Which of the Two? (Matthew 5:33-37; 21:28-32) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel

A gravely ill man was speaking with his doctor. His doctor told him, "You are very sick, but you'll pull through." However, the patient was scared for his life. "Please, doctor," he said, "do everything you can. If I get well, I'll donate $10,000 to the fund for the new hospital." Several months later the doctor met the patient on the street and asked him how he felt, the man told the doctor that he felt great. "Good!" the doctor said, "because I have been meaning to speak to you about that money for the new hospital." The man said, "What are you talking about?" The doctor replied, "You said that if you got well, you would donate $10,000 to the new hospital fund." The man shook his head. "If I said that, doctor, then I must have really been sick!"

Which leads us to our story from the Gospel of Matthew about a father who had two sons.  He went to one and said, “Son, go and work in my vineyard today.”  The boy said, “No, I'm not going, but later he changed his mind and went.”  The father went to the second son and made the same request and the son answered: “Yes Sir, I will father, but he didn't go.”  Jesus asks the crowd, which of the two did the will of the father?  The listeners reply, “the first.”

This is a parable that all of us, including children, can understand.  Hasn't every parent asked his child to do some household chores and has heard: “OK, I'll do it,” except that the child never does it.  I certainly remember my father telling me to mow the lawn or take out the trash or do the dishes and I readily said: “OK, just a minute,” but then got distracted and never got around to it.  After he badgered me, I finally did the chores, but without his badgering, it never world have happened.   I can remember my mother calling me to come in for dinner, and I would say, “OK, be right in,” but I didn't go, until she said, “OK no dinner for you tonight I'm throwing it out,” and that motivated me to break away from my friends and go in for dinner.  Stalling is a learned skill.  Right.  It's a skill we learn early in childhood.  Children can be masters at learning how to stall their parents when we don't want to do something.   Let's examine Jesus' parable a little more closely.

First, Jesus is speaking about how paramount integrity is in our relationships.  What we say should match what we do.  Is that ever an issue for you?  Jesus is appealing for integrity in our relations with others: in our friendships, in our families, with our neighbors, in our business, in our volunteer service, in the workplace, and yes, in the church. 

Jesus expects consistency between what we say and what we do.   What we say should match our actions and what we do should match our words.  Jesus expects us, as his followers, to be Christ-like examples to others, and to honor our word, our promises, our commitment, to follow through on what we say to someone. 

The price we pay for not following through is big.  We lose the respect, trust and confidence of others.  We are seen as persons whom you can’t count on or depend on.  The word people use today is flake.  He or she is a flake, you can't count on them, so don't even bother to ask.  Conversely, when we keep our word, you gain the respect and trust and confidence of others, who feel you can be counted on in the best of times as well as in the worst of times.  

In Matthew 5, Jesus was condemning a social problem where some Jews were making empty promises to one other in the legal, social, political and personal realms – and sealing these promises by swearing by heaven, or by the earth, by Jerusalem, or by one’s head and then breaking these vows as a matter of course.  In Matthew 21, Jesus was criticizing some of the Jewish leaders who claimed they loved God and were committed to fulfilling God’s will and yet they treated the poor unjustly, led unrighteous lives, used their offices for personal profit, and lorded their authority over others.   Their religion had become counterfeit.

Making a promise is easy; keeping a promise or honoring your word is another story.  It's essential to strive to be faithful to our word – our word to God and to one another, as a husband or wife, friend, mother or father, grandfather or grandmother. 

Someone wrote:  “Integrity is the ability to carry out a resolution long after the mood in which it was made has left you.”  Yes, it’s true that to err is human, to make promises that go unfulfilled is common.  But it is also true that Jesus, whose Spirit dwells in those who commit their lives to him and follow him, who call themselves Christian, expects more of believers.

Dr. William Glasser tells this story:  “Our family home included one of those big bathtubs, and we filled it one evening and asked our five-year-old son if he wouldn’t like to get in to splash and play.  He did want to, and we knew he wanted to, but as five-year olds sometimes do, he said, “No” and threw a giant sized fit, screaming and crying that he wanted his own little baby bathtub. 

During the howling, his seven-year old sister said she would like to get into the big tub and quickly hopped in and proceeded to have a delightful time.  At that point, the 5 year old changed his tune, demanding to go into the big tub also.  Dr. Glasser said he gently picked up his son, and put him in his infant tub.  When the boy’s crying subsided, Dr. Glasser said: “After this son,, don’t say no, when you mean yes, and don’t say yes, when you mean no.”  Dr. Glasser ended the story with the comment of how important it is to teach children this lesson.”

Jesus says: “I tell you, on the day of judgment, you will render account for every careless word you utter.”   There is nothing more damaging to our Christian witness, to our credibility as followers of Jesus, than when we lack integrity in our lives.    

The second lesson I believe Jesus is teaching deals with motivation.  Anyone ever face this in your life?  If only I could get motivated.  I just need a little inspiration.  I just need something to charge me up.  Knowledge isn't the issue.  You know what's right, you know what should be done, you know what you should do, but for some reason you don't do it.   Inaction, passivity, procrastination wins out.  We make excuses.  We justify our in-action. 

Yes, I am all too familiar with this problem in my own life.   Why do it today when you can put it off until tomorrow.  Why do the right thing when you know its going to be uncomfortable or unpleasant?  “Yes, I know I said I would, but”...The problem is not one of commission but omission.  We have good intentions, our intentions are admirable, the problem is implementing our intentions, putting them into action. 

I think of unchurched couples over the years whom I have married who will say: “Thank you, pastor, we loved your church, we liked you, you really helped us, we are going to start worshipping here, see you Sunday, and unfortunately, you never see them again.”  

Oh, those beautiful things - good intentions.  You intend to spend more time with your children, but don't do it because you're too busy at the office...you intend to do some volunteer work in the church or community, but don't because things just seem to keep piling up...you intend to spend more time reading the Bible or going to a Bible study, but don't because you're just too busy… we all, including myself, are aware of how good intentions can be a bridge to nowhere. 

Does this mean that we are bad people?  No.  Is the truth that we are liars?  No.  It is that age-old battle with motivation, with the self-discipline of actualizing what you really intend to do. 

The right thing begins with an idea, a thought, a desire, a goal.   God is pleased with our desire to do the right things, in fact, God expects it.  But there is more.  God has high expectations of us, not low expectations.  God wants you to have high expectations.  God is not satisfied with intentions only, because God knows that by his grace working in us, we are capable of so much more. 

And that's the key, to pray for God's power, to pray for God's grace, to pray for God's Spirit to hold us accountable and to work in us, when we are wrestling with something we know is the right thing to do, but we are just not doing it.  For by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we can lead lives of integrity and we can find that motivation we need.  

Jesus is saying – “My followers I want the best in you and in your relationships and I will give you my Spirit to help you reach those standards.”  God’s purpose for the Christian life is that it be filled with energy, enthusiasm, love and integrity.

What moves you from good intentions to taking action?   I read an article about a man who regained his focus thanks to his love for his daughter.  Anyone who's ever tried to lose weight knows what a frustrating, nearly impossible battle it can be.  It is hard to find the motivation to lose weight and keep it off.

Randy Leamer found the motivation.  He knew if he didn't lose weight, he might lose his daughter.   At only 18 months, Meagan Leamer was diagnosed with severe kidney disease.  No matter what treatment the doctors tried with her, the toddler just kept getting worse.  By age 5, Meagan desperately needed a kidney transplant.

Megan's parents were more that willing to donate an organ to their daughter and both were found to be good matches.  But her mother's family had a long history of kidney problems so an organ donation would be risky on her part.  That left Meagan's dad as the only possible donor.  There was only one problem, he weighed well over 300 pounds.  Doctors were afraid that in his condition, he wouldn't survive the surgery to harvest his kidney.  So Randy determined to lose at least a 100 pounds in order to prepare for surgery. 

He began exercising and eating a low-fat diet.  Friends at work cheered him  on, and even brought in their clothes when his clothes became too big for him.  Within eight months, he had dropped over 100 pounds.  Megan's kidney transplant surgery was successfully performed and both father and daughter made a full recovery.

Love for his daughter was his motivation, not to mention that losing weight gave him a longer and healthier life.  It is amazing how love, our love for God and our love for others, incuding  ourselves, can be a poweful motivator in life.

Right now, think about a relationship in your life.  Is there someone whom God is calling you to follow through with on a promise which you made?   Is there someone whom God is motivating you to serve or help or share with or honor in some way.  Is there something you know you need to do?

Jesus said go out into the world, make disciples, serve others, love your neighbor, witness to people in my name.  Christians are those who have said “Yes, Father I will go.”   Christians are those who have made a commitment and said, “Yes, Jesus I will go.”  Christians are those who have made a promise and have said “Yes, Holy Spirit I will go.” 

Praise God for a faith filled with integrity and motivation.  Praise God for his power, grace and call upon our lives.  Praise God when no matter what our words may be, we like the first son, go.  Amen!

Do Not Judge? (Matthew 7:1-5; James 4:11-12) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel

Do you make judgments about things?  Of course.  So do I.    Peter Falk was an actor who spent his career playing a wide range of roles in comedy and drama.  Most notably, he played an eccentric, rumpled but always triumphant detective in the hit show "Columbo." In real life Falk had a glass eye, resulting from an operation to remove a cancerous tumor when he was 3.  In spite of his missing eye, he was a high school athlete.  He liked to tell the story about being upset when he was called out at third base during a high school baseball game.  Peter said: “I removed my eye and handed it to the umpire and said  "Here ump, you'll do better with this.”

Do we make judgments?  Sure. “I don't think he is a very good Christian.” “I think she is smarter than he is.” “I like him, but not her.” “I like this restaurant, but not that one.” “I think the Padres are a better team than the Dodgers.” “I think  SDSU is a better school than UCSD.” “I think she is a good person, I think he is a bad person.”

And then we encounter a teaching of Jesus: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.  For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.”  A simple teaching right?  Well?  

What do you think Jesus means?  How are we to interpret Jesus words?  I don’t know about you, but I find this teaching challenging.  And so do many people.  This teaching has been interpreted in different ways. 

Some people see it as an absolute and all-encompassing principle, which applies to any and all circumstances about people.  They assert: “Don’t judge people's behavior, adults or children, don’t judge their ideas, don’t judge their character, don’t judge attitudes, don’t judge values, don’t judge anything.”  Don’t say someone is wrong or right or that someone is good or evil.  Why, because you are judging.  

Other people apply Jesus’ teaching selectively depending upon their personal bias.  Some say Jesus meant - let judging be in the hands of the legal system, the court system and not the individual.  And still others ignore it altogether because that they are stumped about what Jesus means. 

The truth of course is that despite Jesus' teaching, we make judgments about people everyday.  We make judgments about people's guilt or innocence.  Perhaps you have had jury duty.  I just received another summons for jury duty.  I have been calling each night after 5:00 pm to see if I have to report the next morning.  I have been through this many times before.  I have been called many times but have never served on a jury.  As soon as they learn I am a minister, they excuse me.   The judge asks:  “Well pastor, do you think you can serve on a jury when the Bible says do not judge.  I say yes I do,  I will weigh the evidence like everyone else.”  Then the judge confers with the two attorneys, and I hear the familiar words, “Thank you pastor, but your services will not be needed.  You are excused.” 

What does Jesus mean?  Based upon my study and reflection I offer an interpretation, which is shared by some others, which I also happen to believe is correct.    First, Jesus didn’t mean that we should never make moral judgments, that is, judgments about people's behavior.   I believe this is a gross misinterpretation of Jesus words.   Moral judgments are necessary.   Jesus isn't saying here that we should suspend moral discernment or not be morally discriminating.   Jesus did not promote moral indifference or moral neutrality or moral equivalency, where everything is permitted, everything is tolerated, everything is equal, everything goes, its all good.   Jesus clearly taught that there is righteous and good and moral and kind and virtuous behavior.  There is also destructive and unrighteous and immoral and evil behavior.

Did Jesus make judgments about people?   Jesus quoted the 10 commandments which deals with true worship and ethical behavior in regard to stealing, murder, coveting and adultery.  Jesus said: “Whenever you pray do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogue so others may see them.”   Jesus said: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”  Jesus said: “A good tree bears good fruit and a bad tree bears bad fruit in speaking about those who claimed to follow him.”    Jesus called some of the religious leaders of his day, white washed tombs, because they strutted about seeking positions of privilege, but did not practice compassion and generosity toward the poor.  Following Jesus teaching in Matthew about not judging others, he said:  “Don’t give what is holy, meaning his teachings, to dogs and do not throw your pearls before swine; or they will trample them underfoot and turn and maul you.”  He was speaking here about being discerning in regard to whom you teach and share your faith with.  He also taught his disciples - “Go proclaim the good news.  Whatever town or village you enter find out who in it is worthy and stay there until you leave.  If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.”  Jesus told the men who brought the woman caught in adultery before him: “Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone,” and he said to the adulterous woman, “Do they condemn you, neither do I.  Go and sin no more.”   Clearly, Jesus teaches that making moral judgments about people is right and necessary.

Second, Jesus did not mean that we shouldn't evaluate or appraise each other’s character or talents or gifts or abilities or qualifications.  Jesus chose certain people as his disciples, but not others.  The early church discerned who should be deacons and elders based upon their spiritual gifts, wisdom and the call of God.   We rightfully make judgments about business partners or marriage partners or doctors or lawyers or teachers or ministers or baby sitters.  

We should judge people about whether they can keep things confidential which we share with them. You learn that there are some people you can trust and others you can’t trust.   Jesus is not saying - refrain from making judgments about people’s character or gifts or abilities or qualifications.

Third, Jesus is not speaking out against constructive criticism, legitimate criticism, appropriate criticism, done in the spirit of humility and love with the aim of restoring and correcting and helping and guiding someone.

So then what does Jesus mean? We get a clue from his words about the speck in our neighbor's eye in contrast to the log in our own eyes.  You hypocrites Jesus says.   Jesus is condemning harsh, mean-spirited, biting, sharp-tongued criticism which continually finds fault.  He is condemning a censorious spirit that tears someone down.  Jesus is condemning the attitude of self-righteousness, arrogance and judgmentalism.  He is criticizing being hypercritical toward others where one is always faultfinding and nitpicking.  He is talking about misjudging and prejudging other people, based upon first impressions or appearance or some other criteria.  He is condemning making hasty judgments about another’s motives without any knowledge to base them on. Jesus is condemning self-righteous judging, arrogance, being condescending, putting others down in order to feel superior.  Jesus is speaking about hypocrisy, accusing others of saying or doing things that you and I do and say.   Jesus is condemning gossip which hurts and runs down other people, of speaking critically of others to bolster one's ego.  We get a further clue from the letter of James.  The letter of James says:  “Do not speak evil against one another,” that is to utter slander, to defame, to malign.   This is what Jesus condemns and says that we shall be judged by God for when we judge others in this way.

I don't know about you but Jesus' words get my attention.  It is so difficult to be impartial and not be judgmental toward others.  It's our nature.   What are prejudices after all?  It is prejudging and stereotyping others based upon: appearance, speech, race, gender, religion, nationality, education, occupation, income, or social status. 

Jesus is our model as we interact with others.  He was comfortable in the presence of rugged fishermen and wealthy tax collectors, with both rich young rulers and poor lepers, with Jews and Gentiles, learned rabbis and despised Samaritans, business-women and women of questionable character.   I believe we need to recognize this flaw in our character, confess our sin, ask God to change our hearts, and to forgive us.  And the good news is that God will answer our prayer. 

A recall a friend from Santa Monica who owned a clothing store and told me: “I have ladies come to my store who look like they did not have two nickels to rub together, yet they purchase thousands of dollars worth of clothing, get into their chauffeured limousine and drive off.  You would never have guessed that they were wealthy.”

Jesus paints a picture in this teaching.  About a person with excellent vision, 20/20 vision, who clearly sees the splinters or specks in other people's eyes, but is totally blind, completely oblivious to the log in his own eye.   Dr. Peter Marshall was fond of saying, “Any time you point a finger at someone, there are three pointing back at you.”    Our guide as followers of Jesus comes from Matthew 7:12 where Jesus provides a basic moral principle: The Golden Rule, “In everything, do to others as you would have them to you.”

Jesus in these words espouses three basic biblical truths: First, every person is a unique child of God and is loved by God and has potential.  Second, God is the ultimate judge.  We must leave final judgment to God.  And third, there is a huge difference between using our God given minds and hearts and exercising moral judgment toward a positive end and the negative attitude of being self-righteous and hyper-judgmental  toward others.

Let us turn to God's grace as we seek to follow Christ's way - “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.”  Amen!

Come to the Table (I Corinthians 11:26-35) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel

Where do you go to renew your spirit?  Where do you find spiritual renewal?  What do you do to experience a moment of peace?   I know where you don't go.  You don't open up the newspaper and start reading the headlines or go to the television and turn on the news.  You don't get into your car and head out for a tranquil drive on interstate 5 or 805.   You don't go to the beach or the bay on the 4th of July.

45 years ago, this past July 20th, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history in Apollo 11 by landing on the moon.  You probably, those who are old enough, remember where you were on that historic day.  Astronaut Aldrin sent a radio broadcast to earth asking listeners to contemplate the events of that day and to give thanks.  Then, in radio blackout for privacy, Adrin read from the scripture:  “I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit.” and then he and the others quietly partook of the Lord's Supper.   Yes, on that historic day, they went to the Lord's Table.

Jesus invites us, he invites you, to come to His table.    Now you should know that standing here before you, serving communion, can be risky for pastors.  You are thinking, oh come on now, how can that be, its' risk free, but not so.   I vividly recall in CO, when another pastor and I were leading a retreat for a group of churches and everyone was seated outside.  It came time for worship and for the Lord's Supper.  After I broke the bread, the other pastor picked up the cup and noticed a bee swimming in the wine.  She tried to flick it out and it stung her on the tip of her finger.  Since I am allergic to bees, I was intently watching the whole thing, and to my amazement, she continued serving and never lost a beat, even though it really hurt.  I asked her later how she did it and she said  - I just kept thinking about the supper representing Jesus' sacrifice and thought I can deal with a little bee sting.

The Lord's Supper is the sign and seal of Jesus' followers eating and drinking in communion with the crucified and risen Lord.  During his earthly ministry Jesus shared many meals with his followers as a sign of community and as a means of grace.  These meals strengthened the disciples not only physically but spiritually for their mission.  They were times in the midst of the disciples’ arduous life, of following Jesus from village to village, as well as going out two by two ministering in His name, for renewal, refreshment and replenishment. 

The Lord's Supper is a visible sign of Jesus' atoning sacrifice for our salvation.  The Lord's Supper is Christ's gift for followers to experience His grace and presence.   The Lord's Supper is God's seal on the promises of the gospel, such as “You did not choose me, I chose you,” and “Lo, I am with you always to the end of the earth” and “Come to me all you who are overburdened and I will give you rest.” 

Jesus says come to the table, do this in remembrance of me.  We come remembering Jesus' ministry: his travels to towns and villages and to the Holy City Jerusalem, his healing people and accepting outcasts, lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, and women by breaking the cultural stereotypes of the day, his teachings like the sermon on the mount, his conflicts and struggles with his enemies, his disciples who both listened and learned and deserted him.  We come remembering his death on the cross as God's way of forgiving our sin, and yet, we remember the empty cross and Jesus' resurrection and His opening for us the promise of everlasting life.

We come to the table in the spiritual presence of the risen Lord.  It is the Lord's table and the Lord's supper.   Jesus calls you by name and invites you as his guest to this table.  We gather around the table to eat and drink with one another and with the risen Lord.  The broken bread and the poured wine are occasions of his presence.  Christ is present as the host of this meal.  Christ is present in our hearts as the indwelling Christ through faith.  Jesus is personally and spiritually present at this table.   We enter into spiritual union or communion with Christ and one another.   We share a common guilt from sin and receive by faith a word of forgiveness by the risen Lord.

We come to the table and catch a glimpse of the future of our life together in heaven.  The Lord's table is a foretaste of something we shall experience fully in heaven.  We come knowing Christ is coming.  Taking communion is like watching the preview of a movie that is soon to be released.  It's not the whole movie, its a trailer for the coming movie.  One writer said:  “Don't ever forget that the meal we share together in once a month or so in the church, with a tiny piece of bread and a tiny cup is a foretaste of the heavenly feast of the Lamb that we will celebrate together for eternity.”

We come to the table to be spiritually fed by the Holy Spirit.   Just like a meal feeds our bodies, this table is God's means of grace, it feeds our souls, it renews our spirits, it nourishes our faith, it overcomes our fears and brings courage to our hearts.

We come to praise God and give thanks.  The Lord's Supper is also called the Eucharist a Greek word which means thanksgiving.  This is a meal where we give thanks to God for God's gifts, for God's blessings, for God's forgiveness, for God's courage, for God's leading in our lives, for God's sustaining and strengthen us in the midst or ordeals and trials. 

Someone wrote:  “The Lord's Supper is a most ordinary and extraordinary experience all at once.”  We don't come because we deserve a place or are worthy to be here or have earned the right to sit at the table.  We come because by faith we know that Christ has declared us righteous before God, because Christ has pardoned us before God, because Christ has reconciled us to God, because Christ has made us worthy to stand before God,

Where do you go to renew your spirit?  Jesus says, come to my table!  Amen!

Oh, the Stress (II Timothy 4:6-18) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel

A photographer was snapping pictures of first graders at an elementary school and making small talk to put his subjects at ease.  "What are you going to be when you grow up?" he asked one little girl.  The little girl paused and then replied:  “Tired."

Here are some humorous comments about stress.   “Reality is a leading cause of stress among those in touch with it.”   “I used to have a handle on life, but mine broke.”  “I'm not stressed out.  I've just been in a very bad mood for 30 years.”  “I'm not saying I'm stressed, but I've been seriously thinking about billing my doctor for the time I spend in the waiting room.”  “You know you're really stressed when you start getting on your own nerves.”  I'm not saying I'm stressed at work, but I've been taping pictures of my boss on water melons and lauching them from high places.”

Anyone here know anything about stress?  Stress is a normal and inevitable part of life, everyone faces it.  You are not alone.   Stress influences how we interact with others and how we feel about ourselves and our future.   We generally use the word "stress" when we feel that everything has become too much - we are overloaded and question if we can cope with the demands and pressures placed upon us. 

When demands are felt to greatly exceed our ability to cope with or deal with them, we are stressed out.  Stress includes feelings of tension and anxiety.  It's the wear and tear our minds and bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment.     One definition is that stress is the combination of a stressor and the body’s reaction to it.  Stress is the body's response to changes that create taxing demands.  Stressors are triggers that cause us to experience stress. They can be major life events or small daily hassles.  Being stressed can be a temporary condition or chronic.

Stress must be taken seriously.  It has been linked - directly or indirectly to hypertension, cancer, depression, ulcers, and heart disease.  

Surprisingly, stress can be a positive in your life.  Yes, I said positive.  Sometimes stress get's you going and is good for you.  Positive stress provides mental alertness and efficiency.   Positive stress feels exciting, generates energy and improves performance.  It can increase self-esteem.  Without any stress wouldn't our lives be boring?  Wouldn't they feel pointless?  Stress can help to motivate you, to help you focus, and drive you to meet your deadlines.  It can give an extra burst of adrenaline to help you meet your goals. 

  

Positive examples of stressors, which may seem daunting at times are planning a wedding, having a baby, moving to a new community, buying your first home, graduating from college or getting a new job or being promoted at work.

But when the stress undermines both our mental and physical health it is negative. Negative stress feels overwhelming and out of your control.  It threatens our equilibrium and well-being.  Examples are the loss of a job, divorce, a car accident or illness.   Physical signs of distress include: changes in eating or sleeping patterns, weakness, dizziness, frequent headaches, neck and back pain, and frequent colds and infections.  Emotional signs include: persistent hostile or angry feelings, increased frustration with minor annoyances, nervousness, lack of concentration, anxiety, and depression.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) develops after a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of physical danger.   Symptons, like recurring flashbacks, continue to occur.  The mind and body reacts as if you are still in immediate danger.  PTSD is common to war veterans, the VA deals with this regularly, but it can also result from other traumatic incidents, such as a mugging, rape, child abuse, car accidents, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes.  

I think of the stress President O'bama and his cabinet is under given the state of the world today.  He knows Americans generally don't support more involvement or sending more ground troops to Iraq.  On the other hand, an evil terrorist group, Isis, is rolling over northern Iraq, killing and displacing innocent people.  They are threatening genocide against Christian minorities in Iraq.  They have committed attrocities against Muslims and Christians.  Obama, as we have heard, has decided to send humanitarian aid and to authorize military air strikes to attempt to stop this terrorist group from commiting genocide.  Our prayers are with the president and his cabinet, the brave pilots conducting the strikes and the innocent people of Iraq.  

In our passage from II Timothy, the apostle Paul is under stress.  He is in prison in Rome.  I’ve personally been in a number of prisons in CA, not as an inmate, let me be clear, but when I was a Criminal Justice major at SDSU, and just being in a prison raises one’s anxiety level.   

The apostle Paul is writing to his close friend and associate Timothy from prison.  Paul knows that his death is near at hand. “As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  In his time of deepest need, Paul’s friends had deserted him. “Demas has deserted me, Crescens has gone, Titus has left. Alexander, the metal worker did me a great deal of harm.  In speaking of being in court and defending himself against charges, no one came to my support, and everyone deserted me.” 

The Apostle Paul openly and honestly shares his feelings in that situation.  Have you ever been stressed out?   What are some antidotes to stress?  How can we better cope with and reduce stress in our lives?  Certainly we know that getting regular exercise, learning to meditate and relax, getting rest, taking a break, and other things are important antidotes.  But I offer some insights based upon this lesson. 

First, know who you are and whom you are called to serve!   Paul opens this letter with the testimony: “Paul, an apostle (that is, one who is sent) of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.”  Paul knew who he was.    

The 5th century B.C. Greek philosopher Socrates said:  “Know thyself!”  What does this mean? I think it means know your capabilites, your limitations and your strengths, know your heart and your mind.  Know who created you and who called you.  Know the one whom you ultimately serve and are accountable to.   If you don’t know who you are, you are vulnerable to allowing others to define you and you are susceptible to collasping in despair when challenges face you.  

Our faith says: ”I know who I am because I know whose I am.  I am made in God’s image.  I am a forgiven sinner.  I am a child of God.  I am a servant of God.  I am a friend of Christ.  I am loved by God.  I am accepted by God.  Christ is with me.”

Second, know your purpose, what you’re trying to accomplish!   Paul’s mission was clear:  God had called him as an apostle to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.  He writes: “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all of the Gentiles might hear it.”  Seek a clear sense of your purpose in every situation of your life.  Sometimes we find ourselves asking – “What in the world am I doing, why am I here, what am I trying to accomplish?”  Seek clarity in your purpose and persevere.   This may be a situation in the church or in a relationship or at work or in the community or in your family.   Know why you are doing what you're doing.

Having a plan, setting priorities and goals is critical, because otherwise you’ll be pressured to follow or conform to other people’s ideas and expectations about what you should be doing. You’ll feel pressured to do things which you may not feel in your heart is right for you.

Certainly we listen to others, I'm not saying that.  For sometimes they are right and other times they are wrong.   Don't assume others advice must be right or must be wrong.  Filter it through your sense of your own purpose and priotities.

Third, seek out support from others.   Paul writes: “Do your best to come to me quickly.”  There is an urgency here.  He doesn't say “hey, give me a buzz when you have a moment, text me when you get a chance.”  But rather - come quickly.   Reach out to others.  Communicate with others, don't let your pride stand in the way.  Talk to others you trust about your situation and the overwhelming pressures you are feeling.  Shun the Superman/Wonderwoman urge, “I can handle it by myself.”   God will work through others to sustain you.   You need other people for spiritual and emotional support.  

When something is stressing you out, don't bottle it up; share it with a trusted friend.  Paul, virtually alone in prison, further writes: “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.  Only Luke is with me.”    Reach out for help from others.  It is amazing how most people are ready to listen, pray with you and give support.   God will speak and reveal himself through others.

Fourth, keep your focus on God!  Keep God at the center, maintain your daily walk with the Lord, know whom you truly worship and depend on and rely on.   Look at your schedule for the day or week and pray: “God, out of all the things I could do, how do you want me to spend the time you have given me.”  “Or God these are the things I must do, I pray for strength and guidance and peace.”  Spending time in prayer for God’s guidance will reduce anxiety and stress and bring you peace. 

Sometimes in the midst of life’s burdens, stress and pressures we lose our focus and turn away from God, the source of life.  We take a detour from nourishing our soul, our spiritual life and try to solve the problems alone.   When we lose our spiritual focus, stress quickly builds.  Recall Paul’s words in Philippians:  “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Make a commitment to maintaining a regular pattern of worship and personal prayer and time in the word. 

The apostle Paul makes the following request: “When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.”  These would have included the O.T., perhaps the Gospel of Mark, a scroll of the teachings of Jesus, copies of his own letters and other important documents.   Paul knew these resources would inspire him.  

I love his closing words: “Everyone deserted me, but the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength.”  “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom.  To him be glory for ever and ever.”

For Just Such a Time (Esther 4:9-17) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel

On February 27, 2012, 17-year-old T. J. Lane from Chardon, Ohio, burst into his school's cafeteria and started shooting classmates.   He shot and killed three students.  Had it not been for the courage of Coach Frank Hall, many more students could have died that day.  Coach Hall doesn't consider himself a hero.  The 6'1", 350-pound football coach admits that he has plenty of fears.  He hates confrontations.  He's afraid of heights, roller coasters, and scary movies; and he jumps through the ceiling when his kids sneak up on him.  On one level, Coach Hall is more of a teddy bear than a fighter.  He loves kids.  He says: "Every kid is someone's pride and joy or wants to be someone's pride and joy …. I keep thinking, How would I want my kid to be treated?—and then I treat them that way."

As a father of four adopted children, coach Hall also sees himself as a protector of kids.  So as the shots rang out in the High School cafeteria, coach Hall knew what he had to do.  He said as a Christian, he felt the hand of God through the ordeal, and responded with courage in the face of danger.  

As students cringed under desks, coach Hall charged at the gunman, his voice booming, "Stop! Stop!"  The 17-year-old shooter was thrown off-guard by Hall's charge.  He shot and missed.  And the coach continued to charge at Lane, who turned and started running.  Police finally found Lane on a wooded road, shivering and wearing a t-shirt with the word KILLER on it.  When they asked him why he'd run away, he said, "Because Coach Hall was chasing me."

In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give her bus seat to a white man.  In her book Quiet Strength she writes:  "When I sat down on the bus that day, I had no idea history was being made—I was only thinking of getting home. But I had made up my mind. After so many years of being a victim of the mistreatment my people suffered, not giving up my seat—and whatever I had to face afterwards—was not important. I did not feel any fear sitting there. I felt the Lord would give me the strength to endure whatever I had to face. It was time for someone to stand up—or in my case, sit down. So I refused to move.”

These stories have one thing in common, they are about the right people, in the right place, at the right time, who did something noble, who took a stand, who acted with courage.   Each one had a God-given opportunity to make a difference and they seized it. 

What is an opportunity?  An English Proverb says: “Make hay while the sun shines.”  Samuel Johnson wrote: “To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life.”   John Flavel wrote:  “Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.” 

Someone said opportunity is like an open window.  But a window of opportunity won't open itself - You must seize it.   An opportunity is made great or poor in direct ration to the quality of the character you bring to it.  An opportunity is seized or missed, in relation to our being prepared to make the most of it.  There is a call to duty and responsibility in opportunities.   If we bring our faith to it, it can be used for the good of others and for the glory of God.   God gives us opportunities.

Can you look back and think of opportunities you missed, that you let slip through your fingers?  An opportunity you had to speak, but you remained silent.  Can you think of opportunities you seized and made the most of?   God will offer you and me new opportunities in our lives.  Are you ready?

In our story from the Old Testament, Esther comes face to face with an opportunity in the form of a pending crisis.  The environment is extremely hostile.   The Jews are living in exile in Persia, modern day Iran.  Though Esther is the queen of Persia, she had been forced to marry the king and her power was limited.  The King's power is absolute.  Esther, a Jew, was faced with an opportunity fraught with peril, to save her people from annihilation by the Persians.  

Haman, the king's second in command, had deceived the king into issuing an edict to exterminate all Jews in the realm.   Mordecai, Esther’s uncle and Esther, could have tried to escape and save themselves.  But instead, they saw it in a radically different light, that God had placed them in that position for His higher purpose.  They saw it as an opportunity to be used by God for a good and glorious deed.  Hear again Mordecai’s famous reply to Esther:

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house, you alone of all the Jews will escape.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.  And who knows, but that you have come to Royal position for just such a time as this?”

Esther realizes that she has a chance to save her fellow Jews in her privileged position as queen.  But even more, she begins to sense her divine destiny – here was a chance to be used to deliver her people from annihilation  for the glory of God.  It's a decisive moment.  And so, without being officially summoned before the king, and knowing full well the law of death, for such impertenance, Esther approaches the king and tells him of the deception behind the edict to kill the Jews.  A miracle occurs.  The king listens and Esther and the Jews are spared.

There are insights we can gain from Esther's story.   Her eyes were open and she saw the opportunity.  She believed God would act at the right time.   She trusted God to be with her.  She prayed for the courage to act.  She commited herself to be used as God's agent to save the Jews even at the risk of her own life.  She seized the moment and took action, rather than procrastinating.   It was a moment that could not be put off.  She prayed and fasted and thereby asked for and relied upon God’s help on her dangerous mission.   She didn’t over-analyze the situation, realizing the urgency and need to act. 

Are you faced with a difficult situation that requires action?  Maybe its a situation at work or in the community.  You may realize its time to talk with a spouse or friend on a delicate subject, or talk to your family about changes which you believe need to be made.  You too may see a situation where you alone have the opportunity to make a difference.  Rather than turning away from such challenges or putting them off, pray to God for the courage to take action and trust in God to use you in that situation.  Be inspired by Esther’s courage and example.

I close with the story of Sandra McBrayer, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Children's Initiative and an internationally known advocate for children, youth and families. The Children's Initiative is a San Diego based child advocacy agency dedicated to assisting children, youth and families to help them thrive and prosper. 

In 1987, Ms. McBrayer saw the plight of homeless children in San Diego.  She saw how they were not going to school and receiving an education. She saw an opportunity and acted.  She founded and developed the first successful school in the United States for homeless and unattended youth, serving as head teacher for Monarch High School.  It began as a drop-in center before being transformed, like a butterfly, into the Monarch school of today.  

McBrayer had been teaching juvenile offenders in the court school system, when she came up with the idea of a school specifically for homeless children.  She said: "I realized that part of our responsibility is to take school to the students and not just wait for them to come to us."  

You never know when God will call you to fulfill his will at a particular time and place.  You never know when God will call you to act in a decisive moment, to change lives or to save one life, to act righteously and courageously on behalf of family, friends, even strangers or for a cause.  It can come at anytime, because you are the right person, in the right place and at the right time. 

As followers of Christ, God calls us be channels of his will, agents of his kingdom, lights in the darkness.  God brings sacred opportunities to serve Him and His kingdom and he calls us to seize them.  For remember these words, “Who knows, perhaps you are in this position for just such a time as this.”  Amen!

Celebrate the Journey (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel

An elderly man had some serious hearing problems.  His family tried repeatedly to convince him to get a hearing aid.  Finally he went to the doctor and was fitted for a set of hearing aids that dramatically improved his hearing.  A month later he went back to the doctor for a checkup. The doctor said with a smile, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again."  The old man replied, "Who said anybody told them?   It’s been fascinating just listening to their conversations.” 

Today we celebrate the journey of life, a journey which represents the plan of God.  Today we recognize those who are 90 years old or above.  Why?  Because birthdays say you are valued, you are special, you are unique, your life is priceless.  The Bible and our Christian Faith, unlike our culture which glorifies youth only, affirms that every stage in the journey is significant, every stage is important, every stage is a gift from God, to be accepted and appreciated, to be faced with faith and trust and courage, from the beginning to the final stage of the journey. 

Some people steer clear of that 3 letter word – OLD.  “Don't you be calling me old.”  “Come over here and I'll show you what old is.”  Humor is critical at every stage.   An older member of our congregation in CO used to say - “The name senior citizen has got to go. The correct term now is “the chronologically gifted.”  He also said: “I don’t like the term old folk’s home senior housing.  I say the chronologically gifted reside in a mature congregate living community.”

We soon learn that you can run from aging, but you can’t hide from it.  Today we often hear of products that are anti-aging, that fight the aging process, that slow down aging, that promise to make you look years younger.   Well, after-all, who would buy something that speeds up aging? The rapid aging of our American population called the “Graying of America” is one of the most significant forces shaping our culture.  In the United States the proportion of people aged 65 or older increased from 4% in 1900 to about 12% in 2000.  Experts estimate that about 17 % of the population will be 65 or older in 2020. 

The journey has been studied by the best and brightest thinkers for generations.  Erik Erikson, the 20th century developmental psychologist, famous for his eight stages of life writes:  “Older adults need to look back on life and come away with a sense of fulfillment.  Success at this stage leads to feelings of satisfaction and wisdom and the reassurance that they lived a meaningful life, while failure results in having many regrets and feelings of bitterness and despair over a life misspent and wasted.  Those who feel proud of their accomplishments will feel a sense of integrity. These individuals will attain wisdom, even when confronting death.”

Artists have been inspired by the journey.   Some artists, like Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci scorned elderly faces as "monstrous wrecks.  Older persons didn't fare well under his brush.  Others like Baroque artist Rembrandt, painted old age with a nobility and power that no artist has ever approached. He recognized "the dignity and character of aged faces" and embraced "the marks of time as beautiful, mysterious, and rich."  Do you agree?

Rembrandt was fascinated with aging, his own included.  For instance at the height of his career, Rembrandt painted his “Self Portrait at the Age of 34.   Decked out in an elaborate and fashionable costume, Rembrandt looks self-assured and even snobbish. But nearly thirty years later in 1669, the year of his death, Rembrandt painted “Self Portrait at the Age of 63. In this painting he wears a simple peasant coat and beret. His face looks wise, humble, and peaceful.  Yes Rembrandt is an artist to grow old with."

The Bible looks at this final stage of life as a time of enrichment and fulfillment and considers old age a virtue and a blessing. The Hebrew word for old, zakein, means elder and is synonymous with "wise".  The Bible commands us to respect older persons because of their life experiences and wisdom.  Old age is considered a blessing from God.    The book of Genesis says: “Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the Lord has blessed Abraham in all things. This is the length of Abraham’s life, 175 years.  Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man full of years, and was gathered to his people.”  These verses ring with dignity and reverence toward older persons.

Without question there are challenges associated with aging.  Dealing with health issues and illnesses, like Alzheimer’s and physical decline and diminishment due to a lifetime of wear and tear on the body can be daunting.  There is the death of long-time friends and having to cope with grief and loss is common as we grow older.   We begin to lose our independence.  We need to learn to depend on others and accepting such losses and changes is difficult. 

God's desire is at whatever our stage along the journey, that we strive to embrace it with grace, that we have the spirit and will to accept our limitations and to reach out for help or accept offers of assistance from others with humility and gratitude. 

Some persons as they age become bitter and withdraw from those around them.   They isolate themselves, cut off ties with family and friends, and become virtual hermits.    Other people believe that even in the midst of increasing limitations, there is the possibility of a quality of life worth living.   When John Quincy Adams, our 6th president, was an elderly man, a young friend asked "How is John Quincy Adams today?" Adams replied:  “John Quincy Adams is very well, thank you.  But the house he lives in is sadly dilapidated. It is tottering on its foundations. The walls are badly shattered and the roof is worn. The building trembles with every wind, and I think John Quincy Adams will have to move out before long. But he himself is very well, thank you.”

The Bible declares that God isn’t finished with us as we age and still calls us to worship and service.  Abraham and Sarah are good examples.    Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes: “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.”  God establishes seasons or special times in our lives.  We need to seek to understand God’s timing, God’s lessons, God’s moment, God’s purposes and plans in the seasons of our lives.  God wants to use us for His glory and purpose at all stages of life.  God is not finished with us when we grow older.  

I remember a friend, Bill Buettner, in his eighties, from the church I served in Santa Monica, who was extremely lonely when after 60 years of marriage, his wife died.  His children and grandchildren lived across country so he didn't see them often.  The church asked if he would like to volunteer with their Wednesday evening children’s ministry.  Being in his early 80’s he wondered about how it would work being with children.  But he started coming, telling stories, helping with meals and games, and loved it.  The kids started calling him grandpa; they would run up and talk with him and hug him on Sunday mornings.  He became a super-star on Sundays with the kids.  Bill said he had a new purpose for his life.  He helped in that ministry until his death.

Yes, God has created us in His image in such a way that our creative energies still flow as we grow older:  Tennyson was 83 when he wrote “Crossing the Bar;” Verdi was 74 when he produced Othello; Lawrence Welk was 89, when he stopped leading the band; Lucille Ball was 77, when she ended her brilliant comedic career; Jack LaLanne celebrated his 70th birthday by towing 70 boats containing 70 people for a mile across the Long Beach Harbor by holding the rope in his teeth, while handcuffed and wearing leg shackles, something I've been considering when I turn 70.  Mother Teresa was in her mid 80’s and still ministering to the poorest of the poor on the streets of Calcutta. Dick Enbert is going strong at 79 as the announce for the Padres.  Padres Broadcaster Jerry Coleman was 89 when he died after a distinguished life and career.  Aretha Franklin, at age 72, sang the National Anthem at Harvard's Commencement ceremonies in May of this year.

We ask questions at every stage of life's journey.  Some are unique to the particular stage but other questions are applicable for every stage like: “What is God’s purpose and am I fulfilling it?”  “What do I want to accomplish before I die?”  “Am I using my God given talents?”   “Am I going  stay engaged, stay involved, stay active or withdraw, retreat, and disengage from people and activities?”  “How can I be a good brother or sister, wife or husband, father or mother, uncle or aunt, grandfather or grandmother, great-grand father or great-grandmother, friend or neighbor?”  How can I glorify God?

In his book Nearing Home, Rev. Billy Graham offers the following reflections about growing older:  “When Coca-Cola changed its one-hundred-year-old formula in 1985, there was a public backlash and demands for the original, so within two short months, the company was forced to return the beverage to grocery shelves under the name of Coca-Cola Classic, spiking sales for the soft drink company. The conclusion of marketers was that the formula had stood the test of time. The trade-secret had trumped the new recipe, as proven by the millions of fans who did not want the "real thing" tampered with.

What does this have to do with growing old Graham continues? “Old is authentic. Old is genuine. Old is valuable. Some say old is even beautiful …. The older generation may have a hard time keeping up with the younger, but let's remember that the generations that follow are learning about growing old from us.  Are we good examples? While we have all made mistakes and would like to turn back the clock to correct some things, we know this is not possible. But the lessons we have learned from our successes and failures can help those following behind. The impact we can potentially have on them can mean the difference between leaving good memories in our place or simply being out of sight, out of mind.

I close with a quote from Norman Cousins:  “Death is not the greatest tragedy which can befall a person; rather, the tragedy is in what dies in a person, while he or she is alive.“   Remember the truth we hear in Romans 8: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ, nothing, not even age.”    No matter what your stage on the journey, may you always dedicate your life to bringing glory to God.  Amen!  

When You Fall Short (Matthew 26:69-75) by Rev. Dr. Alan W. Deuel

Do you look at a glass as either half empty or half full?  For example, a baseball player is more likely to describe his 250 batting average as - “I get a hit one out of four times at bat”, rather than - “I make an out three out of every four times I come to the plate.”  Pitchers too have a tough time describing pitches that miss their location and end up right in the center of the plate.  Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Bob Patterson described his pitch which the Cincinnati Reds' Barry Larkin hit for a game-winning home run: "It was a cross between a screwball and a change-up. It was a screw-up."

You don't have to be a baseball player to know what it feels like to strike out.  Right?  Yes, there are moments, there are days when we are not at our best.  Anyone here know what I’m talking about?   When our best is not enough, when our efforts come up short, times of personal failure, of not reaching our personal expectations or goals, of disappointing ourselves or others, of regrets, of mistakes that hurt others, of not fulfilling our best intentions, of guilt over something we did or forgot to do, of behavior we are not proud of.    Yes, we all fall short. 

“If only I could turn back the clock; if only I had asked for help; if only I hadn’t spent so much money; if only I had thought it through better; if only I had been there for my friend; if only I had told the truth; if only I had made a better decision; if only I had communicated better with my children; if only I had been there when my family needed me or worked harder at my marriage.”  Millions of Americans attend support and recovery groups to deal with just such realities.

Falling short, failures, cut both ways; there are acts of commission and omission – we do something wrong or we fail to take action, to do anything at all.  We live in a culture which worships success and shuns failure.  We don’t like to be reminded of our faults and foibles and how often we succumb to them.    We tend to hide or deny our regrets.   Failure brings shame in our culture.

Deeply entrenched and painful memories are some of the hardest things to deal with in life.  If we allow them too, they can consume us and take over our lives by controlling our thoughts, attitudes, emotions and behavior.  They can invade our nights with sleeplessness. They can adversely affect our health.  Dwelling on our mistakes, becoming obsessed with some personal failure, can hurt us or even destroy us.

The story in the Bible of the prodigal son comes to mind, this younger brash son utterly failed his family and  brought shame upon the family name.  Fortunately, the story has a happy ending.  Another is a disciple named Peter.    Peter oused charisma.  He was an intense, dedicated, passionate, natural born leader.   Recall that it was Peter who defended Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane by slicing off the ear of a Roman soldier.  If there was anyone who truly loved Jesus, who was truly devoted to him, it was Peter. 

And yet Jesus spoke these unforgettable words to Peter. “This very night you will fall away on account of me, for it is written:  and the flock will be scattered.” Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”   Jesus answered: “I tell you the truth, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” 

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. ⁷⁰But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. ⁷¹Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁷²He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”  Then some bystanders said to Peter:  “Certainly you are also one of them, your accent betrays you.”  Peter swore an oath, “I do not know the man.”  At that moment the rooster crowed.  Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said.  And he went out and wept bitterly.   It was undoubtedly the lowest moment of Peter’s life.

What can we learn from this story?  First, remember that everyone fails!  You are not alone. Failure is universal.  Everyone disappoints themselves or others in life.  You do, I do.  It is humbling to look in the mirror and admit I blew it.   Today Disney Corp rakes in billions from merchandise, movies and theme parks around the world, but Walt Disney himself had a rough start. He was fired by a newspaper editor because, “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” After that, Walt Disney started a number of businesses that didn’t last too long and ended with bankruptcy and failure.  He kept plugging along, however, getting support from his brother, and eventually found a recipe for success that worked.

Never in his wildest imagination did Peter ever think he would let Jesus down and deny knowing him.  The Bible says: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  

 

Have you ever not spoken up or stood up for your faith when you had the opportunity?  Was it because of peer pressure or because you were afraid?   If so, then you have walked in Peter's shoes. Yes, Peter feared for his life.  To deny knowing Jesus is a major failing.  Peter knew it and most of us here today know it as well.  Can you think of other ways you have let God down?  I can think of ways I have.

Peter simply lost his nerve and succumbed in a weak moment.  Has that ever happened to you?   Evangelist Billy Graham, who has preached the gospel to more people than anyone in history, when asked after he retired if he had any regrets said:  “I wish I had spent more time with each of my children.”     

Second, the story reminds us that failure is not final.  Failing doesn't mean you are a failure.  There is a huge chasm between failing at something and being a failure.  Never confuse the two.  Failure isn’t fatal.  In the Bible, King David failed morally when he committed adultery with Bathsheba.  The prophet Jonah failed to obey God when he refused to go to Nineveh to bring God's word and instead ran away from God.  Moses failed in leadership when the Israelites whom he delivered out of Egypt turned away from God and worshiped idols in the wilderness. 

And yet, these men eventually became some of the greatest leaders in Israel.  God used them for great purposes in His plan for the Jews.   Like the apostle Peter, they knew failure, they had regrets, they had to deal with guilt, they knew what it felt like to let themselves down or let others down or let God down.  But you can also see from the success they had in life, that their failures did not get the best of them.  These failures didn't define them.  It didn’t thwart God's purposes and plans for their lives.  Your failures, my failures, won’t stop God from using us for His glory.

We must never allow other people to define us or label us by those times when we are not at our best.  We must not do it to ourselves either.   Former first lady Barbara Bush's press secretary, Anna Perez said there was a time when she dreamed not of having a White House office, but simply of having a roof over her head.  When Perez was in the fifth grade she came home from school one day and found her mother, two brothers and two sisters sitting on the street.  They had been evicted. "Mom had to split up the family."  "I lived with my fifth-grade teacher for a while. But no matter how bad things got, I remember what my mother kept telling us:  “We are not defined by our circumstances.  We are defined by our ability to overcome our circumstances.”

God wants us to learn and change and grow from regrets and personal disappointments.  God's word is – “I love you, you belong to me, your failures are not final nor fatal.”  We can choose to dwell on them, to wallow in them, to allow them to cause us to spiral downward or we trust in God and pray for God's power and grace, we can reach out for help from others, to overcome them, to triumph over them, to find hope and light out of them.

Third, remember, God is a forgiving God.  God is a merciful God.  God seeks to restore us when we let ourselves, others or God down.   Even though Peter had absolutely failed Jesus as a friend and a disciple, Jesus gave him another chance, another opportunity.  Why?  Because the God you and I worship is gracious, merciful, loving, and forgiving.  Jesus met and accepted Peter after his resurrection.   Jesus forgave Peter, he welcomed him.  Jesus didn’t reject Peter even though Peter rejected Jesus.   Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep, which meant to lead his church into the future. 

Recall these promises of the Bible: “Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will not be angry forever.”  And another from scripture: “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.”  

The final lesson is humility and learning to forgive yourself.   Humility comes from going to someone you have let down or hurt or disappointed and asking for their forgiveness.  To say you are sorry.   And if restitution is needed, you make it.  You can't guarantee how they will respond, but Jesus wants you to take this course of action. 

And further, it is essential to ask God to help you to forgive yourself.  To believe you are worth forgiving.  To believe you are forgivable.   We have a tendency to hold ourselves more accountable than we do others, to hold ourselves to a higher standard than we hold others. 

Years ago, it took me a long time to forgive myself because I was wracked with guilt and the fear of what might have happened, when I was late picking up our son Matthew from elementary school when he was about 7 years old.  I was late because I was at church packing up a van for a ski trip with a bunch of our church's high school kids.  When I pulled up in front of the elementary school, the gates were shut, the street deserted, and Matthew was standing alone on the sidewalk crying, afraid I had forgotten him.

Dwelling on personal failings robs you of the energy you need to be the person God has created you to be. There is a difference between forgiving yourself and forgetting what you did.  Forgiveness is forgetting in spite of remembering.  It is being set free from the emotional baggage of a painful memory.  

Turn to God and ask for God’s power and grace to help you find the power to forgive yourself.  Ask God to help you regain your faith in yourself, to restore your sense of value, worth and self-confidence.   For until you are able to forgive yourself, you will never know inner-peace, peace within yourself and peace with God.

Jesus forgave Peter.  And the apostle Peter’s failure proved to be a profound turning point in his life, for out of his brokenness came greatness.  In his lifetime, he won many to Christ and continued to be a loyal and courageous follower of Jesus until his death as a martyr.

We cannot turn back the clock and undo something we did.  But we can resolve to open our hearts to the Lord and experience God's forgiving and healing peace.  When we truly repent, God is willing and ready to forgive you, to forget what you have done, to accept you, and to restore you to a righteous relationship and to the adventure of living the life God has given you.    Amen!