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EPHESIANS 1:1-14 7/12/2009

ALL OF US HAVE A ROUTINE EVERY MORNING. WE GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE, LET THE DOG OUT FOR A WALK, TURN THE NEWS ON OR PICK UP THE NEWSPAPER. AS WE SCAN THE NEWSPAPER, WE TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING REPORTED. BECAUSE EACH OF US HAVE A CERTAIN INCLINATION TOWARDS CERTAIN TYPES OF NEWS, A BOMB SCARE OR TAX HIKE WOULD GET OUR ATTENTION RATHER THAN THE SCHOOL MARCHING BAND OR KNITTING CLUBS FOR THAT MATTER.

YOU HAVE YOUR OWN CRITERIA FOR JUDGING WHICH STORIES MERIT YOUR TIME. BUT OCCASIONALLY, A HEADLINE WILL CATCH OUR ATTENTION BECAUSE THE EDITOR DID NOT PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS BEING PRINTED. HERE ARE A FEW WITH FUNNY DOUBLE MEANING.

"RED TAPE HOLDS UP NEW BRIDGE" : THAT MUST BE PRETTY STRONG TAPE.

"LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS CUT IN HALF" -- DRASTIC PUNISHMENT FOR DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

"MINERS REFUSE TO WORK AFTER DEATH" – MINING COMPANY MANAGEMENT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH.

"TYPHOON RIPS THROUGH CEMETERY; HUNDREDS DEAD" --

AND HERE IS MY FAVORITE. IT WAS A HEADLINE THAT CAME OUT BEFORE THE FALL OF SADDAM HUSSEIN. IN 2001 BEFORE THE US INVADED IRAQ ONE OF THE NEWSPAPER PRINTED THIS HEADLINE: "IRAQI HEAD SEEKS ARMS." (1)

NOW THERE'S A VISUAL IMAGE THAT GETS THE IMAGINATION GOING. "IRAQI HEAD SEEKS ARMS."BUT THIS ABSURD HEADLINE IS A PERFECT DESCRIPTION OF TODAY'S BIBLE PASSAGE. A HEAD SEEKING ARMS.

THERE ARE DOZENS, MAYBE HUNDREDS, OF BOOKS ON THE MARKET TODAY UNDER THE TITLE "SO-AN-SO FOR DUMMIES." GOLF FOR DUMMIES. INVESTING FOR DUMMIES.

PHILOSOPHY FOR DUMMIES. IF YOU HAVE EVER CONSULTED ONE OF THESE BOOKS, YOU'VE LEARNED THAT THEY ARE NOT FOR DUMMIES AT ALL. THEY ARE FOR BRIGHT, EARNEST PEOPLE WHO LACK KNOWLEDGE IN A SPECIFIC AREA.

IF I WERE TO RE-TITLE THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS, I WOULD CALL IT CHURCH FOR DUMMIES. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS IS ALL ABOUT: WHY GOD CREATED THE CHURCH AND HOW TO BE A CHURCH THAT HONORS GOD.

THE SETTING FOR TODAY'S LESSON IS EPHESUS. THE CITY OF EPHESUS WAS FAMOUS FOR ITS MANY TEMPLES AND ITS MANY GODS. THE MOST PROMINENT MONUMENT IN TOWN WAS THE TEMPLE IN HONOR OF THE GOD ARTEMIS. THIS TEMPLE EMPLOYED TEMPLE PROSTITUTES--THAT'S RIGHT, I SAID PROSTITUTES--FOR ITS RELIGIOUS RITES. THE TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS WAS AN IMPRESSIVE BUILDING. THE EPHESIANS KNEW ALL ABOUT IMPRESSIVE RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS--AS IF BUILDINGS HAD THE POWER TO SAVE. WE SOMETIMES MAKE THAT MISTAKE, DON'T WE--JUDGING A CHURCH BY THE HEIGHT OF ITS STEEPLE OR THE BEAUTY OF ITS STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS? PAUL WANTED THE EPHESIANS TO KNOW THAT THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ISN'T A BUILDING. IT'S A BODY. AND THE HEAD OF THIS BODY IS JESUS CHRIST. A HEAD SEEKING ARMS.

LISTEN HOW ST. PAUL BEGINS TODAY'S LESSON: "FOR THIS REASON, EVER SINCE I HEARD ABOUT YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS AND YOUR LOVE FOR ALL THE SAINTS, I HAVE NOT STOPPED GIVING THANKS FOR YOU, REMEMBERING YOU IN MY PRAYERS . . ."

PAUL'S FIRST PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH IS A PRAYER OF THANKS. IN FACT, PAUL WRITES, "I HAVE NOT STOPPED GIVING THANKS FOR YOU, REMEMBERING YOU IN MY PRAYERS." THAT'S A LOT OF THANKS. WHAT CAUSES PAUL'S SENSE OF GRATITUDE AND JOY TO OVERFLOW? IT WAS THIS NEW CHURCH'S FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS AND THEIR LOVE "FOR ALL THE SAINTS," THEIR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN DRAWN TO GOD BY THE FAITHFUL EXAMPLE OF A MATURE BELIEVER? HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED GOD'S LOVE THROUGH THE LOVE OF A BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST? THAT'S WHAT WE CELEBRATE ON ALL SAINTS' DAY AND ON FRIENDSHIP SUNDAY: THE INFLUENCE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL TO GOD AND GOD'S PURPOSES DOWN THROUGH HISTORY.

THE EPHESIAN CHURCH HAD WITHIN ITS MEMBERSHIP FAITHFUL, COMMITTED, LOVING FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. AND PAUL GIVES THANKS FOR THEM.

PASTOR ROBERT SCHMIDGALL SUGGESTS THAT PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE LIKE SPONGES. WHEN A SPONGE IS FULL OF WATER, ONLY A TINY AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO MAKE THAT WATER SPILL OUT. WHATEVER IS IN THE SPONGE COMES OUT WHEN THE SPONGE IS UNDER PRESSURE. IN THE SAME WAY, WE CAN TELL WHAT A CHURCH IS FULL OF WHEN THAT CHURCH COMES UNDER PRESSURE. DO THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH BECOME ANGRY AND VINDICTIVE? DO THEY START BLAMING OTHERS AND POINTING FINGERS? DO THEY ABANDON THE FAITH? OR DO THEY SHOW AN INCREASE IN LOVE, FAITHFULNESS, TRUTH-TELLING, GOOD DEEDS, AND INTEGRITY? THE EPHESIAN CHURCH WAS UNDER CONSTANT PRESSURE TO GIVE IN TO THE SINFUL CULTURE THAT SURROUNDED IT. YET THEY MAINTAINED A SHINING EXAMPLE OF CHRIST-LIKE BEHAVIOR. NO WONDER PAUL CONTINUALLY THANKED GOD FOR THEM. (2)

PAUL'S SECOND PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH IS A PRAYER FOR WISDOM. HE WRITES, "I KEEP ASKING THAT THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE GLORIOUS FATHER, MAY GIVE YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM . . . SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW HIM BETTER . . ."

WISDOM HAS TWO COMPONENTS: THE ABILITY TO THINK BEYOND ONE'S SELF, AND THE ABILITY TO THINK BEYOND THE TEMPORARY. THERE ARE TWO GREAT BIBLE PASSAGES THAT ILLUSTRATE WISDOM. PSALM 14:1 READS, "THE FOOL HATH SAID IN HIS HEART, "THERE IS NO GOD!'"

AND IN LUKE 12, JESUS TELLS A STORY ABOUT A RICH MAN WHO BUILDS GREAT STOREHOUSES TO HOLD ALL HIS RICHES, THEN SAYS TO HIMSELF, "TAKE LIFE EASY; EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY." BUT THAT NIGHT, GOD COMES TO HIM TO CLAIM HIS LIFE, AND GOD CALLS THE MAN A FOOL FOR STORING UP THINGS FOR HIMSELF AND NOT INVESTING IN GOD'S ETERNAL WORK.

IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS, THERE ARE THREE HEBREW WORDS USED TO INDICATE A FOOLISH PERSON. THE FIRST WORD IS KESIL. A KESIL IS A FOOLISH PERSON WHO RARELY LOOKS TO OTHERS FOR ADVICE OR WISDOM. A KNOW-IT-ALL. ANOTHER TYPE OF FOOL NOTED IN PROVERBS IS THE EWIL. THIS WORD LITERALLY MEANS TO "GROW THICK WITH FLUIDS." THIS IS SOMEONE WHO REFUSES TO LISTEN TO GOOD COUNSEL. AND THE THIRD TYPE OF FOOL IS A NABAL, SOMEONE WHO LIVES A FOOLISH AND VAIN LIFESTYLE. (3)

A KNOW-IT-ALL, SOMEONE WHO REFUSES TO LOOK FOR GOOD ADVICE AND SOMEONE WHO LIVES ONLY FOR THE MOMENT, ONLY FOR HIS OWN PLEASURE--THESE ARE ALL PORTRAITS OF A FOOL. PAUL WOULD NOT HAVE THE EPHESIANS BE FOOLISH, BUT WISE--GIVING PROPER ATTENTION TO THAT WHICH WAS MOST IMPORTANT, THEIR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

A PASTOR CALLED UPON A WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN WHO WAS DYING. THE MAN SHARED WITH THE PASTOR ONE OF HIS GREATEST REGRETS. YEARS EARLIER, HE HAD BEEN ASKED TO TEACH A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS FOR YOUNG BOYS. AT THE TIME, THE BUSINESSMAN SAW THIS OPPORTUNITY AS AN INTERRUPTION TO HIS SCHEDULE. HE PREFERRED TO SPEND HIS SPARE TIME ON HIS BUSINESS. IN THE INTERVENING YEARS, HE HAD AMASSED MUCH WEALTH. BUT HE LOST THE CHANCE TO INVEST IN THE LIVES OF THOSE CHILDREN. IT TURNED OUT THAT HE MADE A POOR CHOICE. HIS BUSINESS WAS NOW DECLINING AND HIS WEALTH WAS NEARLY WIPED OUT. HIS INFLUENCE ON THOSE BOYS' LIVES, HOWEVER, WOULD HAVE LIVED ON ETERNALLY. HE HAD MADE A FOOLISH CHOICE, AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO MAKE UP FOR IT. (4) PAUL PRAYS FOR WISDOM FOR THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS.

HAVE YOU NOTICED HOW WE LIVE OUR LIVES? WE WORRY ABOUT WHAT MY CHURCH FAMILY THINKS OF ME? WE WORRY WHAT OUR RELATIVES THINK OF US? WE WORRY ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY THINKS ABOUT US? WE WORRY ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT US? HERE IS WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON, IS WHAT I AM DOING HONORING CHRIST?

LET ME PUT EVEN MORE FLESH TO THIS STORY. ALL OF YOU ARE FACING YOUR HEARTACHES, STORMS ETC. IN YOUR LIFE HOW DO YOU FACE IT? WHAT ABOUT YOUR STRUGGLES? IS THERE ANY CHANCE, ANY POSSIBILITY, THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO STRUGGLE FOR GOD’S GLORY? HAVE YOU “BEEN GRANTED FOR CHRIST’S SAKE, NOT ONLY TO BELIEVE IN HIM, BUT ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE” (PHILIPPIANS 1:29)?

HERE IS A CLUE. DO YOUR PRAYERS SEEM TO BE UNANSWERED? WHAT YOU REQUEST AND WHAT YOU RECEIVE AREN’T MATCHING UP? DON’T THINK GOD IS NOT LISTENING. INDEED HE IS. HE MAY HAVE HIGHER PLANS.

HERE IS ANOTHER. ARE PEOPLE STRENGTHENED BY YOUR STRUGGLES? A FRIEND OF MINE CAN ANSWER YES. HIS CANCER WAS CONSUMING MORE THAN HIS BODY; IT WAS EATING AWAY AT HIS FAITH. UNANSWERED PETITIONS PERPLEXED HIM. WELL-MEANING CHRISTIANS CONFUSED HIM. “IF YOU HAVE FAITH,” THEY SAID, “YOU WILL BE HEALED.”

NO HEALING CAME. JUST MORE CHEMO, NAUSEA, AND QUESTIONS. HE ASSUMED THE FAULT WAS A SMALL FAITH. I SUGGESTED ANOTHER ANSWER. “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU,” I TOLD HIM. “YOUR HOSPITAL ROOM IS A SHOWCASE FOR YOUR MAKER. YOUR FAITH IN THE FACE OF SUFFERING CRANKS UP THE VOLUME OF GOD’S SONG.”

OH, THAT YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THE RELIEF ON HIS FACE. TO KNOW THAT HE HADN’T FAILED GOD AND GOD HADN’T FAILED HIM—THIS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. SEEING HIS SICKNESS IN THE SCOPE OF GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN GAVE HIS CONDITION A SENSE OF DIGNITY. HE ACCEPTED HIS CANCER AS AN ASSIGNMENT FROM HEAVEN: A MISSIONARY TO THE CANCER WARD.

A WEEK LATER I SAW HIM AGAIN. “I REFLECTED GOD,” HE SAID, SMILING THROUGH A THIN FACE, “TO THE NURSE, THE DOCTORS, MY FRIENDS. WHO KNOWS WHO NEEDED TO SEE GOD, BUT I DID MY BEST TO MAKE HIM SEEN.”

BINGO. HIS CANCER PARADED THE POWER OF JESUS DOWN THE MAIN STREET OF HIS WORLD.

GOD WILL USE WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DISPLAY HIS GLORY. HEAVENS AND STARS. HISTORY AND NATIONS. PEOPLE AND PROBLEMS.

RATHER THAN BEGRUDGE YOUR PROBLEM, EXPLORE IT. PONDER IT. AND MOST OF ALL, USE IT. USE IT TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

THROUGH YOUR PROBLEMS AND MINE, MAY GOD BE SEEN

SO HERE IS A SUMMARY OF PAUL’S PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS: HE THANKS GOD FOR THEIR FAITH IN JESUS AND THEIR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER. SECONDLY, HE PRAYS FOR WISDOM FOR THE CHURCH. A WISDOM THAT WILL HELP THEM DISCERN WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

JOHN 10:11-18 THE GOOD SHEPHERD 5/3/2008

IT IS SMALL WONDER THAT THE IMAGE OF THE SHEPHERD WAS FREQUENTLY UPON THE LIPS OF THE SAVIOR. IT WAS A PART OF HIS HERITAGE AND CULTURE. ABRAHAM, THE FATHER OF THE NATION, WAS THE KEEPER OF GREAT FLOCKS. MOSES WAS TENDING THE FLOCKS OF HIS FATHER-IN-LAW, JETHRO, WHEN GOD CALLED HIM INTO A SPECIAL SERVICE. DAVID WAS A SHEPHERD BOY CALLED IN FROM THE FIELDS TO BE THE KING OF ISRAEL.

THE IMAGERY OF THE SHEPHERD WAS ALSO IMPRINTED UPON THE LITERATURE OF THE DAY. THE 23RD PSALM IS FREQUENTLY REFERRED TO AS THE SHEPHERD PSALM. "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT. HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES. HE LEADETH ME BESIDE STILL WATERS."

WHEN ISAIAH SPOKE OF THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH HE WORDED IT BY SAYING: "HE WILL FEED HIS FLOCK LIKE A SHEPHERD! HE WILL GATHER HIS LAMBS INTO HIS ARMS." YES, THE TRADITION OF THE SHEPHERD WAS VERY MUCH A PART OF THE HERITAGE OF CHRIST.

THIS PICTURE COMES MORE CLEARLY INTO FOCUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. JESUS ONCE TOLD A STORY ABOUT A SHEPHERD WHO HAD 100 SHEEP, BUT ONE OF THEM WENT ASTRAY. IN OUR WAY OF THINKING A 99% RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT WOULD BE MOST DESIRABLE, BUT NOT THIS SHEPHERD. HE LEFT THE 99 TO GO IN SEARCH OF THAT ONE LOST SHEEP. LATER, WHEN JESUS WAS SPEAKING TO A GREAT THRONG OF PEOPLE, MARK TELLS US THAT HE HAD COMPASSION UPON THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE "AS SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD."

THROUGHOUT THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN FAITH, THEN, THE IMAGE OF THE SHEPHERD HAS BEEN STAMPED UPON OUR THINKING. IN OUR SCRIPTURE TEXT FOR THIS MORNING JESUS AGAIN TAPS INTO THIS IMAGERY WHEN HE REFERS TO HIMSELF AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD. FOR A FEW MOMENTS THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO EXAMINE TOGETHER WHAT HE HAD IN MIND WHEN HE DESCRIBED HIMSELF THUS.

FIRST, WE HAVE A SHEPHERD THAT IS A GENUINE SHEPHERD. UNITED METHODIST PASTOR REV. LARRY DANIEL, A WELL-KNOWN WRITER OF CIVIL WAR NOVELS, TELLS A STORY ON HIMSELF. HE SAYS, "I WILL NEVER FORGET WHEN I GOT MY WIFE'S ENGAGEMENT RING. I HAD BEEN SAVING UP MONEY FROM ALL OF THE MARRIAGES I HAD PERFORMED TO BUY AN ANTIQUE MUSKET--AN 1864 U. S. SPRINGFIELD RIFLE--OH, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. INSTEAD I USED THE MONEY TO BUY AN ENGAGEMENT RING." GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THAT. BUT AFTER I HAD BOUGHT THE RING, I SAID TO THE JEWELER--NOW, BE HONEST WITH ME. THE DEAL IS MADE. I CAN'T BACK OUT OF IT. CAN YOU REALLY TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REAL ONE CARROT RING AND SOME PHONY THING THAT I CAN BUY OFF THE SHOPPER'S CHANNEL ON TV?

HE SAID: COME AROUND HERE AND LOOK AT THIS, I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING. HE PUT THE LIGHT ON TWO RINGS--THE ONE I HAD JUST BOUGHT AND A PHONY DIAMOND. THEN HE GAVE ME HIS JEWELER'S EYEGLASS. HE SAID LOOK AT THIS CHEAP IMITATION AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU JUST BOUGHT AND WHEN I DID I WAS AMAZED. MY RING SPARKLED. THE COUNTERFEIT WAS DULL AND HAD NO LUSTER.

JESUS SAID: NOW HERE ARE TWO SHEPHERDS. OUTWARDLY THERE SEEMS TO BE NO DIFFERENCE. THE SKIN OF BOTH HAS BEEN BRONZED BY THE SUN AND WEATHERED BY THE WIND. THEY BOTH CARRY A FLEECE TO KEEP THEM WARM AT NIGHT. BOTH CARRY A SHEPHERD'S CROOK. BUT ONE IS A GENUINE SHEPHERD AND THE OTHER IS A COUNTERFEIT. ONE IS A SHEPHERD IN HIS HEART; THE OTHER IS A SHEPHERD FOR HIRE.

ON AN ORDINARY DAY YOU COULD NEVER TELL THEM APART. BUT LET TROUBLE COME. LET A PACK OF WOLVES APPEAR AND THEN THE DIFFERENCE COMES OUT. THE COUNTERFEIT RUNS, BECAUSE IT IS ONLY MONEY TO HIM. HE HAS NO OWNERSHIP. BUT THE REAL SHEPHERD STAYS. JESUS SAID IN OUR TEXT: I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR MY SHEEP. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REAL SHEPHERD AND THE COUNTERFEIT.

HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS FRIENDS. I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH TROUBLE COMES YOUR WAY; THE GOOD SHEPHERD WILL NEVER LEAVE YOUR SIDE. HE WILL NOT DESERT YOU IN TIMES OF TRIAL. THAT IS NEWS THAT WILL LET YOU GET THROUGH THE NIGHT; THAT IS NEWS THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO KEEP YOUR SANITY.

SECOND, I THINK THAT THE GOOD SHEPHERD KNOWS HIS SHEEP. SIR GEORGE ADAMS SMITH TELLS OF BEING IN THE HOLY LAND MANY YEARS AGO. HE SAW SEVERAL DIFFERENT FLOCKS OF SHEEP ALL HUDDLED TOGETHER AT A WATERING HOLE. THEY ALL LOOKED ALIKE TO HIM. IT WAS SIMPLY A MASS OF WHITE WOOL. HE WONDERED HOW THE SHEPHERDS WOULD EVER SEPARATE THEM OUT. AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME, HOWEVER, EACH SHEPHERD GAVE HIS OWN UNIQUE CALL, AND IN ORDERLY FASHION THE SHEEP DIVIDED. PERHAPS THAT IS WHAT THE GOOD SHEPHERD MEANT WHEN HE SAID: I KNOW MY SHEEP AND MY SHEEP KNOW ME.

BISHOP EDWARD TULLIS USED TO TELL THE STORY OF A PARTICULAR CENSUS TAKER WHO WENT TO A FAMILY TO GATHER INFORMATION. THIS WAS IN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE FAMILY WAS QUITE POOR. HE ASKED THE MOTHER HOW MANY DEPENDENTS SHE HAD. SHE BEGAN, WELL THERE IS ROSALIE, AND BILLY, AND LEWELLA, OUR DOG WILLIE. THE CENSUS TAKER INTERRUPTED HER AND SAID: NO MA'AM THAT IS NOT NECESSARY. I JUST NEED HUMANS.

OH, SHE SAID. WELL, THERE IS ROSALIE, AND BILLY, AND LEWELLA. RATHER EXASPERATED, THE CENSUS TAKER INTERRUPTED HER AGAIN AND SAID: NO MA'AM, YOU DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND. I DON'T NEED THEIR NAMES I JUST NEED NUMBERS. THE MOTHER INNOCENTLY REPLIED: BUT I DON'T KNOW THEM BY NUMBERS. I ONLY KNOW THEM BY NAMES.

IT STRIKES ME AS A RATHER COMFORTING THOUGHT THAT THE GREAT CREATOR OF THE COSMOS KNOWS ME BY NAME. HE KNOWS MY SITUATION. OH, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE THOSE WHO SCOFF THAT THE GREAT PRIME MOVER OF THE UNIVERSE COULD ALSO BE A CARING SHEPHERD. BUT I SIMPLY LOOK TO THE WORDS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD: I KNOW MY SHEEP.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO A MURDER TOOK PLACE IN A SMALL MISSISSIPPI TOWN. THE NEIGHBORS WHO WERE INTERVIEWED ON THE NEWS WERE ALL SHOCKED. IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO US THAT THE HUSBAND DID IT THEY ALL SAID. WE KNEW THESE PEOPLE. WE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES. YOU SEE, THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD AND US. GOD KNOWS. WE ONLY THINK THAT WE KNOW.

JESUS SAID: MY SHEEP KNOW ME. THE QUESTION IS: ARE WE ATTUNED TO GOD'S SPECIAL WHISPER. I SUPPOSE ALL OF US HAVE SEEN THE PAINTING DONE IN THE 1930'S OF A DOG, LOOKING WITH A COCKED HEAD, AT AN OLD RCA PHONOGRAPH. THE NAME OF THE PAINTING IS THE MASTER'S VOICE. I KNOW THAT IN MY LIFE I HAVE NOT ALWAYS RECOGNIZED MY MASTER'S VOICE. I HAVE BEEN TOO BUSY, TOO PREOCCUPIED, TOO SELF-CENTERED. SOMETIMES, FRANKLY, I AM AFRAID TO HEAR HIS VOICE; FOR I KNOW THAT HE WILL SAY WHAT I MAY NOT WANT TO HEAR. BUT I KNOW THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO HEAR ONCE AGAIN THE WORDS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD: I KNOW MY SHEEP, AND MY SHEEP KNOW ME.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD ALSO INCLUDES OTHER SHEEP. JESUS SAID: I HAVE OTHER SHEEP TOO, AND THEY ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD. I MUST BRING THEM IN ALSO.

NOW HERE IS THE QUESTION FOR THIS MORNING. WHAT IS AN OXYMORON? AN OXYMORON IS A COMBINATION OF CONTRADICTORY TERMS, SEEMINGLY CANCELING EACH OTHER OUT. FOR EXAMPLE: BITTERSWEET, JUMBO-SHRIMP, AUTHENTIC-REPRODUCTION, UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS FOOTBALL, HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE.

LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER. GOOD SHEPHERD. CERTAINLY TO THE MODERN EAR THERE IS NOTHING CONTRADICTORY ABOUT THAT, UNTIL WE LEARN THAT IN THE ANCIENT WORLD SHEPHERDING WAS REALLY NOT CONSIDERED THE ROMANTIC, HUMBLE OCCUPATION THAT WE THINK OF IT TODAY. SHEPHERDS WERE LOOKED UPON OFTEN AS GYPSIES ARE LOOKED UPON IN SOME PARTS OF EUROPE TODAY. THEY WERE DIRTY, THIEVES. SO DESPISED WERE SHEPHERDS THAT UNDER JEWISH LAW, A SHEPHERD COULD NOT BE A WITNESS IN A TRIAL. THEY WERE NOTORIOUS LIARS.

JUST WHEN WE THINK WE'VE GOT SHEPHERDS FIGURED OUT, JESUS THROWS US FOR A LOOP AND USES THE TERM GOOD SHEPHERD. YOU SEE, IN GOD'S FLOCK, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT YOU DID NOT EXPECT. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT OF MY FOLD (AND OF COURSE HE IS SPEAKING OF THE GENTILES) AND I MUST BRING THEM IN TOO. THIS SHEPHERD IS AN INCLUSIVE SHEPHERD.

IN JOHN DRINKWATER'S HISTORICAL DRAMA ABRAHAM LINCOLN, A WOMAN SAYS TO LINCOLN: MR. PRESIDENT, HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS? IN THE LATEST BATTLE WE SUFFERED 800 CASUALTIES AND THE ENEMY 2700. HOW SPLENDID."

"SPLENDID," REPLIED LINCOLN, "THAT 3500 SOULS ARE LOST?" OH, MR. PRESIDENT, SHE SAID, YOU MUST NOT LOOK AT IT IN THAT WAY. ONLY 800 OF THEM COUNTED. REPLIES LINCOLN: "MADAM, THE WORLD IS MUCH BIGGER THAN YOUR HEART." WE HAVE A GOOD SHEPHERD WHO IS INCLUSIVE.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD ALSO SACRIFICES. JESUS WORDED IT THIS WAY: THE SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP. LAY DOWN YOUR LIFE FOR A WORTHLESS ANIMAL!? IT HARDLY SEEMS REASONABLE. THAT IS, UNTIL WE REMEMBER THAT WE ARE THE SHEEP THAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT. WE ARE THE WORTHLESS ONES. IT IS CALLED ATONEMENT--THE SHEDDING OF ONE'S BLOOD ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER WHO DOESN'T DESERVE IT.

NICHOLAS BREDYAEV, WHO ABANDONED MARXISM FOR CHRISTIANITY, INSISTED THAT IT WAS NOT THEOLOGY, OR HISTORY, NOR THE CHURCH THAT CAUSED HIS CONVERSION. HE WAS PRESENT AT A CONCENTRATION CAMP IN NAZI GERMANY WHEN THE NAZIS WERE KILLING JEWS IN THE GAS CHAMBERS. ONE DISTRAUGHT MOTHER, WHOSE FIRST NAME WAS MARIA, SAW THAT THE OFFICER IN CHARGE, BREDYAEV, WAS REALLY ONLY INTERESTED IN NUMBERS. SO WITHOUT A SINGLE WORD MARIA WAS PULLED ASIDE BY AN UNKNOWN WOMAN WHO TOOK HER PLACE. SO POWERFUL WAS THAT IMAGE THAT IT TURNED BREDYAEV TOWARD THE CHRIST WHO SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR ALL HUMANITY.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP. YOU DON'T HAVE A LIFE WORTH LIVING FOR IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CAUSE WORTH DYING FOR. IF WE ARE TO FOLLOW THE SHEPHERDING MODEL AS LAID DOWN BY CHRIST, THEN SACRIFICE MUST BE A PART OF OUR FAITH. IT MEANS THAT THE CHURCH MUST NOW LAY DOWN HER LIFE FOR A WORTHLESS AND UNDESERVING SOCIETY.

IT IS NOT ENOUGH THAT WE SIMPLY REMAIN SHEEP. CHRIST IS CALLING US INTO THE ROLL OF SHEPHERD. JESUS ASKED SIMON PETER ONE DAY: PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME? LORD, HE SAID, YOU KNOW THAT I DO LOVE YOU. THEN, CAME THE REPLY, FEED MY SHEEP. IF WE ARE TO BE FAITHFUL, THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE. AMEN.

EPHESIANS 1:3-14 1/4/2008

AS I BEGAN PREPARING THE SERMON FOR THIS WEEK, THE FIRST VERSE WAS INTERESTING. BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO HAS BLESSED US IN CHRIST WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES.” OR AS THE MESSAGE PUTS IT HE TAKES US TO THE HIGH PLACES OF BLESSING WITH HIM.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS MORNING IS FOCUS ON WHAT ARE THESE BLESSINGS IN HIGH PLACES? WHAT IS THIS HIGH PLACE OF BLESSING WITH GOD? HOW CAN WE GET THERE?

2008 HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR FOR MANY OF YOU, ME INCLUDED. GRIEF HAS BEEN PERPETUAL COMPANION FOR YOU AND FOR ME. IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS HOW DOES PAUL SAY BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO HAS BLESSED US IN CHRIST WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES. ARE WE MISSING SOMETHING HERE?

ONE OF THE SPIRITUAL TRUTHS OR REALITY OF LIFE THAT I AM SLOWLY RECONCILING MYSELF TO IS ALL OF US ARE EITHER IN THE BEGINNINGS OF A STORM OR IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM OR WE ARE AT THE END OF A STORM. IT JUST DOESN’T SEEM TO END. BUT THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ALL DEALT WITH IN LIFE. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. WE ALL GO THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES IN LIFE.

I WAS VISITING WITH A 55 YEAR OLD WOMAN A FEW DAYS AGO. SHE HAD TO PULL THE PLUG ON THE LIFE MACHINE WHICH KEPT HER HUSBAND ALIVE SEVEN YEARS AGO. SHE LIVES IN A TRAILER HOME. HER DAUGHTER IS GROWN AND HAS MOVED OUT. HER SON LIVES WITH HER AND TAKES CARE OF HER. HER SISTER IS IN A RETIREMENT HOME WAITING FOR DEATH. SHE HAS LOST HER KIDNEYS AND HAS TO GO TO DIALYSIS THREE TIMES A WEEK. IN THE MIDST OF OUR CONVERSATION SHE SAID, “IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER ONE IS PRETTY OR NOT PRETTY, WE ALL HAVE SUFFERINGS.” THE PRETTY OR HANDSOME ONES ARE JUST GOOD TO LOOK AT.

THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS WAS WRITTEN FROM PRISON. PAUL FINDS HIMSELF SMACK DAB RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A DINGY ROMAN PRISON FACING SOME SERIOUS CHARGES. THINGS HAVE BEEN BAD FOR PAUL. THE PRISON IS ONLY ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT HAVE NOT GONE WELL FOR HIM. HE HAS BEEN SHIPWRECKED, BEATEN NEARLY TO DEATH, IMPRISONED, FELLOW CHRISTIANS OPPOSING HIM, UNLESS GOD INTERVENES, HE KNOWS THAT HE IS NOT GETTING OUT OF PRISON BUT IS FACING A SURE DEATH SENTENCE. BY THE WAY GOD DID NOT INTERVENE AND PAUL DID DIE IN PRISON. IN THE MIDST OF SUCH A DIFFICULT, DEPRESSING SITUATION PAUL WROTE THIS WHOLE BOOK AND THE VERSE WE ARE FOCUSING ON "THANKS BE TO GOD THROUGH OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST WHO HAS BLESSED US IN CHRIST WITH EVERY BLESSING." STRANGE WORDS DON’T YOU THINK FROM A MAN FACING EXECUTION. WHAT DID PAUL HAVE TO BE THANKFUL FOR? WHAT DID HE DO THAT KEPT HIM IN THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND? WHAT DID HE DO THAT KEPT HIS HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE?

HERE IS A THOUGHT-PAUL WAS THANKFUL IN SOMETHING AND NOT FOR SOMETHING. LET ME REPEAT THAT FOR YOU, PAUL WAS THANKFUL IN SOMETHING AND NOT FOR SOMETHING. NORMALLY WHEN SOMEONE SAYS WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR, WE SAY I AM THANKFUL FOR MY JOB, FOOD ON THE TABLE ETC. THESE ARE IMPORTANT AND WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL. BUT WHAT IF LIKE PAUL WE LOST OUR JOBS, LOST THE FOOD ON THE TABLE, WOULD THAT MEAN WE HAVE NOTHING TO PRAISE GOD FOR.

THANKSGIVING IS AN ATTITUDE OF THE HEART. IT IS A PLACE WHERE THE HEART RESIDES. WHEN WE GET THERE, WITH THE HELP OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT, AND HIS WORD THEN EVEN IF OUTWARDLY THINGS AND PEOPLE WE LOVE ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PRAISE GOD FOR SOMETHING.

IN A UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN MILAN TN, A YOUNG MAN WITH A ELEVEN YEAR OLD SON CAME HOME TO FIND OUT THAT HIS WIFE HAD LEFT HIM FOR ANOTHER MAN. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER HIS SON WAS PLAYING IN THE STREET, A TRUCK STRUCK HIM AND HIS SON DIED. ON THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL, THE YOUNG MAN SAID TO HIS PASTOR, “I THANK GOD FOR ALL THE KINDNESS MY CHURCH FAMILY HAS SHOWN ME DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.” DO YOU THINK HIS HEART WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE IN THE MIDST OF SUCH TERRIBLE TRAGEDY?

SO AS 2009 HAS BEGUN, LET US REMEMBER THAT IN THE MIDST OF UNFAIR SUFFERING GOD STILL LOVES YOU, JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR YOU, THERE IS A PLACE IN HEAVEN FOR YOU, YOUR NAME IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE, BECAUSE YOU WERE AND ARE FAITHFUL TO JESUS IN TOUGH TIMES, YOU WILL BE ALIVE, A BILLION YEARS FROM NOW AND BEYOND. WHATEVER OR WHOEVER LIFE TAKES FROM YOU THERE ARE TWO GIFTS THAT LIFE CANNOT TAKE AWAY FROM YOU. ONE IS WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR YOU AT THE CROSS-NAMELY YOUR SALVATION NEITHER LIFE, NOR SATAN, OR YOUR ENEMIES CAN TAKE THAT AWAY. SECONDLY, YOU RELATIONSHIP/FRIENDSHIP WITH JESUS CANNOT BE TAKEN AWAY.

SO BE THANKFUL IN GOD, FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU RATHER THAN FOR THE THINGS YOU HAVE.

SECONDLY YOU AND I CANNOT CONTROL WHAT DISEASE COMES TO US, WE CANNOT CONTROL WHEN OUR LOVED ONES WILL BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US, AFTER SOMETIME WE CANNOT EVEN CONTROL OUR CHILDREN CAN WE? YOU SEE STRESS LEVEL GOES UP WHEN WE SEE OUR BODIES, OUR LOVED ONES AND OUR CHILDREN, OUR JOBS, OUR POSSESSION AS SOMETHING WE OWN, WE CONTROL. THEY ARE GIFTS FROM GOD GIVEN TO US FOR SOMETIME. WE LIKE TO SAY I HAD TWO CHILDREN, GOD USED YOU AS AN INSTRUMENT TO BRING THOSE CHILDREN INTO THIS WORLD, HE COULD HAVE USED SOMEONE ELSE OR DECIDED NOT TO MAKE ANY CHILDREN THROUGH YOU OR ME. NOW TO THE THINGS THAT YOU AND I CANNOT CONTROL, WHAT WE CAN CONTROL IS OUR RESPONSE TO IT.

WHEN A DISEASE I DID NOT WANT, HITS MY BODY, WHEN MY LOVED ONE WAS TAKEN AWAY, WHEN I WAS NOT READY, WHEN I WORRY ABOUT MY CHILDREN’S FUTURE REMEMBER THE ONLY THING WE CAN CONTROL OR WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IS OUR RESPONSE TO THE UNCONTROLLABLE SITUATIONS?

THERE ARE GOING TO BE TIMES, SEVERAL TIMES, REPEATEDLY TILL YOU DIE WHEN SOMEONE WILL DO SOMETHING TO YOU THAT WILL HURT, CAUSE SUFFERING, FRUSTRATE, INJURE YOUR PRIDE, HURT YOUR FEELINGS, OR YOU MIGHT GET A HEART ATTACK YOU DID NOT DESERVE, CHOLESTEROL WHEN YOU DID WATCH YOUR DIET, WORK ON MAKING SURE THAT YOUR RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION FALLS BETWEEN SCRIPTURAL GUIDELINES.

LET ME CLOSE WITH A REAL LIFE ILLUSTRATION. A FEW YEARS AGO MAXIE DUNNAM WAS LEADING A SEMINAR ON PRAYER AND PERSONAL WHOLENESS IN THE UPPER ROOM PRAYER AND BIBLE CONFERENCE AT LAKE JUNALUSKA. THEY HAD ABOUT 150 PEOPLE IN THE SEMINAR. AND ON THE FIRST DAY THE ROOM WAS CROWDED, AND AS THEY BEGAN, SIX WOMEN CAME INTO THE ROOM TOGETHER. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY EVERYONE KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THOSE WOMEN, THEY WERE VERY ATTRACTIVE, THEY WERE BEAUTIFULLY DRESSED, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WAS SPECIAL ABOUT THEM. THERE WAS ABOUT THEM A KIND OF AIR, A KIND OF ATTITUDE THAT REALLY GRABBED EVERYONE’S ATTENTION, THEN THE KIND OF QUESTIONS THEY ASKED, THE WAY THEY RELATED TO EACH OTHER AND THE WAY THEY RELATED TO THE GROUP, CAUSED MAXIE DUNNAM TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL ABOUT THOSE SIX WOMEN. HE LEARNED LITTLE ABOUT THEM, BUT HE DID LEARN THAT THEY WERE A PART OF A WOMEN'S PRAYER GROUP - 12 PEOPLE - WHO MEET EVERY THURSDAY MORNING AT 6:00 IN A LITTLE METHODIST CHURCH IN CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA.

TWO WEEKS AFTER MAXIE DUNNAM LEFT THAT CONFERENCE, HE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ONE OF THESE WOMEN, WHO, ALONG WITH HER PASTOR, WAS EXTENDING HIM AN INVITATION TO COME TO THAT CHURCH AND LEAD IN SOME SORT OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL EMPHASIS. AFTER EXTENDING THAT INVITATION SHE WROTE, AND I'M QUOTING DIRECTLY FROM HER LETTER, “I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN OUR GROUP OF SIX, OBVIOUSLY THOROUGHLY ENJOYING THE LORD AND EACH OTHER.' AND THEY WERE CERTAINLY DOING THAT. THEN SHE TOLD MAXIE DUNNAM WHO THEY WERE.

ONE, AN ALCOHOLIC, GIVEN THE SIMPLE MEDICINE OF LOVE, LAST DRINK - NOVEMBER 1973. ONE WHOSE HUSBAND LEFT HER HERE WITH TWO BOYS WHILE HE WAS LIVING WITH A "FANCY LADY" AND SHE MAKING IT ALONE BY THE POWER OF CHRIST. ONE WHO HAS JUST GONE THROUGH A BATTLE WITH CANCER. ONE WHO HAS JUST GONE THROUGH THE ANGUISH OF PLACING HER MOTHER IN A NURSING HOME DUE TO ADVANCED ARTERIAL SCLEROSIS. ONE WHOSE HUSBAND WHO HAD AN AFFAIR, NOW BOTH LADIES ARE IN A PRAYER, PRAYING HAND IN HAND EACH WEEK. ONE WHO WAS ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN BEFORE COMING TO JUNALUSKA, NOW PRAISING THE LORD.

SHE CONCLUDED HER LETTER BY ASKING, HOW IS THAT TO PROVE THAT JOY AND PEACE ARE IN THE LORD WHILE LIFE GRINDS ON.' THEN SHE ADDED A RATHER HUMOROUS SENTENCE, BET YOU WONDER WHICH IS WHICH, BUT THAT'S A SECRET.' THESE WOMEN WERE SPECIAL. AND I KNEW THEY WERE SPECIAL, BECAUSE THEY MADE THE MAGNIFICENT DISCOVERY OF THE VAST RESOURCES OF POWER AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO TRUST CHRIST. THEY ARE DISCOVERING WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE A LIFE HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. TO KNOW THE CHAFING POWER OF THE INDWELLING CHRIST. THEY ARE RESPONDING TO AND CULTIVATING THAT WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO EVERY CHRISTIAN - TO YOU AND TO ME - THE VIBRANT LIVING POWER OF CHRIST WHO INDWELLS US BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

I PRAY, I PRAY THAT YOU HAVE DISCOVERED OR AT LEAST THAT YOU ARE BEGINNING TO DISCOVER THAT POWER IN 2009. LET US PRAY.

JOHN 1:6-8 WAITING 12/14/2008

AS A CHILD I REMEMBER THAT THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF CHRISTMAS WAS SIMPLY WAITING FOR IT TO COME. FROM THANKSGIVING TO DECEMBER 25 SEEMED MORE LIKE AN ETERNITY THAN A MONTH. DAYS SEEMED LIKE WEEKS. WEEKS FELT LIKE SEASONS. TIME SEEMED TO STAND STILL.

THAT SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISING BECAUSE WAITING IS FOREIGN TO OUR SOCIETY. IT SEEMS UNNATURAL. WE HUNGER FOR IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION. THE IDEA OF DELAYED SATISFACTION IS A STRANGER TO OUR THINKING.

THE SYMBOLS OF OUR UNWILLINGNESS TO WAIT ARE ALL AROUND US. FAST FOOD CHAINS BOOM BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO EAT. WE STAND IN CROOKED LINES, THEN YELL OUT AN ORDER, GET IT DOWN IN FIVE MINUTES AND THEN GET BACK TO THE RAT RACE. WE HAVEN'T GOT TIME TO SIT DOWN AND READ A BOOK ANYMORE. PERHAPS IT IS A SIGN OF THE TIMES THAT WE HAVE CONDENSED VERSIONS OF THE BIBLE. IN KITCHENS ALL OVER AMERICA THERE ARE GADGETS TO GET THE MEAL PREPARED QUICKLY. I WOULD GUESS MR. COFFEE STARTED IT ALL. SIMPLY SPOON IN THE COFFEE AND POUR WATER. THE COFFEE IS MADE BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN FIND A CUP. WHEN WE BECOME SICK, WE WANT TO BE MADE WELL NOW, NOT LATER. MEDICINE, DOCTORS, PASTORAL CARE AND LOVE ARE OFTEN REJECTED IF THEY ARE NOT SWIFT.

I, LIKE YOU, ACCEPT MOST OF OUR NO-WAIT APPROACH TO LIFE, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT, THOUGH WE DO NOT LIKE WAITING, WAITING IS A PART OF LIVING. WE MUST WAIT FOR PAYDAY, A BREAK, QUITTING TIME, AND FOR THE MAILMAN. WHEN YOU DO YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, YOU HAD CERTAINLY BETTER BE PREPARED TO WAIT IN A LINE TO GET CHECKED OUT, WAIT TO GET A PARKING PLACE, AND WAIT THROUGH AT LEAST FOUR RED LIGHTS BEFORE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ON POPULAR AVE.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO VERY SERIOUS MATTERS FOR WHICH WE WAIT. SOME WAIT FOR HEALTH TO RETURN, SOME FOR THE COMING OF FOOD STAMPS, MARRIAGE, REMARRIAGE, ETC. WE MUST WAIT FOR PEACE. A SCARED CHILD WAITS FOR THE COMING OF MORNING, AND A SCARED ADULT AWAITS DEATH. AND AN EXPECTANT MOTHER WAITS FOR DELIVERY. WAITING CAN BE PURE AGONY. IT'S LIKE THE JURY IS OUT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT SCRIPTURE TIME AND TIME AGAIN TELLS US THAT GOD'S CLOCK IS WOUND IN A DIFFERENT WAY. TIME IS DIFFERENT TO HIM. WE LOOK AT SECONDS; HE LOOKS AT THE AGES. WAITING, NOT HURRYING IS ONE OF HIS CHARACTERISTICS. AND THIS WAITING GOD TELLS HIS PEOPLE THAT OFTEN, THEY TOO MUST WAIT.

AND THAT IS WHERE THE STORY OF CHRISTMAS REALLY BEGINS. IT BEGINS THOUSANDS OF YEARS BEFORE THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. THEY LONGED FOR THAT ONE WHO WOULD BRING LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS, AND MAKE THE BLIND TO SEE. THEY LONGED FOR THAT ONE WHO WOULD TURN THEIR SORROW INTO JOY, AND VANQUISH THEIR ENEMIES. BUT, GOD SAID, YOU MUST WAIT. LET US LOOK AT HOW GOD'S PEOPLE HAVE WAITED THROUGHOUT THE AGES:

I FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT WAITING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. LONG BEFORE JESUS WALKED ON EARTH THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THE JEWS, WERE TOLD THAT A GREAT SAVIOR WAS TO COME. THE NEW TESTAMENT WRITERS WERE KEENLY AWARE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES. THERE ARE DOZENS OF REFERENCES TO THE MESSIAH IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. LOOK AT THEM WITH ME:

· MATTHEW (1:21-23) SAYS THE VIRGIN CONCEPTION OF JESUS IS FOUND IN ISAIAH 7:14

· JOHN (7:42) SAYS HIS BIRTH IN BETHLEHEM IS FOUND IN MICAH 5:2

· MATTHEW (2:15) POINTS THE FAMILY'S FLIGHT TO EGYPT IN HOSEA 11:1

· MARK (1:2) FINDS THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST IN MALACHI 3:1

· LUKE (18:32) RECOGNIZES THE SUFFERING MESSIAH IN ISAIAH 53:3FF.

· JOHN (19:24,28,36,37) SHOWS US THAT THE CASTING OF LOTS FOR THE CLOTHES OF JESUS, HIS THIRST ON THE CROSS, HIS BONES NOT BEING BROKEN, AS WAS THE CUSTOM, AND HIS PIERCED SIDE ARE ALL THERE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT (PSALM 22:18, 22:15, 34:20, AND ZECHARIAH 12:10).

· HIS DEATH, RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN ARE ALL OVER THE OLD TESTAMENT, IN ISAIAH 53:7, DEUTERONOMY 21:33, PSALM 18, 2 SAMUEL 7:12-13. HOSEA 6:2.

THERE ARE DOZEN'S MORE IN THE GOSPELS. THE OTHER BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE BOOKS WE CALL THE EPISTLES QUOTE THE OLD TESTAMENT 33 TIMES REFERRING TO PROPHECIES ABOUT JESUS AND HIS CHURCH-CLOSE TO 100 REFERENCES TO THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. WHY AM I POINTING ALL THAT OUT? BECAUSE WAITING IS PART OF OUR FAITH! SOMETIMES WE WAIT FOR THAT WHICH WE KNOW WE WILL NEVER SEE BUT BY FAITH WE STILL WAIT KNOWING THAT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN WILL SEE IT ONE DAY.

ABRAHAM WAITED FOR THAT WHICH HE COULD NOT SEE: A SON. MOSES WAITED FOR THAT WHICH HE COULD NOT SEE: A PROMISED LAND. MARY WAITED FOR THAT WHICH THE ANGEL GABRIEL HAD ANNOUNCED: A SON WHO’S KINGDOM WOULD KNOW NO END. JOHN WAITED FOR ONE WHOSE SANDAL HE WAS NOT WORTHY TO UNTIE: A MESSIAH. WE WAIT. WE WAIT FOR THAT WHICH WE CANNOT SEE.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR THIS CHRISTMAS? FOR THE RIGHT JOB, FINANCIAL SECURITY, CHILDREN WOULD MAKE BETTER DECISIONS, PEACE OF MIND DURING TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, MORE MONEY, GIFT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN LONGING FOR, FOR YOUR SPOUSE TO CHANGE OR ARE YOU WAITING FOR CHRIST TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE? NOT INTO YOUR HEART SO YOU HAVE A PLACE IN HEAVEN, BUT INTO YOUR LIFE WHERE GOD, SERVING GOD COMES FIRST, FAMILY COMES SECOND, WORK COMES THIRD. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR THIS CHRISTMAS?

II SECONDLY, THERE IS THE WAITING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. THE PEOPLE OF JOHN'S DAY EXPERIENCED A SPECIAL KIND OF WAITING. WHEN JESUS WAS A YOUNG MAN IN HIS LATE 20S, JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS A DESERT PROPHET WARNING EVERYONE OF THE WRATH OF GOD AND THE JUDGMENT TO COME. HIS MESSAGE WAS HARSH. IT WAS A SHARP REBUKE ESPECIALLY OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP. THE PEOPLE HAD BEEN WORKED UP INTO SUCH FRENZY THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT HE WAS THE MESSIAH. MANY WHO CAME OUT TO SEE HIM WOULD GO HOME TO FAMILY AND WORKMATES AND GOSSIP ABOUT HIM. THEY WERE CONVINCED HE WAS THE MESSIAH OR HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. BUT JOHN SAID, NO, I AM NOT HE AND FOR NOW, YOU MUST WAIT: HE SAID, "I CAME TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE LIGHT THAT IS TO COME.”THE PEOPLE PRESSED HIM TO SAY MORE BUT ALL THAT JOHN WOULD SAY WAS: I AM NOT HE.

LET ME TELL YOU S STORY. THERE WAS A WOMAN ONCE WHO WANTED PEACE IN THE WORLD AND PEACE IN HER HEART, BUT SHE WAS VERY FRUSTRATED. THE WORLD SEEMED TO BE FALLING APART AND HER PERSONAL LIFE WASN'T THAT GREAT EITHER. ONE DAY SHE DECIDED TO GO SHOPPING, AND SHE WENT TO THE MALL AND WALKED IN TO ONE OF THE STORES. SHE WAS SURPRISED TO SEE JESUS BEHIND THE COUNTER. SHE KNEW IT WAS JESUS BECAUSE HE LOOKED JUST LIKE THE PAINTINGS SHE'D SEEN IN MUSEUMS AND IN DEVOTIONAL BOOKS. FINALLY SHE GOT UP HER NERVE AND ASKED, "EXCUSE ME, BUT ARE YOU JESUS?" "I AM." "DO YOU WORK HERE?" "IN A WAY; I OWN THE STORE." "OH, WHAT DO YOU SELL HERE?" "JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING," JESUS REPLIED. "FEEL FREE TO WALK UP AND DOWN THE AISLES, MAKE A LIST, SEE WHAT IT IS YOU WANT, AND THEN COME BACK AND I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU."

WELL, SHE DID JUST THAT. SHE WALKED UP AND DOWN THE AISLES, WRITING FURIOUSLY. THERE WAS PEACE ON EARTH, NO MORE WAR, NO HUNGER OR POVERTY. THERE WAS PEACE IN FAMILIES, HARMONY, NO DISSENSION, AND NO MORE DRUGS; THERE WAS CAREFUL USE OF RESOURCES. BY THE TIME SHE GOT BACK TO THE COUNTER, SHE HAD A LONG LIST. JESUS LOOKED OVER THE LIST, THEN SMILED AT HER AND SAID, "NO PROBLEM." AND THEN HE BENT DOWN BEHIND THE COUNTER AND PICKED OUT ALL SORTS OF THINGS, AND FINALLY STOOD UP, AND LAID OUT THE PACKETS ON THE COUNTER. "WHAT ARE THESE?" THE WOMAN ASKED. "SEED PACKETS," JESUS ANSWERED. "THIS IS A CATALOG STORE." "YOU MEAN I DON'T GET THE FINISHED PRODUCT?" "NO, THIS IS A PLACE OF DREAMS. YOU COME AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, AND I GIVE YOU THE SEEDS. YOU GO HOME AND PLANT THE SEEDS. YOU WATER THEM AND NURTURE THEM AND HELP THEM TO GROW, AND SOMEDAY SOMEONE ELSE REAPS THE BENEFITS." "OH," SHE SAID. "AND SHE LEFT THE STORE WITHOUT BUYING ANYTHING."

JOHN UNDERSTOOD THAT HE WAS PLANTING THE SEEDS. THE MESSAGE IS WE MUST WAIT. ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THE WORK? TAKE TIME TO BUILD A FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD AND THEN SEE WHAT THE FRUITS OF YOU PUTTING THE HARD WORK TURNS OUT TO BE? ARE YOU WILLING TO POINT YOUR CHILDREN TOWARDS JESUS? DO YOUR CHILDREN SEE JESUS IN YOU? DO YOU MODEL READING THE BIBLE AND PRAYING TO YOUR CHILDREN? DO YOUR CHILDREN SEE YOU GOING FOR SPIRITUAL RETREATS? ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THE WORK SO THAT YOUR CHILDREN AND GRAND-CHILDREN MAY HARVEST THE BENEFIT OF YOUR SPIRITUAL WORK?

III THIS IS SEASON OF ADVENT, THE FOUR SUNDAYS PRIOR TO CHRISTMAS. FOR THE CHRISTIAN IT IS A TIME OF WAITING. IT IS PERHAPS AN AWKWARD SEASON, BECAUSE WE WOULD MUCH PREFER TO DISMISS WITH THE PRELIMINARIES AND GET RIGHT DOWN TO THE PARTICULARS OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS. WE WOULD MUCH PREFER TO HEAR AS THE SCRIPTURE LESSON: AND THERE WERE ABIDING IN THAT COUNTRY WE WOULD THE WORDS OF ISAIAH SPOKEN CENTURIES EARLIER: PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD. MAKE STRAIGHT YOUR HIGHWAYS. BUT THE MESSAGE OF ADVENT IS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO RUSH GOD'S STORY. IT SAYS TO US THAT FOR NOW, WE MUST WAIT.

EVEN THE HYMNS OF ADVENT REMIND US OF THIS: COME, THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS. 0 COME, 0 COME, EMMANUEL. WE LONG WITH ANTICIPATION. THE DAY OF FULFILLMENT WILL COME. BUT FOR NOW, THE PEOPLE OF GOD MUST WAIT.

THERE IS SPECIAL KIND OF WAITING THAT MANY OF US AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES WILL EXPERIENCE AND THAT IS THE BIRTH OF THE FIRST-BORN CHILD IN YOUR FAMILY. I REMEMBER GOING TO LAMAZE CLASSES TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING. HOW EXCITED WE WERE WHEN WE GOT TO SEE THAT FIRST ULTRA SOUND PICTURE. I INSISTED THAT IT WAS A GIRL. BUT I HAD TO WAIT. THERE WAS AN APPOINTED TIME AND NOTHING I COULD DO WOULD MAKE THAT DAY COME A SINGLE MINUTE CLOSER. AND THEN THE DAY CAME. I HAD TO PUT ON THIS GREEN GOWN AND SHOWER CAP. AGAIN I HAD TO WAIT. I DISTINCTLY REMEMBER STANDING AROUND WAITING. WAITING WHILE SHE WENT THROUGH LABOR- I WILL HAVE TO ADMIT HER WAITING WAS A LOT DIFFERENT THEN MINE. BUT WE WAIT FOR A FEW HOURS MORE WITH AN ANTICIPATION THAT ONLY A PARENT COULD POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND.

HOW WILL YOU WAIT FOR THE BIRTH OF THE CHRIST CHILD DURING THIS ADVENT SEASON? WILL IT BE WITH A BLANK STARE, OR WILL IT BE WITH A SURGE OF EXCITING ANTICIPATION, PREPARING BY PRAYER, PREPARING BY REREADING THE CHRISTMAS STORIES AND SEEING WHAT NEW MEANING WILL THE LORD REVEAL TO YOU? OR MAYBE THIS CHRISTMAS YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING AS A FAMILY TO SERVE IN A HOMELESS SHELTER, SOUP KITCHEN, DO SOME HARD WORK AND INSTILL A NEW MEANING OF CHRISTMAS FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY? ONE OF THE GOALS I HAVE SET FOR MYSELF IS TO GO WORK IN ONE OF THE SHELTER WITH MY FAMILY, SO WE CAN TRULY GET TO KNOW CHRIST BETTER? WANTING TO KNOW ALL THAT YOU CAN ABOUT IT? FOR NOW WE MUST WAIT. BUT, MY FRIENDS, HOW WE WAIT MAKES ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD. AMEN.

Matthew 25:14-30 11/16/2008

Jesus once told a story of a wealthy landowner who was preparing for a long journey. He called his three servants and divided his money between them, each according to their ability. To one servant he gave five talents, meaning a sum of money, to a second two, and to a third one.

Why is life like that? I don't know. We are all equal in the eyes of God. We are all guaranteed equal rights under the Constitution. In an election our votes are all equal. But when it comes to our abilities, we are as different as different can be. God simply did not make us all the same. There are some people who can handle five talents; there are some who can handle only one. There are some persons who have great intellectual capabilities, and some who do not. There are some who have the ability to project and articulate their thoughts, and there are some who cannot. There are some who have physical prowess and attractive looks, and there are some who do not.

The important thing to remember is that each servant was given something. No one was left idle. You may not be a five-talent person, but you have some talent. We all do. And you know something. I think that there are a whole lot more one and two talent people in this world than there are five talent people. Oh, there are some people who seem to have it all. I won't deny that. But most of us are just one or two talent servants.

The landowner now went on his journey. When he returned he called together his three servants and asked them to give an account. It seems that the five talent man had invested his talent and was able to return an additional five talents, a 100% return. So, too the two talent man doubles his money. Well, done good and faithful servant. "

But what about the one talent man? He stepped forward and said: Sir, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow. So he returned that which he had originally been given him. The landowner, incensed, uses words such as "slothful" and "wicked." Angrily he took the talent back and gave it to the servant who now had ten.

It is interesting to note that in the 25th chapter of Matthew's Gospel there are three parables told in a row: The Parable of the Bridesmaid, The Parable of the Sheep and Goats, and the Parable of the Talents. Essentially the same phrase is used in each: after a long time. The bridegroom comes after a long time. The landowner returns after a long time. The judgment comes after a long time. Perhaps this is Matthews's way of saying to us: Our master may be delayed in his return, but, in the meanwhile, what are you doing with the talent that has been entrusted to you. Let us be clear on one issue. God expects a return. We had better not simply bury that which has been given us and return it when he comes.

Well, it is obvious that the star, or we might say the villain, of the story is the one talent man. The salient question is: why did he choose to do nothing with the one talent that had been given to him? We are not really given the answer. We are left to speculate. And that is precisely what I would like to do this morning. Speculate about his inaction.

I First, he perhaps did nothing with his one talent because he feared failure. How did he word it: " I was afraid" and I hid my talent. Fearful of doing the wrong thing, he chose to do nothing at all. This was perhaps a man who did well under supervision, but now he is left on his own and he is terrified. We view this man with contempt because he hid his talent in the ground. But our contempt is misguided. This was considered the traditional way of saving money in that day in time. He was being a good conservative businessman. He was not going to risk someone else's money by buying into some speculative venture.

It seems like the older we get, the more conservative we get. Someone once said, if you are not liberal when you are young you do not have a heart. If you are not conservative when you are old you do not have a head. Perhaps this was an older gentleman. The tendency is to want to play it safe and not go out on a limb. He wanted to play it safe and what is wrong with that. Simply this, you cannot love if you are not willing to risk. What is the risk of love? That it will not be reciprocated. That people will not return our love. But as the people of God, we are called upon to be the people of daring. Friends, if Jesus had played it safe, we would not be sitting here this morning.

I want to be faithful to this text. So, I would say to you: Go, and take risks. Takes risks and don't fear failure.

II Perhaps a second reason why this one talent man did nothing with his talent is that he played the game "if only." If only I had been given the talent of these other two men, then I could have accomplished something.

We like to play that game too. I would love to teach a Sunday school class, if only I had her ability. If only I had his voice I would sing in the choir. I would support the church if only I had a little more money. We would fully support the mission and ministry of the church if only we had a little more money in the budget. It is a dangerous game because it too easily gets us off the hook.

I love the story of the thirty-eight-year-old scrubwoman who would go to the movies and sigh, "If only I had her looks." She would listen to a singer and moan, "If only I had her voice." Then one day someone gave her a copy of the book, "The Magic of Believing." She stopped comparing herself with actresses and singers. She stopped crying about what she didn't have and started concentrating on what she did have. She took inventory of herself and remembered that in high school she had a reputation for being the funniest girl around. She began to turn her liabilities into assets. When she was at the top of her career Phyllis Diller made over $1 million a year. In the 1960's that was a great deal of money. She wasn't good-looking and she had a scratchy voice, but she could make people laugh.

Well, maybe God is saying something like that to us. Maybe when we complain that we wish that we had more, if only we were like someone other than ourselves, if only� He says to us: Use the gifts I have given you. Stop crying about what you do not have and start concentrating on what you do have.

We could measurably strengthen this church if we simply reactivated some of our inactive members, start using some of our unused gifts, start giving some of our one talent sums of money. Simply stirred up what we already have.

III To me, however, neither of these reasons really gets to the heart of the issue. I really think that the one talent man did nothing with his talent because he thought to himself: Well, my one little talent won't make any difference anyway. There are a lot of people who feel that way today. I dare say if you took a poll of why people don't vote, that would be the answer given most:

Well, my one little vote won't make any difference.

Sir Michael Costa, the celebrated conductor of the 19th century, was holding a rehearsal. As the mighty chorus rang out, accompanied by scores of instruments, the piccolo player--a little pint-sized flute--thinking perhaps that his contribution would not be missed amid so much music, stopped playing. Suddenly, the great leader stopped and cried out, "Where is the piccolo?"

The sound of that one small instrument was necessary to the harmony, and the Master Conductor missed it when it dropped out. The point? To the Conductor there are no insignificant instruments in an orchestra. Sometimes the smallest and seemingly least important one can make the greatest contribution and even if it doesn't seem to make that big a difference to the audience at large, THE CONDUCTOR KNOWS IT right away!

In the Church the players and the instruments are diverse-different sizes, different shapes, different notes, different roles to play. But like the piccolo player in Sir Michael's orchestra, we often in our own sovereignty decide that our contribution is not significant. Our contribution couldn't possibly make a difference. And so we quit playing. Stop doing that which we've been given to do. We drop out. But the Conductor immediately notices. From our perspective, our contribution may be small, but from His, it is crucial.

I just have to believe I'm talking to some piccolo players this morning, who have dropped out of the orchestra, for whatever reasons: pain, exhaustion, insecurity, criticism, laziness, misbehavior. Convinced that your contribution doesn't mean a hill of beans in the bigger scheme of things. We have buried our talent in the ground.

For all piccolos who won't play, or at least aren't playing, Jesus has something to say. Use the gifts that God has given you.

I don't know when I spend hours on a sermon every way that it is going to make any difference at all in the life of anybody. But I do know that it is better to try than not to try. I don't know that if a teacher makes an effort to reach out to a troubled student that it is going to make any difference in the long run, but I do know that it is better to try than not to try. When a person teaches a church school class or goes to the trouble of singing in the choir and having to show up for rehearsal, they have no guarantee whatsoever that there efforts will help make God more real to an individual. But I do know that it is better to try than not to try.

We are so used to looking at gigantic issues, such as racism and poverty and world hunger. We are stupefied by the enormity of such issues and say: "What's the use? Anything that I could do would be so little that it would have the effect of an eyedropper compared to the ocean. Therefore, since I cannot resolve the whole issue, I will do nothing at all."

May I remind you that when the Good Samaritan stopped to help a beaten victim on the Jericho Road that day he did not resolve all of the social, political, and economic ills of first century Israel. But he did what he could. And that is the issue for us. Are you doing what you can, where you are, with what you have?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 11/09/2008

In a technological society, we often need instructions for using new products. But where do they find the people to write these instructions? Some instructions are hopelessly vague while others seem totally unnecessary to anyone with even minimal brain power. For example:

On a camera were these instructions: "This camera only works when there is film inside." Well, duh! Big surprise there!

These thoughts were found on a package of airline peanuts: "Open packet and eat contents." Do they really think we would try to eat the peanuts, foil wrapper and all?

On a chain saw was this wise advice: "Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands." Ooh, that hurts.

And finally, on a steering-wheel lock was this counsel: "Warning--remove lock before driving." (1) Unless, of course, you plan on making right turns only.

But even worse than the really obvious instructions are instructions that don't make sense at all! Ones that read like these:

Grasp the gizmo in your left hand. With your right hand, insert the doohickey into the little whosit just below the bright red thingamajig and gently--gently!--turn it in a clockwise direction until you hear a click. Attach the long thingamabob to the whatchamacallit. Do not under any circumstances allow the metal whatsit on the end to come in contact with the black plastic thingummy. Failure to follow these instructions will result in damage to the doodad. (2) I ask again. Where do they find the people who write instructions?

Much of the book of I Thessalonians is concerned with giving instructions. The Christian believers in the city of Thessalonica faced persecution from the outset. In spite of this, the Thessalonian church appeared to be a faithful community of believers. The apostle Paul, author of I and II Thessalonians, often praises them for their faithfulness, holy living, and generosity. Yet he also wants to make sure that they are thoroughly instructed in the issues of the faith, because he knows they will come under great pressure from the surrounding society.

Keep away from promiscuity, he says to them, follow Christ's example of holiness, work hard to support yourself, live at peace with your neighbors. The first half of I Thessalonians, chapter 4, teaches the believers in Thessalonica how to LIVE as Christians. The second half of this chapter teaches them how to DIE in the same manner. And here is where St. Paul's attitude is so much healthier than our own. We all crave instructions on how to live better, but rarely do we give much thought to the question of how to die better. In fact, we would rather avoid the subject altogether.

In the book, Children's Letters to God, a little boy wrote, "Dear God, What is it like when a person dies? Nobody will tell me. I just want to know, I don't want to do it. YOU’RE friend, Mike." (3)

Mike is wiser that most of us. He recognizes that death is part of life, and he wants to know what he ought to do when that time comes. So, for any of us who are as wise as Mike, listen to what the apostle Paul writes: "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him . . ." (NIV)

Dying is an important part of living, so let's spend a few moments thinking about this unique event in human experience.

LET'S BEGIN HERE: SECULAR PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH DEATH--EXCEPT IN JEST. If you are going to talk about death in polite society, you better do it with humor. Most people will think you are being morbid if you even mention the obvious--that sooner or later all of us must die. Of course, there is something healthy about laughing at the Grim Reaper.

Before British actor Robert Morley died, he asked that his credit cards be buried with him. That is a novel way to try to take it with you. I wonder if they take Visa in Heaven? After Morley's funeral, the London Times was bombarded with letters from readers pondering their own needs after death.

Wrote M.L. Evans of Chester, England: "In the unfortunate event of a miscarriage of justice and [I spend] several thousand years . . . before my sentence is quashed, I will take a fire extinguisher."

Heather Tanner of Woodbridge, England specified that she wanted to be buried with a good map. "I have immense trouble finding my way in this life," she said, "so am extremely worried about the next."

A pair of earplugs would accompany Sir David Wilcocks of Cambridge. "In case," he writes, "the heavenly choirs, singing everlastingly, are not in tune."

Maurice Godbold of Hindhead, England would take a crowbar: "In case the affair proved premature" and he needed to get out of the casket. (4)

If you are going to mention death in front of most secular people today, you better do so in a joke. Secular people don't like to think about death. And yet, dying is part of living and we need to face up to it and prepare for it. But there is a second thing we need to see

THERE IS A HEALTHY AND AN UNHEALTHY WAY TO GRIEVE WHEN YOU LOSE SOMEONE TO DEATH.

When someone you love dies, it hurts. Sometimes the hurt is overwhelming. We call the process of dealing with that hurt, grief.

People handle grief in different ways, Some people try to deny their grief. They keep a stiff upper lip. They cram their emotions deep down inside and maintain a cheery countenance to their family and friends. I suspect they are the ones who suffer most. For grief that is not expressed in one way will be expressed in another. And the latter expression will be far more destructive than the former.

Other people become fixated on their grief. They refuse to be consoled. They refuse to move on with their life--as if life has lost all meaning.

According to a study done by the National Institute of Medicine a few years ago, "Many persons who have a death in the family suffer such intense grief that they jeopardize their own physical and mental health." Severe, continual grief can create enough physical stress, according to this study, to cause heart attacks or cancer. (5)

Often well-meaning individuals unwittingly encourage bereaved people to grieve in unhealthy ways.

A young woman who worked in a day care tells of witnessing a failed attempt at comfort between two little girls. A little toddler was crying one day. A three-year-old girl walked over, patted her arm, and in her sweetest voice said, "It's okay. Don't cry. It's okay." But when the tears kept flowing, the three-year-old changed her tactics. She stomped her foot and announced in her most authoritative voice, "I . . . said . . . it's . . . OKAY!" (6)

We try to rush people through the grieving process. "Isn't he over it yet?" We try to deny the grief. "Just don't think about it, Mama. Let's talk about something else." Or worse, we withdraw from the grieving person out of fear or awkwardness. Our silence is even worse than our words.

ST. PAUL DOES NOT TELL US NOT TO GRIEVE. WHAT HE SAYS IS, DO NOT GRIEVE AS THOSE WHO HAVE NO HOPE. Grief is a natural part of losing a loved one to death. A healthy person must grieve. The question is, what is different about how a Christian grieves?

FIRST, WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR HURT THROUGH BOTH TEARS AND TALK. We express to those closest to us honestly and openly the pain we are feeling, including our anger and our disappointment.

The widow says, "I am so angry with him for dying and leaving me alone that if he were here right now, I believe I would kill him." And we understand. Her feelings are perfectly natural and she needs to express them. The widower says, "I will never forgive God for allowing my wife to suffer like that." But time passes and he does forgive God, and he learns to lean on God for support as he adjusts to a new life without his partner.

This is life. Death and grief are part of it. We need to express our grief through both tears and talk.

AT THE SAME TIME WE NEED TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT AS CHRISTIANS WE BELIEVE THAT BOTH LIFE AND DEATH ARE TRANSITORY.

Walter L. Wilson, M.D., was talking with a man who was an atheist. This non-believing man said he believed death ends all. Dr. Wilson agreed with him. To the surprised atheist, Wilson said: "Death ends all my wanderings, all my tears, all my perplexities, all my disappointments, all my aches and pains; death ends it all, and I go to be with my Lord in glory." (7)

When a Christian grieves, he or she grieves with hope, in the knowledge that their loved one has met the Lord face to face. Believers find their completeness in death, because it leads to the life that is truly life abundant.

Around 125 A.D., a Greek by the name of Aristeides wrote to one of his friends, trying to explain the extraordinary success of the new religion, Christianity. In his letter he said, "If any righteous man among the Christians passes from this world, they rejoice and offer thanks to God, and they accompany his body with songs and thanksgiving as if he were setting out from one place to another nearby." (8)

He was describing the difference between the way pagans greet death and the way Christians greet death. "They rejoice and offer thanks to God," he said, speaking of Christians. Can we face death with rejoicing and thanksgiving? I'm not suggesting that we deny ourselves the chance to grieve. We must grieve--but we grieve in hope. Jesus came to save us from death, and he gave his life as a sacrifice so that we could live forever in communion with him.

Dr. Diane Komp, a pediatric oncologist, described herself as an agnostic/atheist when she first entered the medical field. But working with dying children gave Dr. Komp an unshakable faith in God. She tells of a typical case from her early years: seven-year-old Anna had fought leukemia for five years. She had no more strength to fight. But moments before she died, the little girl suddenly sat up in bed and announced that she saw angels. A smile lit up her small face as she described their beautiful singing. And then this little child, radiant with joy, lay down and died. (9)

Diane Komp came to believe that God came for little Anna. She had seen the Lord face to face, and she lives with him now forever. How do we face grief? Openly and honestly, but always in the knowledge that Christ has triumphed over the grave.

And how do we help others who are going through the grieving process. The apostle Paul says near the end of this passage, "Therefore, encourage each other with these words." Encourage each other by talking about death? Yes! That's exactly what he means. Talk about it. Vent your emotions. Express your fears. Ponder the mysteries. But emphasize the hope! Let's return to our Bible passage: "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him . . ."

This is the reality of death for followers of Jesus Christ: death hurts. It hurts bad, but it is not the end. We will be raised up to eternal life, and we will be with the Lord forever!

1. Reader's Digest, April 2000, p. 101.
2. The Old Farmer's Almanac, edited by Judson D. Hale, Sr., (New York: Random House, 1995), p. 179.
3. Marshall, Eric, and Hample, Stuart. Children's Letters to God (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1966).
4. U.S. News & World Report, June 22, 1992, p. 26.
5. The Best of Bulletin Board (Kansas City: Pioneer Books, 1994), p. 89.
6. New York Daily News, September 25, 1984, p. 33.
7. Pentecostal Evangel, January 30, 1994, p. 15.
8. Today in the Word, April 10, 1993.
9. Diane M. Komp, M.D. A Window To Heaven (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992), pp. 28-29.
10. Children's Sermon November 10, 2004 25th Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 27 (32)
11. Collected Sermons, King Duncan, Dynamic Preaching, 2005

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