SERMON: "Get Your Head in the Clouds"

"GET YOUR HEAD IN THE CLOUDS"
Matthew 17:1-9 Exodus 24:12-18

I used to enjoy hiking mountain trails. My favorite one was the one to the chimneys in the Smokies. I probably hiked it about 15 times. The last time was the summer after I turned fifty – just one month before my son’s wedding. It was something I wanted to do to mark that birthday milestone in my life. My wife, Dorothy, and our two adult children, Jeremy & Megan, agreed to do it with me.

There was something very different about that time than the first time I hiked it. My memory of that first time with my children was that we had to stop a lot because they were tired. We had to take water breaks and trail mix breaks. I remember consciously trying to be very patient with them. The something different was that they kept checking to see if Dorothy and I were OK, if we wanted to stop! (In one of Erma Bombeck's books she has a chapter titled: "When Did I Become the Mother and the Mother Become the Child." Yea, it was something like that!) (1)

While I'm quite sure it was the physical challenge of the climb that motivated my first climb, it was the experience when I got to the top that became the reason for all future climbs. There is just something wonderful about finishing the climb – being on top of a mountain and being able to see for miles – the being able to take in the absolute majesty of God’s creation from that perspective. There’s something exhilarating, calming, healing, spiritual about being on top of a mountain. I know it has partially to do with the air that’s breathed. But, it also has to do with this sense of serenity and peace – that all is fine with the world. There is a sense in which God seems closer – more real – more present.

One of the images that is forever captured in my mind is the image of being in the midst of the clouds or above the clouds when on top of the chimneys. It’s the one that comes into my mind when I read about Moses’ experience at the top of Mt. Sinai and the one that inspired the sermon title. It’s important at times for us to get our heads in the clouds What I mean by that is that it’s important for us to take time to be with God. There’s something transforming – transfiguring – about spending time with God – being in God’s presence - experiencing majesty and mystery.

Moses and Jesus were facing some challenges in their lives. Jesus knew that the things he was teaching were leading him to the cross. He needed some confirmation that the course he was on was the correct one. He needed to gain strength from God by seeing things from God’s perspective for awhile. He needed to see things through a different set of lenses – from a different point of view and the mountain was certainly a good place to do that.

Now, not all transforming experiences happen on mountains – not all “getting our heads in the clouds” involve an encounter with the clouds of nature. Sometimes it involves a simple getting away from what is familiar – a spending time reflecting on what’s going on around you and within you and the relationship between the two.
 
Several years ago my daughter, Megan, wrote a paper for a high school English class. I've used it several times when referencing transforming experiences suggestive of helping us understand this Transfiguration text. Her paper attempted to capture the uniqueness of the experience she had while on a mission trip to the coal-mining community of Gary, West Virginia. Her experiences on that trip left a mark on her life that influences how she lives and how she does her ministry. There was a transfiguring – a transforming – that took place in her. She titled her paper, “Touched By the Hearts of Gary, West Virginia.” While I’m not going to share the whole paper with you in the sermon, I will include it in the footnotes. (2)

The story Megan told in her paper was about one of those serendipity-type of things that sometimes happen and that we can never really program into life or events or trips. It’s just one of those things that happen and result in experiences beyond our wildest dreams or expectations. It all began when a group of sophomore guys decided that it would be great fun to throw a football around – inside the house. Within seconds there was the sound of crashing glass. They had shattered one of the shower doors of the two showers. Now, you have to understand that there were fifty teenagers and fifteen adults staying in that house who were going to share those two – er, one shower.

Well, word got out in the community about our situation and by the evening meal a dozen Gary residents had offered the showers in their homes for our use. While we were at first relieved, as the time approached after our day of work the next day, talk turned to how awkward it felt to be going into the homes of strangers to take a shower.

It turned out to be one of the most meaningful aspects of the whole trip. Over and over again during the evening time of reflection teenagers and adults shared about what happened in the homes of these people and what it was doing to them. Conversations between the residents of Gary and high school teenagers from Worthington, Ohio produced a much more profound experience than anything we could have ever scripted. They talked about family and life and school and goals and coal mining and life in a community abandoned by a large corporation. Sometimes who was helping and who was helped got a little blurry. It was a transforming experience for all of us.

Would anyone be surprised if I told you that the conversation near the end of the week often involved comments about not wanting to leave – about treasuring the experience so much that there was a reluctance to leave the place where something special happened – about wanting to mark the place in some way. Those of you who have had life-changing experiences on a retreat or a mission trip or a vacation know about what they were going through. While it’s often hard for us to schedule in those times with God, when it happens we don’t want to go back to the real world – our daily lives.

We’re in good company when we have feelings like that. That’s really what was going on with Peter when he suggested that he make a couple of dwellings for Jesus, Moses and Elijah up on that mountain that day. He wanted to capture the moment for all eternity. He wanted to mark the place – to build a monument to the experience – to live there.

But Jesus led them back down the mountain instructing them not to share their story until a later time. “Put it in your head, boys, but don’t talk about it just yet. Give it some time.”

There's really a longer title to this sermon. To “Get Your Head in the Clouds!" would be added: "And Then, Get It Out of the Clouds!” Life is about getting our heads in the clouds and getting them out – it’s about spending time with God and being transformed by God and living in the real world a transformed life.

1. Erma Bombeck, "When Did I Become the Mother and the Mother Become the Child," If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? (New York: ICONIC EBOOKS from Open Road Media).
2. Megan Croy, Touched By the Hearts of Gary, West Virginia, 1992.

“Did you guys hear that?” I asked the nine other girls that would be rooming with me for the next five days.

“Hear what?” my friend Marika inquired.

“That shattering noise. It sounded like it came from upst…” The sound of six sophomore guys plodding down the stairs yelling at each other interrupted my train of thought.

“It’s your fault, Reilley. You could’ve caught it,” Mike yelled.

“Mike, there was no chance in hell he could’ve caught that awful pass,” Dave yelled back, defending his friend.

This sounded like one of those times when I should’ve kept my mouth shut, but I didn’t. “What happened?” I asked.

“We, ummm, I mean . . ., the shower door kind of broke,” Reilly mumbled quickly.

I couldn’t believe it! We’d been there less than ten minutes, and they had already broken a shower!

We were on a work camp in Gary, West Virginia. Gary is in southwestern West Virginia and is a small, one-store, old mining town. It is poverty stricken due to the closing of the coal mines. As we drove into town, we questioned why they needed us to come in and fix up their houses when they could afford nicer cars than most of our families.

Upon our arrival we discovered we were going to be staying in a very large three-story house. Despite the size of the house, we knew it was going to be a challenge for the thirty-four youth and eight adults who had made the trip. We soon discovered we did not have the house to ourselves, however. Another church youth group from Cutler, Florida warmly welcomed us to our shared living quarters. This meant there were fifty teenagers and fifteen adults who had the challenger of eating, sleeping, and yes, showering together. Only two showers would have been hard enough, but we knew it was going to be impossible with only the one shower after the boys’ little football accident.

Soon, word got around the neighborhood that we were in need of showers. Within a few hours more than a dozen families offered to let a few of us take showers in each of their homes. We were amazed and touched that so many people would open their homes to teenagers whom they had never met before.

One of our counselors, Lauri, my friend, Jeni, and I were assigned to an elderly couple who lived on Lovers Lane. When we finished working the next day, Jeni and I walked the few blocks to the couple’s small home. On our way to their home, we discussed how awkward we felt going into the house of strangers to shower. We also doubted whether we would have anything in common with them.

Our worries were soon relieved when they welcomed us into their home with open arms. They introduced themselves as the Mitchells. We soon discovered they were a friendly, elderly couple loved by all the children in the neighborhood.

While Jeni was in the shower, I sat and talked with them in their living room. Although we weren’t helping them directly, they thanked us countless times for what we, complete strangers, were trying to do to help their community. We had already discovered the homes and cars we first saw were not representative of the really deep level of poverty around Gary.

We went to the Mitchell’s every one of the five days we were in Gary. Each day they offered us food and beverages and we never left with less than a Three Musketeers candy bar, two suckers, and a feeling of happiness.

This feeling of happiness came from the interesting conversations we had with the Mitchells. We talked about our families, goals, education and life in general. We also talked about the past of their town, Gary. They said that they had retired a few years before the mines shut down so that their lives didn’t suffer much from the closings, but it tore them apart to see their friends’ and neighbors’ lives destroyed. The Mitchells mentioned that a family’s only source of identity became a car. While the American dream for many people has been to own land, the people of Gary just wanted to own a nice car.

I went on this work camp to help other people, but I feel that my encounters with the Mitchells helped me at least as much as I helped their community. I learned how decisions by large corporations affect real people, witnessed what it means to be a community of people who truly care for one another, and not to judge people by first impressions. However, the most important lesson I learned is that it is possible to build friendships despite differences in age, financial status, or cultural upbringing. I will use these lessons as examples for building my relationships in the future.

"All all this because of one broken shower.”

SERMON: "Sanctification and Perfection"

Prayer: Almighty and Merciful God, help us to find our lives by offering them to you. Grant us wisdom to understand your will and the energy to bring your will into our daily lives. Amen.

Sanctification and Perfection
Matthew 5:43-48; Philippians 3:12-21

Susan Andrew and her husband are both pastors. She tells of a time in her life when she was offered the gift of grace from someone she considered an enemy and how the experience transformed her life.

She and her husband were responding to a call to be co-pastors of a church in New Jersey. The pastoral nominating committee, that denomination’s equivalent to our United Methodist denomination's Staff-Parish Relations Committee, was split. Seven were for them being called and four were against it. The pastoral couple knew it wasn’t usually wise to accept a call to a church when the committee didn’t have closer to a unanimous mindset, but they were assured that the issue was really more within the committee and that was probably the best vote any candidate could expect.

Well, there was one member in particular on the committee who was opposed to the couple. Her name was Pearl. She was a strong-minded, fairly conservative elder who was also the clerk of the session. There wasn’t much about the couple that she liked – she didn’t like their theology – didn’t like that they were a clergy couple  and she really didn’t like the fact that a woman was going to be one of her pastors. The vote by the whole congregation was very favorable but still Pearl wasn’t convinced. She didn’t like them and she wasn’t about to accept them as her pastors.

Several weeks into the new situation Pastor Susan was feeling awful. Oh, the congregation had been welcoming enough, but she still felt pretty much like a stranger – felt like the congregation was more accepting of her husband than of her. About the time the thought entered her mind that perhaps they had made a mistake, the doorbell rang.

She opened the door and there stood Pearl – with a broom, a loaf of bread and a shaker of salt. Pearl smiled at Pastor Susan and said, “I come from German stock, and there is an old tradition in our family. Whenever someone moves into a new home they are given three gifts: a broom to sweep away the evil spirits, a loaf of bread to make their house into a home, and a pinch of salt to bring good luck. I want to welcome you to your new home – and to welcome you as my new pastor.”

Susan said that the two of them never did see eye to eye theologically but that their relationship changed that day into a relationship of grace rather than one of hostility. She noted that she decided to love her enemy that day and as a result felt like she had finally come home. (1)

Most of you are familiar with the story of Jean Valjean in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. Jean was released from prison after nineteen years of being incarcerated for stealing some bread to feed his sister’s children. He had a difficult time finding a place to stay or work because of his criminal record. Finally, he stumbled into the bishop’s house. The bishop offered him hospitality and treated him kindly. Jean Valjean was bewildered by the bishop’s actions but when the opportunity arose, he stole the bishop’s silver plates and fled with them.
The bishop’s reaction was not what most of us would expect of someone who has been wronged to the extent the bishop was. The bishop chose to examine his own behavior rather than become angry and condemning. He noted: “I have for a long time wrongfully withheld this silver; it belonged to the poor. Who was this man? A poor man evidently,” he reasoned. After the police captured Valjean with the silver in his possession, they brought him to the bishop. After greeting the thief the bishop said, “But I gave you the candlesticks also … why did you not take them along with the plates?” Surprised and confused, the police reluctantly left Valjean  go. (2)

Writer and surgeon, Bernie Siegel, told a story about an inmate in a concentration camp lovingly named by others “Wild Bill.” He’d served the enemy as an interpreter for six years. Still he was gentle, positive, full of energy and healthy. He was a beacon of hope to the others in the camp. He was an agent of reconciliation. He was always urging the others to forgive each other and their enemies. There’s a reason the others listened and admired him.

The amazing fact (you see) was that he had watched his own family – his wife, two daughters, and three little boys – all be shot by the Nazi soldiers in Warsaw. He was asked how he was able to do what he did – seemingly lack bitterness. Wild Bill’s response was: “I had to decide right then whether to let myself hate the soldiers who had done this. It was an easy decision, really. I was a lawyer. In my practice I had seen too often what hate could do to people’s minds and bodies. Hate had just killed the six people who matter most to me in the world. I decided then that I would spend the rest of my life – whether it was a few days or many years – loving every person I came in contact with." (3)

O. K., here’s the intent of starting with these three stories: there are two sides to the gospel of Jesus Christ – “a believing and a behaving side!” This Christian journey we’re on isn’t just about being redeemed. It’s also about being responsible. It’s both a way of believing and of living. Another church leader put it this way: “There are no conditions to God’s grace. God’s grace is free. It is absolutely unconditional, but there are consequences!" (4)

The behaving side – the consequence side of the gospel – is sanctifying grace. Once we’ve become aware of the awesome aspect of grace we refer to as prevenient grace – that God loves us unconditionally and there’s nothing we can do about it; once we respond to that awesome aspect of God’s grace and we accept it for ourselves – have our hearts warmed by its reality – well, then we are invited – we are propelled – we are drawn into this life of exploring the rest of the house so that we might become more and more like Jesus. Once inside the house we start working on being holy. That is, we start trying to reflect God’s presence in us and through us. Sanctifying work is transforming work (what some denominations  and theologians have labeled as "sanctifying grace"). Reading the scriptures is part of it – attending worship is part of it - praying is part of it – doing the things Christ would do is part of it.

Being sanctified isn’t about becoming holier-than-thou though. It’s not about acting like we’re holy. It’s about getting our hands and our feet and our souls dirty so that we might better reflect Jesus’ still walking in the world.

Another preacher offered in one of his sermons on the things noted in the Sermon on the Mount that they shouldn’t be regarded as just another set of commandments or impossible things we have to do in order to earn the title of disciple or to get our ticket for heaven stamped. They shouldn’t be seen as ideals or aspirations only saints can accomplish – things we ordinary followers can’t ever hope to do. He said: “Those who first received these instructions about loving and praying for enemies were only beginners at following Jesus. No one had done it before; they were all pioneers, what we would call rookies, what the New Testament calls learners or apprentices, which is what the word disciple means. They were not plumbers, but only plumbers’ helpers, learning the names of the tools, dirty and smelly and contributing little. They were not pilots, but students in ground school, learning the first lessons of weather and how a wing gives lift. Not Saint Peter, but Peter the goober! Not Peter, James, and John as the inside circle, but more like the Three Stooges. No different than we are. As one observer put it, ‘Jesus did not call the qualified; he qualified the called.’ They were not extraordinary (people); they were everyday (people) with an extraordinary new friend." (5)

It’s not about being experts. It’s about being available. It’s about showing up and being willing to learn from Jesus – knowing God the Creator, hanging around Jesus the Savior, and watching the activity of the Holy Spirit and being moved by it all to the point where we willingly enter into it. (6)

One more quote from this preacher’s sermon: “What does (Jesus) demand? Not only no killing, but a heart free from the acids of chronic anger and the cold calculation of bitterness. Not only no adultery, but no lust that sees people as objects of pleasure only - and no throwing away of spouses. Not only no false swearing with God’s name, but no swearing at all because your words are to be simple and true. Not only no revenge, the disciple must respond with creative non-violence that turns the other cheek, voluntarily goes a second mile, and lives with an open wallet. Not only the love of the neighbor, the one who is like me and shares my prejudices, but showing love to the one who is not like me, the enemy and the outsider, not only in action but in prayer to God for them and me. (And here’s the part we need to hear.) I can’t do these things on my own, and neither can you; that’s just the point. But, and here is the good news, in the company of Jesus and through the interior work of (the) Spirit we can be changed so that we begin to desire impossible things, and then, by the miracle of God’s supporting grace, find ourselves sometimes getting it right and surprising even ourselves! Jesus welcomes us
into a parallel reality called the kingdom of God. We are invited to plug in! It is a new world in the midst of the old." (7)

It’s a legend, but as with most legends it reveals a powerful truth. A prince had a crooked back. He wanted to have a straight back – be tall like his image of a prince worthy of the title. He had a sculptor carve a statue of himself tall and erect as he believed he should be. The finished product was placed in the palace garden into which the prince went several times each day. And every time he did he stopped in front of the statue and imagined himself as the image he saw. The people began to notice a change in him. He did indeed become tall and erect.  He grew into the likeness of his ideal image. (8)

God’s goal for us is that our lives look like the life of Jesus. Jesus’ likeness is stamped all over the rooms in the sanctifying grace house. True, we stumble and fall often. But every time we do there is that door with the welcome sign on it inviting us to enter again and claim our identity as daughters and sons of God – brothers and sisters of and in Christ. (9)

The passion of the United Methodist Church for mission and social justice emerged from this understanding of sanctifying grace on the part of the Wesleys. They taught that the more open we are to the love of God in our own lives the more loving toward others it has to make us.

Rev. Dean Snyder noted in a sermon on the hymns of grace: “One of the most controversial teachings of the early Methodist movement was the teaching that it was possible for us to realize Christian perfection in this life, which meant perfect love, loving perfectly. John Wesley emphasized that as we become more and more filled with the love of God, this will lead to acts of mercy and works of justice.

“So, the Methodist movement poured itself out to the poor. It operated soup kitchens, literacy programs teaching people how to read, children and adults. It made loans to help people start their own businesses. It is no accident that in England the labor movement grew out of Methodism. Almost all of the first, early labor unions were Methodists who believed that justice for people and for workers was a part of what it meant to be perfect in love.

“The early Methodist movement opposed slavery. It opposed governmental policies that kept poor people poor.
…we also remember that early Methodism taught that war was a sign that we had not yet received the perfect love of God. The early Methodists and the Wesleys taught that war was incompatible with Christian teaching and that if we were truly open to the love of God in our lives, if we truly allowed the love of God to transform us, war would not exist any mor." (10)

Experiencing sanctifying grace is not about grudgingly and joylessly doing good works because we know we should or restraining from doing things that we know we shouldn’t. The Wesleyan understanding of sanctification was that it involves our wills and affections being transformed – that we come to the place where we love and desire the things that God loves. “We do what is right and avoid what is evil because that is what transformed wills truly desire. In Charles Wesley’s words, ‘I want a principle within of watchful, godly fear, a sensibility of sin, a pain to feel it near.'" (11)

God’s sanctifying grace allows us to grow and mature in our ability to live as Jesus lived. Praying, studying the scriptures, fasting, worshiping, sharing fellowship with other Christians, responding compassionately to those in need, working for justice all helps to create more capacity within us to love our neighbors – near and far.

We are instructed to press on and with God’s help this path of sanctification will deposit us at perfection. Wesley’s doctrine of perfection didn’t say that we would not make any mistakes or have any weaknesses. His understanding was that it was a continual process of being made perfect and removing our desire to sin. (12)

Prevenient grace is that grace which is always there even when we are not aware of God’s love for us. Justifying grace happens over and over again because we need to be reminded over and over again of God’s love and acceptance of us and thus need to repent and believe it to be true again and again. Sanctifying or perfecting grace is about our maturing as followers of Jesus Christ.

Susan R.  Andrews, “The Offense of Grace,” Sermons for Sundays: In Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany: (Lima, Ohio: CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 2004), 0788023233a.
Ibid., as referenced in “The Offense of Grace.”
Ibid.
Durwood L. Buchheim, “Whatever Happened to Sanctification?”  www.esermons.com, The Power to Change, (Lima, Ohio: CSS Publishing Co., Inc., 1993), 1-55673-216-6.
Phil Thraikill, “Loving Like God Loves,” as preached at Duncan Memorial UMC on June 18, 2006.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Kenneth L. Carder, Sermons on UM Beliefs (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1991), p. 56.
Ibid., p. 56.
Dean Snyder, “A Celebration of Charles Wesley’s Hymns of Grace,” May 28, 2006, as preached at Foundry United Methodist Church, www.foundryumc.org/sermons5_28_2006.htm.
Ted A. Campbell, Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1999), p. 58 – 59.
Kenneth L. Carder, Who are We: Doctrine, Ministry, and the Mission of The United Methodist Church: Revised Leader’s Guide (Nashville: Cokesbury), p. 46 (as quoted on www.umc.org/site).

SERMON: "A Valentine Community"

OPENING PRAYER:  GUIDE NOW OUR THINKING, O GOD, THAT YOUR WORD MAY FILL THE VOID IN OUR LIVES - BRING THE MESSAGE HOME TO OUR HEARTS. IN CHRIST'S NAME. AMEN.

"A VALENTINE COMMUNITY"
I CORINTHIANS 3:1-9    

SINCE I'M REWORKING THIS SERMON NEAR VALENTINE’S DAY, LET ME SHARE WITH YOU A FEW ONE-LINERS ABOUT LOVE FOR YOUR REFLECTION:

“IT’S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO BE TOLD THAT YOU LOVE ME -- PLEASE SUPPLY MORE DETAILS.” “IF YOU CAN’T SAY EXACTLY HOW MUCH YOU LOVE ME, TRY TO MAKE A ROUGH ESTIMATE.” “LOVE IS THE ONLY PAINT THAT WILL COVER THE FAULTS OF OTHERS.” “BY THE TIME YOU REALIZE WHAT LOVE CAN DO, THE DAMAGE HAS USUALLY ALREADY BEEN DONE.” “LOVE...IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF LIFE.” “I DON’T WANT EVERYONE TO LIKE ME; I SHOULD THINK LESS OF MYSELF IF SOME PEOPLE DID.” “SOME FOLKS BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT; OTHERS BELIEVE IN TAKING ANOTHER LOOK.” “LOVE IS A GROSS EXAGGERATION OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE PERSON AND EVERYBODY ELSE.”

HERE’S A LITTLE LONGER ONE: “A THREE YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY AND HIS GRANDMOTHER WERE STUDYING A PLASTIC MODEL OF THE HUMAN HEART. THEY LOCATED ALL THE CHAMBERS AND ARTERIES. WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED THE LITTLE BOY ASKED INNOCENTLY OF HIS GRANDMOTHER, ‘WHERE’S THE LOVE, GRANDMA?’”

“WHERE’S THE LOVE?” HMMMM. “WHERE’S THE LOVE?” I CAN TELL YOU ONE OF THE PLACES IT SHOULD BE - IN THE CHURCH. IT SHOULD BE PRESENT AMONG THE PEOPLE CALLED CHRISTIANS. THE COMMUNITIES OF FAITH OUGHT TO BE VALENTINE COMMUNITIES - PLACES WHERE LOVE IS EXCHANGED - EXPERIENCED - SHARED - RECEIVED - GIVEN.

THERE'S A STORY TOLD ABOUT THREE PROTESTANT MINISTERS AND A PRIEST WHO PLAYED GOLF TOGETHER. THE PROTESTANT MINISTERS DECIDED TO VISIT THEIR FRIEND AT AN EARLY MORNING MASS ONE DAY. THE CHURCH WAS SO CROWDED THAT THEY HAD TO STAND BACK. THE PRIEST SAW THEM AND WHISPERED TO A NEARBY ACOLYTE, "GET THREE CHAIRS FOR THE PROTESTANTS!" THE YOUNG ACOLYTE GAVE THE PRIEST A SORT OF STUNNED LOOKED AND SAT DOWN.

AGAIN, THE PRIEST WHISPERED, "GET THREE CHAIRS FOR THE PROTESTANTS." THERE WAS THE SAME STUNNED LOOK AND NO RESPONSE.

FINALLY, IN EXASPERATION HE SAID, "THIS IS THE LAST TIME I AM GOING TO TELL YOU. GET THREE CHAIRS FOR THE PROTESTANTS."

THE ACOLYTE WENT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CHANCEL AREA AND ANNOUNCED, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER BEEN DONE IN A CATHOLIC CHURCH, BUT LET'S ALL STAND AND GIVE THREE CHEERS FOR THE PROTESTANTS!"

CAN YOU PICTURE IT - A CHURCH FULL OF CATHOLICS STANDING AND CHEERING FOR PROTESTANTS? HOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF A UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHEERING FOR A NEIGHBORING BAPTIST CHURCH? OR, EVEN MORE UNREALISTIC, A LIBERAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHEERING FOR A SISTER CONSERVATIVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AFTER THE LOSS OF SOME MEMBERS TO THE OTHER? THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OUGHT TO BE WHERE LOVE IS EXPRESSED - WE OUGHT TO BE VALENTINE COMMUNITIES WHERE CHEERING FOR ONE ANOTHER IS THE NORM RATHER THAN CRITICISM AND JEALOUSY.

ONE MONDAY A LITTLE BOY SAID TO A FRIEND, "YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE BAPTIST CHURCH. WHAT ABOMINATION DO YOU BELONG TO?"

I'M NOT SURE THE LITTLE GUY USED AN INACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE IRRATIONAL SITUATION WE HAVE IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH - IT IS AN ABOMINATION - THIS THING WE CALL DENOMINATIONS. DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME, I'M FULLY AWARE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES IN OUR HISTORY THAT NEEDED RADICAL SURGERY TO CORRECT. PERIODICALLY, WE HAVE NEEDED RENEWAL IN THE CHURCH. THERE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VARIETY OF WAYS OF UNDERSTANDING GOD - A VARIETY OF WAYS OF INTERPRETING THE BIBLE - A VARIETY OF WAYS TO BE RELIGIOUS - TO PRACTICE OUR FAITH - TO SENSE GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES. BUT THE DIVIDEDNESS THAT OUR DIFFERENCES HAVE CREATED IS AN ABOMINATION OF THE LIFE CHRIST CALLS US TO. DESPITE THE IMPORTANT EMPHASIS DIFFERENT CHRISTIAN LEADERS HAVE CALLED TO OUR ATTENTION OVER THE CENTURIES, OUR DECISIONS TO DEVELOP SEPARATE HOUSES OF WORSHIP - TO PLEDGE LOYALTIES TO CERTAIN CREEDS - OUR CLAIM TO BE FOLLOWERS OF THESE GREAT CHRISTIAN MINDS OVER AND AGAINST OTHER GREAT CHRISTIAN MINDS IS AN ABOMINATION - IT IS MAKING GODS OUT OF OUR BELIEFS INSTEAD OF THE BELIEFS BEING AVENUES TO GOD. WE ARE NOT LUTHER'S OR CALVIN'S - WE ARE NOT WESLEY'S OR OTTERBEIN'S - WE ARE JESUS CHRIST'S - AND CHRIST CALLS US TO COMMUNITY, NOT DISUNITY.

OUR PROBLEM IS CERTAINLY NOT A NEW ONE THOUGH - PAUL WAS ADDRESSING A SIMILAR SITUATION IN HIS LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS. IT SEEMS THE CHRISTIANS IN CORINTH WERE QUARRELING ABOUT WHO THEY BELONGED TO - THAT IS, THEY WERE ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE ONE OF PAUL'S FOLLOWERS OR ONE OF CEPHAS', OR ONE OF APOLLOS', ETC. AND PAUL TRIED TO LIFT UP FOR THEM THE IDEA THAT THEY WERE CHRIST'S. SURE OTHERS HAD HELPED ALONG THE WAY - BUT THEIR LOYALTY NEEDED TO BE TO JESUS CHRIST.

PERIODICALLY IN MY MINISTRY I LIVED THROUGH MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PASSAGE. YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MY YOUTH GROUPS IN PREVIOUS COMMUNITIES WHO HAD SETTLED IN THE AREA, WOULD STOP IN FOR A VISIT - SOME OF THEM PLAYED ON THE CHURCH'S SOFTBALL TEAM - AND EVERY TIME ONE OF THEM CALLED OR STOPPED BY I FOUND MYSELF HOPING THEY WOULD CHOOSE TO RENEW OLD RELATIONSHIPS AND GET INVOLVED IN THE CHURCH I WAS THEN SERVING. WE WOULD REMINISCE AND LAUGH AND THEN THEY WOULD MOVE ON AND GET INVOLVED ELSEWHERE.

THANKS TO SOME DEAR FRIENDS, ESPECIALLY MY WIFE DOROTHY, I BEGAN TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT THE CHURCH I WAS SERVING OR EVEN ME, BUT THE NECESSARY LIFE AND FAITH JOURNEY OF EACH OF THEM. THIS I CORINTHIAN PASSAGE WAS ANOTHER CLARION CALL TO REALITY - "THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT BILL CROY'S, THEY ARE JESUS CHRIST'S - THEY NEED TO GO AND SERVE WHERE THEY ARE PLANTED, THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN MINISTRY, NOT YOURS." IT TOOK SOME TIME BUT THERE DID COME A DAY WHEN I COULD REJOICE IN THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ON THEIR OWN LIFE JOURNEYS - SOME INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH - SINGING IN CHOIRS, LEADING OTHER YOUTH GROUPS, COACHING, ASSUMING OFFICES IN THEIR NEW CHURCH HOMES - AND THAT DOES GIVE ME GREAT JOY. I REJOICE FOR THOSE WHO'VE CHOSEN NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS WELL AND APPRECIATE THEIR CONTINUED CONNECTION AND HONEST REFLECTION ABOUT HOW THEY UNDERSTAND THE WORLD.

MOST OF US HAVE HAD A FAVORITE PAST MINISTER - MAYBE ONE WHO WAS YOUR MINISTER WHEN YOU WERE A TEEN, OR ONE WHO WAS A COUNSELOR AT CAMP, OR ONE WHO TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF TITHING, OR ONE WHO MADE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO ATTEND SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, OR ONE WHOSE PREACHING WAS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL, OR ONE WHO MADE THE BIBLE COME ALIVE, OR ONE WHO CHALLENGED US IN A CERTAIN AREA OF OUR RELIGIOUS GROWTH, OR ONE WHO RELATED TO US IN A PERSONAL WAY. SOME OF US HAVE HAD A FAVORITE CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHER OR YF LEADER NURTURE US ALONG THE WAY AND WE FEEL A TREMENDOUS LOYALTY TO THEM.

THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US ALL TO HEAR IN THIS PASSAGE IS WE ARE ALL PLANTERS OR WATERERS, BUT IT IS GOD WHO GIVES THE GROWTH. (1) WE ARE NOT CROY'S OR ANY OTHER PASTOR'S OR CHURCH LEADER'S - WE ARE JESUS CHRIST'S. OF COURSE IT'S TEMPTING - IT’S NATURAL - TO REMEMBER WITH FONDNESS THOSE WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR US ALONG THE JOURNEY OF FAITH. BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO LIFT UP ONE PERSON'S TEACHINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO US AS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE AND FOR ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS. THAT SORT OF STANCE LEADS TO DIVISIVENESS, QUARRELING, AND YES, EVEN AT TIMES, NEW DENOMINATIONS. (I HAVE TO ADMIT THERE ARE TIMES IN THE CURRENT DAY WHEN I WONDER IF IN FACT IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR ANOTHER TAKING A BREAK FROM ONE ANOTHER. WE REGARD THE SCRIPTURES SO DIFFERENTLY. IT'S NOT THAT I NO LONGER LOVE OTHERS OF THE FAITH WHO REGARD THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN I DO. RATHER, IT'S A WONDERING IF WE ARE TURNING MORE PEOPLE OFF BY OUR ARGUING AND POSTURING.)

A FEW YEARS AGO SNOOPY, THE LOVEABLE BEAGLE IN THE PEANUTS CARTOON STRIP, BROKE HIS LEFT LEG. HUNDREDS WROTE LETTERS TO SNOOPY OR SENT SYMPATHY CARDS. SNOOPY HIMSELF PHILOSOPHIZED ABOUT HIS PLIGHT ONE DAY WHILE PERCHED ON TOP OF HIS DOGHOUSE AND WHILE LOOKING AT THE HUGE WHITE CAST ON HIS LEG. "MY BODY BLAMES MY FOOT FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO GO PLACES. MY FOOT SAYS IT WAS MY HEAD'S FAULT, AND MY HEAD BLAMED MY EYES ... MY EYES SAY MY FEET ARE CLUMSY, AND MY RIGHT FOOT SAYS NOT TO BLAME HIM FOR WHAT MY LEFT FOOT DID..." SNOOPY LOOKS OUT AT HIS AUDIENCE THROUGH THE COMIC STRIP PAGE AND CONFESSES, "I DON'T SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED."

SO IT OFTEN IS IN THE CHURCH - BLAMING THIS PART OF THE BODY OR THAT ONE: "IF THOSE FOLLOWERS OF X’S HAD" - "IF THOSE FRIENDS OF Y’S HAD." - “IF THOSE PEOPLE IN THE MUSIC PROGRAM WOULD...” “IF THOSE TRUSTEES WOULD...” “IF THE STAFF WOULD ONLY ..."

PAUL TELLS THE PEOPLE OF CORINTH "THIS ARGUING ABOUT BEING PAUL'S, BEING APOLLOS', BEING PETER'S - IS PROOF THAT YOU ARE OF THE FLESH - YOU ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE. AND GOD WANTS YOU TO BE EXTRAORDINARY.  AND BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL OF THE FLESH, I AM BEING VERY CAREFUL WHAT I FEED YOU. LIKE A SMALL BABY, YOU CAN ONLY HANDLE MILK. SOLID FOOD IS TOO MUCH FOR THOSE WHO ARE JEALOUS OF ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO QUARREL, THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH. YOU ARE OF THE FLESH AND I MUST ONLY GIVE YOU WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE."

PAUL WAS TRYING TO TELL THE CORINTHIANS THAT THEIR QUARRELING, THEIR DIVISIONS, THEIR JEALOUSIES WERE PROOF POSITIVE THAT THEY WERE NOT SPIRITUAL PEOPLE. THIS IS A TREMENDOUSLY SIGNIFICANT REFLECTION BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT WE CAN TELL WHAT A PERSON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS LIKE BY LOOKING AT THEIR RELATIONS WITH OTHERS AND OTHERS CAN TELL WHAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS LIKE BY OBSERVING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS AS WELL. (2) IF WE ARE AT VARIANCE WITH OTHERS, IF WE ARE QUARRELSOME, IF WE ARE COMPETITIVE, IF WE ARE ARGUMENTATIVE, IF WE MAKE TROUBLE - IT MATTERS NOT HOW DILIGENT A CHURCH ATTENDER WE ARE, OR WHAT OFFICE WE HOLD, GOD IS NOT LIVING IN US. BUT IF WE ARE AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER, IF OUR RELATIONS WITH OTHERS ARE MARKED BY LOVE AND UNITY THEN WE ARE ON THE WAY TO BEING A PERSON OF GOD. IF WE ARE DISTANT FROM OTHERS IT IS GOOD PROOF THAT WE ARE DISTANT FROM GOD; IF WE LOVE GOD WE WILL ALSO LOVE OTHERS.

IN DR. JOE HARDING'S SERMON "THE HOUSE THAT STOOD THE STORM" HE TALKED ABOUT THE "HEAR AND CHEER" MENTALITY THAT RUNS RAMPANT IN SOME CHRISTIAN CIRCLES: "WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND HERE AND THERE SEEKING A BLESSING, TRYING TO BE FED BY THE LATEST SPEAKER WITHOUT EVER REALLY COMING TO TERMS WITH THE RADICAL CLAIMS OF THE GOSPEL. THERE IS A LINE IN THE MUSICAL 'TRUTH OF TRUTHS' IN WHICH THE CROWD SINGS ON PALM SUNDAY, 'SAY, JESUS CHRIST, DID YOU SEE THAT I WAVED - SO TELL ME THAT I AM SAVED!' HEAR AND CHEER - FEEL GOOD - FORGET IT FOR A MONTH OR SO, COME BACK AT CHRISTMAS AND EASTER FOR A NODDING ACQUAINTANCE THROUGH A RESPECTABLE ORGANIZATION.

"THERE WAS A CARTOON THAT APPEARED IN A RECENT JOURNAL WHICH SHOWED A CHURCH CALLED THE 'LITE - L-I-T-E  - CHURCH'; IT HAD A SIGN OUT FRONT WHICH SAID: 'ALL YOU EVER WANTED IN A CHURCH AND A LITTLE LESS. 24% FEWER COMMITMENTS REQUIRED. HOME OF THE 7.5% TITHE. 45 MINUTE WORSHIP SERVICES. WE HAVE ONLY EIGHT COMMANDMENTS - YOUR CHOICE. WE USE JUST THREE SPIRITUAL LAWS AND HAVE ONLY AN EIGHT HUNDRED YEAR MILLENNIUM! EVERYTHING YOU WANTED IN A CHURCH AND LESS! HOME OF THE GREAT HEAR AND CHEER SPECTATORS.'" (3)

FRIENDS, JESUS CHRIST DOESN'T NEED ANYMORE "HEAR AND CHEER" CHRISTIANS - HE DOESN'T NEED PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE MINISTER OR THE CHURCH THAT IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM - HE DOESN’T NEED PEOPLE WHO FEEL LOYALTY TO BILLY GRAHAM OR BILL CROY OR.... HE NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE TURNED ON TO HIM AND WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A PEOPLE TO BE IN MINISTRY WITH. IF THE CHURCH IS TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD IT NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE FLAT OUT WILLING TO LOVE - TO LOVE OTHERS, TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND TO LOVE THEMSELVES. IT’S THE GREATEST WITNESS WE HAVE. PAUL SAYS IT'S THE MEASURE OF OUR SPIRITUALITY - CHRIST IS CALLING US TO BE A VALENTINE COMMUNITY - TO BE A COMMUNITY WHERE LOVE REIGNS SUPREME - HE'S CALLING US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER - IT’S WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS AND IS LOOKING FOR - A PLACE WHERE - A PEOPLE WHO - LOVE - WHO ACCEPT - AND WHEN THE WORLD SEES THAT HAPPENING - THEY SAY - “GOD IS AT WORK IN THAT PEOPLE”.

I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE A FEW YEARS AGO THAT DEFINES A LOVING CHURCH THIS WAY: “A LOVING CHURCH IS DEFINED BY THE QUALITY OF CARING, NOT THE AGE OF THE CHURCH. IS A “HOME” WHERE ONE’S FEARS, JOYS, YEARNINGS AND ASPIRATIONS CAN BE SHARED WITHOUT FEAR OF CONDEMNATION AND REJECTION. IS A PLACE TO FIND STRENGTH FOR DAILY BATTLES AND A PLACE TO FIND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY FOR THAT STRUGGLE. IS A PLACE FOR FRIENDS WHO CAN BE TRUSTED, DEPENDED UPON, ENJOYED, AND WHO SHARE THE SAME GOALS. IS WHERE GOD’S LOVE IS EXPERIENCED IN A CONCRETE WAY THROUGH HIS PEOPLE. IS WHERE PEOPLE’S IMPERFECTIONS ARE ACCEPTED; WHERE THEY DISCOVER THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL, WHERE THEY FEEL LOVED. IS WHERE PEOPLE ARE OPEN AND HONEST WITH EACH OTHER WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING JUDGED. IS WHERE MEMBERS GROW AS INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES ARE ACCEPTED, AND WHERE DISTINCTIONS OF PERSONAL RIGHTS, POSSESSIONS, THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS, AND ACTIONS ARE SUBMERGED IN COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IS UNCONDITIONAL IN ITS ACCEPTANCE OF OTHERS -- AND PROVIDES A PLACE WHERE THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND MINISTRY. IS WHERE PEOPLE LAUGH WITH OTHERS, NOT AT OTHERS; CRY WITH OTHERS, NOT BECAUSE OF OTHERS; FORGIVE OTHERS AND ARE FORGIVEN BY OTHERS; LOVE OTHERS AND ARE LOVED BY OTHERS.”  (4)

WHEN LOVE REIGNS IN A CHURCH, EVERYTHING BEGINS TO TAKE OFF. IT IS LIKE WHEN THE SUN SHINES IN A GARDEN -- EVERYTHING STARTS TO GROW!   WHEN THERE IS LOVE, MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WILL BE PREPARED TO RISK MAKING MISTAKES, KNOWING THAT IT WILL NOT MATTER, AND THAT THEY WILL BE LOVED ALL THE SAME. LOVE LIKE THAT WILL BECOME INFECTIOUS. IT CANNOT BE HELD BACK BY CHURCH DOORS. IT WILL FLOW OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

“YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.” (MARK 12:30) THAT IS WORSHIP.

“YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” (MARK 12:31) THAT IS EVANGELISM. AND IT IS BEST EMBODIED IN THE LOCAL CHURCH, WARTS AND ALL. (5)

WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE GOD TOUCH OUR LIVES SO THAT WE MIGHT MORE TRULY REFLECT THE VALENTINE COMMUNITY THIS WORLD NEEDS. THE CHALLENGE IS TO STAY THE COURSE AND KEEP ON GROWING IN FAITH - AS LOVERS OF JESUS CHRIST AND ONE ANOTHER.

LET US PRAY.

CLOSING PRAYER:  O, GOD OF LOVE AND MERCY - FORGIVE US FOR OUR PAST LOYALTIES THAT HAVE CAUSED DISSENSION IN YOUR CHURCH. HELP US TO BE FENCE-MENDERS - HELP US TO SEE ONE ANOTHER - THOSE WITHIN THE  FELLOWSHIP WE ARE PART OF AND THOSE IN OTHER CHURCHES AS FELLOW CHRISTIANS AND NOT ENEMIES OR RIVALS. HELP US TO SEE OUR SEPARATENESS AS A STRENGTHENING, AS THE INABILITY OF US ALL TO GET UNDER ONE ROOF, AS A SOURCE OF NEW INFORMATION RATHER THAN AS THE HOME OF THOSE WE DISAGREE WITH. HEAL US, O LORD, AND SHOW US WHERE OUR LOVE IS NEEDED. IN CHRIST'S NAME. AMEN.

1. William Barclay, The New Daily Study Bible: Letters to the Corinthians (London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), p. 36 (e-edition).
2. Ibid.,p. 35.
3. Dr. Joe Harding, "The House That Stood the Storm."
4. Lost
5. Michael Green, EVANGELISM THROUGH THE LOCAL CHURCH (Thomas  Nelson Inc., 1992).

''Approaching Valentine's Day"

"Approaching Valentine's Day"

This is not going to be an easy blog post to write and especially to share on my site. It's not going to make me look very nice and involve some personal apologizing made public. But it's enough of a side effect of the ALS journey to let others in on its presence in my life. It's probably not unique to those battling ALS. People with other troubles probably are guilty/succumb to this negative behavior as well.

Those who know Dorothy, my wife, and me know we've a pretty awesome relationship and marriage. We've enjoyed our life together and like one another as well as love one another. Now, that doesn't mean things have always been perfect - that we haven't had our moments of disagreement and times when we've been upset with one another. We've at times been living proof of the cliche about hurting the ones you love the most. We wholeheartedly affirm the adage that "good marriages don't just happen - they take work, lots of work!" But, we've had a good marriage. We love and respect one another immensely!

Well, two of the strengths of our marriage have been communication and role sharing. We committed ourselves to sharing what was going on inside us - what we were thinking as well as feeling. We didn't want a marriage where we only shared physical space. We both were involved in the caring for and raising of our children, the duties around the home, the pursuing of careers and the understanding that all resources - financial, skills, personalities, decisions - were ours, not mine and yours. Perfectly divided down the middle? 50/50? No, we changed who was responsible for different things on occasion and I definitely didn't do much cooking and neither one of us did many home or car repairs.

So, things have changed as the effect of ALS on my body has had its way with my muscles. I've had to give up doing things for myself - no more sharing of responsibilities. I have had to succumb to being helped. I've never accepted the help of others very well. But ALS doesn't give me a choice. Making the effort isn't even possible anymore.

Here's what's bothering me even more though: even though Dorothy is doing a super job trying to meet my every need/want, she's not always successful and as a result I don't always let her know how much I appreciate her effort caring for me. Instead, her efforts are too often met with a shortness of speech which sounds very much like disgust or anger on my part. I hate it when that's what comes out of me! Sometimes it's because she doesn't do something the way I think or want it done (imagine that!) - sometimes it's because I'm getting harder to understand and she has to inform me she didn't. Repeating myself is hard/frustrating/discouraging.

I guess I just want others to know that I am aware of my misbehavior and for you to understand another unwanted and unsolicited aspect of this cruel disease. I'm not seeking sympathy with this confession for myself as much as I am for my unbelievable Valentine, Dorothy! Really, honey, (and family and friends) this is not the way I want to be remembered. I'll keep trying to control it and ask for you to continue your awesome patience, care, and love.

Happy Valentine's Day, Dorothy! Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

 

SERMON: "Let's Go to the Mountains"

"Let's Go to the Mountains"
Micah 6:1-8 Matthew 5:1-12

"Maker of mountains -
Creator of their beauty and their might,
I lift my small and human heart to thee.
Fill it, I pray, with something of their might,
Their steadfastness, their high serenity;
Sweep it with canyon winds, and wash it clean
With clear cold water from the eternal snow.
Let these bright torrents purge it, let all mean
Desires and passions leave it - let me go
Back to the lowlands, back to crowded days,
Poised and sustained, and ready for my part.
Let me go back, schooled in the mountains' ways.
Bearing their old vast secrets in my heart." (1)

So reflects Grace Noll Crowell in one of my favorite devotional/reflection books "Prayer at the Feet of the Mountains." What is it about mountains that beckons us to come to them? What is it about them that creates in us a desire to climb to the top of them? What is it about them that has us poking our children and exclaiming, "Look over there - have you ever seen anything so beautiful?" What is it about them that causes us to behold them with awe?

There surely is something sacred/spiritual about mountains. I grew up in the flatlands of northwestern Ohio - I only knew mountains from pictures; they were pretty, but I really had no appreciation for what they really were. I remember my first drive through the Smokies on our way to Florida on a family vacation after my graduation from high school (a trip with its own set of memorable moments) – wow! Being in the midst of the mountains was a whole lot more impressive and different than looking at them in a book. They were so big – so beautiful – how? Who?

Over the years I’ve returned to the mountains again and again. And each time I’ve found myself in more of a reflective mood than in my daily living. I pay attention to the nature that surrounds me. I sense another aspect of me, something deep inside and I wonder about the existence of it all.  Sometimes it happens as I walk the trails deep within the mountain or along its ridges; sometimes it happens as I reach the top and look out over what it gets to look at every day of its existence. No matter where it happens, there is this reality that there is something more to life than what I normally perceive and I’ve come to believe/ponder at least, that it is the awareness that God/something more powerful than me is present that is different.

There is something about the mountains that elevates our spirits/souls: their stillness, their permanence, their majesty. Our senses are stimulated by them. Whether we are climbers or not, there seems to be an awareness that there is something from beyond ourselves, something mystical that pulls at us when we are in the vicinity of mountains.

The two scripture readings I'm considering happen on or around mountains. The situation in Micah is that Yahweh is upset with his people because they have forgotten the blessings in the past and they have forgotten what God requires of them. The scene Micah describes has Yahweh taking his people to court for their unfaithfulness and it has God inviting the people to “…plead their case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.” God gives to the mountains power; God makes them witnesses, to not only hear the charges but to hear the peoples’ case - sort of a cosmic court session. God invites us to come to the mountain; to shout our complaints where no one but God can hear; to cry where no one but God can see; to scream and laugh and shout for joy and pray at a level we do not normally allow ourselves.

And then God says in Micah, “Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord.” God not only invites us to express ourselves before the mountain, God also entreats the mountain to listen. Micah leaves no doubt that he believes God has set the mountain up to play a key role in the communication between the creator of the universe and humanity.

In the well-known Matthew passage reading we hear about Jesus and His disciples also on a mountain. And Jesus is teaching: teaching about the New Life. Teaching about being poor in spirit, about mourning, and being meek, and hungering and thirsting, of being merciful, of being a peacemaker – and the basic idea is that we are blessed for identifying our walk in the faith in these ways. Now there’s a lot more that can be gleaned from each of these Beatitudes but what I suggest we think about is the idea that Jesus chose the mountain setting because there is a receptiveness to the things of the Spirit upon a mountain. Nowhere else in all creation would the disciples – would we – be able to understand the uniqueness of the teachings of Christ. On the mountain – in the mountains – we can be taught; we can learn; God can get through to us.

In the book "Meditations in the Mountains", the author writes about a scientist who was trying to band birds on the crest of a mountain in the Allegheny range of West Virginia. She later reflected on the annual ten thousand mile migration of these little creatures – wintering on the shores of the Caribbean and then unerringly retracing their flight back to the mountains for the rest of the year. And the author writes, “Sometimes I feel a great affinity for my friends the birds, who fly so unerringly to their mountain habitations in spite of the vagaries of the weather or the interference of bird-banding humans. The tiny winged beings seem to know that beyond these present distractions lies a place of refuse.”

“I have distractions, too,” she writes. “There are deadlines to be met, household tasks to be completed, and duties to be performed with family and friends. If these come along in orderly procession, they are pleasures. If they all occur at the same time, it is easy to become distraught. It is then that I think of the Psalmist’s remark, “Flee as a bird to your mountain.”

“We cannot always literally escape to the mountains, for the nearest are more than one hundred fifty miles away. However, having been there, I can recreate their quietness and strength within my heart. I can find a quiet corner in my home, shut my eyes, and recall the sense of peace and serenity found among the mountains. I can see once again the mountain streams dashing joyously downward over granite rocks. I can smell the tall pines in the thick forest. I can hear the twittering of birds in the branches and recall the vastness of the view from the crest.”

“From some source, I cannot define, but which never fails, a sense of peace and quiet descends, and I am thankful that I too, like my feathered friends, can flee to the mountains.” (2)

Many of us, like the author, are a long way from the mountains – even for those of us in central Ohio, the Hocking Hills (hills) are a little too far away to bring immediate contact with our God. But we do have the ability to recreate the setting within our own hearts, not just the mountains, but any place where we have especially noted a healing presence.

I’d like to end this blog post by suggesting an experience you might want to use when you're in need of a mountain-type experience but no such place is nearby. It’s a short meditation designed to allow us to flee to the mountains or wherever our private place is, wherever we are. (This is another one of those times during worship when I won’t suspect you are falling asleep if you close your eyes.) I’m going to give you some ideas to help you in the meditation and after each you might to pause and reflect.

Begin by thinking of a mountain you have visited; recall a place on the mountain where you found yourself resting; it may have been along a trail; it may have been in a picnic area, or on top of the mountain. Wherever it was imagine yourself there again; see if you can recall the smells. Is it hot or cold? Is it raining or is the sun shining? Are you leaning against a tree or sitting on a rock? What are you thinking about? Are there things you would like to share with God? Are there hurts? Joys? Wants? Needs?  ..you have that you would like to let God know about? While you are thinking about what you want to share with God, you notice someone is approaching, and as he gets closer you recognize him as Jesus or a friend who has been especially supportive or encouraging in your life. When he/she arrives, he/she sits down beside you and invites you to share with him/her what’s on your mind. And as you talk, he/she listens…

After a long while, you pause; Jesus places his hands on yours and says, “I am with you. Peace be with you.” And you sense the burdens of your life being lifted off of you. After a little while longer Jesus stands, places His hands on your head and says, “The Lord be with you.” And then He turns and slowly walks away. You stand and begin to follow Him and as you do you find yourself returning to your place of sanctuary, confident that Jesus/God is with you. Let us pray.

PRAYER:  O Creator of the mountains, and Creator of us, we know that You are more ready to give guidance and direction than we are to receive it. Help us to understand that mountain vastness, both present and remembered, can aid us in finding your will for us and in charting life’s course; we give You thanks for the mountain respites in our lives and seek your guidance in making use of them in our daily living.

O God, whose vastness is incomprehensible, our faith, as a dormant seed, awaits your nourishing strength. In the outpouring of your truth, transform our thinking into action. Then we can continue to grow and to live with purpose. In Christ's name. Amen. (3)

1. Grace Noll Crowell, "Prayer at the Feet of the Mountains."
2. Martha Vullemeier, "Meditations on the Mountain."
3. Unknown. I used this the first time many years ago before I was properly footnoting. My suspicion is it comes from either Crowell's or Vullemer's books.

SERMON: "Blessed to Bless"

"Blessed to Bless"
Matthew 5:1-12

“Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, . . .”

That’s how Matthew introduces the Sermon on the Mount in the 5th chapter of his book. And by doing so he was attempting to share with his readers some significant things about the meaning of this time in Jesus’ life.

First, Matthew’s references to Jesus departing from the crowd and the disciples going to him after he sat down are signals that what Jesus was going to share was for the ears of the faithful few - for the ears of his hand-picked associates. These words weren’t meant for those still trying to decide if they were on board or not.  They weren’t meant for those who were curious, wondering, searching. They weren’t meant for those simply seeking to be healed. They were meant for those who had already signed on - those who had committed to following him. They were meant for those he was going to entrust with the responsibility of carrying on his work. It was for those who had already said “yes” to his invitation to be his followers.
 
Some have referred to the Sermon on the Mount as a sort of “ordination address” to the inside crew - a challenging word about what their ministry would be like. In the Sermon we have the essence, an outline if you will, of all that Jesus ever taught. Jesus was sharing with his closest admirers, his friends, what he thought were the really important lifestyle choices. Some have labeled this group of sayings by Jesus “a mini-discipleship manual” - a blueprint about how he expected those who followed him to live their lives.

Now, it’s very unlikely, most Bible scholars believe, that the words we refer to as the Sermon on the Mount were actually delivered by Jesus during one sermon on a mountain. They point out it’s length - there’s just too much in it - too many different ideas that don’t just logically connect with one another for them to have been presented during a one-time inspirational message. They also note that the author of Luke recorded many of the same teachings in his work but that they are scattered throughout his way of telling the story of Jesus’ life. What seems to be the case then is simply that Matthew thought it was important for the audience he was writing to to have it all laid out in one place, that what he thought was necessary was a teaching manual. The point still being that what we have here is a summary of the important things Jesus said and taught. (1)

Another thing the way Matthew chose to introduce these sayings reveals is that what Jesus was going to share was going to be very important. The reference to the disciples coming to him after he sat down is what clues us in on Matthew’s intent. When rabbis, Jewish teachers, in Matthew’s day wanted to make a point, wanted their followers to understand that what they were saying was a central point, an important insight, a significant interpretation, an original thought of the rabbi’s, they sat down. When they were reading from the scriptures or providing general information about what was being studied, they would stroll around or stand. When Matthew referenced that Jesus sat down, he did so in order to key his readers into his belief that what Jesus was now going to say were his official teachings - the true word - words to live by and repeat - words he expected his followers to share with others. Matthew was setting the stage for us to understand that what we read and hear here are the words Jesus perhaps repeatedly shared with his inner circle and they are therefore vitally important for any of us in our day who are on the journey of faith and desirous of being his followers.

Then Matthew wrote: “And he began to teach them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’” And then six more traits that they didn't probably think then and we assuredly don't think now of as traits of a blessed people (radically and unique, to be sure): “Blessed are the meek . . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, . . . Blessed are the merciful, . . . Blessed are the pure in heart, . . . Blessed are the peacemakers, . . . Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, . . .”

We call them “The Beatitudes” - eight powerfully graphic, image producing short sayings that introduces the whole of Jesus’ message to his followers in that generation and ours. We’ve become so used to reading and hearing them that they at times feel almost comforting to us. It’s as if they birth in our minds and hearts images of flowers and birds and love and everyone getting along and peace and all that’s nice when it happens.

But, when we get over the beautiful and poetic sound of them being read, we are left with feelings of discomfort because we know they aren’t our reality and that they suggest things that aren’t the way the world understands blessedness. The truth of the matter is, they probably weren’t said or written to make us feel comfortable. They certainly, probably, weren’t for the disciples prior to the resurrection. But, I’ll come back to that in a few minutes. First, let me note something about the word “blessed.”  

As most of you are probably already aware, a number of translators replace the word “blessed” with the word “happy.” Their list reads: “Happy are the poor in spirit . . . Happy are those who mourn . . . Happy are the meek . . .”, etc. What they are correctly trying to say is that this blessedness Jesus is referencing is something more than what our English word “blessed” conveys. Their point is that the Greek word attempting to be translated involves a special quality of joy - something with more of a note of exclamation - something more like: “Oh, how wonderful it is . . . O the bliss of it.” The Beatitudes are not simply these wonderfully idealistic, sentimental wishes, but rather they are these exclamations of a present reality far beyond, far different, than what most experience.

Now, my sense is that what makes the Beatitudes so hard to match up with our reality is that most of us, if not all of us, do not experience the kind of blessedness, the kind of happiness, Jesus was talking about here because we have rather skewed understandings about the true nature of happiness. The preacher in another sermon on the Beatitudes wrote: “. . . we think happiness deals with our outer circumstances. We think that the truly happy man is the one who has achieved outer success. Thus our beatitudes read: 1) Blessed is the man who makes a fortune. 2) Blessed is he who earns six figures. 3) Happy is the man who has a palace in the city and a summer home in the mountains. 4) Blessed is he who has won the applause of his peers. 5) Blessed is the woman who is recognized as a darling of society.”

“But on this special day Jesus shared with his disciples and, indeed, with all of history, that that concept of happiness is a foundation built on sand. Happiness is not at all based upon what we have. True happiness is based upon who we are. Happiness is not based upon the kind of house that we live in; it depends on the kind of people who live in the house. It is not the kind of clothes that we wear, but the person who wears the clothes.” (2)

The reason Jesus shared these ideas with his disciples and not with the crowd is that it’s necessary for persons to know, to accept, Jesus Christ as savior of their lives before it’s possible for them to know him, to accept him as their teacher.  Until we have a relationship with Jesus the Beatitudes seem ridiculous - out of touch with reality. The Beatitudes are strange and complex, they make us uncomfortable, until we recognize that Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection were for us and that light bulb turns on inside us that allows us to find comfort in being uncomfortable, that allows us to feel blessed when we’re being made fun of, that allows us to feel rich when we’re poor spiritually because of being poor emotionally, financially or physically.

As I noted earlier, the Beatitudes were not words necessarily understood, perceived to be true, by the disciples when they heard them on the mountain that day. They turned the social norms of that day upside down just as they do the norms in our own day. It was, is, indeed a different kingdom Jesus was describing - a kingdom just the opposite of the one perceived through the eyes of the society we live in as a whole. It’s a tough way to view things - it’s contrary to what is going on all around us. It’s only possible once Jesus Christ has taken over the reigns of our lives - once Jesus Christ gets inside us and gets to meddling, gets to massaging our hearts and minds and eyes and ears.

Now, get this - we are not only blessed in the midst of being poor in spirit - in the midst of our mourning - in the midst of our being meek - in the midst of our hungering and thirsting for righteousness - in the midst of our showing mercy - in the midst of our being pure in our hearts - in the midst of our making peace - in the midst of our being persecuted because of our being righteous; we are not only blessed while we are experiencing, guilty of doing those things - but, again, get this, we are blessed to bless. We are blessed with the things mentioned in Jesus’ sermons when we mourn, are poor, suffer, make peace, are persecuted, so that others might take note of the fact that the evil that befalls us does not trip us up, does not win, but rather that we are able to endure, to overcome, to make something good out of the difficult circumstances that come our way - that we are able with God’s help to transform tragedies into triumphs - that we are able to sense ourselves a part of the kingdom of heaven despite our poverty of body, mind or spirit - that we are able to sense ourselves comforted despite our mourning - that we are able to sense ourselves inheritors of the earth because of our meekness - that we are able to sense ourselves filled because of our hungering and thirsting after righteousness - that we are able to sense ourselves being shown mercy because of our providing mercy - that we are able to sense ourselves able to see God because of the purity of our hearts - that we are able to sense ourselves as children of God because of our commitment to making peace - that we are able to sense ourselves righteous because we are able to stand up to the persecutions and mocking and teasing that accompanies the causes we feel we have to take up as a result of our claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. We are blessed to bless - to be a blessing - as a result of what happens to us, what God does with our obedience and the trials that come our way as a result. The world needs our witness, friends.



1   William Barclay, The Daily Bible Studies: the Gospel of Matthew.
2   Brett Blair, “The True Nature of Happiness”, e-sermons.

SERMON: "To All the Saints"

"To All You Saints"
Matthew 5:1-12

The basis for this sermon was the continuation of a two-part sermon I shared with a congregation my final two weeks as their pastor. The first of this two-part sermon series was titled Some Things I Hope You Heard Me Say. While in the first sermon I shared with them that I hoped they heard me say that we should love God, others and ourselves and that God is a God of grace, forgiveness and love; and that we are all called by God to share our gifts, talents, skills and resources to sow for Jesus Christ and thus that we are all ministers; the emphasis in the second week's sermon was what I hoped they heard me say about what it means to be the church, the Body of Christ, the community of faith. They are ideas I hope every church community of faith I was privileged to be a part of heard me say as well. The truth of the matter is they each helped formulate//birth in me what I have come to believe and hopefully live out.

One of my favorite stories to use when I talk about the church is the story of the Life-Saving Station. I know, I know, I just one similar to it last week in a sermon post! But, it's another one that is too spot-on for contemporary images of what today's church often morphs into or, if not careful, can. The story is about a little life-saving station on a very dangerous part of the seacoast. It started out in this very primitive building with only one boat. The members of the little life-saving station became well-known for their commitment and unselfish service. They saved many, many people.

As a result of their success, many others supported their efforts with time, talent and money. New boats were purchased, new crews recruited and training sessions held. One day some of the members became concerned about how out-of-date some of their equipment and building was. And so they launched a successful campaign to build a new building with much nicer furniture.

Things began to change. Not necessarily bad things - members began to get together more often at the new facilities and it was obvious they loved and cared for one another. But, many lost interest in going out into the dangerous waters. And so, a specially trained crew was hired to do that.

Well, one day this terrible wreck happened and the hired crew brought boatload after boatload of cold, wet, dirty, sick and half-drowned people into the station. It was chaotic - mud was everywhere - some furniture got damaged.

As a result, the property committee built a shower on the outside of the building so that future victims could be cleaned up before they were brought inside. Well, this created quite a rift among the members. Some wanted to totally discontinue rescuing others and others insisted that that was the primary purpose of their existence. A vote was taken and those who wanted to continue saving lives were told they would have to do so elsewhere - which they did.

It wasn’t long before history repeated itself and another church . . . whoops! . . . life-saving station was started just up the beach from the first two. And the story ends with this: “And if you visit that seacoast today, you will find a number of adequate meeting places with ample parking and plush carpeting. Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown.” (1)

I hope you have heard me say when I shared stories like that one with you that the church exists to rescue, to save, to heal, to mend, to comfort, to give itself away. The church exists to minister to those beyond its walls. Its reason for existence isn’t to be a safe and comfortable fellowship that exists only for itself. I hope you have heard me say, if we don’t go and sow - if we don’t reach out beyond the walls of our beautiful buildings to those who are hurting, lonely, afraid, sick, poor and needy - if we are not the Body of Christ for those in need of Him, there’s a good chance we’ll go the same way of the life-saving stations along the coast that lost their sense of mission. And friends, that’s not what I believe any church’s future should be. God has a plan for every church, just keep being faithful, keep praying for direction and keep doing, hoping that you are in step with God’s work.

Another thing I hope people in the churches I served heard me say about the church, the community of faith, I introduced with stories like the one about the old monastery that had fallen on hard times. It had once been a vibrant place with young monks filling its buildings and wonderfully beautiful chanting bouncing off the walls of the church. But, there came a day when only a handful of old monks shuffled through its cloisters and hardly anyone went there to be nourished by prayer.


An old rabbi lived in a little hut on the edge of the monastery woods. From time to time the old rabbi would go there to fast and pray and the monks would whisper to one another, “The rabbi walks in the woods.” And they would feel better, feel supported, by news of his prayerful presence.

One day after the morning Eucharist, the abbot of the monastery decided to visit the old rabbi and share with him the things that were on his mind and heart. As the abbot approached the rabbi, he saw the rabbi standing in the doorway with his arms outstretched as if he was waiting for him. The two embraced like long-lost brothers. Then they stepped back and just stood there, smiling at one another with smiles their faces could hardly contain.

Finally, the rabbi motioned for the abbot to enter. In the middle of the room was a wooden table with the scriptures open on it. They sat there for a moment in the presence of the book. Then the rabbi began to cry and soon after the abbot did as well. They sobbed together like children lost on a beach for a long time.

And then their tears stopped and they got very quiet. Finally the rabbi lifted his head and said, “You and your brothers are serving God with heavy hearts. You have come to ask a teaching of me. I will give you this teaching, but you can only repeat it once.  After that, no one else must say it aloud again.”

The rabbi than looked straight into the eyes of the abbot and said, “The Messiah is among you.” Silence followed. Then the rabbi said, “Now you must go.” And the abbot did.

The next morning, the abbot called all the monks together and told them that he had received a teaching from “the rabbi who walks in the woods” and that once he told them it they could never mention it again. Then he looked at his brothers and said, “The rabbi said that one of us is the Messiah!”

The message startled the monks. They asked among themselves, “What could this mean?” “Is brother John the Messiah? How about Father Matthew? Or, brother Thomas? Am I the Messiah? What could this mean?”

The monks began to treat one another with special reverence. They didn’t talk about it - they just did it. It was as if they had found something. Word spread and visitors came and were moved by what they experienced. People began to come again to be nourished by the prayer life of the monks. Young people began again to join the community. (2)

I hope people have heard me say with such stories that the community of faith most effectively lives as the Body of Christ, witnesses to itself and others when we look upon one another, think of one another, as Jesus Christ himself. Brothers and sisters in Christ, others will come to believe and to know Jesus Christ when they experience us living out this truth that Jesus Christ, the messiah, lives among us. If the resurrection means nothing else, it at least means that Jesus Christ is alive and at work through his living body, the church.

While there are many other things I hope people heard me say, there’s one more I want to share in this blog post. While it’s not necessarily the best news, and while it’s not as good of news as some of the other things I have already mentioned, it’s something that makes the message of Jesus Christ different, unique, as I see it. The idea is simply this: Discipleship - following Jesus Christ - involves sacrifice, suffering, service. Cross-like living is a reality for Christians because it involves making some tough choices - it involves taking unpopular stands - it involves serving even if it involves suffering.

I suppose my favorite illustration for emphasizing this idea is the one about the wannabe follower that exists in everyone of us who goes to Jesus to get a cross.  Now, it’s a rather sarcastic piece but I think it makes the point very well while chastising the popular view of Christianity that it’s all about Christ making us comfortable and doing things for us.

“Well, here I am, Lord. You said, ‘Take up your cross,’ and I’m here to do it. It’s not easy you know, this self-denial thing. I mean to go through with it though, yes, sir. I’ll bet you wish more people were willing to be disciples like me. I’ve counted the cost and surrendered my life and . . . well, it’s not an easy road . . .”

“Do you mind, Lord, if I look over these crosses? I’d kind of like a new one. I’m not fussy, you understand, but a disciple has to be relevant these days. And I was wondering . . . are there any that are vinyl padded? I’m thinking of attracting others, you see. And if I could show them comfortable crosses I am sure I could win a lot more. Got to keep up with the population explosion and all, you know.  And I need something durable so I can always cherish it. Oh, and is there one that’s sort of flat so it would fit under my coat? One should not be too obvious in this day and age, you know.”

“Funny, Lord, there doesn’t seem to be much choice here. Just that coarse, rough wooden one. That would hurt, wouldn’t it, Lord? Don’t you have something a bit more distinctive, Lord? I can tell you right now, none of my friends are going to be impressed by this shoddy workmanship! They’ll think I’m a nut or something! And my family would be mortified!”

“What’s that, Lord? It is either one of these or forget the whole thing? But, Lord, I want to be your disciple! I mean, just being with you, that’s all that counts, isn’t it?   Life has to be have a balance too, Lord . . . But, you don’t understand, Lord, nobody lives that way today! Who is going to be attracted by this self-denial bit? I mean, I want to, but, let’s not overdo it. Start getting radical like this Jesus and there will be talk of locking me up . . . know what I mean, Jesus?”

“Being a disciple is challenging and exciting, Lord, and I want to do it, but I have some rights and concerns you know! Now, let’s see, Lord, another thing: no blood, O.K.? I just can’t stand the thought of that Lord . . . Lord? Lord? Lord?” (3)

Yes, I hope people have heard me say that following Jesus most of the time involves suffering - ours. It involves identifying with those who suffer in this world - it involves sacrificing and serving. The world of today - the community we live in is in desperate need of a church, a community of believers who understands this and is willing to put everything they have and are on the line. Being successful as a church is not always measured by numerical growth but by the way the people who make it up live their faith.

Well, that brings me to the final thing I hope people have heard me say about being a faith community - we are sinners, sure, but, we are also saints. We are saints because we are people through whom others see the light of Jesus Christ shine.

The day I originally shared these thoughts was an All Saints Sunday so I also noted that the day is for more than just remembering those who’ve exemplified the Christian life in special and unique ways down through the ages - it’s more than remembering those who’ve stood out in our local churches or in our own faith journeys - it’s more than a day when we remember those related to our congregations who are no longer with us because of their deaths in the past year which of course is central to what we do in the service. All-Saints Sunday is also a day for us to remember that just as we are all ministers because of our saying yes to Jesus Christ, we are also all saints as a result of what Jesus Christ has done for us and in us. We are saints who occasionally sin.

And I ended it with the following which I've expanded for this blog sermon to include other communities and communities of faith it was our privilege to be part of: I could go on and on about this, but sense I better end and say what I want to say with some simple words of affirmation: “You, the people of Ottawa Trinity, Ada First, Lima Grace, Miamisburg Parkview, Urbana, Lima Trinity, Linden Heights, Worthington, Maple Grove United Methodist Churches and you, the people of the Ottawa, Ada, Miamisburg, Urbana, Lima, Linden, Worthington, and Clintonville areas are wonderful, wonderful people. You are indeed saints to us. Not because you never do/did anything wrong, but because you are people through whom we have seen Jesus Christ, who have made Jesus Christ visible to us. Dorothy and I and our adult children, Jeremy and Megan, love you all very much. We are so thankful to God for you. We wish you our very best. We will never, ever forget what you have done for us - how you’ve touched our lives - influenced our lives - and made our lives better. God bless you and keep you! Amen."

1. Source long ago dropped. Some illustrators give credit to Mike Yaconelli writing for The Wittenberg Door. Here's a recent source using it: http://sermonideas.net/view/The- Story-of-the-Lifesaving-Station.
2. ChristianGlobe Illustrations, Adapted from "The Rabbi's Gift" in Stories for the Journey by William White, ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc.
3. "Drama: Crosses" I've also posted a similar drama on the blog that was shared by the Maple Grove Players. We are still looking the original source of these two humorous looks at our sometimes perverted ways of thinking of the cross.

DRAMA: "Designer Crosses"

DESIGNER CROSSES                      
       3 Commentators, and 5 models carrying crosses:
      “Comfy Cross”………………….
      “Holiday Cross”…………………
      “Upwardly Mobile Cross”……………….
      “Crisis Cross…………………………….
      “Original Cross”………………………..

1st Commentator: Ladies and gentlemen, admirers of high fashion  -  we want to welcome you to the first showing of this year’s line of designer crosses. We understand that some of you are new to our line of specialty crosses, so permit us to describe our product. We want you to share our enthusiasm for how we clothe the Christian community in America.

2nd Commentator:  Designer crosses are specially designed crosses for the Christian who wants to make a faith statement……….

3rd Commentator:  ….without, of course, offending anyone or giving neighbors reason to think we’re too fanatical or radical.

2nd Commentator:  We’re an old company – we opened our first outlet back in the first century in that wild, crazy, fun town of Corinth.  Our business has flourished ever since.

3rd Commentator:  Except for those occasional recessions when Christians are called back to spiritual renewal based on living out their faith in word and deed. Sales do suffer at such times, but only temporarily.

2nd Commentator:  We have always quickly rebounded from such setbacks, and we are currently doing a booming business, especially with the present generation.

1st Commentator:  But enough of our history. Let’s get to this year’s fashionable line of designer crosses. Our first cross today was a top seller during the eighties, and is still our most popular – our Upwardly Mobile Cross. Modeling our cross today is Gloria Van Shallow of Las Vegas. The Upwardly Mobile Cross appeals to the trendy Christian in all of us. If the church is the best place to be seen in town, then this cross is for you. It’s tastefully decorated with symbols of power and control – a cross that lets your worldly friends know that you’re really okay after all.

3rd Commentator:  With this cross you’ll never have to think about your faith or be bothered by the needs of others around you.

2nd Commentator: Thank you, Gloria. Our second cross is the ever-popular Comfy Cross. Modeling the Comfy Cross is Wendy Y. Risk. Wendy shows us a cross for the Christian who is looking for a comfortable faith.

 1st  Commentator: If you’re longing for no challenges, no disappointments, the Comfy Cross is for you. Pretty and fluffy, this cross comforts and protects its owner from all the troubles of the world.

 3rd Commentator: …..Especially those tensions that are part of being a Christian in a fallen world. Want to live out your faith in a continually pleasant and protective bubble? Order this cross today.

 2nd Commentator: Thanks Wendy. Now here is (Ms./Mr.) Scarcely B. Seen modeling our traditional Holiday Cross. Although the market segment that traditionally purchases this designer cross is not here tonight, we thought we’d give you a sneak preview anyway. Notice the seasonal touches (mention items on the cross, to be determined by designer). Thank you Scarcely B. Seen.

1st Commentator: Now we introduce the new pocket-size or necklace size Crisis Cross, modeled by Tina C. Trouble. The Crisis Cross is exceptionally popular among students at exam time, among motorists in fender benders, soldiers in foxholes, white water canoeists who lose their paddles in class five rapids, and lost children at malls.

3rd Commentator: The popularity of this cross is due to its size – it can be hidden until a crisis arrives, until you need divine intervention. Until then – while your life is running smoothly – the pocket or necklace cross can remain safely out of sight. No one will even suspect you have one.

2nd Commentator: Thanks, Tina. And now, our final designer cross today, that doesn’t sell well, doesn’t look hot- – but we thought we’d pull it out to give you a look at the prototype for all our designer crosses,…. the Original Cross. Of course, as you’ve seen today, we’ve improved on it immensely through the years!

1st Commentator: We don’t get a lot of calls for this one anymore. As a matter of fact, our advertising firm is pushing us to drop this cross. After exhaustive market research, they have concluded that this cross simply doesn’t suit an individualistic culture.

3rd Commentator: Not to mention the demands this cross makes on its owners. This cross requires that its owners deny themselves, sacrifice themselves, serve others and their needs, love their enemies, speak and love nothing but the truth, walk the extra mile for others, be fiercely loyal and faithful at all costs to the One who first carried this cross.

2nd Commentator: Yet some fashion critics have pointed out that, though it’s not as flashy as our designer crosses, it does have simple lines and carries a clear statement.
 
1st Commentator: And we cannot deny that, however poorly it sells, its customer-satisfaction rating is phenomenal.

2nd commentator: The few who own one tell us of a deep contentment that this cross &its demands brought to their lives

1st Commentator:  In the opinion of some, the warranty more than compensates for its plain looks.

2nd  Commentator: Although most of our best selling crosses come with one-year guarantees ……….

1st Commentator:….and a few with lifetime guarantees…

3rd Commentator:…the original cross comes with an eternal guarantee. (pause) So which one will you take up today?

1st and 2nd Commentators in unison:  We hope you consider purchasing from the prestigious line of designer crosses! (1)

1. Performed by the Maple Grove Players. We are still looking for the original source and will add when we find it.