Pentecost Sunday Acts2:1-21;Ps.104:25-35,37; Rom 8:14-17; John 14:8-17 May 25, 1969 ÒBut You Know HimÓ John 14:15-21 Confirmation ItÕs not what you know but who you know that counts. It makes a difference - knowing Jesus - it really does! It makes a difference in what we see when we look around. For we see only what we are prepared to see. Faith is a great perspective for life. To know Jesus is to be able to see His hand at work in the affairs of life around us. It is to see Jesus with us in the good times and the bad. It is to know I will never be alone nor will I ever be forsaken by a God who loves me so much. Who you know determine who you are. ÒYou know him, even the spirit of truth who remains with you and lives in you.Ó Let this determine who you will be! Trinity Sunday Prov. 8:1-4,22-31; Ps 8; Rom 5:1-5;John 16:12-15 June 1, 1980 ÒGuide You Into The TruthÓ When I go fishing in Canada I want a guide with me but I do not want the guide fishing for me. Even if Iose the big one. Life islike fishing - we often need a guide but the guide cannot live for us. Truth is something we discover in the process of living. We learn truth as we live. We have to experience what we know before we can know it. We have to be vulnerable to make discovery. The Holy Spirit guides us into the truth of life lived in GodÕs name, confessing Jesus as Lord. As we go we discover what it all means - and it is far beyond our wildest imagination. Pentecost 2 Prov. 8:1-4,22-31; Ps 8; Rom 5:1-5;John 16:12-15 Aug 14, 1966 ÒEmpowered To LoveÓ (Was Trinity 10) Before it is possible for us to truly love God, it is necessary for us to experience the love of God. Simon was not aware of his need for forgiveness; thus he was not able to be forgiving. The woman was - and could. What ever love he might have had was self-generated; hers was forgiveness generated. To be loved is to be forgiven. To be forgiven is to be able to love, beyond human imagination. June 22, 1980 It is the nature of God to forgive, not to condemn. To accept, rather then dismiss. To reconcile, rather than reject. God forgives first - as much as needed - grace sufficient to cover what ever sins - then waits for something beautiful to happen. Those who are forgiven much (and know it) will love much ( and show it). It is not moral perfection which pleases God - perfection which creates an attitude of condemnation rather then compassion. It is being forgiven much which pleases God, for then our lives will make a difference and the Kingdom of God will come - through us! June 19, 1983 Two stories about forgiveness: David and the Woman at Simons house. Simon reminds us that we are as guilty as the next person - even the worst person. David reminds us that we can never forget the bad which happens because of our sin - which others have to bear. To be forgiven is to know we have sinned - much. To be forgiven is to be opened up to love - much. To be forgiven is to remember - and hurt because of what our sins did - but not without hope. It is to also not forget how much we have been forgiven! July 5, 1992 ÒLove Rooted In ForgivenessÓ (Was Pentecost 4th after) Without forgiveness, nothing can make us happy, (OT Lesson) With forgiveness, nothing can keep us from being happy, (Gospel) As King David thought he had a right to Bathsheba. He took her. We do the same, living by our ÒrightsÓ rather then seeing all of life - including our rights - as a gift. A gift to be received and a gift to be given. We as a nation need to hear this! A forgiven person (gospel) is a happy person who does crazy things to express great love and gratitude. June 5, 1983 ( alternate text: Luke 7:1-10) Ò A Miracle Of FaithÓ This is a story primarily about faith, not faith healing. It is an example of someone from theoutside whose faith put the shame those on the inside. He was a Roman, a centurion, yet a sensitive man who was open to the mystery and miracles of life. He cares about his slave enough to go to Jesus to see if something might happen which could be called nothing short of a miracle. Such faith is a miracle! He presents his case and Jesus is impressed. Impressed by his honesty, compassion and faith. Jesus commends the man for his faith and does as he requests. It is a miracle of healing which points to faith as that which is to be remembered and duplicated. A strong faith which is open to miracles and leaves room in life for the mysterious presence of a loving God. Sept 13, 1964 ÒGod Has Visited His PeopleÓ Luke 7:16, was Trinity 16) It is no small thing to say and believe that God has visited his people. It means God reveals who God is; we believe as God is, not as we would have God be. It is no small thing to say Jesus is God; it is with fear and awe that we say such a thing. Faith is not a matter of understanding God; it is a matter of recognizing my need for God, and then recognizing the God I need - who has revealed himself in Jesus. Faith is not a possession; it is a possessor. It is, as P.T. Forsythe so ably describes lit, ÒA power andpassion in authority among the powers and passions of life.Ó Oct 3, 1965 ÒGod Has Visited His PeopleÓ (Luke 7:11-17, was Trinity 16) The secret of resolving the dilemma of death lies in faith; in daring to believe the message and promise which God has made to us in the face of death - fear not! The gift of God is life; the enemy of life is death; the gift of God is victory over death through Jesus Christ. Sept 26, 1971 ÒTouching and TrustingÓ (Luke 7:11-16, was Trinity 16) God cares about people; all people. God touches us with healing grace and trusts us to live as a child of grace. Touch is so important in our lives; as is trust. There is no better way to commmunicate caring then to touch. It is a beautiful thing to be touched. It also is beautiful and powerful to be trusted. Youth once said, ÒIf you donÕt have trust you donÕt have anything.Ó June 4, 1989 ÒNo Human InventionÓ Luke 7:11-24 (was 3rd of Pentecost) We didnÕt invent God. God created us, and God comes to us in the mysteryof revelation, in the mystery of grace present in Word, Sacraments, and people. The only thing which keeps God our of our lives is US. Our egos, wills, pride. Albert Einstein: ÒThe most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. In is the source of all true art and science. ( We can add religion.) He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and be rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.Ó Einstein also said, religion Ò consists in a humble admiration of the infinitely superior spirit that reveals itself in the little that we, with our weak and transitory understanding can comprehend of reality.Ó GodÕs promise is that He will wait us out, and come to us for the awesome truth is, God cares about us andtries His hardest to intervene in our live with the miracle of a love which never dies and a dazzling grace which always is! June 21, 1992 ÒAll Are Welcome: Luke 7:1-10 Jesus came with what sounded like a different Gospel then what the Israelites heard and knew. No one is excluded! (Acts 10:35) Grace is always unmerited and undeserved. Mercy is not getting what I deserve. Grace is getting what I donÕt deserve. God is a God of grace who does and will and wonÕt stop until He can - love us all! Pentecost 3 Pentecost 4 I Kings 19:15-16, 19-21; Ps 16; Gal 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62 July 10, 1977 ÒFollow MeÓ Discipleship is following Jesus. He calls, we follow. Nothing can stand in the way of our commitment to follow Him. No conditions to our following; just trusting that he knows the way. July 6, 1980 Single minded devotion is demanded of those who would be disciples of Jesus. this is not narrow mindedness, which leads to judgment and condemnation rather then understanding and compassion. Thisistobeservants of one another through love. To trust one another and trust the spirit of Christ., and walk in love. June 29, 1986 ÒFree To LoveÓ Hans Kung: ÒTrue religiousness, in whatever faith, functions not to enslave but to free, not to injure but to heal, not to destabilize but to stabilize.Ó True religion lives by grace which sets people free. Free to be who we are. Free to struggle with our purpose in life. Free to choose without fear of reprisal, yet with responsibility for our choices. Free to live knowing that I will always be loved, and also knowing that I have to choose how I am going to use my freedom - as an excuse to indulge in self-gratification at the expense of others, as a license to destroy myself and others, or as an opportunity to love my neighbor as myself, to love as I have been loved! Free to do good to all people! ThatÕs what freedom in Christ is all about. For Ò...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. There is no law against such things.Ó Gal. 5:22,23 And there is no stopping those who live by the spirit! June 25, 1989 We are called to total allegiance, but not blind allegiance in the call to discipleship. Ollie North was guiltyof blind allegiance; as was Nazi Germany. A man who supervised Ollie North in the Marine Corps said, ÒOllie North needed boundaries set every month.Ó What are our boundaries for our call to discipleship? 1. We are not to call down damnation on anyone. 2. We are not just to talk the talk, but walk the walk. 3. We are not to get stuck with the dead. Life is a gift. Live it to the better end. 4. DonÕt look back; let go and press on. Ògod will know how to draw glory even from our faults.Ó p. 208, Daily Prayers July 19, 1992 ÒFollowing JesusÓ Whatever else it means to follow Jesus, it is a radical departure from what has been to what is yet to be, and it is an all consuming adventure which is full of uncertainty, vulnerability and openness to GodÕs surprises as they come upon us at the most unexpected moments, in unconventional ways and ask us to be ready to Ò proclaim the Kingdom of GodÓ in the very essence of our being. It means being a servant, a steward, a slave. We cannot do it our way - wehave to do it His way. We cannot consume one another, we are to serve one another in love. Òthrough love become slaves to one anotherÓ. cf Douglas John Hall, The Steward, pp.255-257 Pentecost 5 Is.66:10-14;Ps66:1-8; Gal6:(1-6)7-16;Luke10:1-11,16-20 March 6, 1966 ÒOur Reason For JoyÓ Joy is a central theme in the Bible. Look up the word in a concordance; the Bible abounds with joy. It is also the keynote of the Christian faith, the heart beat of the Christian life. A lady once said to me, ÒYou canÕt be a Pastor; you smile too much.Ó There is a lot to smile about when Òour hearts leap for joy!Ó (Lk 6:23) This joy comes not by our own doing - we donÕt create it. It comes by GodÕs doing - it is a gift! A gift of grace. We rejoice knowing that our :Ónames are written in heaven.Ó Repentance is the joy of returning home. Suffering ends in joy, for we can be defeated but not destroyed. Discipleship becomes a joyful duty, serving long and hard in the kingdom labor force. Life takes on a different perspective as we dare believe that God is for us, not against us, and Ònothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Ò Rom 8:38 This is our reason for joy! Jan 22, 1967 ÒPray Therefore...Send LaborersÓ (Evangelism Sunday) There is no question about the need; the harvest is plentiful. There is no question about the importance of prayer as a part of the task; the question is, who are the laborers we are praying might be sent out? Praying was never meant to be a substitute for doing. It is ÒmeÓ who is to ÒgoÓ! To pray for the harvest is to pray that I might be one of the laborers sent out to struggle in the hart of the day whit the task of reaping the harvest. This is a dangerous prayer for we might be caught up in the answer. George Eliotinhis poem ÒStradivariusÓ puts it this way: ÒThis God gives the skill But not without menÕs hands; He could not make Antonio Stradivarius violins Without Antonio.Ó Feb. 27, 1972 ÒRejoice For The Right ReasonÓ Do not rejoice in what you areable to do, even in Jesus name. Rejoice rather in what has been done for you - by sheer grace your name is written in heaven! We are not saved because we believe so strongly; We are not saved because we are religious; we are not saved because of who we are; we are not saved because of what we do for Jesus; we are saved Òby grace through faith, it is not our own doing; it is the gift of God-not the result of works, so that no one may boast.Ó Eph 2:8,9 Rejoice not in what you can do; rejoice for the right reason - rejoice in what has been done for you - by grace your name is written in heaven! July 21, 1974 It would be easy to hear these words as permission to judge others. This would be to hear the wrong thing. What it says is that unless the Gospelbecomes human it cannot be divine; it cannot truly give hope. No judgment implied in shaking off the dust of feet - no force intended. What counts is the relationship through which the Gospel can be expressed and lived. If this is not possible -wait until it is! In hope! Sept 29, 1974 Luke 10:17-20 Jesus feels the same towards us whether we are important or not. We are to rejoice not in what we can do but in what has been done for us. Rejoice that we are of value without our successes. We donÕt have to succeed to be loved. In fact, our value can best be discovered not through our accomplishments but through our failures. Children need to know they are loved when they are failures. So do we. This is what grace does. Loves no matter what! July 17, 1977 ÒGodÕs Great NeverthelessÓ God doesnÕt delight in judgment. God delights in grace. There is a great nevertheless which never gives up; always holds open the possibility that grace will happen and mortals such as you and I will see that the Kingdom of God has come near - to us. The Kingdom of God can be rejected but it cannot be stopped. It comes near, like it or not. The eyes of faith see it, embrace it, even extend it as it comes among us in human form still. July 10, 1983 ÒRejoice That Your Names Are Written In HeavenÓ The Good News today is not that we can do remarkable things in Jesus name but that our names are written in heaven no matter how much or little we do. God possesses us; we are His. We belong to His Kingdom. God has seen to that. No matter what, we do not have to worry about the end. It is in the hands of a loving Father who will not let us go. No panic necessary. Our urgency is for living each day as GodÕs child, not trying to become GodÕs child. Confessing and forgiving; caring and giving; celebrating and being compassionate; - being spiritual in the finest sense of the word. July 2, 1989 Discipleship is not just for the professionals; it is for all who would follow Jesus. Who can count the good done by themultitudes of those who go about doing good, in the name of Jesus. We are not responsible for the harvest; God is! We are not to judge; that is GodÕs doing and God even used judgment to save. With God nothing is impossible; and grace is the last word. We are not to rejoice over our success stories but over our own salvation story. We exist for mission. To announce that the Kingdom of God is near. July 26, 1992 ÒBeing A DiscipleÓ It is no easy thing, being a disciple. Listen to the second lesson for list of what a disciple is to be like. We are to announce by word and by life style that the Kingdom of God has come near to us - we are not to condemn anyone - just let the good news out. The call to be a disciple is a call to take risks and open doors; become vulnerable to the challenges and conflicts of life. See Douglas John Hall, The Steward, pp122,127,130-32 The joy of it all is not in what we accomplish but that our names are already written in heaven. Pentecost 6 Is.66:10-14;Ps66:1-8;Gal 6:(1-6)7-16;Luke10:1-11,16-20 March 6, 1966 ÒOur Reason For JoyÓ Joy is a central theme in the Bible. Look up the word in a concordance; the Bible abounds with joy. It is also the keynote of the Christian faith, the heart beat of the Christian life. A lady once said to me, ÒYou canÕt be a Pastor; you smile too much.Ó There is a lot to smile about when Òour hearts leap for joy!Ó (Lk 6:23) This joy comes not by our own doing - we donÕt create it. It comes by GodÕs doing - it is a gift! A gift of grace. We rejoice knowing that our :Ónames are written in heaven.Ó Repentance is the joy of returning home. Suffering ends in joy, for we can be defeated but not destroyed. Discipleship becomes a joyful duty, serving long and hard in the kingdom labor force. Life takes on a different perspective as we dare believe that God is for us, not against us, and Ònothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Ò Rom 8:38 This is our reason for joy! Jan 22, 1967 ÒPray Therefore...Send LaborersÓ(Evangelism Sunday) There is no question about the need; the harvest is plentiful. There is no question about the importance of prayer as a part of the task; the question is, who are the laborers we are praying might be sent out? Praying was never meant to be a substitute for doing. It is ÒmeÓ who is to ÒgoÓ! To pray for the harvest is to pray that I might be one of the laborers sent out to struggle in the hart of the day whit the task of reaping the harvest. This is a dangerous prayer for we might be caught up in the answer. George Eliot in his poem ÒStradivariusÓ puts it this way: ÒThis God gives the skill But not without menÕs hands; He could not make Antonio Stradivarius violins Without Antonio.Ó Feb. 27, 1972 ÒRejoice For The Right ReasonÓ Do not rejoice in what you are able to do, even in Jesus name. Rejoice rather in what has been done for you - by sheer grace your name is written in heaven! We are not saved because we believe so strongly; We are not saved because we are religious; we are not saved because of who we are; we are not saved because of what we do for Jesus; we are saved Òby grace through faith, it is not our own doing; it is the gift of God-not the result of works, so that no one may boast.Ó Eph 2:8,9 Rejoice notin what you can do; rejoice for the right reason - rejoice in what has been done for you - by grace your name is written in heaven! July 21, 1974 It would be easy to hear these words as permission to judge others. This would be to hear the wrong thing. What it says is that unless the Gospel becomes human it cannot be divine; it cannot truly give hope. No judgment implied in shaking off the dust of feet - no force intended. What counts is the relationship through which the Gospel can be expressed and lived. If this is not possible - wait until it is! In hope! Sept 29, 1974 Luke 10:17-20 Jesus feels the same towards us whether we are important or not. We are to rejoice not in what we can do but in what has been done for us. Rejoice that we are of value without our successes. We donÕt have to succeed to be loved. In fact, our value can best be discovered not through our accomplishments but through our failures. Children need to know they are loved when they are failures. So do we. This iswhat grace does. Loves no matter what! July 17, 1977 ÒGodÕs Great NeverthelessÓ God doesnÕt delight in judgment. God delights in grace. There is a great nevertheless which never gives up; always holds open the possibility that grace will happen and mortals such as you and I will see that the Kingdom of God has come near - to us. The Kingdom of God can be rejected but it cannot be stopped. It comes near, like it or not. The eyes of faith see it, embrace it, even extend it as it comes among us in human form still. July 10, 1983 ÒRejoice That Your Names Are Written In HeavenÓ The Good News today is not that we can do remarkable things in Jesus name but that our names are written in heaven no matter how much or little we do. God possesses us; we are His.We belong toHis Kingdom. God has seen to that. No matter what, we do not have to worry about the end. It is in the hands of a loving Father who will not let us go. No panic necessary. Our urgency is for living each day as GodÕs child, not trying to become GodÕs child. Confessing and forgiving; caring and giving; celebrating and being compassionate; - being spiritual in the finest sense of the word. July 2, 1989 Discipleship is not just for the professionals; it is for all who would follow Jesus. Who can count the good done by the multitudes of those who go about doing good, in the name of Jesus. We are not responsible for the harvest; God is! We are not to judge; that is GodÕs doing and God even used judgment to save. With God nothing is impossible; and grace is the last word. We are not to rejoice over our success stories but over our own salvation story. We exist for mission. To announce that the Kingdom of God is near. July 26, 1992 ÒBeing A DiscipleÓ It is no easy thing, being a disciple. Listen to the second lesson for list of what a disciple is to be like. We are to announce by word and by life style that the Kingdom of God has come near to us - we are not to condemn anyone - just let the good news out. The call to be a disciple is a call to take risks and open doors; become vulnerable to the challenges and conflicts of life. See Douglas John Hall, The Steward, pp122,127,130-32 The joy of it all is not in what we accomplish but that our names are already written in heaven. Pentecost 7 Gen 18:1-10a; Ps 15; Col 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 Jan 31, 1972 ÒDonÕt Just Do Something - Listen!Ó Martha was busy doing something; Mary was busy listening to Jesus. It is easy to get caught up in being busy and not have time to listen. ÒIt is impossible to overemphasize the immense need humans have to be really listened to, to be taken seriously, to be understood.Ó Paul Tournier Children need to be listened to; husbands and wives need to be listened too (by each other); we need to know that God listens to us. One thing is needful: to listen and be listened too. For it is in so doing that we discover the mystery of another person and the meaning of our lives together with each other and with God. DonÕt just do something. Listen...listen...listen! July 31,1977 ÒOne Thing NeedfulÓ It is not MarthaÕs actions which are chided, but her attitude. The one thing needful is an openness to the presence of God when ever and where ever and how ever God chooses to touch us in our lives. Openness to that which is ever new; willingness to be stretched, to be different, to be surprised. The one thing needful is to be open to God in our lives NOW, and let nothing keep us from this. July 27, 1980 There are times to be like Martha; organized, efficient, concerned about the basics. There are times to be like Mary; spontaneous, free, flowing with. The struggle is to find the balance between the two to find Òplanned spontaneityÓ. The challenge is to be open to the presence of God when God comes into our lives, often in forms we do not quickly recognize, and then embrace it. To be open to receiving God as well as serving God. July 21, 1986 ÒAnd Sarah LaughedÓ Gen 18:1-15 Sarah and Abraham laughed at the notion they would have a baby. It was preposterous at their age. We laugh at what we find hard to believe. Our laughter is in amazement at something too wonderful to believe, too astounding to comprehend; so we laugh our way into believing it. This is healthy laughter - good for the soul. It Òflushes out the nervous systemÓ and the belief system. It reminds us that the wisdom of God is hidden in what we can only first laugh at. Then believe! We might even say, ÒAll things work together for good for those who laugh with God.Ó Aug 9, 1992 It is easy to pick on Martha and praise Mary. The problem with Mary was not all her good work, but that she was too busy to experience the moment and savor the specialness of what was happening. She was distracted. This is how we miss God present in our lives - by being toobusy. ÒWe...need to practice the Ôart of no agendaÕ - to live in such a way that we begin to respond to the rhythms of life around us rather than control or initiate all of them. We must, in prayer, seek to be open to and content withwhatever the days brings. We must allow ourselves to be ÔinterruptedÕ for God visits in interruptions.Ó Otherside, July-Aug Ô92,p.11 Take time to listen for the still small voice of God. Be quiet and sit at the feet of Jesus; take time to do nothing. ÓThe question that must guide all organizing activity in a parish (and in a family) is not how to keep people busy, but how to keep them from being so busy that they can no longer hear the voice of God who speaks in silence.Ó Henri Nouwen, The Way Of The Heart, p. 47 Pentecost 8 Gen 18:20-32; Ps 138; Col 2:6-15 (16-19); Luke 11:1-13 May 15, 1966 ÒThe Mystery of PrayerÓ There is something mysterious about prayer. About unanswered prayer and answered prayer. And about our inherent need to pray. There is mystery in the power of prayer which defies explanation. Jesus directs us to enter into the act of prayer, to break into this mystery and let what will happen happen. It all begins by asking; and being persistent about it. Then follows being opento hear the answer. The answer God would give, not the answer we would have. The gift of the Holy Spirit, and the grace sufficient for all days and all needs. May 11, 1969 ÒThe Mystery of PrayerÓ The mystery of prayer is that it always works, sometimes better than we dare believe. Prayer is always heard and answered; sometimes in ways different than our asking. Prayer takes a lot of nerve. Like banging on a neighbors door at midnight to ask for something to eat. Jesus is telling us to bug Him, pester Him, bother Him with our needs for he is a friend who will not leave us standing along in the dark. He will give you what you need because you are not ashamed to keep on asking! What a Friend we have in Jesus! We can take anything and everything to him in prayer!He will choose what is right for us and answer accordingly. Not always what we ask for; but always more than we asked for! July 31, 1983 ÒHow Much MoreÓ This is a dangerous text. It seems to give us the power to get what we want from God, rather then be open to what God wants to give us. God does not just give us what we want; God gives us more then we want. God gives us the Holy Spirit which means we can never do lit our way again and also that we never have to go it alone again. How much more this is then what we ask for or expect! July 27, 1986 ÒHow Much MoreÓ Pray with shameless persistence and then watch out! For as Mother Teresa reminds us - ÒPrayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing godÕs gift of himself. Ask and seek - (take trouble to pray, love to pray, feel often during the day the need to pray) and your heart will grow big enough to receive (God) and keep him as your own.Ó A Guide to Prayer, p. 233 Prayer of an Unknown soldier from the Civil War: ÒI asked God for strength that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might learn humility to obey. I asked for health, that I might do great things, I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy;Õ I wasgiven poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing I asked for - but everything I hoped for; Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men, most richly blessed! July 23, 1989 ÒPray With Shameless BoldnessÓ Importunity is to pray with a shameless boldness like Abraham in OT Lesson. Prayer is more then something we do to get our way with God. Prayer is something we do to discover GodÕs way with us, and discover how true it is that GodÕs grace is sufficient for all our needs. Mother Teresa:; ÒPrayer enlarges the heart untilit is capableofcontaining GodÕs gift of himself. Ask and seek, and your heart will grow big enough to receive God and keep God as your own.Ó Harry Emerson Fosdick, Ò Importunity in prayer is not needed to coax God, but to deepen our eagerreadiness for the good we seek.Ó Prayer is one of the most important spiritual disciplines by which we open ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Henri Nouwen: Ò ÒIt is impressive to see how prayer opens oneÕs eyes...prayer makes (us) contemplative and attentive. In place of manipulating, the (person) who prays stands receptive before the world (and before God). He no longer grabs but caresses, (she ) no longer bites, but kisses, (they ) no longer examine but admire.Ó Prayers for Servants, p. 234 Prayer is a joy, not a dutyÕ a privilege, not an obligation; it is talking to PAPA - who loves us and will give us more then we ask for. Pentecost 9 Eccles. 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23; Ps 49:1-11; Col 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21 May 28, 1967 ÒPronoun ProblemsÓ Thetwo men use the possessive pronoun freely, but never the pronoun which points to a relationship - ÔourÕ.You can to a large degree determine a personÕs theology by the pronouns used. Pronouns give direction to life. They point to what is important in oneÕs life. Mine...yours...ours...Thine. What a difference it makes when we are able to look at our possessions and say ÒThineÓ. Then our possessions fall into their rightful place in life. Then they are not ours in a selfish way, but ours to use in a redemptive way. May 31, 1970 ÒRich From GodÕs Point Of ViewÓ Possessions do enhance our freedom to enjoy life. Yet how dangerous they are when they take possession of us. The rich man was a fool because he failed to keep a clear space between himself and his possessions. As well as between himself and others. He tried to live by bread alone; pile up riches but be void of meaningful relationships which enrich life. ÒAh, there is only one problem, only one in all the world. How can we restore to man a spiritual significance, a spiritual discontent; let something descend upon them like the dew of a Gregorian chant...donÕt you see, we cannot live any longer on refrigerators, politics, balance-sheets, and crossword puzzles. We simply cannot.ÓAuthor unknown Aug 7, 1983 ÒThe Rich FoolÓ There is a subtle twist in the texts for today. Gospel is a warning. Epistle a word of admonition OT an antidote of greed or covetousness. What it really is saying is Òlet go and let God.Ó Anyone who thinks they can live alone even with great wealth is a fool. It is a fool who thinks he/she can be greedy and happy at the same time. The truth we all have to discover is until we share we will not be happy. Happiness is a by-product of how we live - it is a serendipity. Happiness is not found in grabbing all we can grab; but in giving all we can give. Aug 23, 1992 ÒGive The GiftÓ We were created for more then just abundance. We were created to know and be known by God. Our spiritual needs cannot be satisfied with material goods - no matter how hard we try. Jewish proverb: ÒWhen you have everything, something is missing.Ó We were created to be rich toward God which means to accept life as a gift and give the gift! Life is a gift. Life is found andexperienced in giving the gift. Pentecost 10 Gen15:1-6; Ps33:12-22; Heb 11:1-3,8-16; Luke 12:32-40 Jan 5,1964 ÒThe Gift Of The KingdomÓ God wants to give us a great gift - a tremendous, valuable, priceless gift. We are not sure we want it. God wants to give us His Kingdom! We are afraid to accept it for the gift cannot be kept to ourselves - we in tern must give it. GodÕs Kingdom is a free gift, but God is never thrown at you for free; it costs us our lives given in thankful service for so great a gift, freely given. For GodÕs Kingdom, freely given, joyfully received, becomes not a possession we have but a possession which has us! We become possessed by the gift and all of life becomes a means of giving the gift. Aug 25, 1974 It all begins with a gift; not with our faithfulness.ÒFearnot little flock, for it is your FatherÕs good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.Ó Gifts are special; GodÕs gift is very special. Once GodÕs love and grace become our treasurer, everything else is secondary. Life with God is not just a matter of being religious; it is a matter of falling in love and being possessed by that love, living it our in our lives. ? GodÕs goodness is a gift. Seeing GodÕs goodness is not a matter of deserving it, it is a matter of tuning into it, and being awake and ready for the surprises which will come. Aug 14, 1983 ÒOur Treasurer and Our HeartsÓ What we live for is what we become. I will end up - my heart will lend up - where I put my energy and hope. We become possessed by what we set out to possess. i.e. addictions of all sorts. We need to remember that life is a gift not a possession; and so is the Kingdom of God. To lose life is to find it; to be possessed by the gift of the Kingdom is to become a servant in the work of the Kingdom. Aug 6, 1989 ÒTo Live By FaithÓ Gospel feels like a double whammy. It contains grace pure and clear - God is pleased to give us the Kingdom. It contains a warning - we can miss the kingdom by living for the wrong reasons. To live by faith is to live in openness to God as the faithful promise maker and promise keeper. It is to live in readiness for the unpredictable arrival of GodÕs grace; it is to journey through life seeing more then can be seen and certain of that which cannot be seen. Aug 30, 1992 ÒThe Form Of A ServantÓ In the Kingdom of God the servant is center stage. We donÕt want the Kingdom God wants to give us. For to relieve such a gift is to have to live our lives giving the gift! Being a servant wherever we are and whatever we are doing. The right resources and the right people together in the right place equals the kingdom happening on earth as it is in heaven. Pentecost 11 Jer 23:23-29; Ps 82; ;Heb 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56 Sept 16, 1973 ÒLive In The NowÓ It is possible to miss what is happening in our midst when we fail to see the uniqueness of this moment. It is possible to miss God in our midst when we fail to see God present in this moment and in those we never expected to be God for us. For Godstill comes in human form even as God came uniquely and completely in Jesus. Aug 28, 1977 ÒDivision not PeaceÓ This text is about ÒThe fire of a new faith or religion, a burning enthusiasm in believers creating fierce antagonism in unbelievers; deplorable but inevitable.Ó When what we hold sacred is challenged - no matter what it is - division is going to result. Jesus challenged a lot of sacred cows in his day - and there was division! Yet Jesus did not let this keep him from the sacredness of life. He did what he had to do to show GodÕs love and mercy to all and let no religious tradition keep him from entering into the sacred of life. To be redeemed by Jesus is to not need to have any sacred cows anymore. It is to not have to create division but to live in harmony even with those with whom I donÕt agree, yet still respect and even love in the name of Jesus. Aug 24, 1980 The Bible doesnÕt contradict itself - we do, by how we use the Bible to defend our beliefs. Prime example: ÒKill a Commie for Christ.Ó Jesus calls us to live with a different set of rules for the game of life - Òlove your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.Ó He is our centering point and love is our calling. Leave the judging to God - who sees more, knows more, and loves more! Aug 17, 1986 ÒIs not My Word Like Fire? There are things we do not want to hear. Even in GodÕs Word! The Prophet Jeremiah (and other prophets) got in trouble because of what they said what God wanted them to say. GodÕs word is not only a word of peace; it is also a word of challenge which brings unrest. It is not just to comfort the afflicted; it is also to afflict the comfortable! It does create division among people between those who hear and those who donÕt want to hear. This is true because GodÕs Word is fireandit creates adangerous spirit - the spirit of love! The kind of love which brings GodÕs kingdom to this world in ways which make it a different and better place for all. Sept 6, 1992 ÒFire On EarthÓ A difficult text.Jesus is the Prince of Peace, not of division. What we forgot is that GodÕs Word is like fire and like a hammer which seeks to create in us a dangerous spirit - the spirit of love - and calls us to a radical way of living - as those who forget not the name of God no matter what price has to be paid. To live as GodÕs chosen people does not mean we can have our cake and eat it too! That we can presume on GodÕs generosity and take it for granted; keep our faith and our love private; live off the fat of GodÕs love with little thought for others; judge and condemn those who are different; gloat over what we have and condemn those who have not. To live as GodÕs chosen people is to live as radicals who dare believe in love as the most powerful and most important thing in all of life. Nothing, not even our most honored and sacred relations must keep us from living as those who are servants of love; disciples of a God of love. i.e. Young man down south: ÒI wasnÕt brought up to love integration; I was brought upto love Jesus. ... ThatÕs why I am here, standing up for integration.Ó Teilhard de Chardin...when we harness for God the energies of love, Ò then, for the second time, we will have discovered fire.Ó Pentecost 12 Isa. 58:9b-14; Ps 103:1-8;Heb 12:18-29; Luke 13:10-17 Pentecost 13 Prov. 25:6-7; Ps 112; Heb 13:1-8; Luke 14:1, 7-14 Oct 3, 1971 Luke 14:1-11 Is it a trap - set by the PhariseeÕs to discredit Jesus? This is what PhariseeÕs do - then and now. Could Jesus have waited until the Sabbath was over to heal the man? Yes, but why? There was no reason to not do it now. There is no religious reason to not enjoy life right now. Jesus was a rebel; to follow Jesus is to be a rebel. Sept 15, 1974 Jesus is doing more then changing social customs. He is challenging the games we play; the sham which is ours because we donÕt know how to be real with each other or with ourselves. We find it hard to affirm our strengths and acknowledge openly our weaknesses. Being humble is often a cover up for our feelings of pride. Yet, the best thing we can do for ourselves, others and even God, is to be ourselves and accept ourselves as a child born in the image of God. It is good to be human; we donÕt have to play games to try hide our strengths or weaknesses. We can be who we are, in the grace of God. A forgiven sinner who is loved by a gracious God. Jesus died to show us our value, our priceless value to God our Creator. Our challenge is to be real with ourselves, others and God in the light of this awesome truth! Sept 11, 1977 ÒHumility - Power To Be MyselfÓ Humility is a sigh of strength. It is a fruit of healthy ego-strenth; liking myself but not hung up on myself. It comes out of the honest struggle with my weakness; and the gracious acceptance of forgiveness.It comes when I forget myself and remember who I am - a sinner - and who my God is - a gracious, loving, forgiving God. Humble people like themselves and donÕt need the acclaim of others to do so. They just go about being their forgiven selves. Sept 7, 1980 ÒDoing More For LessÓ The point of the parable is: we re not to become so closed in our thinking, so self serving in our good deeds, that we exclude those whoa re different from us. Especially those who are less fortunate. We are not to keep what we have to ourselves and use it only in self serving ways. His words confront us with our ulterior motive syndrome, our interest in what we can get out of life rather then what we can give to live. Time reveals the truth of our words and our self interest. The Kingdom of God challenges us to do more with less; to give more and take less;l to lose ourselves so we can find ourselves and really be happy. Sept 4, 1983 ÒHe Enjoys UsÓ The parable has to do with the intent of our actions; whatÕs in the heart? WhatÕs behind what Iam doing? The Kingdom of God challenges us to not live the lie but to be fair and honest, even if it costs the prize. This is almost un-american but it is the way it is with God and in GodÕs Kingdom, where each one of us is a special guest and God actually wants to be with us, actually enjoys us. So be all you can be - be yourself by the grace of God. Sept 20, 1992 These words are about how it is in the Kingdom of God and how God would have us be. With God there are no ÒgreatsÓ; no Ò inner circlesÓ; no Òless or more importantÓ; no social status. No game playing, pretending to be humble so we can be great. ÒHalf of the harm that is done in this world, is due to people who want to feel important. They donÕt mean to do harm - but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.Ó T. S. Elliot _ÓThe Cocktail PartyÓ We live by grace not by our accomplishments. Humility is our key word. cf. Phil 2:3,4; Col 3:12; Prov. 3:34; James 4:6; I Peter 5:5; Micah 6:8; Phil 2:8 ÒTrue humility doesnÕt consist of thinking ill of yourself but on not thinking of yourself much differently from the way youÕd be aptto think of anybody else. It is the capacity for being no more & no less pleased when you play your own (bridge) hand well then when your opponents do.Ó Buechner, ÒWishful ThinkingÓ, p. 40 Humility is loosing oneself in living and not keeping score. It is letting the love of God consume us until nothing is more important then the privilege of being a servant. It is getting lost in doing good. And letting God keep score, if God want s to, which God probably doesnÕt. Pentecost 14 Deut 30:15-20; Ps 1; Phil. 1:10-21; Luke 14:25-33 June 4, 1967 ÒThe Cost Of DiscipleshipÓ These words can hardly be said to be tactful. Nor can they be misunderstood. They are too clear and blunt for that. It costs to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. 1. For to be a disciple is to be called,and the price paid is my own right of choice. No one chooses to follow Jesus. We are chosen to follow. It is not our doing. We are not in control of our life. Nothing comes before being a discipleship - not even the most intimate relationships of our lives. 2. For to be a disciple is to have to obey, and the price of obedience is the renunciation of self. Renouncing, that is what we most do not want to give up. 3. For to be a disciple is to suffer and the price to be paid is Ôbearing oneÕs own crossÕ. That is, to endure suffering which would not be ours if we were not a disciple. It costs to be a disciple. But the rewards far exceed the cost - the crown of life! June 7, 1970 ÒOur DiscipleshipÓ These are radical words designed to set us free from that which really destroys the joy of living - luke warm religion. To play with religion is worse than no religion at all. To want a little bit of God, but not enough to make us have to change our ways, is worse then having no God at all. At least then we are honest! Jesus is not advocating that we ÔhateÕ in his name. He is advocating that we place first things first - and that means discipleship! July 1, 1973 ÒOur DiscipleshipÓ These words were spoken at a time when Jesus was popular. As such, they were designed to shatter the illusion that discipleship is a mass movement. Jesus would have us go where we donÕt want to go and do what we donÕt want to do. Many drop out. There are times when to be near Jesus is the most dangerous place to be. i.e. Dietrich Bonhoeffer. There is no relationship as complete as our relationship with Jesus. No human relationship is 100%; our relationship with Jesus is. Follow Jesus and discover who you are and the joy of life abundant. Sept 3, 1989 Possessions and people can possess us. They can smother us with love, paralyze us, dominate us so we never become the person we were created to be and never answer the call to live out our God given destiny. Our love of self can also cause us to miss the secret of life -to lose oneself inlife is to find life. Discipleship demands something from us; it demands much from us. We are not here to avoid suffering but to redeem suffering by entering into the suffering with a redeeming love.Being a disciple is not something we do because it is convenient; it is something we do because we have to - no matter what the cost. Sept 27, 1992 ÒThe Cost Of DiscipleshipÓ The Kingdom of God is here to challenge us to live for more then personal gain. It is not only a blessed assurance...it is also a blessed disturbance for I am His and that means I cannot live as if only I count. Jesus first - a demand both scary and consuming. Take up your cross - suffering there will be. Give all our possessions - all can be used to Kingdom glory. We will never know how well it works until we try it. Pentecost 15 Ex. 32:7-14; Ps 51:1-11; I Tim 1:12-17; Lk 15:1-10 Sept 25. 1977 ÒGod Of The LostÓ We who are religious like to see repentance first, then God will forgive. God forgives - or offers love and forgiveness to the lost - to help them repent. God is open to the lost and rejoices on their being found. It is in the process of the celebration that repentance takesplace. It is done because I have been found, when I didnÕt think anyone, certainly not God, would want me. What a joy to be found and loved before I could do anything about it; to have a party thrown for me before I could even mumble my repentance. To be saved is to trust that God loves me enough that I dare get lost again, for He will surely find me! It is risky living - as only love enables life to be. Oct 4, 1992 ÒBe Lost - Be FoundÓ The heart of the Gospel is in Luke 15. These two parables are about how it is with God and how God is with us. Problem is: we have to be lost to see it. And we donÕt want to admit our lostness. We are more interested in having our religion keep us from ever thinking we are lost then we are in having it help us be found when we are lost. Weare afraid of that much grace! And we miss the joy of being found; the joy of living each day knowing that we are loved by a God who will not let us go, and will not stop looking for us when we are lost, and who rejoices with uswhen we are found. Pentecost 16 Amos 8:4-7; Ps 113; I Tim 2:1-7; Luke 16:1-13 Aug 11, 1963 ÒA Bad ManÕs ExampleÓ Jesus parables come out of real life. This one is very baffling. It only becomes clear when we discover that the theme of this parable is not the man but money - Òunrighteous mammonÓ. It should be used to make friends. That is, used for something constructive and good in the lives of others. Money is not an end in itself; it is a means to a greater end. It is to be used to build relationships and make the Kingdom of God come - on earth as in heaven. Jesus never justifies what the unrighteous servant does. Sin does not parade around in the name of good. What he did was wrong; how he did it was an example of how we should do it - hallow the unrighteous mammon of this world by the way we use it. ÒOur pocket books can have more to do with heaven, and also with hell, than our hymnbooks. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.Ó Helmet Thielicke Sept 15, 1965 ÒMoney - Idol Or Servant?Ó The theme of this parable is money - Òunrighteous mammonÓ. How is it to be used by a person who seeks to be obedient to God? Money is power; we have a power struggle here. It can easily become our idol; we are called to make it be a servant. Money can isolate us from even ourselves as well as others and God. Money has the power to cause us to forget about God. It appears to be able to do what God cannot do. It appears to be the answer to our problems in life. Money is to be a servant in our lives, binding us to God and each other. Make friends with money - not buy but bind together. Use it in a way which builds friendship. People who have been helped seldom forsake the helper. When we have been given a gift we trust the giver, and have a strong bond of friendship betweenus. ÒOur pocket bookshavemoreto dowith heaven, and also hell, then our hymnbooks.Ó Dr. Helmut Thielicke. Oct 6, 1974 ÒMoney: Idol or ServantÓ ÒThis is the most difficult of all parables and no interpretation is whollysatisfactory.Ó (?-who) To discover its meaning we have to risk being wrong. Or at best only partially right, as we do the best we can. The key is not the man who is a negative moral example. The key is money - which plays such an important part in our lives. Does it use us or do we use it? The first clear point of the parable is that money is to be used! Used to make friends! That is what it is really for; to be used in ways which bind us together and deepen our trust and friendship. This is not to say we can buy friendship; it is to say that money can create genuine friendship, deepen relationships, and strengthen love and trust. Money is a powerful tool to be creatively used to build lifeÕs relationships. There are times when I canÕt afford to not spend it. (HowÕs that for a double negative.) I can use it to draw people to me and I even have to risk using it to help when the results are not sure. ÒOur pocket books can have more to do with heaven and also with hell, then our hymn books.Ó Helmet Thielkie Sept 28, 1980 ÒMoney: Idol or ServantÓ Money - do we use it to isolate ourselves from others or bind ourselves to others? To manipulate others or to serve others? ÒIf a purely materialistic child of the world like the dishonest steward can manage on his level to compel money to serve his own ends and thus give it its relative importance, how much more - and at the same time, how differently - should the children of light do this on their level.Ó Thielkie, ÒThe Waiting FatherÓ p. 101 In GodÕs Kingdom even money can be a means of grace; can be used redemptively. Sept 23, 1983 ÒMoney: Master or ServantÓ Money can make us alone forever or it can gain us friends for the Kingdom, It is an enigma; a mysterious riddle. ÒThe point of the parable is not to approve what the steward did wrong, but to applaud how rightly he did it. We are to do rightly what is right, even as he did rightly what was wrong.Ó Proclamation, Pentecost 2c, p.53 Money is to be used. If it isnÕt it will use us. It isto be used shrewdly, wisely, creatively, faithfully, with mercy and compassion. Sept 17, 1989 Is the servant acting as shrewdly as the master would have, had he been in the same situation? Is the master actually more dishonest then the servant and thus admires such dishonest action? What Jesus is dramatically laying before us is that we are to be as shrewd and cunning as those who donÕt care - and we are to do it as those who do care. Money is the theme of the parable - how we use it or it uses us. Money is to be used or it is no good. ÒOur destiny with God is rarely decided by our reflecting upon dogmas and all kind of otherworldly problems, Our destiny is rather decided by what we do with the altogether real worldly questions and temporal problems which play a part in our life,such as sex, money, and personal relations. Use money to make friends. Pentecost 17 Amos 6:1a,4-7; Ps 146; I Tim 6:6-9; Luke 16:19-31 June 13, 1971 ÒFaith Is For LivingÓ The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus does nottell us it is a crime to be rich. Or that those who have a good time of it here will get their suffering in eternity. It sounds like it does, but it doesnÕt! Nor does it give us a clear picture of the way it is in heaven. Anymore then our jokes abut heaven do. ÒTo use this story as warrant for a doctrine of a brimstone hell, or to deduce from it the dogma of the absolute and irrevocable separation of the good and the bad hereafter, is to transplant it violently from its native soil of parable to a barren literalism where it cannot live.Ó Parables of Jesus, Geo Buttrick, p. 140 The point of the parable is that life is to be lived, not evaded. The rich man was guilty of evasion; running away from real life into his pretend world where he didnÕt have to see Lazarus - really see him. He was afraid of the smell ofpoverty andused his riches to evade facing the poverty all around him. Like it or not, we are the rich man. We too run away from life, evading those places and people where our God has chosento meet us, even as God meets us in the man Jesus who said, ÒWhat so ever you do for the least of these, you do it unto me.Ó Living in the Kingdom of God is not a matter of having heaven all figures out; or the mysteries of death and eternity solved. It is a matter of loosing oneself in life, giving oneself away, hurting with those who hurt, weeping with those who weep, laughing with those who laugh, and discovering that life comes not by evading but by jumping in. This takes faith; faith which comes by hearing the Word of God, and doing it. Faith is for living, not just for dying. Oct 9, 1977 ÒLet Them Hear ThemÓ What this parable is about is not first of all riches, but taking the right attitude toward the Word of God. The Word of God which leads us to consider how our richeskeep us from life as well as help us in life. The Rich man hid behind his riches. His riches were not a gift; they were his curse. They helped him not to have to see life and the LazarusÕs of the world. They helped him stay an arms distance from the human need which cried out for someone to care. GodÕs Word will not let us stop with our riches. It pushes us into the business of caring and loving with little time left to even worry about heaven or hell. That is in the hands of God and God is gracious and merciful! GodÕs Word is to be trusted; itÕs promises are sure. It is enough. And it seeks to make us more human, not less, it opens life up not closes it down; it enlarges not confines, increases not decreases; it is positive and affirming, not negative and judgmental. It is a word of Life for all who dare believe it. It is enough! Oct 2, 1983 ÒRich And ...Ó We canÕt get away from talking about money today. All three texts deal with it. Amos: when money leads to indifference it makes forevil. Paul: money is a trap; to love it is to be in danger of being led into all sorts of evil. Jesus: Excess money leads to wanting more and enjoying it less; or at least properly using it less. It is not enough to berich; this does not make for happiness or a sense of joy and purpose in life. If all we can say about a person is that he was rich; that isnÕt much! It is not a sin to be rich; it is a sin to be indifferent. The rich man didnÕt even see Lazarus at his door. He was an idle, indifferent, care - less man who didnÕt use the gift of wealth in the work of GodÕs Kingdom on earth. He was a selfish man interested only in making it and enjoying it - not in sharing it and giving it. Sept 28, 1986 ÒNot Indifferent To GodÕs WordÓ This parable is radical. It was then and it is now. It stands as a bold Ôslap in the faceÕ to all who saw/see GodÕs wealth as a sign of GodÕs blessing and poverty as a sign of GodÕs curse. Thus justifying indifference towards the LazarausÕ of this world. This parablemakes us face our indifference which keeps us from trusting GodÕs Word as we have it and living it our in our lives. Indifference Elie Wiesel says is to Òobserve without emotion.Ó It is a passive, destructive force whichlets evil prevail because it has no mind to get involved, to make a difference. The sin of the rich of Samaria in our text from Amos is not that that were rich, but their gross indifference to what was happening around them. The sin of the rich man in our parable is not his wealth, but his cold indifference towards Lazarus. Abundance can make us indifferent. The call of this parable is to not let what we have and enjoy keep us from hearing what GodÕs Word says and who God places at our doorstep, whom to serve is to serve God himself! Our sin is not having wealth but what we do with our wealth. ÒMaterialism and over consumption are tow of the clearest characteristics of twentieth-century American life. Indifference to the needs of others, the responsibilities of the nation, and the Word of God continues in newforms, butits consequences are no less severe.Ó Proclamation, Pentecost, 1986. What can we do to not become indifferent? allen Boasak, who spent 10 years in prison in South Africa, tells usto pray. Pray until we can no longer sleep, no longer be indifferent, no longer fail to see the injustice of what is happening. Then we will know what we have to do and we will have the energy to do it! The Word of God today reminds us that we are called not just to live as those who are save and save in GodÕs grace. It also reminds us that we are called to live as servants of this God of mercy, justice, love. And this means we can no longer be indifferent about the least of GodÕs children - who are everywhere! Pentecost 18 Heb. 1:1-4; 2:1-4; Ps 37:1-10; 2 Tim 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10 Oct 12, 1980 Luke 17:1-10 Three distinct messages for us from these words: 1. The life of faith demands avoidance of actions that may harm others, and forgiveness of others whose actions harm us. 2.Faith is not only conciliatory; it is also daring, risking, doing big things with little resources. 3. Servants are called to selfless performance: getting the job done the master wants done, with little concern for getting the credit. ÒThere is no limit to what a good person can do if they donÕt care who gets the credit.Ó We are called to be servants not celebrities. And to be thankful that we can b e JesusÕ servants. Oct 5, 1986 ÒOnly Done Our DutyÓ When we have done every thing we can do we have only done our duty, and even then we are not worthy to be called children of God. We are never good enough to be worthy of that! It is our duty to do what God calls us to do - to forgive as we have been forgiven! ÒThose who live by forgiveness must in fact live by it.Ó That means we donÕt just receive it; we pass it on. Grace brings duty; duty becomes grace. This is what the Kingdom of heaven is all about, and those who are servants of the Master are duty bound to be faithful instruments of grace.Pentecost 19 2 Kings 5:1-3,7-15; Ps 111; 2 Tim 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19 Sept 23, 1962 ÒWhere Are The Nine?Ó We expect much from life; we take much for granted. The secret to having much is to be thankful with what wehave. Thankful people are happy people. Turn back and thank God. God becomes real when we return to thank Him. Thankfulness leads to thankful service. Oct 27, 1974 ÒRemembering To Say Thank YouÓ Take time to be thankful! It enriches and deepens life at its most important places. Dr. Rogness: ÒI feel sorry for the person who feels a great surge of thankfulness, and has no one to thank.Ó Life tastes better when we are thankful. It takes the bitterness out of life. Oct 16, 1983 ÒJust healed...Or Made Whole?Ó It is easy to pray when we hurt; and forget about God when all is well. To be whole is to be thankful enough to be changed and see life in a new way. Even in bad times; to see life with hope and thankfulness. It is a healthy thing to give thanks; it is a sign we have beenmade whole. Pentecost 20 Gen. 32:22-31; Ps 121; 2 Tim 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8 Oct 30, 1977 ÒPray Like YouÕre Worth It!Ó She persisted until she got what she wanted. He gave in to get her off his back. She is our example; he is not. We are to pray like the woman. To do this we have to believe that I am worth it and He will do it. To go through life feeling like a nobody or at least somebody who doesnÕt deserve much is to end up a looser. A nobody does nothing but whine, and blame others. And end up a scoffer. A somebody goes after what he/she wants. And persists until he/she gets it. What I hear Jesus saying to us is that God doesnÕt want us going around whinnying about the dirty tricks life pulls on us and doing nothing about them. he wants us to fight for the best we can get out of life and to take our case all the way to His throne of mercy, expecting great things from God. For God will do lit and even more then we ask! God is like the Judge in only one way; He doesnÕt give us what we want until we ask, and that persistently. It hasno valueto us if we donÕt want it. The truth is, God waits for us to want the best from Him before God gives us what he wants to give. For it is while we plead faith persistence that our patience is perfected, our humility is deepened, and our purpose in life is clarified. We need to want deeply before we can appreciate the gifts God is waiting to give us. So prayer becomes a Òtireless beseeching, before God can richly reward it.Ó Oct 26, 1980 ÒPraying From The HeartÓ This parable is about more then persistent praying. It is first of all about faith. About not loosing heart when all seems lost and God seems silent. What do we do then? Persistent prayer is not our trying to convince God to do it our way; but trusting that God is still with us and cares even when everything seems silent. It is faith which dares to trust God when there is no intimation that God even cares or hears or will respond. It is meditative prayer - a lost art in our hectic world. It will be good for our blood pressure as well as our souls! Oct 23, 1983 ÒAlways Pray And Do Not Lose HeartÓ This parable is not about God and how God answers prayer. It is about us and how we pray. It is notabout God and what God will do for us if we beg him long and hard enough; it is about us and what we can do to not lose heart, and all around us goes smash. We can pray! And keep on praying until something good happens! And it will! It may not be a healing: it may be the strength and faith to match the burden. It may not be a solution to a problem, solving it for us; it may be the strength and insight and determination to solve the problem ourselves. It may not be a bolt of lighting, like Martin Luther; but it may be a gradual awareness of a pull and tug towards GodÕs will for four lives which will not stop until we go with it. Something happens when we pray. Our faith is strengthened, our hope is encouraged, and we do not loose heart. It gives a sense of balance and perspective to ourlives. Again, meditative prayer is the way to go - if we only dared believe it enough to try it. Oct 19, 1986 ÒWill He Find Faith?Ó This parable is about the faith which is behind persistent praying. The faith which will not give up, give in, throw in the towel no matter how impossible things seem to be. The faith which is able to hang in there, persisting in GodÕs goodness, justice, fairness, love, mercy and kindness even when there seems to be no evidence that God even exists! As Elie Wiesel says: ÒThere were many periods in our past when we had every right in the world to turn to God and say, ÔEnough. Since You seem to approve of all these persecutions, all these outrages, have it Your way: let Your world go on without Jews. Either You are our partner in history, or You are not. If you are, do Your share; if You are not, we consider ourselves free of past commitments. Since You choose to break the Covenant, so be it.Ó And yet, and yet...We went on believing, hoping, invoking His name...We did not give up on Him...For this is the essence of being Jewish; never to give up--never to yield to despair.Ó A Jew Today, p. 164 This is also the essence of being a Christian! To never give up no matter how bad it gets,to confess with the unknown person in a cellar in Cologne during the bombing of WWII, ÒI believe in the Sun even when it is not shining; I believe in love even when I feel it not;l I believe in god even when He is silent.Ó The point of this parable is that God is much more then the unjust judge. (It is, in the Hebrew way of thinking, an argument from the lesser to the greater. If this unrighteous judge can be moved to act, how much more will God respond to our persistent prayers with not just justice, but grace and mercy as well. God is a God of grace whose steadfast love endures forever! This we can count on no matter what! Pentecost 21 Jer 14:7-10,19-22; Ps 84:1-6; 2 Tim 4:6-8,16-18, Luke 18:9-14 Sept 2, 1963 ÒThe Pharisee and Publician - In UsÓ This parable seems to be simple, black or white, right or wrong. Butit isnÕt.And we haveto see ourselves in both; take the good with the bad. For there is good and bad in both. The pharisee is everything we might wish to be in terms of religious commitment and dedication. But it carries him to self righteousness, the last thing we want to be. The Publican is everything we donÕt want to be in terms of life style yet his prayer of the heart is the best he or we can pray. Both need GodÕs grace; neither deserve it; both get it. One appreciates it. LetÕs be like that one! Aug. 22, 1971 ÒThere Is Wideness In GodÕs MercyÓ IsnÕt goodness good for anything in the eyes of God? Not when it is falsified by hidden motives; done in order to gain attention; done out of pride or arrogance. It is possible to be bad yet forgiven and it is possible to be so good that we see no need of forgiveness. Forgiveness is the door which opens GodÕs Kingdom. Guess who gets it! Our goodness isnÕt good enough. GodÕs forgiveness is! Nov. 15, 1992 Parable is to wake us up to the truth that Ònothing, nothing, nothing I can bring can earn, deserve, be worthy of, or pay off my debt, - it is all grace. Grace is not reserved for those who are close to God; grace is for alland those who admit they need it are the first to receive it. Grace is not about a nice God being nice to nice people. It is about a loving God being gracious to hurting people, no matter who. ItÕs about receiving what I do not deserve and never can deserve no matter how holy I become. To live in GodÕs grace is to never stop praying the prayer of the tax collector even as I live with the zeal of the pharisee - knowing that a God of grace will never let me down, never let me go, nor never let me off. Pentecost 22 Is 1:10-18; Ps 32:1-8; 2Thess.1:1-4,11-12; Luke 19:1-10 Oct 13, 1977 ÒTo Seek And To SaveÓ One thing worse then being lost; having no one to look for you. It is important that I want to be found - climb the sycamore tree with Zaccaheaus. It is important that we say ÒI am lost; I need help.Ó Rather then choose to stay lost. i.e. - ÒMidnight CowboyÓ - ÒThereÕs got to be a better way to make a living.Ó God waits for us to want to be found; waits for us to want what God wants to give us. Godrespects us enough to let us be lost and wait for us to want to be found. God loves us enough to never stop looking for us, and hearing even the faintest cry for help. To lives our lives so cautiously that we never risk getting lost is to live only a fraction of what God intends for us. To live thinking we will never be lost and never admit it if we are is to miss the joy of being found - the joy of salvation coming to our house. Nov 9, 1980 ÒJesus and ZacchaeusÓ Zaccaheaus does two foolish things. 1. He climbs a tree to see Jesus pass by; and thereby opens the possibility of something redemptive happening in his life. He was sensitive to a restlessness within which left him less then happy and he took responsibility to do something about it. He was lost and he opened himself up to being found, rather then wallowing in self pity. 2. He becomes overly generous; his money became a symbol of his heart. It proved that what had happened was real. Money does say something about who we are and what has happened to our heart. Where a personÕs money is - there is his heart. Nov 6, 1983 ÒJesus and ZacchaeusÓ What ever happened in Zacchaeus house before he started giving his money away - one thing is for sure - it was something powerful - described by the words Òsalvation has come to this house.Ó We canÕt can what happened and make it happen again and again in the same way. We can seek that which brings wholeness and joy to our lives. We can admit we are lost and let ourselves be found. That we do try live by bread alone. Spiritual lostness is a condition we all experience. To confess it is to begin the process of being found. To climb the tree with Zacchaeus is to open ourselves to the possibility that the impossible is possible in our lives. And then nothing is tied down anymore - not even our money! Pentecost23 Job 19:23-27a; Ps 17:1-9; 2Thess 2:1-5,13-17; Luke 20:27-38 Nov 13, 1983 ÒGod Of the LivingÓ It is dwarfed minds which want detain rather then vision; specifics rather then promise. Their trap questions reveal how small of mind they are. They want to know in human terms what cannot be put in human terms - it is too big to be made so small. When we try to put the mysteries of heaven in human terms - trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together in logical sequence, or throwing up our hands and saying it canÕt be done so it doesnÕt exist - we end up with nothing worth anything. If we try live too much for heaven we will not live for today. If we live only for today we have no hope for tomorrow. The key is to live with a loving God today letting tomorrow be in GodÕs loving hands. This is the source of our sure and certain hope. Eternal life cannot be reduced to conditions of temporal life. We are in GodÕs loving hands. God of the living and of the dead; God ofyesterday, today and forever. We live in love and with love waiting for the day when all things will be new and only love will remain. Nov 9, 1986 ÒGod Of The LivingÓ Jesus is running up against - again - the religious who were of a different kingdom. They didnÕt want him to be the final answer; they wanted to be the final answer. They wanted to keep God in the box of their own making, so God would not ask of them more than they were willing to give. Jesus didnÕt fit in their Kingdom! Just as Mother Teresa didnÕt fit for the ÔreligiousÕ man who spoke these words when confronted with the possibility that Mother Teresa was close to what Jesus taught. ÒSomeone should tell Mother Teresa about triage. In battle the medics donÕt work on what they judge to be hopeless cases. They work on the ones who have a chance to make it. Mother Teresa is impractical. Think how much better it would be if she helped people who were going to live and taught them a skill that would enable them to earn a living and maybe even help others. She needs some business training.Ó The Kingdom of God as seen in Jesus (and those who follow him) is impractical. Yet it is what Jesus was all about and what we are to be all about - being merciful as our God is merciful! Do we dare believe that who we are and what we do, say, give, and how we live and treat even the least can be a part of GodÕs impractical, unexpected, and creative acts at work in our world through which GodÕs Kingdom does come on earth a small bit like it is in heaven? They we will be impractical, yet loving as we have been loved! Our religion will not be in our rituals, but in our living! Pentecost 24 Mal. 4:1-2a; Ps. 98; 2 Thess. 3:6-13; Luke 21: 5-19 Nov. 16, 1986 ÒNot A Hair Will PerishÓ The American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald once said: ÒThe test of first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless and yet be determined to make them better.Ó This certainly is the mark, of faith which often has to hope against hope and act in love in spite of all the hate. This is what this text is all about. It is about the faith which is sure of what it hopes for and certain of what it cannot see. It is about the love which dares to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things. It is about being witness to the truth in the face of evil and daring to believe that not a hair on our heads will perish. As one writer put it: ÒChrist risen from the dead shows that there is nothing rebellious creation can do to cause something to perish that God wants to preserve.Ó It is not the evil which shall prevail; it is faith in the goodness of God which will prevail! Indeed, not a hair will perish of what God wants to preserve! Christ The King Jer 23:1-6; Ps 46; Col 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43 Nov 24, 1974 Jesus didnÕt spend much energy trying to be the Messiah; he spent it being his authentic self. Therefore he didnÕt have to wear amask -pretending to be someone he was not. DonÕt try to be someone...just be! Be you. The beautiful you that is uniquely you. The you that is different from every other you in the world. The you that has something to offer no other you can offer. Just be you! Nov 20, 1977 ÒThe Gift Of HopeÓ Jesus gave the their on his right the gift of hope and this changed even his dying. We need hope to live today; it sets us free to be able to experience this moment. To live in hope is not to live in tomorrow; it is to live not fearing tomorrow - no matter what! Our calling as those who have been given the gift of hope is to give this gift to others; and our challenge is to find ways to do this - every day with anyone. Nov 23, 1980 Seems strange to end Pentecost with Good Friday. What a contrast between what we think should be and what is! For the King of Kings and Lord of LordÕs is of another Kingdom and his power is made perfect in weakness. His power to forgive and therebytake away the destructive guilt which robs life of its joy and peace. Forgiveness - which reaches to the depth of the heart and soul and there does what nothing else can do - releases one from Òsin, death and the power of the devil.Ó It is the gift of gifts given by the Lord of Lords! Nov 23, 1986 ÒA Different KingÓ What ever we say about Jesus and his Kingdom, however we try to understand the manifestation of power and glory which was his as the King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right; how ever much we are moved by the powerful words of the Hallelulah Chorus which shouts ÒKing of Kings and Lord of Lords, forever!Ó We are reminded today that Jesus Kingdom is not of this world and is not like anything else in this world. It is not made up of that which makes up our kingdoms. it is as different as night is from day. For it is not a matter of power politics; nor of deceptive promises. It is not a matter of domination and manipulation to owns one gain. Jesus Kingdom is made up ofcompassion, kindness, gentleness, forgiveness, joy, peace and is found in places of weakness and foolishness, where the power and wisdom of God is revealed in all its power and glory. Robert MacAfee Brown relates the following life experience. ÒThe story is a true one. It takes place on the roof of one of the crematoria at Birkenau, the death camp of Auschwitz, on a gray, cheerless day in the summer of 1979. A group of us are standing on ruins the Germans tried (unsuccessfully) to obliterate, to hide evidence that sex million Jews had been shot and gassed and burned in such places, solely because they were Jews. I reflect: if Golgotha revealed the sense of God-forsakenness of one Jew, Birkenau multiplies that anguish at least three and a half million times. for the rest of my life, this crematorium will represent the most powerful case against God the sp;ot where once could -with justice-denounce, deny, or (worst of all) ignore God, the God who was silent. On what use are words as such a time? So many cried out to God at this spot and were not heard. Human silence today seems the only appropriate response to divine silence yesterday. We remain silent. Our silence is deafening. And then it comes - first from the lips of one man, Elie Wiesel (standing in the camp where thirty-fife years earlier his life and family and faith were destroyed), and then in a mounting chorus from others, mostly Jews, the great affirmation: ÔShema Yisroel, Adonai Elohenu, Adonai echod, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.Õ Ò Oct 18, 1992 The parable of The Rich man and Lazarus is about indifference and idolatry; about how easily we Ômiss the markÕ for which life and possessions are intended. We prize winning, having, owning, possessing, controlling, dominating, enjoying, yes,even wasting. With Tivia we Òwish I were a rich manÓ and live the illusion that money will solve all our problems. Yet nothing could be more false. For, Òthe love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.Ó The purpose of life is NOTto acquire wealth; the purpose of lifeis to Ôpursuerighteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. to take hold of eternal life, to which you were called and for which you were made.Ó I Tim 6:11 That is, do something which makes a difference in the Kingdom of God; not just makes a buck. The rich man lived his whole life for the wrong reason. He became an indifferent, cold hearted man who couldnÕt see or hear GodÕs call through Lazarus to live for more then being rich. See Robert Capon, The Parables of Grace, pp. 156-157 Jesus is challenging our indifference which leads to idolatry which leads to a whole life of wasted energy, of missing the mark, or living for the wrong reason. And calling us to live by grace; that is, to live, as Mother Teresa says, not doing great things, but doing small things with great love. Pentecost 18
Theological Reflections of Pastor Larry Dahlstrom, ret.

Understanding the Bible ... Email Me

SPARKS FOR PREACHING

(Gleanings from a preacher to preachers on the assigned texts)

Preaching is an awesome task. It demands the most from us and never lets us rest. It often needs 'a spark to get a fire going". I offer these thoughts from sermons preached to spark your thoughts and get you going. No one should put words in anyone else's mouth. We each have our own unique way of preaching. We all need something to get our thoughts going, something the Holy Spirit can use to inspire our creativity and originality. I hope this will be helpful for you in the challenging task of preaching God's Word.

Unless otherwise stated, the sermon gleanings are on the Gospel for the day.

Advent ... Christmas ... Epiphany ... Lent ... Easter ... Pentacost

ADVENT 1

Jer. 33:14-16; Ps 25:1- 10; I Thess 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

Dec 11, 1960 "Christ's Coming Against Men"

God's judgment implies a manifestation, a revelation, an uncovering of what is hidden in us.

It is also a sign that our redemption is drawing near. It is a time of anticipation more then fear; for even this end of time is in the hands of a loving God.

Dec. 5, 1971 "The Second Coming"

There is much speculation regarding the return of Jesus Christ, the second advent.

The truth is, IT IS GOING TO BE A SURPRISE!

To try take the surprise out of the second coming by predicting when it is going to happen is the highest form of idolatry known to man. It is playing God!

The important question for us is not "when will the Kingdom of God come?", but" has it come to us already?" and, "How can it come through us again?"

The answers to these questions are, "Yes, in Jesus ." "Yes, in the human drama of love and forgiveness; compassion and caring even to the point of dying for others."

And "Yes, if we let Christmas be more then an observation. Let Christmas live through us. For wherever two humans touch in a meaningful way, God is also present."

Dec 2, 1973 "In A Celebrating Mood?"

The issue of when Jesus is coming again is mute; it is a dead end street.

What is important today is not the content of our text, but the mood set by the text.

For our mood is vital to our relationships. And the mood of our text is a "positive, joyful hope of redemption." Celebration - the mood of the Gospel. There is great heresy in correct theology without correct mood.

The power of Jesus Christ Super Star" and "Godspell" is the mood they set.

"To celebrate life at all times and in all places. To see the good surrounded by the bad. To be thankful when all is going wrong. To be hopeful when all seems lost. This is the mood of the Gospel. This is the mood of Jesus. Celebration of life, for it is good."

"We communicate best when we celebrate most."

Nov 28, 1976 "Surprise!"

When ever and how ever it happens, it is going to be a surprise! When ever God has broken into our world it has come as a surprise.

Moses - Joseph - Prophets- Zechariah - Mary - Joseph

We dare not let our faith or any thing else take the surprise out of life.

The key to life in Gods Kingdom is to be open to surprise. Open to new discoveries, possibilities, insights, delights of body and spirit, even new tastes and sounds yet to be experienced. The surprises of life which haven't happened yet!

For God is in the surprise!

Dec 2, 1976 "Getting Ready For A Surprise" Lk 21:25-36

When ever and how ever it happens, it is going to be a surprise! We have to be ready or we will miss it.

Prepare for that which has happened before and will happen again. And prepare for that which has never happened before and may never happen again. Surprise!

For the surprising presence of the Christ child, God in human flesh, even our flesh, is possible again as little miracles of kindness, gentleness, helpfulness and love are shared.

God still is hidden somewhere in human flesh - even our flesh - even as God was in Jesus.

Dec 1, 1991 "How Near Is It?"

(This sermon was preached shortly after my return from Amman Jordan and Calcutta India.)

God is love. What ever we say about God, whatever we do for God, must contain this awesome truth or it is all empty words and meaningless action.

This is the truth we prepare again to celebrate in Christmas. The awesome truth that God chose to dwell with us, so we might more clearly see what God is all about and what we are to be all about!

As the second lesson says, we are to "increase and abound in love to one another and to all." Not having "our hearts weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life."

We have much. It takes little to be happy. (I saw this on my journey.)

Mother Teresa: "The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give. But the less you have, the more free you are. Poverty for us is a freedom. It is joyful freedom. I find the rich much poorer. Sometimes they always need something more. I don't say all of them are like that. Everybody is not the same. I find that poverty hard to remove. The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread."

How strange that this season which of all times should be the most quiet, unassuming and peaceful has become for us such an intense time we fall exhausted before it is over and are glad when it is over.

Advent helps us balance our preparation for this great celebration. It begins with a strong reminder that he who came will come again even as He is coming in our midst now, nearer then we thought, closer at hand then we imagined.

These words call us to an awareness that we don't need to know when, we only need to trust the One who is to come and be alive with his presence now. Daring to believe - and this is an awesome, fearful, exciting thought - that the dominion of God is near whenever, where ever, in whom ever something of the love of God is shared.

i..e. A physical therapist in an orphanage in Amman Jordan said to us following a loving touching of all the children in the orphanage - children who were severely mentally and physically handicapped - "If I were a good Muslim I would be in the mosque praying. (It was Thursday, their day to go to the Mosque) I come here instead. This too is prayer."

And I saw the love of Jesus in the touch of his hands!

Our call is to love...let love flow in me, through me, from me, letting something of the dominion and power of God's love come near to us and to all.

The Dominion of God is near...how near is it? As near as the act of love done for the least, who are the most in God's Kingdom!

ADVENT 2

Mal 3:1-4;Lk 1:68-79;Phil 1:3-11; Lk 3:1-6

Dec 3, 1967 "All Flesh Shall See"

We have always desired "to see God."

Christmas proclaims that we have and can see God, in a Baby born in a barn, in an obscure town called Bethlehem. Emmanuel - God has come to dwell with us!

Let us prepare to celebrate!

By repentance, looking within. Seeing my need for God so I can see the God I need.

Repentance is a means of discovery. It is more then just good resolutions; it means going home. It means committing and entrusting ourselves to he who came that we might see God..

Dec. 6, 1970 "All Mankind Will See"

John the Baptist makes a bold statement - we will see God's salvation.

To believe this we first have to take it serious, for we see only what we want to see.'

Two men discussing this. One held the other under water until he was gasping for air. "When you want to see God as badly as you wanted air, you will see Him."

We see when we hurt enough to be open to see what we missed before. i.e. prodigal son. Dr. Geo. Aus, "I cannot see the Savior I need, until I see my need for a savior." Seeing begins with confession and repentance. It begins at the palace of my deepest need, and opens my eyes to see home again, and to be able to rejoice again.

Blessed indeed are those who hurt, for they shall see God.

Dec 2, 1979 "Prepare to See"

Preparation is important. When I am ready, I am more able to experience, more able to see. Ironically, I can also be more spontaneous, more open to chance; call it planned spontaneity, prepared enough to be free to be spontaneous.

Song writer: "Tunes simply pop into my head all the time. But of course, your head has to be arranged to receive them!"

Louis Pasteur- "Chance favors the prepared mind."

This is what Advent is all about. Arranging ones self so as to be able to receive the surprises when they come. Tradition is great, but not if it blinds us in the past. We celebrate Christmas because something great has happened and something great is going to happen! Some unexpected things are going to happen, human things, like getting the wrong number and have a visit with a lonely old person, or being touched by a need in some ones life and then doing something to meet that need. God has some surprises in store for those who are ready to see them. Are we prepared to see the salvation of God happening in our midst, in with and through us?

Dec 5, 1982 "All Mankind Will See God's Salvation"

Preaching - a means of seeing God's salvation; the power of the spoken word combined with the Spirit of God is limitless.

As John did, we preach repentance unto forgiveness, that we might know we are loved.

The Word of God is limitless, and it is always trying something new.

Listen to these words from Paul Scherer, a great preacher of our day:

"If preaching is the mediation of divine truth through personality - and perhaps with all definitions lame we may accept this as being not more lame than the rest - then the one thing you have to contribute toward the transaction is yourself. The human heart is not new, the need is not new, the truth is not new, the method is not new. You are new. You are a bit of God's unrepeated handiwork; and what he means to accomplish by you, he must accomplish through you.
You have nothing else but you. Give it reverence and give it freedom. To cut through all artificiality's of bearing, to put off all the pompous habits of a false dignity, to hang somewhere on a look all the seeming which is so far other than being, and to let that essential you, redeemed and enabled in the love and fellowship of Jesus Christ, do its proper work in the world - that is to turn loose something God has never tried before; and He will never try it again: make what you please of that!"

Dec 4, 1988 "Preparing for Christmas"

Our preparation for Christmas is distracted by the litany of commercialism and the litany of indulgence. To offset this we need to "discern what is best" about this celebration by going deeper and deeper into the mystery which is Christmas.

This means we do things which enable us to love more, for Christmas is love.

The measure of how successful our Christmas has been is not in how exhausted we are at the end of the celebration, but how excited we are about living Christmas all year long, as we share the mystery of God's love.

The word repent is an appropriate word for our Christmas preparation. A careful look inward is a necessary part of" discerning what is best and pure and blameless", what is " filled with righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ."

Dec 8, 1991 "Prepare to See"

We see only what we want to see.

We are open to see what we are ready to see what we are prepared to see.

To see something we don't want to see takes some doing, some opening of ourselves to something new and different.

Advent is a time to prepare to see something we have never seen before. And remember, "what we sees is what we gets".

To see what we have never seen before requires repentance. For we don't always want to see what we need to see if we are to see the salvation of God coming again.

i.e. Seeing the masses on the streets of Calcutta and seeing joy, happiness, aliveness in the place where I thought I would only see poverty and sadness.

We must dare risk out of our need and not just our surplus. Tomorrow night I am asking the church council to write a check for $40, 525 to the ELCA now, before we have the money to cover it. So we can see it does work; giving in joy brings more gifts of joy.

ADVENT 3

Isa. 12:2-6 (Ps); Zeph 3:14-20; Phil 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

Dec 23, 1962 "The Drama Of Joy" Phil 4:4-7

Christmas time "is a time for joy and a time for cheer".

It would be easier to talk about joy today, if I had not attended the funeral of a friend of Fri., whose sudden death left a wife and 4 small children.

If I were not aware of the loneliness in the hearts of many, had not seen a woman weeping as we sang Christmas carols for she lost her husband last Christmas. If I could forget about the Berlin Wall.

Yet we must talk about Joy for that is what Christmas is all about and that is what God is all about. Paul reminds us that the joyful person is one who is without anxiety; is a forbearing person; is a praying person, a thankful person; and a person of inward peace.

If there is one mark of distinction which should forever separate the follower of Christ from the scoffer or the indifferent, it is the joy of life in Christ! Joy which comes from our faith in Jesus Christ as God's Son, our Lord and Savior.

Dec 16, 1979 "Bear Fruit that Befits Repentance"

Repentance means changing from the inside out.

To be authentic from the inside out? How?

Share...be honest...be fair.

When I share with someone I identify with them; this is how we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

The mark of a religious person is that he/she can be trusted to keep their word.

Being fair is being aware of more then just what is right; it is being aware of what the effects of a given acts are on someone else, and not taking advantage of that person.

To live lives which show that are hearts are really changed is the on going task of repentance. For to repent is to turn around again and again and again, and be opened to change; open to becoming who we never thought we would be.

Dec. 15, 1991 "What Then Shall We Do?"

John got their attention. He broke through their blindness, pricked their conscience, penetrated their hearts so they asked, "What then shall we do?"

It is a question we must ask too, for it is never enough to talk the talk; we must walk the walk.

We must let God get to our hearts and change our way of being, or at best were just sincere hypocrites, "honoring God with our lips while our hearts are far from God,"

And what is it we are to do?

"Share with those who have none."

"Collect no more than is appointed you." That is, be fair.

"Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be contented with your wages."

Be kind.

ADVENT 4

Ps 80:1-7 or Lk.1:47-55; Mic 5:2-5a Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45 (46-55)

Dec 22, 1968 "Advent Fulfillment"

Anticipation, yearning, even judgment give way to fulfillment, and with fulfillment comes celebration. We celebrate Christmas because it is a day of fulfillment. God's fulfillment of God's plan.

An amazing thing about all this is how human it is. God always seeks to take on human form when God comes among us. Might this be why Luther once said, "A man cannot understand the love of God unless he also experience the love of a woman."

Fulfillment may well not mean having much; it does mean I give much.

Dec 22, 1985 "Journey Into Blessing"

Mary is called "blessed" because she allowed herself to be used as a blessing. She humbly believed what the Lord said to her and let it be accomplished.

God needed Mary to do God's will. God couldn't have done it, at that time in that way, without Mary.

God needs us to do God's will in our world. As unbelievable as it sounds, there are some things God can not do at this time without us. To follow God's lead is to discover God's blessing. It comes in the doing. Blessing is a serendipity. Something which happens in the process of surrendering to God's will. There will always be a blessing in doing God's will. For that is where it all ends up with God!

CHRISTMAS EVE

Isa 9:2-7; Ps 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 1:1-14 (15-20)

The shepherds were not the most welcome people in the society of Jesus day. It wasn't as romantic as we make it sound. They were isolated for long periods of time out in he fields with the sheep. They smelled like the sheep. They were not considered very important people. They probable were seldom if ever seen in the Synagogue. They were considered ignorant; certainly not up on what God was all about.

This is where God turned to first announce his big surprise! Unbelievable! This is too unlikely to be made up; it had to have happened to everyone's amazement.

The first miracle of Christmas is that the Shepherds believed and went to see this thing that they were told happened. What an amazing act of faith!

It is the same for us. We too have to go and see for ourselves; we have to dare to go to Bethlehem and see this which happened long ago - "when Mary's boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas day."

The shepherds didn't stay in Bethlehem. They went back to their sheep.

We can't stay there either; we have to go back to our lives and live as those who have been to Bethlehem and believe what happened there was for us and for all.

The miracle God looks for in each of our lives is not that we will all be famous, important, popular, or powerful. But that we will go about doing usual things in unusual ways because we too have been to Bethlehem, glorifying and praising God who came to dwell among us, with us., in us, for us, full of grace and truth.

*******************************************

Christmas Eve is the story night of all nights. The story of the Baby Jesus born in a manger warms the hearts of young and old It has also inspired countless stories all of which reflect something of the mystery of the Christmas story.

About 1981 I quit preaching on Christmas Eve. I looked long and hard for a story to tell/read, with a brief commentary following. It quickly became a tradition which made Christmas Eve service special. People looked forward to the story, inspired by THE STORY.

Two books I found helpful: "The New Guideposts Christmas Treasury" Augsburg. 1989.

"The World's Christmas" Olive Wyon

Also used: "The Martin Luther Christmas Book" Roland A. Bainton
(This one more for preaching.)

It is not easy to find a good story, short enough to tell/read; clearly expressive of the Gospel. It would be easier to write a sermon.

I recommend you try story telling on Christmas Eve - but start looking early!

Here are the stories I used.

1981 "The Holy Night" Selma Lagerlof

A story from Sweden, in "The World's Christmas, p.26

We must see for ourselves what kind of night this is.
It is a night filled with mystery and beauty, love and joy.
As it touches our hearts we too are caught by the truth of this
night - that God did become human and dwell among us! And we
are moved to acts of love and kindness though which we see the
Glory of God in the manger of Bethlehem and in our own city streets.

 

1982 "A Shepherd" Heywood Broun, Collected Edition of Heywood Brown, 1941

Christmas can be joyful and joyless; beautiful and painful.
Trying to celebrate Christmas in the face of life's hard blows
can be hollow and empty. It may not be in our heart to be joyful,
as it wasn't with Amos. (The Shepherd in the story.)

God comes to us, often in a whisper, when we don't have it in us to come to God. Listen for the whisper of God's love hidden in human form and discover the wonders of God's love!

 

1983 Martin Luther on Christmas

Used the Martin Luther on Christmas book to develop a message based on what he said about Christmas. (This was the 450th year of his death.)

 

1984 "A Long Way, Indeed" Arvid Lydecken in "Arvilyn Satvja"
From Finland, translated by K. C. Pihlajamaa

The mystery which is Christmas is that our God comes to us
hidden in human form to do his acts of love and peace. On this
night the energy of God's love was turned loose in our world.
We are reminded what it means to be truly human; to be kind
gentle, compassionate, filled with God's love.
Christmas reminds us again and again that God has come to dwell
with us and through us. For Christmas happens again and again
when something of God's grace moves through us into our world.

 

1985 "The Gift Of The Magi" O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) (With a story of this length it is necessary to edit it or tell it by memory.)

Many great words have been written, many scores of music composed, many pieces of art have been created, because of this night. And many, many stories have been written which reflect the mystery and majesty of this Story.

This is one such story. A classic about the Classic!

To give from the heart is Christmas.
To give 'til it hurts is Christmas.
To give because we love is Christmas.
To give because we have first been loved is Christmas.
Love came down at Christmas!

 

1986 "The Doll On The Mantel" Eva Gibson

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, in his book "God In Search Of Man", was writing about the Bible and the Prophets. His words also set the tone for our story. I am substituting "Christmas" for "Bible" or "Prophets".

 

"The divine quality of (Christmas) is not on display, it is apparent to an inane, fatuous mind; just as the divine in universe is not obvious to the debaucher. When we turn (Christmas) with an empty spirit, moved by intellectual vanity, striving to show our superiority to the (event); or as souls who go sight-seeing to the (glitter of Christmas), discover the shells but miss the core. It is easier to beauty then to sense the holy. To be able to encounter spirit within (Christmas), we must learn to crave for (hidden God in the surprises of life which come our way).

Story

May the real Christmas come to each of hidden in the surprises of the Holy hidden in the sharing of God's love in human hidden in the Baby Jesus, with us, for us, in us, always!

 

1987 " Is There A Santa Claus?"

A Happy Book Of Happy Stories

Scripture often moves from the lesser to the greater to the mystery of God's love and presence. From a humble baby a glorious King; lowly shepherds to the Good Shepherd; birds lilies to the awesome providence of a loving God.

This story moves from the lesser figure of Christmas - Claus/St Nicholas - to the greater figure - the Christ child.

Story

How do we know there is a God who loves? We have met Him - in a baby born in a stable in a Word become flesh in our midst
in the testimony of those who walked with Him
in the lives of those in whom He dwells.

Tonight we celebrate with great joy his coming. Nothing is beyond the scope of HIs love - which is everywhere and for everyone.

 

1988 "Christmas Day In The Morning" Pearl Buck

The Worlds Christmas, Olive Wyon, p. 125

Christmas is a love story. It is a story which has moved people to do beautiful things and cold people to let others up in their love. It has stopped war, inspired great music, and warmed the heart of many a lonely, lost person. Our story tonight helps us touch something of the mystery and majesty of this night.

Story

There is no greater gift than the gift of love. The gift of Christmas is the gift of love which warms our hearts and causes us to do strange and wonderful things as we pass it on.

 

1989 "The Empty Room" Betty Banner

The New Guideposts Christmas Treasury, p. 31

 Christmas happened...and it happens.
It was a one time event and it is a many times event.
It has its place in our history and its place in our hearts.

Story

It happened -

"A long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible say
Mary's boy child Jesus Christwas born on Christmas day."

And it happens - for the miracle of Christmas is the miracle of Immanuel - God with us, always, touching our lives in love, giving us peace and hope.

 

1990 "Trouble In The Inn" Dina Donohue

The New Guideposts Christmas Treasury, p. 75

 The mystery of this night is hidden in the simple story which grips our hearts, stills our minds, and quiets our spirits. It's power is hidden in the ordinary; it's secret is revealed to the heart.

"How silently, how silently,the wondrous gift is given,
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heav'n.
No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in."

 

1991 "O Lord, Watch Over These Your Special Children"

Sybil Roberts Canon

The New Guideposts Christmas Treasury, p.71

We celebrate Christmas not just so we can have but can also give.
We celebrate not just so we are God's children,
but can also become something of God's love to others.

Our story captures something of the Christmas story as it
tells about something special done for one lonely girl, because
the love of Jesus was in their hearts. It reminds us what this
night is all about!

 

1991 (11 pm service) "The Cobbler and His Guest"

Anne McCollum Boyles

 A classic story about how Jesus comes to us in the poor, the sick, the needy. "What so ever you do to the least of these my brethren you do unto me. "

 

1992 "Waiting...Waiting For Christmas" Elizabeth English

The New Guideposts Christmas Treasury, p. 57

 The mystery and miracle of Christmas is not only that it happened, but that it happens still.
In moments we can't fully explain, in urges we seldom consider to be of God,
in people we least expect to be sent by God.

 God is with us! God was born in human flesh and God is
born anew in our lives of faith, hope, and love!

 

1993 "Why The Chimes Rang" Raymond MacDonald Alden

(Not sure of where I found this one.)

"A Song For Elizabeth" Robin Kurtz

The New Guideposts Christmas Treasury, p,127

Christmas is the celebration of the sacred sign given to us human form, that God is love, and whoever loves is of God  God is of them, and "God does, in fact live in them..." as John tells us: "God is love, and the (person) whose life is lived in lovedoes, in fact, live in God, and God does, in fact, live in (them)." I John 4:16 (Phillips)

Our stories tonight remind us of this and that God isn't moved bypower, prestige, fame, or fortune. God's isn't impressed by what we do to show how holy, righteous, or important we are. God is moved and impressed by how we love!

 

As Mother Teresa has so well put it: "We are not called to do great things for God; we are called to do small things with great love."

 What we celebrate tonight is love for

"Love came down at Christmas
love all lovely, love diving'
love was born at Christmas,
star and angles gave the sign."

Therefore:

"Love shall be our token ,
love be yours and love by mine,
love to God and all (people)
love for plea and gift and sign."

 

 CHRISTMAS DAY
Isa. 52:7-10; Ps. 97; Heb. 1:1-9; John 1:1-14

 1985 "The Word Became Flesh"

Christmas is here; and will soon be past. The celebration of Christmas, which begins earlier each year, will soon be over. Yet Christmas is never over. It never ends. It is hidden in every day, every word, every deed of our lives.

 As we celebrate the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us, we also celebrate the Word becoming flesh - our flesh - and dwelling still in our midst.

 Henri Nouwen: "The most important question for me is not, 'How do I touch people?' but, 'How do I live the word I am speaking?"

 Indeed, Christmas is not just once a year. It is yesterday, today, and forever, as the Word becomes flesh in us and dwells among us.

Indeed, Christmas is every day!

 

 CHRISTMAS 1
Ps 148; I Sam 2:18-20,26; Col. 3:12-17; Luke 2:41- 52

 Jan 7, 1962 - "Jesus Increased"

"Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." Lk 2:52

He had to grow up like any other person. He grew physically, mentally, spiritually. He was not a super-boy; he was a human boy.

Development is a part of God's creation. We have to become who we were created to be. This does not happen quickly, nor perfectly; it does include faith, and the confession of sin. Perfection begins with the confession of our inability to be perfect. And our trust that Jesus was perfect for us.

 No one is too bad to be a child of God and no one is too good to not be in need of Christ's grace and forgiveness. Luther: " I am at the same time sinner and saint."

 As Jesus grew in his consciousness of who he was as the Son of God, we too have to grow in our consciousness of who we are as sons and daughters of God.

 

Jan 10, 1965 "The Child Jesus"

 Those who heard the boy Jesus in the Temple were amazed at his understanding. His parents were astonished that he would treat them so. And they were anxious as they looked for him.

 When man meets God something amazing is bound to happen. Like the camel driver in Pakistan to whom V-Pres Johnson said, "Come and see me sometime." God's invitation to come and see is amazing!

 Then sometimes God seems to be astonishingly indifferent to us. His words of promise sound hollow -" all works together for good"; "my grace is sufficient". Yet the promise remains and the truth is God can, if we let God, take the most tragic experience of our lives and bless us through it!

We are an anxious people - as Auden wrote;

"Faces along the bar, cling to their average day;
The lights must never go out, the music must always play.
Lest we should see who we are, lost in a haunted wood '
Children afraid of the night , who have never been happy or good."

The answer to our anxiousness is the grace and love of God in our hearts.

 

Jan 10, 1971 "The Child Jesus"

 Amazed - astonished - anxious - much as in 1965, but with a bit more human touch.

i.e. "There are times when we get caught up in things which scare our parents, not because they are wrong, but because there is danger as well as beauty in what we are doing."

 

Jan 6, 1980 "The Child Jesus"

 Jesus wasn't the perfect child if we think of being perfect as always obedient, always predictable, always meeting his parents expectations.

 He gave them some anxious moments, fearful moments, bewildering moments. Something burned within Jesus (God's plan) which he may not have understood as a child of 12 but which led him in ways which left his family anxious.

 He had to find out who he was and what he was here for. (Don't we all?)

No one can do this for us - we have to each do it for ourselves and it will create anxious moments for those who love us.

 To parent is to love when we are anxious and let our children grow - in wisdom and stature with God and us. Even Jesus had to do this!

 

 Dec. 26, 1982 "A Stirring Within"

 "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau

 Jesus listened to a different drummer- he marched to different music. This is bound to create conflict and anxiety.

 To be about our Father's business leads to all sorts of strange things. For example, my being a pastor. Who would have guessed it?

 God's business is anything which brings health, happiness, wholeness, and fulfillment to people and to our planet.

We are called to be about God's business and we will be restless until we find our rest and purpose in Him.

 

Dec. 29, 1991 "Becoming Who I Am"

 Some see this story as evidence that the family is made for conflict. "Attempting fidelity to the will of God will always bring painful separation; there is no way around it." ( Proclamation 3, C,1991, p. 50)

 Others hold that this story is an incomplete interlude between the birth account and the baptism by John. Luke is the only one to include the story. It hints at what is to come, as do all good stories.

 And again, this story is seen as a pronouncement, telling us that this boy is God's son, called to a unique mission for God -"to become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people". As such the boy Jesus "must choose...obedience to the...will of his father over against the claims of his earthly family." (Proclamation 2, C, p.40

 Jesus was not playing a game with the teachers in the temple, nor was he being indifferent to his parents. He was discovering who he was. He was waking up to his calling as the Son of God. This makes him truly human as well as truly divine. For all humans have to" become"; struggle to discover and become who I am to be.

 Jesus lost himself in the moment and forgot about his parents.

There are times when we are called to loose ourselves in others - "waste time with people" (Henri Nouwan) and discover what might happen in their lives and ours when we do. This too is a part of being merciful and faithful servants in the service of God as we become all we can be.

 

 NAME OF JESUS
Num 6:22-27; Ps 8; Gal 4:4-7 or Phil 2:5-11; Luke 2:15-21

 Jan 1, 1987 "Thank God For Erasers"

 Jesus name, (in Aramaic, Yeshua, in Hebrew, Joshua) means "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves us". It points us to the reason Jesus came: to save us from our sin. To take the brokenness of our lives and make us whole again and again and again.

 We need this reminder on this beginning of a new year. We don't need to be reminded that we am not perfect; we don't need to be chastised again for our blunders; we don't need to be told what we ought and should do.

We need to be told that nothing we do is beyond being redeemed. That we can try and fail and try again. That there is forgiveness with God (Jesus saves!) that God might be feared and adored!

 We need to know that we can make mistakes and be forgiven. Not so we become foolish and reckless, but so that we dare live and risk again what didn't work out the first time. Thank God for erasers! Thank God that Jesus saves even a wretch like me!

 

 Epiphany

 

BAPTISM/EPIPAHNY I 

ISA 43:1-7; PS 29; ACTS 8:14-17; LK 3:15-17,21-22

 JAN 13, 1974

Jesus baptism was a means of identification...his credentials if you please.

It was clear what God said, "This is my beloved Son in whom i am well pleased." Yet Jesus continued throughout his life to have an identify problem. Because he wasn't who they expected the Messiah to be.

Our expectations do have a way of getting in the way of our seeing, believing, trusting.

 God goes beyond our expectations, and only as we dare to go beyond too, will we be able to see, believe, and trust in what God has done for us through an unexpected Baby in Bethlehem.

 

Jan 9, 1983 "Baptized To Bring Justice"

 Jesus was baptized to bring justice to all.

"I, the Lord, have called you and given you power to see that justice is done on earth." Is 42:6

 There is lots of injustice in our world. We all dodge the issue of doing something about it. Justice has to do with what we do with the powerless. Pres. Reagan suggested the churches all adopt 10 poor families; then no government programs would be needed.

Lars-Erick Nelson, a syndicated writer for the NY Daily News suggested that maybe every bank should adopt 10 poor families, or members of Congress, or Reagan's millionaire friends, or the oil companies. Indeed, it is not easy to even decide who are to work for justice let alone do it.

 We are called to bring justice, as those who follow Jesus. This means we must dare identify with them, which is how compassion begins; and advocate for them, which is how they get their voice heard.

At the heart of religious faith is the issue of the powerless and what we do with them. We are called to be about the saving of our world, and that means making it a better place for the least and the lost. We do this through becoming a covenant church in the Bread For The World organization and Refugee sponsorship, as well as individually in many less conspicuous but deeply meaningful ways.

 

Jan 12, 1986 "Jesus Baptism"

 Jesus was not baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus was baptized to identify with the people of his day;
to set the direction of his life;
to be reassured he was indeed sent for this reason.

 Jesus is for all people; not against us. As is the God he represents.

Jesus came to be a suffering servant; to bring justice and to raise up compassion as the best way to live in a troubled and hate filled world.

 Regarding justice, Rabbi Abraham Heschel in The Prophets makes this bold statement.

"There is a point at which strict justice is unjust." Then speaking of biblical justice he says, "Justice was not equal justice, but a bias in favor of the poor...for beyond all justice is God's compassion." p.201 "A father is disqualified to serve as a judge. Yet the judge of all (people) is also their Father. He would be unjust to His own nature where He to act in justice without being compassionate." p. 220

 

Jan 8, 1989 With You I Am Well Pleased"

 Jesus baptism was a powerful moment for him. He needed this moment, this experience, this voice, this assurance to even dare begin to walk this earth as the Son of God, the servant of God.

 There was struggle for Jesus in knowing his divine call. For he is going to have to walk as a stranger among his own kin and an outside among his own people. He will be hated, despised, rejected, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Yet as one in whom God delights. He is to bring a new brand of justice which is directed by compassion.

 His baptism set him apart for servant hood. And so does ours! To 'walk wet' means we cannot be indifferent to injustice and must bring mercy, compassion and kindness into our world through who we are and how we are.

 It was no small thing for Jesus to be baptized. It