paul’s next
stop is the capital of the Empire.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is not the first time we have
heard Paul tell the story of his conversion experience and the call that Jesus
placed upon his life, but it is the first time that Paul has added this quote,
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It hurts you to kick against the goads.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>While this may be a famous line of scripture, a bit of it is lost in the
translation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The word translated goad is
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kenton</i> which is a stick with a
sharpened point.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Similar to what we
would refer to as a “cattle prod” today, the kenton was used to prod, or goad,
a herd or specific animal into moving in a certain direction.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>An animal that would kick against the goads
is an animal that is fighting against the shepherd.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Less well known is that the phrase was common
in the Roman literature of the time to refer to the futility of pushing against
a greater power, namely the Roman Empire.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I was really drawn to this turn of
phrase this week, as I see two “greater” powers acting in Paul’s life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One, of course, is the power of God that is
moving Paul towards Rome in the continuing quest to spread the gospel of Jesus
Christ.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The other power that pushes
against Paul is the power of the Roman Empire itself.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And Paul continues to suffer as he kicks
against the prodding of the Empire.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In his own life, Paul has had to decide
which force he will follow, which power he will worship and serve.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Lord of all has prodded Paul into a certain
path, the path of prophet and preacher.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Paul was reluctant to follow this calling from God, but in his
conversion, he turned his heart toward Jesus and ever since he has been
faithfully following the path that God has lain before him.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Prior to his conversion, I imagine Paul
followed the goading of the Roman Empire.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>As we have seen throughout the book of Acts, the Jewish ruling elite are
buddy/buddy with the powers of Empire.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>(Again a warning against anti-Semitism: these “Jews” are enemy
characters in the book of Acts and do not in any way represent our Jewish brothers
and sisters throughout history.)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Prior to his conversion, Paul was
part of this system of power, hunting down Christians to keep the Roman Empire
and the Jewish religion calm and controlled.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Now that Paul is kicking against the goads of empire, the system of
power has come crashing down on him.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Paul cannot serve both God and empire, and in his call to serve God,
Paul has brought down the wrath of the Jewish elite and the Roman Empire upon
himself.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As I was studying the text this week I
was struck once again by the similarity between Paul’s story and our own
stories.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We too, are pressed upon by
powers outside of ourselves.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We too, are
prodded into action (or non-action) by both the power of empire and the power
of God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We too, must choose which path
we will follow.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do we follow the
prodding of the American empire and just go along to get along.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Or do we follow the prodding of God, who
calls us to stand up for justice, to speak truth to power, and to live in such
a way that we show the love of God by loving <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> of our neighbors?</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This past week, as the discussions of
gun violence and the questions about gun control continue to circle in our
country, I cannot help but wonder whose path we are following.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like the leaders in Acts, who know that Paul
is innocent but refuse to release him because they want to curry the favor of
the powerful, our leaders today continue in a pattern of indifference and
inaction.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In a desire to serve the
empire, to not rock the boat, and to keep the donation dollars flowing in, our
leaders drag their feet on the gun issue.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Even though over 90% of Americans support more background checks, they
refuse to vote or even have conversation on the measure.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The power of empire ties their hands as they
continue down a path that embraces the weaponry of violence.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In contrast, God calls us to follow a
path of non-violence.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God calls us to
peacefulness, to love, to compassion, and to care.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Every person shot in this country, be it in a
mass shooting, in street violence, or in an accidental discharge of a firearm
is someone’s mother or father, brother or sister, child or grandchild.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Every single person that dies is of value to someone,
is loved by someone, and is most importantly, loved and valued by our God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have no excuse for this continuing
epidemic.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is time that we stop
kicking against the goads and make a stand for common sense gun legislation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today we gather around the communion
table and we remember the core of the story that Paul was telling.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is the table of Jesus Christ, who came
as a Messiah not to bring about the glory of the nation of Israel, but to bring
about the glory of salvation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is
the God we worship, who when confronted with violence did not raise arms in
response but instead raised his arms upon the cross crying, “Forgive them
father, for they know not what they do.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We worship the suffering servant, not the conquering god of empire.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And as long as we gather here to eat this
bread of Christ’s body and drink the cup of Christ’s blood we can never forget
that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And so today as I invite you to this
table, I also want to invite you to consider the powers that push upon your
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What path is God prodding you to
follow today?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And what path is the
empire encouraging you to follow?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul
made his choice clear.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And while he
stopped kicking against the goads of the Lord, he would suffer the wrath of
empire in chains.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We can serve only one
master.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Next week we will continue our
adventure, as Paul begins his journey toward Rome.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Come back then and we will continue the
“Amazing Adventures of Paul”.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Amen.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%; margin: 16px 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Pastor Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00379261505619447831noreply@blogger.com0