tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65671666568267115122024-03-14T02:57:27.361-07:00Daily WordNan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-37602329360915435332023-09-05T15:33:00.001-07:002023-09-05T15:33:40.133-07:00Proper 17A - Dickinson Texas<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Have you ever known someone who, when told something they didn’t want to hear, just ignored it - pretended they didn’t hear it? The plea or message falls on deaf ears. It strikes me that in both our Old Testament lesson and our Gospel lesson, God’s plan is being revealed. And in both cases there is a reluctant witness who doesn’t like what they are hearing and would rather not be a part of the plan. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Moses sees this burning bush and says, “Cool! I think I’ll go over and poke it with a stick and see what happens.” (My husband tells me that’s a guy thing to do.) This burning bush that was not being consumed - it was outside the experience of Moses - it was designed to draw him in. And it was only after Moses turned aside to see this phenomenon that God spoke to him. And the first thing he says is, “Take off your shoes for you are standing on holy ground.” This was a sign of respect in the Middle East; and when God reveals himself, Moses hid his face for he was afraid to look at God.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Then God lays out his plan and Moses doesn’t want to hear it. He complains, “I’m too old; I’m slow of tongue; I don’t know your name; they won’t believe me; besides - I’m wanted for murder - who’s going to follow me.” He tried every way he could to get out of it, but God just wasn’t buying it.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">I remember when I received that “pick up your cross and follow me” message - I finally realized that God was calling me to become a priest. I made every excuse I could think of. “I’m too old. I’m not smart enough. I’m not holy enough. Besides, I’m a woman.” Not so much different from Moses’ excuses. And like Moses, I finally gave in and reluctantly headed for seminary. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">God tells Moses: “I have observed the misery of my people. . . ; I have heard their cry. . . . Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them. . .” God has heard the cry of his people and he cares about what they are experiencing, what has happened to them - and what they are feeling. AND he not only cares, he wants to do something about it. He is not going to intervene himself, but he is appointing someone to go for him and he will work through that person to redeem and free his oppressed people. The most important thing that God says to Moses is, “I will be with you.” He doesn’t promise that everything will be good, or that everything will go as expected, but he does promise that regardless of who we are, where we are, or what we’ve done - God will be with us.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">_________________________</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">This says something about what is going on in the world today. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">God knows what happened in Maui, and He cares, and He is going to work through people like us to help those who have lost so much. He knows what happened in Florida and He cares, and he going to work through people just like us. God cares and he is going to make himself known through the people who have said, ‘yes’ to God’s call on their life to reach out to those who suffer.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">_________________________</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus reveals God’s plan for the first time - that he will have to suffer and die and after 3 days will rise again. And the disciples don’t want to hear it - especially Peter. Peter is ready to fight for Jesus, to lay down his life that Jesus might live.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Last week we read the gospel where Jesus asks the disciples ‘who do people say I am?” And they repeat the standard answers, “Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist or one of the prophets.” Then he brings the question home, “Who do <span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold;">you</span> say I am?” That’s a harder question to answer because you have to put yourself on the line - make a decision, right or wrong. And Peter steps right out there and says, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Good answer, Peter, and he is praised to saying that. Matter of fact, Jesus tells him, “Blessed are you. Flesh and blood has not told you this, but God in heaven revealed it to you.” Peter stepped out and got it right. - (for a change.)</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">So now that the disciples know Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus begins to reveal his plan and Peter, who just got praised, takes exception. “Lord, you don’t have to die. We won’t let this happen.” And Jesus doesn’t just tell him he’s wrong, he says, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” He calls Peter, Satan! Peter is thinking only in earthly terms, only about what he wants to happen - or not happen. But Jesus is revealing the plan of heaven, — and Peter can’t see it, because it doesn’t line up with Peter’s view of how the world should be. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Too often, we do that. We look at what we would do if we were king - or god - or whatever. But I think it’s probably a good thing that I’m not god, because I’m pretty selfish when it comes to worldly things. I wasn’t real happy last month when my best friend died - and I’m pretty sure Peter considered Jesus to be his best friend. He was proud to be Jesus’ right hand man. It made him feel important, and he didn’t want to lose that. If Jesus died, where would that leave Peter?</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Too often we are Peter. Floundering around trying to find meaning - trying to make the world line up with our own ideology. This world that God created is not perfect, but it is good. And even though bad things sometimes happen, there is always room for God’s goodness to be revealed through the people who call him “Lord;” Through the love that is expressed through the people who say ‘yes’ to God’s call to go out into the world and be Christ to those who are hurting.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">______</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">Six years ago, when Harvey hit, Sam and I were at Camp Allen and we were flooded in with no way to come home. We had food, beds to sleep in, clean water, electricity and although we watched the water in the lake come almost up to the cabins, we didn’t have to worry about flooding. We were somewhat isolated from the world and so we did what we could. We prayed and offered up intercession for those who were in the brunt of the storm - I think that may have been most of you folks here today. After we got home, we helped provide meals for those who were working to clean out flooded homes.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">_________________________</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">God quite often gives us the opportunity to share His love for all people. We remember when we needed help to overcome struggles - and we remember the people who were there for us at that time. If we listen to God’s call on our life, and we overcome our objections, we can be the catalyst for change in the world - or at least a small corner of it. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">In the ancient world, people thought everything that happened to them was caused by God or by any number of ‘gods’ - little g. You might remember that Paul even preached a sermon telling the Athenians about the unknown god to whom they had erected a shrine. I hope that in today’s world, we have gotten past the point of thinking that God causes bad things to happen, things like hurricanes, and wildfires, and earthquakes, and even cancers and other diseases.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">I had someone tell me not long ago that God doesn’t make mistakes. Well, that’s true - but nature does and people do. We see the results all the time. What God does is to work in and through people - people who have made it a priority to care for God’s children - and by “God’s children” - I mean everyone who has been created in his image. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">God speaks to us in a multitude of ways. That small still voice in your head that won’t go away; a word from a friend or a stranger that stays with you; a chance encounter, or a passage in a book. God inspires us, and he nurtures us, and he sends people to help and inspire us. In 2018, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. God did not cause that cancer - but after sending me 3 messages to get a mammogram, I finally responded - after having gone 2 years without - and I was diagnosed with stage zero breast cancer - a simple surgery and I walked out clean and cancer free - because I listened to the promptings that God had sent my way. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal; min-height: 13.8px;"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-kerning: auto; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-feature-settings: normal; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-variation-settings: normal;">I invited you to pay attention when God send some random though your mind. It just may be your burning bush. Amen.</p> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-55600436157219053762020-03-04T01:12:00.001-08:002020-03-04T01:17:05.659-08:00Praying with Jesus<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.66666603088379px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” From Mark 1:29-45</span><div><font face="Georgia" size="4"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Georgia" size="4"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Jesus never let the grass grow under his feet - never stayed long in one place. He moved around, spreading the message to as many as could hear him. Coming from the solitude of communion with God, Jesus spread his wings over a nation that hungered for hope and gave them a reason to go on believing. And Jesus does the same for us - in the long night watches, he comes to us and fills us with love and confidence and a sense of God’s spirit, so that we, too, might know the power found only in God’s love for each of us.<br></span></font><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.66666603088379px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 18.66666603088379px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br></span></div></div>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-66347487047987056352019-02-24T12:39:00.001-08:002019-02-24T12:46:38.389-08:00From Joseph to Jesus.<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.emmanuel-houston.org/content.cfm?page_content=downloads_include.cfm&download_id=526&r=88008471&fbclid=IwAR28VOHE1y91DlzPl6f_ED7XOFUxBVr9uO8Mqdk9Y1LtjD-sXLKbuq_JOLo" id="id_d5c_ec7b_fb35_83ff">Listen to the sermon.</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">They say that hindsight is 20/20. They say that truth can be seen most clearly in the rear view mirror. One of the more impactful things I’ve heard is when your life if over, you can look back and see the landscape littered with the evidence of God’s presence. Those are different ways of saying that you can see most clearly all the intricacies of a situation after it is past. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">In our first lesson, we are reading the climax of the Joseph narrative. Joseph, who was a dreamer, a spoiled brat and the apple of his father’s eye, was not looked upon with favor by his 11 brothers. They got so fed up with him, that they sold him to a passing caravan as a slave. Then they told their father that he’d been eaten by a wild beast. Joseph had a number of ups and downs as a slave - sometimes favored and sometimes imprisoned. But because he had the ability to interpret dreams, he eventually found favor with Pharaoh and was elevated to ruler status in Egypt. He proved his worth by saving the country from the great famine and when his brothers came looking for food, he eventually revealed himself to them. That is where our lesson picks up today.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">He could have been very angry - they expected him to be. No one would have blamed him for holding a grudge against them and exacting revenge. But he didn’t. He not only forgave them, but he embraced them and provided for them and their families during the remaining 5 years of famine; He gave them a place to live and food to eat. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">He interpreted everything that happened to him in light of God - as an orchestrated dance that eventually placed him in the right spot at the right time to be the saving grace, not only for Egypt, but also for his own family who had denied him. Not all of his journey was pleasant - he was unjustly accused and abused and left to rot in a dungeon - but in the long run he allowed himself to be used by God, and he forgave those same brothers telling them, “You meant it for evil. God meant it for good.” I wonder how many of us could be so gracious under similar circumstances?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">But if you listened to our gospel reading this morning - it is asking us to do the same thing. To forgive those who hurt us, to pray for those who abuse us, to bless those who curse us. To turn the other cheek, to give without expecting return, to not take back something stolen from you. Hard, hard lessons and yet, where it is leading us today?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">During Diocesan Council this weekend, we began each day with an Indaba Bible Study. Generally, we gathered in small groups and the passage of scripture was read out loud. Each person then went around and shared what one word or phrase stood out to them. Then the passage was read again with each person sharing where does this touch my life today. The third reading asks, “What is God calling you to change or do through this passage?”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Now consider our gospel reading today in that light. ‘Do unto others as you would have the do unto you.’ ‘Do not judge.’ ‘Forgive.’ ‘Love your enemies.’ ‘Lend without expecting return.’ ‘Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.’ ‘Turn the other cheek.’ These make great sound bites, but they are very countercultural to the world at large. These are hard sayings in our world today. The wolves in our world today would eat you alive if you followed these rules to the letter. So what do we take from this lesson - these hard sayings of Jesus?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Do to others as you would have them do to you. Often called or considered to be “The golden rule.” Do you know that every faith tradition has something similar to this golden rule? The main difference between our version and others is that the others are passive while the Christian rule is active. Essentially the other rules say “Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you.” So, for example, if you don’t want them to hit you, then you shouldn’t hit them. The Christian rule though is active - or pro-active - It says, “Do unto others, what you would have the do unto you.” If you want someone to treat you with respect, then you need to treat them with respect. We all come from different backgrounds and are raised to value different things. How do we use this demand of Jesus to look at the world around us in a different way. Sometimes we can’t personally address wrongs we perceive happening in the world at large, but we can pay attention to that part of the world that touches our life.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">You look at your neighbor and say to yourself, “If I were in that position, I would hope that someone would do ______ for me.” And try to find a way to do it. You know we have so many people begging on the street in this day and age, there is no way any of us could satisfy all of them. And we know that some people are sponges and will drain you dry if you let them. We also know that there are some people who really do not have the capacity to change - those who live on the street with mental health problems that are not addressed by our current governance and health care systems. So how do you know when and how to help people? There are many agencies, some governmental, but more funded by churches and other non-profit organizations that can minister to those people better than individuals can. That way support of places like The Beacon and Lord of the Streets is so important - because they are equipped to minister to and help people who are living on the fringes of society.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">When I was at Church of the Redeemer over in the Eastwood area, I had the opportunity to minister to a number of homeless people. A few were living on $600 a month disability and believe me, it is a challenge to pay rent, and utilities and still have enough left over to buy food. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">They had no cars, but a few had bicycles. We developed a bicycle ministry at Redeemer and through the gifts of abandoned bikes from Rice and the University of Houston, we managed to have enough to give to kids in the neighborhood and to many of the homeless. We had a repair ministry and taught them how to take care of their bikes and fix them.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">I used to go down to Jack in the Box and get two tacos. I’d eat one and take the other to someone standing down on the street corner begging. The Red barrel collection in our neighborhood Kroger’s came to us and I had food to give to the neighbors. I almost never had money, but bus tokens and Kroger & CVS gift cards along with the red barrel bags fed people and got their medicines. We were the mail box for a number who were trying to get jobs. Being at Redeemer taught me a lot about street people. More than once I took them to the hospital, or to get their medications. I knew, not only their street name, but their legal name. I knew which ones were bi-polar and which ones were schizophrenic. A good number of them were in church every Sunday - especially if we were having food. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">I still keep my eyes open to the possibility that God will place someone before me and expect me to do something. But you know, this list of things that Jesus expects us to do - none of us will ever be able to live up to that expectation. Sometimes forgiveness is hard. And it’s hard not to want to get back at someone who hurts you. And Jesus doesn’t really expect us to be a doormat. So we have to find that balance between where our base nature tells us we want to be, and where Jesus encourages us to rise above ourselves. We have to learn to temper our inclinations with God’s expectation. And we need to remember at all times, even when we fall short of God’s expectation, his forgiveness is perfect, even if our isn’t. One of the things that I try to remember is that God wants me to be the very best version of myself possible. I don’t have to live up to someone else’s expectation. I just have to strive to be the best I can be. Sometimes it’s a struggle to go against nature - to not lash out when we have been hurt. With current mantras raging like “Don’t get mad, get even,” it is sometimes very hard to hear the voice of God calling for grace and mercy. But God’s love and mercy is never failing. His grace abounds wherever we let it and even when we fall short of his expectation, his forgiveness covers us. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(64, 64, 64); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(26, 26, 26); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p><div><br></div> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-9283157046963373742019-02-10T07:58:00.001-08:002019-02-10T07:58:39.305-08:00Here am I, send me.<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">There is a common thread running through all of the lessons today. Isaiah says to the Lord, “I am a man of unclean lips.” Paul tells the Corinthians, “I am the least of the apostles.” And Peter tells Jesus, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” And what is it that we know about all of these men? Isaiah was a powerful prophet of the Lord. Paul was the primary apostle to the Gentiles. And Peter was the foundation of the Church that grew out of those who followed the way of Jesus.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">We have this story from the beginning of the book of Isaiah. Isaiah has this tremendous vision of the Lord sitting on the throne, filling the temple, surrounded by seraphs, who fly around singing, “Holy, holy, holy...” And he is overwhelmed and responds, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, yet I have seen the Lord of hosts.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">(That’s grace, to be unworthy and yet to receive the Lord and stand before him.) </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">(This vision of God’s glorious throne room reminds me of an incident a number of years ago in Huntsville. I was the assistant at St. Stephen’s and campus minister for Sam Houston. A young family move here from Venezuela. The mother was a student at the university and they had an 8 year old daughter. One day the daughter, Alexia and I were out picking dewberries and she told me a secret. She confided in me that she had seen the glory of God. As I questioned her, I realized that what she had seen was the sun shining through the clouds leaving trails of golden light, and I agreed that she had indeed seen God’s glory. It is so refreshing to see the world through the eyes of a child! The glory of God is made visible to us over and over in this way.)</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">So here is Isaiah as a very young man and the vision inspires him and when he hears the Lord say, “who will go for us,” Isaiah eventually responds with enthusiasm, “Here am I. Send me!” How many of us respond in the same way? It’s so much easier to say, someone else will go.” I just heard from a friend who told me her son had pulled out a man trapped in an overturned wrecked car just before it burst into flames. He didn’t think about it, he just saw the need and did it. Isaiah didn’t think about what it meant either, he just answered the call. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">In our Gospel lesson today, Peter sees the miraculous catch of fish, and he backs away. He’s scared. “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” He is in the presence of holiness and he is afraid. I always wondered about this thing of being afraid, fear in connection with the Lord, with God, and with angels. And I never quite understood it until recently. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Neither passage uses the word ‘awesome’ or ‘fearful’ but both imply it. The Hebrew word Yāre’ can be translated both as awe or as fear. In some translations you read about the “awesome acts of God” or other translations you read about the “fearful acts of God.” It’s bothered me for years and then a few months ago, I heard an explanation that made sense to me - of how something wonderful can also be fearful. Our sun is one of the most powerful things in existence. It’s like a continual nuclear reaction. Without the sun, we could not have life on earth, but if we got too close to the sun, it would destroy us. This idea of God’s power contains the same kind of internal dichotomy. Without God, we would not exist, but being in the presence of God should always inspire awe (or fear) in us.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">So both our Old Testament lesson and our gospel reading remind us of both the power of God (that vision of the throne room of heaven) and his ability to work in our lives (the miraculous catch of fish.). In both cases the response was, “I am not worthy...”. But we also know that in each case, Isaiah and Peter both accepted the commission that the Lord gave them. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Our lesson from Paul expresses a similar statement - I am the least of the apostles - and he admits that he is unworthy because he persecuted the newly founded church. But the other thing he talks about - God’s grace - is never poured out in vain. He says, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” Remember in the Old Testament when Moses was standing before the burning bush, and he says, “Who are you, Lord?” “Who do I tell the Israelites sent me?” And God says, “I am who I am. Tell them ‘I am’ sent you.” </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">This phrase, “I am” is one of the things that got Jesus in trouble. In John’s gospel, there are seven “I am” statements. I am the bread of life... I am the good shepherd... I am the way, the truth and the life, etc... The ecclesiastical authorities of the day considered these statements to be heresy because Jesus was equating himself with God - “the great I am.” All three of our speakers today use the phrase “I am.” But all three of them name themselves as unworthy of God. And yet by the grace of God, all three allowed themselves to be used by God and became God’s instruments in the world, to spread the good news of God to all people. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">The same is true for us - none of us is worthy to stand before God. But God himself makes us worthy through his grace and adoption as his children. Our collect for the day says, ‘set us free from the bondage of sin...’ and it asks - on our behalf - ‘for the abundant life seen in Jesus Christ.’ So, even if we feel sinful or unworthy of Jesus - or of God, please know that God can take any raw material that He sees in you and He can transform it for his own use.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Being fearful is not an uncommon response on our part. When God came to me wanting me to go to seminary and be ordained, I was 50 years old. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(203, 41, 123); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(203, 41, 123);">I was too old.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> This path would take me to seminary. I had already started two different masters program, one in music and one in math and I had not completed either one, so I had convinced myself that I was not smart enough to get a masters degree. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(203, 41, 123); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(203, 41, 123);">I was not smart enough. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">And the last thing was to be a priest, you had to be holy, and you had to preach... and there’s no way I qualified in that category. Oh, I read scripture and I prayed, but I didn’t have that special spark that set me apart. I can remember at one point in my life wondering if they let “ordinary people” take classes at seminary, because I thought I might find that interesting. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">So the one thing about today’s gospel lesson that I had forgotten is that Peter - a ordinary fisherman, with no special skills, by his own admission a sinful man and definitely not holy - was being called by Jesus to set his fear aside and to follow Jesus, to become the corner stone of a faith that would spread across the world. If Jesus can use a man like Peter, then he can use me and he can use you to be witnesses of our faith and witnesses to the world of God’s place in our daily life. Amen.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-4749871576221550952019-01-27T10:46:00.001-08:002019-01-27T10:46:15.638-08:00The Kingdom of God here, now!<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">When I was first exploring my call to ministry, it was suggested that I play a little "Bible Roulette." I opened me Bible, without looking at it, and put my finger down on the page - and it was this passage from Nehemiah. "Ezra the Priest brought the law before the assembly... and read from it... from early morning until midday... One of the verses that is omitted from this reading says, “he stood on at a wooden podium... and opened the book in the sight of all the people... and when he opened it all the people stood. " And further down, "And they read from the book clearly and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading." And my first response was, "Oh Lord, does this mean what I think it means?" </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Does this all sound familiar? When I opened the Gospel book, you all stood to hear the reading. Now I am standing at a wooden podium giving an interpretation of the readings so that all can understand.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-style: italic; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">This first lesson takes place approximately 500 years before the life of Jesus. In our Gospel lesson (500 years later) – once again the people have gathered to hear the Word of God being read. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-style: italic; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-style: italic; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Today, 2000 years later, the people of God are still gathering in churches around the world to hear the Word of God being read. The tradition continues and the story is still told – over and over – with interpretation for the time. There are thousands of churches reading these lessons today. And an interpretation (the sermon) being given - chances are very good that no two sermons will be the same.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Now we have a history lesson, this is God’s doing because I have an aversion to history. But in the case I think its important to connect the pieces. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Ezra and Nehemiah are both characters out of the post-exilic period; the Babylonian exile. After Cyrus the Persian king overthrew the Babylonians in 539 BC, he allowed the Jews to begin going back to their homeland. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">The first wave went back, taking with them the holy vessels that had been stolen from the temple. Their job was to rebuild the temple which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian king. They accomplished that task, but they had problems in carrying over their worship practices into the living of their everyday lives. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">So Ezra the priest felt called by God to go to Jerusalem and restore the law. His task was to restore the temple worship and help the people to see how this affected their everyday lives. This was the second wave to return from exile. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">The third wave consisted of Nehemiah, the governor, whose task it was to rebuild the city wall around Jerusalem. Each returning group met resistance from the people already there. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">In our lesson today, we find Ezra reading the law from early morning until midday. And those that are assembled are men, and women, and those who could understand - probably older children. Now understand that the law had not been read in that land in over 70 years. Chances are that very few people there had ever heard it read. They most likely had heard tales and stories passed down word of mouth. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">But on this day, most people were hearing the law read for the first time. And it says that the people wept when they heard the law. Why did they weep? Because the Word of God touched their hearts? Because they knew that they had not been following the law? Probably. But are they condemned by their leaders? No, as a matter of fact they are told, "Do not mourn or weep, for this day is holy to the Lord." They are told, "Eat, drink, </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">give to those who have none</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">______________________________________________________<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">In our gospel lesson, Jesus also is reading from Holy Scripture. Jesus has gone to the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, as was his custom. This is not something new, it is something he always did. The people knew him, they watched him grow up, and they’ve heard him read before... But this time it's different, this time he's been gone, and they've heard reports, strange reports, about him. He opens up the scroll and he reads. It is a nice familiar text - one they've heard many times before - and they wait for his teaching, his understanding of this text.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">And his first words are, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And they're not sure what to make of this. You see, following his baptism and his temptations, Jesus now understands that he has a purpose. And that purpose can be found is the prophetic scriptures of the Hebrew people. He understands that he has been anointed by God, he has received God's Holy Spirit. He understands that the anointing of God is always </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">given for a purpose</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">. It is never given just as a feel-good sensation or for one's own personal enjoyment - it is given for the fulfilling of a task. Now Jesus knows exactly who he is and what he is to do, and this scripture spells it out in full. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<ul>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.71pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">He is to preach good news to the poor, be they monetarily or spiritually poor. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.71pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">He is to proclaim release to those who are held captive, be it physical or emotional imprisonment. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.71pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">He is to be the instrument of healing, to the blind, the crippled, the deaf. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.71pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">He is to set free those who are oppressed in every land or state. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13.71pt;"></span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">He is to proclaim the fulfillment of the Lord's purpose here on earth, during our time - not in some far distant idealistic future.</span></li>
</ul>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jesus is proclaiming his purpose in life. He is also telling the people what it takes for the Kingdom of God to be present in our lifetime. Jesus was uniquely suited for this purpose. He knew who he was and he understood what that meant. He also understood that this was just the beginning of a new paradigm on earth. He knew that even though this was nothing new, since it had seldom been practiced on earth, that he was to be the example - he was the one to demonstrate - exactly what God meant. Jesus' purpose was to demonstrate that the far distant idealistic future was here, - now, - in our lifetime. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jesus proclaimed it then, two thousand years ago, and he proclaims it now, here in our presence. You see, when the church gathers for worship and for fellowship, the aim should not be to make its members feel good, but to equip them for putting into visible form the Kingdom of God in their daily lives.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Obviously we're not all called to go out and preach the gospel or heal the sick in the way Jesus did. Paul reminds us of that. We are all part of the body of Christ. But if each one of us does our part - worship regularly, fellowship with those who love Christ, reach out to those within our sphere of influence - God's kingdom will be manifest here on earth. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">One way we can do this as Christians is to stay attuned to the needs of the people around us. If someone mentions a personal concern to you, they are quite often reaching out for help - for comfort - for understanding. If someone mentions a particular need, offer to stop and pray, right then – or offer other kinds of help that can be beneficial in the given situation.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">So often we say something like, “I’ll keep you in my prayers.” And we forget how much more powerful it is to stop right then, take their hand and pray for them - right then, not in some distant future. I used to do that - all the time. And somehow I've gotten out of the habit - often saying, "I'll add you to my prayer list…" And I realize that in doing that, I'm perpetuating this idea of the Kingdom of God as being somewhere in the distant future. But when I stop and pray with the person right then, then the Kingdom of God is present - right then - in that very moment. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">I like what James says in his letter to the 12 tribes, "Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them…" </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">As members of Christ's body here on earth, we are called to do these things. It doesn't take fancy words or special knowledge. What it does take is a belief that God can do all things, and through him all things are possible. We simply open up our hearts to let the love of Christ come in, and allow Him to work through us - sometimes in spite of us…</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">God calls each and every one of us to be a part of His Kingdom here on earth. And God will use you for his purpose. When people see you, will they say, "I want to be like that", or will they say, "Don't let me be like that…" - it's your choice -- how will God use you?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-32437045417454848142019-01-04T07:10:00.001-08:002019-01-04T07:10:22.618-08:00Moses stepped out in faith<span style="font-size: large; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">God said to Moses, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.” </span><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Exodus 3:12</i><br><div><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I really identify with Moses. He was older than I am when he was called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the Holy Land. He made all kinds of excuses why he wasn’t the right person for the job. And when he asked for a sign, it came only after he stepped out in faith. Reluctantly, Moses did what must have seemed to be a fool’s errand, and he faced challenges, and hardships and opposition. But Moses wasn’t alone. His brother, Aaron, was sent with him as a companion and a partner. When God calls us, he will provide the means to accomplish his purpose. <br></span></font><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font size="4"><br></font></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></div>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-80978599898020443472019-01-02T10:20:00.001-08:002019-01-02T10:20:45.646-08:00Living By Faith<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jesus said: “</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.... </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day”. John 6:38-40. </span><br><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I believe, I have faith, not in myself, because I’ll mess things up, but in God whose promises are eternal. If I have faith that an airplane will stay up in the air and will get me from point A to point B, then why shouldn’t I have faith in my God to take care of me and to direct me in the things I do. When I listen to the little nudges He gives me from time to time, I find myself in the place I need to be, when I need to be there, sometimes for my own benefit, and sometimes for the benefit of others to whom God would have me minister. Jesus promises that we will have eternal life, I believed that. I believe that when we follow our Lord Jesus Christ, our life here on earth is enhanced and blessed, and we will see God face to face when we depart this world. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Verse for meditation:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. </span></div>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-65548138849250423412019-01-01T07:41:00.001-08:002019-01-01T07:41:27.405-08:00New Years Day - The Holy Name of JesusToday is the Holy Name of Jesus - 8 days after his birth this child was circumcised and given the name of Jesus. <div><br></div><div>I’ve often taught that the gifts of the Spirit were given to us for the purpose of blessing others and drawing them to God. We see that this Jesus was a gift of the Holy Spirit, given that all people might be redeemed from sin and adopted as children, and made heirs of the Kingdom of God. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">January the first is such an appropriate time to consider this naming of Jesus. As we begin a new year, let us renew our commitment to God and to the spread of the gospel message that Jesus is Lord, past, present and eternal. </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-6</span></div></div><div><br></div><div><b>Scriptures appointed for today to meditate and ponder:</b></div></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman... in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. Galatians 4:4-5</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:20-21</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><div><br></div></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></div>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-58262690435226867412018-12-26T20:43:00.001-08:002018-12-26T20:43:59.525-08:00Jesus, Son of God<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">D G Em</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Long time ago in Bethlehem,</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> A7 D</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">so the holy Bible say,</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> D G Em</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Mary's boy child Jesus Christ</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> D A7 D</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">was born on Christmas day.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">D G A F#7 Bm E A</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Hark, now hear the angels sing, the new king born today.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> D G Em D A7 D</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">And we shall live for evermore because of Christmas day!</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">________________________________________________________</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Today is the day we celebrate Christmas - the birth of Jesus. Not that Jesus was born on December the 25, but that he was born at all. This is the day we acknowledge that we worship a God who is willing to come down to earth, to enter into his own creation, and to be a part of the messy-ness of life.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">One priest in New York City noted one year that a Christmas tree had already been thrown out at 9:30 on Christmas morning. He saw that as being symbolic of our world today. “Well, that’s over and done with so now we can get on with our lives until next year.” But that’s not the message of Christmas for those of us who believe in something bigger than peace, goodwill and gifts. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jesus Christ is God incarnate - It is more than a God who sent his son to redeem creation – we have a God who was willing to become flesh and to enter into his own creation – to experience what we experience – to love and to laugh and to cry – to be alive to the world.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">We must always remember that Christmas is just the beginning – the start of something new. It is about letting the seed that has been planted in our heart come to light and grow in the love of God. It is about taking the responsibility to water it and help it grow. It is about letting that light shine forth to overcome the darkness and to be a beacon for others who are in need of finding meaning in their lives. And it is about a God who loved us so much that he dared to come down from his throne on high <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>to reside with us and to redeem us and to open the way to heaven for us. This is the one we call Jesus, and this is why we celebrate his birth.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Before the birth of Jesus, the Israelites thought they knew what God was like - but it is through Jesus that we get the most accurate picture into the nature of our God. Jesus is God incarnate - God made flesh. Jesus was a man who laughed and cried, who loved and who got angry. Jesus was a man who taught and who was willing to learn from those he taught. It is through Jesus Christ that God learned what it meant to be human. And it is through Jesus Christ that men and women gained the right to become the sons and daughters of our God.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">For all the hurt and pain that we have caused God by the things that we have done - or left undone, all the things humankind has done throughout the years - God loves us so much that he was still willing to send his own son into the sinful world - to redeem us, to love us, to give us hope for a better existence - one that includes the presence of God for eternity. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">For these reasons and so many more, we remember, and we give thanks. This is why we are here today; this is why we celebrate Christmas; to remember and to give thanks for the love God has poured out on us in a little baby.0</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> .</span></p> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-59291467437276269142018-12-23T11:40:00.001-08:002018-12-23T11:40:13.661-08:00Mary said, “Yes.”<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Advent is a time of the unexpected. For one thing we have God’s choice of partners in the procreation of his own son. Jesus could have been set down fully grown anywhere in the world. But God knew that in order to understand people and to reach out to them, Jesus needed to grow up among them and to really be one of them. God could have chosen royalty, or a wealthy family to bear and raise his son, one where he would never want or struggle. God could have chosen a palace and an important city for the dwelling place of his son. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">But God chose Nazareth – a small out-of-the-way place – unimportant – a place where Jesus could grow unencumbered by the wealth and attention he might receive in other places. God chose a place where Jesus could live among the common folk and learn about them first hand; a place where he could touch, feel and understand the trials and struggles of everyday people. In this area of Galilee, there was a large gentile population nearby so he would grow up knowing not only the Jewish people, but also how they interacted with people of other faiths and nationalities. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">This is a perfect example of how God works within the context of ordinary life and through ordinary people. Mary was not any kind of super hero - (no Angelina Jolie, no Queen Elizabeth – not even a Mother Theresa) – just a simple village girl who had recently come of age. Mary lived an ordinary life in the small village of Nazareth. She helped her mother take care of the house and younger children. She made a daily trip down to the well, to draw water for use in cooking and washing. She cooked and cleaned just like any Jewish girl. I picture her singing as she goes about her work, a sweet disposition and spirit about her.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">She dreamed of one day having a home of her own to take care of. She was betrothed to Joseph, a local carpenter – a tradesman. The life that laid before them was a simple life – one of love and shared experiences – of small children running around and growing up, much as they themselves had. When a young couple became betrothed, the husband began work on a place to live – often a room added onto his father’s house. When that was completed, then he came to collect his bride and everyone was invited to the celebration.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">This was the plan – this was what they expected. But before Joseph came to collect his bride, she had a visitor. Gabriel, the messenger from God, who tells her she has been chosen to bear the Son of God. Mary said “Yes, here I am, Lord. Let it be,” and very shortly she found herself with child. I’m sure that she knew about the whys and wherefores of pregnancy and childbearing and child rearing. Those were common enough things in the life around her – and she was prepared for that – even looked forward to it. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">But I’m not sure she was totally prepared for everything that came after. But in typical ‘girl fashion’ she goes to see her relative Elizabeth who is also expecting her first child. And Elizabeth affirms how special this child is that Mary carries. And regardless of what expectation we have for our children we have to wait – nine months until they are born, to see them. to hold them. And we have to wait until they grow up to see them take their place within this life and this society. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">And so, like Mary, we wait. We wait in expectation – in anticipation – of what God will do in our midst – how he will work out his promises – using the ordinary to do extraordinary things. If we just have the kind of faith exhibited by a young peasant girl in a backwater town 2000 years ago – we too may see miracles and experience the great love of our God in new and wonderful ways.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Our lesson from Hebrews tells us that Christ came to abolish the yearly offerings, the sin and burnt offerings to establish himself as The Offering that redeems the world. In God’s plan, this one person, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, was to be the salvation of the world. This little baby would grow up to present himself as that sacrifice for all time. It is through this offering of Jesus’ body that we have been sanctified and made holy to stand before God. It is because of this sacrifice that we are adopted as sons and daughters into the family of God. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">And it all started with a visit by an angel and a young girl who said “yes”.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Amen</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br></span></div> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-18334427586925325742018-11-25T05:28:00.001-08:002018-11-25T05:34:59.425-08:00 Christ the King<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Today is designated Christ the King Sunday. It is the last Sunday in the Christian year. Unlike our calendars that run from January 1 to December 31, The Christian year runs from the first Sunday of Advent to Christ the King. Next Sunday, we will turn our thoughts and focus to the coming of Christ. But for now, we look at the culmination of His life of earth, and what that means for us. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">One of the arguments down through the centuries has been over the nature of Jesus Christ. Is he human or is he divine? God or man? Some believed that he was only a man who received the Holy Spirit at baptism. Others believed that he was fully divine and only pretended to be human. Those were the extremes, and there was every possible variation between them.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">It was in the 4th century that the church affirmed that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine - that he was of the very same nature as God and was not created, but was pre-existent before time. You know, “God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten not made - being of one substance with the father.” All those things that we say in our creed that affirm the divinity of Christ - they were developed at the council of Nicea. We also say "born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried." Jesus was both human - and divine. We don’t know how that is, but we believe that all things are possible through God, our Father. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Today our lessons affirm the idea that Christ is not simply a man - but is something more. Daniel shows us the throne room of heaven in the 1</span><span style="font-size: 11.33pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><sup>st</sup></span><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> lesson. The "son of man" is given authority and dominion over earth. Christ - Messiah - means anointed one - especially one who is anointed as king. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">If you look at the reported life of Jesus of Nazareth - you won't find him a likely candidate for king. Jesus is very much the "son of man" - Very much human - Jesus was born in a stable - raised in a small insignificant town in a remote part of the world - he worked as a carpenter - and when he took to the road as an itinerate preacher - he didn't stay in grand hotels or spacious homes. He walked the dusty roads - not riding a chariot as nobility did. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">When he said, "foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the son of man (Daniel's term for the Messiah) has no place to lay his head." Jesus is tying into the Daniel image of the coming Messiah - but it didn't quite make sense - because a king was to have absolute power. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">So when he stands before Pilate, it is with the same kind of irony. A king who is in chains - who will be put to death in a most horrible way - and yet - he can say, "For this I was born - to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Those who are not of the truth - consider it folly to follow this messiah who was crucified. This is not the way of the world - the world wants to sees its king as victorious - fighting for right - struggling against all odds to win the day. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">A king commands absolute power - is obeyed without question - rules with authority. A king gives orders and expects his orders to be obeyed. This is not the image we see with Jesus. When he washes the feet of his disciples, he tells them, "I am giving you an example, which you must follow if you would be my disciples." </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jesus was not the kind of king that the people expected. He didn't go around "lording" it over everyone like the gentiles. He didn't snub the poor, the sick, the homeless, the helpless. He lifted them up and helped them to become better than they were. He gave them hope and new reasons to live. This was part of being an example for us to follow.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jesus was given authority in heaven, but he didn't rely on that divine authority. For those of us who are of the truth, have heard his voice and - even though he didn't have to do it, he earned that authority - and our trust and respect - when he dwelt among us. All the way through the New Testament, we learn that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. We are willing to allow Jesus to be our Saviour - we talk about what he has done for us - giving up his life so that we might live. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">BUT - at the same time, we often pay only lip service to his 'lordship.' We hesitate to call him "Lord" - because that gives him authority over our lives. The world tells us that </span><span style="font-size: 17pt; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">we</span><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> need to be in control of our own life. You got to work hard if you want to get ahead in today's world - Self-help books tell us that we can do it all ourselves - We don't need anyone else. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Both Daniel and St. John speak of dominion - Jesus is given dominion. My dictionary defines dominion as the power to rule - absolute authority. To this end the New Testament calls Jesus, "Lord." </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Giving Jesus authority in our lives means allowing him to be the guiding force in our life. It's about letting go of control for your life and allowing Jesus to be Lord over your life. So often we do something & then we ask God's blessings on what we have done. That's the wrong way around if we are to accept Jesus as Lord. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">This “Holy Day” - Christ the King - is only 93 year old. It was established by Pope Pius XI and celebrated for the first time in 1925. Why did Pope Pius institute this day? It was actually politically motivated. Mussolini had risen to power and become an absolute ruler in Italy, and Hitler had been released from prison and was beginning to rebuild and re-organize his Nazi party. Pope Pius was making an overt statement with declaring this as Christ the King Sunday. He was saying, remember who your true king is - don’t go running after false gods.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 17pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">God is pictured as The Ancient of Days – the Alpha and Omega – an absolute ruler, pure and wise and holy. Jesus is pictured as a human – coming through the clouds – the one who was pierced – whose throne is a cross. He is the holy one who has been given dominion and authority over all creation. Our earthly kingdoms will pass away to make room for the kingdom of God. What place does this “son of man” occupy in your home? How do you acknowledge Christ Jesus in your heart? And how does his “lordship” play out in your life?</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><br><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><br><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span></p> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-76243978700064269112018-11-04T03:54:00.001-08:002018-11-04T13:26:38.549-08:00Becoming Saints of God<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><a href="http://www.emmanuel-houston.org/content.cfm?page_content=downloads_include.cfm&download_id=510&r=60612174" id="id_279d_df79_6e91_5f89">Listen to the sermon.</a></span><font size="4"><br></font></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4"><br></font></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Mary’s words, her lament, rings true in our hears. When someone we love dies, the human side of us often wants to ask why and to rail at the unfairness of it all... And sometimes it is unfair from our point of view. But what we consider a tragedy for our own personal life, the Lord considers a victory. From his viewpoint, it is a victory over death - Our loved one has made that transition to the plane where we are intended to spend our real life - eternity. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">In today’s lesson, Jesus does two things to take the focus off of himself: He prays to God and he allows the people around him to hear his prayer so that they will understand that it is God who raised Lazarus from the dead. The second thing he does is to allow the people standing around to have a part in this raising of Lazarus. He has them roll away the stone and then he has them unbind Lazarus. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">This act is as important as, and a reminder of, creation. Jesus speaks the word, he calls Lazarus out of the tomb, and Lazarus comes forth. Lazarus comes from the darkness of the tomb, from the abyss, into the light that shine in the world. Out of darkness, God brings light. Out of death, God brings life - abundant life.</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">Our lessons today have a delightful way of working together. Our first lesson from the Wisdom of Solomon is an apocryphal reading, written during that 200 years before the birth of Christ. In the Old Testament, you can read several stories of faithful servants of God who were taken up into heaven without tasting death. But you will notice that God’s promises to Abraham (descendants and land and cattle) have to do with what happens here on earth, without mention of any sort of afterlife. This idea of an afterlife is being presented here in our lesson from Wisdom. This is where the idea of eternal life begins to emerge. “The Souls of the Righteous are in the hand of God.”</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">It talks about the traditional view of death - “In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction...” That is the way a lot of the world sees death - final and decisive. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">But our lesson goes on, “But they are at peace, their hope is full of immortality, they will receive a great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself...” It says here that “Those who trust in God will understand truth - AND the faithful will abide with him in love - FOR he watches over his elect.” (According to my commentary, this was written about 50 years before the birth of Christ and therefore not dependent on him.) The Book of Wisdom tells us that being made in the image of God includes sharing with him in immortality - the Godly, the ethical will be granted eternal life.</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">Next we have Psalm 24, still in the Old Testament, talking about what it takes to ascend the hill of the Lord. I’ve been attending a Bible Study in Alvin that focuses on the relationship between heaven and earth, especially as understood in the Old Testament. The word we translate as heaven can mean either the sky, or that place where God resides - so from earliest times God was believed to be off in the sky somewhere. Therefore the people would go to the high places - on hilltops - mountaintops to be near God. Moses met God on Mount Sinai. Elijah went to the mountaintop to meet God. Temples were placed on the highest point in any area so as to be close to God. Even this place were we are meeting today, Temple Sinai, was named to denote the desire to be close to God. It has always been man’s desire to be near God - Even the Tower of Babel was a plan to try to draw near God. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">But here’s the grace - in our Gospel lesson, Jesus demonstrates God power to be present here on earth - by raising Lazarus from the dead. God now resides among his people - here on earth, right now - not in some far-off heaven or some future time. God’s saving grace and desire to be among his people is demonstrated in this act of mercy.</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(0, 118, 186); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 118, 186);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">And this idea of God’s desire to be here with us is reinforced in our lesson from Revelation. Did you notice that it said the new Jerusalem, the Holy City was coming out of heaven? God’s desire is that heaven and earth to be together and he wants his home to be among us. Do you remember in the beginning God walked on earth in the Garden of Eden and talked to Adam and Eve. It was a place where they could be together and interact. And ever since our fall from grace, God has been trying to find a way to regain that relationship, that friendship with us. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">Today is known as All Saints Day – my favorite hymn talks about the Saints of God. It really reflects Paul notion of ‘saints.’ Paul used the word ‘saint’ to speak of the believers who were being saved: Everyday people who lived their lives for Jesus Christ. One was a doctor, one was a queen, one was a shepherdess on the green – and all of them saints of God and I mean – God helping to be one too. One was a soldier, one was a priest, one was slain – and there’s not any reason why we shouldn’t be one too. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">They didn’t just live in the past – they are alive today and all around – they are the ones who love to do Jesus’ will. And you can meet them in school or on the road, swimming or sailing, in church or on trains or planes, even at Wal-Mart or Starbucks, because the saints of God are just like us. Each time we choose to be merciful, each time we extend a kindness, each time we share compassion, we grow in grace and in stature on our way to becoming Saints of God. </font></span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br></span></div> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-4431096143369994242018-10-15T23:36:00.001-07:002018-10-15T23:36:32.757-07:00What must I do?<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jesus is on a journey – he is ultimately headed to Jerusalem and the cross. Last week he had traveled from Capernaum to Judea beyond the Jordan. Now as he sets out again, a man comes running up. He falls on his knees and says, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life.” The address is over the top for a Jew. Jesus jokes (or maybe spars) with him, “Why do you call me ‘good’? No one is good but God.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Next Jesus reminds him of the commandments – those dealing with our neighbors – those that deal with relationships here on earth. The Jewish belief was that if you just followed all the right laws, then you could please God and you would have eternal life. So his statement, “What must </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">I do </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">to </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold; font-size: 16pt; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-font-kerning: none; color: rgb(192, 80, 77); -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(192, 80, 77);">inherit</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT; font-weight: bold; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">eternal</span><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> life?” was typical of this time and the present Jewish mindset.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">But there’s a problem with this – how many of you have every received an inheritance? What did you have to do to earn that inheritance? Did you do something to earn the inheritance, or was it the result of a relationship you enjoyed? </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jesus essentially tells this man, you cannot earn God’s gift – you can only accept it. You’ve probably heard people say things like, “You just earned another star in your crown.” I’ve said it myself, but that just perpetuates the myth.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Eternal life is a gift. The gift of the kingdom of God is a gift of relationship. And Jesus is in the process of redefining relationship - relationship with God and with the people around you. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">This man (Luke calls him a rich young ruler) is a good man – he is religious and has been diligent about keeping the commandments – he’s probably not much different from you and me. He’s spent his life living as best he knew how, following in his father’s footsteps, and most likely felt blessed by God because of his prosperity. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">What he didn’t understand was that eternal life is a gift. There is a story told about a young boy in Sweden who wanted some grapes from the king’s garden for his sick mother. He asked the gardener if he could buy a bunch, but the gardener refused. Standing nearby was the King’s son, and right away he put two bunches of grapes in the boy’s hand. The boy offered to pay, but the prince said, “My father is not a merchant who sells, he is a king who gives.” Our God is not a merchant with eternal life to sell.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">I can remember a number of years ago when Sam and I lived in Austin. We both had good jobs, two cars, two beautiful children and enough money for the things we needed. But something was missing. At the time we didn’t go to church except Christmas and Easter. We were good people – not rich, but we had what we needed, and yet, something was missing. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">I would imagine that it wasn’t much different from this young man. He knew something was missing from his life and he thought that he could buy or earn whatever it was. And Jesus tells him what is needed. His face falls, because he isn’t ready to give up what he has. This young man walks away, shoulders slumped, head down, turning away from what he desperately wanted, because he wasn’t willing to pay the price. He wasn’t willing to lay down what he had in order to pick up what Christ wanted to give him. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jesus turns to his disciples and says that it’s hard for the wealthy to enter the kingdom – not impossible, but hard. It is only through the grace of God that any of us can enter the kingdom of God. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">It’s hard for the rich to enter heaven because they have a tendency to rely on their wealth or their self for the things they need and want. It’s hard for the rich to enter heaven because they sometimes develop an unhealthy attachment to their wealth. We often hear a misquote from the Bible, “Money is the root of all evil.” But that’s not right. It’s not money that is the root of all evil, it is “the love of money that is the root of all evil.” That comes from 1 Tim. 6:10. Money itself is not the problem, it is our attachment and dependence on it that is a problem. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">But this is a new concept for the disciples. The culture – the Jewish religion itself affirmed that affluence was the direct result of the blessing and favor of God. Affluence meant you were a shoe-in for heaven. But Jesus is giving them something new – getting into heaven may be impossible for us – but not for God - with God all things are possible.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(60, 138, 158); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(60, 138, 158);"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>There’s a story about a man who died and went to heaven and St. Peter met him at the gate and says, “We had to develop a new system to decide who gets to come into heaven. You need a thousand points to get in now. What have you done with your life?” </i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(60, 138, 158); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(60, 138, 158); min-height: 18.4px;"><i><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(60, 138, 158); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(60, 138, 158);"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>The man says, “Well, I was a minister and preached to hundreds of people and brought them to God. I visited prisoners and patients in hospitals. I started a food kitchen to feel the hungry and a clothing center to help people get clothes.” </i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(60, 138, 158); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(60, 138, 158); min-height: 18.4px;"><i><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></i></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(60, 138, 158); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(60, 138, 158);"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><i>St. Peter said, “Well, all that adds up to about 10 points.” The man, in shock, said, “Ten point? At that rate I’ll need the grace of God to get in.” St. Peter said, “That’s worth 990 points. Come on in.”</i></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; color: rgb(60, 138, 158); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(60, 138, 158); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-style: italic; font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Peter speaks for the whole group – “We have left everything to follow you…” Jesus tells the disciples; "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold. . . houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">I don’t know about you, but for me that doesn’t sound happy – fields with persecutions? I think it’s safe to say that when we follow Jesus, it isn’t always fun and games. Sometimes there will be struggles and hardships. Sometimes we are going to suffer, regardless of who we are and what we are and what we have done. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">God is asking something of us. He’s asking for a commitment. For some people that might take the form of a commitment of money. For others, it might be a commitment of time. And even others might be asked for a commitment of talent. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">I guess it’s sort of like earnest money in a contract – you are putting your money where you mouth is. You know those bumper stickers out there that say “Honk if you love Jesus.” Sam and I ran across one a couple of years ago that said, “If you love Jesus, tithe. Anyone can honk.” </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Jesus is looking for relationship and one of the symbols of relationship is by supporting your local parish. Consider it a commitment. This is stewardship season in the Episcopal Church. Your vestry is looking ahead to next year and planning. One of the things they will be looking for is financial support. The biblical commitment is the tithe – ten percent. Even if you don’t have money, there are other things you can do. God is calling you into relationship, so search your heart and consider where God is calling you to commit you time or talent or treasure for the coming year.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 18.4px;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 16pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br></span></div> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-64787277086068768632018-08-18T21:42:00.001-07:002018-08-19T14:31:34.431-07:00Yada Yeshua, Knowing Jesus<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">Our gospel lesson speaks of Jesus as the “bread of life,” he says, “I am the living bread…” Here we are two thousand years later and we have the picture in our mind and we know the whole story – sort of – and we know that Jesus is speaking metaphorically about the body and blood – he is referring to the bread and wine of Eucharist. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">We understand what it’s about, but two thousand years ago, they didn’t have the historical understanding we enjoy. The Jews who disputed with Jesus were raised under very strict dietary laws. It was very important to “keep kosher” if you were a Jew. The first thing that we can consider is that Jews were not allowed to consume blood. The bodies of the animals to be used for food first had to be hung up and drained of all blood before they could be cooked. And the big one is that the human body is ‘unclean’ according to Jewish dietary law. So they heard “eat my flesh” and all they could think was, “Not in my mama’s kitchen.”</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">Our gospel is not the only lessons in which we are invited to eat bread and drink wine. Our Old Testament also invites us to do the same. It says Wisdom has built her house, slaughtered her animals, mixed her wine and set her table. She calls to all, “You that are simple, turn in here. Come, eat my bread and drink my wine. Lay aside immaturity and live, and walk in the way of insight.”</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">Wisdom is often personified – as a woman. “Wisdom” becomes the Old Testament counterpart – the female counterpart -- for Jesus himself. Sometimes in Christian and semi-Christian literature you will find references to Sophia. Sometimes you will hear Sophia being deified. For some, Sophia is the “the goddess of wisdom,” the mother of creation, and even the “consort” of Yahweh. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">The truth is that Sophia is simply the Greek word for “wisdom.” When the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) was translated into Greek it was called the Septuagint. This was done two or three centuries before Jesus to meet the needs of the Greek speaking Jewish population outside Palestine. In the Septuagint you get, “Sophia… has built a house…” <br>
</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4"><br></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">If we were to read a little further in the 9</span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> chapter of Proverbs, we would find Sophia (or Wisdom) contrasted with lady Folly. Folly is undisciplined and without knowledge. She sits at the door of her house and also calls out to those who pass by. Here is what she offers to those who are simple, “Stolen water is sweet, food eaten in secret is delicious.” She offers an illicit meal, one replete with sexual implications. She offers worldly pleasures – those partaken of in secret – those hidden away from the world. </span></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">This would have been a place where the Prodigal Son would have spent his money and whiled away his time. There is no return for money and time spent in this place – only emptiness – it is only a dead-end. Wisdom invites all to leave their simple ways and walk in the way of wisdom – of understanding – and you will live. Wisdom is sometimes defined as skill in living, but it is more than that. It is learning to walk with God, learning to walk in the ways of God. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">The question can become, which voice are you listening to, Folly or Wisdom. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. It’s real easy to say “God told me such-in-so.” But always remember when we do this that - Andrea Yates thought God told her to kill her children. And David Koresh – who they said “He loves God and he loves women.” And he led his followers to destruction – he listened to Folly thinking she was Sophia - Wisdom.</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">People in the first century listened to what Jesus said and thought it was Folly. Jesus was telling people in this 6th chapter of John: “Eat of my flesh and drink of my blood and you will live.” Jesus was speaking figuratively - metaphorically – but the people who were listening to him were taking it literally. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">Even years later they were still taken literally –when the Lord’s Supper was instituted as the principle (or common) form of worship – people accused the Christians of being cannibals – eating the flesh and drinking blood. It’s not that they had a hard time understanding the concept of symbolism, but they wanted a reason to condemn this new sect.</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">People question the wisdom of letting little children take communion. I remember in Huntsville one young child being questioned about what it meant to take communion. He said, “It means I’m taking Jesus inside me.” That is probably the best theology of Eucharist I’ve ever heard. We are taking Jesus inside us.</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">And that’s exactly what Jesus is talking about – he wants us to make him so much a part of our life that we incorporate his principles, his very being into our life. So many people only pay lip service to Jesus, to God. It sounds great on Sunday morning, but what about the rest of the week? Do we really try to live our lives (our secular lives) according to the foundations of our sacred lives. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">In our lesson from Ephesians we are admonished, to “be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise.“ Wise here is sophos – a form of sophia. This is the same root that we get our word for sophomore. You know that to be a sophomore is to think you are wise and know it all – when you really don’t. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">I don’t know if any of you have ever watched Seinfeld – I’ve seen it a few times, but never cared for it much. It’s a great exercise in how not to live your life – but it was a popular show and one of the phrases from it caught on and became very popular with young people. And all over you began hearing, “And he said, yada, yada, yada…” Everything was yada, yada, yada. And yada seemed to fill in the gaps in any conversation. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">Remember that Seinfeld is very much a Jewish name – and yada is a Jewish word – it is Hebrew for knowledge, to know to teach or to learn. Yada appears 875 times in the Old Testament. From Genesis we find “Adam knew (Yada) his wife Eve and she conceived and bore a son...”. And although it can have a sexual connotation, it implies a much deeper knowledge. From Psalm 16:11 “You show (Yada) me the path of life.” And from Psalm 100:3 “Know (Yada) that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his;” It implies to know in a relational sense, and that’s what Jesus wants from us. He wants us to know him in a relational way – taking him into us and being in relationship with Jesus is the point of these lessons.</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">They all tie together – to tell us to live wisely – live a life based on the principles of Jesus, incorporating them into our lives in such a way that we don’t leave out those who don’t know Jesus. Our collect tells us that Jesus is an example of Godly life and that we are to follow in his footsteps daily.</font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">In seminary, they taught us big flowery words with complicated meanings that encompassed all that Jesus did for us. But I would rather speak a few simple words that touch the heart of all who hear. Jesus came and he lived among us – touching the lives of simple folk in positive ways; healing the sick, feeding the poor, forgiving sinners, and giving hope to those without means. In theological debates with learned people, what he said didn’t make much sense to them because they weren’t ready to give up the ways of the world that maintained their positions of power. </font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><font size="4">In Ephesians, Paul tells us – I’m going to reverse the order here - to be filled with the Spirit and to make the most of our time, living as wise people. We have to life in this world – not only to live in relationship to Christ, but also to live in relationship with the people around us – with Christ so much a part of our life, that it shines forth as a beacon to all who are in need. </font></span></p> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-28711142517945894242018-07-15T07:52:00.001-07:002018-07-15T07:53:38.902-07:00 Herod’s Dilemma <p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">A couple of years before I went to seminary, it was summer and our daughter, Cyndy, had graduated from high school – she was 18 and her brother Andy was just turning 21. Andy and his friends were planning to go in to Houston to hear some group play at a bar and they wanted Cyndy and her friend Carrie to go with them. So they had asked me for permission. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">The guys thought that the girls could get in as long as they didn’t drink. I decided that this wasn’t a good idea since Cyndy’s friend was only 17 and we couldn’t get hold of her parents, so I told them, “No.” Everybody accepted that and there wasn’t any real argument. The boys all left and Cyndy and Carrie stayed there. Cyndy came up and hugged me and said, “Thanks, Mom. We didn’t really feel comfortable going, but I didn’t want to disappoint my brother.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">That was Cyndy’s dilemma – to be supportive and cool in her brother’s eyes versus feeling comfortable about what they wanted to do. Herod had a dilemma, too. Herod’s dilemma was that it was his birthday and the festivities were just beginning to peak. Everyone was either drunk or getting there pretty quick and so they probably weren't using their best judgment. The king was in a really good mood – a magnanimous mood - and was very pleased by the dance of the young woman. Our text says ‘his daughter, Herodias,’ but that's probably incorrect. Most likely it actually means Herodias’ daughter. That interpretation is supported by Josephus, the Jewish (political) historian, who calls the daughter, ‘Salome.’ </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Herod was of Jewish descent and ruled only at the pleasure of Rome. But for a Jew he was a very important man, a powerful man, and he wanted to look good in the eyes of those who were with him. Having been pleased by the dance, he made this astounding offer―anything you want – even half my kingdom. It was foolish of Herod by any stretch of the imagination, but it supported his self-image of who he was and who he wanted others to think he was.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">The girl had no idea what to ask for, so she went out and consulted with her mother. She came back and asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Chances are really good that she didn’t really know what she was asking for – she just did what her mother asked without really understanding. Scripture doesn’t tell us how old she was, but I would imagine she would be about the age of 13 to 15. And in those days girls were not actually schooled, except possibly in court manners so that they could attract a good alliance in marriage. Her mother, Herodias, had wanted for a long time to get rid of John the Baptizer. He had been very vocal in condemning her and Herod for marrying. He represented a thorn in her side by drawing attention to her sin. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">As I said before, Herod, although not religious himself, had a certain respect (and probably fear) for the Jewish religious tradition. John was a prophet and was speaking out as a prophet calling people to own up to their sinful ways. And John was calling people to a different kind of atonement for their sins - not an animal sacrifice at the temple, but the sacrifice of a contrite heart and metanoia - turning their lives around. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Our scripture says that Herod liked to listen to John and he probably spent time down in the dungeon talking to him and listening to what he had to say. Our lesson says that Herod knew John to be a righteous and holy man and that he protected John. So, when the daughter asked for John’s head, Herod had a dilemma.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Here he had made this sweeping promise to give Salome whatever she wanted, never dreaming that she would ask for something so – so bizarre. And now he’s trapped. He didn’t want to give her this request – but he didn’t want to look bad in the eyes of the court officials and military officers there. He didn’t want to look like someone who does not hold up his promises. They all knew what John had been preaching, and Herod didn’t want to appear weak in their eyes. In the Middle East political arena, any sign of weakness is a death knell. That is as true today as it was in Jesus’ time. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">What is interesting is that this need for power and face is in actuality a weakness. It drove him and forced him to do something he didn’t want to do, all for the sake of saving face. It’s a kind of peer pressure at an extreme level. For Herod, his word was more important that a human life.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">In our lives we face dilemmas all the time. I remember once when my son quit a good paying job because of a dilemma between his own sense of right and wrong and what his company was doing. I quit a summer job up on Lake Travis for the same reason – I didn’t like the ethics of the owner of the business. There are times you just have to do that. You have to step back and decide if you are going to be a part of whatever it is you don’t agree with, for the sake of what? A paycheck? What others might think of you? To remain in power? </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">When those moral dilemmas come, we need to remember our understanding of God, and all that God calls us to be and do, to make those decisions. We should never allow ourselves to become so ingrained in a situation that we have to act against our conscience in order to please or satisfy someone else.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Now, you may, or may not, have twigged to the fact that this story is actually a “flash-back.” It starts out saying that Herod heard the stories about Jesus and his disciples, and Herod decided this was actually John having been raised from the dead. So John is already dead - this flashback tells the circumstances for his death. So the question is, why would Mark choose this place in the gospel to tell the story of John’s beheading?</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">The reason is because this lesson is it’s not really intended to be a stand-alone lesson. It is actually the meat & cheese part of one of Mark’s ‘sandwich’ readings. Mark does this all the time. He loves to take two stories and use them to reinforce each other or to make a point.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">He will begin telling one story and stop in the middle to tell a different story, and then go back to the first story. He did it with the story from 2 weeks ago - the healing of Jarius’ daughter and the woman with an issue of blood. He does it with the fig tree and the cleansing of the temple and he does it with 6 other stories.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">In last week’s Gospel lesson, Jesus sent the disciples out by twos proclaiming a call to repentance, casting out demons and curing the ill. That is what Herod is responding to in today’s lesson. Next’s week’s gospel starts with the disciples coming back and rejoicing in all that they accomplished. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Both stories have their own point, but they also function together to relay a message to Mark’s community who were being persecuted. The message intended by this juxtaposition is to remind them that bad things are going to happen, and good people are going to die, but the good news of God’s love and forgiveness and his healing still goes on wherever God’s people reach out to help others. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hiragino Mincho ProN"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> And this is our inheritance when we set our hope on Christ – when we’ve heard the word of truth and we believe in him – we belong to God. We don’t have to do things to please the people around us because we have a God who has chosen us before the foundations of the world. A God who is faithful to us in all circumstances, and who will never desert us. This is the one we should please. Blessed be the name of the Lord. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Amen.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: HiraMinProN-W3; font-size: 18pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br></span></div> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-60927173037102729292018-07-07T06:56:00.001-07:002018-07-07T06:56:40.325-07:00Out of weakness comes strength<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HoeflerText-Regular; font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Today’s Collect says: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit that we may be devoted to you with our whole heart and united to one another with pure affection.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: HoeflerText-Regular; font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HoeflerText-Regular; font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Paul embodies that somewhat in 2nd Corinthians 12:2-10. He talks about a thorn in his flesh that keeps him from being too ‘elated’ - the Greek word means something like ‘haughty’ or being raised up - maybe it keeps him humble and not boasting.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: HoeflerText-Regular; font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HoeflerText-Regular; font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">God refused to remove the thorn and told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you - for power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul goes on to say, “therefore I am comment with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities - for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak then I am strong.”</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: HoeflerText-Regular; font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Hoefler Text"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family: HoeflerText-Regular; font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">I think of my own weaknesses and wonder how God can use them to further his kingdom. But I also know that God can use anything that we lift up to him even if we don’t understand. That’s why Jesus could send out the 12 disciples, because they believed that he could use even them to spread his kingdom. We have to have the same faith that God can and does use us when we open our hearts and minds to him. Thank you, Lord, for loving us and keeping us in your grace. Amen. </span></p> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-24487897504545255892018-03-09T06:31:00.001-08:002018-03-09T06:31:03.266-08:00By Grace alone?<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">“God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places. By grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” </span><span style="font-style: italic; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Adapted from Ephesians 2:4-8</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Paul was really big on salvation by grace alone. In this he seems to be somewhat at odds with James, the brother of Jesus, who was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. When you read the letter of James, he focus on work. He says, “Show me your faith without works, and by my works, I will show you my faith.” We have been saved by grace alone. It is by our belief in God, our faith, that we receive that grace. At the same time, if we have indeed have accepted what Jesus has done for us, then it should be visible by what we do for others. We have been saved for a reason, so that through us, others might be fed, or clothed, or visited; so that others might see the hand of God at work in the world around them; so that others might also come to know the salvation of Jesus Christ.</span></p><div style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br></span></div> Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-76654224641393956432018-02-15T05:59:00.001-08:002018-02-15T05:59:23.406-08:00Choose a Fruit of the Spirit for Lent<div>I was reminded this morning of one of our former Grace Church members who one year decided to ‘choose joy’ for Lent. What a concept – to choose joy – over frustration, over anger, over jealousy, over all those things that distract us or draw us away from the joy of the Lord. Joy is only one of the Fruits of the Spirit. From Galatians 5:22-23 we learn: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The fruits of the Spirit are given to us as a free gift when we are living our life in tune to God’s love and promise. </span></div><div><br></div><div>What if each person took on one of the Fruits of the Spirit as a Lenten discipline? What if we responded to the world around us according to these fruits? What difference could we create in today’s world? If we live into even one of these fruits, and share them as our response to the world around us, they can and will make a monumental difference in a broken and torn world. My prayer for all people during this Lenten season is that each of us can find that fruit of the Spirit which speaks to us and helps us to live into the fullness of God’s grace. </div><div><br></div>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-84967848652070182702018-02-05T05:40:00.001-08:002018-02-05T05:41:32.604-08:00Out of a Believer’s heartJesus said, <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” ... When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? John 7:37-38, 40-41</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When I read this scripture this morning, it was almost like a slap in the face. My first thought was to sneer at the scoffers and then </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I realized that I have, on more than one occasion, allowed some little idiosyncrasy, some little flaw, some little minute detail distract me. The most recent occasion was in viewing a ‘prophetic painting,’ and rather than looking at it with the eyes of Jesus, and seeing his presence there, I was finding some little flaw that distracted me from his message to me. We are spiritually connected to God/Jesus, but we are also human. And there are going to be times when that human side of us oversteps the spiritual. My prayer today, “Lord, I am a believer. Please let those streams of living water flow out of my heart that I might see you and worship you in spirit and in truth. Amen.” </span></div>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-7517100658983788402017-11-12T04:32:00.001-08:002017-11-12T04:32:58.542-08:00Those who have died in the Lord...<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” </span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT; font-style: italic; font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">1 Thessalonians 4:13-18</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">. What a time for this scripture to come up in the lectionary readings. Those who die in the Lord are on everyone’s mind this week following the massacre at the 1st Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. Senseless killing and senseless death are beyond the imagination of ordinary people. We don’t understand the kind of tormented soul who could commit such a heinous act. And we grieve the loss of so many who were loved by family and friends and who worshipped and trusted in God.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 13.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Quite often we want to rail at God for allowing such evil and pain to exist in the world. From our perspective, is it hard to remember that God does not consider physical death to be a tragedy. The ones who died are with the Lord they loved, but those who are left behind are experiencing an unbearable hole in their lives and a deep, deep sorrow at their loss. God is the ultimate comforter and healer. For most, the wounds will eventually heal, but the experience reminds us that life in this world is uncertain and we need to hold close those we love and never take for granted those whose lives are entwined with ours. </span></p>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-4330742191915573282017-10-07T07:23:00.001-07:002017-10-07T08:49:23.043-07:00Focus on Jesus<div style="font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lately I have been using “Jesus Always” by Sarah Young as my morning reading. Today’s reading includes the following: “Many Christians are defeated by focusing mainly on less important things - the news, weather, economy, loved one’s problems, their own problems, and so on. Granted, in this world you will have troubles, but don’t let troubles become your primary focus. Remind yourself that I am with you and I have overcome the world. I am nearer than the air you breathe yet I am infinite God.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Too many things compete for our attention in this world today, and way too often we do focus on the sensationalism spewed out by our ‘news’ outlets. It’s too easy to shake our heads and allow our blood pressure to rise at the atrocities inflicted upon one another and pronounce judgments on others for their actions or beliefs or whatever captures our imagination. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I’m not saying that people shouldn’t be held accountable for things they do or say, but we all too often allow ‘Satan’ to draw us away from focus on God’s goodness to an evil self-righteousness that only hurts ourselves more than others. We forget that God does not want our anger. He wants our compassion. Micah 6:8 says, “What does God require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” So I offer up the following prayer for the people of God: </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Come, Lord Jesus! Be our guide and our focus. Help us to find your way amid the maze of false paths laid out by those who would draw us away from your loving presence. Send your Holy Spirit as our guide and your holy angels as our protection. Amen.</span></div>
Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-7862816865769405412017-09-22T08:25:00.001-07:002017-09-22T08:25:42.591-07:00Living for Christ<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">“To me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” Philippians 1:21. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14.3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">In this passage (Phil. 1:21-30) Paul wrestles with the idea of dying to be one with Christ or living to spread the gospel message. Even though his desire is to die and be with Christ, he understands that his purpose is to help others come to a fuller understanding of a life lived in grace. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14.3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">By remaining in this life as an encouraging agent, Paul is doing God’s work. Through sharing his struggles, he gives us an example of what it looks like to follow Christ. It is not always easy, but we are assured that the prize is worth the effort. Christ himself is the prize, and Christ himself is our support. We are never alone in our struggle. Christ will always come alongside of us to share our burden.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14.3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-61870991527894502782017-09-20T10:00:00.000-07:002017-09-20T10:09:21.753-07:00Living forgiveness<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Romans 14:3. Paul is responding to a problem in the Roman church. Some people believe that they are better than others because of their practices in the faith. He makes it clear in this passage that we are not to pass judgment. Different people are at different places in their walk with Christ, and that’s okay. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14.3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Some of us may honor the Lord in different ways and that’s okay. Paul reminds us that we don’t live to ourselves but to the Lord. When we died we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. And our Gospel lesson tells us that we will be judged according to the judgment we have passed on others. One of the hardest things a Christian does might be to learn how to be non-judgmental. We must remember that forgiveness is from God and is always to be passed on to those we meet. </span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br></span></div>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-49873892497596831912017-07-16T03:35:00.001-07:002017-07-16T03:39:00.353-07:00 Reflection on Psalm 119:105 - Word of God<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path.” There is a reason why more Bibles are sold every year than any other book. It not only talks about eternal salvation, but it lays out a plan for living out our lives here on earth. It gives examples of both right and wrong ways of doing things. It also points out that even when you don’t do everything exactly right, you can still be acceptable before God. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14.3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"> At ordination, an Episcopal priest declares that they believe the Bible to contain all things necessary to salvation. Sometimes when I don’t have a clue about what I’m supposed to do and I yell out, “Oh God, what now?” God’s word can be comforting. It can be challenging. It can place you in God’s presence and help you see that path God has chosen for you to travel. And it is always time well spent reading and contemplating God’s word.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br></span></div>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6567166656826711512.post-60932468728648379172017-07-10T10:27:00.001-07:002017-07-10T10:27:06.825-07:00Reflections on Genesis 24<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">In our first lesson from Genesis 24, We see Isaac’s man-servant going out to find a wife for Isaac. According to the instructions from Abraham, he is going only to Abraham’s kinsfolk. As he approaches the neighborhood, he stops and prays to God to help him find a mate for Isaac. And he doesn’t leave it open to interpretation. He asks for a specific sign (that the woman who gives him water, will also offer to water his camels) so that he will know without a doubt that he has received an answer. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14.3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">As I was graduating from seminary, I was questioning what God was calling me to do and where he was calling me to be. I thought I was going one place, but then John Logan, then Canon to the Ordinary, called and asked me to go interview in Huntsville for an assistant rector/campus minister position there. I remember praying on the way to Huntsville asking for a sign. I decided that the sign would be that I would be able to see outside from the nave. When I walked into the nave, there were three clear glass windows on either side of the congregation and a large clear glass window behind the altar showing the forest behind it. I had my answer. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); min-height: 14.3px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;">I don’t think that the sign we ask for is arbitrary. I believe that God places that specific sign in our mind so that he can answer our question without a doubt. If you don’t ask for a specific sign, it might be possible to miss (or misinterpret) God’s message for you.</span></p><div><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br></span></div>Nan Doerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10045847963778626336noreply@blogger.com0