In Colossians 3, the church in Colossae is instructed to set their minds on things above, not on earthly things, leave behind whatever belongs to earthly nature…sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed and rid themselves of anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language, do not lie.
In the spirit of these words, let’s leave all those earthly vices, weaknesses and bad influences at the door so that we can worship the way God would like us to.
In chapter 3, the church in Colossae is told that there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but that Christ is all, and in all.
In the spirit of these words, let’s leave our differences and disagreements at the door so that we can worship the God would like us to.
In chapter 3, the church at Colossae is instructed to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patient…willing to forgive and above all love one another, because love is what binds us together in perfect unity.
In the spirit of these words, let’s show each other and God that we can be that kind of community…with open, loving hearts that are not filled with a bad thought or motive toward another.
In chapter 3, the church in Colossae is instructed to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
In the spirit of these words, let’s do exactly that. Let’s sing songs…think about what you’re singing this morning and focus on making everything you say and do glorify God to the fullest. Leave all earthly things at the door and worship with the love, enthusiasm and gratitude that God deserves. Let us show God how much we love him…let the way you worship this morning reflect how much you are committed to God.
Finally, we are a community. Take time this morning to share and learn from one another. We are God’s people.
Monday, November 15, 2010
sermon notes: What do skydiving and Moses tell us about the role of fear in our lives? ...and how we handle it (10/24/2010)
How many of you have a fear or phobia? I personally have a fear of spiders that comes from lots of stories I heard as a kid about black widows in old, dark basements. I also have a very real fear of open water that comes from a couple of what I refer to as near death experiences I had as a kid….though scary in neither instance was I actually anywhere near death.
We live in a world where we are always being reminded of what we should fear whether real or imagined…often invented. There are lots of voices out there reminding us of what we should be scared of, worried about and/or fearful of. It’s everywhere.
• There are terrorists out there ready to come after us.
• Our government and politicians are out to get us.
• We’re on the verge of the next viral pandemic.
• Our schools are in terrible shape and our kids’ futures are in jeopardy.
• The economy is never going to recover…just look at the unemployment rate.
• The banks are stealing from us. They’re trying to take our homes.
• There’s a tropical storm that’s might turn into hurricane and it might be on its way to South Florida.
Before I get to the core of this morning’s message let me get a bit theological. When I was working on this, I got to thinking about what the Bible actually means when it talks about fear and why it’s actually used so many times. Does it always have a negative connotation?
Did you know that the word fear appears in the Bible over 300 times and the word afraid appears over 200 times while related terms like concern (153), worry/worried (17) and anxious/anxiety (12) appear many more times.
I had a lot of questions so, I consulted with a friend of mine who teaches OT at Bluffton University. He told me that the Bible often uses the word to describe how God’s people felt about God and that the word doesn’t have the same definition today as it did when the Bible was written.
Though the word “fear” is at times meant to describe actual fear or a phobia in the way we generally understand it today, it’s more often used to describe a feeling of faith and devotion such as how it appears in Psalm 128:1 which states that “blessed is he who always fears the LORD, who walks in his blessing.” In the OT devotion and faith meant more than just belief in God. Fear came from understanding that there were consequences for failing to follow the way of God…it was actually viewed as a healthy thing…an essential part of any relationship with God.
As my friend put it, often when the Bible says “fears God” it is saying that the person knows that if he/she perverts justice, he/she will face the consequences of a God who protects the least of society from the potential abuse of the powerful and desires justice from those who believe in God, at whatever level of society. “Fear” here is not the fear of a vengeful God who arbitrarily punishes, but instead “fear” here means belief in a God who will not tolerate the perversion of justice, but will celebrate and bless those who joyously live out their faith, doing justice not for the sake of doing justice, but because they know that they are making the Kingdom of God present and are glorifying the LORD God.
When I started thinking about scriptures for this morning, I came across one that I thought was particularly appropriate…not because of what it says but rather how the protagonist behaves. In this story, the word fear appears only 8 times and the word afraid only 5. Never is the word fear used to describe how this individual felt and only twice is the word afraid used to describe how he felt.
What story did I pick? I picked the story of Moses in Exodus. Specifically, I’d like to focus on Moses and how he behaved from the story of the burning bush (chapter 3) up to roughly chapter 20 when he received the Ten Commandments.
Before moving on, let me point out the only two times, Moses is described as being afraid. The first time Moses was afraid was after he learned that others might know of his killing the Egyptian and the second was when he was afraid to look into the face of God during the story of the burning bush. After the incident with the burning bush neither word is used to describe how Moses felt though clearly other including midwives, Pharoah, officials and Israelites were afraid or fearful at different times.
But again, I want to focus on not what the Bible actually says but how Moses’ actions reflected fear ar at the very least a lack of self-confidence…two related emotions.
Though the Bible doesn’t explicitly say Moses was afraid or fearful, when I put myself in his shoes I can’t imagine how he wouldn’t be anything but. Furthermore, I believe his actions indicate he was in fact afraid of the situation he found himself in….a definitely lacked self-confidence. But what did he do with his fear? I believe God gave him what I will call a tool. Though he stumbled many times because he was human, it ended up being a good thing for him…something that made him think more, work harder and ultimately be the kind of leader that God needed for his people.
About 12 years ago I worked with a guy in London. He was a great guy and our conversations ventured from work to more personal topics. Such as the fact that he was Scottish and wore a kilt at his wedding and other formal function. There’s something about a kilt that is very humorous.
I remember one particular conversation where he told me he was going on vacation…specifically he was headed to Missouri for a sky diving meet…in fact he used most of his vacation time to skydive in different parts of the world…Europe, the US, South Africa, Australia and other far flung places. I thought that was super interesting that he enjoyed skydiving so much that he would travel so much to do it. It turns out that he has participated in some of the largest events and does some of those really complicated formations. He was pretty fanatic about it. So, I asked him how he got into it. This is how fear ties into the story…he told me that he had a deathly fear of heights. In fact, he has trouble getting more than a couple rungs up on a ladder. So, he decided that he’d try to beat his fear but he told me that he failed miserably. You might be asking how can someone that can’t get up on a ladder enjoy skydiving? Excellent question. It’s the same question I had. I was as you probably are now…really confused.
Well, here was his explanation….He told me that he doesn’t mind flying, so the take off and flight isn’t a big deal. In the beginning, there was some angst when he stood up and walked to the door for his jump but his adrenaline won out. When he jumps from 12000 feet, he’s too high to focus on any object on the ground therefore his brain is unable to grasp that he is in fact that high. And by the time he’s close enough to the ground for his brain to register that he is in fact very high and falling very fast, the parachute is open and he knows he is safe. I found it interesting that he still is deathly afraid of heights but is confident jumping from a plane and actually enjoys it immensely because he has the tolls he needs. Admittedly I’ve never been sky diving…the closest I’ve been is a wind tunnel where you float on a cushion of air….which by the way is very cool. But I did follow his lead and took up scuba diving for the same reason. I have a fear of open water and still do…but I enjoy scuba diving immensely.
Why do I share this story? Because I think we can draw a number of parallels between Moses in the exodus story, my friend’s skydiving story….and how we should approach our fears and lack of self confidence.
Well, here’s my take…let’s assume you have a fear of heights.
• In skydiving, there is a coordinator who prepares the equipment including the parachute to ensure that it is properly packed and will up when the rip cord is pulled. In the story of Moses, he had God, who equipped him with the tools he needed to be successful though Moses didn’t always agree with God…including faith (though tested many times), ability to lead, debate skills, wilderness guide, listening skills. These were his jumpsuit, goggles, helmet and parachute. God has also given you the tools you need for your journey…they may not always be self-evident but you have them….the tools, abilities, resources you need to do the things God wants you to do…even if you’re a bit scared of taking the leap.
I think we could almost make an argument that God is like a skydivers parachute. Before jumping the chute is heavy and cumbersome…without it one would be able to get around much more easily. Moses probably thought that all the trials and tribulations were at times too much…that God had too many rules and expectations for him that not realistic. However, once he started on his journey…once he jumped from the plane it no longer seemed like a burden. Do you ever feel like you have parachute on your back…that you are carrying some extra weight or responsibility and aren’t sure why. There is a reason…God has put that extra weight in your life…that weight or what seems to be an extra burden has been given to you for a reason…look for ways to use it even if that means you need to go out of your comfort zone and face fears.
• There is the pilot who gets you positioned properly in the air….the right jump point. Most jumpers can guess where the plane should be when they jump but ultimately they leave it up to the pilot…trusting his judgment, knowledge and experience. God was also Moses’ pilot. He got Moses from the runway to starting point of his journey. The experiences he had from the moment his mother put him in the basket to the moment God spoke to him from the burning bush, were key to the man he would be in Exodus story. In the same way a pilot provides the plane and fuel and ensures that the plane is flight-worthy, God even gave Moses some help from time to time…getting Aaron involved, sending the plagues, parting the Red Sea, providing manna, quail and water and many more things. Do you trust that God is getting you to your starting point or jump point? Whether you realize it or not God is getting you there…you just need pay attention and trust him.
• On the way down, the jump suit protects the sky diver from the cold and the goggles allow the sky diver to see even in the high winds that come from falling at about 122 mph (terminal velocity). On the way down, the diver also faces thermals. If you’ve ever been on a bumpy flight you’ve felt these air currents that are caused by different air temperatures. Moses experienced a number of bumps during his journey. Things didn’t always go smoothly. The Israelites had high expectations, if you’ve ever been in the desert you know it’s not a pleasant place and for a time he was being pursued by the Egyptians, who he knew wanted to do him harm. If you’re like me, life is full of bumps…you don’t always feel in control and you may even from time to time question whether what you are doing is in fact the right thing.
• On the way down, one needs to stay relaxed and trust one’s training, preparation and equipment…a relaxed body allows you to stay in control…keep yourself pointed in the right. But even if you get a bit off course or start to tumble even the most minor body movement/adjustment can get you back on course. Drastic course corrections are rarely needed even in worst conditions. Moses got a bit off course from time to time…not trusting God at times, believing that God was asking him to convey expectations which he believed were always realistic and at times even allowing the “power” to go to his head. However, we find that Moses had to make a number of minor course corrections and relax…trusting that he was prepared and accompanied by God. Do you trust your training and that God is with you at all times?
• When you’re skydiving with others in formation, as my co-worker does. You need to collaborate with them but not get in the way. By working together, beautiful and complex formations can be accomplished. However, you need to be careful because you are so close to others. Even the slightest misstep can mean you bump into others, throwing them off course. Moses was surrounded by lots of people and encountered others while on his journey. He needed to carefully navigate…keeping everyone pointed in the right direction while not letting them throw him off. Are you staying on course or do you find yourself drifting in the direction of others? Are others drifting into you? Do you work with others to make your journey smoother and ensure you stay on the right path?
• After falling for a minute or so, one opens his or her parachute and glides down, steering with a couple handles connected to the chute. This allows you to arrive at the pre-determined landing zone. Even when the destination is clear and your arrival is eminent, one can’t let his/her guard down. Even when Pharaoh released the Israelites, when the Red Sea has receded, when he received the Ten Commandments, Moses didn’t let down his guard. He knew that he needed to give his full effort right up to the end. You have not reached the end of your life journey…but life is full of smaller journeys some are just starting, some are well underway and others are nearing their end. I’d challenge you keep God at your side and don’t let down your guard even if you think the journey is nearing its end.
This brings me back to Exodus. Moses says several things that lead me to believe that he was afraid, not of God, but of his ability to do what God was asking him to do.
Almost immediately, he begins to question God…
• ”Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” 3:11
• “What if I go to them and they ask your name?” 3:13
• “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me?” 4:1
• “I have never been eloquent. I am slow of speech and tongue.” 4:10
• “Please send someone else to do it.” 4:13
I can almost hear Moses saying “but God”. But who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? But what if I go to them and they ask your name? But what if they don’t believe me or listen to me? But I have never been eloquent. But wouldn’t it be better to send someone else?
He’s was probably saying this fearful of what would happen if he didn’t do what God wanted and definitely fearful of what would happen if he did as God asked. He was fearful of pharaoh, fearful of standing in front of his fellow Israelites making grand claims of a better life, fearful that God maybe wouldn’t deliver, fearful of being THE leader.
So, God reassures Moses and works to give him the tools he needs to be successful to get the Israelites to the promised land. He tries to help mitigate Moses’ fear with some reassuring comments that reinforced the fact that God had equipped Moses to be successful.
• “I will be with you.” 3:12
• I’m taking you to the land of milk and honey.” 3:17
• “I’ll make the Egyptians favorably disposed.” 3:21
• He also sent Aaron along to help. “He will speak to the people for you.” 4:16
Moses did always see it that way. He didn’t always feel that he was properly equipped…set up for success. Why….because the journey was a bumpy one and though he was clearly confident at times, there were other times where he was not…times when he clear lacked confidence…was probably fearful….might have been even a little scared. In chapter 5 the Pharaoh takes away the straw the Israelites need to make bricks. How confident do you think Moses was after the 3rd, 5th or 8th plague failed to sway the Pharaoh? How would you feel after the people you are leading start complaining because there was no food or water?
God did everything possible but put some bumps in the road at strategic places because they were needed but was sure to give Moses and the Israelites what they needed to be successful. It’s good to push yourself….to challenge yourself….stand up to your fears and inadequacies.
So, how similar is your journey to that of Moses?
• Do you know where God is leading you? Do you have your parachute? Is God with you on your journey? You may not always know where God is leading you and why. You may also not feel like you are properly equipped. But you should be confident of where God is taking you, be confident that God has pointed you in the right direction, and confidently take God with you on your journey. Sometimes that parachute seems like a burden but remember that’s it’s not…it’s an important tool that you will need during your journey.
• Are you committed to the journey? Are you willing to face the fears you have head on? Are you willing to put yourself out there? Make yourself vulnerable? God knows that you have fears and may not want to take on each journey that is put in front of you. After the journey may be less than smooth and you may need to make course corrections.
It’s okay if you lack self-confidence…even the most confident person questions his/her own abilities from time to time. Fear is a natural emotion that no one is immune to…even Moses. You are you and that lack of self confidence and those fears may or may not go away..even you attack them head on. But always remember that God has equipped you to face them and be successful in your journey. These are healthy emotions that if properly focused are healthy and can be used to help you get to where God wants to be. We just need to follow God and go where he leads us…putting aside our fears.
We live in a world where we are always being reminded of what we should fear whether real or imagined…often invented. There are lots of voices out there reminding us of what we should be scared of, worried about and/or fearful of. It’s everywhere.
• There are terrorists out there ready to come after us.
• Our government and politicians are out to get us.
• We’re on the verge of the next viral pandemic.
• Our schools are in terrible shape and our kids’ futures are in jeopardy.
• The economy is never going to recover…just look at the unemployment rate.
• The banks are stealing from us. They’re trying to take our homes.
• There’s a tropical storm that’s might turn into hurricane and it might be on its way to South Florida.
Before I get to the core of this morning’s message let me get a bit theological. When I was working on this, I got to thinking about what the Bible actually means when it talks about fear and why it’s actually used so many times. Does it always have a negative connotation?
Did you know that the word fear appears in the Bible over 300 times and the word afraid appears over 200 times while related terms like concern (153), worry/worried (17) and anxious/anxiety (12) appear many more times.
I had a lot of questions so, I consulted with a friend of mine who teaches OT at Bluffton University. He told me that the Bible often uses the word to describe how God’s people felt about God and that the word doesn’t have the same definition today as it did when the Bible was written.
Though the word “fear” is at times meant to describe actual fear or a phobia in the way we generally understand it today, it’s more often used to describe a feeling of faith and devotion such as how it appears in Psalm 128:1 which states that “blessed is he who always fears the LORD, who walks in his blessing.” In the OT devotion and faith meant more than just belief in God. Fear came from understanding that there were consequences for failing to follow the way of God…it was actually viewed as a healthy thing…an essential part of any relationship with God.
As my friend put it, often when the Bible says “fears God” it is saying that the person knows that if he/she perverts justice, he/she will face the consequences of a God who protects the least of society from the potential abuse of the powerful and desires justice from those who believe in God, at whatever level of society. “Fear” here is not the fear of a vengeful God who arbitrarily punishes, but instead “fear” here means belief in a God who will not tolerate the perversion of justice, but will celebrate and bless those who joyously live out their faith, doing justice not for the sake of doing justice, but because they know that they are making the Kingdom of God present and are glorifying the LORD God.
When I started thinking about scriptures for this morning, I came across one that I thought was particularly appropriate…not because of what it says but rather how the protagonist behaves. In this story, the word fear appears only 8 times and the word afraid only 5. Never is the word fear used to describe how this individual felt and only twice is the word afraid used to describe how he felt.
What story did I pick? I picked the story of Moses in Exodus. Specifically, I’d like to focus on Moses and how he behaved from the story of the burning bush (chapter 3) up to roughly chapter 20 when he received the Ten Commandments.
Before moving on, let me point out the only two times, Moses is described as being afraid. The first time Moses was afraid was after he learned that others might know of his killing the Egyptian and the second was when he was afraid to look into the face of God during the story of the burning bush. After the incident with the burning bush neither word is used to describe how Moses felt though clearly other including midwives, Pharoah, officials and Israelites were afraid or fearful at different times.
But again, I want to focus on not what the Bible actually says but how Moses’ actions reflected fear ar at the very least a lack of self-confidence…two related emotions.
Though the Bible doesn’t explicitly say Moses was afraid or fearful, when I put myself in his shoes I can’t imagine how he wouldn’t be anything but. Furthermore, I believe his actions indicate he was in fact afraid of the situation he found himself in….a definitely lacked self-confidence. But what did he do with his fear? I believe God gave him what I will call a tool. Though he stumbled many times because he was human, it ended up being a good thing for him…something that made him think more, work harder and ultimately be the kind of leader that God needed for his people.
About 12 years ago I worked with a guy in London. He was a great guy and our conversations ventured from work to more personal topics. Such as the fact that he was Scottish and wore a kilt at his wedding and other formal function. There’s something about a kilt that is very humorous.
I remember one particular conversation where he told me he was going on vacation…specifically he was headed to Missouri for a sky diving meet…in fact he used most of his vacation time to skydive in different parts of the world…Europe, the US, South Africa, Australia and other far flung places. I thought that was super interesting that he enjoyed skydiving so much that he would travel so much to do it. It turns out that he has participated in some of the largest events and does some of those really complicated formations. He was pretty fanatic about it. So, I asked him how he got into it. This is how fear ties into the story…he told me that he had a deathly fear of heights. In fact, he has trouble getting more than a couple rungs up on a ladder. So, he decided that he’d try to beat his fear but he told me that he failed miserably. You might be asking how can someone that can’t get up on a ladder enjoy skydiving? Excellent question. It’s the same question I had. I was as you probably are now…really confused.
Well, here was his explanation….He told me that he doesn’t mind flying, so the take off and flight isn’t a big deal. In the beginning, there was some angst when he stood up and walked to the door for his jump but his adrenaline won out. When he jumps from 12000 feet, he’s too high to focus on any object on the ground therefore his brain is unable to grasp that he is in fact that high. And by the time he’s close enough to the ground for his brain to register that he is in fact very high and falling very fast, the parachute is open and he knows he is safe. I found it interesting that he still is deathly afraid of heights but is confident jumping from a plane and actually enjoys it immensely because he has the tolls he needs. Admittedly I’ve never been sky diving…the closest I’ve been is a wind tunnel where you float on a cushion of air….which by the way is very cool. But I did follow his lead and took up scuba diving for the same reason. I have a fear of open water and still do…but I enjoy scuba diving immensely.
Why do I share this story? Because I think we can draw a number of parallels between Moses in the exodus story, my friend’s skydiving story….and how we should approach our fears and lack of self confidence.
Well, here’s my take…let’s assume you have a fear of heights.
• In skydiving, there is a coordinator who prepares the equipment including the parachute to ensure that it is properly packed and will up when the rip cord is pulled. In the story of Moses, he had God, who equipped him with the tools he needed to be successful though Moses didn’t always agree with God…including faith (though tested many times), ability to lead, debate skills, wilderness guide, listening skills. These were his jumpsuit, goggles, helmet and parachute. God has also given you the tools you need for your journey…they may not always be self-evident but you have them….the tools, abilities, resources you need to do the things God wants you to do…even if you’re a bit scared of taking the leap.
I think we could almost make an argument that God is like a skydivers parachute. Before jumping the chute is heavy and cumbersome…without it one would be able to get around much more easily. Moses probably thought that all the trials and tribulations were at times too much…that God had too many rules and expectations for him that not realistic. However, once he started on his journey…once he jumped from the plane it no longer seemed like a burden. Do you ever feel like you have parachute on your back…that you are carrying some extra weight or responsibility and aren’t sure why. There is a reason…God has put that extra weight in your life…that weight or what seems to be an extra burden has been given to you for a reason…look for ways to use it even if that means you need to go out of your comfort zone and face fears.
• There is the pilot who gets you positioned properly in the air….the right jump point. Most jumpers can guess where the plane should be when they jump but ultimately they leave it up to the pilot…trusting his judgment, knowledge and experience. God was also Moses’ pilot. He got Moses from the runway to starting point of his journey. The experiences he had from the moment his mother put him in the basket to the moment God spoke to him from the burning bush, were key to the man he would be in Exodus story. In the same way a pilot provides the plane and fuel and ensures that the plane is flight-worthy, God even gave Moses some help from time to time…getting Aaron involved, sending the plagues, parting the Red Sea, providing manna, quail and water and many more things. Do you trust that God is getting you to your starting point or jump point? Whether you realize it or not God is getting you there…you just need pay attention and trust him.
• On the way down, the jump suit protects the sky diver from the cold and the goggles allow the sky diver to see even in the high winds that come from falling at about 122 mph (terminal velocity). On the way down, the diver also faces thermals. If you’ve ever been on a bumpy flight you’ve felt these air currents that are caused by different air temperatures. Moses experienced a number of bumps during his journey. Things didn’t always go smoothly. The Israelites had high expectations, if you’ve ever been in the desert you know it’s not a pleasant place and for a time he was being pursued by the Egyptians, who he knew wanted to do him harm. If you’re like me, life is full of bumps…you don’t always feel in control and you may even from time to time question whether what you are doing is in fact the right thing.
• On the way down, one needs to stay relaxed and trust one’s training, preparation and equipment…a relaxed body allows you to stay in control…keep yourself pointed in the right. But even if you get a bit off course or start to tumble even the most minor body movement/adjustment can get you back on course. Drastic course corrections are rarely needed even in worst conditions. Moses got a bit off course from time to time…not trusting God at times, believing that God was asking him to convey expectations which he believed were always realistic and at times even allowing the “power” to go to his head. However, we find that Moses had to make a number of minor course corrections and relax…trusting that he was prepared and accompanied by God. Do you trust your training and that God is with you at all times?
• When you’re skydiving with others in formation, as my co-worker does. You need to collaborate with them but not get in the way. By working together, beautiful and complex formations can be accomplished. However, you need to be careful because you are so close to others. Even the slightest misstep can mean you bump into others, throwing them off course. Moses was surrounded by lots of people and encountered others while on his journey. He needed to carefully navigate…keeping everyone pointed in the right direction while not letting them throw him off. Are you staying on course or do you find yourself drifting in the direction of others? Are others drifting into you? Do you work with others to make your journey smoother and ensure you stay on the right path?
• After falling for a minute or so, one opens his or her parachute and glides down, steering with a couple handles connected to the chute. This allows you to arrive at the pre-determined landing zone. Even when the destination is clear and your arrival is eminent, one can’t let his/her guard down. Even when Pharaoh released the Israelites, when the Red Sea has receded, when he received the Ten Commandments, Moses didn’t let down his guard. He knew that he needed to give his full effort right up to the end. You have not reached the end of your life journey…but life is full of smaller journeys some are just starting, some are well underway and others are nearing their end. I’d challenge you keep God at your side and don’t let down your guard even if you think the journey is nearing its end.
This brings me back to Exodus. Moses says several things that lead me to believe that he was afraid, not of God, but of his ability to do what God was asking him to do.
Almost immediately, he begins to question God…
• ”Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” 3:11
• “What if I go to them and they ask your name?” 3:13
• “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me?” 4:1
• “I have never been eloquent. I am slow of speech and tongue.” 4:10
• “Please send someone else to do it.” 4:13
I can almost hear Moses saying “but God”. But who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? But what if I go to them and they ask your name? But what if they don’t believe me or listen to me? But I have never been eloquent. But wouldn’t it be better to send someone else?
He’s was probably saying this fearful of what would happen if he didn’t do what God wanted and definitely fearful of what would happen if he did as God asked. He was fearful of pharaoh, fearful of standing in front of his fellow Israelites making grand claims of a better life, fearful that God maybe wouldn’t deliver, fearful of being THE leader.
So, God reassures Moses and works to give him the tools he needs to be successful to get the Israelites to the promised land. He tries to help mitigate Moses’ fear with some reassuring comments that reinforced the fact that God had equipped Moses to be successful.
• “I will be with you.” 3:12
• I’m taking you to the land of milk and honey.” 3:17
• “I’ll make the Egyptians favorably disposed.” 3:21
• He also sent Aaron along to help. “He will speak to the people for you.” 4:16
Moses did always see it that way. He didn’t always feel that he was properly equipped…set up for success. Why….because the journey was a bumpy one and though he was clearly confident at times, there were other times where he was not…times when he clear lacked confidence…was probably fearful….might have been even a little scared. In chapter 5 the Pharaoh takes away the straw the Israelites need to make bricks. How confident do you think Moses was after the 3rd, 5th or 8th plague failed to sway the Pharaoh? How would you feel after the people you are leading start complaining because there was no food or water?
God did everything possible but put some bumps in the road at strategic places because they were needed but was sure to give Moses and the Israelites what they needed to be successful. It’s good to push yourself….to challenge yourself….stand up to your fears and inadequacies.
So, how similar is your journey to that of Moses?
• Do you know where God is leading you? Do you have your parachute? Is God with you on your journey? You may not always know where God is leading you and why. You may also not feel like you are properly equipped. But you should be confident of where God is taking you, be confident that God has pointed you in the right direction, and confidently take God with you on your journey. Sometimes that parachute seems like a burden but remember that’s it’s not…it’s an important tool that you will need during your journey.
• Are you committed to the journey? Are you willing to face the fears you have head on? Are you willing to put yourself out there? Make yourself vulnerable? God knows that you have fears and may not want to take on each journey that is put in front of you. After the journey may be less than smooth and you may need to make course corrections.
It’s okay if you lack self-confidence…even the most confident person questions his/her own abilities from time to time. Fear is a natural emotion that no one is immune to…even Moses. You are you and that lack of self confidence and those fears may or may not go away..even you attack them head on. But always remember that God has equipped you to face them and be successful in your journey. These are healthy emotions that if properly focused are healthy and can be used to help you get to where God wants to be. We just need to follow God and go where he leads us…putting aside our fears.
sermon notes: Pray, Forgive and Cultivate Peace (8/15/2010)
AS SOME OF YOU KNOW I WAS ABLE TO SPEND A FEW WEEKS THIS SUMMER IN OHIO WHERE I’M FROM. I OFTEN FIND FROM ALMOST EVERY SITUATION COME UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES AND LEARNING EXPERIENCES…ON THIS TRIP THAT OPPORTUNITY WAS FOR ME TO COLLABORATE WITH MY BROTHER ON A SHORT MESSAGE FOR THE JULY 4 WORSHIP SERVICE AT HIS CHURCH AND THE CHURCH I GREW UP IN, ZION MENNONITE. HE WAS ASKED TO TALK ABOUT PEACEMAKING IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT AND WAS IDENTIFIED AS A YOUNG PERSON THAT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ON THE SUBJECT. AT 36, HE WAS OF COURSE FLATTERED TO BE REFERRED TO AS “YOUNG” BUT HE WAS ALSO A BIT NERVOUS. MY BROTHER IS A GREAT SINGER AND FINDS IT SECOND NATURE TO SING IN FRONT OF LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE BUT HE WAS REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT SPEAKING IN FRONT OF THE SAME CONGREGATION HE REGULARLY SINGS FOR. IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE I THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE. SO, HE CAME TO ME, HIS BIG BROTHER, FOR SOME HELP. SO, THE MESSAGE I’M GOING TO SHARE TODAY WAS WRITTEN COLLABORATIVELY BY MY BROTHER AND I IN ONE EVENING IN LATE JUNE. I’VE PERSONALIZED IT A BIT BUT THIS IN LARGE PART IS WHAT WE WROTE TOGETHER AND HE PRESENTED ON JULY 4.
THIS MORNING, I’M GOING TO TALK ABOUT PEACEMAKING….BUT ALSO PRAYER AND FORGIVENESS BECAUSE I BELIEVE ALL THREE GO TOGETHER.
WHEN WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THE TOPIC OF PEACEMAKING, I THOUGHT ABOUT THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT…AND A COUPLE OF VERSES JUMPED OUT.
IN MATTHEW 6:12-15…THE LATTER PART OF THE LORD’S PRAYER AND VERSES MOST OF US KNOW BY HEART AND HAVE PROBABLY PRAYED MANY, MANY TIMES.
(12) FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE HAVE ALSO FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS. (13) AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE. (14) FOR IF YOU FORGIVE MEN WHEN THEY SIN AGAINST YOU, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU. (15) BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN THEIR SINS, YOU FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS.
NOW WE COULD SUBSTITUTE “SINS” OR “TRESPASSES” BUT THE MESSAGE WOULD BE THE SAME.
IN THIS PASSAGE JESUS TALKS ABOUT FORGIVENESS IN THE CONTEXT OF A PRAYER. WHEN I THINK ABOUT PEACEMAKING, I BELIEVE THAT PRAYER AND FORGIVENESS ARE TWO KEY PREREQUISITES TO BEING AN EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKER. WHY? ……
WELL, FOR ME TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKER I HAVE TO HAVE THINGS RIGHT WITH GOD AND THOSE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. IN PRAYER I HAVE A TOOL THAT ALLOWS ME TO SEEK FORGIVENESS AS WELL AS A HEART TO FORGIVE….. IT GIVES ME INNER PEACE. WITHOUT PRAYER I WOULDN’T HAVE THAT INNER PEACE AND ANY ATTEMPT TO FORGIVE OR SEEK FORGIVENESS WOULD NOT BE SINCERE. AND IF I CANNOT FORGIVE OR SEEK FORGIVENESS THEN HOW CAN I BE A PEACEMAKER…. WHAT I HOPE IS AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS AS IT SAYS IN SLIDE #5 MATTHEW 5:16, WHICH READS, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN.
NOW LET ME DIVE INTO A COUPLE OF THESE POINTS….
PRAYER: JESUS SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF TIME TALKING ABOUT PRAYER AND PRAYING….HE EVEN GIVES US INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PRAY IN SLIDE #7 MATTHEW 6:5-14. “BUT WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR ROOM, CLOSE THE DOOR AND PRAY TO YOUR FATHER, WHO IS UNSEEN.” FOR WHEN WE ARE NOT TRYING TO LIVE UP TO OTHERS EXPECTATIONS AND TRYING TO IMPRESS OTHERS WITH OUR WORDS AND PERCEIVED SINCERITY THEN IT BECOMES LESS SINCERE. NOW I DON’T THINK WE HAVE TO LITERALLY CLOSE OURSELVES IN OUR ROOMS TO PRAY…RATHER GOD IS CHALLENGING US TO MAKE PRAYING ABOUT ONLY THE INDIVIDUAL PRAYING AND GOD…INCLUDING OTHERS IN THE PROCESS TAKES AWAY FROM THE QUALITY OF THE CONVERSATION.
GOSHEN COLLEGE PRESIDENT DR. JAMES BRENNENMAN IN AN ISSUE OF THE GOSHEN COLLEGE BULLETIN EARLIER THIS YEAR WROTE AN EDITORIAL TITLED HEALING THE WORLD PEACE BY PEACE. IN THA ARTICLE HE “SAYS MAKING PEACE MEANS INVITING GOD TO BE PRESENT IN OUR LIVES, DAY BY DAY, MINUTE BY MINUTE.” ONE WAY OF INVITING GOD INTO YOUR LIFE… MAKING HIM AN INTEGRAL PART OF YOUR LIFE… IS THROUGH PRAYER.
I’D LIKE TO SHARE AN EXPERIENCE WITH PRAYER MY BROTHER HAD WHILE ON HIS SEMESTER ABROAD (SST) IN THE IVORY COAST 16 YEARS AGO.
IN 1994 MY BROTHER WAS IN THE IVORY COAST AND FOR SIX WEEKS HE STAYED WITH A RELATIVELY AFFLUENT, POLITICALLY CONNECTED AND VERY RELIGIOUS FAMILY. THERE ARE PROABABLY LOTS OF THINGS ONE WOULD EXPECT TO LEARN AND EXPERIENCE WHILE LIVING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY BUT WHAT MY BROTHER LEARNED AND EXPERIENCED WAS NOT AT ALL WHAT HE EXPECTED.
HE QUICKLY FOUND OUT HOW IMPORTANT PRAYER WAS TO THIS FAMILY AND WOULD BE TO HIM. HE ALSO QUICKLY FOUND OUT HE HAD A WEAK STOMACH THAT DIDN’T HOLD UP TO FOOD HE WASN’T ACCUSTOMED TO…SOMETHING I’M GLAD I DON’T SHARE WITH HIM. AS A RESULT OF HIS WEAK STOMACH, HE GOT SICK AND AS A RESULT HIS BODY AND ATTITUDE WEREN’T DOING VERY WELL. ON TOP OF THAT HE WAS DEALING WITH A NEW CULTURE, NEW LANGUAGE, NEW FOOD AND DIRTY WATER. HE WAS REALLY SICK AND WAS LOSING SO MUCH WEIGHT THAT HE HAD TO BUY A BELT AT THE MARKET JUST 2 WEEKS INTO HIS 3 MONTH STAY. (AS HE SAYS WEIGHT WATCHERS HAS NOTHING ON A DEVELOPING COUNTRY WHEN YOU GET INTO SOME BAD FOOD OR WATER.) THE NAUSEA, VOMITTING AND DIAHREA WAS ALMOST MORE THAN HE COULD TAKE. IT FELT LIKE THE STOMACH FLU THAT WOULDN’T END. BUT, RATHER THAN GETTING HIM MEDICINE, ALL HIS HOST FAMILY WOULD DO WAS PRAY AND THEY WOULD BOLDY SAY THAT HE NEEDED TO PRAY MORE. ALL HE WANTED WAS SOME BOTTLED WATER, MEDICINE AND A STOMACH THAT WASN’T FIGHTING HIM. BUT THEY WOULD JUST PRAY…THEY PRAYED EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK. THEY HAD PRAYER MEETINGS, PRAYER VIGILS, CHURCH PRAYER MEETINGS, AND GENERALLY PRAYED, WHAT MY BROTHER DESCRIBED AS ALMOST NON-STOP 24/7. THEY USED EVERY OPPORTUNITY THEY HAD TO PRAY. OW MY BROTHER AND I GREW UP IN THE CHURCH BUT PROBABLY WENT MORE OUT OF HABIT THAN FOR ANY SPIRITUAL REASON. THAT’S ONE THING WE HAD IN COMMON AT THE TIME.
BUT AS A RESULT OF THEIR URGING AND, FRANKLY, PUSHING HE BEGAN TO GO WITH THEM TO THEIR PRAYER MEETINGS ON THE PORCH, THEIR PRAYER MEETINGS AT THE NEIGHBORS’ HOUSE AND THEIR PRAYER MEETINGS IN THE CHURCH. HE FOUND HIMSELF PRAYING…HE PRAYED AND PRAYED AND PRAYED. AS MY BROTHER POINTED OUT…IN MATTHEW 6:8 IT SAYS YOUR FATHER KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU ASK HIM. AND THAT VERSE REALLY RANG TRUE TO HIM IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE. THOUGH HE WANTED HIS PHYSICAL ILLNESS CURED, GOD HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN…AS A RESULT OF ALL THE PRAYER HE FOUND HIMSELF FEELING SOMEWHAT BETTER PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. NOW, HE DIDN’T EVER ADJUST TO THE FOOD AND WATER. HE CAME HOME ABOUT 30 POUNDS LIGHTER AT 125 POUNDS AND HE WAS REALLY BETTER UNTIL HE RECEIVED SOME DOCTORING HERE IN THE STATES 3 MONTHS LATER.
IN HINDSIGHT HE REALIZED THAT HIS FAMILY WAS PRACTICING A FORM OF PEACEMAKING THROUGH PRAYER. THEY BELIEVED THAT A LOT OF ONE’S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH WAS TIED TO ONE’S SPIRITUAL HEALTH….BY PRAYING FOR ME AND ENCOURAGING ME TO PRAY THEY WERE TRYING TO BRING ME SOME PEACE AND IN DOING SO WERE BEING PEACEMAKERS. WITHOUT PRAYER THAT PEACEMAKING WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.
IVORY COAST IS A COUNTRY THAT SUFFERED THROUGH A TERRIBLE CIVIL WAR. IN FACT THEIR FORMER PRESIDENT, CHARLES TAYLOR, IS CURRENTLY ON TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES THAT OCCURRED DURING THAT TIME. BECAUSE MY BROTHER LOST TOUCH WITH THEM DURING THE WAR, I DON’T KNOW THIS FOR SURE…BUT I’M PRETTY SURE OF TWO THINGS. THE FAMILY MY BROTHER PROBABLY SUFFERED TERRIBLY…PROBABLY LOSING FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AND PRAYER MOST LIKELY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE HEALING PROCESS…PUT THEIR HEARTS IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO FOREGIVE.
FORGIVENESS: IN LUKE 7:36-50, WE FIND THE STORY OF JESUS BEING ANNOINTED BY THE SINFUL WOMAN. SLIDE #10 THERE WERE LOTS OF OBSTACLES IN THIS STORY THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE WOMAN FROM EVEN BEING THERE AND THERE WERE MANY CULTURAL REASONS WHY JESUS COULD HAVE DENIED HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO WASH HIS FEET.
AS I MENTIONED THEN…MANY WOULD HAVE FROWNED ON THE FACT THAT JESUS WAS EVEN IN THE HOUSE OF THE PHARISEE. IT WAS TABOO FOR A WOMAN, ESPECIALLY SOMEONE THAT WAS POSSIBLY A PROSTITUTE, TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF MEN LIKE SHE WAS IN THE STORY. IT WAS EVEN MORE INAPPROPRIATE FOR HER TO TOUCH A MAN AS SHE DID WHEN SHE WASHED JESUS’ FEET WITH HER HAIR AND KISSED THEM. NOW THAT WAS REALLY AGAINST THE CULTURAL NORMS. YET JESUS WENT AGAINST WHAT WAS CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE AND LOOKED INTO HER HEART….AND I BELIEVE THAT HE FORGAVE HER SINS IN ALLOWING HER TO WASH HIS FEET IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR JESUS TO SAY, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENCE OF PHARISEES, THAT’S NOT THE WAY YOU ASK FOR FORGIVENESS OR YOU CAN FORGIVE SOMEONE LIKE THIS WOMAN ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE DIDN’T FOLLOW THE CULTURALLY PRESCRIBED STEPS WHEN ASKING FOR THAT FORGIVENESS.
WE NEED TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES BY PUTTING OURSELVES IN JESUS’ SHOES…HOW MANY OF US CAN TRULY SAY THAT WE GO THE EXTRA MILE TO FORGIVE OTHERS ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE AWKWARD IN THEIR REQUESTS FOR THAT FORGIVENESS.
AT THE SAME TIME WE SHOULD ALSO TRY TO PUT OURSELVES IN THE SHOES OF THE WOMAN…HOW OFTEN DO YOU GO TO SUCH LENGTHS TO SEEK FORGIVENESS?
FORGIVENESS IS A TWO-WAY STREET. IT TAKES A SINCERE HEART TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND THEN NOT REPEAT THE OFFENDING ACTION. IT TAKES AN EQUALLY SINCERE HEART TO FORGIVE, TRULY FORGET AND MOVE ON. WE AS HUMAN BEINGS AND CHRISTIANS TALK A GOOD GAME WHEN IT COMES TO FORGIVENESS…BUT HOW WELL DO WE ACTUALLY DO? DO YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS? DO YOU CREATE OBSTACLES WHEN IT COMES TO FORGIVING OTHERS?
IF WE CANNOT FORGIVE OR SEEK FORGIVENESS WITH A SINCERE HEART THEN WE CANNOT BE EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKERS. WITHOUT PRAYER, FOREGIVENESS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. IF WE DON’T HAVE PEACE IN OUR OWN LIVES, THE KIND OF PEACE THAT COMES FROM A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, ONE THAT COMES THROUGH PRAYER…TRUE FOREGIVENESS IS FLEETING…IF THERE IS CONFLICT IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS…. THEN HOW CAN WE LET OUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN.
PEACEMAKING: SO, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU HAVE THINGS RIGHT WITH YOURSELF AND GOD THROUGH THE ACT OF PRAYER AND IF YOU HAVE THINGS RIGHT WITH OTHERS THROUGH THE ACT OF FOREGIVENESS…THEN YOU ARE EQUIPEED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKER. PRAYER LEADS TO FOREGIVENESS WHICH LEADS TO PEACEMAKING WHICH LEADS TO MORE EFFECTIVE PRAYER. I ACTUALLY LOOK AT LIKE A CYCLE.
BUT YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF, PEACEMAKING IS ONE OF THOSE BIG WORDS THAT THE MENNONITE CHURCH AND CHRISTIANS LIKE TO USE…BUT THAT DOESN’T APPLY TO ME….I’M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT IT MEANS… AFTER ALL I’M JUST ONE PERSON...I’M NOT RICH, POWERFUL, CONNECTED OR WELL-KNOWN…WHAT CAN I DO THAT WOULD POSSIBLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WELL, THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS (ACCORDING TO WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY)… I’D LIKE TO POINT OUT TWO OF THE DEFINITIONS…IT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM A FREEDOM FROM NEGATIVE THOUGHTS OR EMOTIONS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT CAN COME FROM PRAYER…TO HARMONY IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT CAN COME THROUGH THE ACT OF FOREGIVENESS…OF COURSE THERE IS ALSO THE DEFINITION MOST OF THINK OF WHEN WE HEAR THE WORD PEACE….THE ONE THAT INVOLVES GOVERNMENTS AND TREATIES BUT YOU’LL NOTE IT’S #4 IN THE LIST.
SO IT’S SOMETHING THAT EACH OF US CAN DO…AND IT’S SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD DO. IN FACT, EACH OF US IS A PEACEMAKER.
IN DR. BRENNEMAN’S EDITORIAL…HE SAYS “A BUSINESS PERSON IN A MANUFACTURING COMPANY MUST NOT BE VIEWED AS A SECOND-CLASS PEACEMAKER TO A VOLUNTARY SERVICE WORKER IN SOME FARAWAY COUNTRY, AN ENGINEER IS NO LESS CALLED TO MAKE PEACE THAN A PREACHER. A BASKETBALL COACH WHO WORKS MIRACLES OF HEART, MOTIVATION, DISCIPLINE AND TEAMWORK MAY, IN FACT, OUTPACE A BOOKISH THEOLOGIAN IN CREATING A MORE PEACEFUL WORLD. THE SOCIAL POLICY EXPERT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IS NO LESS A POTENTIAL PEACEMAKER THAN A SOCIAL WORKER ON SKID ROW, THE POLITICIAN NO LESS THAN THE MEDIATOR, THE WONKY GREEN ECONOMIST NO LESS THAN THE RADICAL PROPHET”. WE ARE ALL PEACEMAKERS.
THEN AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS WE ARE TO CULTIVATE PEACE. IN THE GOSPEL, JESUS CULTIVATES PEACE BY INSTRUCTING HIS FOLLOWERS THAT THE SERVANT IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM. WE CAN CULTIVATE PEACE BY OUR MANY ACTS OF SERVICE……. IN OUR WORKPLACES, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES, AND EVEN IN OUR FAMILIES. WE CAN TAKE STEPS TOWARD PEACEMAKING WHEN WE AFFIRM OTHERS, WHEN WE EXPRESS APPRECIATION, OR WHEN WE SAY A SIMPLY THANK YOU OR YOUR WELCOME. WE CAN ALSO BE PEACEMAKERS BY PRAYING FOR AND WITH OTHERS…BY FORGIVING AND SEEKING FORGIVENESS. THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS EXPRESSES SOME WAYS TO CULTIVATE PEACE. “LORD MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR PEACE. WHERE THERE IS HATRED LET ME SOW LOVE, WHERE THERE IS INJURY, PARDON, WHERE THERE IS DOUBT, FAITH, WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR, HOPE. WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS, LIGHT. AND WHERE THERE IS SADNESS, JOY.” THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE CAN BE PEACEMAKERS WITH EVERYTHING WE DO AND EVERY INTERACTION WE HAVE WITH OTHERS.
WHEREVER YOU ARE AND WATEVER YOU DO ASK YOURSELF SOME QUESTIONS. ASK YOURSELF… AM I CULTIVATING PEACE IN THE WAY JESUS INSTRUCTED US IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT? THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY BEFORE YOU SAY IT…BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW YOU ACT TOWARD OTHERS….DEDICATE TIME TO PRAYING FOR PEACE…. AND NOT JUST THE OBVIOUS STUFF. PRAY FOR PEACE IN YOUR HEART AND THE HEARTS OF OTHERS…. PRAY FOR PEACE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS…..PRAY FOR PEACE IN YOUR COMMUNITY…PRAY FOR PEACE AT YOUR WORKPLACE…..PRAY FOR PEACE AT HOME.
FORGIVE THOSE THAT HAVE TRESPASSED AGAINST YOU OR ASK FOR FORGIVENESS IF YOU HAVE TREPASSED AGAINST SOMEONE…DO IT WITH A SINCERE HEART…A SINCERE HEART THAT CAN ONLY COME THROUGH PRAYER AND FOREGIVENESS BECAUSE IF YOU ARE NOT RIGHT WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS, YOU CAN NOT BE AN EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKER…THE KIND OF PEACEMAKER YOU THINK YOU NEED TO BE…BE KIND TO HOMELESS MAN ON THE CORNER, SAY HELLO TO THAT CO-WORKER THAT AT TIMES RUBS YOU THE WRONG WAY, INVITE SOMEONE THAT YOU WOULDN’T NORMALLY INVITE TO YOU HOME FOR DINNER, SHARE A BLESSING WITH SOMEONE THAT IS HAVING A BAD DAY OR IS HAVING A CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER, CALL THAT FAMILY MEMBER THAT YOU HAVEN’T SPOKEN TO FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE OF SOME HISTORY YOU MIGHT HAVE, WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND PRESIDENT OBAMA DEMANDING AN END TO THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, VOLUNTEER AT THE AT THE WOMEN’S SHELTER, PRISON OR MIGRANT CAMP, FIND A WAY TO GET INVOLVED WITH PERSONS AND IN SITUATIONS THAT NEED A LITTLE LOVE.
AND REMEMBER, YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A DIPLOMAT, MEDIATOR OR MEMBER OF A CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAM. THERE ARE WAYS TO BE PEACEMAKERS THAT AREN’T ALWAYS SO OBVIOUS BUT ITS CLEAR THAT THE WORLD NEEDS A LOT OF HEALING AND YOU AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO BE A PEACEMAKER AT HOME, IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND IN THE WORLD.
THIS IS WHERE THE FOUNDATION OF PEACE BEGINS AND THIS IS WHERE WE CAN CULTIVATE AND BE PEACEMAKERS.
THIS MORNING, I’M GOING TO TALK ABOUT PEACEMAKING….BUT ALSO PRAYER AND FORGIVENESS BECAUSE I BELIEVE ALL THREE GO TOGETHER.
WHEN WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THE TOPIC OF PEACEMAKING, I THOUGHT ABOUT THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT…AND A COUPLE OF VERSES JUMPED OUT.
IN MATTHEW 6:12-15…THE LATTER PART OF THE LORD’S PRAYER AND VERSES MOST OF US KNOW BY HEART AND HAVE PROBABLY PRAYED MANY, MANY TIMES.
(12) FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE HAVE ALSO FORGIVEN OUR DEBTORS. (13) AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE. (14) FOR IF YOU FORGIVE MEN WHEN THEY SIN AGAINST YOU, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU. (15) BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE MEN THEIR SINS, YOU FATHER WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR SINS.
NOW WE COULD SUBSTITUTE “SINS” OR “TRESPASSES” BUT THE MESSAGE WOULD BE THE SAME.
IN THIS PASSAGE JESUS TALKS ABOUT FORGIVENESS IN THE CONTEXT OF A PRAYER. WHEN I THINK ABOUT PEACEMAKING, I BELIEVE THAT PRAYER AND FORGIVENESS ARE TWO KEY PREREQUISITES TO BEING AN EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKER. WHY? ……
WELL, FOR ME TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKER I HAVE TO HAVE THINGS RIGHT WITH GOD AND THOSE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE. IN PRAYER I HAVE A TOOL THAT ALLOWS ME TO SEEK FORGIVENESS AS WELL AS A HEART TO FORGIVE….. IT GIVES ME INNER PEACE. WITHOUT PRAYER I WOULDN’T HAVE THAT INNER PEACE AND ANY ATTEMPT TO FORGIVE OR SEEK FORGIVENESS WOULD NOT BE SINCERE. AND IF I CANNOT FORGIVE OR SEEK FORGIVENESS THEN HOW CAN I BE A PEACEMAKER…. WHAT I HOPE IS AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS AS IT SAYS IN SLIDE #5 MATTHEW 5:16, WHICH READS, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN.
NOW LET ME DIVE INTO A COUPLE OF THESE POINTS….
PRAYER: JESUS SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF TIME TALKING ABOUT PRAYER AND PRAYING….HE EVEN GIVES US INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PRAY IN SLIDE #7 MATTHEW 6:5-14. “BUT WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR ROOM, CLOSE THE DOOR AND PRAY TO YOUR FATHER, WHO IS UNSEEN.” FOR WHEN WE ARE NOT TRYING TO LIVE UP TO OTHERS EXPECTATIONS AND TRYING TO IMPRESS OTHERS WITH OUR WORDS AND PERCEIVED SINCERITY THEN IT BECOMES LESS SINCERE. NOW I DON’T THINK WE HAVE TO LITERALLY CLOSE OURSELVES IN OUR ROOMS TO PRAY…RATHER GOD IS CHALLENGING US TO MAKE PRAYING ABOUT ONLY THE INDIVIDUAL PRAYING AND GOD…INCLUDING OTHERS IN THE PROCESS TAKES AWAY FROM THE QUALITY OF THE CONVERSATION.
GOSHEN COLLEGE PRESIDENT DR. JAMES BRENNENMAN IN AN ISSUE OF THE GOSHEN COLLEGE BULLETIN EARLIER THIS YEAR WROTE AN EDITORIAL TITLED HEALING THE WORLD PEACE BY PEACE. IN THA ARTICLE HE “SAYS MAKING PEACE MEANS INVITING GOD TO BE PRESENT IN OUR LIVES, DAY BY DAY, MINUTE BY MINUTE.” ONE WAY OF INVITING GOD INTO YOUR LIFE… MAKING HIM AN INTEGRAL PART OF YOUR LIFE… IS THROUGH PRAYER.
I’D LIKE TO SHARE AN EXPERIENCE WITH PRAYER MY BROTHER HAD WHILE ON HIS SEMESTER ABROAD (SST) IN THE IVORY COAST 16 YEARS AGO.
IN 1994 MY BROTHER WAS IN THE IVORY COAST AND FOR SIX WEEKS HE STAYED WITH A RELATIVELY AFFLUENT, POLITICALLY CONNECTED AND VERY RELIGIOUS FAMILY. THERE ARE PROABABLY LOTS OF THINGS ONE WOULD EXPECT TO LEARN AND EXPERIENCE WHILE LIVING IN ANOTHER COUNTRY BUT WHAT MY BROTHER LEARNED AND EXPERIENCED WAS NOT AT ALL WHAT HE EXPECTED.
HE QUICKLY FOUND OUT HOW IMPORTANT PRAYER WAS TO THIS FAMILY AND WOULD BE TO HIM. HE ALSO QUICKLY FOUND OUT HE HAD A WEAK STOMACH THAT DIDN’T HOLD UP TO FOOD HE WASN’T ACCUSTOMED TO…SOMETHING I’M GLAD I DON’T SHARE WITH HIM. AS A RESULT OF HIS WEAK STOMACH, HE GOT SICK AND AS A RESULT HIS BODY AND ATTITUDE WEREN’T DOING VERY WELL. ON TOP OF THAT HE WAS DEALING WITH A NEW CULTURE, NEW LANGUAGE, NEW FOOD AND DIRTY WATER. HE WAS REALLY SICK AND WAS LOSING SO MUCH WEIGHT THAT HE HAD TO BUY A BELT AT THE MARKET JUST 2 WEEKS INTO HIS 3 MONTH STAY. (AS HE SAYS WEIGHT WATCHERS HAS NOTHING ON A DEVELOPING COUNTRY WHEN YOU GET INTO SOME BAD FOOD OR WATER.) THE NAUSEA, VOMITTING AND DIAHREA WAS ALMOST MORE THAN HE COULD TAKE. IT FELT LIKE THE STOMACH FLU THAT WOULDN’T END. BUT, RATHER THAN GETTING HIM MEDICINE, ALL HIS HOST FAMILY WOULD DO WAS PRAY AND THEY WOULD BOLDY SAY THAT HE NEEDED TO PRAY MORE. ALL HE WANTED WAS SOME BOTTLED WATER, MEDICINE AND A STOMACH THAT WASN’T FIGHTING HIM. BUT THEY WOULD JUST PRAY…THEY PRAYED EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK. THEY HAD PRAYER MEETINGS, PRAYER VIGILS, CHURCH PRAYER MEETINGS, AND GENERALLY PRAYED, WHAT MY BROTHER DESCRIBED AS ALMOST NON-STOP 24/7. THEY USED EVERY OPPORTUNITY THEY HAD TO PRAY. OW MY BROTHER AND I GREW UP IN THE CHURCH BUT PROBABLY WENT MORE OUT OF HABIT THAN FOR ANY SPIRITUAL REASON. THAT’S ONE THING WE HAD IN COMMON AT THE TIME.
BUT AS A RESULT OF THEIR URGING AND, FRANKLY, PUSHING HE BEGAN TO GO WITH THEM TO THEIR PRAYER MEETINGS ON THE PORCH, THEIR PRAYER MEETINGS AT THE NEIGHBORS’ HOUSE AND THEIR PRAYER MEETINGS IN THE CHURCH. HE FOUND HIMSELF PRAYING…HE PRAYED AND PRAYED AND PRAYED. AS MY BROTHER POINTED OUT…IN MATTHEW 6:8 IT SAYS YOUR FATHER KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU ASK HIM. AND THAT VERSE REALLY RANG TRUE TO HIM IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE. THOUGH HE WANTED HIS PHYSICAL ILLNESS CURED, GOD HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN…AS A RESULT OF ALL THE PRAYER HE FOUND HIMSELF FEELING SOMEWHAT BETTER PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY. NOW, HE DIDN’T EVER ADJUST TO THE FOOD AND WATER. HE CAME HOME ABOUT 30 POUNDS LIGHTER AT 125 POUNDS AND HE WAS REALLY BETTER UNTIL HE RECEIVED SOME DOCTORING HERE IN THE STATES 3 MONTHS LATER.
IN HINDSIGHT HE REALIZED THAT HIS FAMILY WAS PRACTICING A FORM OF PEACEMAKING THROUGH PRAYER. THEY BELIEVED THAT A LOT OF ONE’S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH WAS TIED TO ONE’S SPIRITUAL HEALTH….BY PRAYING FOR ME AND ENCOURAGING ME TO PRAY THEY WERE TRYING TO BRING ME SOME PEACE AND IN DOING SO WERE BEING PEACEMAKERS. WITHOUT PRAYER THAT PEACEMAKING WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE.
IVORY COAST IS A COUNTRY THAT SUFFERED THROUGH A TERRIBLE CIVIL WAR. IN FACT THEIR FORMER PRESIDENT, CHARLES TAYLOR, IS CURRENTLY ON TRIAL FOR WAR CRIMES THAT OCCURRED DURING THAT TIME. BECAUSE MY BROTHER LOST TOUCH WITH THEM DURING THE WAR, I DON’T KNOW THIS FOR SURE…BUT I’M PRETTY SURE OF TWO THINGS. THE FAMILY MY BROTHER PROBABLY SUFFERED TERRIBLY…PROBABLY LOSING FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS AND PRAYER MOST LIKELY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE HEALING PROCESS…PUT THEIR HEARTS IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO FOREGIVE.
FORGIVENESS: IN LUKE 7:36-50, WE FIND THE STORY OF JESUS BEING ANNOINTED BY THE SINFUL WOMAN. SLIDE #10 THERE WERE LOTS OF OBSTACLES IN THIS STORY THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE WOMAN FROM EVEN BEING THERE AND THERE WERE MANY CULTURAL REASONS WHY JESUS COULD HAVE DENIED HER THE OPPORTUNITY TO WASH HIS FEET.
AS I MENTIONED THEN…MANY WOULD HAVE FROWNED ON THE FACT THAT JESUS WAS EVEN IN THE HOUSE OF THE PHARISEE. IT WAS TABOO FOR A WOMAN, ESPECIALLY SOMEONE THAT WAS POSSIBLY A PROSTITUTE, TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF MEN LIKE SHE WAS IN THE STORY. IT WAS EVEN MORE INAPPROPRIATE FOR HER TO TOUCH A MAN AS SHE DID WHEN SHE WASHED JESUS’ FEET WITH HER HAIR AND KISSED THEM. NOW THAT WAS REALLY AGAINST THE CULTURAL NORMS. YET JESUS WENT AGAINST WHAT WAS CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE AND LOOKED INTO HER HEART….AND I BELIEVE THAT HE FORGAVE HER SINS IN ALLOWING HER TO WASH HIS FEET IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FOR JESUS TO SAY, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENCE OF PHARISEES, THAT’S NOT THE WAY YOU ASK FOR FORGIVENESS OR YOU CAN FORGIVE SOMEONE LIKE THIS WOMAN ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE DIDN’T FOLLOW THE CULTURALLY PRESCRIBED STEPS WHEN ASKING FOR THAT FORGIVENESS.
WE NEED TO CHALLENGE OURSELVES BY PUTTING OURSELVES IN JESUS’ SHOES…HOW MANY OF US CAN TRULY SAY THAT WE GO THE EXTRA MILE TO FORGIVE OTHERS ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE AWKWARD IN THEIR REQUESTS FOR THAT FORGIVENESS.
AT THE SAME TIME WE SHOULD ALSO TRY TO PUT OURSELVES IN THE SHOES OF THE WOMAN…HOW OFTEN DO YOU GO TO SUCH LENGTHS TO SEEK FORGIVENESS?
FORGIVENESS IS A TWO-WAY STREET. IT TAKES A SINCERE HEART TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND THEN NOT REPEAT THE OFFENDING ACTION. IT TAKES AN EQUALLY SINCERE HEART TO FORGIVE, TRULY FORGET AND MOVE ON. WE AS HUMAN BEINGS AND CHRISTIANS TALK A GOOD GAME WHEN IT COMES TO FORGIVENESS…BUT HOW WELL DO WE ACTUALLY DO? DO YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS? DO YOU CREATE OBSTACLES WHEN IT COMES TO FORGIVING OTHERS?
IF WE CANNOT FORGIVE OR SEEK FORGIVENESS WITH A SINCERE HEART THEN WE CANNOT BE EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKERS. WITHOUT PRAYER, FOREGIVENESS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. IF WE DON’T HAVE PEACE IN OUR OWN LIVES, THE KIND OF PEACE THAT COMES FROM A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, ONE THAT COMES THROUGH PRAYER…TRUE FOREGIVENESS IS FLEETING…IF THERE IS CONFLICT IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS…. THEN HOW CAN WE LET OUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN.
PEACEMAKING: SO, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU HAVE THINGS RIGHT WITH YOURSELF AND GOD THROUGH THE ACT OF PRAYER AND IF YOU HAVE THINGS RIGHT WITH OTHERS THROUGH THE ACT OF FOREGIVENESS…THEN YOU ARE EQUIPEED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKER. PRAYER LEADS TO FOREGIVENESS WHICH LEADS TO PEACEMAKING WHICH LEADS TO MORE EFFECTIVE PRAYER. I ACTUALLY LOOK AT LIKE A CYCLE.
BUT YOU MAY ASK YOURSELF, PEACEMAKING IS ONE OF THOSE BIG WORDS THAT THE MENNONITE CHURCH AND CHRISTIANS LIKE TO USE…BUT THAT DOESN’T APPLY TO ME….I’M NOT EVEN SURE WHAT IT MEANS… AFTER ALL I’M JUST ONE PERSON...I’M NOT RICH, POWERFUL, CONNECTED OR WELL-KNOWN…WHAT CAN I DO THAT WOULD POSSIBLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
WELL, THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS (ACCORDING TO WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY)… I’D LIKE TO POINT OUT TWO OF THE DEFINITIONS…IT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM A FREEDOM FROM NEGATIVE THOUGHTS OR EMOTIONS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT CAN COME FROM PRAYER…TO HARMONY IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT CAN COME THROUGH THE ACT OF FOREGIVENESS…OF COURSE THERE IS ALSO THE DEFINITION MOST OF THINK OF WHEN WE HEAR THE WORD PEACE….THE ONE THAT INVOLVES GOVERNMENTS AND TREATIES BUT YOU’LL NOTE IT’S #4 IN THE LIST.
SO IT’S SOMETHING THAT EACH OF US CAN DO…AND IT’S SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD DO. IN FACT, EACH OF US IS A PEACEMAKER.
IN DR. BRENNEMAN’S EDITORIAL…HE SAYS “A BUSINESS PERSON IN A MANUFACTURING COMPANY MUST NOT BE VIEWED AS A SECOND-CLASS PEACEMAKER TO A VOLUNTARY SERVICE WORKER IN SOME FARAWAY COUNTRY, AN ENGINEER IS NO LESS CALLED TO MAKE PEACE THAN A PREACHER. A BASKETBALL COACH WHO WORKS MIRACLES OF HEART, MOTIVATION, DISCIPLINE AND TEAMWORK MAY, IN FACT, OUTPACE A BOOKISH THEOLOGIAN IN CREATING A MORE PEACEFUL WORLD. THE SOCIAL POLICY EXPERT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IS NO LESS A POTENTIAL PEACEMAKER THAN A SOCIAL WORKER ON SKID ROW, THE POLITICIAN NO LESS THAN THE MEDIATOR, THE WONKY GREEN ECONOMIST NO LESS THAN THE RADICAL PROPHET”. WE ARE ALL PEACEMAKERS.
THEN AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS WE ARE TO CULTIVATE PEACE. IN THE GOSPEL, JESUS CULTIVATES PEACE BY INSTRUCTING HIS FOLLOWERS THAT THE SERVANT IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM. WE CAN CULTIVATE PEACE BY OUR MANY ACTS OF SERVICE……. IN OUR WORKPLACES, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES, AND EVEN IN OUR FAMILIES. WE CAN TAKE STEPS TOWARD PEACEMAKING WHEN WE AFFIRM OTHERS, WHEN WE EXPRESS APPRECIATION, OR WHEN WE SAY A SIMPLY THANK YOU OR YOUR WELCOME. WE CAN ALSO BE PEACEMAKERS BY PRAYING FOR AND WITH OTHERS…BY FORGIVING AND SEEKING FORGIVENESS. THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS EXPRESSES SOME WAYS TO CULTIVATE PEACE. “LORD MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT OF YOUR PEACE. WHERE THERE IS HATRED LET ME SOW LOVE, WHERE THERE IS INJURY, PARDON, WHERE THERE IS DOUBT, FAITH, WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR, HOPE. WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS, LIGHT. AND WHERE THERE IS SADNESS, JOY.” THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE CAN BE PEACEMAKERS WITH EVERYTHING WE DO AND EVERY INTERACTION WE HAVE WITH OTHERS.
WHEREVER YOU ARE AND WATEVER YOU DO ASK YOURSELF SOME QUESTIONS. ASK YOURSELF… AM I CULTIVATING PEACE IN THE WAY JESUS INSTRUCTED US IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT? THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY BEFORE YOU SAY IT…BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW YOU ACT TOWARD OTHERS….DEDICATE TIME TO PRAYING FOR PEACE…. AND NOT JUST THE OBVIOUS STUFF. PRAY FOR PEACE IN YOUR HEART AND THE HEARTS OF OTHERS…. PRAY FOR PEACE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS…..PRAY FOR PEACE IN YOUR COMMUNITY…PRAY FOR PEACE AT YOUR WORKPLACE…..PRAY FOR PEACE AT HOME.
FORGIVE THOSE THAT HAVE TRESPASSED AGAINST YOU OR ASK FOR FORGIVENESS IF YOU HAVE TREPASSED AGAINST SOMEONE…DO IT WITH A SINCERE HEART…A SINCERE HEART THAT CAN ONLY COME THROUGH PRAYER AND FOREGIVENESS BECAUSE IF YOU ARE NOT RIGHT WITH YOURSELF AND OTHERS, YOU CAN NOT BE AN EFFECTIVE PEACEMAKER…THE KIND OF PEACEMAKER YOU THINK YOU NEED TO BE…BE KIND TO HOMELESS MAN ON THE CORNER, SAY HELLO TO THAT CO-WORKER THAT AT TIMES RUBS YOU THE WRONG WAY, INVITE SOMEONE THAT YOU WOULDN’T NORMALLY INVITE TO YOU HOME FOR DINNER, SHARE A BLESSING WITH SOMEONE THAT IS HAVING A BAD DAY OR IS HAVING A CONFLICT WITH ANOTHER, CALL THAT FAMILY MEMBER THAT YOU HAVEN’T SPOKEN TO FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE OF SOME HISTORY YOU MIGHT HAVE, WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND PRESIDENT OBAMA DEMANDING AN END TO THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN, VOLUNTEER AT THE AT THE WOMEN’S SHELTER, PRISON OR MIGRANT CAMP, FIND A WAY TO GET INVOLVED WITH PERSONS AND IN SITUATIONS THAT NEED A LITTLE LOVE.
AND REMEMBER, YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A DIPLOMAT, MEDIATOR OR MEMBER OF A CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAM. THERE ARE WAYS TO BE PEACEMAKERS THAT AREN’T ALWAYS SO OBVIOUS BUT ITS CLEAR THAT THE WORLD NEEDS A LOT OF HEALING AND YOU AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST ARE UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO BE A PEACEMAKER AT HOME, IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND IN THE WORLD.
THIS IS WHERE THE FOUNDATION OF PEACE BEGINS AND THIS IS WHERE WE CAN CULTIVATE AND BE PEACEMAKERS.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Reflection on Ephesians 4:7-13 (August 1, 2010)
In Ephesians 4:7-13, it says "to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it" and that God "gave gifts to men." "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
I believe that each of us has a role to play in God’s kingdom and in the ways we worship and praise him…God has given each us the tools to do a job. Each of us has time, treasure and/or talent. It is our responsibility to understand those gifts AND go out to look for ways to use all of them. Ways that will elevate God’s kingdom.
• God gave some to be musicians and singers with a gift to lead worship.
• God gave some to be gifted teachers able to make God’s Word easily understood by others.
• God gave some to be pastors and elders with the gift of leadership.
• God gave some to be youth leaders with a gift of the love and patience necessary to guide those that are early in the walk with God or are too young to have made that decision.
• God gave some to be missionaries some of whom travel abroad and others that share God’s Word and His Love in the communities where they live and work
• BUT…
• God also gave some to be cooks with a gift that makes fellowship meals something we look forward to.
• God also gave some to be cleaners with a gift to maintain our place of worship in a condition that God deserves.
• God also gave some to be good with their hands to keep the lights on and AC running so we can worship on Sunday mornings without those distractions.
• God also gave some to be great AV operators so we can worship to our fullest.
• God also gave some to be good listeners able to help people through even the toughest time.
• God also gave some to be great worshipers, able to glorify his name in the way he deserves.
• God gave some to be organizers, able to make our annual fundraiser a success and make sure church business gets done.
• God gave some with a heart to love those forgotten by society.
• God gave some to be a great time managers able to find time on even the busiest day to dedicate spend time with those that need an ear, a shoulder or an extra set of hands or feet.
I’d challenge you to fill in the blank….”God gave me to _______”. Ask yourself, how can I use these gifts to make my home, my neighborhood, you congregation and your neighborhood places where God is glorified and feels welcome? In Matthew 25, Jesus shares the story of the master who gave three of his servants talents…The man that received one talent and promptly buried it was rebuked by his master. I challenge you to not be the one that buries your talent, regardless of how small or insignificant it is. God wants you to share your talent and he will help to multiply it.
I believe that each of us has a role to play in God’s kingdom and in the ways we worship and praise him…God has given each us the tools to do a job. Each of us has time, treasure and/or talent. It is our responsibility to understand those gifts AND go out to look for ways to use all of them. Ways that will elevate God’s kingdom.
• God gave some to be musicians and singers with a gift to lead worship.
• God gave some to be gifted teachers able to make God’s Word easily understood by others.
• God gave some to be pastors and elders with the gift of leadership.
• God gave some to be youth leaders with a gift of the love and patience necessary to guide those that are early in the walk with God or are too young to have made that decision.
• God gave some to be missionaries some of whom travel abroad and others that share God’s Word and His Love in the communities where they live and work
• BUT…
• God also gave some to be cooks with a gift that makes fellowship meals something we look forward to.
• God also gave some to be cleaners with a gift to maintain our place of worship in a condition that God deserves.
• God also gave some to be good with their hands to keep the lights on and AC running so we can worship on Sunday mornings without those distractions.
• God also gave some to be great AV operators so we can worship to our fullest.
• God also gave some to be good listeners able to help people through even the toughest time.
• God also gave some to be great worshipers, able to glorify his name in the way he deserves.
• God gave some to be organizers, able to make our annual fundraiser a success and make sure church business gets done.
• God gave some with a heart to love those forgotten by society.
• God gave some to be a great time managers able to find time on even the busiest day to dedicate spend time with those that need an ear, a shoulder or an extra set of hands or feet.
I’d challenge you to fill in the blank….”God gave me to _______”. Ask yourself, how can I use these gifts to make my home, my neighborhood, you congregation and your neighborhood places where God is glorified and feels welcome? In Matthew 25, Jesus shares the story of the master who gave three of his servants talents…The man that received one talent and promptly buried it was rebuked by his master. I challenge you to not be the one that buries your talent, regardless of how small or insignificant it is. God wants you to share your talent and he will help to multiply it.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
June 20, 2010 - Sending Message
The Word, the Holy Spirit and God’s love have been present with us this morning.
Take them with you from this place.
Keep them with you this week wherever you may find yourself.
Share them with each and every person you encounter this week.
Take them with you from this place.
Keep them with you this week wherever you may find yourself.
Share them with each and every person you encounter this week.
June 20, 2010 - Reflection on Forgiveness
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman - 36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." 40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said. 41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[a] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." 48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
In Mark 7:36-50, we find the story of Jesus forgiving the sinful woman. There were lots of obstacles in this story that could have prevented the woman from even being there and there were many cultural reasons why Jesus could have denied forgiving her.
Many would have frowned on the fact that Jesus wa even in the house of the Pharisee. It was taboo for a woman, especially someone that was likely a prostitute, to be in the presence of men like she was in the story. It was even more inappropriate for her to touch a man as she did when she washed Jesus’ feet with her hair and kissed them. Now that was really against the cultural norms. Yet Jesus went against what was culturally acceptable and looked into her heart….and forgave her sins. It would have been easy for Jesus to say, especially in the presence of Pharisees, that’s not the way you ask for forgiveness OR you can forgive someone like this woman especially when she didn’t follow the culturally prescribed steps when asking for that forgiveness.
We need to challenge ourselves by putting ourselves in Jesus’ shoes…how many of us can truly say that we go the extra mile to forgive others especially when people are awkward in their requests for that forgiveness.
At the same time we should also try to put ourselves in the shoes of the woman…how often do you go to such lengths to seek forgiveness?
Forgiveness is a two-way street. It takes a sincere heart to ask for forgiveness and then not repeat the offending action. It takes an equally sincere heart to forgive, truly forget and move on. We as human beings and Christians talk a good game when it comes to forgiveness…but how well do we actually do? Do you go out of your way to ask for forgiveness? Do you create obstacles when it comes to forgiving others?
In Mark 7:36-50, we find the story of Jesus forgiving the sinful woman. There were lots of obstacles in this story that could have prevented the woman from even being there and there were many cultural reasons why Jesus could have denied forgiving her.
Many would have frowned on the fact that Jesus wa even in the house of the Pharisee. It was taboo for a woman, especially someone that was likely a prostitute, to be in the presence of men like she was in the story. It was even more inappropriate for her to touch a man as she did when she washed Jesus’ feet with her hair and kissed them. Now that was really against the cultural norms. Yet Jesus went against what was culturally acceptable and looked into her heart….and forgave her sins. It would have been easy for Jesus to say, especially in the presence of Pharisees, that’s not the way you ask for forgiveness OR you can forgive someone like this woman especially when she didn’t follow the culturally prescribed steps when asking for that forgiveness.
We need to challenge ourselves by putting ourselves in Jesus’ shoes…how many of us can truly say that we go the extra mile to forgive others especially when people are awkward in their requests for that forgiveness.
At the same time we should also try to put ourselves in the shoes of the woman…how often do you go to such lengths to seek forgiveness?
Forgiveness is a two-way street. It takes a sincere heart to ask for forgiveness and then not repeat the offending action. It takes an equally sincere heart to forgive, truly forget and move on. We as human beings and Christians talk a good game when it comes to forgiveness…but how well do we actually do? Do you go out of your way to ask for forgiveness? Do you create obstacles when it comes to forgiving others?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
March 28, 2010 - Call to Worship
This morning, as we worship I’d like you to keep a couple things in mind…
- First, as it says in Psalm 100:2, “worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” In other words worship sincerely and enthusiastically.
- Second, as it says in Romans, 12:6-8, “we have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
- I believe that this also applies to worship as we all bring something different to the table. As it says in I Corinthians 12:12, “the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.” So, each of us plays a different part. In the context of Palm Sunday and worship, I take this to mean that we should all worship in our own way with the gifts given us by God…but just remember the God wants us to praise him sincerely and with our heart, soul and mind.
April 11, 2010 - Call to Worship
God is present in this place. Because as Jesus says in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” I’m glad to see each of you here this morning and I would like to encourage each one of you to open your hearts to God’s love and his word this morning....and to do the same each and every day.
May 23, 2010 - Call to Worship
As it says in Ephesians 5, we need to be careful how we live…being wise. We need to make the most of every opportunity…not do foolish things. Instead as it says in 5:19-20, “be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
sermon notes: "How solid is your trust in God? a.k.a. Where does fit in your org chart?" (5/30/2010)
Matt 6:25-34 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Before I start I’d like to share a few words I heard yesterday at St James Lutheran Church during the ordination service of a good friend of mine. I share this because I’d like you put everything I’m going to say in the following context…The topic of the message has nothing to do with what I plan to share with you think morning but I thought it fit really well. ”God wants us to have cracks so the light can shine through…We are a flawed people with a noble calling…our job is to follow the dream that God has set for us. We just need to listen to what he has to say and follow that which he wants us to do.”
Before I start I’d like to share a few words I heard yesterday at St James Lutheran Church during the ordination service of a good friend of mine. I share this because I’d like you put everything I’m going to say in the following context…The topic of the message has nothing to do with what I plan to share with you think morning but I thought it fit really well. ”God wants us to have cracks so the light can shine through…We are a flawed people with a noble calling…our job is to follow the dream that God has set for us. We just need to listen to what he has to say and follow that which he wants us to do.”
Now back to the message…How well do you practice what it says in Matthew 6? This is a passage that you are probably familiar with and is often quoted by Christians…for a variety of reasons. I want to focus on the concept of trust in this passage. Do you truly trust God to do what he promises? Do you worry about earthly things or do you truly leave everything to God? Do you truly trust him to take care of you or do you take things into your own hands? Let me frame it by asking….Where does God fit in your org chart? Do we give him such a position that allows him to take care of us as he promises or do we try to take things into our own hands? Do we marginalize him when it’s convenient…relegate him to a supporting role OR maybe even cut him out completely when he gets in the way?
INTRO
This is an org chart. They are often used to give order to or provide structure for an organization …communicate a clear chain of command so everyone knows who is in charge and what priorities/goals should be followed. So, this morning I’d like you think about what it says in Matthew 6…do you always put God and God’s Word in the top spot or is he relegated to some other role?
INTRO
This is an org chart. They are often used to give order to or provide structure for an organization …communicate a clear chain of command so everyone knows who is in charge and what priorities/goals should be followed. So, this morning I’d like you think about what it says in Matthew 6…do you always put God and God’s Word in the top spot or is he relegated to some other role?
Do you put God and his Word in the top spot or does he fit somewhere else? Does God play a supporting role, play no role at all OR does he in fact hold that top spot? Is that reflected in everything you say in do…in your relationships with others, in your work and other things that are part of daily routine.
When I gave it some thought this week, I found that I could point to numerous examples where God didn’t hold that top position. I often push God down in the org chart or leave him off completely…I don’t do this consciously but when I think about it I find that often what I want often takes precedent…my own desires and ambitions blind me from seeing what God is trying to tell me…keeps me from doing what he wants me to do.
We live a world that is full of distractions and temptations…things that take us off track…we can get impatient and this can cause us to lose focus on what should be our priorities. On top of all that we also live in a culture where we’re taught that we control our own destiny…that we get out of life what we put into it...that the world revolves around me. This has resulted in low church attendance in our culture but, I believe, it also impacts those of us who are Christians and do go to church. As a result, we sometimes marginalize God…bumping him down in our organizations, often without even realizing it. I sometimes find that I’ve pushed God down in the org chart or left him off completely.
Again, where does God fit into your organization?
WE SOMETIMES PUSH GOD DOWN IN OUR ORG CHART…I sometimes highjack God’s Word for my own benefit.
I love a good philosophical debate and tend to be opinionated…as those of you that are friends of mine of Facebook know (which BTW I blame on the genes my parents passed along to me J)….
Why do I mention this? When I have these discussions, I often find myself pushing God off to the side. These discussions are about what I think. Though I try to frame my positions in the context of my relationship with God, I’m not always successful. I often use bits and pieces or God’s word that are convenient to me…that support my personal position.
Why do I mention this? When I have these discussions, I often find myself pushing God off to the side. These discussions are about what I think. Though I try to frame my positions in the context of my relationship with God, I’m not always successful. I often use bits and pieces or God’s word that are convenient to me…that support my personal position.
I often use God and the scriptures to support my philosophies/beliefs…rather than leading with God teachings and fitting my own beliefs into those teachings. I don’t believe that God’s Word should not be used to support my arguments…rather what I say and do should reflect what God teachings. The difference is often subtle…but nonetheless very important and I find myself doing the former. However, it is tantalizing because if I can use God to support my position or actions that helps to validate them.
If we find ourselves using God’s word to support everything from politics view points to how to manage our relationships with others to the work we do, then we run the risk of cherry picking only those pieces of his teachings that are most convenient to us. You see this every day on CNN, MSNBC and Fox…you can read it every day in the editorial section of the newspaper…you can find thousands of examples on the Internet. Lots of people, including public figures and politicians use or misuse God. We use God to help us make our arguments…and say that what we are saying and doing is for him. We often get things backwards….allowing our own selfish, usually earthly, interests or priorities to supersede those that God would like us to have.
WE SOMETIMES LEAVE HIM COMPLETELY OFF OUR ORG CHART…I sometimes leave him out when it’s too hard to make his Word and my desires align.
When I’m not pushing God to the side, I sometimes find myself pushing him out of the picture completely….leaving him out of my organization…off my org chart. As I mentioned earlier, we live in a society where we are taught to be self sufficient..to control our own destinies. I need to keep my job, I need to get that raise, I need to get that promotion, I need to be well respected in my job. I need to put up a front so people like me, so I fit in, so people will want to hang out with me. I need hold certain social or political views so I fit in, so I can be part of the “in” crowd”.
I find that I don’t share many of the same values that my co-workers and others I deal with on a daily basis have….but sometimes I find myself falling in behind them…even in very subtle way. I look at the material world and think that that playing field isn’t level because I can’t play by the same rules…but I sometimes find myself bending those rules so I can level the playing field a bit. If that guy can cut “moral” corners from time to time then why can’t I maybe just this once. If this ever happens ask myself (and I hate to use this cliché but) “What would Jesus Do. Remember that it’s not about what we can or can’t achieve here on Earth…it’s about where we are going (eternal life) and how we get there.
I find that I don’t share many of the same values that my co-workers and others I deal with on a daily basis have….but sometimes I find myself falling in behind them…even in very subtle way. I look at the material world and think that that playing field isn’t level because I can’t play by the same rules…but I sometimes find myself bending those rules so I can level the playing field a bit. If that guy can cut “moral” corners from time to time then why can’t I maybe just this once. If this ever happens ask myself (and I hate to use this cliché but) “What would Jesus Do. Remember that it’s not about what we can or can’t achieve here on Earth…it’s about where we are going (eternal life) and how we get there.
Do you let your desires, goals and interests get in the way? Do you bend the rules from time to time? I catch myself doing this from time to time and a little voice says…it’s okay if I do this thing for ME just this one time because God wants me to be happy…even if I know that it’s not what God wants. Do I really trust God to provide for me?
Before I move on I want to make one point…remember, God knows we are not perfect but he also wants us to give it our best effort and remember that he comes first….remember that he has earned our trust. We will make mistakes…we just need to make sure we consider his wishes at all times.
SOMETIMES WE DON’T LISTEN TO WHAT GOD WANTS AND WE THINK WE CAN DO IT BETTER OURSELVES
Throughout the Bible there are countless examples where God’s people, when challenged or otherwise, have side-stepped God’s will…thought they could do it without him…that they had a better plan. In Genesis in the story of Babel- everyone had the same goal and it was a grandiose one….they wanted to reach heaven with their tower…but what they wanted was in conflict with what God wanted. As it says in Genesis 11:3-4, they wanted a tower that reached the heavens so that they could make a name for themselves. That didn’t go well for them…they were scattered and their tower abandoned before it could be completed. In the end, God’s will prevailed. Have you or are you building any towers in your life?
Throughout the Old Testament God instructed the Israelites to follow only him, he gave the instructions on how to follow him and warned them not to follow false gods…but they often found themselves not following his instructions. In Exodus 32: there is the story of the golden calf…Now I don’t own a golden calf or any other physical object that I worship but there are plenty of other things I find myself putting ahead of God. Do you have any golden calves in your life?
But in the way there are examples of God’s people pushing God down in their organization, there are others where individuals have stood steadfast to God…trusting him completely…even in tough times. Let’s take Job who faced challenges that most of us will fortunately never even be able to relate to. However, he stood steadfast in his faith. Have you ever had a Job moment where you had to decide between what you thought was best for you and God’s will.
But in the way there are examples of God’s people pushing God down in their organization, there are others where individuals have stood steadfast to God…trusting him completely…even in tough times. Let’s take Job who faced challenges that most of us will fortunately never even be able to relate to. However, he stood steadfast in his faith. Have you ever had a Job moment where you had to decide between what you thought was best for you and God’s will.
“DON”
I’d like to share a little about someone that I believe exemplifies Job. Obviously he hasn’t faced the trials and hardships of the scale that Job faced but I see some of the same characteristics in him that were seen in Job.
Don lives a couple houses down from us and his son is in Tea’s class at school. I see Don nearly every afternoon and have the opportunity to talk to him a couple times. About a year ago, Don lost his job…with a church. He had to sell his home and move back into his father’s house with his wife and kids. By any definition, things are currently not going his way. It would be easy for him to say God let me down...he hasn’t done anything for me lately so let me push him off to the side for a while until I can get myself back on track. But that’s not Don…he talks about his life and experiences as gifts from God. He won’t compromise who he is or his beliefs so he can get himself back on his feet. He completely trusts that God has a plan for him and that his current situation is part of God’s plan and something that will make him a better Christian. God's Word and what he believes to be his will are ingrained in everything he says and does. He’ll be the first to admit that life isn’t always easy but there also isn’t a person that is more positive and trusting in God. From what I know of Don, he consciously puts got at the head of his organization every day and in everything he does…period. There are no exceptions.
He uses the walks to school in the afternoon and trips to Publix as opportunities to minister…he views the work he gets as opportunities share God’s word and show others what he believes is a Christian work ethic, he even uses the free time he now finds himself having as opportunities to share God’s Word through his Facebook page. From my perspective, every minute of every day, he sees as a gift from God and an opportunity to do God’s will.
WHERE DOES GOD FIT IN YOUR ORG CHART?
Where does God fit in your organization….into your org chart? Does he sit at the top? Do you allow him to set the direction of your life OR does he sit somewhere further down and play a supporting role OR maybe from time to time do you give him the day off? I’d like to challenge each of you to ask yourselves this question each and every day….take a piece of paper and draw out your org chart...be honest with yourself…would the org chart that God has created for you be the same as the one you drew out? God needs to factor into ever single decision we make, every action we take and every word we speak!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)