tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85999522068419455092024-02-20T11:08:24.460-08:00Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church SermonsOur Vision at Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church is: People Bringing People to Christ. We'll be posting the text versions of the sermon from our morning worship service here weekly! For more information on our church or service times, visit our website at www.pbpres.org.PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.comBlogger195125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-5957763234247174502018-12-20T10:17:00.002-08:002018-12-20T10:17:37.803-08:00Born into Chaos: Walking in Love--Political and Divine Forces (Luke 2:1-7) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<br />
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are two forces in the world that affect our human decisions and our motives. We know them as the political operations of the world and the spiritual operations of the heaven. They are constantly driving us and competing for our loyalty, but as Jesus says you cannot serve God and mammon. (He could have easily said, “You cannot serve God and Politics”) You must choose. Paul even addresses the issue with the following statement, “Jesus made inoperative the principalities and powers of this world.” His point being that we called upon to prioritize between Jesus’ way of life and a political way of life. What do we do? How are we to live amidst the two forces? We have a better idea of this battle and how to choose when we understand what both operations are trying to do in this world. Strangely Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus helps us to glean the purpose of both. In his telling of the story he exposes the motives of the political world and its assault on the life of the lowly of the world, and what God is trying to do in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So what is the operation of politics? It is actually a very good word highlighting the purpose of the state to govern the communities it is responsible for. It is meant to express the desires of people to make decisions for the welfare of the state. It first came into existence during the Athenian Democracy. But what happened over the years in Athens and then throughout the centuries is that those rising to power didn’t want to give up power and they began to shape the political purpose instead of the people. Therefore, politics is a vulnerable operation that needs the voice of the many, but usually only receives the voice of the few. It makes it susceptible to corruption and moves against the spiritual sphere of life to quiet its voice. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the subtle telling of the story of Jesus’ birth Luke exposes the operation of the political strategy of Rome. Luke says when Mary was pregnant, Quirinius, under obligation to Augustus, calls for a census of the people in Israel and other nations. They needed to put together an evaluation of tax income so it was determined that a census was necessary to provide this information. You can imagine it became a burden on the populace. The poor who did not live in their own place of birth had to travel, and travel was expensive. But for the wealthy it was not. The state did not care about the poor or the economically challenged. They just wanted to know the number. The spiritual sphere of kindness was under assault. The rich had their way of getting off the hook, but the poor had no power. Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem miles away from where they lived. Politics, instead of helping all its citizens, burdened them and their livelihood and personal life. Mary had to go while being pregnant. Politics may be necessary but when it is governed by indifference it does not help. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Luke continues with his story and tells of the divine announcement which was not to the powerful but to the lowly. The divine voice often moves the insignificant of the world and then makes them the ones who will hold the truth for those who want to believe. Politics can drown out the voice of the spiritual but it will always be carried by those who walk humbly in the world. The shepherds came running to Bethlehem but I wonder if the powerful would have done so. It is not that the political sphere is against the spiritual, according to Luke, it is just indifferent to its purpose. But Luke, and eventually Jesus himself, proclaims that the real life of the citizens of this world is lived outside the world of politics. We live in the world of the spiritual. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We will never live in a world without politics; that is the ordering of communities by a constitution driven by the powerful. It will always be imperfect and at times will be indifferent to the needs of all its citizens. What we can hope for is that the world of the spiritual will continue to affect the hearts of both citizens and leaders to bend their actions to God’s will. But what Luke reminds us of is that it is the humble who God entrusts with the Good News of salvation. That is a hopeful thing. God chooses the weak of the world to confound the wise. God chooses the lowly of the world to bend the knees of the proud. I love the way Luke describes the response of the Shepherds after hearing the news of the child born in Bethlehem, “Let’s go and see this thing the Lord has done.” No skepticism, no indifference and no ambivalence. In fact the original language suggests that they ran to Bethlehem. They couldn’t wait. The Angel’s excited them with their message. They were not only excited for themselves, they were excited for the world. The Messiah will come and bend the knee of all by his glory, not his message of fear. Politics will not be able to use his coming for its own ends, because the embrace of the message will expose the indifference of power for what it is. Instead the child will attempt to bring the world together, “I am bringing you good news of great joy to the entire world. Today is born to you a savior.”</span></span></div>
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PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-29302198687074164392018-12-14T13:51:00.000-08:002018-12-14T13:51:03.379-08:00Redemptive Roundup (Matthew 3:1-12) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are moving thirty years ahead from the Wise-Men’s trip to Bethlehem where they came to pay tribute to the baby Jesus. We find ourselves beside a stream with a man that has taken up the vocation of a prophet, in the spirit of Isaiah and Elijah. He is rough and stern. He demands transparency from those that come to him confessing and demanding baptism of purification. He warns them that the day of judgment is coming but that God is merciful. He goes on to tell them that being a child of Abraham is not enough to escape God’s eventual judgment. God is going to judge us from the heart and not by our ethnicity. He also tells them that one is coming to baptize them with the Holy Spirit which is much stronger and purer than what he is offering. In other words, they are in the vortex, the crucible of danger and they need to repent from their dishonorable ways. John the Baptist proclaims a message of preparation while being a formidable advocate for God and for the coming new world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Why does Matthew draw us into this story on the heels of Jesus’ birth? It is simple. The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world is now on the brink of becoming real. The child is now coming into his own. He comes to John the Baptist demanding that John would baptize him. But why? Why would the chosen child need baptism? It is a complicated question, but it is a part of his purpose. Jesus is not coming to judge others; he is coming to love and let the love judge the hearts of others. John’s words burn with fear and apocalyptic intention. But when John says, “he will baptize with the Holy Spirit”, he is announcing a different kind of reason for repentance. That reason is that Jesus’ message will burn the hearts of people with his offer of love instead of his message of hellfire. Both have their place but Jesus wants to save people from themselves so they will be able to see God through a different prism. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ purpose is to bring redemption to the world. John is rounding up all those who would listen to him. He pronounced a future where God will sift people through his truth and there will be people who will be found wanting. When religious leaders would come he wasn’t really excited. Before they came to offer their repentance he said, “You brood of vipers. Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” His point was unless you change your behavior you will have no part of this new redemptive world. Don’t count on being a Jew to save you. Those days are over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This message is a far cry from the stories of Jesus’ birth that are filled with hope. There are no angels announcing “peace on earth” to people of good will in John’s message. Even when he announces “the one coming that is greater than I” it seems as though he is presenting someone who will be more exacting in their judgment on others. But what do the words mean “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Redemption is not complete unless people change. Confession is not enough. By baptizing people in the Holy Spirit Jesus is opening up their hearts through the spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit is truth. What John is getting at and what Jesus demonstrates is the building of a community that is based on humility. The spirit of truth stands before them and they are judged by their own convictions. In this way Jesus’ judgment is greater than John’s. It is also more impactful in the world. By Jesus creating people that stand under their own judgment through the spirit of truth the world then has a chance at peace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We all know from experience that when we are confronted with the depth of our sinful self, realizing the pain we have caused, we are our most exacting judges. The gift of the spirit is the gift of life because it is the gift of freedom. So John is right that Jesus’ judgment in some way is more powerful. His judgment comes with the possibility of real change in people’s lives and therefore opens up the possibility of the experience of redemption here and now. After all, redemption is the experience that our sins are forgiven. The spirit of truth is not only revelatory but it is healing as well. When the spirit comes into our life we not only hear the words of condemnation, but we hear the words of forgiveness. Thus begins a life of renewal and hope. This is the purpose of the Christ child. He brings peace on earth because he brings truth and forgiveness.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-66132517852074622262018-11-16T09:12:00.001-08:002018-11-16T09:12:31.566-08:00Babel: A Brave New World (Genesis 11:1-9) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The world received a new chance in Noah. Not only has God decided not to destroy the world again, but God also made a covenant with Noah to protect and enhance justice in the course of human relationships. There is a new hope that humanity will improve its place in the world creating relationships of goodness, grace and forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in just a few pages of this new history things fall apart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most of the stories in Genesis are character sketches of individual of faith. In them God places trust, confidence and covenant. It is through these important people that God’s plan and judgment is revealed to the people of God. But in the story of the Tower of Babel the narrator steps back to look at the cultural landscape after Noah to see a dangerous pattern developing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The migration of the mass of people continued east until they came to a large plain with everything they needed. Instead of setting up an altar to God they decided to build a tower to rival the heavens. They wanted to make a name for themselves. They wanted admiration, power and security which they would get themselves without the help of any divine power. By their striving and willful self-reflection they desired fame, unity and political strength against God. They wanted what Adam and Eve wanted---freedom. But what they received was punishment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s response to this new endeavor of humanity was not affirming. God saw it not as a rivalry, but as a dangerous experiment that will end in evil. God says, “Soon they will be able to do anything they desire.” God’s meaning is clear. The same behavior and violence that was in the world during Noah’s era will soon return with a vengeance here in the land of Shinar. However, unlike the world during Noah’s time this world is organized. They have teams of laborers and elites who tell them what to do. The leaders are providing the message which is one of power, freedom and security against anything outside themselves. They will soon exclude, demonize and abuse people who do not come under their shared vision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What made their attempt at becoming this powerful nation so dangerous was that they all had the same language. They shared the same internal ways of interpreting the world through this common language, and were able to communicate with the same understanding of their experience. This common use of language was a powerful tool to build unity, which could be a good thing. But in the hands of those that use it to build a fortress of exclusion and justified abuse against others, it turns devilish. For this nation of people “sameness means rightness and power.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This, of course, is an old sin of the communities of the world. Diversity, while it may be publically tolerated, is internally unacceptable and fearful and must be eliminated. We even have a word for this---stranger. The word comes from the naming of others who are different as strange. Once we are able to use this label with complete acceptance in the community then we are able to discriminate, exclude and even worse. God saw this inevitability as harmful and shameful. Instead of destroying the world God took the opportunity to scramble their languages. In fact the word used in Genesis is “confuse.” God’s intent was to bring confusion into the experience of the world through language for the purpose of avoiding more abuse, and the possibility that humanity will find tolerance instead of hate. But God created anxiety and fear to establish a dependent experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Jesus the world was opened up to a new vision of tolerance and righteousness. Through his ministry we have all learned that those we have labeled as not worthy are worthy in God’s eyes. Therefore to walk in the vision of God we must learn how to see others as worthy as well. Jesus ate with those others saw as sinners, evil and unworthy. He was called out for it, but it didn’t stop him. He continued to show the heart of God to the victims of communities that say, “sameness is rightness.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then on a day when Israel celebrated a festival called Pentecost, the world was given an opportunity to share in God’s vision for the world. After the resurrection the disciples went out to preach, having received the power of the Holy Spirit, when something unique happened. Those from every nation were able to understand what Peter was saying. God had broken down the walls of language which God created to stop the possibility of harm to others. Now he is restoring common understanding through the Spirit. They were one in God, but only through the Spirit. Under the direction of the Spirit and in the guidance of God we are made one. We are an invisible Kingdom without walls with a mission to break down more walls of indifference derived from the faulty ideologies based on that evil assumption that “sameness is rightness.”</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-2975595744960548962018-11-09T15:40:00.001-08:002018-11-09T15:40:58.004-08:00Noah: Man of Sacredness (Genesis 8:20-22) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Noah’s story was not that of an old man who built a boat, but of a man who built a whole new world alongside and after an evil and corrupted one. Vigilance, cunning and an endless expenditure of energy and faith were needed to maintain his place in the world. Noah faced a world filled with people engaged in the lust for power, which they used to force and intimidate those around them. Their evil divided the world corrupting any decency they might have had. They became leaders over groups of people building a society that was devoid of justice but a kind of servitude to the heroes of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He faced a world that didn’t temper their actions through knowledge of God in which justice and love were part of their consciousness. They instead confirmed if their actions were right by the rules of survival and need of the leader who brought fear to every person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He faced a world that had grown up on lies because they had negated the truth. Justice was defined as fulfilling my need. Anyone who took that away from the group deserved punishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this negation led to violence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For years Noah found a way to live among this system of abuse and evil. To do this he not only needed to be courageous, fearless, but he needed to be wise. He had to show he was not a threat to them while proving that they needed him in some way. The only way he and his family could have survived was through the constant spiritual direction from God. Noah managed a life among people who had lost their sensibility toward others, and used violence as a means to settle disputes, which perpetuated the illusion of righteousness by excluding others from their community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the midst of all this chaos Noah also managed to build a ship. He, also, built a life of integrity with God and others. He built a family with this same integrity while he built this ark. He stepped out of his role as a farmer and rancher to spend his time building a boat. I don’t think they had invented the term “mid-life crisis” during his era but I am sure they had a similar word for him, as he began this project. He became a man who was on the outside, even with his family. He was the man in his garage tinkering all day trying to build something nobody understands, like a computer, software program or an invention that no one see’s the relevance of. Therefore, his courage was not only his ability to negotiate his neighbors evil but his families’ ridicule, as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the side of Noah we know well. But he was also a man of sacred understanding. He is not only a man of action he is a man of silence and quiet before God. During his voyage he was alive to all the necessary tasks to maintain life on the boat. Animals, family and damage to the boat needed to be attended to. There was little time, most likely, for worship or prayer with the kind of silence and intensity he was used to. But when they landed, the waters receded and it was safe to get off the boat. The first thing he did was to build an altar to worship God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was time to show his gratitude, take time to listen to his own heart and to listen for the redemptive purpose of God. He was not interested in God’s new ethical demands for this new world, he was most likely interested in what God’s purpose was for him and this new world. He needed to listen as best he could in the silence of worship to figure out how to live out his life. As a man of action he figured out how to survive; as a man of sacredness he needed to figure out where God was walking in this world and follow him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Being grateful reveals our inward understanding of God’s gifts to us. The reason for building the altar was to allow this inward understanding of God to show itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Noah did not build this altar because of duty, but because he felt an overwhelming desire to stand before God in the most humble way he knew how. The narrator said that God was pleased with Noah’s worship. God was so overtaken by Noah’s heart reaching out in hope, God promised never to destroy the earth again even though the human heart is filled with evil. Noah’s vulnerable and open heart reached God’s heart touching it with the gratitude of a man who loved God above all things. God wanted to protect that genuine heart, therefore God promised never to destroy the earth and then instilled the basic covenants of justice that would guide humanity to more honorable relationships. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Behind justice and mercy for every living thing stands the necessity of worship. In order for our hearts to remain open and turned to the world with grace we first need to be silent before God. We need to build our altar in whatever fashion we like. For some it is sitting on a patio, walking down the street, sitting in our car or standing on top of a hill. Whatever altar you build it must be visited for it to be the kind of reminder useful for spiritual development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We cannot afford to be like many leaders in the Old Testament who built altars for the people but never visited them. When this happens we forget our purpose. Paul reminds us of this truth when he says in Romans 12:1-2, “Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Present yourselves as living sacrifices unto God which is your reasonable worship.” The only way to maintain our spiritual perspective is to visit our altars which then remind us of where we are and where we are going.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-57483003437734198612018-11-02T11:56:00.003-07:002018-11-02T11:58:30.259-07:00Prayer: Wrestling with Selfishness (Luke 22:39-46) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Christian inwardness is our chance to throw off the less than spiritual forces in us and put on the power of the spiritual goodness of God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The world is becoming less compassionate and sensitive to the lives of others says one of our leading sociologists. This insensitivity arises from a kind of moral blindness created by an acquiescence to what we call normal. Instead of reaching beyond the banality of the world to our created purpose we accept the easy way. We were created in the image of God to care for each other and the world; yet we seem to be getting in the way of following that divine purpose. We don’t seem to have time for God, let alone the other people in our lives. The driving force behind this ever increasing loss of the other is our own selfishness. This is not new in the world of relationships, it has haunted us from the very beginning of our consciousness. Adam and Eve, as our historical and abiding parents, reveal to us that our problem is rooted in our own desires. These desires, most of the time, turn to fulfilling the self alone, not the needs of the other. It is difficult for us to get out of the way of our own self to find our true selves in God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we enter into prayer we must lose ourselves in this encounter in order to benefit from the relationship. We must be honest, open and authentic in this encounter with God to have any chance of speaking to us in the silence. We must get out of the way in order to come away from our time with God a changed person. The change that God is looking for in us is to become more aware of who God is and what God wants. From Jesus we know that God wants us to embrace the lost, the victims, the suffering of this world. God wants us to become more compassionate by losing our self in the divine wisdom and mercy. Selfishness prevents us from benefiting from our encounters with God. When we continue to allow our mind to control our prayer life with thoughts of what we want alone, then God can only speak to us in yes or no language. This limits God’s ability to speak to us in the silence. We push God into a corner without entrance into our life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dietrich Bonheoffer writes in 1942, “<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">A Christian community either lives by the intercessory prayers of its members for one another, or the community will be destroyed. I can no longer condemn or hate other Christians for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble they cause me.” </span>When we forget that our prayers are to reach beyond our inner walls of separation we remain selfish, instead of a selfless expression of what Jesus calls us to be. The prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane continues to teach us the real heart of prayer. In the garden he is wrestling with his destiny, his purpose in life. His suffering was because in following his purpose it meant his death. His struggles culminated in his cry to his Father, “Take this cup from me.” Like all of us who face such things, we would cry out to the one who can change the direction of our history. But Jesus wants something else more than his own life. He wants to do the will of God. So the last word was not “Take this cup from me,” but “Not my will but thy will be done.” This is not just a set of words that show respect to the power of God. This is a change of being in the world with God. His inner life and vision of the world is in step with God. This is the benefit of prayer in a world that is losing its sensitivity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We are often led astray by the advice of Jesus and the apostles to ask God for what you want and he will be happy to grant it. Those who are true prayer warriors know that it is not all about asking, it is about stepping out of the way so you can hear and see where God is moving. Prayer as only asking becomes one sided because we only hear our own voice. That is why the Psalms must be reevaluated for more than just expressions of wants and gripes with God. They must be seen as the tensions of the self that is in danger of becoming the louder voice in the relationship. These prayers are not prescriptive for our behavior. They are the soundings of both the false self and the real self trying to come to grips with the presence of God. Therefore when the Psalmist demands of God to kill his enemies or to make their enemies suffer, he is acting from that selfish part of his inner world that needs to be heard but then also healed. The worshippers are called on to sing and pray these liturgical writings, not to put them into practice by killing their enemies, but to bring the pain behind these words to God and wait for healing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Prayer is a wrestling with God, as Jacob did, but it is also a wrestling with ourselves. We are called upon through the process of prayer to get out of the way so God can have his way. Prayer is drawing closer to God and those around us. Compassion and sensitivity are the end result of this wrestling.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-24671517890181956142018-10-26T11:54:00.002-07:002018-10-26T11:54:31.546-07:00Nothing But Love (I John 4:13-16) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most people want to be loved and want to give love back. But history is filled with the stories of tragic stories of those that tried to give their love but, within the process of giving, they failed in reaching their desired purpose. They instead were mocked or dismissed. Upon this knowledge they feel lost and unwanted. We miss giving the very thing that is worth giving away. But why do we miss this opportunity when we know that it is what we want to do? When we know that giving this one precious gift will add to our life and to those we give it? The useful and truthful answer is that our understanding of our self and our flirtation with our image is the ultimate obstacle, as well as the indifference of others. Some may say that it is our upbringing, our tragic experiences or even our biology. But this observation seeks to dismiss those that do not show love because we were not given the capacity by nurture or biology. I don’t want to diminish those that struggle with illness and damaged psyches, but encourage all of us that with God all things are possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this is the case, then we can’t be fatalists who tragically call God into question for making us with these flaws and the misguidedness of giving. Love is a free act that must be measured by the sacrifice we offer it and the hope it produces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul, the Apostle, says, “Love does not seek its own.” To say it another way, “Love’s obstacle is an obsession that is hindered by the self—our false self---that tries to engage the faces of culture instead of the face of God.” When we are working on how we look before others through the template of cultural protocols we miss the genuine presence and life of the other. Instead we are thinking about how we look before others. When this is our major concern all our relationships are tainted with concern for our own image. We are called to get over this practice of obsessing on our false self for the practice of finding the true self in others and in ourselves. When we can’t get over ourselves we are unable to see the real person in front of us. We need a new spiritual focus to overcome this constant habit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus and Paul’s teachings on love understand that love is an inward movement before it is an outward display. Both point to the need for an inward change in our self perception before we can properly move to a relationship of mutuality and trust. In order to do this our first relationship of change must be with God. Before we can truly extend the love of God and our love to others we must first be educated by the only true teacher---God. Our relationship with God educates us toward recognizing and embracing the uniqueness of others. When we begin to see the other’s distinctiveness and not judge it, we are moving from our false self into a truer perception of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We see Jesus take his listeners through this education process in two important stories. First, there is the story of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee. These two men, that don’t see one another but instead have their own inward concerns, go up to the Temple to live out their religious duty. Neither one has a spiritual concern for the other, but both have their own interests in what is happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pharisee has his religious concern and pride about who he is in relation to others. He does not see others for their distinctiveness but sees them only in comparison to himself. He cannot love the Tax Collector because he really cannot see him. His time with God has not proven to be a valuable experience. He has not become a person who can love others. The Tax Collector cannot see the Pharisee either because he is concerned about finding God in his inward self. His relationship with the world cannot be established yet because he needs to engage God and be educated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Both these men have turned inward. But the Pharisee did so to elevate himself over others. He operates from his false self that he has received from his culture’s promise of admiration. The Tax Collector has moved inward in order to shed the falseness and destructiveness of his life. He knows that it can only be done through a relationship with God. His repentance is his desire to be educated by the one true teacher. Therefore, he is in a position to actually love once his education is complete. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The other story is the Prodigal Son. The Father sees the son as someone worth loving. In order to do this he must put out of his mind all the other voices from the community and his family. He doesn’t allow any of them to be obstacles to loving his son. His inward journey has resulted in accepting what is true about God and what is true about his son. From this experience the son has a chance to change his perception of himself and others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The process of being able to love is what John was trying to convey to his church in his letter I John 4:13-16. He says, “My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!”</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-72987139345878259642018-10-19T09:26:00.002-07:002018-10-19T09:26:41.019-07:00Dying to Self: Its Purpose and Meaning (Mark 8:34-36) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m always amazed that Jesus pressures his audience and his disciples to accept some new level of direction for living. He never lets you rest in some banal or cozy concept of life, he pushes forward to a greater capacity to see life in some exciting way, in God’s way. For instance, life is not just finding happiness; it is finding a way through the hang-ups and spiritually oppressive dimensions of life to find freedom. He is never complicated, but always simple. He doesn’t make you jump through mental puzzles but presents this new life simply. He says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” It is up to us to figure out what he means by “self” and “deny” however. All we have to do is reflect on what it is we desire instead of God. Once we can imagine it and come to grips with it then we are in a position to contemplate our real selves. We can reach beyond our immediate concerns that trip us up. We can let go of the dreams that link us to dissatisfaction and failure, not to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To deny ourselves is not to hate ourselves but to love ourselves in God and our purpose. We are not to think that we need to get rid of all our worldly possessions and live without pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are to think about what it means to be a true self in the world. This can only be understood through the life of contemplation. We will miss Jesus’ call if we stay too long listening to the enticements that turn us to the satisfactions of life and not the hope of life. Contemplation breaks the dark spell of the spin of affirmation and admiration we seek in order to make us happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So much pain and suffering goes down the road of acquiring and seeking admiration. We are constantly disappointed in that adventure. I can’t help but think of the movie Citizen Kane in light of Jesus’ call to follow him. Here was a man with everything given to him. Somewhere in his life he wanted to do the right thing, he wanted to help humanity. But his inward life was so damaged by his childhood that he could not find a way for the emptiness of his to be filled by something other than power. His whole life was driven by this desire to be admired but it could never fill him up. He was constantly dissatisfied. At the end of his life all he wanted, amidst all his money and fame, was his childhood. The mysterious last words of his life reveal what he really wanted, but couldn’t get out of his way to get---his childhood. Of course his last words were---Rosebud. This was the name of his small sleigh that he used to ride in his happy moments of childhood. He couldn’t get off the road to fame; collecting things or his desire for admiration long enough to reflect on what it is that is important. We all have a bit of Citizen Kane in us, which is why Jesus says so clearly, “Take up your cross, deny yourself and follow me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It would be a mistake to think that only a few people can achieve what Jesus requests. That it is only for the courageous and well disciplined that enter monasteries without the distractions of modern life. We would do a disservice to the hope of Jesus if we do. Jesus believed that anyone can turn their life around, deny themselves so they can follow Jesus with clarity and integrity. We can’t let ourselves off the hook by saying that Jesus only meant this for a few. He meant it for the economically challenged and the ones who have all they need. He meant it for the emotionally damaged and those who have more stable emotional life. There is no excuse for not pursuing his admonition to “Take up our cross, deny ourselves and follow him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saint Francis was not an extraordinary man in this regard; he was instead a humble man who followed the vision of Christ simply and beautifully. His story can become ours as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To deny ourselves can be understood as we look at the way Jesus lived his life. He lived his life according to the purpose he was called. In order to achieve his purpose he had to think outside the box of what it means to live in his beloved community and under the direction of God. To achieve his purpose he needed put aside the need to fulfill all the desires inside him. He needed to put aside seeking admiration of his fellow community, build his wealth and to think of his self before others. To do this he needed to discoverer his true self and his real purpose in life. Then he directed his life toward that purpose. This is our task as well. To deny ourselves is not to limit our pleasure, but to increase our pleasure in God.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-30789770993815069442018-10-12T13:05:00.001-07:002018-10-12T13:05:19.076-07:00Solitude: Gateway to Freedom (Psalm 46:10) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We often think of solitude as a monk in a tiny room
performing his prayers or a person who decides to run away from the world
living in the desert or the mountains. In other words, someone who lives away
from the world, away from people. It means finding your way in the world alone;
deciding what to do and living without others. But this is just the geography
of what we think solitude is. Solitude is not about geography or about absence
of contact; it is rather a spiritual reality that has nothing to do with being
alone. We often set solitude up this way so that we don’t have to face the
reality of what it is: which is being alone with ourselves and God. It means
facing our inner selves, our regrets, our weaknesses and our true self. That is
why when many of us who decide to just be with ourselves for the day or to just
spend a few minutes reflecting on meaningful things find something else to do.
Soon as we sit down or walk down the street our minds create possibilities of
action that we must race back to. Before you know it we are back in the same
habitual actions that are not guided by any meaningful direction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Solitude is not loneliness, either. Loneliness is a world of
sorrow. But solitude is a world of enlargement and joy. Solitude is a way of
retracing steps with God and finding a way to take future steps with God.
Psalms 46 is an expression of the purpose of solitude. The Psalmist begins his
journey of solitude stating his experience of God’s protective nature. And then
at the end he says “stand back and be still and know that God is God.” What he
is requesting of the worshipper is to remove himself from the everyday
activities, be still and think about God’s protective nature. Think about God’s
love, mercy, grace and parental qualities and then engage God accordingly. We
cannot address God accordingly except through what we learn in silence and
solitude after bringing into these moments scripture and our reflection.<br /><br />Think about how you chose your friends and how you stay friends. It is usually
after spending hours and hours together doing things together and an equal
amount of time being alone with your friend and exploring for intimate
thoughts. The strengthening of the relationship is done within these intimate
moments. The strengthening of the relationship comes as a result of love and
builds itself so it can even withstand the hurt and pain of the other.
Friendships that can be easily destroyed by a few words, even though words are
powerful, it is a weak relationship. However, friendships that withstand the
storm of disagreement are based on love. Solitude, and the desire for solitude,
is a desire for love. For it is only in those moments that relationships can be
strengthened.<br /><br />We seek solitude because we seek the other, God. It is the beginning of the
journey to be open, receptive and letting go. We can’t do this unless have a
sense of trust and goodness in the other. The story of the Canaanite woman who
had a sick child illustrates the desire to know the other. Jesus came into a
region of the country that made his disciples uncomfortable. These were people
they considered not worthy of their company. Jesus began teaching and soon a
woman came screaming out of the crowd. She wanted Jesus to heal her child. She
knelt before him, screamed at him and finally went up to him face to face. She
pleaded with him to come to her sick daughter. Jesus said abruptly, “It is not
fair to take the children’s bread and give it to the dogs.” This is what many
Jews called the Canaanites. Instead of getting up in anger she agreed with
Jesus, but added, “Even the dogs get the crumbs.” Of course she did this
because if there was a chance of her daughter being healed she wanted to take
it. But there is another side to this. She engaged Jesus because somehow she
knew him. She knew that he was more compassionate than that statement. Jesus
told her to go home because her daughter was healed. Then he said, “I haven’t
seen such faith in all <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.”<br /><br />She found more than her initial desire. Stepping into solitude is like stepping
into the unknown. We, more than not, get more than what we are
seeking in silence. What we find in these moments is more ease in
being open, we learn to be more receptive, which then gives us the strength to
let go of our false self. This woman found more than she wanted. She found a
friend and a new image of God who loves, is gracious and kind. She found more
reasons to seek solitude to find the God of Jesus. But if she returns to her
old habits of prejudice and bitterness she will soon lose what she found in
that moment.<br /><br />God is reaching out to us everyday saying, “Be still and know that I am your
friend. Be still and let me help you. Be still and get to know me.” To do this
we must seek solitude.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-6731184156703081532018-09-28T13:40:00.001-07:002018-09-28T13:40:22.275-07:00Finding Breath to Praise (Psalm 150) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To praise anyone, especially God, you have to step back from yourself and then immerse yourself in the glory of that person. It is in many ways like learning to sing. Many rock and roll singers have short careers because they don’t understand how to sing. They can’t step back from the affect their persona has on the crowd and they forget to breathe, to find the right pitch and diction. Singing is an exercise, a physical appreciation of body and soul that brings forth the depth of passion in the song. It means pushing everything else away from your mind and body, all the anxiety and fear that can close the throat and hurt the pitch. It means first learning to breathe and feel the air as a wonderful gift of life moving through your body to provide the perfect sound. You have to stand back from the pain of your life, the fear of your life, and the doubt of your life before you can see what is truly worth praising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are breathing lessons of the heart. We need to learn to breathe again to feel the freshness, the freshness and the exuberance of the air. To praise God we need to breathe: we need breathing lessons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Praise is not easy; it finds itself stuttering off the tongue. It is born out of the things we see, the things we pay attention to not necessarily from passion. Praise comes from the flowers that smell beautifully, the trees the stand majestically, and the people in our lives that stand courageously. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Praise is observation before it is inspiration</span>. In order to stand before the world to praise a God that many find objectionable, we need to learn to pay attention. Praise is beyond wanting; it is listening without wanting anything for ourselves. Praise is beating the drums because there is nothing else to do. It is strumming a guitar with melody and vibrant excitement because you have lost yourself in the sound of the chord. When things become pedantic, there is no praise, there is only precision and personal enjoyment. But when the keys excite you, and when the strings compel you, and when the breath through the trumpet brings you joy, then you are on your way. It all begins with breathing lessons. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine yourself as a Jewish person in the 8<sup>th</sup> century B.C. You have lost your homeland, but your heart yearns for the times you sang with your family, you sang with your friends in the temple to the delight of your heart. Then you are removed from this experience. You try to sing but you need to learn how to do it under a new king and a new God being praised all around you. So you go into your houses and in the fields, when your captors are not looking, and you sing your songs. Your breathing was free; your mind was captivated with the hope of going home. And then you find yourself transported home to the temple with the songs of tradition. Would not you want to free yourself from the shackles of your captors and sing with the triumphant sounds of praise? You praise God because of the hope in your singing, the hope in your breath. All this takes new breathing lessons to praise God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What are these breathing lessons necessary to praise God?</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 11.75pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Praise does not begin in the noisy atmosphere of the busyness of life. It begins as we step back from this atmosphere and listen for the distinct voices that form the chorus of sound. It is paying attention to the voice of stillness, the voice of patience, the voice of goodness, and the voice of wisdom. It is listening to the wind through the trees that may frighten but also ignite a sense of life and power.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 11.75pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Praise is perfected through the practice of listening as we learn to breathe again with the breath of God. As the confusion inside us begins to calm down and we breathe in the fresh air of God, our mind begins to attach itself to the ways of living that honor God.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 11.75pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Praise is set loose in the act of living or as in this Psalm, the act of playing. On the drum we raise up from our silence and set loose the joy of praise. As we strum a chord it raises a smile on our face because of its wonderful sound. In the same way, when we live harmoniously with God and others there is a smile arranged in our heart which is the praise of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the Psalmist, one of his goals in life was to “rediscover the breathing lessons” that can produce a wonderful sound. That is what he wants for his life: to find the spiritual harmony between himself and God.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-34150381028898743102018-09-21T13:57:00.002-07:002018-09-21T13:57:25.406-07:00Uneasy Pilgrim (Psalm 121) by Rev. Steve Locke<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think it fair to say that the Psalms are addressed to Israel and about Israel’s spiritual vision. The subject of the Psalms almost always turns to God and God’s power, right and protection of Israel. These nationalistic prayers need be deconstructed for those of us who have a faith that is centered in Jesus. It is up to us to deconstruct these Psalms from their nationalistic direction for the spiritual empowerment of individuals that stand outside Israel’s tradition. It is especially important to do this when we consider the “Pilgrim Psalms” that begin with Psalms 120. We must dig deeper to find the treasure in these Psalms that will provide spiritual direction. Psalms 121 directs our attention to God’s protective and providential nature. But it is not just for Israel. As we have come to believe through Jesus and Paul these prayers are for all of us, from different traditions. They are to be used by us with full confidence that they are useful tools to unearth the way of God in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For these Pilgrim Psalms we need to ask the basic question, “What do we need from God to start our pilgrimage?” The answer to this question is the reason Psalm 121 is so popular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It says that what we need for any pilgrimage is to know God is walking with us protecting us from harm, that God will keep us from evil and will help us from going astray. In other words, first we need to have faith that God cares for us and will enter into our life as we ask for traveling mercies. Second, we are counting on God to protect us from the evil things of this world, which come from individuals and forces beyond our control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third, we pray to God to help us stay on the path. We need help in keeping the goal in front of us instead of getting sidetracked into things that detour our purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Imagine that all of us were taking a pilgrimage to Louisville, which happens to be the headquarters of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Each year Presbyterians from around the country would prepare to go to three days of seminars and lectures designed to strengthen our spiritual life. Those that were going from this church would get together and plan our itinerary. We might stop over in Las Vegas for a night, or we might decide to visit New Orleans along the way. Some of us might decide to go to the Bourbon Country or to some other entertainment place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And because it was such a big event there would be signs along the way advertising cheap lunches, cheap motels and everything else people might want. All these distractions are hazardous to the journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It was the same for Israel.: roads were filled with advertisements, with temptations and with those ready to take your money. Psalms 121 was written with these hazards in mind. It laid before the people of Israel, as it does us, the profound need to pray and keep praying as we look forward to the day. All the strategies and plans we make are useful but the most useful thing we can do in each day of our pilgrimage is to pray for the protection and care of God. There are dangers in each day that are unforeseen, known and ignored. Prayer helps us stay centered throughout the day so that we not only reach our destination but also grow in our faith through this experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our help comes from God, not from all of those promising protection along the way of our journey (The Hills).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will help us from the pressures of the day and the craziness at night when we have time to think about the temptations all around us (sunstroke and moon-stroke). God is concerned about your life and where it is going along this road to spiritual discovery (keep you from evil). If we keep this in mind we will be living out the prayers of Psalms 121. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">But this Psalm is not only for pilgrimages or journeys, it is for each day. Each day is filled with enough possible danger and evil to handle. Each day has enough distractions in it that can set us adrift from our goals. But also in each day is the chance to engage our faith to meet these temptations and challenges. As long as we bring God with us on our journey throughout the day we will succeed in completing God’s purpose.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-46770438645717405232018-08-31T13:38:00.005-07:002018-08-31T13:38:55.271-07:00Honest Hearts (Psalm 32) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“We are lived by forces we pretend to understand,” says W.H. Auden. Auden was a poet of the last century whose most important poems were in a work entitled, “The Age of Anxiety.” He understood that we act, feel and make decisions by forces we don’t often understand but think we can fix through intelligence or will. We think we can fix our grief by just keeping busy without going through the pain. We think we can fix our depression by just listening to “positive thinking” tapes and upbeat music. We think we can fix our spiritual deadness by reading scripture all day but without going through the pain and suffering of the humiliation of confession. To move past these emotional walls to fix our life is the gift of faith given to us by our relationship with God. Through faith the forces of anxiety and fear can be diminished to engage a more honest approach about our life, and not only more honest but more courageous. This is what is necessary to negotiate these forces we don’t always understand.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">David was a person who found help in exposing his sins to God and then to his nation. It was through this process he found a way out of the trap of trying to fix everything. He was a political leader that was trained to fix what was wrong on the surface by discounting it with political rhetoric. He could make his bad press go away. But he could never do that with God. Therefore he gave his heart to God and then divulged to Israel his lessons in humility. He did not try and engage the forces he didn’t understand, instead he gave to God the simple truth of his sin; a force which he not only didn’t understand but knew how it destroyed his life. In order to destroy sin from his life he needed to give it God. He said in his song to the temple musicians, “Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be---you get a fresh start. . . Count yourself lucky---God holds nothing against you.” This understanding does not arrive by contemplating God’s nature, it comes from his deep remorse and love for God that drove him to humiliate himself to God and nation. From there he gets a fresh start. It only comes to a person when the cycle is broken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sin is a power that is not completely understood except when it leads our life to unimaginable grief. But only then do we understand its consequence on how it convinces us to change our behavior according to its designs. We understand our devastation through sin but don’t necessarily know what sin actually is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The only quest that we have when sin comes into our life is to break through its falsehoods with honesty. To be honest helps break the cycle of lies by transparency. An honest heart breaks the cycle of deception, manipulation and the unending task of rationalization. David says, “When I kept it all inside my bones turned to powder . . . the pressure never let up.” His point is that when I tried to hide my sin, when I tried to fix it by myself I entered an eternal circle of pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But when I let it go, it gave me the power to address God and make a clean breast of things.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was free to live for God, not bound up with lies which only made me think of trying to get out of things. It only brought misery that could not be fixed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">David’s poem of confession and heart break is a courageous act of coming clean. But it is also a poem for the nation that might provide them a second chance at making an “honest heart” in all of them. What David did in this Psalm is to help them not be afraid at opening their lives before God. They needn’t worry about retribution by coming clean with God and each other. They can look forward to a life of freedom. By his courageous act of confession he tried to help his people throw off their painful bondage of guilt and find a life of salvation and grace with God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eventually, David moves past his days of hiding his sin to actually deciding to let his life become an open book to God, to the public and even himself. He had to admit his pain and sin so he could move past his continual pain of guilt that he couldn’t fix. His last phrase is an address to the nation just for this purpose. He says, “Celebrate God. Sing together----every one! All you honest-hearts, raise the roof!” He wants to raise the roof in celebration because there is nothing like the freedom of being known by God and being forgiven. Once we celebrate we will not be bound to “live by forces we pretend to understand”, we can live without fear.</span></div>
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PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-69799752041118732592018-08-24T13:40:00.002-07:002018-08-24T13:40:36.438-07:00Faith in a World of Hostility (Psalm 3) by Rev. Dr. Steve Locke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“Enemies past counting...” This is a phrase expressing the fears in the mind of those who feel the world pressing in on their comfort and convenience. What kind of enemies? Are they the enemies of politics or the enemies of war? They could even be the enemies of society that try to lay claim upon reputation and position. Since we know that this is a Psalm of David, after the death and treason of Absalom, his son, we should surmise that the enemies are those that try to lay claim to his position, as King. David laid out before God his pain with bitter emotion. This event is enmeshed with suffering and pain attached. His experience of the pressure upon his life is real, but in the Psalm there is no realization of his part in his son’s disloyalty. Indeed there may not be any part, but the pain of his loss as a father is specifically expressed. We, of course, do not know that he was an ineffective father, but given the circumstances and his remorse it might have led him to that conclusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because his remorse is somewhat subdued I assume that he is talking to the nation, and not to God through intimate conversation. He wants to bolster the nation to believe in God and to secure their faith in order to engage the future. He is not willing to engage his sin or inability as a father; he wants to give the nation a new direction of hope. They know that his son betrayed him and the nation but he addresses only the interest of his people and not his despair. Their interest is, according to the king, that their enemies have been crushed. David expresses his pain as a king who feels the pressure of the responsibility, and of his enemies. They have suffered, they have reached out to God, and they have looked for the resolution that would bring this all to an end. God has fulfilled their desire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Enemies are all around them but who is the enemy? David knows and the nation knows. Everyone is hard pressed to find a resolution of their pain other than in God, who is already working in David and the nation to find a new future for everyone. David narrates his pain of being attacked but it has already happened. Therefore he is providing the nation a way of coming to grips with treason and with betrayal. “There are enemies,” they are on every side and in every corner of our lives. “But you God shield us,” from the terrible forces that try and defeat us. This of course is the reality we hope for every day. We believe that God’s vision will survive and that he wants us to succeed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is our hope, this is our daily endeavor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading the Psalm, like reading our life, depends upon knowing what is going on around us. When we do then we are able to speak with clarity and purpose. We are able to assess the situation and respond accordingly. Spirituality is not acting according to a template, but according to what God desires for us in that moment. It is this moment that the Psalms press us toward. They force us to listen to God instead of making rules for ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Enemies are those that act against us, often because of provocation from us and others. We create enemies by position, personality and actions. Enemies are not always those that are wrong and they are not always right. We must look past our position and our ideology to assess who comes against us. Humility is not a spiritual trait devoid of political will. It is a necessary trait to determine how to respond in the face of anger and hatred that seeks to destroy us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The one thing that spirituality cannot succumb to is to dishonor God by a lie. David did not lie. He told the truth as a king. He gave the people a statement of truth to indulge their national hope. This is a Psalm of security and of personal acknowledgment of the power of God to do what is right. We struggle to see the truth, but it is hazy until we understand the vision of God. “Real help comes from God. Your blessing clothes your people!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is this belief that allows David, the nation and us to get up each morning with renewed hope that we can enter the world of enemies. But we miss the point of the Psalm if we think God wants us to demonize our enemies. We are not always right and our enemies are not always wrong. The Psalm points us to God and God pushes out the door to live and learn among our friends and enemies.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-62101272015821900932018-06-29T11:41:00.001-07:002018-06-29T11:41:04.798-07:00Do You Have Enough? (Luke 12:13-21) by Rev. Dr. Bryan Kile<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let me start with the title: Do
you have enough? Now, I’m sure you’re thinking: enough what? Enough of
anything? Enough money? Enough space in your house? Enough stuff?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many people think that if they could only win the lottery,
they would have enough money; they would be set for life. People who win the
lottery think they then have enough. But does that kind of money really solve
all your problems? I read where 70% of lottery winners lose it all within seven
years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Someone has suggested that we have become a culture of
clutter. The comedian, George Carlin, is quoted as saying that “the essence of
life is trying to find a place to put all your stuff.” The self-storage
business has certainly capitalized on that thought. According to the
Self-Storage studies, in March of this year there were approximately 50,000
self-storage facilities in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. They note that, at the same point in
time, nearly on in ten <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>
households currently rent a self-storage unit. That has increased from 1 in 17
in the last 25 years—an increase of approximately 65%.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I know from personal experience. When I retired ten years
ago and moved to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Houston</st1:place></st1:city>,
we downsized from a house with a two car garage to a townhouse with a carport.
We took ten Jeep Cherokee loads of “stuff” to the Hospice Thrift Shop in the
area we were moving from. We never missed a single thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What I have said so far about money and possessions is
nothing new to you. You have known it all your adult lives. You just didn’t
want to admit it, but what is really important is to take a look at life from a
godly viewpoint. Or as Ray Charles put it, “Live every day like it’s your last,
‘cause one day you’re gonna be right.” In other words, collecting stuff is not
what will be important on that last day of your life. You can have barns full
of “stuff” or banks full of money, and it will make no difference to you. I
mean face it—have you ever seen a hearse pulling a u-haul trailer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I believe the man in Jesus’ parables missed the point. The
Lord prospered him, but he wanted to keep it all for himself. He forgot the Old
Testament command to tithe. I believe it is better to eliminate some of the
“stuff” and give more to the Lord’s work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I read about a professor at USC who studied people’s
attitudes about money over a twenty-five year period. He found that “many
people are under the illusions that the more money we make, the happier we’ll
be. We put all of our resources into making money at the expense of our family
and our health... The problem is we don’t realize that our material wants
increase with the amount of money we make. The study discovered happiness was
related to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Quality
time with loved ones,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Good
health,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Being
friendly,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Having
an optimistic outlook,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Exercising
self-control, and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Possessing
a deep sense of ethics.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Duh!
Isn’t that what Jesus was teaching 2000 years ago?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You see, in this parable, Jesus is talking about more than
money or possessions or “stuff.” Jesus is talking about a higher calling in
life. He is teaching that real happiness comes from a completely different way
of life. Remember what the first question of the Westminster Catechism is?
“What is the chief end of man?” Or, to put it in modern language: “What is the
chief purpose of people’s existence?” The answer is: “To glorify God and enjoy
Him forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So what is it that is important for a happy life? Three
things: First and foremost, is your relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Second is a good relationship with others, and third is an optimistic outlook
on life. “Stuff” and money don’t even make the list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When you have a good relationship with God, when you walk
daily with Jesus Christ, you’re well on your way to personal satisfaction.
Remember in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus started out with what we now call
the “Beatitudes.” Each one starts, “Blessed are those who...” I’m not
encouraging you to repeat all nine of them, but I would encourage you to look
them up later today in Matthew 5. You will notice that not one of them mentions
“things.” When Jesus was saying in those beatitudes is that your trust in God
is what will bring blessings to your life. When you are walking hand in hand
with Jesus, day by day, life becomes a joyful time, a time of celebration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We should be celebrating every day: celebrating the fact
that all is forgiven, celebrating the fact that God loves us and cares a great
deal about each and every one of us. We should be celebrating the fact that
victory is certain because of our faith in Jesus Christ. And that, my friend,
is a promise!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul tells us that Christians should be cultivating the
“Fruit of the Spirit” in our lives. Those nine fruit are: “love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
(Galatians 5:22-23 NCV) Did you notice as I read those that every one of them
is a positive, uplifting, happy characteristic? They are all part of
celebrating the joy of Christian living.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The second thing that makes for a happy life is our relationship
with others. Over the years, I have talked with many people who were miserable.
When we talked about what it is that is bothering them, it almost always comes
down to a troubled relationship with someone: a spouse, a child, some other
family member, a neighbor, a friend. Your relationships with others are
important to your happiness. Dr. Bernie Siegel has written extensively on
healing from a spiritual standpoint. His writing isn’t necessarily Christian,
but summing up briefly what he reports, it is clear that people in good
relationships, especially marriages, are happier and live longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Apostle Paul gives us some good advice for keeping
happy relationships. He says, “Wish good for those who harm you; wish them well
and do not curse them. Be happy with those who are happy, and be sad with those
who are sad. Live in peace with each other. Do not be proud, but make friends
with those who seem unimportant. Do not think how smart you are.” (Romans
12:14-16 NCV) Jesus reminds us what to do when we have a disagreement with
someone else: “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember
that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of
the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your
gift.” (Matthew 5:23-244 NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You see, healthy relationships are so important to our
personal health and well-being. It is important to maintain friendships and
family relationships in good condition. Let’s face it, our own happiness
depends on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, I know there are some who are saying, “Well, I just
can’t repair that relationship, it’s too far gone.” It’s not too far gone. With
prayer and God’s help, you can make it right and you and the other person will
be better for it. Remember what Jesus told Peter when he asked how many times
he must forgive someone else? Peter thought he was being pretty magnanimous
when he suggested forgiving seven times. Jesus said, forgive seventy times
seven. And that didn’t mean 490 times. It was a Hebrew way of saying as many
times as necessary. I believe that as Christians, it is incumbent upon us to be
the one to make the effort, to take the first step toward reconciliation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A teacher asked her students to list what they thought
were the present <st1:place w:st="on">Seven Wonders of the World</st1:place>.
The students cast the most votes for:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s Great Pyramids<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Taj Mahal<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. <st1:place w:st="on">Grand
Canyon</st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. <st1:place w:st="on">Panama
Canal</st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Empire</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Building</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. St. Peter’s Basilica<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s Great Wall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one
student was still working on her paper. She asked the girl if she was having
trouble with her list. The girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make
up my mind because there are so many.” The teacher said, “Well, tell us what
you have, and maybe we can help.” The girl hesitated, then read, “I think the
Seven Wonders of the World are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. to see<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2. to hear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3. to touch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4. to taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5. to feel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. to laugh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">7. to love”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That child was on the right track!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The third key to our happiness is to maintain an
optimistic outlook on life. A study of 1,000 people aged 65-85 points to the
importance of a positive attitude in dealing with life. After almost 10 years
of follow-up, researchers found that people who described themselves as
optimistic had a 55% lower risk of death from all causes, and a 23% lower risk
of heart-related death. Optimistic people tend to be more physically active,
drink less, and smoke less. They cope with stress more effectively. While one’s
attitude toward life isn’t everything, it does make a crucial difference in
dealing with life. And who has more reason for optimism than Christians?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christians have real reason to be optimistic. We have been
given promises that remind us that no matter what may happen today, tomorrow
with Jesus will be wonderful beyond our wildest dreams. We have an eternity of
joyful living to look forward to. What better reason to celebrate and give
thanks to God? The Bible says, “May the righteous be glad and rejoice before
God; may they be happy and joyful.” (Psalm 68:3 NIV) Paul put it this way, “May
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The rich man in today’s parable had as optimistic outlook
on life. But, it was based on how much “stuff” and how much money he had, not
on the promises of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Haddon Robinson, the eminent preaching professor, tells a
story similar to this parable of the rich fool. A man in today’s society opens
a newspaper and discovers the date on the newspaper is six months in advance of
the time in which he lives. He begins to read through the newspaper, and he
discovers stories about events that have not yet taken place. He turns to the
sports page, and there are scores of games not yet played. He turns to the
financial page and discovers a report of the rise or fall of different stocks
and bonds. He realizes this can make him a wealthy man. A few large bets on an
underdog team he knows will win will make him wealthy. Investments in stocks that
are now low but will get high can fatten his portfolio. He is delighted. He
turns the page and comes to the obituary column and sees his picture and story.
Everything changes. The knowledge of his death changes his view about his
wealth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’d like to close with a personal story about change
toward wealth and “stuff.” When Linda and I were called to the last church I
served, we were living in a big house in a lake waterfront community. We needed
that big place to house all our “stuff.” The place was killing us financially.
When I took the call to serve the little church in a little town called <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jones Creek</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>,
we put the house on the market. We felt fortunate that we were going to be
living in a church-owned manse and not having to carry an additional mortgage
payment. We had a few folks look at the house at the lake, but not a single
offer. One day, I was looking over our finances and said to Linda, “You know,
we are struggling financially, but we are not tithing. I believe we need to
start tithing.” So we did that. The next Sunday we put a check in the
appropriate amount in the offering. That day, when we got home from church
there was a message on our answering machine. Remember those? It was the
realtor. She had a contract on the house. It sold and we closed a few weeks
later.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You see friends, it doesn’t matter if you have a lot or a
little, whether you are wealthy or poor, or if you have storage units filled
with stuff or not enough “stuff” to fill the space you live in. What is
important is that you are walking with God in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
If there is anyone here today who is not walking with Christ as their Savior
and Lord, anyone who is not celebrating the love of Christ, please talk to me
at the door today. You see, if you’re not walking with Christ, you don’t have
enough.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-62531674051841520682018-06-01T10:27:00.001-07:002018-06-01T10:27:32.115-07:00What is Faith? (Hebrews 11:1-12,17-19) by Grant Kay<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAIuEnPnbrk1Z1iZ3oGVwdZgj8q2YgTlR16keT_1-Q0LZV2TGt6D0N9p_aaNZ7guehDhzSIakuqvmMRAr6GmzlzbD1IbngwUXXWFO-d_XQb8ibxCq4tU5SYEjVK-YKJA1mwnXbtlu4Ora/s1600/Faith_5-27-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAIuEnPnbrk1Z1iZ3oGVwdZgj8q2YgTlR16keT_1-Q0LZV2TGt6D0N9p_aaNZ7guehDhzSIakuqvmMRAr6GmzlzbD1IbngwUXXWFO-d_XQb8ibxCq4tU5SYEjVK-YKJA1mwnXbtlu4Ora/s400/Faith_5-27-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Faith is a
word that we use a lot as Christians. We are part of the Christian faith. We
are told that we are saved by faith in Jesus. The bible tells us that God is
faithful to us. And the author of Hebrews in chapter 11 tells us that all the
great heroes of the Old Testament lived and worked “by faith.” Clearly, faith
is an incredibly important part of our lives. Which makes it all the more
surprising, then, that we often have a very murky idea of what faith actually
means!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It seems to
me, based on conversations I’ve had with many people, that most Christians
today assume that faith is essentially the same concept as belief. Having faith
in God means believing that he exists and that what the Bible says about him
his true. This is not wrong, but it is incomplete. If faith and belief are the
same thing, then why not just use the word belief? James 2:19 says, “You
believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
Clearly faith means more than simply believing certain things. Since we believe
that it is faith alone that saves us, we had better be sure we know what faith
is! Fortunately, the author of Hebrews gives us some clues as to the full meaning
of faith. Faith includes three major elements: belief, trust, and loyalty.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s start
with the basics: First, faith does in fact include belief, which is what we
most often think of when we think about faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is
the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Assurance and conviction are powerful words. They speak of a belief that seems
close to knowing rather than believing. Yet we are also told that this is
assurance of things that are hoped for, conviction of things we have not seen.
Faith isn’t knowing something without any doubts. Doubt is inherently part of
faith, because we are dealing with things that we have never seen and cannot
see. Rather than pure conviction or knowledge, faith is believing despite the
doubts, not without any doubts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Verses 5-6
tell us, “By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and he
was not found, because God had taken him. For it was attested before he was
taken away that he had pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to
please God, for whoever would approach him must believe he exists and that he
rewards those who seek him.” These verses tell us what living with true,
faithful belief looks like. When we believe, we have hope, and we live with
that hope in mind. Hope protects us from despair and defeat. When we live with
believing hope, we live as if Jesus really matters, that what he said and did
was true and right, and that means that the promise of eternal life is true and
available to us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So the first
aspect of faith is belief, which leads to a life of hopeful living. This leads
nicely to the second part of faith, which is trust. Trust is closely connected
to belief. In essence, trusting someone means believing that they will do what
they say. But it also includes a sense of safety. If someone is entrusted with
something, it means that they are tasked with keeping it safe. So when I have
faith in God, it not only means I believe in God, but that I offer God my life
for safekeeping. I trust God to protect me, to care for me, and to do what he
said he would do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s look
again to Hebrews 11 to see what this means. The first example of faith the
author gives us is Abel, in verse 4, “By faith Abel offered to God a more
acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as
righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his
faith he still speaks.” What was it that made Abel’s offering more acceptable
than Cain’s? In order to understand this, we have to go back to Genesis 4 and
see that Abel offered to God the best, fattest sheep from his flock; while Cain
offered fruit he’d picked up off the ground after it had fallen off the trees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 130%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cain offered
something he could do without. Those fruits probably meant very little to him.
Abel, on the other hand, offered the very best he had. Not only was this a sign
of respect to God, but it would be very costly to Abel. He could have sold that
sheep for a great price, or used it to breed a better, stronger flock, or
otherwise. But Abel trusted God to provide, even as he sacrificed the most
valuable thing he had. When Hebrews tells us that Abel had faith, it is not
only belief but also a deep trust in God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Noah is
another example of trust. Verse 7 tell us, “By faith Noah, warned by God about
events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his
household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the
righteousness that is in accordance with faith.” Noah trusted that God would
protect him and his family. He trusted that God would do what he said he would
do. Noah endured ridicule from the people around him, and he endured the
harrowing 40 days of the flood, because he entrusted his life to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What does a
life with this trusting faith look like? It is a life without fear, a life of
peace. To trust in God means that there is nothing to feat, because you are in
God’s hands. We can do things that other people cannot or will not do, because
if we are seeking after God then whatever happens to us is God’s will. Now,
this trust is not an invitation to stop caring about our lives, or taking care
of ourselves, but it is an invitation to stop worrying about the things we
cannot control. And when we let go of that worry and fear, we will be able to truly
love one another. It is hard to love other people when you are afraid of them.
But faithful trust allows us to see every person as someone that God loves,
rather than someone who might do us harm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So far we
have covered two aspects of faith. Faith is belief, which leads to a life of
hope. Faith is trust, which leads to a life without fear. Finally, faith
includes loyalty. When we say that someone is faithful to their husband or
wife, we do not mean that they believe in their spouse, or that they trust
their spouse, though those things are part of it. Instead we mean that they are
loyal, that they have not cheated on them. A faithful person sticks by you,
even when things are bad.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is what
the Bible means when it says that God is faithful. God sticks by his people, no
matter what. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will
be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not
be discouraged.” God never abandoned the people of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>, even though they were
unfaithful to God and abandoned him over and over again. God promises to be
loyal to His people, and asks us to be loyal in return.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thus the
final part of our faith is loyalty to God. The story of Abraham sacrificing
Isaac demonstrates loyalty to the utmost. Hebrews 11:17-19 says, “By faith
Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. HE who had received the
promises was ready to offer up his only son, of whom he had been told, ‘It is
through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.’ He considered the fact
that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking,
he did receive him back.” Abraham was willing to sacrifice the child of
promise, the one that God had told him would make a great nation, in order to
remain faithful to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
demonstrates what it means for us to have this loyal faith. Loyal faith is
shown by a life of obedience to God. If we are truly loyal to God, if we are a
ride-or-die part of God’s team, then we will obey what God has told us to do.
This is an important part of the life of faith that I think many people
misinterpret. Why do we do what God says in the Bible? Whey don’t we just live
any way we want to? The answer is not because we are scared of going to hell if
we disobey, or at least that should not be the answer. The Apostle Paul tells
us over and over again in his letters that those who of us who have faith no
longer need to worry about punishment from God! So why don’t we just live
however we please?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The answer is
that we do live the way we want to, because what we want is to be close to God!
When we are honest even when it would be easy to lie, or when we wait until
marriage for sex, or we forgive someone even though we would rather hate them,
we do these things because we believe they are pleasing to God, they are what
he wants for us. This is one of the biggest ways we demonstrate loyalty to God.
We are called to obey God’s will, even when it contradicts the world around us,
or our natural impulses. And as we grow in faith, we will grow in joy as we
obey God’s commands, because what God wants will become what we want.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 130%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So many
Christians silently ask themselves: how do I know I’m really saved? It seems to
be one of the most common doubts we face today. Scripture tells us that we are
saved by the grace of God, through faith. Now we know that faith is not simply
belief: it is belief, trust, and loyalty. So if you are one of those people,
silently wondering how to know if you are saved, I offer you the following
suggestion. Does your life look like the life of faith I’ve just described? Do
you live as though what Jesus Christ said and did were true, or do you feel
unsure about the future? Do you trust God to take care of you, or do you live
with a lot of fear and worry? Do you obey God with joy, or do you ignore God’s
commands, or obey only out of fear of hell?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Truthfully,
none of us lives this life of faith perfectly. Doubts overwhelm all of us at
times. We all give in to fear and worry on occasion. Sadly, we all turn away
from obedience to God sometimes in order to chase after other things. Yet a
true faith is one that is growing. You might not be perfectly hopeful,
peaceful, or obedient, but if you are seeking God then God will grow those
qualities in you over time. Remember that even when we are unfaithful, God is
faithful to us. He will not leave you or forsake you through the long journey
of faith, even when you take a detour. The journey of faith may be long, but
the best place to start is knowing that God’s grace allows us to believe in
him, trust in him, and be loyal to him.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-26648300921536946662018-06-01T10:25:00.000-07:002018-06-01T10:27:39.724-07:00The Prayer of Faith (James 5:13-16) by Rev. Dr. Bryan Kile<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Introduction</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As James
draws to the end of his letter, he speaks of one of the most important aspects
of the Christian life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here he draws the
reader’s attention to the power of prayer. / Some of you are well aware of the
power that prayer has. Others may have heard of its’ power, but have never
experienced it. Still others have never really seen its’ power or known anyone
who has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many of you
have probably had a mother who prayed for you from the day of your birth or
even before you were born. Some may have had mothers who were not women of
faith. But for those of us whose mothers were faithful in their prayers, we can
be very thankful. While some may have strayed for a time, you are here in
worship now and hopefully each praying for your own children. I trust that all
of us fathers here today are also praying for our children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">James says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Are any among you suffering? They should
pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you
sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over
them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">He also
reminds the people of the importance of confession; as someone has said,
“confession is good for the soul.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, today, I
want to take a look at prayer and the power that prayer can have when prayed in
real faith. Of course, there’s the frivolous prayer that is not given in faith
and sometimes even in jest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m reminded
of the boy who was misbehaving in church and finally his exasperated father
picked him up and carried him out of the worship service. Just as they got to
the back door of the sanctuary, the boy called out to the congregation, “Y’all
pray for me!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">James starts
off talking about praying when you’re in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some people that’s the only time they
think to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know what I’m talking
about, “Lord, get me out of this mess!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“God, I can’t face this situation!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Jesus, if you get me out of this mess, I swear I’ll start attending
church.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not what James is
talking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You see, we
have to look at the full context of what he says in these verses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James is talking about fervent, heartfelt
prayer offered in faith that God will honor the request because He is able to
do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s none of this, “God, if
you can....”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Father, I hope you’ll help
me here.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the
things we see James attaching to prayer here is the importance of
confession.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the early church, and
even before the time of Christ, it was believed that one’s sins contributed to
their predicament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now sometimes, even
today, we recognize that is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
all, how many times have people ended up in hot water as a result of their sinful
actions or activities?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you’ve had
that experience yourself, I know I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Confession is
an important part of healing, as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we are burdened with a load of guilt, our mental state is not
conducive to the healing of our mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, let’s
take a look at the power of prayer and what James says to do to appropriate
God’s power by prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe it
would be safe to say that theologians and pastors across the globe – and across
the ages – would agree that prayer is the most effective and powerful tool we
have available in the church and in the lives of individual Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">James says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Are any among you suffering? They should
pray.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s very matter of fact
about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost like he’s saying,
“Every Christian knows this, but I just want to remind you: Prayer is the
powerful tool you have at your disposal when you’ve got a problem.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could spend the whole morning listing all
of God’s faithful servants whose lives are recorded in the Bible. Those who,
when facing a difficult situation, lifted their prayers up to God and were
delivered. / One in particular I want to mention is Jonah after he disobeyed
God’s call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While in the belly of the
great fish, he said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“When I had lost all
hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord”</span></i>
(Jonah 2:7). Often we act the same way. When life is going well, we tend to take
God for granted; but when we lose hope, we cry out to him. This kind of
relationship with God can result only in an inconsistent, up-and-down spiritual
life. A consistent, daily commitment to God promotes a solid relationship with
him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I could spend
many more hours sharing with you the experiences of many other faithful
servants from across the ages and even from my own lifetime who have discovered
the power of prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They range from the
most critical need to the most mundane. But in every instance, people of faith
have lifted their needs to God and through their own faith have experienced
God’s fulfillment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus prayed often
and for long periods of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Garden</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Gethsemane</st1:placename></st1:place>, just prior to His arrest,
so-called trials and crucifixion, Jesus prayed fervently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew the power of God could save Him from
that terrible ordeal, but He also knew he must remain within the will of His
heavenly Father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, He prayed that <u>God’s</u>
will be done. / Later, when Peter was in prison for preaching the Gospel, the
prayers of the others locked away in a house somewhere else in the city brought
the angel to release him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Thomas
Watson said, “The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that
fetched the angel.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I ran across
this story of answered prayer told by a missionary to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Zaire</st1:place></st1:country-region> many
years ago. It shows how, even before the prayer of faith was offered, the
answer was set in motion. "A mother at our mission station died after
giving birth to a premature baby. We tried to improvise an incubator to keep
the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle we had was beyond repair. So we
asked the children to pray for the baby and for her sister. One of the girls
responded. 'Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be
too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for
the sister so she won't feel so lonely.' That afternoon a large package arrived
from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
The children watched eagerly as we opened it. Much to their surprise, under
some clothing was a hot water bottle! Immediately the girl who had prayed so
earnestly started to dig deeper, exclaiming, 'If God sent that, I'm sure He
also sent a doll!' And she was right! The heavenly Father knew in advance of
that child's sincere requests, and 5 months earlier, He had led a ladies' group
to include both of those specific articles."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the
years I have read numerous similar stories where people of faith have expressed
their deep and immediate needs to God in fervent prayer offered in the faith
that God would answer – and He did! / Many of you know that John Knox was a
Scotsman who took the Presbyterian expression of Christianity to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> and
from there it became the beginnings of the American Presbyterian Church. Mary,
Queen of Scotland once said, “I fear John Knox's prayers more than an army of
ten thousand men.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If each of us
began to pray earnestly and sincerely for the people of the community in which
we live, we would be amazed at the changes that would happen at the hand of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not talking about a little “God
bless our community” prayer, or a “God turn our community to You” prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m talking about earnest, focused, ongoing
prayer. Prayer that leads you to hear God’s voice telling you what you can do
to bring about change in the community or the neighborhood in which you live.
Prayer that counts on God to act and expects God to use the person praying,
prayer that is offered by a person who is open and ready to be used. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We could ask
the same for this church.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">That kind of
prayer will bring about a changed church!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many years
ago, five young college students were spending a Sunday in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city>, so they went to hear the famed C.H.
Spurgeon preach. While waiting for the doors to open, the students were greeted
by a man who said, "Gentlemen, let me show you around. Would you like to
see the heating plant of this church?" They were not particularly
interested, for it was a hot day in July. But they didn't want to offend the
stranger, so they consented. The young men were taken down a stairway, a door
was quietly opened, and their guide whispered, "This is our heating
plant." Surprised, the students saw 700 people bowed in prayer, seeking a
blessing on the service that was soon to begin in the auditorium above. Softly
closing the door, the gentleman then introduced himself. It was Spurgeon. It
would be my prayer that you would create a group like that praying for your
worship services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There may be a few who
are praying today, right now, for you who are present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus
said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I tell you the truth, if you have
faith and do not doubt,... you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself
into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever
you ask for in prayer.”</i> (Matthew 21:21–22)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">James
also talks about prayer for healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
says, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Are any among you sick? They
should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them,
anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save
the sick, and the Lord will raise them up.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one church I served, a young couple whose
daughter had suffered an injury which paralyzed her, did exactly that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They asked the Session members to assemble
and pray for her healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not immediately
apparent that He answered that prayer, there was no instant healing that they
had hoped for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am confident that
God brought healing to that little girl in His own good time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another
time in the same church, a woman was told she had breast cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her daughter flew in from out of state as
soon as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they called me
and asked me to come and talk with them and provide some comfort and
reassurances of God’s love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we finished
talking, we stood in their living room and the four of us joined hands and
prayed fervently for her healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few
days later, she went to the doctor’s for a follow up exam prior to her choosing
the treatment form to deal with it. The exam showed there was no trace of the
cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There
is one thing to note in James’ statement that is very important: He’s not
saying that healing depends on the faith of the sick person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prayer offered in faith</i> is what brings forth the riches of God to
bring healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s talking about the
faith of the one doing the praying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
Jesus was ministering to the crowds one time, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.
Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an
opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat
the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw <u>their</u> faith, he said to
the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Mark 2:3–5) Then Jesus healed the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Prayer
for healing doesn’t always mean from an illness such as cancer or heart disease
or diabetes or an injury of some sort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prayer for healing can also be for healing from an emotional strain or a
psychological problem or from some besetting sin such as addiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the latter cases, especially, it is
helpful for a person to seek out a trusted friend to join them in their prayers
and to hold them accountable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
know that trusted friend is going to ask us on a regular basis about our
success in overcoming the struggle, we are much more likely to do our part in
overcoming the problem – because, not only do we know that God is able to help
us, but we also know that other person is praying for us and trusting God to
help and heal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one thing we must
remember is that in spite of the awesome power of God to do anything, He will
not help an unwilling person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus
was asked for healing by the paralytic at the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethesda</st1:place></st1:city> pool, the first thing He did before
healing the man ,was ask him if he really wanted to be healed. (John 5:2–9)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Close</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wouldn’t
it be awesome to have that kind of power? / You know something?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have it, if you want it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you must have the faith that says “I know
God can do anything, so I know He can do what I ask.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we must also remember that Jesus told us
He would do it <u>if</u> it was the Father’s will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">One
of the keys to powerful prayer is to learn how to pray and to pray daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not something that we save for the
important moments, like a moment of critical need or a time of needed
healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It needs to be a daily experience
with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As prayer becomes a daily,
even moment by moment, walk with the Lord, we grow in our relationship with Him
and learn to express our faith in Him for all things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
need to think in terms of walking with the Lord as a best friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would a friend think much of our relationship
with them if we only called on them, only spoke to them, when we were in deep
trouble or sick?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect that friend
would question our commitment to the relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul says we are to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” </i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">(1
Thessalonians 5:17–18)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Early
African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions.
Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out
his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a
result, if one of those believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent
to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, saying,
"Brother, the grass grows on your path."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Friends,
is grass growing on your path?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you
keeping a regular time of prayer: conversation with God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are your prayers built on the faith that is
confident that the Lord will answer; that he is waiting to give you the very
best from His storehouse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s power is
available to you if you have faith, even faith as tiny as a mustard seed, said
Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 17:30)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
would lay two challenges before you this morning. First, make a concerted
effort to be regular and active in your prayer life, to set aside a time when
you will meet with the Lord on a daily basis and pour your heart out before
Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spend time praising Him, thanking
Him and confessing before Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then in
faith make your requests known to Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
second challenge is to include in your prayers this church and its leadership.
In this time of transition, lift up the committee members who will be leading
the search efforts. Pray that God might use you to bring about exciting,
powerful, life changes in the members and in the communities you serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While you are here at church, or on the
Sundays when you are away or unable to be here, spend time praying fervently
for the people who are in worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray
in faith that God will touch them, and you, in a mighty way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, in faith, watch what the Lord will do!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Prayer</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gracious
and loving God, thank You for being our friend. Thank You for inviting us to
come and talk with You. Thank You for being there with us through all the
seasons of life. Help us, we pray, to be regular and open and honest in our
times with You. Help us grow in our faith to know that You will answer our
prayers in the way that is best for us and the ones for whom we pray. Hold us
close and help us sense Your presence with us in our daily times of
conversation with You. In Jesus name and for His sake. Amen.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-64447338941516649312018-05-07T10:24:00.000-07:002018-05-07T10:24:01.223-07:00Sharing in the Gospel (Acts:1:1-8; Phil. 1:1-6,9-11) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKMVroziT753-jpOMbWPE5i-bw8N2abs5y88O0PMul_XhGu6WzS0PyPL5syCemzkZyUf8EJuZhbuvmFCXU_pKA0rjCVHNE-8zu2MVkYJ9mPmU5-WL900UpB9qiSI1OyzmSwhXsyBfLUtX/s1600/Preacher_4-25-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKMVroziT753-jpOMbWPE5i-bw8N2abs5y88O0PMul_XhGu6WzS0PyPL5syCemzkZyUf8EJuZhbuvmFCXU_pKA0rjCVHNE-8zu2MVkYJ9mPmU5-WL900UpB9qiSI1OyzmSwhXsyBfLUtX/s400/Preacher_4-25-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A friend of mine retired a few
years ago from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department after a career of over thirty
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He retired as a commander.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked him how he liked being retired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He remarked that it was strange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said as a commander, he had absolute
authority over his deputies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I ordered them to go here or do this and
they obeyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I no longer have any
authority.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am just another civilian</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought, you know, I can relate
to that, I can identify with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being
a pastor of a congregation is like being a commander in the Sheriff’s
department.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have absolute authority
over the congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tell members to
do this or go there and they do it instantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the other hand, maybe not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s really more like herding cats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But after 42 years, I will find out what it’s like to join the ranks of
civilians.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The 19th century Christian Danish
Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard wrote: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
role you play in life is like a cloak which you can put on and take off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your identity is deeper than your role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At your core you are a child of God.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In retirement I am taking off my role as an
installed <st1:personname w:st="on">pastor,</st1:personname> minister,
reverend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And by grace I am privileged
to have more time to put on and wear another cloak, another role, Grandpa. I
can’t think of a better role in retirement.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In our lesson from the letter of
Philippians, the Apostle Paul writes to a church which he personally planted: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I thank my God every time I remember you,
constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because
of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is writing this letter near the end of
his ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he fondly remembers
sharing in ministry with the people of the <st1:placetype w:st="on">church</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Philippi</st1:placename> in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Greece</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He warmly recalls their love and support and
hard work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thank you for allowing me
to share in the ministry of the gospel with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gospel is the message of the birth, life,
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the salvation of the world from sin
and our participation in God’s work of reconciliation today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of love, God sent Jesus Christ into the
world to save sinners.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Being a pastor is a
privilege.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You become deeply involved in
people’s lives and lead a congregation in worship and ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it ever taxing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Do pastors ever feel sorry for themselves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they ever whine?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I confess I sometimes do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Like
can you believe it, I had three session meetings this month, or I had meetings
almost every night this week, a person called to share some problems, I taught
a class, had a funeral on Saturday and still had to prepare a sermon for
Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, woe is me</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then pastors, that is, yours
truly, remember II Corinthians 11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Listen to the Apostle Paul tells of his hardships:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I have been imprisoned, I have endured countless floggings, and often
been near death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three times I was
shipwrecked for a night and day, I was adrift at sea, in danger from bandits,
in danger from my own people, in danger in the wilderness, I was beaten with
rods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once I received a stoning, often
without food, in toil and hardship, through sleepless nights, hungry and
thirsty, cold and naked</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
when my whining stops<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think, </i>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You lucky guy, think of what pastors have to deal with in the Middle
East, you only had a few meetings this week</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am thankful for so many
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am grateful for your allowing
me to share in the gospel with you and to serve alongside you as we have
strived to follow Christ’s vision of people bringing people to Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have truly enjoyed sharing in worship and
preaching over these past 12 years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am thankful for your listening
to stories about our grandchildren, who by the way just happen to be here this
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also know we are not the only
proud grandparents in the congregation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am thankful for our music
program, for our Director, Esther, for our organist, Anne, for our talented and
dedicated chancel choir and sounds of worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I appreciate the formula Esther has put together in blending traditional
and praise music, in leading our handbells and in bringing guest
instrumentalists to join us in worship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I am thankful for our leaders,
that is, our elders and deacons, with whom it has truly been a pleasure to
serve with in ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am also
thankful for having the opportunity to work with our staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been impressed with their enthusiasm,
gifts and abilities as they lead us in ministry.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So many memories stand out over
the past 12 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like your
overwhelming personal support for me when I lost my voice for about three
months in 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ministry and laryngitis
are just not compatible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I honestly
thought: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Well, I can’t speak, I can’t
talk, they might say: Alan, we like you, it’s nothing personal, it’s just
business, but standing in the pulpit staring at us each Sunday just isn’t
cutting it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe its time to move on.</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But you didn’t, instead, you brought
in guest preachers, you allowed me to not talk so the healing process could
begin, you asked me questions and then quickly said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh, don’t speak, just nod yes or no</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You supported and prayed for me and I will
always remember your love and kindness and patience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You likewise supported <st1:city w:st="on">Nancy</st1:city>, through prayers, meals, cards, visits, stories,
loaning us walkers and canes with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nancy</st1:place></st1:city>’s
recent hip replacement surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both
felt your genuine care and support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
thank you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember the many good,
faithful, and dedicated members and friends of our church who have died over
these past 12 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We indeed miss
their personalities, their contributions to ministry, their friendship, their
participation and support, their humor, faith and witness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has called these dear people to his
heavenly home and we truly believe, based upon the word of the Risen Lord and
the promises of scripture, that we shall see them again one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are just ahead of us on the journey.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I shall remember your commitment
to sharing in God’s work in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just before his ascension, Jesus called together his disciples and
issued this command: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But you shall
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my
witnesses in <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>, in all Judea and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Samaria</st1:place></st1:city> and to the ends
of the earth.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have not only
participated in ministry within these walls, but you have served God in the
world.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">God has called our congregation
to a variety of opportunities for mission: serving homeless people through
providing meals to some 100 people every Sunday night and our mail service,
which provides homeless people an address where they can receive their mail,
volunteering in CCSA, providing animated movies and pizza to families in the
community on Friday nights for eleven years, hosting our community wide
Graffiti Day aimed at cleaning up PB, participating in the annual Pacific
Beachfest on the board walk and in operating our preschool which serves
families over 60 children five days a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You heard God’s call and obeyed it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I want to also highlight some of
my themes over these years:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First, be thankful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We read in I Thessalonians: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give
thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being thankful is God’s will for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfulness, gratitude, is the root of
happiness, the key to contentedness, the path to a positive mind and attitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are plenty of negative forces and
powers in life that strive to supplant a grateful spirit like greed, jealousy,
resentment, anger, hate, forgiveness, and entitlement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These always pose a threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A thankful person is a healthy person. God’s
goal in creating us is that we might become grateful people because that spirit
leads us to care for and engage in other people’s lives.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The psalmist says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oh give thanks to the Lord, for God is
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I give you thanks, O Lord, with my
whole heart; before you I sing your praise, I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness</i>.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Second, love with Agape love!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Agape love is the love God loves the world
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is giving love, self-less
love, sacrificial love, love with no requirements or strings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is undeserved love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the because God first loved us kind of
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see it in the gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and forgiveness on
the cross was pure grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C.S. Lewis
wrote: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ’s death on the cross has
somehow put us right with God and given us a fresh start</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ died while we were still
sinners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We couldn’t earn it and we
didn’t deserve it, but out of love Jesus died to bring salvation, by grace
through faith.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we see quid pro quo love,
something for something love, a favor for a favor love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Agape love, where we expect nothing in
return, is a love we are capable of giving when we come to faith and have the
power of the Holy Spirit in us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
the kind of love that changes lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whom do you know who needs agape love from you?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Third, trust that your service in
the Lord is not in vain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy to
get discouraged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In I Cor. 15: we
read:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Therefore, my friends, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the
work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain</i>.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember a mother at a former
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was estranged from her adult
daughter for many years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The daughter
refused to have any communication at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The mother continued to pray, to write letters, to occasionally leave a
brief message on the phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I prayed with
her on many an occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, after
over 10 years, her daughter phoned her and invited her mother out to
lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This mother’s faith and
perseverance was not in vain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
glorious day where a mother and daughter were reconciled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fourth, be an encourager!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you be an encourager in an imperfect
world with flawed people, like you and me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the only world
we have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus was an encourager to his
disciples and to the crowds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Apostle
Paul was an encourager to the churches he planted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Barnabus, Paul’s companion in mission was
called the Encouraging One.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now is the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no better time than today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look for the possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look for the good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One word can change how someone’s feels about
himself or herself or set them on a path for their future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is always something we can see in a
person to encourage them about.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I like the story about a concert
where a rather squeaky tenor had just finished his solo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The applause was less than enthusiastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone in the audience exclaimed: “’<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Extraordinary!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bravo!’ ‘Excuse me,’ said a puzzled women
sitting next to him, ‘but I teach voice and I think his voice was quite
inferior.</i>’ ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Voice?’ replied the other
man, ‘I wasn’t thinking of his voice, I was praising his nerve</i>.’”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for calling Nancy and
me to PBPC in 2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your call started as
a temporary designated relationship and developed into an installed
relationship. You brought us back to <st1:city w:st="on">San Diego</st1:city>,
our hometown, back to the beach from the mountains of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colorado</st1:place></st1:state>, and to a caring and creative and
faithful Christ-centered congregation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hear these words as you move
ahead: I Corinthians 16: “<i>Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be
courageous, be strong. Let all that you
do be done in love</i>.” God has guided
and empowered our church since 1888, 130 years.
Like our past, our future lies in God’s sovereign will. In this light, I close with my favorite
verses from the book of Proverbs 3:5-6: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own
understanding, in all your ways acknowledge God, and God will make straight
your paths</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">.”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen!</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-1880742717090991822018-04-27T15:32:00.002-07:002018-04-27T15:32:39.884-07:00The Life After (I Peter 1:3-5;11 Cor. 5:1-5) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5t220eE-xF8fSAy4eRH2jKaOCUfA_E5zwM43eYXwxMkzgwMhA_4TjrdVDBP1TkASHfTZ8qa9_EIXTS2KqfKTBl97MSc9dmAKc15TRhc_k4soCOpM_AC9iy1g1kCG0zAZxhYfxh1Tmg-B/s1600/heaven_4-22-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5t220eE-xF8fSAy4eRH2jKaOCUfA_E5zwM43eYXwxMkzgwMhA_4TjrdVDBP1TkASHfTZ8qa9_EIXTS2KqfKTBl97MSc9dmAKc15TRhc_k4soCOpM_AC9iy1g1kCG0zAZxhYfxh1Tmg-B/s400/heaven_4-22-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A mother writes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">While
our family was leaving <st1:place w:st="on">Disneyland</st1:place>, after a fun
day, our sons Tyler and Cory, ages six and two were walking hand-in-hand behind
my husband and me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We overheard <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tyler</st1:place></st1:city> tell his younger
brother Cory, ‘This is what heaven is like--except it's free!’</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 27.4pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the summer of 2004, 75 year old Fred
Smith of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dallas</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">Texas</st1:state></st1:place>, was hospitalized in a semi-conscious
condition and not expected to live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Family members heard him repeat, "I want to go home…I want to go
home."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After an emotional family
conference, they concluded that they should respect his wishes and take no
extraordinary measures to keep him alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For the next 36 hours, the family read Scripture, prayed, and said their
goodbyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His daughter Brenda sat with
him till midnight. Coughing finally broke through Fred's deep sleep and he
suddenly awoke.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brenda told him of the family's decision to
follow his desire to "go home." She explained that he would gently
slip into unconsciousness and then God would welcome him into his heavenly
home. Suddenly, Fred's eyes opened wide and he said: Brenda, “I don't mean
heaven, I mean my home, you know, my home on <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Parkchester Drive</st1:address></st1:street>." Laughing through
tears, we took him back home.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A question which has haunted the
minds of men and women down through the ages was asked by Job in the Old
Testament: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If a man dies, will he live
again?</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a <st1:personname w:st="on">pastor,</st1:personname>
I have spoken to many people over the years about their attitude toward
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People have different
perspectives about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Age is an
important factor, like whether you are young or elderly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having dependent children living at home is
another significant factor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The subject of death is ignored
by many, welcomed by others as a blessing, because it means an end to physical
or emotional suffering, and for still others death is feared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some don't fear death per se, they fear
dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How am I going to die, will it be sudden and painless or prolonged and
agonizing?</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people believe death
means the end, our complete extinction and others believe life continues on in
some mysterious and unexplainable way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have personally ministered to
grieving families over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have
been with people in their final moments before death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have experienced the death of both of my
parents and I can say that we are never really ready when that moment
arrives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the last trumpet sounds it
always takes us by surprise and comes as a shock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If one dies, will one live
again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cultures have different ideas
about life and death because for some the idea of total extinction is
unacceptable and unjust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ideas,
perspectives and philosophies about death are innumerable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our culture offers symbolic
immortality as an answer; that is, symbolic modes of living on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, there is the
biological/biosocial mode, living on in our family, in people's memories, in
our children, grandchildren, city, village, town, or nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also the creative mode, living on in
one's accomplishments like having a school, like Kate Sessions Elementary, or a
hospital, like Ellen Browning Scripps, named after you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is living on in your inventions,
writings, movies, music, art, philanthropy, or in having built something,
whether a playhouse for a child or the Freedom Tower in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New York City, the tallest skyscraper in the
Western Hemisphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Comedian Woody Allen
said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I don’t want to achieve immortality by my work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to achieve it by not dying.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Further, there is the nature
mode, living on by becoming one with the natural world, the ground or the
ocean, where our molecules are re-absorbed into nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others find comfort in the notion of
reincarnation, living on in another form of life. What do you think of symbolic
immortality?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Christians it may or
may not bring comfort and assurance about the after-life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For Jesus' followers, the basis
of our hope, the ground of our confidence, our assurance about a life beyond
this life is grounded in Easter, the resurrection of Jesus, stories about the appearances
of Jesus following his resurrection, the testimony of eye-witnesses, and the
teachings of the scriptures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
historical event of the resurrection and the testimony of the Bible, the word
of God, is the foundation of our assurance of the life to come in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our Christian faith and the
scriptures declare the truth about the after-life, eternal life, everlasting
life, glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here again the words from
the letter of Philippians:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For as I have often told you before and now
say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their
destiny is destruction, their god is their appetite, and their glory is in
their shame, their mind is on earthly things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a
Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ; who by the power that enables him to
bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that
they will be like his glorious body.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our
Lord and Savior, who sits at the right hand of God believed in and taught about
heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rejoice
and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ prays: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our Father who art in heaven</i>” and “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
consume, and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves
treasurers in heaven</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In II Corinthians we read:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For we
know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from
God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we
groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He who has prepared us for this very thing is
God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I Peter says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">By God’s mercy, we have an inheritance
waiting for us in heaven</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith in
Christ the resurrected Lord, gives us a divine perspective through which we can
look at this life and the life to come. We have a dual citizenship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are citizens of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and citizens of heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is heaven like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We read in I Corinthians:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Now we
see in a mirror dimly, but then we shall see face to face. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we know in part, then we will know fully
even as we are fully known</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
will you see, what will you know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are so many questions:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What will heaven
look like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will heaven be boring?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there an ocean in heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I good enough to go to heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are there animals in heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have to diet in heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will I see family and friends in heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you drive in heaven?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our knowledge is limited, but we
do have some answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will see
Jesus, face to face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will see God
face to face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will worship in
heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be no more death, nor
sorrow, nor crying, nor pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will
be evaluated by Jesus for how you lived out your Christian life on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will be recognized for your treasures or
rewards, that is, those kindnesses, good deeds, and loving acts you performed
during your life time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will be
reunited with loved ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can say
this to you with confidence, in the life to come, you will see and you will
know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember when my mother died in
1988 at the age of 73.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She died from the
effects of Parkinson’s disease and pneumonia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was overwhelmed with grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
month or so after she died, I saw her in a dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her faced was radiant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her body was whole, healthy and
graceful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was walking in a sunlit
meadow, she smiled and said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alan, I am OK, I’m fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get on with your life</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wish-dream?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some would say so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
believe it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe I saw my
mother in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this dream
was an expression of God’s grace during my time of mourning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hear those moving words of Jesus’
promise – “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Believe in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my father's house are many rooms, I am
going there to prepare a place for you, I would not tell you this if it weren't
not so, and after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take
you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">What an inspiring promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heaven is a gathering of the faith community,
the communion of saints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as Jesus
appeared to his followers following his resurrection, and they recognized
him<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and interacted with him and ate with
him, so heaven means for his followers that it will be a time of reunion with
Jesus, friends and loved ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heaven
is a realm where you will be forever released from pain and suffering, from
fear and death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible teaches that in heaven
we will receive a new body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does that get your attention?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will not at death be reabsorbed into the
universe, like a drop in the ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
individual identity, created by God, will continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Corinthians says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Some
ask, with what kind of body will I come to heaven?</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We read in I Corinthians:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What
is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable, what is sown is mortal,
what is raised is immortal, what is sown is physical, what is raised is
spiritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is sown in dishonor is
raised in glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is sown in
weakness is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>raised in power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is sown a physical body, it is raised a
glorious body.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be clothed
with a heavenly dwelling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hear Jesus’ marvelous promise: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Because I live, you shall live also</i>.” “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am the resurrection and the life, those
who believe in me, even though they die, shall live, and whoever lives and
believes in me will never die.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Death, even acknowledging the
grief that accompanies it, should not be feared or dreaded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should rather be seen as God's final gift
of grace, because beyond death lies a glorious heavenly homecoming when we
shall be with the Lord and others, where we shall dwell in the house of the lord
forever, and where we shall live as citizens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I close with a quote from the
great evangelist Rev. Billy Graham:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">When I arrive at heaven’s Gate, God will not
be impressed by the many crusades I have conducted. God will not be impressed that I spoke to
more people than anyone in the history of the Christian Faith. I come to the Gates of Heaven like anyone
else—in Jesus Christ and His all sufficient, sacrificial, substitutionary death
on the Cross for my sins. We will be in
heaven by the stripes on the back of Jesus Christ, not by any stripes, badges,
medals or honors that we have been awarded</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">.” Why?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because heaven is the ultimate expression of
the grace of God.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen!</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-7353550993760859502018-04-20T11:48:00.002-07:002018-04-20T11:48:37.228-07:00Preaching for the Birds (Matthew 10:7-10) by Grant Kay<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUa-Q5GDsyHXSkuRcQU8hoSygSS73nxRoOz_dQARrgKciazv5v8dTIZgjC7C6mhPtyoq8Oc1Ealf3BHJSHB3vaNnxSaE-iBrsf-F8YGELv4E1eJkh_DGYt7uqGPraEa-R69x4fHddemKPn/s1600/Francis_Assisi_4-2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1128" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUa-Q5GDsyHXSkuRcQU8hoSygSS73nxRoOz_dQARrgKciazv5v8dTIZgjC7C6mhPtyoq8Oc1Ealf3BHJSHB3vaNnxSaE-iBrsf-F8YGELv4E1eJkh_DGYt7uqGPraEa-R69x4fHddemKPn/s400/Francis_Assisi_4-2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On March 13, 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was
named Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Bergoglio was a surprising choice to a
lot of people, due to his age, his nationality, his religious order, and more.
But the thing that stood out about Cardinal Bergoglio was that his whole career
had been spent in service and care for the poor. He was known for his
dedication to living a simple, humble life with few possessions, and his willingness
to live and work with the poor, sick, and needy. When it came time for
Bergoglio to be introduced to the world as the new pope, it was revealed that
he had chosen a name that no pope had ever taken: Pope Francis. The name choice
was in honor of St. Francis of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Assisi</st1:place></st1:city>,
who dedicated his life to following God by serving the poor, and who, in doing
so, awoke an entire generation of devout Christians.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The man we call St. Francis was born Giovanni di
Pietro di Bernardone in either 1181 or 1182 AD, in the town of <st1:city w:st="on">Assisi</st1:city>,
in northern <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
His father was Italian and his mother was French, and hew as not very tall as a
child, and so was given the nickname Francesco, which means “little Frenchman,”
from which we get Francis today. Francis’ early life is actually quite similar
to the life of Augustine that we learned about last week, though not entirely.
Francis was somewhat spoiled and indulged as a child, and was quite
self-centered as a result. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant, and Francis
loved fine clothes, good food, and expensive parties. Though he was a
Christian, he was one in name only. His life did not bear any marks of real
faith at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In 1202, at about 20 years old, Francis went off to
war. While in the army, he was captured, and spent the next year in captivity
and illness. During this time his spiritual conversion began. When he was
finally able to return home, he began to avoid the parties and games of his
carefree days. He spent a great deal of time praying in a run-down old chapel
in San Damiano, just outside of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Assisi</st1:place></st1:city>.
While he prayed at San Damiano, he experienced the same vision three times, in
which the Christ on the cross of the chapel spoke to him and said, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Francis, Francis, go and repair My House
which, as you can see, is falling into ruins</i>.” Francis assumed that this
vision was about the chapel he was in, which was in great disrepair. So he sold
some of his father’s golden cloth and used the money to rebuild the chapel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When his father heard about this, he was furious. His
son had stolen valuable merchandise and then spent it all! Francis’ father
dragged him before the bishop and began legal proceedings against him. At that
moment, Francis made the decision that he would change his life: He decided to
renounce his whole life, give up his inheritance and family business, and
leave. In order to owe nothing to his father, Francis even took off the clothes
he was wearing at that moment, gave them to his father, and then walked out of
the court naked and went straight into the woods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">From that time on, Francis lived the life of a poor
wanderer. One day when he stopped in a church, he heard these words from
Matthew 10 from our scripture reading. Francis took this message to heart and
chose to live as simply as possible, in imitation of Jesus. He also began to
see that Jesus chose to identify with the poor, and so he took a vow of
poverty. He lived only by begging for food, and he also taught others as he
travelled. He also begged for money to give to the poor, and spent much of his
time helping those who lived in abject poverty. He had no possessions, and
spent a great deal of time in nature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Even later in life, when he had founded a monastic
order and lived with others, it was said that Francis would spend up to half of
each year in the natural world, away from people and cities, praying and
communing with God. Francis loved God’s creation, and never ceased to worship
God for the things he made. The famous hymn, “All Creatures of Our God and
King” was written by St. Francis. That hymn represents Francis’ love of nature,
and his desire that the whole earth, not just humanity, should give praise to
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is a famous story about St. Francis that he was
trying to decide whether to retreat into nature, or go back into the cities to
teach. In a fit of inspiration, he ran up to a flock of birds and began to
preach to them about Jesus. The story has it that none of the birds flew away
until he had finished preaching and made the sign of the cross over them! As
wild as that story sounds, it reveals Francis’ deep connection to the natural
world, and his love of God’s creation. The story says that when he came back to
his friends after preaching to the birds, he accused himself of negligence
because he had never preached to the birds before then!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Despite Francis’ love for nature, he could not remain
entirely out of human society. By 1209, he had about a dozen friends and
followers who had begun to imitate his lifestyle and travel with him. So
Francis decided to found a monastic order, which meant that the Catholic Church
would officially support his ministry and would allow others to follow his
path. In order to found a monastic order, you had to have permission from the
Pope. Otherwise, you could be declared a heretic for practicing something that
was against the church. There was just one problem: Francis wasn’t just out
there living like a hermit, caring for the poor, and preaching to animals, he
was also challenging the structure of the Catholic Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When Francis chose to take a vow of poverty, and
people started to follow him, it began to raise questions about the hierarchy
of the Catholic Church. You see, many bishops, cardinals, and popes over the
centuries had amassed incredible wealth through their church offices. It probably
comes as no surprise to any of us today that powerful people were abusing their
power to obtain incredible wealth. The bishops and cardinals of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region> were perfectly content to oversee the
church and live comfortable lives of wealth, until along came this voice in the
wilderness of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Assisi</st1:place></st1:city>,
living in poverty and caring for the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can see why it might have been a bit daunting for
Francis to go to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>
and seek approval for his monastic order. For the pope to approve of Francis
and his followers would be to acknowledge that the riches of the Catholic
Church were un-Christ-like. Yet Francis believed that his life and his group of
followers were ordained by God and living in a way that was pleasing to Him.
The pope at the time was Pope Innocent III, who had inherited great wealth from
his predecessors. Innocent was somewhat uneasy with the idea of a wealthy
church, but he was not about to change the status quo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When Francis came to him for permission to start his
monastic order, he came in his beggar’s clothes. When Pope Innocent saw
Francis, he said that he looked and smelled like a pig, and he should go wallow
among the pigs Francis, instead of taking the insult and leaving, went to a pig
sty, rolled around, and returned to the Pope saying, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Father, I have done as you ordered; now, will you do as I request?</i>”
Pope Innocent was impressed with this display of humility and obedience, and
allowed Francis to officially form his monastic order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">With official approval, the Franciscan order quickly
grew. A woman named Clare founded a sister organization that soon became known
as the Second Order of Franciscans, but was also known as the Poor Clares.
After that, there were many who wanted to live in imitation of Jesus and follow
the Franciscan Rule, but felt it necessary to remain in their jobs, families,
and so on. These people were also formed into communities and became the Third
Order of Franciscans. Thus, the Franciscan movement began to spread in all
facets of Christianity: men and women were joining the movement, whether it was
the first, second, or third order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Francis also tried to spread the message of the gospel
around the world. He made a trip to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> in an attempt to convert the
Muslim Sultan to Christianity. This shows the boldness of Francis, in that he
travelled deep into territory controlled by Muslims, at a time when Muslims and
Christians were constantly at war, just to try and win people for Jesus.
Supposedly, Francis was able to gain an audience with the Egyptian Sultan, but
wasn’t able to convince him to convert. However, the sultan was so impressed by
Francis that he granted him safe passage back to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Francis spent many years leading his monastic brothers
and sister, teaching them and trying to keep them humble. Thanks to the rapid
growth of the movement, there was always the temptation to give up humility or
poverty in exchange for the glory and wealth of the world, just as the bishops
and cardinals had done before them. So Francis worked hard to make sure that
his followers would not give in to these temptations. He spent the final years
of his life continuing to live in poverty, teaching about the life of Jesus to
all who would listen, and growing his Franciscan order to become the largest
monastic order of the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For a church that had become increasingly wealthy and
hierarchical, Francis was nothing short of revolutionary. Francis called people
out of their comfortable lives and into service, poverty, and humility. He
challenged the dominant power of his day, not through revolution or fighting
but through the example of his life. Francis’ vision from his youth, of Jesus
telling him to “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">repair my house</i>” had
become about so much more than a small chapel. He had begun to repair the whole
Church from its ruin of excessive wealth and comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The life of St. Francis has many lessons for us.
First, follow the calling of God in your life. If Francis had not obeyed the
small call of rebuilding that chapel in San Damiano, who knows if he ever would
have embarked on the path of his life. Francis shows us that God cares not only
about humans, but about the world that he created: the animals, plants, birds,
and the rest. Finally, Francis shows us the power of following the example of
Jesus in our life. Francis’ commitment to living like Christ was revolutionary
enough to change the whole church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I would like to close with a prayer written by St. Francis
that has remained a powerful and popular prayer down to this day. Let us pray,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">where there is hatred, let me sow love;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">where there is injury, pardon;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">where there is doubt, faith;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">where there is despair, hope;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">where there is darkness, light;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">where there is sadness, joy.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 71.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to be consoled as to console,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to be understood as to understand,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to be loved as to love.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For it is in giving that we receive,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 71.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 71.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 71.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Amen.</i>”</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-36894800322820756352018-04-13T11:29:00.000-07:002018-04-13T11:29:15.581-07:00What Are You Discussing? (Luke 24:13-35) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zTYjvZ5t7BbDETHxQuhum5KtycHzyY56fyLwd0z4VvNerG3HqyIQVuI98XIhnWBzaq5LY_Y-4PsxxQVoprK__6WzaB7wBT6YjlQl0VCZqAlCvBwFVZAmPfWk-fcOLT9wHoXUGAAyGhnH/s1600/Road+to+Emmaus+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1049" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zTYjvZ5t7BbDETHxQuhum5KtycHzyY56fyLwd0z4VvNerG3HqyIQVuI98XIhnWBzaq5LY_Y-4PsxxQVoprK__6WzaB7wBT6YjlQl0VCZqAlCvBwFVZAmPfWk-fcOLT9wHoXUGAAyGhnH/s400/Road+to+Emmaus+2014.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Think for a moment about a time
when you grieved the death of a loved one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What was that experience like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
believe grief is the most intense and painful experience in all of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some of you it is a distant memory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For others the sting of grief is still raw
and painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our story from the
Gospel of Luke, two disciples are sharing their grief with a stranger on their
journey home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of you have walked
that road.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cleopas and an unnamed disciple
are departing from <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> and heading back to
their home in the nearby <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">village</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Emmaus</st1:placename></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are trying to come to grips with the
death of their dear friend and teacher Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At this time they were completely unaware of Jesus’ resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For them it was still Good Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overwhelmed with grief, they push on,
alternating between moments of silence and quiet conversation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We had hoped that he was the one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The one to redeem Israel</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They had hoped Jesus would liberate the Jewish people from the
Romans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They loved and respected Jesus
as their teacher and friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had
seen him perform miracles, care for lepers, and heal the sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus taught spiritual lessons through
parables about the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now that was all in the past.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">They trudge on, when suddenly, a
stranger appears before them and asks: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What
are you discussing with each other?</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were surprised and probably annoyed by this interruption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This stranger listens and then gently chastises
them for their lack of faith in His teachings and promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spends a day with them and then at the
right moment, the stranger reveals His true identity as the Risen Lord.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In this Easter season, we shout
with joy because we don’t grieve a dead Jesus, but follow and worship a living
Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is God’s word to you in this
story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is what I hear God saying.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First, the two disciples were
surprised by the sudden appearance of this stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He appeared out of nowhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They didn't expect him at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this intrusion turned out to be a
surprise of grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It changed their
lives and renewed their hope and faith and courage. Sometimes God surprises us
in this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's the surprises of
life: the unexpected blessings, a contact by a friend from the past,
anticipated bad news that turns out to be good news, a gift of health or
finances, that you realize is God’s will in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you think of a time when God's grace
surprised you?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Second, Jesus met the two
disciples at a time of deep personal need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here is an amazing truth. There are times when we are more receptive,
reachable, open to God’s word and action in our lives than other times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A time of need is just such a time.
Scripture has story after story when Jesus meets people at their point of
need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are surprised that this
stranger is interested in their conversation:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What are you discussing with each
other?</i>” God cares about what you are discussing and thinking about and
doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s mercy meets us in our times
of brokenness spiritually or emotionally, when we are weak or hurting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When has God met you at a time of need?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Third, Jesus appeared to them,
but they didn't recognize him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps Jesus didn’t want them to immediately
recognize him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe it was about perception
– if you don't expect to see something, you often won't recognize it, you won't
see it, you will look right past it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
remember that happening to me when I ran into a couple from our former church
in <st1:city w:st="on">Santa Monica</st1:city> when we were living in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colorado</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were looking at me and I noticed them
looking, but kept walking, until they shouted “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hey, <st1:personname w:st="on">Pastor</st1:personname> it’s me</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were out of place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw but I didn’t see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our own perception prevents us from seeing
what is right in front of our eyes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus stood before the disciples,
but they didn't realize who it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are times when God is acting in our lives, when God is intervening
in our lives, when God is reaching out to us, but we don't recognize that it is
the presence and power of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later we
think, I wonder, could that have been God intervening in my life?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fourth, though broken-hearted,
these disciples were not defeated and headed home to start the next chapter of
their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my experience, people
who battle on in times of grief and deep disappointment, who persevere in
making a life or taking care of family are more likely to find God or to be
found by God, than those who just give up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having the courage to keep moving forward, to carry on, opens up
opportunities to encounter the living God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is one set of footprints in the sand, because God is carrying you
forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have experienced this in my
own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen it many times in
the lives of people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fifth, God is saying that Jesus
the Lord reveals Himself, His word, to us in the scriptures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Were
not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while
he was opening the scriptures to us?</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God has inspired people throughout history as they have turned to His
word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God continues to speak to us
through the Bible today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The psalmist says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light
to my path.</i>” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gospel of John
says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These words were written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>II Timothy says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Bible was written to teach us the truth about God and salvation, to
teach us the truth about moral living, to correct unjust or unkind behavior and
to change our lives, so that we might mature in faith and grow closer to
becoming like Jesus Christ in mind, heart, and behavior.</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible is a priceless source
of inspiration and guidance and strength and wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the Holy Spirit's witness through the
Bible: Bach composed, El Greco painted, and Pascal wrote his book <u>Pensées</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Word of God has inspired Christian
authors like Catherine Marshall, Charles Swindoll, Billy Graham, Charles
Stanley, <st1:personname w:st="on">Pastor</st1:personname> Rick Warren, and Max
Lucado, whose works have inspired millions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sixth, I hear God saying that
Jesus reveals Himself to us in the Lord’s Supper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church has claimed from the time of the
first Easter meal when the disciples ate with Jesus after his resurrection,
that the Risen Lord is present whenever his followers gather together for
communion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two disciples sit down
with Jesus, break bread and Luke tells us: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Their
eyes were opened and they recognized him.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Throughout the ages, Christians have testified to Jesus the Risen Lord
being truly present in the celebration of Communion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The broken bread and poured wine are occasions
of Christ's presence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Lord’s Supper, by faith,
the Holy Spirit feeds our souls with the bread of life and the cup of
salvation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit strengthens
our faith and confirms our faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
participate in a spiritual communion with the living Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We receive forgiveness, healing, and
spiritual renewal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We grow closer in our
union with Christ and with one another as we gather at His table.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Shortly before his death, tennis
star Arthur Ashe, who died of AIDS due to a tainted blood transfusion in 1993
wrote these words to his daughter:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Camera, have faith in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not be tempted whether by pleasures and
material possessions or by the claims of science and smart thinkers, into
believing that religion is obsolete, that the worship of God is somehow beneath
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spiritual nourishment is as
important as physical nourishment and intellectual nourishment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And by it you will grow into a deeper
understanding of life’s meaning.</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A woman writes: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Someone dear to me once gave me a little
cross adorned with roses. It bears the inscription, ‘Hope raises no dust.’ I
tried my best to penetrate its mystery. But after thinking about it, it still
seemed like a vague axiom about hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But for Christians, hope is not vague. We have a hope that is
historical, personal.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a
hope that encounters us in life and says, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What
are you discussing with each other?</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Theologian Jurgen Moltmann
expresses the heart of God from Good Friday to Easter in these words: "</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">God weeps with us so that we may someday
laugh with him.</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">My friends,
may we too encounter the Risen Lord in worship and in our daily lives.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Such encounters are surprises of grace.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-52985809431246143332018-04-06T13:05:00.003-07:002018-04-06T13:05:34.588-07:00Jesus First Word on Easter! (Matthew 28:1-11) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIarnElDmyeZOxwL3uphPb1xEzEDdFAgXGcRDg75z4aWoCoVXHBDXpIsqLeaSK8hgaaHDHKYObPJ1qfMgo_2SZ-Ef6D4L0IR2L-v5u-xR_wp3NkIJEwxRbjekzwsrMa5z5Slkee4e9W7e5/s1600/easter_cross_3-23-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="1600" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIarnElDmyeZOxwL3uphPb1xEzEDdFAgXGcRDg75z4aWoCoVXHBDXpIsqLeaSK8hgaaHDHKYObPJ1qfMgo_2SZ-Ef6D4L0IR2L-v5u-xR_wp3NkIJEwxRbjekzwsrMa5z5Slkee4e9W7e5/s400/easter_cross_3-23-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A pastor writes:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 33.5pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
friend of mine who worked for a mortuary, had a number of responsibilities in
his job, including traveling to small rural communities to conduct funerals
where there were no churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would
go out with an undertaker and they would drive together in the hearse. One
time, on their way back from a funeral, my friend was feeling tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He decided to take a nap and went to lie
down in the back of the hearse.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 33.5pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 33.0pt; margin-right: 33.5pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The undertaker pulled into a service station
to gas up. The attendant started filling up the tank and was kind of freaked
out, when he saw a body stretched out in the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While he was filling the tank, my friend woke
up, opened his eyes, knocked on the window and waved at the attendant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friend said he never saw anybody jump so
high and run so fast in his life</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, when you’re expecting death
and you see life; it startles you, it shakes you up, it shocks you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it was on that first Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything turned upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The women and disciples thought they were
going to see death, but instead they saw life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus' followers were shattered, grief-stricken at seeing Jesus
crucified and buried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But all that
changed on Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus’ appearances
transformed his followers; they were now hope-filled and bursting with joy and
passion and power and began to witness to others in His name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easter is proof that all lives, any life,
every life, can be changed when one meets the Risen Lord, when one hears the
truth and power of the gospel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
went to the tomb early in the morning to anoint Jesus' body with oil and spices
as was the Jewish custom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The women
encounter an angel who says to them: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do
not be afraid; He is not here, He has been raised as He said. Come and see; go
quickly and tell the disciples Jesus has gone ahead of you to <st1:place w:st="on">Galilee</st1:place>,
there you will see him.</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Risen lord suddenly appears
to these two women as they are leaving the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus utters his first word “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Greetings</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, not “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m
back</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But rather, Greetings!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And our Risen Lord says greetings to you
this morning as well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The resurrection of Jesus is the
foundation of the Christian faith and hope; it’s the historical basis for the
celebration of Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easter is a
shining light in the darkness of this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Critics argue that the resurrection is a hoax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if this is true, if there is no hope, if
we are earthbound, if aging, suffering, pain and death is all there is; well,
listen to this scripture from I Corinthians: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Christ has not been raised, your faith is
futile and you are still in your sins. If for this life only we have hoped in
Christ, we are to be pitied more than all people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in fact Christ has been raised from the
dead.</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Easter declares Jesus is
alive!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tomb was empty!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stone was not rolled back so Jesus could
get out, but so people could enter the grave and see for themselves that Jesus
had risen from the dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a pastor,
I’ve seen people who by grace through their faith, have been saved from tombs
of grief, from tombs of self-loathing, from tombs of shattered relationships,
from tombs of aimlessness, from tombs of addiction, from tombs of hopelessness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Risen Lord changes,
transforms, sinners, nihilists by grace and power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may have heard the song, “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Can Only Imagine</i>,” written and sung by
songwriter and vocalist, Bart Millard, lead singer in the Christian band
MercyMe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story behind the song is
that when he was young his father, known as Bub, was extremely abusive toward
him, verbally and physically for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When the beatings slowed down in Bart’s early teens, the father told
Bart: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Do what you want, I don’t care
anymore.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bart said those words hurt
almost worse than the beatings.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">His father became ill and
something miraculous began to occur, Bub unexpectedly began praying and reading
the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He encouraged Bart in his
church youth group, rather than berating him for going to church. Bart and his
father became friends. They prayed and talked together daily for hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bart saw God transform his father’s heart
before his very eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said: ”<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If the gospel could change that guy, the
gospel could change anybody.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
father died of cancer when Bart was in his late teens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the gravesite, Bart’s grandmother, a woman
of faith, said: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I can only imagine what
Bub’s seeing now.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those words
penetrated Bart’s soul and inspired him to write the song “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I Can Only Imagine</i>,” in 2001.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s been released as a movie this year.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Easter announces that there is no
grave deep enough, no stone heavy enough, no evil strong enough to keep Christ
in the tomb or to keep us, whoever we are, and despite whatever we have done,
from meeting the Risen Lord and finding grace, mercy and forgiveness in His
name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question is: Is evil stronger
than God, hate stronger than love and death stronger than life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christianity says no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because on Easter God raised Jesus to life, because Jesus is alive and
the Risen Lord said: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Greetings</i>” to a
world that believed he was finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Easter declares there is hope for tomorrow, there is the promise and
assurance of new life.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Easter further points to an
afterlife, an eternal life, a life beyond this temporary earthly life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A new heavenly life awaits those who
surrender their lives, who trust, who believe in Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scripture promises:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Everyone
who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life begins when we discover this truth for
ourselves and act upon it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
resurrection shows that even the seemingly indomitable power of death is
inferior to the will and power of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Easter announces that Jesus' resurrection opens up the future.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I ask you two questions: Do you
have hope for the future?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the
basis for your hope?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians around
the world today are not declaring: "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
stock market has risen. It has risen indeed</i>."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
dollar has risen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has risen indeed</i>."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Google
has risen. It has risen indeed</i>."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The hope that has ignited the hearts, stirred the souls, and uplifted
human beings across the centuries is: "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ
is risen. He is risen indeed</i>."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So where do we place our ultimate
trust, in our President and our politicians?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In ourselves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll let you answer
that question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of Easter, I
place my ultimate trust in Jesus, the Son of God, the Risen Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us place our trust in Christ alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I have come to bring life and
life abundant.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There are many rooms in my Father’s house, I
am going there to prepare a place for you, I would not tell you this if it were
not so, and I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where
I am.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am the resurrection and the life, whoever
believes in me, even though they die, shall live.</i>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus is Risen, Jesus is
Lord.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The first word Jesus spoke on
Easter was “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">greetings</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">” to those who
believed he was dead.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">On this Easter
Day, Jesus looks into your heart and says: “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Greetings</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">”
to you as well.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alleluia.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-45253852452422723862018-03-22T16:07:00.001-07:002018-03-22T16:07:33.205-07:00The Gift of Prayer (Mark 1:35-37; Phil. 4:4-7) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldIzy_QFXufezXLiwJDXlYSgroR0ZbAp9MyOLjPbsTXTl-WDKHPZY91_x88U3D0awrZlt6Yi1eUWg5OmCBH0cmoVN0zIPn68QOLs2tm42W2owqpIC9cqGOSjHWt09u9QT3XEx6xv7G55J/s1600/praying_hands_3-14-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldIzy_QFXufezXLiwJDXlYSgroR0ZbAp9MyOLjPbsTXTl-WDKHPZY91_x88U3D0awrZlt6Yi1eUWg5OmCBH0cmoVN0zIPn68QOLs2tm42W2owqpIC9cqGOSjHWt09u9QT3XEx6xv7G55J/s400/praying_hands_3-14-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dear God, so far today, I’ve done
alright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t gossiped, haven’t
lost my temper, haven’t been grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thankful about this Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in a few moments, I’m going to get out of
bed, and then I’m going to need a lot of help.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This
morning we are focusing upon prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day, the Patron
Saint of Ireland, a Roman Catholic Bishop in 5th century Roman Britain, whose
life is well worth studying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer was
central to the spiritual life of the Celts of Ireland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God used Patrick to evangelize <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region> and to
synthesize the Roman Catholic Faith with the culture of the Celtic people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This synthesis has come to be known as Celtic
Christianity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, because today
Christians are observing the season of Lent, with its emphasis upon the
interior spiritual life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third, because
prayer is indispensable to following Jesus and it’s crucial to the ministry of
the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
am convinced that if a Christian is to be spiritually alive, if a Christian is
to have a vibrant faith, if a Christian is to be joyful, faithful, Spirit
filled, Christ centered, one must be continually immersed in prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe the same thing about the
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is prayer important?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gospel of Mark says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And in the morning, a great while before
day, Jesus rose and went out to a lonely place and there he prayed.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was important to Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer was fundamental to his life and
ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus personally prayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He taught the disciples and crowds how to
pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He commanded his followers to
pray.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What
is prayer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's not an empirical
science, based upon observation and experimentation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands of books have been written about
prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But prayer remains shrouded in
mystery; we don’t finally understand it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But that’s OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a
plethora of things we don’t understand about life, but we keep on living
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t fully understand the human
brain, but that doesn’t keep us from thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We don’t know how to raise children, but we learn and keep having them
and do the best we can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t fully
understand human biology, but the medical field continues researching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t understand ourselves fully or what
motivates others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t understand
why the universe exists and we only have theories about how it came into
existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know if life exists
anywhere else in the universe except on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We don’t know what happened to the dinosaurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love what one scientist said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">It’s
easy to focus on what we know, yet to me the wonder of the cosmos, the
awesomeness, is never greater than when we contemplate all that we don’t know.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel exactly the same way about prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
believe prayer is the highest activity of the human spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is a gift of God's grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is a spiritual bridge in the
divine-human relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is
the soul's approach to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is an
encounter with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is communion
with God, an intimate meeting with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prayer is conversation with God which involves speaking and
listening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is a spiritual
discipline which needs to be practiced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prayer is the path to a deeper relationship with God and to a deeper knowing
of ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer, transforms our
minds, lifts our spirits, and enlivens our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is a way for our spirit to get in tune
with God's Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is an
expression of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Intercessory prayer
is a way of loving others whether members of your family or friends or
strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer builds our faith up
in God and expresses our faith to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prayer is a way God achieves His plans and purposes for human lives and
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is a way God changes
us and circumstances around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer
keeps us dependent upon God which is a good thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Prayer
says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I need you God, I belong to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I want to be in constant touch with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My heart is restless until it rests in you.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer helps us to be a better human being,
a better follower, and to see God more clearly, follow God more nearly, and to
love God more dearly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
like what author Richard Foster says about prayer: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Prayer catapults us onto the frontier of the spiritual life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer brings us into the deepest and highest
work of the human spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real prayer is
life creating and life changing. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to
transform us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are unwilling to
change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From
where does prayer flow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer flows
from a heart of Thanksgiving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I thank you God.</i>” “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I praise you God.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer
flows from a heart of fear and need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Help me God.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am
sorry, forgive me God.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer flows
from a heart of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Help this person God.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is our response to God’s word and
activity in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
thank God for prayers which have been answered in my life: prayers about Nancy
and our sons, and our daughters in law and grandchildren; prayers for protection
in frightening situations; prayers for healing and health; prayers for
surprises of grace which I didn’t expect nor deserve, but isn’t that what grace
is all about; prayers leading me, guiding me, inspiring me and encouraging me
in ministry as a pastor serving four churches in 42 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
am thankful for prayers for others which God has answered over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayers for healing, for employment, for
marriages becoming healthy, for parenting challenges which were resolved,
prayers for older parents who reconciled with their grown children, prayers for
grown children stepping up to care for aging parents, prayers for people who
discovered direction and purpose in a life that had been aimless and lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayers for persons who came to faith in Christ
as their lord and savior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And
yes, there have also been prayers that were not answered, at least in the way I
had hoped they would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of those
are the questions I hope to have a conversation with Jesus about one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like some of you have questions as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my own case I can think of prayers
God did not answer in the way I prayed, but in looking back, I am grateful God
didn’t, because things unexpectedly turned out better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful for the prayers of others for
our family over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we learn
a lot about patience and trust in the life of prayer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
think of an older member in one of our congregations who was having severe back
pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two highly qualified doctors
informed him of the diagnosis and the recommendation – lower back surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He prayed about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We prayed about it, because he still had
doubts in his mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finally went to
visit one of the Mayo Clinics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told
him it was an issue with a leak in the cerebrospinal fluid and required a stint
and that he needed a totally different surgery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He recovered fully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not
to disrespect the doctors at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all
know diagnostics can be extremely difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The point is my friend continually prayed and listened and was guided by
God to the right place and the right doctor for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We
know that prayer can be spontaneous or read, memorized, silent and spoken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love classic prayers, like the Serenity
Prayer: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God grant me the serenity to
accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and
the wisdom to know the difference.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I love The Prayer of St Francis: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">O
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, where there is sadness,
joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>O master grant that I many not so
much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood, as to understand, to
be love as to love, for it is giving that we receive, in pardoning that we are
pardoned, and in dying that we are born to eternal life.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the Lord’s Prayer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our
Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be
done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive
us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for
ever and ever. Amen.</i>”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I
close with the inspiring words from the letter of Philippians: “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Rejoice in the Lord, always; again I say
rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to
everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be
made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will
guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen!</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-3995244788817356302018-03-16T15:04:00.000-07:002018-03-16T15:04:30.857-07:00The Message of the Cross (Romans 5:1-11) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j2y6P7_yfqRA2LxfLSkh4P2etDCiz_bc_4lhC2mF_J6j01jxZ0_zXNO642CNVPz2CxDEQBSew4CerdA8EmvKW7Y_CADDyTDJhLJ71alVmaMRaT_TIp8fuhC-gVD32XqsYu4E8u4dHzrR/s1600/cross_3-7-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j2y6P7_yfqRA2LxfLSkh4P2etDCiz_bc_4lhC2mF_J6j01jxZ0_zXNO642CNVPz2CxDEQBSew4CerdA8EmvKW7Y_CADDyTDJhLJ71alVmaMRaT_TIp8fuhC-gVD32XqsYu4E8u4dHzrR/s400/cross_3-7-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">How do we measure the size of a fire? By the number of
firefighters and fire engines sent to fight against it. How do we measure the
seriousness of a medical condition? By the recommendation’s the doctor’s make
in prescribing antibiotics or surgery or radiation. How do we measure the
gravity of human sin and the vastness of God's love for us? By looking at the
magnitude of what God has done for us in Jesus, the Son of God who became like
a common criminal for our sake and in our place. The cross is the most
familiar, the most recognizable symbol of the Christian faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">People have long asked - who killed Jesus? History has
blamed the Jews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jews have been called
Christ-killers since the first century. I wonder if this charge is behind the
anti-Semitism which has followed Jews throughout their history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The New Testament Gospels tell us that the
Jewish political and religious leaders and crowds brought Jesus to Pilate, the
Roman governor of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">province</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Judea</st1:placename></st1:place>, under Roman
Emperor Tiberius, and shouted - “Crucify him, Crucify him.” The Jews accused
Jesus of committing blasphemy, because he claimed to be God, an egregious
offense against the one God and a charge which deserved capital punishment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">History has also pointed to the Romans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman soldiers, under orders, beat and
whipped Jesus and then hung him on a cross to die a slow and agonizing
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Roman's charged Jesus with
treason; that he claimed to be King, king of the <st1:place w:st="on">Roman
Empire</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a claim was
sedition, which meant that Jesus was a traitor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar was the only King. The derisive
inscription on the cross mocked Jesus – “King of the Jews.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The place where criminals were crucified was
at a site just outside of the walls of <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
called <st1:place w:st="on">Golgotha</st1:place>, an Aramaic name for “place of
the skull.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Theologically, to contend that the Jews and Romans killed
Jesus, means that human sin took the life of the Son of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to sin, humanity dishonored God,
disobeyed God, rebelled against God and followed other gods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Humanity rejected Jesus the Christ, rather
than believing in him and following him as the Messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scripture asserts that humanity, represented
by the Jews and Romans, executed Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the N.T. the letter of Romans says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we Greeks any
better off than the Jews?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not at all,
for we have already charged that all, Jews and Greeks, are under the power of
sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible
declares: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For the wages of sin is death.</i>”
Because of humanity's sin against God, humanity deserves the penalty of
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human sin was responsible for
Jesus’ death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But scripture further announces a third word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It declares this astounding truth; that out
of love for the world. It was God’s will that Jesus died on the cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Timothy says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The letter of Romans says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a
righteous person, though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare
to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God proves his love for us
in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus death was a vicarious sacrifice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus took our sin, guilt, our shame, our
punishment, our death upon himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus the judge, was judged in our place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cross, an instrument of torture, became
in God’s hands a means of redemption, of freedom, of forgiveness to all who
come to the cross in faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Old Testament prophet Isaiah, chapter 53 written centuries
before Jesus appeared on the human scene proclaiming: "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He was despised and rejected by men, a man
of sorrows and acquainted with grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed
him not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely he bore our infirmities
and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him
and afflicted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he was pierced for
our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that
brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When someone deeply hurts you, what are your options?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can choose to ignore the offense, or
reject the person, or seek revenge and punishment, or decide to forgive and to
strive to reconcile with that person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The last option is the most difficult option of all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rather than punishing humanity, God decided to do something
about this broken relationship and mend the relationship, reconcile it, restore
it, through the life and death of His Son Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scripture uses different metaphors to portray
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus' death was a means of
redemption or deliverance from sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was a sacrifice, a ransom, a debt paid, a satisfaction, a substitution, an act
of forgiveness, an ultimate price paid to bring us back to be at one with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The letter of Romans says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For the wages of sin is death,
but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that’s grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scripture and our Christian faith, are
saying that Jesus’ death is a paradox; it was the result both of the sin of
humanity and the will of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">John 4:9 declares:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This is how God showed his amazing love
among us; He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live
through him.</i>” Jesus’ death is an atoning sacrifice, it made us at one with
God, it was the price Christ paid because of human sin, to bring us back to be
at one with God. The crucifixion, made us right with God and through faith in
the crucified and risen Savior, we can experience new life, a new beginning, a
fresh start now and forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">For centuries, the message of the gospel has radically
changed people's lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who have
heard and believed this message experienced a transformation and were never the
same again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time, this same
message has been rejected by people over history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People have distained it and called the
message sheer folly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People have mocked
and ridiculed the gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible calls this message a mystery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We read in I Corinthians where the apostle
Paul writes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words of
wisdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to know nothing among
you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Scripture says human wisdom alone, apart from the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, cannot believe or receive this message. Scripture
says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We speak of God's wisdom, secret
and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers
of this age understood this. For the message about the cross is foolishness to
those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I close with this story from the Rev. Bill Hybels, pastor of
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Willow</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Creek</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Community</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>. He tells about a
Vietnam veteran‘s parade in Chicago to commemorate a mobile version of the
Vietnam Wall, which like the original wall in Washington D.C. bears the names
of all the American service men and women who died in Vietnam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A reporter asked a veteran why he had come all the way to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> to visit this
memorial and to participate in the parade. The veteran looked straight into the
face of the reporter and with tears flowing down his face said, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Because of this man right here</i>." As
the veteran talked, he was pointing to the name of a friend that was etched in
the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He traced the letters of his
friend's name in the wall with his finger saying: "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This man right here gave his life for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave his life for me.</i>" And the
sobbing veteran let the tears flow, as he stood there with his finger on the
name of his friend.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we approach holy week, beginning with Palm Sunday, let us
both remember and testify to this central truth:</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The
message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to but to
all who are being saved, it is the power of God.</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">” Jesus calls you and me to
come to the cross this Lenten season.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen!</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-25824158521754696772018-03-09T13:30:00.000-08:002018-03-09T13:30:04.118-08:00It is Better for You! (Mark 9:43-48) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yqYHJqHEdEul2i_9O1QmPDLs0mwlO3Hw1Tfquqaefo38SRDht9igXFSjas7cuGczfrhKQmy-VsnRX0RcidK-bHxcCShI1zdqcWamkyjJ4bJoCyXiXNucowm_A_4_MwrfbMfsd1IMPPfn/s1600/Heart_Cross_2-28-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1600" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yqYHJqHEdEul2i_9O1QmPDLs0mwlO3Hw1Tfquqaefo38SRDht9igXFSjas7cuGczfrhKQmy-VsnRX0RcidK-bHxcCShI1zdqcWamkyjJ4bJoCyXiXNucowm_A_4_MwrfbMfsd1IMPPfn/s400/Heart_Cross_2-28-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Change isn’t easy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the story about when Lloyd quit farming
and moved to a new town in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He discovered he was the only Lutheran in a
town of all Catholics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since Catholics
couldn’t eat red meat on Fridays, the neighbors had a problem with his
barbecuing beef every Friday. The tempting aroma was getting the best of
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They decided to confront him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lloyd, since you are the only Lutheran in this whole town and there's
not a Lutheran church for many miles, we think you should join our church and
become a Catholic</i>."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lloyd
thought about it for a minute and decided they were right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He talked to the priest and they arranged
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day arrived and the priest asked
Lloyd to kneel, put his hand on Lloyd’s head and said, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lloyd, you were born a Lutheran, you were
raised a Lutheran, and now, as I sprinkle this incense over your head, you are
a Catholic!</i>" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The whole town was delighted. But
the following Friday evening, the aroma of grilled beef still wafted from
Lloyd’s yard. The neighbors went to talk to him about this, and as they
approached his fence, they saw his hands raised and heard his voice saying:
"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You were born a beef, you were
raised a beef, and now as I sprinkle salt over you, you are a fish!</i>"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, it takes more than a ceremony to change
the human heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The season of Lent is a period
intended for believers to take stock of their relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a time to look inwardly, to examine
one’s soul and decide what needs to change, where one needs to grow
spiritually. Are we who and where God wants us to be and doing what God wants
us to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lent is a time to exclaim – “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">O Lord I repent, help me to change this
about me, I am sorry for straying away from you, create in me a new heart and
bring me back to you.</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Bible says the first step in
getting right with God is repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus began his preaching in Galilee saying: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The time is fulfilled, the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> has come, repent
and believe in the good news.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our scripture passage from the
Gospel of Mark is often referred to as one of the hard sayings of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It says if anyone puts a stumbling block
before a child, it is better for you, if a great millstone were hung around
your neck and you were thrown into the sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus loved children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
severe consequences for anyone who intentionally hurts a child or leads a child
astray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is speaking about human
sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, if your foot causes you
to stumble cut if off, if you eye causes you to stumble, cut it out. It is
better for you to enter the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> maimed than to be
whole and go to hell.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This passage shows that Jesus
takes sin seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my opinion there
is a growing coarseness in our society, a growing insensitivity, intolerance,
an aversion to taking personal responsibility, an expanding “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">me centeredness</i>” and violence such as
the horrific school shooting in Parkland, Florida.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the question why, there are many different
answers and perspectives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
biblical/Christian answer is theological; the answer is sin. It is the sin of
idolatry, the worship of other persons or things than God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is putting other things or persons at the
center of one’s life instead of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More people are turning away from God and Christ and repentance and faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t see or hear a lot of repentance
today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How do we interpret Jesus'
words?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One way is to take Jesus' words
literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you sin against God or
someone with your hands or feet or eyes, cut them off or pluck them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is teaching us to maim ourselves when
we sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But I have never read about
anyone in the history of the church maiming themselves because of Jesus’
words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus you recall commanded us to
love our neighbor as we love ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maiming ourselves is hardly an act of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I don't believe, and neither do biblical
interpreters, that Jesus meant for his words to be taken literally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another approach is to ignore
Jesus’ words, pass over them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that
shows a disrespect for Jesus’ teachings and a disregard for the Bible, the word
inspired by the Holy Spirit and God’s word to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a way of cherry picking the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You pick and choose what verses you will
listen to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So a third approach is to
interpret Jesus’ words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we start by
remembering that Jesus often spoke in hyperbole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like he does on the subject of judging
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but you do not notice
the log in your own eye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You hypocrite,
first take the log out of your own eye, then you will be able to see the speck
in your neighbor's eye.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus
called the Scribes and Pharisees white-washed tombs and snakes and a brood of
vipers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You can lift up a mountain and throw it into
the sea.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You are the light of the world; you are the
salt of the earth.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Most people in Jesus’ day were
illiterate. Jesus used vivid imagery, symbols, metaphors in his teaching to
inspire his audience to listen to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus’ taught in word pictures and parables to get people's attention so
people would remember his teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
tell an audience: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’m Jesus, don’t sin,
OK, any questions,</i>” is probably not the most persuasive preaching
technique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So we must interpret Jesus'
teaching figuratively, metaphorically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are hearing a word picture that Jesus is painting to teach us about
repentance from sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is calling
people to repent, to change, to stop thinking in some way or behaving in some
manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is saying whatever is causing
you to sin, whatever is leading you to sin, separate yourself from it, sever
yourself from it, cut it out of your life, remove it from your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is not calling people to literally cut
off limbs or poke out their eyes, but to repent of anything in your life that
is causing you to sin, that is becoming a barrier between you and God or you
and others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The time is fulfilled and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>
is near, repent and believe in the good news.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It is better for you!</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Repentance is the first step toward becoming a new follower of Jesus and
committing ourselves to Jesus as Lord and Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls us to repent against the sin of
pride for example: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I don't need God in
my life.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I can lead my life without God.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Repentance includes three movements:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Recognition of your sin, remorse for your sin, and reform or changing
your thinking and/or behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Repentance opens the way to receiving the gospel, the good news of God’s
forgiveness in Christ. There is no new life without repentance, there is no
possibility for change without repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no chance for experiencing God's love and joy without
repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith and repentance,
repentance and faith are inseparable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus also calls long-time
Christians, believers who have walked with God for many years, to repent at
different times along our spiritual journey when we have sinned against God or
someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are to confess our sin
and seek God's and the person's forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Scripture says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If we say we have
no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, but if we confess our
sins, God is just and may be trusted to forgive us and cleanse us from every
kind of wrong.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Repentance puts us back on track
with God, it gets us back in sync with God, it puts us back into a right
relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repentance opens
the door of our hearts to the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The sole purpose of repentance is not to make us hate ourselves, or
loathe ourselves, or despise ourselves, but rather to turn away from sin and
put us back into a right relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s so that our attitudes, our behavior, our hearts and minds, our
soul, will become more and more like Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Psalm 51 says it beautifully: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Have mercy on me, O God, according to your
steadfast love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions,
and cleanse me from my sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You desire
truth in the inward being, teach me wisdom in my heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Create in me a clean heart, O God and put a
new and right spirit within me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not
cast me away from your presence, or take your Holy Spirit from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Restore to me the joy of your salvation and
sustain in me a willing spirit.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is God calling you to change
in your life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lent is a good time to
make these changes. Amen.</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-42807952060239881362018-03-02T10:15:00.000-08:002018-03-02T10:15:00.849-08:00Lessons about the Kingdom (Matt 13:1-9;31-33;44-46) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgxsZ00z4Fxx1Inms9cSaKsQOg71vQB8Zlmjj77lyNkT7ri-QabgfpiBxeI3xNm9SZ4w7Ol2kd_-keb3UY8RMg0NPIwtXiViK1NATreR7r3NuJJ_0rnCcMmO2q7HZeFjhkwvdlbFGuK_k/s1600/Jesus_Teaching_2-25-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgxsZ00z4Fxx1Inms9cSaKsQOg71vQB8Zlmjj77lyNkT7ri-QabgfpiBxeI3xNm9SZ4w7Ol2kd_-keb3UY8RMg0NPIwtXiViK1NATreR7r3NuJJ_0rnCcMmO2q7HZeFjhkwvdlbFGuK_k/s400/Jesus_Teaching_2-25-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Listen to these maxims about
life: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Life is like a rollercoaster,
tighten your seatbelt, and try to eat a light lunch.</i>” 19th century
Philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Life
can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do you turn when you need guidance or
wisdom?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Fulghum’s book:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>All I really need to know I learned in
Kindergarten</u>, he offers these lessons:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Share everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Play fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don't hit people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put things back
where you found them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clean up your own
mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don't take things that aren't
yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Say you're sorry when you hurt
somebody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wash your hands before you
eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Play and work some every day. Take a nap
every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold
hands and stick together.</i>”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus’ teachings too are a source
of wisdom about living a God-centered life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus taught his disciples lessons about the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>
in the form of parables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These truths
apply to you and me as well in our journey of faith.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Greek, basileias tou Theos, refers to
God’s reign or rule in our lives and in the world, God’s sovereign power
occurring in some circumstance, God’s will being fulfilled in some event or
situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s wherever and however
God’s loving purpose is being accomplished whether in the life of an
individual, a family, a community, a nation or in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, even in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we are referring to God’s Kingdom when
we say: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God answered my prayer, only God
could have made this happen, it was a God thing.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>
is wherever God is doing something or saying something.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
sower went out to sow; a planter went out to plant.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is the sower?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God, Jesus or the Risen Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This parable shows that God isn’t lazy,
oblivious, indolent and passive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
isn’t sitting in a rocking chair sipping a mint julep, while watching his
servants, you and me, slave away in the blistering sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is working, busy, active, involved,
intervening in the world planting seeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is the God we worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is the God we serve.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What is the seed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lesson is that seeds vary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seed is God’s word or God’s purposeful
activity in our lives:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be: the
gospel, a word of forgiveness, a word of encouragement, or love, or peace, or
courage, or comfort or joy or justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It may be God fulfilling His will or calling us to work for justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it may be a call to repentance and faith, it
may be a call to obedience, it may be a test or challenge, it may be God’s
calling you to help or support someone, it may be a surprise of God’s
grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seed may be a
coincidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>,
coincidences are small miracles in which God chooses to remain anonymous.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Listen, Jesus says, a sower went out to sow!</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the lesson?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That there are different types of soil or to
put it into today’s language, different responses from people to the word of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People’s spiritual receptivity
varies widely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus experienced this
in his ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We too should not be
surprised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you seek to share Jesus’
word expect different reactions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sower
faithfully sowed the seed, but he encounters hard hearts, shallow or
superficial hearts, distracted or preoccupied hearts, and finally open, ready
and receptive hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seed only took
root in the last soil which was open and receptive to the good news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, not everyone is ready to receive the seed
that God plants or the seed God calls you and me to sow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t become discouraged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a painful lesson to experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But people are free to respond or not to
respond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a truth I suspect most
of us have experienced at one time or another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We sometimes blame ourselves for
not witnessing effectively or not being a good example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We blame ourselves for not resolving some
conflict in a relationship or saving a relationship or failing to guide someone
to make better choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You try to
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do your best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Remember this parable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You or I
may not be the one who will be successful in planting the seed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Jesus, the Son of God, didn’t always win
people as his followers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I recall when I was the pastor at
another church, and I regularly talked to a visitor who worshipped with us and
said he was discovering a new interest in faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met with him, prayed with and for him, but
he didn’t make a confession of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wondered where I went wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
returned to visit the church years after I had left, and there he was very
involved in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone else
sowed the seed that took root in his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You and are I are not responsible for the response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God does hold us responsible to sow, to
scatter, to plant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>
is like a mustard seed or like yeast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the truth that great things start from small beginnings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A mustard seed was the smallest seed planted
in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>
to grow food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it grew it became a
towering plant reaching 12 to 15 feet high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Big, large, splashy gets our attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mt. Everest, at 29,000 feet, the tallest mountain in the world, CA
redwood trees topping 350 feet high, salt-water crocodiles reaching twenty
feet, and the tallest skyscraper in the world in Dubai, which stands over 2,700
feet high.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But scripture teaches that God
affirms small efforts and small things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every important accomplishment requires a willingness to begin
small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>World-wide Christianity began
like a mustard seed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christian faith
began with Jesus an itinerant preacher and 12 ordinary followers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No Rhodes scholars or <st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place>
celebrities or politically powerful people in this group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Christianity has flourished.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the early 20th century there
was a widespread belief, based on the theory of evolution, that religion would
eventually die out as the human race became more sophisticated and
technologically advanced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Religion was
needed early on because humans were ignorant and superstitious, and didn’t
comprehend the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Science,
technology and modernization would eventually eliminate the need for religion
because humans would come of age, outgrow the need for religion and learn to
understand and control their environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This universal evolution of secularization never materialized. The seed
of the Christian faith is deeply rooted and growing in the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Christianity has lost ground in
parts of Europe, true, but not everywhere in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are over 2 billion Christians in the
world and those numbers are growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
recent article reported Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>, at around
20% each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christianity is growing
rapidly in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Afghanistan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christian faith is exploding in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">South Korea</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church is growing rapidly in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> and
experts are predicting a half billion Chinese Christians fifty years from
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>
is close to being 50% Christian today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, the mustard seed of Christianity has grown into a towering plant.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The truth is that little things
count!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God values those little seeds
you plant, those little efforts you make for Jesus, because they can open up
possibilities and opportunities for some future growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They matter in what God seeks to do through
your life and in the lives and events around you politically, socially,
economically, and religiously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Small
seeds you plant with your children or grandchildren, friends or colleagues,
matter in the realm of God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Like the story of a ninth grade
teacher, Helen Mrosla, who was having a terrible time controlling her class and
getting the students to cooperate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
she had an idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She instructed the
students to list each person’s name in the class on a sheet of paper and then
write something nice about each one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
next day, she took those papers and compiled a list for each student and passed
them out. The atmosphere in the class changed instantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One student said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I
never knew that I meant anything to anyone.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The students began to be happy with
themselves and one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The class
began to work together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years later, at
a class reunion, some of Helen’s former students gathered around her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One opened his wallet, and carefully removed
two worn pieces of notebook paper which contained the list of all the good
things of each classmate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another told
Helen that she kept her list in the top drawer of her desk at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another had placed his list in his wedding
album.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Helen was simply overwhelmed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Don’t say: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But who am I or what can I alone do?</i>” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never know how something you do or say,
however seemingly insignificant, can have such a powerful and transforming
affect upon someone for God’s Kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember,
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place> grows secretly, quietly,
undetected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Growth is occurring even
when you or I don’t perceive it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For God
gives the growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe with all my
heart and soul that one-day God will reveal to you and to me, the difference we
made with the seeds we planted over our lifetime for His Kingdom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>
is like someone finding a treasure hidden in a field or a merchant finding a
pearl of great value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People in Jesus’
day buried their valuables in the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No safety deposit boxes in that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here a man finds a treasure hidden in a field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He buries it and is so filled with joy that
he sells everything and buys the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He did nothing wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jewish law
clearly stated: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What one finds belongs
to the finder.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A merchant stumbles
across a pearl of great value.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">God’s kingdom appears like that;
it often comes as a complete surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God’s will surprises you and brings incredible joy and can lead to our
making important changes in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Walking daily by faith with God can lead to your setting new priorities
and goals or cause you to change your attitude or behavior because you have
experienced the surprising touch of God’s grace.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Think of a seed a person planted
in your life and the difference it has made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can you think of a seed you planted in someone’s life where God used it
for His purpose? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a joy, what an
honor and privilege to be surprised by God and to be used as a means of
grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has a passion for people
and He wants us to share that passion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you ever heard of a preacher
named Mordecai Ham?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very few people have
heard of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a small town
evangelist and traveled throughout the south during the 1920’s and 1930’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never made a big name for himself like for
instance Billy Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day he
arrived in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Charlotte</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">North Carolina</st1:state></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Billy Frank went to hear his preacher,
accepted the gospel, turned his life over to Jesus Christ, and became a
Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The name Billy Frank later
came to be known as Rev. Billy Graham.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Take a chance, step out of your
comfort zone, take a risk. Trust God.
Don’t underestimate God’s awesomeness.
Listen, a sower went out to sow.
God plants seeds. What seed is
God calling you to plant? Amen!</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8599952206841945509.post-3357789209914060962018-02-16T14:04:00.001-08:002018-02-16T14:04:31.838-08:00The First Rule is Love (Matt. 22:34-40) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aRYlEiNaEXUvY0Uw4JMuKccKA_IZgt8dEZDnzCTrF1rcubGMGbAbR63YHybnvLvBYfHaiL2qDZCBaM0IjmshXhCcFQ0ra6EmBFxUvRx9Mrt424HpNGTo_BGoMc_oL-_HqUpJdo8wHbjJ/s1600/heart_watercolor_2-2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aRYlEiNaEXUvY0Uw4JMuKccKA_IZgt8dEZDnzCTrF1rcubGMGbAbR63YHybnvLvBYfHaiL2qDZCBaM0IjmshXhCcFQ0ra6EmBFxUvRx9Mrt424HpNGTo_BGoMc_oL-_HqUpJdo8wHbjJ/s400/heart_watercolor_2-2018.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On Valentine’s Day, a group of
children were asked, "What does 'love' mean?" Here are some answers: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Rebekah, 8, said, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her
toenails anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my grandfather does
it for her all the time—even when his hands got arthritis, too. That's love.</i>"
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Bobby, 7, says, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love is what's in the room at Christmas, if you stop opening presents
and listen.</i>" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Nikka, 6, says, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you want to learn to love better, you should start with someone you
hate.</i>" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Tommy, 6, says, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still
friends even after they know each other so well.</i>" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Cindy, 8, says, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">During my piano recital, I was on a stage, and I was scared. I looked
at all the people watching me and I saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the
only one doing that. And I wasn't scared anymore.</i>" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Jessica, 8, says, "<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you
mean it, you should say it a lot.</i>" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Life in the ultimate sense or in
the most fundamental sense is about love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>According to our Christian faith, according to the Bible, what matters
most in life is love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why, because God
is loving, because God created us to love, because God sent Jesus to show the
model of love, and to atone for our sins by his sacrificial death on the cross,
because God commanded us to love, because God wants us to learn the greatest
lesson in the short time we spend on earth, how to love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus commands us to love God and
to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because we strengthen our
love for God when we love our neighbor and we strengthen our love for neighbor
when we love God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We love because God
first loved us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love is not an isolated
act; it’s interconnected, intertwined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we love others, God’s love flows in and through us in a free and powerful
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we love God in worship and
prayer, we are inspired and motivated to love others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live a holistic life, when we share our
lives with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living a life of love
is life-enhancing and enriching, inspiring and rewarding. Living a loving life
achieves the purpose for which God made you and God made me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scripture says faith, hope and love, these
three remain, but the greatest of these is love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course we know loving others
doesn’t come naturally, it’s something we learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes time to learn to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where do we learn it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where have you learned to love? From people
who have loved us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learn from Jesus
himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learn from the indwelling
Spirit who teaches and guides us in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is not an easy task, because it runs counter to our self-centered
nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gives us a lifetime to learn
to love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus never promised that
following Him would be easy. This is especially true when other persons hold
different values or different ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today is an extremely challenging
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One example today is our intense
political differences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The challenge
appears to be nearly impossible for democrats and republicans, liberals and
conservatives, to listen to one another, to agree to disagree, to care for, to
compromise, to respect one another, to work together for the nation’s good.
There are constant personal attacks, rather than a robust debate on the merits
of the ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see and hear such contempt,
heated rhetoric, distrust, charges and distain for one another, but rarely much
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never seen <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> more
polarized than today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray, like you
do, for this nation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus sets the highest standard
and one that is daunting for anyone who strives to follow Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you only love people who love you what is your reward?</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone, even tax collectors are capable of
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you greet and welcome only your brothers and sisters, how hard is
that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Gentiles do the same.</i>”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">True, loving others is
complicated; if it was easy everyone would be doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loving someone can evolve into enabling their
bad behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You find yourself being
manipulated, being used, becoming a co-dependent. Forgiveness is an expression
of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But so is setting boundaries,
ground rules, ultimatums, and tough love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Tolerating bad behavior is not love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Allowing yourself to be bullied is not love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saying no, not helping someone in the way
they expect, can be the most loving response, it can be just the thing to
change another’s bad behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spoiling
a child or abusing a child is not love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are of course no cookie-cutter models for loving a family member,
a friend, a child, a colleague.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
case by case. That we are to love is indisputable, but how we are to love is
the question, and is open to debate and discussion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's why we must rely upon God for courage
and wisdom, a deep and abiding wisdom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Loving others is never learned by
thinking alone; it is only learned by doing, which as you have probably
experienced is sometimes learned by trial and error.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loving your children as parents, at least in
our experience, involved a lot of trial and error. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loving grandchildren is much simpler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simple acts of love can have a tremendous
impact.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A student sent a note to one of
his former teachers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He received this
reply: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dear William:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can't tell you how much your note meant to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am in my eighties, living alone in
a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely and in poor health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I taught school for 50 years and yours is the
first note of appreciation I ever received.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It came on a blue, cold morning and it cheered me up in a way you can
never know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you with all my heart.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bringing consolation to the lonely, a meal
to a neighbor, comfort to the grieving are ways of ministering to those who are
hurting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Scripture says that loving others
is the primary witness to the world for Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Your love for others will prove
to the world that you are my disciples.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve had nurses in hospitals and staff in nursing homes say: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">We are so impressed with the many caring
visits by the people of your congregation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have a caring congregation.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Loving others is a powerful witness to Jesus Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Scripture says that life without
love is really useless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because we were created to be used by
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Relationships must be a top priority
in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scripture says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">No
matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talk about finding time for our children
or making time for people in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God says relationships are what life is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 10 commandments include four in our
relationship with God and 6 in in our relationships with people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But all are about relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learn to love God in worship and prayer
and we learn to love others by actions and doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Busyness is the enemy of relationships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, accomplishments, achievements, reaching
goals are important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But relationships,
loving others, trumps these things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Scripture says love leaves an
invaluable legacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How you treated other
people, how you encouraged, how you opened doors of opportunities for others,
how you listened, how you taught and trained others, how you shared your time,
talents and treasure with others, how you supported others is a powerful
legacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love is the secret of a lasting
heritage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like one writer said:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’ve
observed that when people are in their final moments of life, they don’t ask to
be surrounded with objects, their trophies, and diplomas, and symbols of their
accomplishments and successes, they want to be surrounded by people they love
and who love them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t wait until you
are on your deathbed to discover this important truth – relationships matter
most.</i>”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Scripture says that we will be
evaluated by God in the final judgment on our loving of God and others during
our lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recall Matthew 25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Come you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you, for I was hungry, and you gave me food, thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, naked and you clothed me, sick and you to care of me, just
as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it unto me.</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our text, John says: “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees
a brother or sister in need and yet refused help? Let us love not in word or
speech, but in truth and action.</i>”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A woman whose husband had died
years earlier and who raised her teenage children alone, tells how difficult it
was when her children had all grown and left home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She writes:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I felt so lonely and the house
was so empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know what to do,
where to turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt worthless and
confused; my life didn’t seem to have any value, because I was no longer
focused on raising my children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
was away from the house I didn’t want to return home and when I was in the
house I could hardly stand the thought of leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like I was living in a cocoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I began to pray, as I had done throughout
my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And as the days passed, I began
to feel some stirrings inside of me, a kind of inner restlessness. I began to
see in my mind options for my life, people I could help, that I had never
before considered and for the first time since the children had gone, I began
to look ahead with some anticipation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
didn’t know what was to happen, but I sensed God’s Spirit leading me and
calling me out of myself, and I knew that I was about to break out of the
cocoon I’d been living in and begin a new and meaningful chapter in my life.</i>”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s true that time, time for
relationships, always seems to be in short supply.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are always pressed for time.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">“</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">I wish
I had more time.</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are we victims of
time?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are we helpless to change
that?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pray to God to help you manage and
prioritize your time.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pastor Rick Warren
writes: “</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The best expression of love is
time. Relationships take time. Investing
in relationships takes time and effort.
Words alone, about how important relationships are, are empty. The best way to spell love is T-I-M-E and the
best time to love is now.</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">”</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amen!</span></div>
PB Presbyterian Churchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08790694851349903064noreply@blogger.com0