SCRIPTURE: James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a & Mark 9:30-37
IN A FEW MINUTES WE ARE GOING TO BAPTIZE LITTLE VICTORIA LEIGH BROADBENT. AND I WANT US ALL TO REMEMBER WHAT AN IMPORTANT EVENT IT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH TO GATHER AROUND THIS LITTLE CHILD.
ON THE SURFACE WE LOVE A BAPTISM BECAUSE BABIES ARE SO CUTE AND THEY MAKE US FEEL SO WARM AND FUZZY. BABIES MAKE US FEEL AS IF LIFE WILL GO ON AND THAT THERE IS HOPE FOR THE WORLD, AS WELL AS FOR THE CHURCH. THE BAPTISM OF A BABY IS A WONDERFUL TIME OF CELEBRATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW WE COME TO THIS BAPTISM WITH GREAT JOY.
BUT I NEED TO REMIND US THAT OUR JOY IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR GATHERING TODAY. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE WEATHERED AND WORN FROM OUR CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP, TODAY IS A DAY TO BECOME AWARE OF WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE CHILDREN WHEN WE DRAW THEM INTO THE CENTER OF OUR GATHERING.
IN TODAY’S SCRIPTURE THE DISCIPLES HAD BEEN ARGUING ABOUT WHO WOULD BE THE GREATEST AMONG THEM AT JUST THE MOMENT WHEN JESUS WAS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE SERIOUS NATURE OF HIS MINISTRY.
JESUS WAS TEACHING THE DISCIPLES ABOUT THE UPCOMING BETRAYAL AND DEATH, AS WELL AS THE RESURRECTION. JESUS WAS TRYING TO TELL THE DISCIPLES HOW VERY DIFFICULT IT WOULD BE TO FOLLOW HIM.
THIS WAS NOT A JOY RIDE, THIS WAS SERIOUS BUSINESS.
BUT THE DISCIPLES EITHER COULDN’T OR WOULDN’T UNDERSTAND HIM, AND THEY BUSIED THEMSELVES BY TRYING TO DECIDE A “PECKING ORDER,” IF YOU WILL, AMONG THEMSELVES. SO JESUS DREW A CHILD RIGHT INTO THE CENTER OF THE GATHERING OF DIM-WITTED DISCIPLES TO TRY TO MAKE HIS POINT. TRUE GREATNESS CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN THE SMALLEST OF ACTIONS.
IF YOU WANT TO BE THE VERY BEST YOU CAN BE, THINK SMALL INSTEAD OF LARGE; GO TO THE BACK OF THE LINE AND LET OTHERS BE AHEAD OF YOU.
IN WELCOMING THE LIKES OF A LITTLE CHILD WE ARE WELCOMING GOD INTO OUR MIDST. FOLLOWING JESUS DOESN’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH BECOMING GREAT; IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING SMALL AND VULNERABLE; IT HAS TO DO WITH BEING LAST IN LINE.
WHENEVER I COME ACROSS THIS STORY IN THE SCRIPTURES I’M REMINDED OF STEWART HOLMES AND HOWARD MILKMAN AT POTLUCK SUPPERS.
HOWARD MILKMAN WAS THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER THAT STEWART EVER WORKED FOR AND THIS STORY TAKES PLACE IN THE 1970’S BACK IN NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ. BACK IN THE 1970’S POTLUCK SUPPERS WERE STILL QUITE POPULAR AND WATCHUNG AVE. CHURCH HAD A POTLUCK SUPPER EVERY MONTH, TO WHICH EVERYONE CAME. AND NOT ONLY DID EVERYONE COME, BUT EVERYONE BROUGHT THEIR ABSOLUTE BEST RECIPE AND PLENTY OF IT, SO THE BANQUET WAS AN ABUNDANT ONE. WE WOULD ALL GATHER AROUND THE HEAVY LADEN TABLES WHILE HOWARD SAID A PRAYER, AND THEN PEOPLE WOULD LINE UP TO FILL THEIR PLATES.
WELL STEWART AND HOWARD ALWAYS LET EVERYONE ELSE GO AHEAD OF THEM. THEY WERE THE NORMAN ROCKWELL PICTURE OF HUMILITY.
“NO, YOU GO FIRST, I’LL WAIT.”
“NO, REALLY, I’LL GO LAST.”
AND ALL THE PEOPLE THOUGHT THEY WERE SO KIND AND GENEROUS.
WHAT THE REST OF THE CROWD NEVER FIGURED OUT, BUT WHAT HOWARD’S WIFE AND I KNEW FOR A FACT, WAS THAT HOWARD AND STEWART LIKED GOING LAST BECAUSE THEY COULD TAKE ALL THE FOOD THEY WANTED TO AND NO ONE WOULD BE WATCHING!
THIS STORY ALWAYS REMINDS ME THAT THE IMAGE OF BEING LAST CARRIES A SPIRITUAL DIMENSION AS WELL AS A VISUAL PICTURE. THE DESIRE TO BE LAST MUST COME WITH A SENSE OF SERVING OTHERS OR THE POINT IS LOST. HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOT NATURALLY HUMBLE, NO MATTER WHOM WE ARE. AND THE BAPTISM OF A BABY REMINDS US OF OUR CALL TO HUMILITY.
JESUS DREW THE CHILD INTO THE CENTER OF THE DISCIPLES BECAUSE CHILDREN HAD ABSOLUTELY NO STATUS IN THAT ANCIENT SOCIETY.
I THINK THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO IMAGINE IN TODAY’S WORLD BECAUSE AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE GENERALLY HELD IN VERY HIGH REGARD, BUT IN JESUS’ DAY A CHILD WAS LITTLE MORE THAN ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY, MUCH LIKE A WOMAN. BY USING A CHILD AS AN EXAMPLE JESUS WAS USING ONE OF THE LOWEST IN SOCIETY TO SHOW THE DISCIPLES WHAT THE LINE-UP WOULD LOOK LIKE.
NOW LAST SUNDAY I TOLD YOU THE WORSHIP MINISTRY HAD DECIDED TO FOCUS ON SPEAKING OUR FAITH FOR ONE SUNDAY EVERY MONTH.
BUT THAT’S NOT THE ONLY THING WE DECIDED. WE ALSO DECIDED TO LIFT UP THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF STEWARDSHIP ON ONE SUNDAY A MONTH. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE COMMUNION ON ONE SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, AND ON A FOURTH SUNDAY WE HOPE TO FOCUS ON SOME PIECE OF GOOD NEWS FROM THE WORLD AROUND US.
TODAY IS A DAY WHEN WE ARE TO TAKE A LOOK AT STEWARDSHIP.
SO, YOU MIGHT THINK, WHAT DOES BAPTISM AND HUMILITY HAVE TO DO WITH STEWARDSHIP? WELL, IN CASE YOU HAVE NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE, I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT BAPTISM IS THE VERY BEGINNING OF BEING A GOOD CHRISTIAN STEWARD.
A STEWARD IS A PERSON WHO IS GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TAKING CARE OF SOMETHING. BE IT A LARGE HOUSEHOLD OR ESTATE, OR AN AIRPLANE FULL OF PEOPLE, OR THE WHOLE OF GOD’S CREATION, A STEWARD IS A CARETAKER. STEWARDSHIP IS NOT JUST ABOUT MONEY.
CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP HAS TO DO WITH BEING THE CARETAKER OF THE GIFT OF ALL OF LIFE. AND OUR FIRST INITIATION INTO THAT RESPONSIBLE POSITION COMES AT THE MOMENT OF BAPTISM. BAPTISM IS OUR SPIRITUAL BIRTH INTO A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY OF FAITH. AND THE MOMENT A PERSON IS BAPTIZED IN OUR MIDST, WE BECOME MUTUAL CARETAKERS FOR ONE ANOTHER AS WELL AS FOR ALL OF THE GIFTS GOD GIVES TO US.
NOW I HOPE YOU ARE ALL AWARE OF THE GREAT CONTRADICTION BEING STATED HERE. WHEN A HUMAN BABY IS PHYSICALLY BORN INTO THIS WORLD WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE EMOTIONAL MESSAGE OF THAT BIRTH IS “YOU ARE NUMBER ONE.” WE ALL WANT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE A HEALTHY SENSE OF SELF-ESTEEM. AND WE ALL GO ABOUT TRYING TO TEACH CHILDREN SELF-ESTEEM BY TELLING THEM THEY ARE SPECIAL AND BEAUTIFUL AND BRIGHT.
LET’S FACE IT, FROM THE MOMENT A CHILD EMERGES FROM THE WOMB HE/SHE IS VERY LIKELY TO BE TREATED LIKE ROYALTY, WHICH IS, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT GOOD GROUNDING FOR RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP.
BUT AT A BAPTISM, WHICH IS A SPIRITUAL BIRTH, THE EMOTIONAL MESSAGE IS TO BE LAST, TO BE A SERVANT, TO BE HUMBLE. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF GOOD STEWARDSHIP, BECAUSE CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP CAN ONLY BE CORRECTLY UNDERSTOOD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT EVERYTHING WE OWN AND EVERYTHING WE ARE IS A GIFT FROM GOD. AND OUR PHYSICAL BIRTH DOES NOT GIVE US THIS INFORMATION. IT IS ONLY AT OUR SPIRITUAL BIRTH THAT WE COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE REALITY THAT WE ARE NOT THE GIFT TO LIFE, BUT RATHER LIFE IS THE GIFT TO US.
THIS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF A VIEW FROM THE END OF THE LINE. IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH ONE’S PERSPECTIVE. HOW DO WE SEE LIFE? DOES THE WORLD OWE US EVERYTHING? DO WE BELIEVE THAT WE WORK HARD; THEREFORE WE DESERVE TO HAVE A NICE HOME AND TWO CARS AND A NEST-EGG OF MONEY IN THE BANK? OR DO WE SEE LIFE THROUGH THE EYES OF CHRIST?
DO WE UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLES OF THIS WORLD WORK JUST AS HARD AS WE DO AND HAVE NOTHING? DO WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE JUST AS DESERVING AS WE? ARE WE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO THINK THAT WE ARE CALLED, THROUGH OUR BAPTISM, TO BE STEWARDS OF THE GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN US? AND THIS MIGHT MEAN HAVING A LITTLE LESS TIME TO WATCH TV OR JUST HANG OUT SO THAT WE CAN SERVE ON A COMMITTEE AT CHURCH OR ATTEND A WORSHIP SERVICE. DO WE STOP TO THINK THAT TIME IS A GIFT FROM GOD? BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF ALL THE GIFTS OF GOD MIGHT MEAN THAT WE SING IN THE CHURCH CHOIR WITHOUT BEING PAID, OR WE TEACH A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITHOUT BEING COMPENSATED OR WE OFFER OUR COMPUTER SKILLS FOR FREE, OR WE USE OUR VACATION TIME TO BUILD HOMES IN NICARAGUA, BECAUSE OUR TALENTS AND OUR TIME ARE REALLY AND TRULY A GIFT FROM GOD.
NOW THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF STEWARDSHIP TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT OUR MONEY IS A GIFT AS WELL. WE DON’T DESERVE THE MONEY WE MAKE, EVEN THOUGH WE THINK WE DO. ONE TRIP TO NICARAGUA TAUGHT ME THAT.
THE FARMER WHO WAS PLOWING HIS FIELD BY WALKING BEHIND TWO OXEN AND A HAND-HELD PLOW WAS CERTAINLY WORKING AS HARD AS MY BROTHER WHO DRIVES A BIG FANCY TRACTOR. SO WHY DOES MY BROTHER DESERVE MORE MONEY THAN THE CENTRAL AMERICAN FARMER? THE ONLY LOGICAL ANSWER IS THAT HE DOESN’T. EVEN OUR MONEY IS A GIFT FROM GOD.
ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL CHRISTIAN STEWARDS I KNOW IS A WOMAN NAMED BONNIE GORDON. BONNIE’S HUSBAND, JIM WILL BE PREACHING HERE NEXT SUNDAY. BONNIE AND JIM ARE THE BRIDGES TO COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT MAKE OUR TRIPS TO NICARAGUA SO MEANINGFUL AND FUN.
ANYWAY, BONNIE IS THE ONLY PERSON I KNOW WHO NEVER MISSES A CHANCE TO GIVE SOMETHING AWAY. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE SEEN BONNIE GIVE AWAY EVERY THING FROM THE LEFTOVERS OF HER MEAL AT A RESTAURANT TO THE HUNGRY CHILDREN WATCHING US, TO STOPPING THE BUS ALONG THE ROAD BETWEEN MANAGUA AND MASAYA TO GIVE A TIP TO THE BOYS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO FILL THE POT HOLES IN THE ROAD WITH GRAVEL. BONNIE WILL BUY JEWELRY FROM THE LOCAL ARTISANS, WHETHER SHE NEEDS IT OR NOT…AND SHE ALWAYS WEARS IT. SHE HAS AN ENTIRE ROOM FULL OF USED SHOES IN HER HOME. THE SHOES ARE ALL LINED UP, LEFT OVER FROM THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE TRIPS TO NICARAGUA, READY TO BE GIVEN TO WHOEVER MIGHT NEED THEM. WHEN WE COME BACK TO OUR CAMP FOR A NOON TIME BREAK FROM THE WORKSITE, BONNIE WILL SPEND THE TIME PLAYING WITH THE KIDS AND DOING EVERYTHING FROM MAKING EYE GLASSES AND CROWNS OUT OF PIPE CLEANERS TO READING THEM CHILDREN’S BOOKS IN SPANISH TO TEACHING THEM THE FINE ART OF SITTING ON A WHOOPEE CUSHION AND LAUGHING OVER THE NONSENSE OF IT ALL.
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BONNIE MANAGES TO KEEP THE SHIRT ON HER OWN BACK, BUT THAT’S ABOUT IT. SHE GIVES AWAY TIME AND MONEY AND TALENT WITHOUT EVEN BATTING AN EYELASH. AND BONNIE IS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE I KNOW. BONNIE HAS RICHES BEYOND OUR WILDEST IMAGININGS.
BONNIE UNDERSTANDS THE DEPTH OF THE MEANING OF BAPTISM, WHICH IS A WHOLE NEW TAKE ON WHO IS IN THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE.
BONNIE IS A PERSON WITH TRUE PERSPECTIVE. AND SHE HAS A GREAT VIEW FROM THE END OF THE LINE. I GIVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THE GIFTS OF LIFE, FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR MIDST AND FOR THE BONNIES WHO VIEW LIFE FROM THE END OF THE LINE.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 1:20-33, James 3:1-12 & Mark 8:27-38
THIS SUMMER THE WORSHIP MINISTRY AND FRIENDS GATHERED FOR A SUNDAY AFTERNOON RETREAT, AT WHICH WE PLANNED THE WORSHIP FOR A FULL YEAR. WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT MAKES WORSHIP MEANINGFUL TO US AND TO GOD. AND ONE OF THE IDEAS WE CAME UP WITH WAS TO EMPHASIS THE SPEAKING OF OUR FAITH DURING THIS PROGRAMMATIC YEAR. SO FOR THE 2003-2004 WORSHIP SEASON WE WILL HAVE ONE SUNDAY A MONTH DEDICATED TO THE PEOPLE OF NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SPEAKING OUR FAITH. AND TODAY IS DAY ONE!
NOW ONE THING I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT IS THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT “SHARING OUR FAITH” OR “SHOWING OUR FAITH.”
NAURAUSHAUN PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SPLENDID ABOUT LIVING OUT WHAT WE BELIEVE THROUGH OUR ACTIONS. WE REACH OUT TO THE HURTING PEOPLES AND PLACES OF THE WORLD IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. WE WORK HARD AT LOVING ONE ANOTHER IN OUR COMMUNITY OF FAITH. WE ACT OUT FOR JUSTICE IN MANY WAYS, WHETHER IT IS AN ISSUE OF INCLUSIVITY OR PEACEMAKING OR THE RISE IN THE DEGREES OF SEPARATION BETWEEN THE “HAVES” AND THE “HAVE-NOTS.” AND I AM GOING TO GUESS THAT ANY ONE OF US WOULD SAY WE DO THIS ALL IN THE NAME OF CHRIST – IF WE WERE REALLY PUSHED ON THE ISSUE. BUT I CAN SEE THAT MOST OF US WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO SPEAK THE ACTUAL WORDS THAT CONNECT OUR ACTIONS TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
CONTEMPORARY LIBERAL CHRISTIANS DON’T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK OUR FAITH, AND IT IS DEFINITELY TIME FOR US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE TIME IS RUNNING OUT. HOW THE WORLD PERCEIVES OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST HAS BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED BY INAPPROPRIATE MEDIA DEFINITIONS, BY UNCALLED FOR ACTIONS IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, BY GREEDY TELEVANGELIST AND JUST THE COMMON EVERYDAY MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHO JESUS REALLY WAS AND IS.
ON OUR WAY TO NICARAGUA WE ALWAYS WEAR MATCHING T-SHIRTS WITH SOME KIND OF PRINTED EMBLEM TO DISTINGUISH US; TO TELL PEOPLE WHO AND WHOSE WE ARE. THIS YEAR THE SHIRTS WERE BRIGHT BLUE AND THE EMBLEM SAID, “WHERE CHARITY AND LOVE ARE, GOD IS THERE; NAURAUSHAUN IN NICARAGUA.” AND THEN WE LISTED THE PLACES WE HAVE WORKED AND THE YEARS WE HAVE WORKED THERE.
NOW ONE THING WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT AIRPORTS, ON THE WAY TO AND FROM NICARAGUA, IS THAT THEY ARE FILLED WITH OTHER GROUPS LIKE OURS. AND AS WE ARRIVED AT OUR DEPARTURE GATE IN MIAMI WE DISCOVERED A SEA OF YELLOW T-SHIRTS, WAITING TO BOARD OUR SAME FLIGHT TO MANAGUA. THEY OUT-NUMBERED OUR GROUP BY ABOUT 35 PEOPLE.
THEY WERE HUGE. AND THE EMBLEM ON THEIR SHIRT WAS SPLASHED ALL ACROSS THE BACK. IT WAS A LARGE PAIR OF HANDS WITH A LITTLE VILLAGE SPILLING OUT OF THE CUPPED FINGERS AND OPEN PALMS, THE WORDS UNDERNEATH SAYING, “SERVING HIS POOR.” ON THE FRONT THERE WAS THE SIGN OF THE FISH AND THE WORDS, “AMIGOS FOR CHRIST.”
BOTH GROUPS WERE SPEAKING OUR FAITH BY THE WORDS WE WERE WEARING. BUT EACH OF US WAS SPEAKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT KIND OF JESUS. ONE GROUP WAS SPEAKING ABOUT A SAVIOR WHO CAME FOR THE WHOLE WORLD WHERE NO ONE PERSON OR GROUP OF PEOPLE IS ANY BETTER THAN THE OTHER. THE OTHER WAS SPEAKING ABOUT A SAVIOR WHO BLESSES AND STAYS WITH THE RICH, SENDING THEM OUT TO “SERVE HIS POOR.” WITHIN THE WORDS “SERVING HIS POOR,” THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE NOTION THAT HUMAN SIN JUST MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT NICARAGUA IS SUCH AN IMPOVERISHED NATION.
OUR GROUP, AS WE THOUGHT MORE CAREFULLY ABOUT THE WORDING ON THOSE YELLOW T-SHIRTS, BECAME MORE AND MORE INCENSED ABOUT THIS DIMINUTIVE WAY OF SPEAKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE HAVE BEFRIENDED AND COME TO LOVE OVER THE YEARS. AND OUR INDIGNATION ONLY INCREASED WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT DAVID, A NATIVE OF NICARAGUA, HATED THOSE T-SHIRTS AS WELL. HE READ THOSE WORDS AS AN INSULT TO HIS PEOPLE. IT MADE HIM FEEL AS IF HE AND HIS PEOPLE WERE LESS THAN THE WEALTHY AMERICANS COMING TO GIVE A HANDOUT TO THE POOR.
DURING OUR WEEK IN NICARAGUA WE BEGAN TALKING ABOUT YELLOW SHIRT AND BLUE SHIRT CHRISTIANS. AND EVEN THOUGH WE LAUGHED ABOUT IT, I BELIEVE IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. HOW WE SPEAK ABOUT JESUS AND THAT WE SPEAK ABOUT JESUS HAS BECOME AN URGENT ISSUE IN TODAY’S WORLD.
THE NPC MESSAGE OF LOVING ACCEPTANCE WAS MADE IN TINY LITTLE PRINT ON THE LEFT FRONT BREAST POCKET POSITION WHERE FEW PEOPLE COULD EVEN READ IT. THE WORDS THAT WIDEN THE SCHISM BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR WERE SO LARGE AND BRIGHT THAT YOU COULDN’T MISS THEM.
THIS IS A GRAPHIC METAPHOR THAT EXPLAINS THE NEED FOR NPC TO SPEAK OUR FAITH MORE OFTEN AND MORE CLEARLY. WE CANNOT RISK THE LOSS OF THE IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT THE OPENNESS OF JESUS’ LOVE.
YOU KNOW, ALL OF TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY TO US ABOUT HOW WE SPEAK OUR FAITH AND HOW WE SPEAK ABOUT JESUS.
THE AUTHOR OF PROVERBS WRITES ABOUT THE DIVINE WISDOM OF KNOWING GOD. AND THE VOICE OF WISDOM CRIES OUT TO BE HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD AMID THE BUSYNESS OF LIFE. BUT WISDOM, WHEN NOT RECEIVED; WHEN NOT LISTENED TO, IMAGINES AN EMPTY AND UNLEARNED EXISTENCE, WHERE PEOPLE DO NOT STAND IN AWE OF THE GREAT GRACIOUSNESS OF OUR CREATOR. IN PROVERBS WE LEARN THAT WITHOUT LISTENING AND LEARNING WE CANNOT KNOW GOD FULLY. BEFORE WE BEGIN TO SPEAK OUR FAITH WE MUST LEARN WHAT WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT. WE MUST LISTEN, CAREFULLY, TO THE SCRIPTURES AND LEARN FROM THE GREAT SPIRITUAL LEADERS OF HISTORY AND THE PRESENT TIME. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT LISTENED CAREFULLY AND LEARNED CORRECTLY HAVE DONE MUCH TO RUIN THE MESSAGE OF JESUS.
AND WHEN I MAKE A STATEMENT LIKE THIS I AM THINKING MOSTLY ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH WITH THE SPANISH INQUISITION AND THE CHRISTIAN CRUSADES IN WHICH PEOPLE WERE TORTURED AND KILLED IF THEY DID NOT PROFESS A FAITH IN JESUS THE CHRIST. I KNOW THAT THIS KIND OF FORCED AND BRUTAL SHOWING OF ONE’S FAITH WAS DEEMED FAITHFULNESS IN THAT MOMENT. BUT NOTHING COULD BE A WORSE INTERPRETATION OF THE MESSAGE OF JESUS, AND EVERY MODERN DAY CHRISTIAN CARRIES THE STAIN OF THOSE MORBID AND ANCIENT DAYS OF CHRISTIANITY UPON OUR WORDS. WE HAVE A LOT OF TALKING TO DO IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THE ROTTEN STENCH OF THAT PORTION OF OUR HISTORY.
IN THE LETTER FROM JAMES, HE TELLS US OF THE DECEPTIVENESS OF THE TONGUE. AS WE LEARN TO SPEAK WE MUST REMEMBER HOW TRICKY IT IS TO SPEAK OF SOMETHING SO VERY TRUE AND SO VERY IMPORTANT.
TO SPEAK OUR FAITH IS TO SPEAK OF THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE LOVE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. JAMES TELLS US THAT WE MUST REMEMBER HOW WE USE THE SAME TONGUE TO SPEAK BOTH BLESSING AND CURSE.
AND HE TELLS US THE TONGUE IS A SMALL, YET POWERFUL, PART OF THE HUMAN BODY. WE HAVE THE POWER TO SPEAK AWAY THE YEARS OF CARELESS TONGUE WAGGING DONE IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, SO WE MUST USE OUR TONGUES TO SPEAK WELL OF WHAT JESUS WAS AND IS ALL ABOUT.
AND THEN, IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK, WE ARE GIVEN HINTS OF WHAT JESUS IS REALLY AND TRULY ABOUT. PETER CALLS JESUS THE MESSIAH, THE ANOINTED ONE, THE ONE SPECIALLY BLESSED BY GOD. THIS IS THE FIRST HUMAN CONFESSION OF FAITH IN THE GOSPEL, AND PETER IS STERNLY ORDERED BY JESUS TO NOT SPEAK THESE WORDS AGAIN. A STRANGE THING TO BE HEARING ON A DAY WHEN WE ARE THINKING TOGETHER ABOUT SPEAKING OUR FAITH, WOULDN’T YOU SAY? ARE WE SUPPOSED TO SPEAK ABOUT JESUS OR BE SILENT?
WELL, IN ALL ACTUALITY, JESUS KNEW THAT PETER DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE FULLNESS OF WHAT HE WAS SAYING WHEN HE PROFESSED JESUS AS THE MESSIAH. PETER MADE HIS STATEMENT OF FAITH BEFORE HE KNEW THAT BEING THE MESSIAH MEANT, FOR JESUS, A WHOLE LOT OF SUFFERING. JESUS WANTED THE DISCIPLES TO UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE VERY CLEARLY BEFORE THEY WENT AROUND TALKING ABOUT IT. HE WANTED THE DISCIPLES TO KNOW, IN THEIR HEART OF HEARTS, THAT PROFESSING FAITH IN THE MESSIAH IS A RISKY BUSINESS. AND TO TRULY BELIEVE IN JESUS, AND TALK ABOUT THAT BELIEF, MEANS TO BE READY, AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, TO LIVE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LIFE.
DURING THIS YEAR, THOSE OF YOU WHO FEEL SO CALLED, WILL BE ASKED TO SPEAK YOUR FAITH DURING ONE OF OUR TIMES OF WORSHIP TOGETHER.
I PUT THAT THOUGHT OUT THERE, INTO THIS COMMUNITY OF FAITH, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BE NUDGED BY THE IDEA AND INSPIRED TO THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITIES. AND AS YOU THINK ABOUT IT, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REMEMBER THESE THREE THINGS. REMEMBER TO LISTEN TO WISDOM.
REMEMBER TO RESPECT THE POWER OF THE TONGUE. AND REMEMBER TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THE TRUTH OF WHO JESUS IS BEFORE YOU RISK THE SPEAKING.
BECAUSE, IF YOU TAKE THE RISK, YOUR LIFE JUST MIGHT BE CHANGED!
NOW, I KNOW ONE PERSON WHOSE LIFE WAS TRULY CHANGED BY AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS. LET’S HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY TO US. (Gil as Nicodemus)
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 84, Revelation 12:7-9 & Ephesians 6:10-20
AT VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL LAST WEEK, THE FAVORITE SONG WAS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN "SHINING WITH GOD'S LOVE." THEY WOULD SING, SHINING WITH GOD'S LOVE - LA LA LA LA - SHINING WITH GOD'S LOVE - LA LA LA LA - SHINING WITH GOD'S LOVE - LA LA LA LA!
TIMES CERTAINLY HAVE CHANGED SINCE I WAS IN VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. IN THE MID 1950'S THE FAVORITE SONG WAS ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. EVERY MORNING FOR TWO WEEKS WE WOULD PROCESS INTO THE SANCTUARY BEHIND THE BANNERS OF THE AMERICAN FLAG AND THE CHRISTIAN FLAG, BELTING OUT EVERY VERSE OF ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS UNTIL EACH CHILD WAS SEATED IN A PEW. AS A SEVEN OR EIGHT YEAR OLD I LOVED TO SING ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS. THERE WAS A FEELING OF GREAT POWER FOR A POWERLESS LITTLE GIRL IN THOSE WORDS AND THAT MELODY.
IN HIS LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS, PAUL SAYS TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD. THEN HE TALKS ABOUT SHIELDS AND BREASTPLATES AND HELMETS.
I CAN'T READ THIS PIECE OF SCRIPTURE WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THE VERY HYMN WE JUST FINISHED SINGING. ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS, MARCHING AS TO WAR…PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD!
BARBARA LUNDBLAD, ANOTHER PREACHER WHO GREW UP IN THE MIDWEST, TELLS OF MAKING THE ARMOR OF GOD IN HER VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL DAYS. SHE TELLS OF LIKING THE HELMET OF SALVATION BEST. IT WAS MADE FROM A CLOROX BOTTLE; THE BOTTOM AND ONE SIDE CUT OUT TO FIT DOWN SNUGLY OVER YOUR EARS WITH SOME FEATHERS GLUED INTO THE POURING SPOUT ON TOP. THE WHOLE THING WAS PAINTED GOLD, SHE SAID, AND HAD A FAINT WHIFF OF BLEACH. CAN'T YOU JUST PICTURE 61 KIDS WITH DECORATED CLOROX BOTTLES ON THEIR HEADS? THE VISUALS ARE TO DIE FOR! AND THE IRONY OF CHRISTIANS MARCHING OFF TO WAR WITH A BUNCH OF CLOROX BOTTLES ON THEIR HEADS SPEAKS VOLUMES, DON'T YOU THINK?
I THINK IT ALL SEEMED PRETTY CLEAR IN OUR CHILDISH MINDS BACK THEN. WHATEVER THE WAR OF THE MOMENT WAS, WE HAD THE ARMOR OF GOD ON, AND WE WERE GOING TO WIN. WE WERE GOING TO WAR WITH THE CROSS OF JESUS BEFORE US AND WE WOULD DOMINATE THE ENEMY!
THIS WAS BEFORE I HAD LEARNED TO REALLY READ THE BIBLE. IT WAS BEFORE I LEARNED THE TRUTH; THAT JESUS WOULD NEVER, EVER, LEAD ANYONE INTO WAR - NOT EVEN GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE WHO EXPECTED IT OF HIM. IT WAS BEFORE I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CROSS OF JESUS WAS ABOUT ANYTHING BUT DOMINATION. IT WAS BEFORE I KNEW THE BATTLE IMAGES OF EPHESIANS 6 TO BE A MOCKERY OF WAR AND THE WORDS OF ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS TO A GROSS MISREPRESENTATION OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. SO I UNDERSTAND, ON SOME LEVEL, WHY ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS WAS LEFT OUT OF THE 1990 PRESBYTERIAN HYMNAL. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 HAS CEMENTED IN OUR MINDS THAT THERE IS VERY REAL EVIL IN THIS WORLD, AND THERE IS A BATTLE GOING ON BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, AND THAT PAUL'S IMAGE OF ARMOR IS AN IMPORTANT ONE, BUT IMPORTANT IN WAYS THAT THE COMPOSER OF ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS DOESN'T UNDERSTAND.
IN THINKING ABOUT THIS SCRIPTURE, HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT THE ARMOR OF GOD IS NOT DEFENSIVE ARMOR? THE ONLY WEAPON MENTIONED IN THIS PASSAGE THAT MIGHT BE DEFINED AS DESTRUCTIVE IS A SWORD. BUT THIS SWORD IS THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. AND THE WORD OF GOD THAT COMES TO US THROUGH THE TRUE JESUS IS A WORD OF LOVE AND COMPASSION. TAKE THE "R" OUT OF ARMOR AND YOU HAVE "AMOR," THE LATIN WORD FOR "LOVE."
OVER THE YEARS HUMAN BEINGS HAVE PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE HAVE PUT OUR OWN KIND OF DEFENSIVE ARMOR ONTO GOD. WE HAVE MADE GOD INTO A MILITARISTIC CONQUERING HERO, EVEN AFTER JESUS CHANGED THAT IMAGE FOREVER. ALL OVER THE WORLD PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING WARS IN THE NAME OF GOD AND BARBARA LUNDBLAD SAYS IT IS TIME TO TAKE THE ARMOR OFF OF GOD.
I AGREE WITH BARBARA.
WE EITHER NEED TO TAKE THE ARMOR OFF OF GOD OR WE NEED TO REDEFINE GOD'S ARMOR IN DIVINE TERMS SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE VULNERABILITY OF BEING PROTECTED BY GOD'S KIND OF ARMOR. THAT'S RIGHT - THE VULNERABILITY OF BEING PROTECTED. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE THE BATTLEFIELD AWAY FROM THE HOPELESS AND HELPLESS PEOPLES OF THE WORLD AND PUT IT BACK WHERE IT STARTED; IN THE REALM OF THE SPIRITS WITHIN THE HUMAN SOUL.
YOU SEE, THE VERY REAL BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL DOES NOT TAKE PLACE IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD AS MUCH AS IT TAKES PLACE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM. SEE THE REVELATION OF JOHN TO KNOW WHAT I'M SPEAKING OF. THE PASSAGE THAT RUTH READ TODAY IS ABOUT A SPIRITUAL BATTLE THAT IS CAST OUT OF HEAVEN AND ONTO THE EARTH. THE DRAGON, NAMED "DEVIL" AND "SATAN," THE DECEIVER OF THE WORLD, LOSES THE BATTLE AGAINST MICHAEL, THE PROTECTIVE ANGEL OF GOD'S PEOPLE. BUT EVEN IN LOSING THE BATTLE TO MICHAEL, SATAN TAKES THE SPIRIT OF DECEITFULNESS INTO THE HUMAN CREATION, AND SO THE BATTLE CONTINUES FROM THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO THE REVELATION OF JOHN TO PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK.
YOU SEE, THE EVIL OF WAR IS NOT SO MUCH GROUNDED IN THE PHYSICAL FIGHTING AS IT IS IN THE FEAR AND HATRED THAT CAUSES THE FIGHTING. OUR FEARS AND HATREDS ARE COMPLETELY OPPOSITE TO THE WAY GOD CREATED US TO BE.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY STRUGGLE WITH THIS DARKNESS IS TO PROTECT ONE'S SPIRIT WITH THE TRUTH, WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS, WITH FAITH, WITH SALVATION, WITH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE AND UNDERSTANDING.
NOW THE SCARIEST PART OF WHAT I JUST SAID IS THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR SPIRITS WITH THE TRUTH. THERE IS A TERRIBLE AMOUNT OF CONFUSION IN TODAY'S WORLD ABOUT JUST EXACTLY WHAT TRUTH IS. TOO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT TRUTH CAN BE CLEARLY DEFINED.
AND THE TRUTH ABOUT TRUTH IS THAT HER VERY NATURE IS TO BE ILLUSIVE.
SOMETIMES I BELIEVE TRUTH IS MORE OF A PROCESS THAN ANYTHING ELSE. TRUTH IS SOMETHING WE COME TO, PIECE BY PIECE, AND ONLY AFTER A LOT OF STRUGGLE. TRUTH IS NEVER SIMPLE OR EASY.
BUT FOR ME, PERSONALLY, THE MOST STRIKING VERSE OUT THE EPHESIANS PASSAGE IS VERSE 19. PAUL IS ASKING THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS TO PRAY FOR HIM SO THAT HE CAN SPEAK BOLDLY ABOUT THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL. I HAVE THE SAME PRAYER ALL THE TIME. DO I SPEAK BOLDLY ENOUGH ABOUT THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL?
IN A WORLD THAT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FUNDAMENTALIST - MORE AND MORE RIGID ABOUT DEFINING TRUTH - I FEAR THE LOSS OF MYSTERY. I'M AFRAID THAT WE WANT EVERYTHING SO CAREFULLY DEFINED AND CLEARLY HELD WITHIN A CERTAIN PRETTY PACKAGE THAT WE ARE LOSING OUR TOLERANCE FOR AMBIGUITY. AND IN LOSING OUR TOLERANCE FOR AMBIGUITY WE ARE MOVING FURTHER AND FURTHER AWAY FROM THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL SO THAT AS WE MOVE AWAY FROM THIS HOLY MYSTERY WE LOSE GROUND IN THE BATTLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL.
WE CAN ONLY FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT IN THIS ONGOING COMPETITION WHEN WE DON'T SET OUR SITES ON WINNING, BUT RATHER SET OUR SITES ON PERSEVERING. TO TAKE THE ARMOR OFF OF GOD IS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT A WIN/LOSE PROPOSITION. THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL HAPPENS IN THE HEART AND SOUL OF EACH INDIVIDUAL MORE THAN IN THE AGGRESSION BETWEEN NATIONS. WE CANNOT DEPEND ON OUR WORLD LEADERS TO DEFINE GOOD AND EVIL FOR US. WE CAN ONLY DO THAT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF OUR OWN PERSONAL STRUGGLE TO KNOW THE TRUTH THROUGH THE MYSTERY OF OUR EVER-GROWING KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOSPEL.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, SARAH CHAUNCEY RECOMMENDED THE MOVIE SEABISQUIT AS A QUALITY CHOICE FOR MOVIE-GOERS THIS SUMMER.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE. WHAT A GREAT MOVIE TO SEE IN GENERAL, BUT WHAT A WONDERFUL REMINDER OF THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.
SEABISQUIT IS THE NAME OF A HORSE NOBODY EXPECTS TO WIN ANY RACES, WHO IS BOUGHT BY A MAN WHO HAS BEEN CAST ASIDE BY HIS FIRST WIFE.
THE TRAINER FOR THE HORSE IS AN OLD MAN NO ONE WANTS TO HIRE ANY LONGER, AND THE JOCKEY IS A BOY, ABANDONED BY HIS FAMILY, WHO IS LARGER THAN THE REST OF THE JOCKEYS AND PERPETUALLY ANGRY. THIS LOOKS LIKE A LOSING TEAM TO THOSE WHO ONLY SEE ON THE SURFACE, BUT AGAINST ALL ODDS, THE TEAM OF REJECTS WINS THE RACE THEY NEED TO WIN. IT LOOKS AS IF THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR OUR TEAM OF SUPPOSED LOSERS. BUT WHAT FOLLOWS THE FIRST WIN IS AN INCREDIBLE STORY OF THE HORSE BREAKING HIS LEG AND BEING EASED BACK INTO RACING, AS WELL AS THE JOCKEY MANGLING HIS LEG AND BEING NURSED BACK TO HEALTH. FOR BOTH SEABISQUIT AND HIS JOCKEY, THE STRUGGLE FOR WHOLENESS IS SLOW AND TEDIOUS WITH PLENTY OF DISCOURAGING MOMENTS. BUT IN THE END, SEABISQUIT WINS THE BIGGEST RACE OF ALL. AND HIS OWN JOCKEY IS RIDING HIM, AGAINST THE ADVICE OF ALL DOCTORS AND FRIENDS.
THE END IS A GLORIOUS MOMENT OF TRIUMPH AFTER LONG DAYS OF PERSEVERANCE-THE LIGHT SHINING AT THE END OF A DARK TUNNEL.
NOW THIS COULD BE SEEN AS A MOVIE ABOUT THE GRACE OF GOD, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT GOD'S GRACE WOULD BE BETTER DEPICTED IF THE HORSE HAD NOT WON. YOU SEE, THE GRACE OF GOD IS A GIFT FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT IS ONLY THE LOSERS WHO REALLY KNOW THE GIFT AS COMING FROM GOD. PEOPLE WHO WORK HARD TO WIN TEND TO BELIEVE THEY WIN BY THEIR OWN POWER. IT TAKES A LOSER TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE GRACE OF GOD.
MY FRIENDS, TAKING THE ARMOR OFF OF GOD MEANS THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF GRACE RATHER THAN THE POWER OF WINNING.
IT MEANS TEACHING LITTLE CHILDREN TO SHINE WITH GOD'S LOVE RATHER THAN TEACHING THEM TO MARCH LIKE LITTLE SOLDIERS.
IT MEANS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL IS RIGHT HERE, INSIDE OF YOU AND ME, JUST AS MUCH AS IT IS OUT THERE, IN ISRAEL OR IRAQ OR NORTH KOREA OR LIBERIA OR EVEN THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY. TAKING THE ARMOR OFF OF GOD MEANS BOLDLY SPEAKING THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL.
ALLELUIA! AMEN!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 111 & Luke 10:25-37
ON OUR FINAL NIGHT IN NICARAGUA OUR GROUP PARTICIPATED IN A VERY MEANINGFUL COMMUNION WORSHIP SERVICE WHERE WE HEARD ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL INTERPRETATIONS OF THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN THAT I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. JIM GORDON, ONE OF OUR LEADERS FROM BRIDGES TO COMMUNITY RETOLD THE STORY IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE THREE MEN WHO CAME ACROSS THE BEATEN AND DIEING MAN EACH ASKED HIMSELF A QUESTION.
THE FIRST MAN, WHOM JIM SAID WAS SOMEONE LIKE A PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER, ASKED HIMSELF THE QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME IF I HELP THIS MAN?" THAT MAN DECIDED HIS CAREER WOULD BE RUINED AND HE WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY IF HE HELPED THIS PERSON, SO HE WALKED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
THE SECOND MAN WALKING BY, WHOM JIM SAID WAS A LAY LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY, LIKE AN ELDER OR THE CLERK OF SESSION, ASKED HIMSELF THE SAME QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME IF I HELP THIS MAN?" AND AGAIN, THE ANSWER IS THAT THE MAN'S LIFE WOULD BE SERIOUSLY INTERRUPTED AND POSSIBLY EVEN RUINED IF HE STOPPED, SO HE, TOO, HURRIED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.
AND THEN JIM SAID THE THIRD MAN, A REAL NOBODY IN SOCIETY - JUST A COMMON PERSON CONNECTED TO NO SPECIAL GROUP, CAME WALKING BY AND ASKED A DIFFERENT QUESTION.
AT THIS POINT JIM HAD A DIFFICULT TIME CONTINUING WITH THE STORY BECAUSE HE WAS TRYING TO CONTROL THE TEARS THAT WERE COMING TO HIS EYES AND THE LUMP THAT WAS FORMING IN HIS THROAT. BUT FINALLY HE WAS ABLE TO TELL US THAT THE THIRD MAN ASKED HIMSELF A DIFFERENT QUESTION. THIS MAN ASKED HIMSELF, "WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THIS BEATEN UP MAN IF I DON'T STOP TO HELP HIM?" AND THE THIRD MAN REACHED OUT IN COMPASSION TO BIND THE MAN'S WOUNDS AND CARRY HIM SAFELY TO A NICE HOTEL AND PAY ALL OF HIS BILLS AHEAD OF TIME WITH HIS OWN PERSONAL CREDIT CARD.
WITH THE TEARS GENTLY STREAMING DOWN HIS FACE, JIM LOOKED AROUND AT US AND TOLD US WE WERE LIKE THE MAN WHO ASKED THE QUESTION, "WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THIS MAN IF I DON'T STOP TO HELP?"
I HAVE NEVER PROFESSIONALLY RECEIVED A FINER COMPLIMENT IN MY ENTIRE MINISTRY. AND THE COMPLIMENT WAS ONLY EXPANDED BY SEEING TEARS ON THE FACE OF THIS MAN WHO TEASES AND TALKS IN POETIC RIDDLES AND QUIPS ON A STEADY BASIS. I HAVE KNOWN JIM GORDON FOR EIGHT YEARS AND IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND THAT HE WAS EVEN CAPABLE OF TEARS. I WILL HOLD THAT PRECIOUS MOMENT IN MY HEART FOREVER AND ALWAYS.
AND SO THIS PARABLE HAS BECOME SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW FOR ME. IT HAS BECOME THE PARABLE OF THE QUESTION. IT HAS BECOME THE PARABLE OF TRUE COMMUNITY. IT HAS BECOME THE PARABLE OF THE BEATEN AND DIEING MAN, FOR THE FOCAL POINT MUST ALWAYS BE UPON THE PERSON IN NEED AND NEVER ON THE ONE WHO RESPONDS. INSTEAD OF SEEING THIS STORY AS A JUDGMENT UPON ALL WHO DO NOT STOP, IT BECOMES A STORY OF ALL THE BEATEN AND BRUISED PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO NEED A HAND TO HELP THEM UP AND THEY NEED THAT HAND FROM YOU AND FROM ME; COMMON, ORDINARY PEOPLE..
AS I LOOK AROUND ME TODAY I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I AM SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO ASK THE QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM/HER IF I DIDN'T STOP TO HELP?" OUR STATEMENT OF FAITH AND VISION ASKS THIS QUESTION. OUR MORE LIGHT POSITION ASKS THIS QUESTION. EVERY ONE OF OUR MISSION PROJECTS ASKS THIS QUESTION, RIGHT FROM BIRTHDAY PEOPLE, TO COLLECTING FRUIT FOR THE SALVATION ARMY, TO SPONSORING THE AIDS PICNIC, TO GIVING BLOOD, TO WORKING WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. THIS PARABLE IS OUR CALLING AS A COMMUNITY AND WE SEEM TO BE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS IN ORDER TO KEEP OURSELVES CLOSE TO THE MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST. BUT ARE YOU SURPRISED TO HEAR ME SAY THIS IS OUR CALLING AS A COMMUNITY?
I ALWAYS COME HOME FROM NICARAGUA THINKING MORE CAREFULLY ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN CONCEPT OF LIVING IN COMMUNITY. YOU SEE, LIVING IN COMMUNITY IS MORE REAL FOR THE RURAL NICARAGUANS THAN IT IS FOR US. THEIR CATHOLIC AND EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY CALLS THEM TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY AND THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES DEMAND THAT THEY LIVE IN COMMUNITY. JUST BY THE VERY CONFINES OF THEIR CULTURE THEY LIVE OUT THE RICHNESS OF THE GIFT JESUS OFFERS TO THE WORLD; THAT IS, LIVING IN HONEST, OPEN PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER.
WHEN A WOMAN IS BEING ABUSED BY HER HUSBAND EVERYONE KNOWS, BUT THROUGH THE LOVE OF CHRIST THE SITUATION IS REDEEMABLE BY THE VERY CLOSENESS OF THE COMMUNITY. WHEN A HOUSE IS BEING BUILT FOR ONE FAMILY AND NOT OTHERS, EVERYONE KNOWS, BUT THE JEALOUSIES MELT AWAY AS THE LOVE OF CHRIST HELPS TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST, AND PEOPLE BEGIN TO KNOW THAT THE NEXT HOUSE WILL BE BUILT FOR THEM. THEY CANNOT HIDE FROM ONE ANOTHER IN THESE RURAL NICARAGUAN COMMUNITIES AND SO THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE IS VERY REAL AND VITAL FOR THEM, DAY AFTER DAY. AND WE HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING THE GIFT OF IT. WE ARE MORE LIKELY TO WANT TO GET AWAY FROM THAT KIND OF CLOSENESS.
YOU SEE, OUR CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT AND EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY CALLS US TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY, BUT WE ONLY HEAR THE CALL AS A WHISPER, BECAUSE AS AMERICANS WE ARE RAISED TO BE RUGGED INDIVIDUALISTS, AND OUR AMERICAN CAPITALISTIC NARCISSISM IS SHOUTED AT US, DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY, DROWNING OUT THE GIFT OF COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN NICARAGUA IS BEING WITH ONE ANOTHER AND BEING DEPENDENT UPON ONE ANOTHER FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK. THERE IS NO WAY FOR US AMERICANS TO GET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, AND IT IS ONE OF THE DEEPEST EXPERIENCES OF TRUE COMMUNITY WE WILL EVER EXPERIENCE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS EXCEEDINGLY BRIEF IN COMPARISON TO WHAT JESUS IS SUGGESTING. WE ARE ALL RATHER AMBIVALENT ABOUT TRUE COMMUNITY. AND WE ACT OUT OUR AMBIVALENCE ABOUT THE CALL TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY BY WEARING MATCHING T-SHIRTS TRAVELING TO NICARAGUA AND NOT EVEN WANTING TO SEE THOSE T-SHIRTS AS WE TRAVEL HOME. AFTER A WEEK WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH TOGETHERNESS, AND WE HURRY HOME TO OUR INDIVIDUALITY AND COMFORTABLE DISTANCE.
FOR ANY TRUE AMERICAN, LIVING IN COMMUNITY IS NOT EASY BECAUSE LIVING IN COMMUNITY IS ABOUT REALITY RATHER THAN DREAMS; IT'S ABOUT CONSTANT PRESENCE WITH NO ESCAPE. IN COMMUNITY WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE HARSH REALITY OF THE HUMAN CONDITION ON A DAILY BASIS. WE SAY AND DO THINGS THAT HURT OR OFFEND, AND THERE IS NO WHERE TO RUN, NO WHERE TO HIDE. IN TRUE COMMUNITY WE CANNOT HAVE ALL THE WATER WE WANT, NOR HAVE THE LIGHTS TURNED OUT EXACTLY WHEN WE NEED THEM TO BE. WHEN WE EAT A MEAL WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF ALL THE PEOPLE EATING, LEST THERE NOT BE ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE. BUT THE GIFT OF THIS ONE WEEK OF THE REALITY OF COMMUNITY IS THAT WE LEARN DEEPER LEVELS BY WHICH TO ASK THE QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO HIM/HER IF…?" AND WE BEGIN TO ASK THAT QUESTION OUTSIDE OF THE NICARAGUAN VILLAGE.
IT'S ALL ABOUT LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD RATHER THAN A DREAM WORLD. YOU SEE, IT IS A DREAM TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES FIRST AND FOREMOST ALL THE TIME. IT IS THE AMERICAN DREAM BUT IT IS NOT A UNIVERSAL REALITY. IN THIS PARABLE, JESUS IS DEMONSTRATING THE DIRE CONSEQUENCES OF THINKING ABOUT OURSELVES BEFORE WE THINK ABOUT OUR NEIGHBOR. IT IS A COMPLETE FLIP-FLOP TO WHAT WE AMERICANS LIVE IN OUR DAILY LIVES, AND IT IS A POWERFUL EXPERIENCE.
OUR CHRIST-GIVEN WISDOM CAN NO LONGER STAND TO BE A WHISPER IN OUR LIVES. WE MUST HEAR THIS CALLING AS A GREAT ROAR OF UNIVERSAL DEMAND, BECAUSE THERE IS A DEFINITE REALITY TO THE ATROCITIES THAT HAPPEN IN OUR WORLD WHEN WE DO NOT REMEMBER THE CALL TO LIVE IN TRUE COMMUNITY.
DIETRICH BONHOEFFER WAS A GERMAN PROTESTANT PASTOR IN NAZI OCCUPIED GERMANY WHO PARTICIPATED IN A PLOT TO ASSASSINATE HITLER AND OVERTHROW THE NAZI GOVERNMENT. HE WAS CAPTURED NAZIS IN 1943 AND KILLED BY THE GESTAPO IN 1945, BUT HIS WRITING ABOUT CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY LIVE ON IN HIS BOOK ENTITLED LIFE TOGETHER. AS BONHOEFFER LIVED WITH OTHER DISSENTING GERMANS IN A COVERT AND UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT, HE WAS ABLE TO WRITE ABOUT THE PROFUNDITY OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT HAS TO MEAN SOMETHING TO AMERICAN CHRISTIANS IN TODAY'S WORLD AS WE EXPERIENCE THE RISE OF HATRED AND THE ONGOING STRUGGLE FOR THE POWER OF LOVE TO OVERCOME ALL FORMS OF HATE. THE PROFUNDITY IF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT STAYING TOGETHER THROUGH THE GOOD AND THE BAD; IT'S ABOUT HANGING IN THROUGH THE DIFFICULT TIMES AND JOYFULLY CELEBRATING THE REALLY GOOD TIMES.
BONHOEFFER WRITES, "BY SHEER GRACE, GOD WILL NOT PERMIT US TO LIVE EVEN FOR A BRIEF PERIOD IN A DREAM WORLD. HE DOES NOT ABANDON US TO THOSE RAPTUROUS EXPERIENCES AND LOFTY MOODS THAT COME OVER US LIKE A DREAM. GOD IN NOT A GOD OF THE EMOTIONS BUT THE GOD OF TRUTH. ONLY THAT FELLOWSHIP WHICH FACES SUCH DISILLUSIONMENT, WITH ALL ITS UNHAPPY AND UGLY ASPECTS, BEGINS TO BE WHAT IT SHOULD BE IN GOD'S SIGHT, BEGINS TO GRASP IN FAITH THE PROMISE THAT IS GIVEN TO IT." (PG. 87 OF LIFE TOGETHER)
AND SO IT IS IN THE HEAT AND BUGGY HUMIDITY OF THE NICARAGUAN COUNTRYSIDE THAT WE LEARN THE GIFT OF COMMUNITY, EVEN AS WE RESPOND TO THE QUESTION, "WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DIDN'T HELP?" MR. ROGERS KIND OF SUMMED THE WHOLE THING UP NICELY WHEN HE SAID, "WE LIVE IN A WORLD IN WHICH WE NEED TO SHARE RESPONSIBILITY. IT'S EASY TO SAY, 'IT'S NOT MY CHILD, NOT MY COMMUNITY, NOT MY WORLD, NOT MY PROBLEM.' THEN THERE ARE THOSE WHO SEE THE NEED AND RESPOND. I CONSIDER THOSE PEOPLE MY HEROES."
FRIENDS, I'LL BE A HERO FOR MISTER ROGERS ANY DAY, HOW ABOUT YOU?
SCRIPTURE: II Samuel 17:1-14a, Mark 6:30-34, 55-56 & Ephesians 2:11-22
THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BUILD A HOUSE. AN OLD FRIEND OF STEWART'S JUST BOUGHT A PARCEL OF LAND RIGHT ON ECHO LAKE WHERE WE'VE BEEN STAYING THESE LAST TWO WEEKS UP IN MAINE. THE FIRST WEEK WE WERE UP THERE WE GOT A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THEIR PROPERTY AND THE CABIN THAT HAD BEEN BUILT ON IT SOME 70 YEARS AGO. THE CABIN WAS LITERALLY FALLING IN ON ITSELF.
THERE WAS NO FOUNDATION TO SPEAK OF, NO INSIDE WALLS, OTHER THAN PANELING NAILED TO THE SUPPORTING WALL STUDS, NO INDOOR PLUMBING - IT WAS A RISK TO EVEN WALK UP THE STAIRS TO THE PORCH OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE THE WOOD WAS ROTTING AWAY.
AS WE VISITED THEIR NEW ACQUISITION, DOUG AND KELLY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING HOW THEY WOULD BUILD A NEW HOUSE, FOR THEY HAD ALREADY DECIDED TO TEAR DOWN THE OLD ONE. THE NEW HOUSE WOULD BE BUILT A BIT FURTHER BACK FROM THE LAKE, WITH A COUPLE OF BASEMENT ROOMS ON A SOLID FOUNDATION, INDOOR PLUMBING, BASEBOARD HEAT AND INSULATED WALLS. DOUG AND KELLY WERE BUILDING THEIR HOUSE WITH THE IDEA OF RETIRING UP THERE AND MAYBE LIVING IN IT YEAR ROUND. WHERE THE FIRST HOUSE HAD BEEN ONLY A FISHING CABIN, THE SECOND HOUSE WAS GOING TO BE FAR MORE SUBSTANTIAL. IT WILL BE MADE TO GIVE PLENTY OF PROTECTION, EVEN THROUGH THE TOUGH MAINE WINTERS.
NOW FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE PAYING ATTENTION WE ARE LEARNING A LOT ABOUT BUILDINGS THESE DAYS, RIGHT HERE AT NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. IT IS NEARLY 40 YEARS SINCE THIS SANCTUARY WAS FIRST BUILT AND WE ARE DEEP INTO MAINTENANCE ISSUES.
A NEW ROOF IS GOING ON THIS SUMMER. THE ORGAN IS BEING RENOVATED LITTLE BY LITTLE. IT'S TIME TO PAINT THE FLOOR AGAIN, AND THIS CARPETING IN THE CHANCEL AREA IS LOOKING RATHER SHABBY. OUR PHYSICAL BUILDING TAKES A LOT OF CARE AND WE DO A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT. THE WAY IT WAS BUILT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH HOW WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF IT.
BUT, FRIENDS, THERE IS A MUCH MORE IMPORTANT BUILDING HERE AT NAURAUSHAUN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH THAN THIS PHYSICAL BUILDING WE WORSHIP IN. BE IT A CHURCH, A YEAR 'ROUND HOME OR A FISHING CABIN, A PHYSICAL BUILDING CAN NEVER REPLACE THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS.
NOW ALL THREE OF OUR SCRIPTURE PASSAGES FOR TODAY SPEAK TO THE ISSUE OF BUILDING THE KIND OF HOUSE GOD BUILDS. YOU SEE, GOD WOULD HAVE US BUILD A HOUSE THAT IS NOT IMMOVABLE, NOT IMPREGNABLE, NOT NECESSARILY PLEASING TO THE EYE, BUT RATHER A DWELLING PLACE FOR GOD THAT CAN EASILY BE MOVED AND SHARED, EVEN AS IT IS INVISIBLE TO THE HUMAN EYE. THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS IS A SPIRITUAL HOUSE. AND THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO BUILD A SPIRITUAL HOUSE AS WELL.
IN SECOND SAMUEL, DAVID, WHO IS LIVING IN A CEDAR PALACE, IS ALL TOO AWARE THAT THE ARK OF THE COVENANT - THOSE AMAZING STONES INSCRIBED WITH THE WORD OF GOD, BY GOD - IS DWELLING IN AN OLD CANVAS TENT, EVEN AS DAVID ENJOYS THE COMFORT AND SPLENDOR OF HIS NEW PALACE. DAVID WONDERS IF HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL BUILD A HOUSE FOR GOD. AND GOD SAYS THAT ONE OF DAVID'S FAMILY WILL BUILD THAT HOUSE. YOU CAN PROBABLY GUESS THAT THE PHYSICAL HOUSE BEING SPOKEN OF HERE IS WHAT WILL BECOME THE SPLENDID TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM BUILT BY DAVID'S SON, SOLOMON. BUT THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS WITH DAVID IS A HOUSE OF LINEAGE AND HOPE AND PROMISE, AS WELL AS GOD'S ABIDING PRESENCE. IT IS A WORK OF ART THAT GOD AND DAVID BUILD TOGETHER. AND AS GOD AND DAVID WORK TOGETHER IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THE PROMISE AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS SOMETHING FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN BUILDING FOUR WALLS AND PUTTING A ROOF UPON IT. THE FIRST THING WE LEARN ABOUT BUILDING THE KIND OF HOUSE GOD BUILDS IS THAT GOD WANTS TO BE IN DIALOGUE WITH US ABOUT THAT HOUSE. GOD WANTS TO BE CONTACTED AND CONSULTED. GOD WANTS TO BE PRESENT. THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS IS OUR CLOSE COMMUNICATION WITH OUR DIVINE CONTRACTOR.
NOW I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT COMMUNICATING WITH GOD IS SOMETHING I CARRY WITH ME NO MATTER WHERE I GO OR WHAT I DO.
I HUMBLY CONFESS MY ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH GOD. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY I'M JUST TALKING TO MYSELF, BUT IDEALLY, I DON'T READ A BOOK OR SHOP IN FREEPORT OR ENJOY A GLASS OF WINE AT SUNSET BY THE LAKE WITHOUT HEARING GOD'S LOVE IN MY MIND, WITHOUT LOOKING FOR GOD'S GUIDANCE AND GOD'S WORD.
SURE, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I WILLFULLY TRY TO SHUT OUT GOD'S WORDS, BUT MOSTLY I HEAR AND FEEL THE DIVINE PRESENCE IN ALL OF MY THOUGHTS, NEITHER JUDGING NOR CONDEMNING, BUT HOLDING AND GUIDING. AND I WOULD DARE SAY THAT MOST OF HUMANITY DOES THE SAME THING IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. WE ALL HAVE SOME KIND OF HIGHER THOUGHT PROCESS THAT CALLS US TO DO THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW MUCH WE LISTEN TO THOSE THOUGHTS, OR HOW MUCH WE TRUST THEM TO BE DIVINE GUIDANCE. NO MATTER HOW YOU NAME IT, THE FOUNDATION OF THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS IS THINKING TOGETHER WITH GOD; LISTENING TO GOD AND GETTING THE BLUEPRINTS FROM THE GREATEST MIND EVER.
NOW IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK WE HAVE THAT WONDERFUL PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE ABOUT JESUS TRYING TO TAKE THE DISCIPLES AND HIMSELF AWAY FROM THE CRUSHING CROWDS. THE NEEDINESS OF THE WORLD IS REAL AND DISTRACTING, YES DISTRACTING. THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS IS A HOUSE WHERE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE ARE TAKEN CARE OF. OVER AND OVER AGAIN, JESUS HEALED THE SICK, OPENED THE EYES OF THE BLIND AND CHASED THE EVIL SPIRITS AWAY. AND JESUS ALWAYS DID THIS FROM THE FOUNDATION OF GOD'S LOVE. BUT SOMETIMES THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD CAN DISTRACT A PERSON FROM THE FOUNDATION OF KNOWING GOD'S PRESENCE. THIS IS WHERE I WOULD SAY THAT THE HOUSE GOD BUILDS IS A HOUSE OF YIN AND YANG.
WE HAD DANA ON VACATION WITH US, AND SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT YIN AND YANG, THE TWO OPPOSITE SIDES OF ANY GIVEN ISSUE THAT NEED EACH OTHER FOR WHOLENESS. I THINK MARK'S JESUS IS TRYING TO TEACH THE YIN AND YANG OF MINISTRY TO HIS DISCIPLES IN THIS PASSAGE. IN THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS WE NEED BOTH ACTIVITY AND REST; BOTH COMPASSION AND RESTORATION. THE WALLS OF OUR SPIRITUAL HOUSE NEED TO BE BUILT WITH A SENSE OF THE DARK SIDE OF THE HUMAN CONDITION; THE PAIN, THE SORROW, THE EMPTINESS. AND WE NEED TO BE PRESENT IN THIS DARKNESS. BUT THE ROOF THAT PROTECTS US IN OUR REACHING OUT IS THE ABILITY TO WITHDRAW FROM THE NEEDINESS OF SOCIETY AND CARE FOR OUR OWN NEEDS. JESUS WAS NOT TOTALLY SUCCESSFUL IN HIS GETAWAY, BUT HE AND HIS DISCIPLES DID HAVE THAT SHORT TIME AT SEA TO RENEW AND REFRESH THEMSELVES. MAY WE ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THE WALLS AND THE ROOF, THE YIN AND THE YANG, THE COMPASSION AND THE SELF CARE THAT ARE ALL A PART OF THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS.
BUT AS WELL AS BUILDING THE WALLS AND PLANNING FOR THE ROOF, WE ALSO NEED TO REMEMBER THE WINDOWS AND DOORS. AND WINDOWS AND DOORS ARE EXACTLY WHAT PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT IN HIS LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS.
THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS WAS HAVING TROUBLE STAYING FOCUSED. THEY WERE SO BUSY DISAGREEING WITH EACH OTHER, AND TRYING TO GET THEIR OWN POINT ACROSS, THAT THERE WERE NO PLANS TO BUILD WINDOWS AND DOORS IN THE HOUSE THAT GOD WAS BUILDING THROUGH THEM. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE WALLS OF COMPASSION THAT SHOULD HAVE GONE UP QUICKLY WERE HARDLY STARTED BECAUSE OF THE TINY PORTION OF COMPASSION THESE EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE ABLE TO SHOW TO ONE ANOTHER. PAUL WAS BASICALLY SAYING, "CIRCUMCISED? UNCIRCUMCISED? WHO CARES? WE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST." USING THE LOVE OF JESUS TO BRING PEACE BETWEEN WARRING PEOPLES IS THE ONLY CORNERSTONE TO USE WHEN BUILDING A HOUSE LIKE GOD BUILDS. AND WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS COMES A WONDERFUL OPENNESS TO NEW THINGS AND OLD THINGS; TO TRYING SOMETHING NEW ALONG WITH DOING THINGS THE WAY THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DONE. TO BOTH THE CIRCUMCISED AND THE UNCIRCUMCISED, KEEPING THIER EYES ON JESUS AND NOT WAVERING IN THAT VISION WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD KEEP THEIR BUILDING OPEN AND LOVING. OPEN WINDOWS AND OPEN DOORS MEAN THAT ALL ARE LOVED IN THE EYES OF GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. IT'S NOT UP TO US TO JUDGE; IT IS UP TO US TO LOVE IN THE WAY JESUS TAUGHT US TO LOVE.
NOW I HAVE TO SAY THAT NOTHING HAS PERSONALLY BROUGHT ME CLOSER TO THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS THAN GOING TO NICARAGUA AND BUILDING A CINDERBLOCK HOUSE, BLOCK BY BLOCK. IT IS AN ACTIVITY THAT, FOR ME, CARRIES EVERY QUALITY OF BUILDING A SPIRITUAL HOME WITH GOD IN THE SAME WAY THAT I AM SPEAKING OF TODAY. GOD'S CALL TO ME TO GO TO NICARAGUA TO HELP THE PEOPLE THERE IS ONE OF THE MOST CLEAR CONVERSATIONS GOD AND I HAVE EVER HAD. GOD WANTED ME TO GO AND I WAS READY. I WAS READY TO HAVE A NEW EXPERIENCE OF BUILDING WALLS OF COMPASSION AND I KNEW THAT JESUS WAS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE BUILDING.
THERE ARE TWELVE OF US GOING TO NICARAGUA THIS YEAR. AND AS WE HAVE READIED OURSELVES FOR THE TRIP WE WILL BE LEAVING ON THIS COMING SATURDAY, I KNOW THAT WE GO TO NICARAGUA TO BE THE PRESENCE OF JESUS, AS BEST WE CAN BE. WE ARE NOT PERFECT ABOUT IT, BY ANY MEANS. BUT I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE CROSS WE WEAR ON OUR T-SHIRTS CONVEYS A MESSAGE MORE TRUE TO THE LOVE OF CHRIST THAN IT MIGHT IN OTHER TIMES AND OTHER PLACES. JESUS WAS AND IS ABOUT LOVE AND COMPASSION AND WE ARE BUILDING SPIRITUAL HOUSES OF LOVE AND COMPASSION, AS WELL AS PHYSICAL HOUSES OF CINDERBLOCK AND CEMENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, MARY LEE ALWAYS REMINDS US OF THE YIN AND YANG OF WHY WE GO TO BUILD IN THIS FOREIGN COUNTRY. YOU SEE, MARY LEE IS VERY LIKELY TO TELL YOU SHE GOES TO NICARAGUA BECAUSE OF THE PEACEFULNESS OF THE NICARAGUAN VILLAGES AND THE SLOWER PACE OF NICARAGUAN LIFE. THERE IS A STILLNESS ABOUT THE NICARAGUAN COUNTRYSIDE THAT CAN CALM THE SOUL IN A WAY NOTHING ELSE CAN. WHEN WE SIT OUTSIDE OF OUR ROOMS AT NIGHT AND FEEL THE GENTLE BREEZE THAT IS LIKELY TO COME UP WHILE THE STARS ARE FILLING UP THE SKY IN A WAY WE CAN NEVER SEE HERE IN NEW YORK, I AM ALWAYS REMINDED OF THE WONDERFUL WORDS OF ONE OF THE 11TH OR 12TH CENTURY MYSTICS WHO CLAIMED THAT OUR SOULS ARE RESTLESS UNTIL THEY REST IN GOD. ON A CLEAR NICARAGUAN NIGHT, AFTER A LONG DAY OF HARD WORK AND A REFRESHING SPLASH OF COOL WATER, OUR SOULS VERY LIKELY FIND REST IN GOD.
THE ROOF IS THERE FOR THE WALLS OF COMPASSION.
AND OF COURSE OUR WALLS ALWAYS HAVE WINDOWS AND AT LEAST ONE DOOR, IF NOT TWO. ON OUR MISSION TRIPS TO NICARAGUA WE HAVE QUITE A MIXTURE OF LIKES AND DIFFERENCES. WE ARE YOUNG AND OLD, STRONG AND WEAK, ANGLO AND HISPANIC, CATHOLIC AND PROTESTANT, MALE AND FEMALE, RICH AND POOR, BUT WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST AND WE ARE FOCUSING ON CHRIST, EVEN IF HIS NAME IS NEVER SPOKEN. OUR DIFFERENCES MELT AWAY AS THE WEEK PROGRESSES AND TRUE COMMUNITY IS BUILT AMONG US. WE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DO THE WORK OF CHRIST AND HE IS IN THE MIDST OF US. WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS, WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOAL OF BRINGING SHELTER TO ANOTHER DESERVING FAMILY. IT IS, AFTER ALL, THE HOUSE THAT GOD BUILDS, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY. IT IS A RICH AND DEEP SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE FOR WHICH I HAVE GROWN EXCEEDINGLY GRATEFUL.
IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE INVITE THOSE OF US WHO ARE GOING TO NICARAGUA TO COME FORWARD FOR A BLESSING AND A COMMISSIONING.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ELDER LIZ CHAUVOT TO COME FORWARD TO LEAD THE CONGREGATION IN THE COMMISSIONING.
THE PEOPLE GOING TO NICARAGUA ARE:
ALYSSA ANDREWS
ANDY ANDREWS
HOLLY BEYAR
BOBBIE HART
DON HART
JEAN HOLMES
RUSSELL HOLMES
STEWART HOLMES
CHRIS GENSON
AMANDA LA VALLE
JULI SCHAEFER
MARY LEE WAINWRIGHT