This is a great article on All Saints from Relevant.com.
I want to start by sharing a little about All Saints and what it is.
Since the 16th century for Christians all over the world All Hallows’ Eve or Halloween—has been notable for what it anticipates. The “eve” in the name isn’t just for show, just as the “eve” in Christmas Eve suggests something else is just over the horizon. That something is All Hallows or All Saints’ Day (fun fact: it’s also known as Hallowmas, which sounds like the greatest Christmas-Halloween mash-up ever, where kids wear costumes, gorge themselves on candy and get gifts. Like that wouldn’t take off immediately).
The point of All Saints’ Day is to remember and celebrate the depth and breadth of Christians. We’re accustomed to hearing certain people labeled as saints—the Gospel writers, the Twelve Disciples or any number of Church fathers and mothers who have done amazing things for the Kingdom of God. And today (normally the first Sunday after Halloween) those people are rightly remembered and honored.
But All Saints is about more than that. It’s about remembering we’re in a “great cloud of witnesses.” And that cloud is bigger than you might think.
Whenever you hear that verse about the “great cloud of witnesses”, who do you think about? Do you think about “faith heroes” of the past, like C.S. Lewis, Mother Teresa, John Calvin and St. Paul? Do you think about contemporary Christian icons like Francis Chan, Rob Bell, John Piper, Max Lucado, Beth Moore, and N.T. Wright? Or do you look at the list in Hebrews 11 and remember the faithfulness of Moses, Rahab, Abraham and Sarah?
As Christians, our answer ought to be “all of the above,” for these are our lineage.
All Saints’ Day reminds us that there are Christians who came before us who have run the race well, not perfect but well. We should also be reminded of the current Christians around the world. The depth of Christian saints ought to make any believer thankful. There are saints who have walked the road of faith before us, and their stumbles, joys and hard-fought victories give us both hope and encouragement.
In addition to the historical depth of the Christian saints, there is also the modern breadth. Think of all the people—very, very different people—who gather under the banner of Christ. You’ve got saints of every nation, every language, every job, every walk of life ... all worshipping the same God.
And yes, those differences sometimes cause painful and tragic division. But All Saints’ Day reminds us it doesn’t have to be that way. The saints all over the world are part of one, universal Church trying to worship the same God. That includes rich people and poor people, people of all ethnicities, men and women, the 99 percent and the 1 percent, Democrats and Republicans, creationists and evolutionists, and everyone else you can imagine.
Those differences mean this: You are not alone.
If you find yourself thinking, “This sounds like a naive utopia,” that's OK. Because it is a utopia. It's just not naive; it’s hopeful. All Saints’ Day is a time to remember—to embrace—what the Kingdom of God looks like (and what it will look like forever).
It’s easy to get cynical about all the Christian infighting among the people who call themselves followers of Christ, but All Saints’ Day can remind Christians what it looks like when those divisions don’t overpower the communion of the Saints. It’s a reason to celebrate what God has done through people, and how the “great cloud of witnesses” is both wider and deeper than we might think.
And on that I would like to share a story from one of the great cloud of witnesses.
Laura had given me her story to look over back in May with the intention of sharing her testimony a week or two later. Since that time I have been asked to share what she had written, so with the family’s permission I share that with you now. In light of what you now know of All Saints, I thought it fitting to share it with you when we celebrate All Saints. These are her words, not mine.
Ephesians 1: 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Something that stood out to me is that “when I believed I was marked in him with a seal.: I am God’s possession to the praise of his glory. I am his-and he will not carelessly cast me off like an old pair of shoes. He is everything good, true & right that we are not. My life is in your hands and I am confident in the safety of your wings. I am so thankful for the blessings I have.
Resurrection is the coming back to life form the dead. I wasn’t dead I just wasn’t receiving the gifts that were given to me at the time when I asked Jesus into my heart. In Ephesians 1: 18-20 Paul says, I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. It tells us as believers, all of us, that we have resurrection power! I wasn’t thinking like that. I knew so many dynamic Christian women that were doing “something” and I always wondered, “what’s my purpose?” I almost felt unworthy. I was a chronic comparer. I felt no power of any kind, and what were some of the other promises I could be claiming?
See chart or list title our true identity in Christ in my life application Bible 2133 Ephesians Chpt 2
On the outside I looked like I had it all together, most of us do, I didn’t. I had anger, resentment, guilt, shame, unforgiveness, all living in my Christ filled heart. I loved the Lord and was not nice to myself, and now I know that broke God’s heart. I was angry and resentful at my parents for getting divorce, I couldn’t forgive myself for some things in my past, and I let the devil take my guilt and shame and play it over and over again in my head like a tape recorder.
No matter how hard I thought I was trying and praying, some of that freedom that Christ died to give me was not occurring. I was an adult, a wife and mother. I was teaching my children that no matter what they did or didn’t do God would always love them and forgive them and want them. I just wouldn’t live it out for myself. Then I got diagnosed with cancer. My years of bible study had prepared me to automatically have faith that God knows best and there must be some reason.
I think that is the only place my heart could go without completely falling apart. One of the verses we go to in times of difficulty is Romans 8:28. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose, so, that’s where I went.
As time went on I had nowhere to turn but the bible and prayer. It has really been between me and God, a relationship resurrected and made so beautifully alive.
That is how I needed it to be and still need it. I feel the safest and loved and protected when I am with him. The resurrection part is, the made new is, as I have given my whole heart to him through this awful cancer I have given him the anger and insecurity and the whole rest of it. I have been living a freedom that I could have had 23 years ago. God’s gift to us in his son Jesus assures us not only of eternal life but extreme forgiveness. He promises power and wisdom and healing and so much more. I was looking back at a bible study by Beth Moore on the Psalms that I was working on last summer and I saw in the margin a note I had written.
“Why couldn’t I get that like I wanted before cancer” so I had to read her words. The verse was Matthew 5: 5. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. This is what she said. Blessedness describes the condition of a person who reveres God, steeps her life in Him, and follows His ways. She doesn’t just look to God in spiritual or religious matters. She looks to Him in every matter. He’s not just the most important part of her life. He is her life. The result of this divine invasion is that the life operates overall at optimum earth satisfaction, joy and purpose and without the crushing burdens of self-glory and sin. In other word, her life actually works. That is the resurrection story of my life so far. I want only to steep my life in him.
Close in prayer
Monday, November 21, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Super Summer Cinema Series: Winnie the Pooh
(The clips from these are all online. You can find them on the official movie site: disney.com/pooh or on youtube or on the yahoo movie site.)
Our next movie is from a story has been around since the 1920’s.
First book is from 1926 to be exact, by a guy named A. A. Milne, son’s name was Christopher Robin Milne. Anyone want to guess what movie we will talk about this morning?
A little about the Pooh empire. In the 1930s Pooh was bringing in $50 million a year. Currently, it is estimated that Winnie the Pooh videos, teddy bears, and other merchandise generate $1 billion in annual income for Disney that’s as much revenue as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto merchandise combined. And this movie will help boost that ever higher this year. It’s a great clean safe movie. As we sat and watched it I felt a warm glow in my heart. Let’s watch the trailer so you can better understand what I mean.
Trailer Clip-doesn’t that look wonderful?
As I reflected on the movie this week one of my favorite scriptures came to mind. A scripture we see often at weddings and anniversaries. Of course I’m talking about 1 Corinthians 13.
Just before this Paul talks about spiritual gifts and one body many parts.
Paul now proceeds to elaborate on the fact that love surpasses the most important spiritual gifts. Some of the Corinthian Christians may not have possessed any of the gifts mentioned in the previous three lists in chapter 12, but all of them and all of us can practice love.
Let’s take a look…
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Do you see what Paul does here?
Notice what he is listing: tongues, prophecy, faith, giving-several of the gifts he just mentioned in chapter 12. Basically telling us it’s all useless without love.
The characters in the hundred acre wood are not perfect. They each have their downfalls. Yet the things they do are based out of love. That, for me, is a big part of what makes Pooh so endearing. For the most part every character truly has the good of the community at heart when they speak or act. They don’t lord it over the other when they have something special that the other doesn’t. Which is what can happen to us-can’t it? If we use our gifts and talents apart from any other motivation other than love we’re just spinning our wheels. God’s Kingdom is about love.
As I read this next section think about the Pooh characters and how they embody these traits…
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
As you saw in the preview Eeyore loses his tail and the rest of the gang tries to help Eeyore find a new one. It takes love to help someone...If I don't love you-ie care about you...I'm not really going to help you.
but there's something else...I have to love you to allow you to help me-why is that? Love is not proud...and also if I allow you to help me then I what you? I trust you...
And even though eeyore is the eternal pessimist he hopes and they hope they will find eeyore a new tail...
I want to show a clip to further demonstrate how this love plays out in the Hundred Acre Wood. While trying to trap the supposed villain Backson all of them except Piglet have fallen into the hole and it’s up to Piglet to get them out.
Hole Clip
We are going to get frustrated with others, but it’s how we handle it. Even though Rabbit gets utterly frustrated with the solutions you can still see his love for Piglet and the others.
And this love shown by Pooh and his friends is the kind of love we strive to continue to foster here in this church.
Not only do we want to foster that here in this building, but we want to foster that same love and community outside of these walls. Think about what heaven is like….think about the prayer we pray at least every Sunday if not also during the week…your will be done…on earth as it is in heaven…it’s our responsibility as followers of Christ to live out this model of love.
Let’s take a look at one last example from the movie-Pooh has recruited Piglet to help him retrieve some honey.
Piglet scene-The Plan
takes responsibility even though it’s clearly not his fault…that’s love…in a world that seems too long to place blame on everyone but ourselves…Piglet takes the difficult and humble road-“I’m sorry I messed up your plan Pooh.”
And at the very end of the movie, even though Pooh has not gotten to enjoy the delicious sweet honey he so desperately hungers for, he chooses to return Eeyore’s tail instead of satisfying his own hunger-love is not self seeking. And in the end because of his selflessness he gets the greatest reward of all…now that sounds familiar.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Our next movie is from a story has been around since the 1920’s.
First book is from 1926 to be exact, by a guy named A. A. Milne, son’s name was Christopher Robin Milne. Anyone want to guess what movie we will talk about this morning?
A little about the Pooh empire. In the 1930s Pooh was bringing in $50 million a year. Currently, it is estimated that Winnie the Pooh videos, teddy bears, and other merchandise generate $1 billion in annual income for Disney that’s as much revenue as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto merchandise combined. And this movie will help boost that ever higher this year. It’s a great clean safe movie. As we sat and watched it I felt a warm glow in my heart. Let’s watch the trailer so you can better understand what I mean.
Trailer Clip-doesn’t that look wonderful?
As I reflected on the movie this week one of my favorite scriptures came to mind. A scripture we see often at weddings and anniversaries. Of course I’m talking about 1 Corinthians 13.
Just before this Paul talks about spiritual gifts and one body many parts.
Paul now proceeds to elaborate on the fact that love surpasses the most important spiritual gifts. Some of the Corinthian Christians may not have possessed any of the gifts mentioned in the previous three lists in chapter 12, but all of them and all of us can practice love.
Let’s take a look…
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Do you see what Paul does here?
Notice what he is listing: tongues, prophecy, faith, giving-several of the gifts he just mentioned in chapter 12. Basically telling us it’s all useless without love.
The characters in the hundred acre wood are not perfect. They each have their downfalls. Yet the things they do are based out of love. That, for me, is a big part of what makes Pooh so endearing. For the most part every character truly has the good of the community at heart when they speak or act. They don’t lord it over the other when they have something special that the other doesn’t. Which is what can happen to us-can’t it? If we use our gifts and talents apart from any other motivation other than love we’re just spinning our wheels. God’s Kingdom is about love.
As I read this next section think about the Pooh characters and how they embody these traits…
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
As you saw in the preview Eeyore loses his tail and the rest of the gang tries to help Eeyore find a new one. It takes love to help someone...If I don't love you-ie care about you...I'm not really going to help you.
but there's something else...I have to love you to allow you to help me-why is that? Love is not proud...and also if I allow you to help me then I what you? I trust you...
And even though eeyore is the eternal pessimist he hopes and they hope they will find eeyore a new tail...
I want to show a clip to further demonstrate how this love plays out in the Hundred Acre Wood. While trying to trap the supposed villain Backson all of them except Piglet have fallen into the hole and it’s up to Piglet to get them out.
Hole Clip
We are going to get frustrated with others, but it’s how we handle it. Even though Rabbit gets utterly frustrated with the solutions you can still see his love for Piglet and the others.
And this love shown by Pooh and his friends is the kind of love we strive to continue to foster here in this church.
Not only do we want to foster that here in this building, but we want to foster that same love and community outside of these walls. Think about what heaven is like….think about the prayer we pray at least every Sunday if not also during the week…your will be done…on earth as it is in heaven…it’s our responsibility as followers of Christ to live out this model of love.
Let’s take a look at one last example from the movie-Pooh has recruited Piglet to help him retrieve some honey.
Piglet scene-The Plan
takes responsibility even though it’s clearly not his fault…that’s love…in a world that seems too long to place blame on everyone but ourselves…Piglet takes the difficult and humble road-“I’m sorry I messed up your plan Pooh.”
And at the very end of the movie, even though Pooh has not gotten to enjoy the delicious sweet honey he so desperately hungers for, he chooses to return Eeyore’s tail instead of satisfying his own hunger-love is not self seeking. And in the end because of his selflessness he gets the greatest reward of all…now that sounds familiar.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Super Summer Cinema Series Transformers 3 Celebrity
071711
Transformers Dark of the Moon
Intro
Let’s face it, as much as we may complain about it, we are fascinated by celebrities. And these days celebrity is a pretty diverse word.
Top Lists-Sexiest, Richest, Beautiful,
7 of the top 10 searches from 2009 & 2010 were celebrities
A big hit in the last few years was Rockstar by Nickelback-we all just want to be big rock stars
The people featured in video hits on Youtube will be on the national news.
And this desire for celebrity can even affect our attitude about church…we want to be a famous church, we want to build new facilities, we may even envy churches like Lifechurch.tv…
Our movie example today is no different. We’ll be taking a look at Transformers 3. The first two Transformers grossed $1.5 billion worldwide and the 3rd one has already grossed over $700 million worldwide. Not too shabby for a movie about some alien robots that transform into vehicles and planes.
As we’ll see in the first clip on of the main characters Sam Whitwickey is struggling to find a job. In the first 2 movies Sam has worked closely with the Autobots, the good robots to save the world from the evil Decepticon robots. Sam has now completed college and of course his parents are giving him a hard time because 3 mos after graduation he still has been unable to find a job.
Show clip. You’re looking for the job after this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY46zXRlPks
In this second clip Sam has teamed up with the Autobots to once again try to save the world from the Decepticon attacks. He is meeting with some other human Autobot allies when his girlfriend comes home.
Show clip-I just want to matter-you matter to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCYTsUpNIoE
There is much truth in these scenes and as I watched this part of the story unfold I was reminded of a similar problem the early disciples faced.
Luke 9
46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”
What’s going on in the story?
Just before this argument Jesus had largely deflated the disciples’ hopes for glory and grandeur by emphasizing that he would suffer and die. So the disciples are left wondering about their own place in the Kingdom as much as they were wondering about Jesus’ role in the kingdom.
The answer Jesus gives is a long way from the disciples’ ideas of a Kingdom raised by revolution and apocalyptic triumph. They were ready to go to war with Jesus as their victorious King, leading them to conquest. I can imagine the young child, standing before them, grinning and simpering under the amused gaze of the thirteen men, hardly the warrior zealot they would have imagined as greatest in the Kingdom.
Don’t you see as Christians we have it all backwards.
The scene reflects the situation that has affected the church since Jesus was resurrected, namely the struggle for leadership and status that still continues to this day. Jesus flips our desire to be famous and #1 upside down and presents a child as the model.
To become like a little child is to humble oneself, giving up all pretensions of self-importance, independence, and self-reliance and turning in trust to the heavenly Father. The story is not for us to imitate children but rather take on a different understanding of status. As followers of Christ we are to abandon the quest for status.
In the movie Sam is obsessed with status. Several times throughout the movie he loses it because he wants people to know how important he is, that he saved the world, that he matters.
This idea that I have to do something big in order to matter. Because this movie doesn’t relate to any struggle we have ever had…we all just wanna be big rock stars…
Maybe we could look at it this way. Let me ask you a few questions.
Who saved Billy Graham? Who mentored Mother Teresa? Who impacted Rob Bell or Joel Olsteen or Beth Moore? Did those people who influenced these famous Christians matter? Were they great?
But we don’t their names so how can they be famous? How do you know you aren’t the person who is going to impact the next Christian who is going to something big for God? But if we are too busy looking to be famous for fame’s sake, we’ll miss the vision and plan that God has.
It’s important for us to take each step set before us. I believe God has a plan and we have to complete a section in order to be able to move on. I can look back at my life now and those things that I had no idea why I was doing them or learning matter. At the interview-you’re looking for the job after this one.
Like Sam we want to skip steps, but there’s something important that we may need to learn in this step. I think some of the smartest companies are the ones that make you do everything before you can move up. So that way you have a better understanding.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t do our best. Great people do the small things well. We should be doing our best for God’s glory and not our own. Our desire to be known or noticed should not be driven from selfish motivations, but rather selfless, like the scripture suggests as servants.
I think what it comes down to is are we being Childish or childlike? In the movie is Sam being childish? Of course-he wants the important job, but isn’t willing to work for it. He wants to feel important by saving the world. Being ordinary is not good enough.
It is easy to lose our eternal perspective and compete for promotions or status. It is difficult to identify with children-weak and dependent people with no status or influence.
The disciples were embarrassed to answer Jesus’ question. It is always painful to compare our motives with Christ’s. It’s only wrong when that ambition becomes sin. Why do you want that status? What’s at the heart of it? Is it greed? Or is it because you are serving Christ to your utmost?
Conclusion
So this morning may we learn from the lesson of Transformers 3 and the plight of Mr. Sam Whitwicky that in order to be the greatest we must be the least.
Transformers Dark of the Moon
Intro
Let’s face it, as much as we may complain about it, we are fascinated by celebrities. And these days celebrity is a pretty diverse word.
Top Lists-Sexiest, Richest, Beautiful,
7 of the top 10 searches from 2009 & 2010 were celebrities
A big hit in the last few years was Rockstar by Nickelback-we all just want to be big rock stars
The people featured in video hits on Youtube will be on the national news.
And this desire for celebrity can even affect our attitude about church…we want to be a famous church, we want to build new facilities, we may even envy churches like Lifechurch.tv…
Our movie example today is no different. We’ll be taking a look at Transformers 3. The first two Transformers grossed $1.5 billion worldwide and the 3rd one has already grossed over $700 million worldwide. Not too shabby for a movie about some alien robots that transform into vehicles and planes.
As we’ll see in the first clip on of the main characters Sam Whitwickey is struggling to find a job. In the first 2 movies Sam has worked closely with the Autobots, the good robots to save the world from the evil Decepticon robots. Sam has now completed college and of course his parents are giving him a hard time because 3 mos after graduation he still has been unable to find a job.
Show clip. You’re looking for the job after this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY46zXRlPks
In this second clip Sam has teamed up with the Autobots to once again try to save the world from the Decepticon attacks. He is meeting with some other human Autobot allies when his girlfriend comes home.
Show clip-I just want to matter-you matter to me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCYTsUpNIoE
There is much truth in these scenes and as I watched this part of the story unfold I was reminded of a similar problem the early disciples faced.
Luke 9
46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”
What’s going on in the story?
Just before this argument Jesus had largely deflated the disciples’ hopes for glory and grandeur by emphasizing that he would suffer and die. So the disciples are left wondering about their own place in the Kingdom as much as they were wondering about Jesus’ role in the kingdom.
The answer Jesus gives is a long way from the disciples’ ideas of a Kingdom raised by revolution and apocalyptic triumph. They were ready to go to war with Jesus as their victorious King, leading them to conquest. I can imagine the young child, standing before them, grinning and simpering under the amused gaze of the thirteen men, hardly the warrior zealot they would have imagined as greatest in the Kingdom.
Don’t you see as Christians we have it all backwards.
The scene reflects the situation that has affected the church since Jesus was resurrected, namely the struggle for leadership and status that still continues to this day. Jesus flips our desire to be famous and #1 upside down and presents a child as the model.
To become like a little child is to humble oneself, giving up all pretensions of self-importance, independence, and self-reliance and turning in trust to the heavenly Father. The story is not for us to imitate children but rather take on a different understanding of status. As followers of Christ we are to abandon the quest for status.
In the movie Sam is obsessed with status. Several times throughout the movie he loses it because he wants people to know how important he is, that he saved the world, that he matters.
This idea that I have to do something big in order to matter. Because this movie doesn’t relate to any struggle we have ever had…we all just wanna be big rock stars…
Maybe we could look at it this way. Let me ask you a few questions.
Who saved Billy Graham? Who mentored Mother Teresa? Who impacted Rob Bell or Joel Olsteen or Beth Moore? Did those people who influenced these famous Christians matter? Were they great?
But we don’t their names so how can they be famous? How do you know you aren’t the person who is going to impact the next Christian who is going to something big for God? But if we are too busy looking to be famous for fame’s sake, we’ll miss the vision and plan that God has.
It’s important for us to take each step set before us. I believe God has a plan and we have to complete a section in order to be able to move on. I can look back at my life now and those things that I had no idea why I was doing them or learning matter. At the interview-you’re looking for the job after this one.
Like Sam we want to skip steps, but there’s something important that we may need to learn in this step. I think some of the smartest companies are the ones that make you do everything before you can move up. So that way you have a better understanding.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t do our best. Great people do the small things well. We should be doing our best for God’s glory and not our own. Our desire to be known or noticed should not be driven from selfish motivations, but rather selfless, like the scripture suggests as servants.
I think what it comes down to is are we being Childish or childlike? In the movie is Sam being childish? Of course-he wants the important job, but isn’t willing to work for it. He wants to feel important by saving the world. Being ordinary is not good enough.
It is easy to lose our eternal perspective and compete for promotions or status. It is difficult to identify with children-weak and dependent people with no status or influence.
The disciples were embarrassed to answer Jesus’ question. It is always painful to compare our motives with Christ’s. It’s only wrong when that ambition becomes sin. Why do you want that status? What’s at the heart of it? Is it greed? Or is it because you are serving Christ to your utmost?
Conclusion
So this morning may we learn from the lesson of Transformers 3 and the plight of Mr. Sam Whitwicky that in order to be the greatest we must be the least.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Super Summer Cinema Series Kung Fu Panda 2: Identity
071011
Kung Fu Panda 2: Identity
Super Summer Cinema Series
Super Sinema joke
This morning I want to focus on our identity.
Identity is a common struggle that we all face in one way or another. Whether it was deciding what you wanted to be when you grow up or mid life crisis or addiction or the what is my purpose crisis-whatever form it takes-the source of our identity can be difficult.
We look to all different things for our identity-
We see it as far back as the Genesis story
Women look to what for identity? Men or relationships
Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
And men? Their work
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life. Is today any different?
Our struggle to find identity in anything other than God always ends poorly.
The funny thing is that we see the same struggle in our society and of course the topic of movies. One great example is Kung Fu Panda 2, bet you didn’t expect that one.
Outline the story of the first Kung Fu Panda (from imdb.com)
Is the story about a lazy, irreverent slacker panda, named Po, who is the biggest fan of Kung Fu around...which doesn't exactly come in handy while working every day in his family's noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po's dreams become reality when he joins the world of Kung Fu and studies alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five -- Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey -- under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it's up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master into reality? Po puts his heart - and his girth - into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.
Outline the story of Kung Fu Panda 2 (from Yahoo movies)
Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Po must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed
It’s his past that I want to go into first this morning. Thanks to Joyce for pointing this movie out to me.
Here’s the basic outline of what happens in Po’s infancy. (slide)
1) The evil leader orders all the baby Pandas to be killed
2) Po’s mother hides him in a basket.
3) Po is adopted.
4) Po helps defeat the evil ruler and free the people.
Does that look familiar?
What story is that from in the Bible?
At that point in Israel’s history, what was happening? It’s during the book Exodus. Israel is in Egypt as slaves and they are slowly losing who they are, so God sends Moses, a man with an identity crises. Moses was raised by the Egyptian slave drivers, enemy of the Israelites. And the one time we know about that he comes to the aid of one of his people the Israelites, Moses kills an Egyptian and then runs off.
And when God comes to him, does Moses go willingly? No, Moses ends up begging God to send someone else even after God addresses all Moses’ excuses. Does that sound like a man who knows who he is? And in the movie Po struggles with the same thing. Take a look at this clip.
Show clip-who are you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrrdiioCI4M
Just like in the movie, Moses’ life didn’t start out well. His ministry didn’t start well. He made excuses and asked God to send someone else. But with God’s help Moses made the choice and became a great leader.
Sometimes we too can allow the events of our past to dictate who we are. Those past pains and difficulties, those things definitely shape us, but we must not allow them to define us. Those things aren’t who we are.
It seems like there’s a scripture about what happens when we are in Christ. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?
2 Corinthians 5: 17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
And once we are a new creation it doesn’t prevent us from trying to make those other things our identity again. We are still tempted. Sometimes we make excuses to validate and sustain our false identity-my parents weren’t loving enough or were too loving, my parents were helicopter parents-always hovering around, I had a bad education, I was poor, I was rich, on and on-all excuses when we as Christians have a new identify by which we are defined.
Please don’t think I am trivializing past hurts and pains. Some of us need counseling in order to move forward in our relationship with God, but we must move forward. Take Jaycee Dugart for example-the woman who was kidnapped at age 11 and held hostage for 18 years.
I heard a great quote from Jaycee when asked about her joy of life and whether she held any rage or grudge, she said “He got 18 years, I’m not going to give him one more day.”
For me-when people find out my mom was killed-“I never knew.” Exactly because it doesn’t define me. That was a terrible thing that happened to all of us, but I refuse to allow that or anything other than my relationship with God to define me.
I love that scene in the movie-Who are you?
So how do we deal with those past pains and hurt, let’s take a look at another clip.
Show clip-scars heal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZRlBqqXAA
Let’s break that scene down:
How did you find peace?
Our peace comes from God. We find peace in our new identity in Christ.
You have to let go of the things of the past.
We would say give them to God and forgive. And I would disagree, those things matter, they shape us into the person we are today and help us in our ministry with others.
The only thing that matters is who you choose to be now. We may not have had a great start, but it’s never too late to change the end of your story, it’s never too late to live the rest of your life for Christ. Who are you? Where do you find your identity in something from the world or in Christ?
Kung Fu Panda 2: Identity
Super Summer Cinema Series
Super Sinema joke
This morning I want to focus on our identity.
Identity is a common struggle that we all face in one way or another. Whether it was deciding what you wanted to be when you grow up or mid life crisis or addiction or the what is my purpose crisis-whatever form it takes-the source of our identity can be difficult.
We look to all different things for our identity-
We see it as far back as the Genesis story
Women look to what for identity? Men or relationships
Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
And men? Their work
“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life. Is today any different?
Our struggle to find identity in anything other than God always ends poorly.
The funny thing is that we see the same struggle in our society and of course the topic of movies. One great example is Kung Fu Panda 2, bet you didn’t expect that one.
Outline the story of the first Kung Fu Panda (from imdb.com)
Is the story about a lazy, irreverent slacker panda, named Po, who is the biggest fan of Kung Fu around...which doesn't exactly come in handy while working every day in his family's noodle shop. Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po's dreams become reality when he joins the world of Kung Fu and studies alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five -- Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey -- under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it's up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. Can he turn his dreams of becoming a Kung Fu master into reality? Po puts his heart - and his girth - into the task, and the unlikely hero ultimately finds that his greatest weaknesses turn out to be his greatest strengths.
Outline the story of Kung Fu Panda 2 (from Yahoo movies)
Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Po must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed
It’s his past that I want to go into first this morning. Thanks to Joyce for pointing this movie out to me.
Here’s the basic outline of what happens in Po’s infancy. (slide)
1) The evil leader orders all the baby Pandas to be killed
2) Po’s mother hides him in a basket.
3) Po is adopted.
4) Po helps defeat the evil ruler and free the people.
Does that look familiar?
What story is that from in the Bible?
At that point in Israel’s history, what was happening? It’s during the book Exodus. Israel is in Egypt as slaves and they are slowly losing who they are, so God sends Moses, a man with an identity crises. Moses was raised by the Egyptian slave drivers, enemy of the Israelites. And the one time we know about that he comes to the aid of one of his people the Israelites, Moses kills an Egyptian and then runs off.
And when God comes to him, does Moses go willingly? No, Moses ends up begging God to send someone else even after God addresses all Moses’ excuses. Does that sound like a man who knows who he is? And in the movie Po struggles with the same thing. Take a look at this clip.
Show clip-who are you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrrdiioCI4M
Just like in the movie, Moses’ life didn’t start out well. His ministry didn’t start well. He made excuses and asked God to send someone else. But with God’s help Moses made the choice and became a great leader.
Sometimes we too can allow the events of our past to dictate who we are. Those past pains and difficulties, those things definitely shape us, but we must not allow them to define us. Those things aren’t who we are.
It seems like there’s a scripture about what happens when we are in Christ. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?
2 Corinthians 5: 17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
And once we are a new creation it doesn’t prevent us from trying to make those other things our identity again. We are still tempted. Sometimes we make excuses to validate and sustain our false identity-my parents weren’t loving enough or were too loving, my parents were helicopter parents-always hovering around, I had a bad education, I was poor, I was rich, on and on-all excuses when we as Christians have a new identify by which we are defined.
Please don’t think I am trivializing past hurts and pains. Some of us need counseling in order to move forward in our relationship with God, but we must move forward. Take Jaycee Dugart for example-the woman who was kidnapped at age 11 and held hostage for 18 years.
I heard a great quote from Jaycee when asked about her joy of life and whether she held any rage or grudge, she said “He got 18 years, I’m not going to give him one more day.”
For me-when people find out my mom was killed-“I never knew.” Exactly because it doesn’t define me. That was a terrible thing that happened to all of us, but I refuse to allow that or anything other than my relationship with God to define me.
I love that scene in the movie-Who are you?
So how do we deal with those past pains and hurt, let’s take a look at another clip.
Show clip-scars heal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZRlBqqXAA
Let’s break that scene down:
How did you find peace?
Our peace comes from God. We find peace in our new identity in Christ.
You have to let go of the things of the past.
We would say give them to God and forgive. And I would disagree, those things matter, they shape us into the person we are today and help us in our ministry with others.
The only thing that matters is who you choose to be now. We may not have had a great start, but it’s never too late to change the end of your story, it’s never too late to live the rest of your life for Christ. Who are you? Where do you find your identity in something from the world or in Christ?
Super Summer Cinema Series With Us or Against Us? X-Men
070211
4th of July
Independence
X-Men
The 4th of July is tomorrow and everyone is getting ready. Even though there is a burn ban, people are flocking to the fireworks stands to light things made in China on fire to celebrate the independence of our nation.
I want to start this morning by watching a clip from the new X-Men movie. Remember that the X-Men are superheroes with supernatural abilities. Each person has a unique power or special ability unlike any other. In this scene the bad guy, played by Kevin Bacon is offering other mutants (as they’re called) to join him. Let’s take a look.
(watch clip)
How does the saying go again?
If you’re not with us you’re against us.
One time I was working out with my youth minister friend from the Methodist Church. He had been at his home church for almost 20 years by that point. I made some comment and he said something to me that I’ll never forget…and he said it sarcastically…yes, because we are in a competition. That really sunk in and I began to see ministry in a new way. We know that there are so many people out there that every church in El Reno could be completely packed and you would have to open up more churches to accommodate everyone…so why do we make those comment and put other religions as the punchline of our jokes?
We tell jokes about other religions and faiths, specifically other Christian denominations…
I myself am guilty of it…it’s the same if you’re not for us you’re against us ideal.
We may say it in all good fun, but is it really or is there some vindictiveness in those remarks?
Us v. them
We may not agree theologically, but what does the scripture say? Let’s take a look.
Mark 9
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
The disciples have the same mentality that we sometimes do…they don’t think like us or look like us or do things the same way.
The disciples were jealous of a man who healed in Jesus’ name because they were more concerned about their own group’s position than in helping to free those troubled by demons. We do the same today when we refuse to participate in worthy causes because 1) other people or groups are not affiliated with our denomination 2) these projects do not involve the kind of people with whom we feel most comfortable 3) others don’t do things the way we are used to doing things 4) our efforts won’t receive enough recognition. Our faith is important but should never be an excuse to avoid helping people in need.
And so what does Jesus say?
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
With us or against us mentality-is that one of love or hate?
What does that sound like? Prejudice?
Is there not room for both? What about grace & forgiveness,
It’s why I am involved in ministerial alliance and do my best to promote interchurch/interfaith interaction.
After all, Jesus says his followers will be known by there what? Love
Example-politics-Do we really believe that any of our elected or appointed officials want to see this nation fall? It may seem like it sometimes, but in my heart I believe they never intend to harm our nation. At worst it’s their greed and selfishness that get in the way.
And this mentality of us v. them definitely bleeds over in relationships between different faith and churches and worse yet even can be a cancer within churches. They are not against us…well sometimes…but all of us want to see God glorified. We want others to have a relationship with God. We want others to be a disciple of Jesus.
This week at camp, the kitchen workers were apparently church of Christ
Communion every day-this particular day was graham crackers and chocolate ganache
1) communion only on Sunday
2) baptism necessary for salvation
Did we agree, no. But as Christians we must not hold onto the us v. them mentality.
How can others know we are Christians by our love if we don’t even show love to fellow Christians-fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Take Rob Bell for example and his latest book Love Wins. Other Christians were attacking him personally and condemning him to hell. Some even refer to him as the anti-Christ. How do you think that looks to non-Christians? Would you want to be part of something like that if you were on the outside looking in? Would you want to find out more about that faith?
In the same book, Rob mentions several times that those focused on heaven and hell sometime and some place else focus less on heaven and hell here and now and vice versa-those focused on bring heaven to earth now focus less on heaven and hell sometime else, someplace else.
And in this passage, Jesus again stresses the importance of deeds and actions. The gift of a cup of water is a simple act of kindness. Jesus is always more interested in how we can be good to one another and do good for one another than in the particulars of those things which divide us.
And did you notice anything peculiar about v. 41?
41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
What does v. 41 seem to imply? Inclusivity
Mark’s emphasis is on the whoever-even those who do not make the specific Christian confession are accepted by God when they do acts of compassion. The disciples were focused on one man casting out demons who wasn’t part of the 12, but Jesus busts the gates ever wider.
Maybe as Christ’s followers we too can be known for our love and throw open wide the gates of hospitality and grace to those who are different from us, regardless of church, political affiliation, theological beliefs, or even sports team.
And so may you be a people that sheds the worlds view of us v. them and the ideal of you’re either with us or against us and instead embraces the Kingdom of God-whoever is not against us is for us.
4th of July
Independence
X-Men
The 4th of July is tomorrow and everyone is getting ready. Even though there is a burn ban, people are flocking to the fireworks stands to light things made in China on fire to celebrate the independence of our nation.
I want to start this morning by watching a clip from the new X-Men movie. Remember that the X-Men are superheroes with supernatural abilities. Each person has a unique power or special ability unlike any other. In this scene the bad guy, played by Kevin Bacon is offering other mutants (as they’re called) to join him. Let’s take a look.
(watch clip)
How does the saying go again?
If you’re not with us you’re against us.
One time I was working out with my youth minister friend from the Methodist Church. He had been at his home church for almost 20 years by that point. I made some comment and he said something to me that I’ll never forget…and he said it sarcastically…yes, because we are in a competition. That really sunk in and I began to see ministry in a new way. We know that there are so many people out there that every church in El Reno could be completely packed and you would have to open up more churches to accommodate everyone…so why do we make those comment and put other religions as the punchline of our jokes?
We tell jokes about other religions and faiths, specifically other Christian denominations…
I myself am guilty of it…it’s the same if you’re not for us you’re against us ideal.
We may say it in all good fun, but is it really or is there some vindictiveness in those remarks?
Us v. them
We may not agree theologically, but what does the scripture say? Let’s take a look.
Mark 9
Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
The disciples have the same mentality that we sometimes do…they don’t think like us or look like us or do things the same way.
The disciples were jealous of a man who healed in Jesus’ name because they were more concerned about their own group’s position than in helping to free those troubled by demons. We do the same today when we refuse to participate in worthy causes because 1) other people or groups are not affiliated with our denomination 2) these projects do not involve the kind of people with whom we feel most comfortable 3) others don’t do things the way we are used to doing things 4) our efforts won’t receive enough recognition. Our faith is important but should never be an excuse to avoid helping people in need.
And so what does Jesus say?
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
With us or against us mentality-is that one of love or hate?
What does that sound like? Prejudice?
Is there not room for both? What about grace & forgiveness,
It’s why I am involved in ministerial alliance and do my best to promote interchurch/interfaith interaction.
After all, Jesus says his followers will be known by there what? Love
Example-politics-Do we really believe that any of our elected or appointed officials want to see this nation fall? It may seem like it sometimes, but in my heart I believe they never intend to harm our nation. At worst it’s their greed and selfishness that get in the way.
And this mentality of us v. them definitely bleeds over in relationships between different faith and churches and worse yet even can be a cancer within churches. They are not against us…well sometimes…but all of us want to see God glorified. We want others to have a relationship with God. We want others to be a disciple of Jesus.
This week at camp, the kitchen workers were apparently church of Christ
Communion every day-this particular day was graham crackers and chocolate ganache
1) communion only on Sunday
2) baptism necessary for salvation
Did we agree, no. But as Christians we must not hold onto the us v. them mentality.
How can others know we are Christians by our love if we don’t even show love to fellow Christians-fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Take Rob Bell for example and his latest book Love Wins. Other Christians were attacking him personally and condemning him to hell. Some even refer to him as the anti-Christ. How do you think that looks to non-Christians? Would you want to be part of something like that if you were on the outside looking in? Would you want to find out more about that faith?
In the same book, Rob mentions several times that those focused on heaven and hell sometime and some place else focus less on heaven and hell here and now and vice versa-those focused on bring heaven to earth now focus less on heaven and hell sometime else, someplace else.
And in this passage, Jesus again stresses the importance of deeds and actions. The gift of a cup of water is a simple act of kindness. Jesus is always more interested in how we can be good to one another and do good for one another than in the particulars of those things which divide us.
And did you notice anything peculiar about v. 41?
41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
What does v. 41 seem to imply? Inclusivity
Mark’s emphasis is on the whoever-even those who do not make the specific Christian confession are accepted by God when they do acts of compassion. The disciples were focused on one man casting out demons who wasn’t part of the 12, but Jesus busts the gates ever wider.
Maybe as Christ’s followers we too can be known for our love and throw open wide the gates of hospitality and grace to those who are different from us, regardless of church, political affiliation, theological beliefs, or even sports team.
And so may you be a people that sheds the worlds view of us v. them and the ideal of you’re either with us or against us and instead embraces the Kingdom of God-whoever is not against us is for us.
Super Summer Cinema Series Masks
062611
X-Men
Masks
Psalm 139
I brought something with me today. Now don’t get too scared when I put it on…
I had the opportunity to go with Max to the library this past week where he made this mask. The kids made all different kinds of masks-dogs, cats, and scary, like this one. And as they pretended to be different things, I couldn’t help think we do the same thing.
Day in and day out we wear different masks. The mask at work, the mask with friends, the mask with family, the mask when we play a sport-sometimes can be scary, the mask when we drive our car, maybe even a spiritual mask that we put on when we come to church or talk to God…even students have different masks. I actually remember in high school wearing several different masks.
And when we wear these different masks, sometimes we can lose sight of who we are. Sometimes we use the mask to cover pain and hurt. Sometimes we wear a mask to fit in because we think it’s easier or better to pretend we’re someone we’re not. We don’t like to stick out, we don’t like to be different.
In fact an entire industry has developed so that if we don’t like the way we look, we can literally put on a new mask. I’m not talking about plastic surgery that is necessary-like reconstructive, I’m talking about augmentation and vanity.
Nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2007, with the five most common surgeries being breast augmentation, liposuction, nasal surgery, eyelid surgery and abdominoplasty. Cosmetic surgery is a $2.2 billion business.
One can even become addicted to cosmetic surgery. Body dysmorphic disorder describes a person obsessed with going under the knife in order to achieve physical perfection.
Some take out loans for this purpose; one woman spent over $83,000 for 14 surgeries.
Why? Because the world says you look old, that wrinkles are bad so you should inject poison into your face or get implants? When you step back doesn’t it seem insane?
But God didn’t create us to wear masks. God didn’t put you specifically on this earth to be someone or something else.
There’s an amazing passage of scripture that helps me when I begin to feel lost and desire to blend in with everyone else.
Psalm 139-let’s take a look, staring in v. 7. Feel free to go back and read the entire Psalm, it’s one of my favorites.
Psalm 139
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths,[a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
This lends itself to the belief that God is omnipresent. Omnipresent is a big church word for God is present everywhere. Did we really need a big word to say that? We know that. We know that God isn’t just here in this building. We can sense and feel God anywhere and everywhere. Because this is so, you can never be lost to God’s Spirit. This is good news to those who are lost, we can never be far from God’s comforting presence. When we are hiding behind the mask afraid to take it off, God is there to lean on.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
A lot of times we think we can go into the dark places or put those things hidden from everyone else deep within us. But as the Psalmist reminds us, there is no place too dark for God.
Here’s my favorite part…you may recognize this.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Inmost being-literally kidneys-Hebrew idion referring to an individual’s most intimate center of emotions and of moral sensitivity-that which God tests and examines when he searches a person.
God’s character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God’s Spirit is ready and willing to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us.
There’s a great series of movies the X-Men that has created quite a franchise for itself. There’s 3 movies and a couple of spin offs. The X-Men have been around in comic book form since 1963. Surely you are at least somewhat familiar with them? Basically, it’s a group of superheroes that have what is called the X-Gene which gives them their super characteristics. They are known as mutants, for their mutated genes. Most recently they released a pre-quel. Let’s watch a clip from it.
You’re amazing
Clip
Sometimes we can see ourselves as mutants-different and ugly. We hide our pain, our insecurities, our true selves.
But God sees us differently. Show off what God has given you. Take off your mask and be the person God created you to be. When you pretend to be someone else, the world misses out on the beauty of you. God’s creation is lacking. Don’t be afraid to be who you are-warts and all.
May you not be afraid to take off your mask and may you live as a person who knows they are fearfully and wonderfully made.
X-Men
Masks
Psalm 139
I brought something with me today. Now don’t get too scared when I put it on…
I had the opportunity to go with Max to the library this past week where he made this mask. The kids made all different kinds of masks-dogs, cats, and scary, like this one. And as they pretended to be different things, I couldn’t help think we do the same thing.
Day in and day out we wear different masks. The mask at work, the mask with friends, the mask with family, the mask when we play a sport-sometimes can be scary, the mask when we drive our car, maybe even a spiritual mask that we put on when we come to church or talk to God…even students have different masks. I actually remember in high school wearing several different masks.
And when we wear these different masks, sometimes we can lose sight of who we are. Sometimes we use the mask to cover pain and hurt. Sometimes we wear a mask to fit in because we think it’s easier or better to pretend we’re someone we’re not. We don’t like to stick out, we don’t like to be different.
In fact an entire industry has developed so that if we don’t like the way we look, we can literally put on a new mask. I’m not talking about plastic surgery that is necessary-like reconstructive, I’m talking about augmentation and vanity.
Nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2007, with the five most common surgeries being breast augmentation, liposuction, nasal surgery, eyelid surgery and abdominoplasty. Cosmetic surgery is a $2.2 billion business.
One can even become addicted to cosmetic surgery. Body dysmorphic disorder describes a person obsessed with going under the knife in order to achieve physical perfection.
Some take out loans for this purpose; one woman spent over $83,000 for 14 surgeries.
Why? Because the world says you look old, that wrinkles are bad so you should inject poison into your face or get implants? When you step back doesn’t it seem insane?
But God didn’t create us to wear masks. God didn’t put you specifically on this earth to be someone or something else.
There’s an amazing passage of scripture that helps me when I begin to feel lost and desire to blend in with everyone else.
Psalm 139-let’s take a look, staring in v. 7. Feel free to go back and read the entire Psalm, it’s one of my favorites.
Psalm 139
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths,[a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
This lends itself to the belief that God is omnipresent. Omnipresent is a big church word for God is present everywhere. Did we really need a big word to say that? We know that. We know that God isn’t just here in this building. We can sense and feel God anywhere and everywhere. Because this is so, you can never be lost to God’s Spirit. This is good news to those who are lost, we can never be far from God’s comforting presence. When we are hiding behind the mask afraid to take it off, God is there to lean on.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
A lot of times we think we can go into the dark places or put those things hidden from everyone else deep within us. But as the Psalmist reminds us, there is no place too dark for God.
Here’s my favorite part…you may recognize this.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Inmost being-literally kidneys-Hebrew idion referring to an individual’s most intimate center of emotions and of moral sensitivity-that which God tests and examines when he searches a person.
God’s character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God’s Spirit is ready and willing to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us.
There’s a great series of movies the X-Men that has created quite a franchise for itself. There’s 3 movies and a couple of spin offs. The X-Men have been around in comic book form since 1963. Surely you are at least somewhat familiar with them? Basically, it’s a group of superheroes that have what is called the X-Gene which gives them their super characteristics. They are known as mutants, for their mutated genes. Most recently they released a pre-quel. Let’s watch a clip from it.
You’re amazing
Clip
Sometimes we can see ourselves as mutants-different and ugly. We hide our pain, our insecurities, our true selves.
But God sees us differently. Show off what God has given you. Take off your mask and be the person God created you to be. When you pretend to be someone else, the world misses out on the beauty of you. God’s creation is lacking. Don’t be afraid to be who you are-warts and all.
May you not be afraid to take off your mask and may you live as a person who knows they are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Laura Jensen
Well here we are. A time and a place none of us wants to be, celebrating and remembering a wonderful woman that everyone of us wishes was alive and healthy. A person that I would dare say every single one of us gathered here and countless others prayed for a miracle and prayed for a cure. But we didn’t get the answer we wanted. We got healing but not a cure. What do I mean by that?
Dr. Carl Hammerschlag-“Healing is having the courage to see ourselves just as we are, and to find a way to come to every day with anticipation and joy.” That’s what Laura did, she lived every day with anticipation and joy.
We prayed for a cure, but God brought healing. And we did get a miracle, just not the one we wanted. Laura lived a year with almost no side effects. She took some of the most intense treatments available and there were only a few days she missed because of sickness. Doctors were always commenting-you shouldn’t be feeling this good. She was a miracle.
As I knew Laura and heard so many people share their memories of her people would mention different scriptures. I mean as I read these doesn’t a memory or a vision of Laura come to mind?
*Philippians 4: 4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
*Hebrews 10: 23
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Isaiah 41: 10
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
2 Corinthians 1: 21-22
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
And did she not live out faithfully the greatest commandment?
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[
I could go on and on…literally, but as much as I tried to find another scripture one passage kept coming up in my mind. Every story that was shared would remind me of another element of this particular passage-I didn’t want to use it, but some things just can’t be ignored. And is there a better model for a woman of God to strive for than Proverbs 31?
Proverbs 31
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Laura was truly a blessing and worth far more than rubies.
Her grandfather knew it too and when Laura started dating Peter her grandfather did some checking into the Jensen’s. He wanted to make sure Peter was ok for Laura to date. He called a lawyer friend-Mr. Bass, who just happened to be good friends with the Jensen’s. So in kind the Jensen’s checked up on Laura’s family. I guess everybody checked out ok.
Another story about her character was the first time she met Peter’s parents. They went to a steakhouse. Peter’s dad wanted to check her out in his own way being a cattleman. Laura ordered her steak Med rare-passed test #1; steaksauce? Nope just the steak-passed #2-she was a keeper
But Peter had to work at it. They met on a Blind date for a sorority party-first had to go to Putt putt. He got to go and he in turn took her to his fraternity party soon after.
As they began to hang out, Laura actually had a boyfriend still-he would drop her off at the front door and Peter would pick her up at the back door. She would tell Peter what time her boyfriend would be dropping her off. He liked to take her for coke dates to Guthrie and Perkins because they would be in the car a long time.
And like I said, Peter had to work at it, she dumped Peter over the summer because her old boyfriend had a lake house at Grand Lake. But the summer ended and she realized that Peter was the one for her.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
It was no secret, how much Laura loved Peter. Except maybe the time she had a fever and Peter took her in to the hospital. She told one of her friends who came by to see her-don’t say one nice thing about Peter.
She did enjoy traveling with her family: Disney World, Padre Island, cruises, and of course camping. And not just RV camping, but primitive tent camping as in hole in the ground, no running water camping. She even wanted to do that for their anniversaries.
Laura always made time for family-OSU and the lake and never over committed herself. Everything she did revolved around 2 things-God and her family.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family.
If you were fortunate enough you had the opportunity to experience Laura’s cooking. I count myself among those lucky enough. When her sister-in law asked her the secret she said a whole stick of butter makes every recipe good.
I’ve heard she was known for her Potato Leak Soup.
Some of the family favorites were Italian dishes: sausage spaghetti, Stromboli, and lasagna and of course fried chicken when they went to the lake
Favorite deserts were bread pudding; cheese cake; cakes every week
I’m still upset with Jami for getting that chocolate cheesecake at the auction. It looked amazing. When I asked Laura if it was any good she said I don’t know, it’s my first time to make it.
Cooking was her therapy as she called it, and she had a weakness for one particular kind of food. Loved fair food-Jack 2 weeks old
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
We all know Laura was tough, but it seems she’s always been tough.
She was 22 when she & Peter got married
Moved from Tulsa where she grew up laying out at the Country Club-drinking lemon waters by the pool every day in high school
From that to El Reno to be a rancher’s wife where she didn’t know anyone. And she would take the other women under her wing when they came into the family.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
Laura was known as being warm, hospitable and extremely personable. She was described as Jesus’ love is bubbling over. Which is interesting because that was one of the things she prayed for-that the Holy Spirit would overflow from her onto others around her.
She never met anyone she couldn’t like-unless she was in the hospital and then she met lots of people she had a really hard time liking:
It was no secret how much she hated being in the hospital.
We remember when she pulled the covers over head and called one doctor the devil.
Or the Truck driver nurse who asked are you getting your yearly exams? To which Laura responded-Well no.
Something else Laura did not like was surprises
16 surprise party she was so upset she went in the other room
I think that there was even a subconscious part of her that would not allow others to be surprised. Pregnant with Jack-her dad wanted to be surprised of the gender-went to Tulsa for a visit when she was about 6 mos pregnant-“want to feel your grandson kicking?” “Oh I’m so sorry.”
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Her church was important-loved FCC-she had found a home-and built her love for God into her own home.
She was a natural teacher-Sunday School and women’s bible studies
Grew fast spiritually-always doing bible studies-as Elizabeth pointed out she did them early in the morning-730am
I know that lots of people will miss her amazing advice. Whether it was telling Steve to ask Ellen out, telling her sister-in-law to throw away those baby books and listen to what Dr. Laura Jensen says, or helping her friends, Laura gave a lot of advice to people. I haven’t met anyone yet that she didn’t impart some wisdom too. Seriously, someone will share a story, and then say you know what she told me?
Mostly the stories seem to revolve around parenting and being married. And she was a good role model for both.
Naturally gifted for parenting-she had an openness and understanding
Gave some of the same advice that her grandmother gave her-you may hate your husband for 1-2 years, but stay with him. Laura shared this story with me that a long time ago her and Peter were fighting a lot and she said we’re not getting divorced and Peter said I know. Then why are we fighting? And from then on everything was ok.
When her sister-in-law called her and said that her husband was feeding the baby all wrong-let him do it and don’t say a word, the same with changing a diaper-he’s not going to kill the baby, if you get onto him he’ll never do it again.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She was a great decorator and everyone knew it was Laura’s house. Even the nephews and nieces referred to it as Aunt Laura’s house-Peter was the sidekick.
She kept things in order. She did her “once over “ cleaning up the house every day before Peter got home-put on lipstick-she didn’t want Peter to stress
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
Good mother
Stern with her kids-expectations are high I think because she remembered how she was when she was younger-her dad shared a story with me
14 or 15 years old she would sneak out her father’s sports car-RX-7
Ride around while she was watching her sister
Never got caught in fact she just confessed about a year ago-I heard the look on her dad’s face was priceless
But her kids know how much she loved them:
Sack lunches for Jack every day from 7th-9th grades often bringing him hot lunches to school
Purred vegetables for Elizabeth so she would eat them
If I had to guess I bet the only reason she was the lunch lady at Sacred Heart was for her children. It’s funny too I heard that the lunch count went way up while she worked there-teachers, and even the priest and other church employees would come and eat.
Peter shared her journal with me-there’s just a few entries and her #1 worry was not her, but Peter, Jack, and Elizabeth. She was worried about you all. If you haven’t read it-there’s a page in there for you 3-March 22-when you are ready.
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
You know we always talk about how we would live life differently if we knew we only had a short time to live. We talk about the trips we would take and the way we would live life differently. But Laura lived this last year just like every year before that…loving God and loving family.
And there is no doubt for me as to where Laura will spend eternity-in heaven with her heavenly father.
Laura didn’t want to be defined by cancer or the focus to be on her or the cancer. Her prayer is that people would see God in her. I know I did. I saw it in her love for God and the way her life exemplified scripture.
And her love for God and love for family is what I will remember and cherish from her life.
I thought I would finish up with words from Laura’s journal she wrote in March.
“I’m not sure because I tried not to hear, but I think I should be dead by now. I can tell you I don’t feel dead-I have never felt more alive really.
I just read Eph 1-“When I believed I was marked in him with a seal.”
Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours-those song lyrics just popped into my mind. I am God’s possession to the praise of his glory. I am his and he will not carelessly cast me off like an old pair of shoes. He is everything Good, true, and right that we are not. He will take better care of me than anyone here on earth. I am so thankful for all of the blessings I have.
Dr. Carl Hammerschlag-“Healing is having the courage to see ourselves just as we are, and to find a way to come to every day with anticipation and joy.” That’s what Laura did, she lived every day with anticipation and joy.
We prayed for a cure, but God brought healing. And we did get a miracle, just not the one we wanted. Laura lived a year with almost no side effects. She took some of the most intense treatments available and there were only a few days she missed because of sickness. Doctors were always commenting-you shouldn’t be feeling this good. She was a miracle.
As I knew Laura and heard so many people share their memories of her people would mention different scriptures. I mean as I read these doesn’t a memory or a vision of Laura come to mind?
*Philippians 4: 4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
*Hebrews 10: 23
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Isaiah 41: 10
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
2 Corinthians 1: 21-22
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
And did she not live out faithfully the greatest commandment?
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[
I could go on and on…literally, but as much as I tried to find another scripture one passage kept coming up in my mind. Every story that was shared would remind me of another element of this particular passage-I didn’t want to use it, but some things just can’t be ignored. And is there a better model for a woman of God to strive for than Proverbs 31?
Proverbs 31
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Laura was truly a blessing and worth far more than rubies.
Her grandfather knew it too and when Laura started dating Peter her grandfather did some checking into the Jensen’s. He wanted to make sure Peter was ok for Laura to date. He called a lawyer friend-Mr. Bass, who just happened to be good friends with the Jensen’s. So in kind the Jensen’s checked up on Laura’s family. I guess everybody checked out ok.
Another story about her character was the first time she met Peter’s parents. They went to a steakhouse. Peter’s dad wanted to check her out in his own way being a cattleman. Laura ordered her steak Med rare-passed test #1; steaksauce? Nope just the steak-passed #2-she was a keeper
But Peter had to work at it. They met on a Blind date for a sorority party-first had to go to Putt putt. He got to go and he in turn took her to his fraternity party soon after.
As they began to hang out, Laura actually had a boyfriend still-he would drop her off at the front door and Peter would pick her up at the back door. She would tell Peter what time her boyfriend would be dropping her off. He liked to take her for coke dates to Guthrie and Perkins because they would be in the car a long time.
And like I said, Peter had to work at it, she dumped Peter over the summer because her old boyfriend had a lake house at Grand Lake. But the summer ended and she realized that Peter was the one for her.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
It was no secret, how much Laura loved Peter. Except maybe the time she had a fever and Peter took her in to the hospital. She told one of her friends who came by to see her-don’t say one nice thing about Peter.
She did enjoy traveling with her family: Disney World, Padre Island, cruises, and of course camping. And not just RV camping, but primitive tent camping as in hole in the ground, no running water camping. She even wanted to do that for their anniversaries.
Laura always made time for family-OSU and the lake and never over committed herself. Everything she did revolved around 2 things-God and her family.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family.
If you were fortunate enough you had the opportunity to experience Laura’s cooking. I count myself among those lucky enough. When her sister-in law asked her the secret she said a whole stick of butter makes every recipe good.
I’ve heard she was known for her Potato Leak Soup.
Some of the family favorites were Italian dishes: sausage spaghetti, Stromboli, and lasagna and of course fried chicken when they went to the lake
Favorite deserts were bread pudding; cheese cake; cakes every week
I’m still upset with Jami for getting that chocolate cheesecake at the auction. It looked amazing. When I asked Laura if it was any good she said I don’t know, it’s my first time to make it.
Cooking was her therapy as she called it, and she had a weakness for one particular kind of food. Loved fair food-Jack 2 weeks old
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
We all know Laura was tough, but it seems she’s always been tough.
She was 22 when she & Peter got married
Moved from Tulsa where she grew up laying out at the Country Club-drinking lemon waters by the pool every day in high school
From that to El Reno to be a rancher’s wife where she didn’t know anyone. And she would take the other women under her wing when they came into the family.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
Laura was known as being warm, hospitable and extremely personable. She was described as Jesus’ love is bubbling over. Which is interesting because that was one of the things she prayed for-that the Holy Spirit would overflow from her onto others around her.
She never met anyone she couldn’t like-unless she was in the hospital and then she met lots of people she had a really hard time liking:
It was no secret how much she hated being in the hospital.
We remember when she pulled the covers over head and called one doctor the devil.
Or the Truck driver nurse who asked are you getting your yearly exams? To which Laura responded-Well no.
Something else Laura did not like was surprises
16 surprise party she was so upset she went in the other room
I think that there was even a subconscious part of her that would not allow others to be surprised. Pregnant with Jack-her dad wanted to be surprised of the gender-went to Tulsa for a visit when she was about 6 mos pregnant-“want to feel your grandson kicking?” “Oh I’m so sorry.”
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Her church was important-loved FCC-she had found a home-and built her love for God into her own home.
She was a natural teacher-Sunday School and women’s bible studies
Grew fast spiritually-always doing bible studies-as Elizabeth pointed out she did them early in the morning-730am
I know that lots of people will miss her amazing advice. Whether it was telling Steve to ask Ellen out, telling her sister-in-law to throw away those baby books and listen to what Dr. Laura Jensen says, or helping her friends, Laura gave a lot of advice to people. I haven’t met anyone yet that she didn’t impart some wisdom too. Seriously, someone will share a story, and then say you know what she told me?
Mostly the stories seem to revolve around parenting and being married. And she was a good role model for both.
Naturally gifted for parenting-she had an openness and understanding
Gave some of the same advice that her grandmother gave her-you may hate your husband for 1-2 years, but stay with him. Laura shared this story with me that a long time ago her and Peter were fighting a lot and she said we’re not getting divorced and Peter said I know. Then why are we fighting? And from then on everything was ok.
When her sister-in-law called her and said that her husband was feeding the baby all wrong-let him do it and don’t say a word, the same with changing a diaper-he’s not going to kill the baby, if you get onto him he’ll never do it again.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She was a great decorator and everyone knew it was Laura’s house. Even the nephews and nieces referred to it as Aunt Laura’s house-Peter was the sidekick.
She kept things in order. She did her “once over “ cleaning up the house every day before Peter got home-put on lipstick-she didn’t want Peter to stress
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
Good mother
Stern with her kids-expectations are high I think because she remembered how she was when she was younger-her dad shared a story with me
14 or 15 years old she would sneak out her father’s sports car-RX-7
Ride around while she was watching her sister
Never got caught in fact she just confessed about a year ago-I heard the look on her dad’s face was priceless
But her kids know how much she loved them:
Sack lunches for Jack every day from 7th-9th grades often bringing him hot lunches to school
Purred vegetables for Elizabeth so she would eat them
If I had to guess I bet the only reason she was the lunch lady at Sacred Heart was for her children. It’s funny too I heard that the lunch count went way up while she worked there-teachers, and even the priest and other church employees would come and eat.
Peter shared her journal with me-there’s just a few entries and her #1 worry was not her, but Peter, Jack, and Elizabeth. She was worried about you all. If you haven’t read it-there’s a page in there for you 3-March 22-when you are ready.
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
You know we always talk about how we would live life differently if we knew we only had a short time to live. We talk about the trips we would take and the way we would live life differently. But Laura lived this last year just like every year before that…loving God and loving family.
And there is no doubt for me as to where Laura will spend eternity-in heaven with her heavenly father.
Laura didn’t want to be defined by cancer or the focus to be on her or the cancer. Her prayer is that people would see God in her. I know I did. I saw it in her love for God and the way her life exemplified scripture.
And her love for God and love for family is what I will remember and cherish from her life.
I thought I would finish up with words from Laura’s journal she wrote in March.
“I’m not sure because I tried not to hear, but I think I should be dead by now. I can tell you I don’t feel dead-I have never felt more alive really.
I just read Eph 1-“When I believed I was marked in him with a seal.”
Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours-those song lyrics just popped into my mind. I am God’s possession to the praise of his glory. I am his and he will not carelessly cast me off like an old pair of shoes. He is everything Good, true, and right that we are not. He will take better care of me than anyone here on earth. I am so thankful for all of the blessings I have.
Storms of Life
May 29
What's So Peaceful About a River?
Excerpts taken from articles on Relevant.com
Intro
Due to recent events I thought we might take a break from our Resurrection Stories Series. We will start back up next week with Derek Holland sharing his Resurrection story.
Because of the impact of the storms in Joplin and in Oklahoma over the last week and a half we thought maybe we should talk a little about the “storms” of life and their impact on our faith. As I reflected on the recent events I had several observations:
1) Having a church home is important for lots of reasons-when people ask why should I go to church?-the response from church families this week is a great answer to that question. I can’t tell you how many calls we have gotten from church members and church organizations with offers to help.
And during the storms of life it’s also a place to be honest.
Church isn’t meant to be people who mask our brokenness with good acts. Church isn't meant to be about perfect people but about confessed people. We should be able to say these things, our secrets, our sins, our mistakes, our frustrations, and receive love and acceptance from Jesus (and church people) when we do.
Think for a moment about Jesus. About all of the confessions, secrets, mistakes and hopes He must have heard. Think for a moment of the woman caught in adultery who Jesus met from John 8:2-11. She was about to be stoned for sleeping with a man who was not her husband. Into the fray came Jesus. He came to not only save the woman from her sin but to save all the men holding stones from their hypocritical lives. Jesus came with love, tenderness and tact. He did not scream and shout – He quieted them with His love.
2) Importance of who suffers with us-Jesus Will Let You Suffer
John 11: 33-35
"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 'Where have you laid him?' he asked. 'Come and see, Lord,' they replied. Jesus wept."
Ever since the apple incident, we are born into a state of sin, a state of living in opposition to God, a state of making decisions that can cause suffering. Remember, none of this was God's original design. He created a peaceful, perfect world. We were the ones who tainted it with our desire for independence. Remember, as Shana pointed out 2 weeks ago, nowhere in the Bible does it say “everything happens for a reason.”
Suffering becomes inevitable in a world where imperfect people aren't robots. And while I don't pretend to know the answer for every evil under the sun, I do know that God sees our suffering.
Jesus wept.
There is no suffering in which Jesus will not walk and weep with you. There is no hurt the power of God can't bring new life to. In the proper time Jesus will make His way to your tomb, roll the stone away, and bring life to the dead. And the tears formed from mourning and doubt will flow with joy and gratitude.
3) At times like these it causes us to evaluate what is really important.
When we were heading for our neighbor’s shelter as the tornado sirens were going off, I was only concerned for the safety of Shana and Max. And as I looked back at the house I thought of only a handful of things I would want if our house was destroyed-nothing of real value-all sentimental items-jewelry that belonged to my mom, pictures, scrapbooks... We have a house full of stuff and what I was most concerned about I could carry in one load.
Everywhere we go these days, big is in. My combo meal is super-sized, SUV’s have a third row, and the TV of my dreams is 62-inch plasma. We Americans are big eaters, big spenders, and big wasters. Even our churches are into big, owning big malls and even bigger coliseums in order to accommodate big crowds and enable big growth. Like the population at large, we Christians seem to have a growing acceptance of the saying “bigger is better”.
But all this growth might be creating some big problems.
Our society and our systems seem unable to handle the never-ceasing expansion of want and need. Our souls are groaning and the planet is buckling beneath the collateral damage of growth. Landfills are full, the air is thick, and we cannot drink from many of our streams.
In light of our growing problems, maybe we and the church should give small a chance. So maybe we should start moving toward living lives that are less hectic, less cluttered, less selfish, and less toxic. And maybe instead of a big ad campaign advertising "LESS!" we should start living with less ourselves. Instead of me shouting from the pulpit, maybe some small, personal choices would help slow down the growth, bring some sanity to our lives, and make the world more livable.
Give less a chance.
4) The importance of peace
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 TNIV
What kind of peace is this? The world has a definition of peace-no war, or like in our household with Max-keeping the peace-no conflict. Some might argue peace is the assurance or control we feel over our lives. But if Christ came to give us peace in that sense, why do we fear for our lives, health, finances and security?
In a moment we’ll sing “Peace like a river.” I like that the writer of the hymn used that word to describe the peace we have in Christ. After all, what's peaceful about rivers? This isn't a creek trickling through the land I grew up on. Imagine rafting through the Colorado as it cuts through the Grand Canyon or remember the mighty Mississippi and all the lives that she's claimed. These are unpredictable waters that destroy homes with floods and take lives with their undercurrents; there is nothing peaceful about a river.
So why would the writer use such an ironic metaphor? Maybe the writer understood that this life and this walk with Christ would be filled with painful, unpredictable and sometimes crushing experiences and maybe it is in this truth that they wrote those words.
I do not think that Jesus came to give us peace in the world's terms. No, instead I think Jesus came to give us something totally different; an inward peace – a hope in a promise of restoration. And that is something to sing about.
Conclusion
So, after a week like this, as the storms of life blow, may we reflect on what really matters, remember the importance of a church family, know that Jesus suffers with us, and that no matter what happens we can find peace in God.
What's So Peaceful About a River?
Excerpts taken from articles on Relevant.com
Intro
Due to recent events I thought we might take a break from our Resurrection Stories Series. We will start back up next week with Derek Holland sharing his Resurrection story.
Because of the impact of the storms in Joplin and in Oklahoma over the last week and a half we thought maybe we should talk a little about the “storms” of life and their impact on our faith. As I reflected on the recent events I had several observations:
1) Having a church home is important for lots of reasons-when people ask why should I go to church?-the response from church families this week is a great answer to that question. I can’t tell you how many calls we have gotten from church members and church organizations with offers to help.
And during the storms of life it’s also a place to be honest.
Church isn’t meant to be people who mask our brokenness with good acts. Church isn't meant to be about perfect people but about confessed people. We should be able to say these things, our secrets, our sins, our mistakes, our frustrations, and receive love and acceptance from Jesus (and church people) when we do.
Think for a moment about Jesus. About all of the confessions, secrets, mistakes and hopes He must have heard. Think for a moment of the woman caught in adultery who Jesus met from John 8:2-11. She was about to be stoned for sleeping with a man who was not her husband. Into the fray came Jesus. He came to not only save the woman from her sin but to save all the men holding stones from their hypocritical lives. Jesus came with love, tenderness and tact. He did not scream and shout – He quieted them with His love.
2) Importance of who suffers with us-Jesus Will Let You Suffer
John 11: 33-35
"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 'Where have you laid him?' he asked. 'Come and see, Lord,' they replied. Jesus wept."
Ever since the apple incident, we are born into a state of sin, a state of living in opposition to God, a state of making decisions that can cause suffering. Remember, none of this was God's original design. He created a peaceful, perfect world. We were the ones who tainted it with our desire for independence. Remember, as Shana pointed out 2 weeks ago, nowhere in the Bible does it say “everything happens for a reason.”
Suffering becomes inevitable in a world where imperfect people aren't robots. And while I don't pretend to know the answer for every evil under the sun, I do know that God sees our suffering.
Jesus wept.
There is no suffering in which Jesus will not walk and weep with you. There is no hurt the power of God can't bring new life to. In the proper time Jesus will make His way to your tomb, roll the stone away, and bring life to the dead. And the tears formed from mourning and doubt will flow with joy and gratitude.
3) At times like these it causes us to evaluate what is really important.
When we were heading for our neighbor’s shelter as the tornado sirens were going off, I was only concerned for the safety of Shana and Max. And as I looked back at the house I thought of only a handful of things I would want if our house was destroyed-nothing of real value-all sentimental items-jewelry that belonged to my mom, pictures, scrapbooks... We have a house full of stuff and what I was most concerned about I could carry in one load.
Everywhere we go these days, big is in. My combo meal is super-sized, SUV’s have a third row, and the TV of my dreams is 62-inch plasma. We Americans are big eaters, big spenders, and big wasters. Even our churches are into big, owning big malls and even bigger coliseums in order to accommodate big crowds and enable big growth. Like the population at large, we Christians seem to have a growing acceptance of the saying “bigger is better”.
But all this growth might be creating some big problems.
Our society and our systems seem unable to handle the never-ceasing expansion of want and need. Our souls are groaning and the planet is buckling beneath the collateral damage of growth. Landfills are full, the air is thick, and we cannot drink from many of our streams.
In light of our growing problems, maybe we and the church should give small a chance. So maybe we should start moving toward living lives that are less hectic, less cluttered, less selfish, and less toxic. And maybe instead of a big ad campaign advertising "LESS!" we should start living with less ourselves. Instead of me shouting from the pulpit, maybe some small, personal choices would help slow down the growth, bring some sanity to our lives, and make the world more livable.
Give less a chance.
4) The importance of peace
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 TNIV
What kind of peace is this? The world has a definition of peace-no war, or like in our household with Max-keeping the peace-no conflict. Some might argue peace is the assurance or control we feel over our lives. But if Christ came to give us peace in that sense, why do we fear for our lives, health, finances and security?
In a moment we’ll sing “Peace like a river.” I like that the writer of the hymn used that word to describe the peace we have in Christ. After all, what's peaceful about rivers? This isn't a creek trickling through the land I grew up on. Imagine rafting through the Colorado as it cuts through the Grand Canyon or remember the mighty Mississippi and all the lives that she's claimed. These are unpredictable waters that destroy homes with floods and take lives with their undercurrents; there is nothing peaceful about a river.
So why would the writer use such an ironic metaphor? Maybe the writer understood that this life and this walk with Christ would be filled with painful, unpredictable and sometimes crushing experiences and maybe it is in this truth that they wrote those words.
I do not think that Jesus came to give us peace in the world's terms. No, instead I think Jesus came to give us something totally different; an inward peace – a hope in a promise of restoration. And that is something to sing about.
Conclusion
So, after a week like this, as the storms of life blow, may we reflect on what really matters, remember the importance of a church family, know that Jesus suffers with us, and that no matter what happens we can find peace in God.
Resurrection - mother's day
May 8
Mother’s Day
Resurrection Stories
Exodus 2: 1-10
Intro
Here we are week #2 of Resurrection Stories. Again I want to address the question-Why are we doing this series? Is it to elevate certain people up, show them off, exploit them, nope. Sharing Resurrection stories or testimonies, as some people call them, is something that has been done for thousands of years. These stories are meant to inspire, to encourage, to help all of us in our walks with God.
On Easter we ended with our responsibility to tell the story of Jesus’ resurrection-the greatest story ever. And we recognize that there are other stories of ongoing resurrection, stories of continued faithfulness, stories of people encountering the risen Christ, those times when our faith is real, God is real, those times we remember that God is here.
We recognize that Resurrection continues to happen every day.
This morning we are going to share in a resurrection story of parenthood through the faith and life of Deangelo and Lynette Jenkins. But first let’s take a look at our scripture.
Exodus 2: 1-10
The Birth of Moses
1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
And now Deangelo and Lynette’s story:
Deangelo-high school student in our youth ministry and now teaches for Head Start.
Lynette worked in our nursery for over 3 years and also teaches at Head Start.
They have been married almost 7 years
As with most couples they wanted to have children but soon discovered they were unable.
Invitro was too much and so they waited and prayed.
In 2007 they decided to do Foster Care-
1st child in November-Kaylea
Told themselves early on that they didn’t want any contact with birth family-so who do you think was there when they went to pick up Kaylea? The Mother and grandmother
The DHS worker wasn’t there yet-2 hrs late-can you say awkward?
God works in mysterious ways though because it ended up being a blessing-built a bond with the family
And that experience was a good starting point as Kaylea was with them from Nov-March
They said this, “Even though we knew she was going back it was still hard. We were supportive of the mom and encouraged her to fulfill her obligations so she could get Kaylea back. But still part of us that wanted to be able to keep Kaylea.”
When DHS called with the 2nd child, Isaac, they asked if they would have a chance to keep him. Kaylea was so hard to give up. Isaac had several broken bones, and so DHS told Deangelo and Lynette they were working to terminate family rights and he would be going up for adoption.
After a few weeks they were told that the rights were terminated and asked if they wanted to adopt him-yes of course-next week received a call that they were picking him up and going to give Isaac over to his grandparents.
They worked really hard with Isaac to bring him along developmentally as he was really behind his normal milestones and after they took Isaac they closed their house off to foster kids.
Then Deangelo and Lynette shared this:
After we lost him-asked Why?
They went back to the doctor for more testing and still nothing.
And then everyone who asks makes it worse. Well meaning people, but it’s still hard.
Still questioning-Why? It’s not fair. We don’t understand. Why are these kids getting pregnant who can’t take care of babies? You watch the news and people are killing or abusing their children.
But God has a different path for each of us. It’s easy to understand now because we can see God working.
As time passed, other people approached Deangelo and Lynette who wanted to give up their baby for adoption-get hopes up. They would decide to keep it or have it terminated.
And so they began to ask God, “What are we supposed to do? Keep trying? Foster/adoption?”
And then Lynette shared this…
19: 55-20:20-Why take it out of God’s hands when there are millions of kids who need homes.
So in October they decided to enter into foster care.
Friday DHS, 3:45 had to call another lady and by that time it was 5pm on Friday-God thing
Hadn’t talked to Deangelo, next week got the paper work, turned it in, then did the home study, and then there was a problem with Deangelo’s fingerprints-which is another God thing.
The guy working there Deangelo knew in high school and went to church with so he took care of them.
They ended up with Tabitha-which is another God story-the mom was a neighbor of a church member for a number of years. Deangelo and Lanette were highly recommended, but still wanted to know more about them. As they were visiting this lady mentioned the name of a church member. She goes to church with us. And it really helped the mom feel comfortable giving the child to them. Other interesting coincidences-Her case was a foster case and not an adoption case-“if we didn’t know Marsha, it never would have happened, if they hadn’t started when they did wouldn’t have been ready,
And they have been blessed to be a part of Isabelle’s life pretty much since day 1.
Isn’t that a beautiful resurrection story?
Now back to the scripture-Why this scripture? I think there is some parallels…
If you love something, sometimes you have to let it go. Deangelo and Lynette had and still have a vision of having their own children, but in some respects they had to let go of that and embrace a new plan.
Secondly, there’s some evidence that Pharaoh’s daughter was unable to have children and thus would have considered Moses a gift from God. Isabelle truly is a gift from God in the lives of Deangelo and Lynette.
Finally, these are both beautiful stories about God’s love and protection. In both stories the mother was no longer able to care for the child to keep it safe. But someone else was able to care for and protect the child. Everyone was open and trusting to God’s plan, although not always easy.
What do we learn?
Prepared:
37:00-
Through it all they never lost faith-got frustrated-never lost faith
And to finish off I want to share with you their answers to the question of what you might want to share with mom’s, since it is Mother’s Day.
Don’t stress out about it.
Don’t lose your faith.
There’s a plan-might not be the plan you wanted
You don’t understand-but there’s a plan-you might not know it.
Beautiful stories of resurrection.
Mother’s Day
Resurrection Stories
Exodus 2: 1-10
Intro
Here we are week #2 of Resurrection Stories. Again I want to address the question-Why are we doing this series? Is it to elevate certain people up, show them off, exploit them, nope. Sharing Resurrection stories or testimonies, as some people call them, is something that has been done for thousands of years. These stories are meant to inspire, to encourage, to help all of us in our walks with God.
On Easter we ended with our responsibility to tell the story of Jesus’ resurrection-the greatest story ever. And we recognize that there are other stories of ongoing resurrection, stories of continued faithfulness, stories of people encountering the risen Christ, those times when our faith is real, God is real, those times we remember that God is here.
We recognize that Resurrection continues to happen every day.
This morning we are going to share in a resurrection story of parenthood through the faith and life of Deangelo and Lynette Jenkins. But first let’s take a look at our scripture.
Exodus 2: 1-10
The Birth of Moses
1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
And now Deangelo and Lynette’s story:
Deangelo-high school student in our youth ministry and now teaches for Head Start.
Lynette worked in our nursery for over 3 years and also teaches at Head Start.
They have been married almost 7 years
As with most couples they wanted to have children but soon discovered they were unable.
Invitro was too much and so they waited and prayed.
In 2007 they decided to do Foster Care-
1st child in November-Kaylea
Told themselves early on that they didn’t want any contact with birth family-so who do you think was there when they went to pick up Kaylea? The Mother and grandmother
The DHS worker wasn’t there yet-2 hrs late-can you say awkward?
God works in mysterious ways though because it ended up being a blessing-built a bond with the family
And that experience was a good starting point as Kaylea was with them from Nov-March
They said this, “Even though we knew she was going back it was still hard. We were supportive of the mom and encouraged her to fulfill her obligations so she could get Kaylea back. But still part of us that wanted to be able to keep Kaylea.”
When DHS called with the 2nd child, Isaac, they asked if they would have a chance to keep him. Kaylea was so hard to give up. Isaac had several broken bones, and so DHS told Deangelo and Lynette they were working to terminate family rights and he would be going up for adoption.
After a few weeks they were told that the rights were terminated and asked if they wanted to adopt him-yes of course-next week received a call that they were picking him up and going to give Isaac over to his grandparents.
They worked really hard with Isaac to bring him along developmentally as he was really behind his normal milestones and after they took Isaac they closed their house off to foster kids.
Then Deangelo and Lynette shared this:
After we lost him-asked Why?
They went back to the doctor for more testing and still nothing.
And then everyone who asks makes it worse. Well meaning people, but it’s still hard.
Still questioning-Why? It’s not fair. We don’t understand. Why are these kids getting pregnant who can’t take care of babies? You watch the news and people are killing or abusing their children.
But God has a different path for each of us. It’s easy to understand now because we can see God working.
As time passed, other people approached Deangelo and Lynette who wanted to give up their baby for adoption-get hopes up. They would decide to keep it or have it terminated.
And so they began to ask God, “What are we supposed to do? Keep trying? Foster/adoption?”
And then Lynette shared this…
19: 55-20:20-Why take it out of God’s hands when there are millions of kids who need homes.
So in October they decided to enter into foster care.
Friday DHS, 3:45 had to call another lady and by that time it was 5pm on Friday-God thing
Hadn’t talked to Deangelo, next week got the paper work, turned it in, then did the home study, and then there was a problem with Deangelo’s fingerprints-which is another God thing.
The guy working there Deangelo knew in high school and went to church with so he took care of them.
They ended up with Tabitha-which is another God story-the mom was a neighbor of a church member for a number of years. Deangelo and Lanette were highly recommended, but still wanted to know more about them. As they were visiting this lady mentioned the name of a church member. She goes to church with us. And it really helped the mom feel comfortable giving the child to them. Other interesting coincidences-Her case was a foster case and not an adoption case-“if we didn’t know Marsha, it never would have happened, if they hadn’t started when they did wouldn’t have been ready,
And they have been blessed to be a part of Isabelle’s life pretty much since day 1.
Isn’t that a beautiful resurrection story?
Now back to the scripture-Why this scripture? I think there is some parallels…
If you love something, sometimes you have to let it go. Deangelo and Lynette had and still have a vision of having their own children, but in some respects they had to let go of that and embrace a new plan.
Secondly, there’s some evidence that Pharaoh’s daughter was unable to have children and thus would have considered Moses a gift from God. Isabelle truly is a gift from God in the lives of Deangelo and Lynette.
Finally, these are both beautiful stories about God’s love and protection. In both stories the mother was no longer able to care for the child to keep it safe. But someone else was able to care for and protect the child. Everyone was open and trusting to God’s plan, although not always easy.
What do we learn?
Prepared:
37:00-
Through it all they never lost faith-got frustrated-never lost faith
And to finish off I want to share with you their answers to the question of what you might want to share with mom’s, since it is Mother’s Day.
Don’t stress out about it.
Don’t lose your faith.
There’s a plan-might not be the plan you wanted
You don’t understand-but there’s a plan-you might not know it.
Beautiful stories of resurrection.
Resurrection Stories - post Easter
Last week-ended with our responsibility to tell the story of Jesus’ resurrection-the greatest story ever. But there are other stories that are a close second-stories of ongoing resurrection, stories of continued faithfulness, stories of people encountering the risen Christ, those times when our faith is real and we know it’s not just smoke and mirrors or the mind of the weak, but God is real, God is here.
We recognize that Resurrection continues to happen
Continue to come to church
Mending our brokenness
Because we know there’s something more
This morning I want to share a resurrection story of lifelong members Bill & June Hutson. But first let’s take a look at our scripture.
John 21: 15-19
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
We are all extremely familiar with this story. We have heard it preached countless times, I myself have preached on this text just a year ago. And this is a great story.
We like this story, this story resonates within us-why? Because it’s about restoration and resurrection. Jesus resurrects a dead disciple. That’s one of the many things that Jesus does for us-restores us when we have fallen away, denied him, ignored him.
We commit ourselves and fall short and we need renewing again. And we want to be like Peter in that once he is restored he is never the same. Peter follows Jesus passionately until his death. In fact, tradition has it that Peter was crucified upside-down, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same position as his Lord.
But today I bring a different spin on this story.
Who is not the focus of this story? Who does Jesus not restore? Why not? Because they haven’t denied Jesus, so there’s no need for restoration. Some never fell away and are faithful, constant, steady, dependable Disciples.
Resurrection doesn’t happen once every so often, but it happens for us every day. We live in a constant awareness of resurrection. That’s the resurrection story I want to share with you today, through the story of Bill & June.
And this is a definite reality for them. In Bill’s own words…(video)
35: 20- 35: 30 For some reason I just never felt like he wasn’t there all the time.
Resurrection is very real. And to understand just how much of an impact God has had, I want to share some of their background story. Everyone has a story.
June-Father committed suicide at 11, mother died 2 ½ years later, moved in with her mother’s sister-not treated well and the court awarded guardianship to Bill Hutson’s parents. They later married after Bill got out of the service and now have 2 children and lost one child in still birth
Bill-normal childhood and ran a service station for 25 years.
They actually met at church and continued to serve the church actively until their health prevented further service just 3 years ago.
As we sat and visited, I asked them why they were so active and they said “We went because we wanted to. Being around the people that we loved so much.” Seeing so many people that…loved them and the Hutson’s loved them right back.
Church is at its best when it’s caring for each other. We see it because of people like Bonnie, the Snyders, if they’re cooking at the church we usually get some of it. We did it in our time and now people are doing it for us.
Our church has always been about family. We’re not perfect, but we definitely try.
June acknowledges how difficult the last few years have been-“it does seem strange to not be involved with the church. I just can’t think of not being involved in the church-I can’t imagine.”
Even their history with the church has its interesting points. Bill is probably the youngest board chair-early 20’s, a young elder, served through a church split and a minister being asked to leave-both very taxing ordeals to lead through. Those things have sucked the spiritual life right out of people, but not them.
Swimming parties, meals, mobile meals, CWF-family dinners, funeral services, every committee, made funeral calls, visitations, evangelism calls, and have always had strong relationships with the ministers
That’s a lot, so I asked, what kept you going?
11:00-12: 10-lady dying-died the next day…little things like that…serving communion…hold him up…such things as that…this is what kept me there.
I finished off asking them what they hoped for the future of the church…
Wishes the spirit of giving would continue. Back then we fought it all the time. The church didn’t do a lot of outside giving back in my day.
For the love to continue within the church like they have experienced. And another hope is that people would feel the love that they felt through LOGOS. We need to realize you get out what you put in.
Conclusion
Why do I tell this story? To brag on the Hutsons? To lift them up above the rest of the faithful? No. To simply share their story of how important their faith has been, how important this church has been, and hopefully to inspire and motivate all of us.
They are willing to share their stories of resurrection, those times when their faith is real, for the good of the body, to spur others towards a deeper disicpleship. Are you willing to share? What’s your resurrection story? Won’t you share it so that others might also find inspiration and motivation in your story as well?
We recognize that Resurrection continues to happen
Continue to come to church
Mending our brokenness
Because we know there’s something more
This morning I want to share a resurrection story of lifelong members Bill & June Hutson. But first let’s take a look at our scripture.
John 21: 15-19
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
We are all extremely familiar with this story. We have heard it preached countless times, I myself have preached on this text just a year ago. And this is a great story.
We like this story, this story resonates within us-why? Because it’s about restoration and resurrection. Jesus resurrects a dead disciple. That’s one of the many things that Jesus does for us-restores us when we have fallen away, denied him, ignored him.
We commit ourselves and fall short and we need renewing again. And we want to be like Peter in that once he is restored he is never the same. Peter follows Jesus passionately until his death. In fact, tradition has it that Peter was crucified upside-down, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same position as his Lord.
But today I bring a different spin on this story.
Who is not the focus of this story? Who does Jesus not restore? Why not? Because they haven’t denied Jesus, so there’s no need for restoration. Some never fell away and are faithful, constant, steady, dependable Disciples.
Resurrection doesn’t happen once every so often, but it happens for us every day. We live in a constant awareness of resurrection. That’s the resurrection story I want to share with you today, through the story of Bill & June.
And this is a definite reality for them. In Bill’s own words…(video)
35: 20- 35: 30 For some reason I just never felt like he wasn’t there all the time.
Resurrection is very real. And to understand just how much of an impact God has had, I want to share some of their background story. Everyone has a story.
June-Father committed suicide at 11, mother died 2 ½ years later, moved in with her mother’s sister-not treated well and the court awarded guardianship to Bill Hutson’s parents. They later married after Bill got out of the service and now have 2 children and lost one child in still birth
Bill-normal childhood and ran a service station for 25 years.
They actually met at church and continued to serve the church actively until their health prevented further service just 3 years ago.
As we sat and visited, I asked them why they were so active and they said “We went because we wanted to. Being around the people that we loved so much.” Seeing so many people that…loved them and the Hutson’s loved them right back.
Church is at its best when it’s caring for each other. We see it because of people like Bonnie, the Snyders, if they’re cooking at the church we usually get some of it. We did it in our time and now people are doing it for us.
Our church has always been about family. We’re not perfect, but we definitely try.
June acknowledges how difficult the last few years have been-“it does seem strange to not be involved with the church. I just can’t think of not being involved in the church-I can’t imagine.”
Even their history with the church has its interesting points. Bill is probably the youngest board chair-early 20’s, a young elder, served through a church split and a minister being asked to leave-both very taxing ordeals to lead through. Those things have sucked the spiritual life right out of people, but not them.
Swimming parties, meals, mobile meals, CWF-family dinners, funeral services, every committee, made funeral calls, visitations, evangelism calls, and have always had strong relationships with the ministers
That’s a lot, so I asked, what kept you going?
11:00-12: 10-lady dying-died the next day…little things like that…serving communion…hold him up…such things as that…this is what kept me there.
I finished off asking them what they hoped for the future of the church…
Wishes the spirit of giving would continue. Back then we fought it all the time. The church didn’t do a lot of outside giving back in my day.
For the love to continue within the church like they have experienced. And another hope is that people would feel the love that they felt through LOGOS. We need to realize you get out what you put in.
Conclusion
Why do I tell this story? To brag on the Hutsons? To lift them up above the rest of the faithful? No. To simply share their story of how important their faith has been, how important this church has been, and hopefully to inspire and motivate all of us.
They are willing to share their stories of resurrection, those times when their faith is real, for the good of the body, to spur others towards a deeper disicpleship. Are you willing to share? What’s your resurrection story? Won’t you share it so that others might also find inspiration and motivation in your story as well?
Lent: Easter Sunday
April 24
Easter Sunday
Resurrection Sunday
When is the End of the story not the end?
Mark 16: 1-8
Intro
Again, I hope that this Lent season has helped you grow in your relationship with God. I hope that by going through each day you have a better understanding of the final week of Christ’s life and maybe even see more of his purpose and thus our purpose as His followers.
So, here we are. A long journey, but we made it. Let’s celebrate the greatest story ever told. But to know how great our story is, let’s take a look at some other great stories that have been told…(watch video). All great stories, but I hope we can all agree that the one we remember today, is far better than any of those.
As we look at the resurrection we’ll be looking at Mark’s gospel. And his gospel is an interesting one. As with most things in the Bible we tend to read all 4 gospels together in order to get the most complete picture. But today I want all of us to consider Mark as an independent gospel from the rest. Why?
Mark has a few unique characteristics:
Mark’s gospel records the shortest resurrection only 8 verses. Mark does not record an appearance of the risen Jesus. Appearance stories are found only in the other gospels. And Mark ends abruptly.
So let’s take a look.
Mark 16: 1-8
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
What does your Bible say after v. 8?
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]
What does 9-20 talk about? Predominantly nothing that we would have a problem with, but there is a couple of things that are let’s just say are interesting.
How many of you are familiar with the churches that handle snakes? There are actually about 40 congregations in the US that practice this. Does anyone know where they get the idea they can handle snakes and drink poison and not be harmed? Mark 16: 9-20-specifically v. 17-18
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: drive out demons; speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all.”
Does that sound like Jesus?
So why was the extra ending added? What is wrong with ending at v. 8?
To figure this out, let’s dig a little deeper into the story.
How does Mark’s gospel end if we only read through v. 8?
Ends with the women too scared, the disciples having fled and no one is telling anyone about the resurrection.
Do you remember Mark’s overall theme? Jesus’ followers dissipate over time, then the disciples, then the women. But, the reader is along for the entire journey. Everyone else has fallen away. So who is left to tell the story?
We as the reader is all that is left to tell the story. No other gospel ends this way. And I believe Mark has the extra ending because earlier Christians didn’t like it-looks like a mistake. Maybe they were uncomfortable with the responsibility that was being placed on them to tell the story? Mark leaves the story open-ended.
Everyone in the narrative has failed, but the story is not over. He had not written ‘The End” but “To be continued.” If the story is to continue, the reader has a decision to make. Are you uncomfortable or scared to tell others that Jesus is alive, the tomb is empty?
Let’s ask this, are the gospels meant to be more historical or evangelical documents? The stories of witnessing and telling are persuasive so that you the reader will go and tell the story.
And what exactly are we responsible for? Telling the story. Telling the stories of how Jesus makes a difference for us day in and day out. Showing others that Jesus is alive. That Jesus lives is the greatest story ever told. Do you believe it?
The other part of Mark’s resurrection story tells us that Jesus is going ahead of us-which already anticipates the post-Easter reality. The risen Christ is already “out there” in the world, ahead of the disciples, ahead of us.
In other words we aren’t bringing people to Jesus, Jesus has already started working. We are here to help others realize that Jesus is alive. The tomb truly is empty. Our faith is more than to keep us from going to hell. It is meant to give us hope today and every day.
It’s meant to show us that even when we feel as though we have blown it, Jesus is there to restore. Who does Jesus tell the women to tell? Go and tell Peter-mentions his name specifically. Why? Good News-even though Peter denies he is restored and forgiven.
Remember the movie clips we saw earlier and all the other great books and movies that have been made, imagine if those stories had never been told. How incomplete would our lives be? How much more important is the resurrection story?
I’ll end with this. What does Easter mean to you? Does it need to be ended like the other gospels-nice and neat with no responsibility on us as Jesus’ followers? This idea that Jesus is doing all the work, so we don’t have to? Or do you realize the urgency for us to tell the story? We have to assume that no one else is telling the story-everyone else has fallen away. Will you tell the story?
In these next few weeks I am opening up the floor to those willing to share their stories of resurrection. Those times when you encountered the risen Christ, those times when you knew he was real.
If you have a testimony you would like to share, please let me know. Imagine what these next few weeks will be like if you come forward and tell your resurrection story. And just like in Mark’s gospel, everyone else is too scared to tell their story. So if you don’t, who will?
Easter Sunday
Resurrection Sunday
When is the End of the story not the end?
Mark 16: 1-8
Intro
Again, I hope that this Lent season has helped you grow in your relationship with God. I hope that by going through each day you have a better understanding of the final week of Christ’s life and maybe even see more of his purpose and thus our purpose as His followers.
So, here we are. A long journey, but we made it. Let’s celebrate the greatest story ever told. But to know how great our story is, let’s take a look at some other great stories that have been told…(watch video). All great stories, but I hope we can all agree that the one we remember today, is far better than any of those.
As we look at the resurrection we’ll be looking at Mark’s gospel. And his gospel is an interesting one. As with most things in the Bible we tend to read all 4 gospels together in order to get the most complete picture. But today I want all of us to consider Mark as an independent gospel from the rest. Why?
Mark has a few unique characteristics:
Mark’s gospel records the shortest resurrection only 8 verses. Mark does not record an appearance of the risen Jesus. Appearance stories are found only in the other gospels. And Mark ends abruptly.
So let’s take a look.
Mark 16: 1-8
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
What does your Bible say after v. 8?
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]
What does 9-20 talk about? Predominantly nothing that we would have a problem with, but there is a couple of things that are let’s just say are interesting.
How many of you are familiar with the churches that handle snakes? There are actually about 40 congregations in the US that practice this. Does anyone know where they get the idea they can handle snakes and drink poison and not be harmed? Mark 16: 9-20-specifically v. 17-18
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: drive out demons; speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all.”
Does that sound like Jesus?
So why was the extra ending added? What is wrong with ending at v. 8?
To figure this out, let’s dig a little deeper into the story.
How does Mark’s gospel end if we only read through v. 8?
Ends with the women too scared, the disciples having fled and no one is telling anyone about the resurrection.
Do you remember Mark’s overall theme? Jesus’ followers dissipate over time, then the disciples, then the women. But, the reader is along for the entire journey. Everyone else has fallen away. So who is left to tell the story?
We as the reader is all that is left to tell the story. No other gospel ends this way. And I believe Mark has the extra ending because earlier Christians didn’t like it-looks like a mistake. Maybe they were uncomfortable with the responsibility that was being placed on them to tell the story? Mark leaves the story open-ended.
Everyone in the narrative has failed, but the story is not over. He had not written ‘The End” but “To be continued.” If the story is to continue, the reader has a decision to make. Are you uncomfortable or scared to tell others that Jesus is alive, the tomb is empty?
Let’s ask this, are the gospels meant to be more historical or evangelical documents? The stories of witnessing and telling are persuasive so that you the reader will go and tell the story.
And what exactly are we responsible for? Telling the story. Telling the stories of how Jesus makes a difference for us day in and day out. Showing others that Jesus is alive. That Jesus lives is the greatest story ever told. Do you believe it?
The other part of Mark’s resurrection story tells us that Jesus is going ahead of us-which already anticipates the post-Easter reality. The risen Christ is already “out there” in the world, ahead of the disciples, ahead of us.
In other words we aren’t bringing people to Jesus, Jesus has already started working. We are here to help others realize that Jesus is alive. The tomb truly is empty. Our faith is more than to keep us from going to hell. It is meant to give us hope today and every day.
It’s meant to show us that even when we feel as though we have blown it, Jesus is there to restore. Who does Jesus tell the women to tell? Go and tell Peter-mentions his name specifically. Why? Good News-even though Peter denies he is restored and forgiven.
Remember the movie clips we saw earlier and all the other great books and movies that have been made, imagine if those stories had never been told. How incomplete would our lives be? How much more important is the resurrection story?
I’ll end with this. What does Easter mean to you? Does it need to be ended like the other gospels-nice and neat with no responsibility on us as Jesus’ followers? This idea that Jesus is doing all the work, so we don’t have to? Or do you realize the urgency for us to tell the story? We have to assume that no one else is telling the story-everyone else has fallen away. Will you tell the story?
In these next few weeks I am opening up the floor to those willing to share their stories of resurrection. Those times when you encountered the risen Christ, those times when you knew he was real.
If you have a testimony you would like to share, please let me know. Imagine what these next few weeks will be like if you come forward and tell your resurrection story. And just like in Mark’s gospel, everyone else is too scared to tell their story. So if you don’t, who will?
Lent: Friday
April 17
Friday
Mark 15: 1-47
Intro
Lent-one week to get ready-one week to go from no cokes, or sugar or chocolate. But prayerfully we’ll be more excited that Easter is here rather than getting to enjoy our favorite snack.
Happy Palm Sunday! Now let’s talk about the death of Jesus…kind of hard to do both.
We are going to be looking at Friday or Good Friday.
Doesn’t the designation of this dreadful day as ‘good” strike us as strange. Even the sky turns dark showing the cosmos itself joins in mourning what is happening. Reasons: Christians for centuries have affirmed that on this day, despite its horror, the redemption of the world was accomplished.
We won’t take a look at the whole day just one part of it, but it is interesting to note that Mark tells the story of Good Friday in precisely indicated three-hour intervals: from dawn to 9am, from 9am to noon, from noon to 3pm and from 3pm to evening.
Mark 15: 1-15
1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Doesn’t it seem strange that the ones who want to kill Jesus-the religious leaders take him to Pilate? Why can’t the Jewish leaders just kill Jesus?
Once again our theme of collaboration with the Empire comes out. They can’t kill without the permission of the Roman authority
And can’t you just hear the exchange between Pilate and Jesus-
Are “you” the king of the Jews? As if the man standing before him is unworthy to bear that title.
And Jesus responds-“You say so.” Jesus knowing full well that Pilate is no real king or authority.
3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
In order to have Jesus killed there had to be a reason. The Romans didn’t care about blasphemy. So they told different stories to try to have Jesus killed. Pilate sensing something was awry tries to give Jesus an out, but Jesus says nothing.
To refuse to respond to authority reflects both courage and contempt. Authorities do not like it. Pilate is amazed.
Also in the ancient near east silence is also an admission of guilt. If you didn’t defend yourself they pronounced you guilty-guilty unless proven otherwise. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus doesn’t speak again until his final cry from the cross-My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Can you imagine if one of us was before Pilate facing death. We would be passionately defending ourselves.
It’s hard to follow the Prince of Peace. Being a follower of Jesus is difficult.
6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
There are some things we need to know to better understand what is going on in this story.
Who was Barabbas? The leader of a rebellion
What is significant about Jesus being compared with an insurrectionist? Crucifixion was reserved for those who had rebelled against the Roman Empire.
For what reason would Rome have had to crucify Jesus? Jesus would have to speak out against the empire.
12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.
14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
We need to ask ourselves some questions here as well.
Where exactly was this “trial?”
Who was the crowd? Who are the people shouting crucify him? What happened to those who celebrated at the triumphal entry and marveled at his teaching in the courtyard?
Almost certainly, this is not the same crowd that heard Jesus with delight during the week; Mark gives us no reason to think that crowd has turned against Jesus. Also, it is highly unlikely that the crowds from earlier in the week would have been allowed into Herod’s Palace. Herod’s Palace is where this trial took place.
Plus, what happened the night before? Why were all the people in Jerusalem? Passover-huge meal with wine-Would you be awake at 6am after a night like that? Maybe, but would you be functional at 6am after a night like that?
For the religious leaders, timing was critical. Given enough time the crowds who loved Jesus and hailed him as Messiah would have been on the streets and would have shouted to free Jesus instead of Barabbas.
This crowd had their chance to free him, but they were most likely the followers of Barabbas.
So after hearing this story does this story make us feel ashamed? Do we feel shame when we read it?
Are we any different? We call on Jesus on Sunday, but abandon him throughout the week. We follow, but we don’t.
Another question, for what do we crucify people unjustly?
We crucify people through the media when they don’t live up to our expectations. Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, Bush, Obama, Rob Bell
Along with that, what higher standard do we expect of others, but aren’t willing to live up to ourselves?
Thank you example from Chris Isaac-every time I expect a thank you and don’t get one I think about all the times I should have thanked God, but didn’t.
Finally, we have to ask why does Jesus die? For the sins of the world or because of them? If we believe in freedom of choice over predestination we have to deal with this question. Otherwise everyone in this story is God’s puppet. In other words, were the system and the people so corrupt they could not handle the challenge that Jesus provided to their corrupt system of collaboration? Was it the sins of Judas, the religious leaders, or his disciples that caused Jesus to go to the cross? Did they have a choice or were they predestined for their “roles?” If they had a choice, then Jesus would die because of their sins. We often say Jesus died for our sins, but we might consider that instead Jesus died because of their sins. That is your question for the week-Why does Jesus die? For the sins of the world or because of them?
As we journey this week through Holy Week-may you remember the journey to the cross we have covered these last few weeks and the lessons Jesus taught each day. We need to be separate from the empire, we need to produce fruit, we need to continue to learn, we need to belong to God, we need to trust, and we need to give. May this holy week journey be something special in your walk of faith.
Friday
Mark 15: 1-47
Intro
Lent-one week to get ready-one week to go from no cokes, or sugar or chocolate. But prayerfully we’ll be more excited that Easter is here rather than getting to enjoy our favorite snack.
Happy Palm Sunday! Now let’s talk about the death of Jesus…kind of hard to do both.
We are going to be looking at Friday or Good Friday.
Doesn’t the designation of this dreadful day as ‘good” strike us as strange. Even the sky turns dark showing the cosmos itself joins in mourning what is happening. Reasons: Christians for centuries have affirmed that on this day, despite its horror, the redemption of the world was accomplished.
We won’t take a look at the whole day just one part of it, but it is interesting to note that Mark tells the story of Good Friday in precisely indicated three-hour intervals: from dawn to 9am, from 9am to noon, from noon to 3pm and from 3pm to evening.
Mark 15: 1-15
1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Doesn’t it seem strange that the ones who want to kill Jesus-the religious leaders take him to Pilate? Why can’t the Jewish leaders just kill Jesus?
Once again our theme of collaboration with the Empire comes out. They can’t kill without the permission of the Roman authority
And can’t you just hear the exchange between Pilate and Jesus-
Are “you” the king of the Jews? As if the man standing before him is unworthy to bear that title.
And Jesus responds-“You say so.” Jesus knowing full well that Pilate is no real king or authority.
3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
In order to have Jesus killed there had to be a reason. The Romans didn’t care about blasphemy. So they told different stories to try to have Jesus killed. Pilate sensing something was awry tries to give Jesus an out, but Jesus says nothing.
To refuse to respond to authority reflects both courage and contempt. Authorities do not like it. Pilate is amazed.
Also in the ancient near east silence is also an admission of guilt. If you didn’t defend yourself they pronounced you guilty-guilty unless proven otherwise. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus doesn’t speak again until his final cry from the cross-My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Can you imagine if one of us was before Pilate facing death. We would be passionately defending ourselves.
It’s hard to follow the Prince of Peace. Being a follower of Jesus is difficult.
6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
There are some things we need to know to better understand what is going on in this story.
Who was Barabbas? The leader of a rebellion
What is significant about Jesus being compared with an insurrectionist? Crucifixion was reserved for those who had rebelled against the Roman Empire.
For what reason would Rome have had to crucify Jesus? Jesus would have to speak out against the empire.
12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.
14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
We need to ask ourselves some questions here as well.
Where exactly was this “trial?”
Who was the crowd? Who are the people shouting crucify him? What happened to those who celebrated at the triumphal entry and marveled at his teaching in the courtyard?
Almost certainly, this is not the same crowd that heard Jesus with delight during the week; Mark gives us no reason to think that crowd has turned against Jesus. Also, it is highly unlikely that the crowds from earlier in the week would have been allowed into Herod’s Palace. Herod’s Palace is where this trial took place.
Plus, what happened the night before? Why were all the people in Jerusalem? Passover-huge meal with wine-Would you be awake at 6am after a night like that? Maybe, but would you be functional at 6am after a night like that?
For the religious leaders, timing was critical. Given enough time the crowds who loved Jesus and hailed him as Messiah would have been on the streets and would have shouted to free Jesus instead of Barabbas.
This crowd had their chance to free him, but they were most likely the followers of Barabbas.
So after hearing this story does this story make us feel ashamed? Do we feel shame when we read it?
Are we any different? We call on Jesus on Sunday, but abandon him throughout the week. We follow, but we don’t.
Another question, for what do we crucify people unjustly?
We crucify people through the media when they don’t live up to our expectations. Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, Bush, Obama, Rob Bell
Along with that, what higher standard do we expect of others, but aren’t willing to live up to ourselves?
Thank you example from Chris Isaac-every time I expect a thank you and don’t get one I think about all the times I should have thanked God, but didn’t.
Finally, we have to ask why does Jesus die? For the sins of the world or because of them? If we believe in freedom of choice over predestination we have to deal with this question. Otherwise everyone in this story is God’s puppet. In other words, were the system and the people so corrupt they could not handle the challenge that Jesus provided to their corrupt system of collaboration? Was it the sins of Judas, the religious leaders, or his disciples that caused Jesus to go to the cross? Did they have a choice or were they predestined for their “roles?” If they had a choice, then Jesus would die because of their sins. We often say Jesus died for our sins, but we might consider that instead Jesus died because of their sins. That is your question for the week-Why does Jesus die? For the sins of the world or because of them?
As we journey this week through Holy Week-may you remember the journey to the cross we have covered these last few weeks and the lessons Jesus taught each day. We need to be separate from the empire, we need to produce fruit, we need to continue to learn, we need to belong to God, we need to trust, and we need to give. May this holy week journey be something special in your walk of faith.
Lent: Thursday
April 10
Thursday
Mark 14: 12-72
Morning glory
God grew tired of us
Intro
Last week-Judas-we can identify-we have betrayed Jesus for less than 30 pieces of silver.
Thursday lasts from sun up on Thursday to sunrise on Friday.
What story do you think we are going to look at from Thursday? Maundy Thursday-we get that from John’s gospel by the way.
Last Supper As Disciples it’s pretty much a given that if we look at Thursday of the last week we are going to talk about it. Like a bird pooping on your car right after you wash it…it’s almost certain.
We are all familiar with the last supper. We celebrate it each week during worship and almost any time we gather as Disciples of Christ we have communion. During camp we usually have communion every night. There are countless paintings and representations of the last supper. (show pictures-if want in pic)
But today I want to shed some more light on what Jesus was saying. Let’s take a look.
Mark 14: 12-72
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Notice any similarities between this and another story we have already done during this series? Palm Sunday preparation.
Palm Sunday and Passover preparation have some similarities:
Sends 2 of his disciples,
tells them what to look for,
and instructs them what to say.
In the first case, the preplanning was for a public demonstration against an anti-imperial entrance affirming nonviolence. In this case, the preplanning has to do with secrecy. Jesus kept the meeting place secret. Why?
Was it so Judas couldn’t trap him there? This meal-what we call the New Passover-matters, and Judas must not be allowed to interfere with its completion. Why does it matter? What happens that is so significant, so life changing?
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Here we know Jesus reinterprets the symbols of the Passover. Taking the story from Exodus and substituting himself as the Passover lamb. But is there something more?
1) Story parallels feeding of 5000-talk about this in Pastor’s class-took, blessed, broke, and gave.
Shared meals were one of the most distinctive features of Jesus’ public activity. He often taught at meals, banquets were topics of his parables, and his meal practice was often criticized by his opponents.
Food is important. We need it to live. Food can be used as a status symbol can’t it? What do rich people eat? What do poor people eat? Jesus’ emphasis on meals means something more than just the new Passover celebration.
The point of Jesus’ meals is to insist on shared meals as the mandate of divine justice in a world not our own. Jesus does not merely speak of bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood. Rather, he has all of the 12 (including Judas) actually partake of the food and drink. We, like they, are invited to travel with Jesus through execution to resurrection. So first and foremost it is an invitation to discipleship. An invitation to follow Jesus’ path and to live as he lived.
The Last Supper is also about bread for the world, God’s justice against human injustice, a New Passover from bondage to liberation, and participation in the path that leads through death to new life.
Food is God’s justice and just distribution of food. One of the things the Bible talks about in the end times is that everyone will have enough food. It is unjust that people go home hungry every night-right here in our square of earth people go to bed hungry every night. There might even be people in our own church. What is compassion calling us to do? Better yet what is love calling us to do?
What’s interesting is that from this point on it’s not just talk, but actions
In Mark, over half of Thursday is devoted to failed discipleship.
Nature of Jesus and the world divides-the religious leaders talked a good game but weren’t living it.
If you keep reading through Thursday what happens? How many of Jesus’ disciples fail him?
Disciples fall asleep while praying-because no one falls asleep during a prayer-who does that? Judas betrays him, Peter denies Jesus 3 times and you want to read a painful verse read v. 50
50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
Ask yourself this:
If Judas did not kill himself would he have been restored along with Peter and the rest of the disciples?
Neither denials nor even betrayals are the worst sin against Jesus or God. The worst sin is despair. And despair is nothing more than a loss of faith that repentance will always, always obtain forgiveness. Had Judas broken down, wept, and repented, he too would have been forgiven.
We have the same faults as these disciples-we fallen asleep when our friends and family needed us, we’ve betrayed Jesus; we’ve denied knowing him.
But our world tells us it’s ok. We give in to selfishness, it comes easy. We even call it “the me generation.” What can I get? What can I get out of this relationship, friendship, school, car, church, God…
What can I get instead of what can I give? (Question for the week)
And Jesus is anything but selfish-Jesus is all about others and serving them. Jesus doesn’t respond the way we would to the trial and accusations. He doesn’t respond with violence he condemns it. Jesus enters and exits in non-violence.
This trial on Thursday is happening to him, but it’s not about him…it’s about something else. It’s about us, it’s about an end to power and injustice. Jesus is about restoration and reconciliation. Making things right.
Lent is our time to make things right with God. To recognize the times have betrayed Jesus; the times we haven’t listened to God. It is our reminder to ask for forgiveness and to refocus on what is important. As we try to focus on the attitudes of Christ, we can ponder what we can give instead of what we can get this week.
Thursday
Mark 14: 12-72
Morning glory
God grew tired of us
Intro
Last week-Judas-we can identify-we have betrayed Jesus for less than 30 pieces of silver.
Thursday lasts from sun up on Thursday to sunrise on Friday.
What story do you think we are going to look at from Thursday? Maundy Thursday-we get that from John’s gospel by the way.
Last Supper As Disciples it’s pretty much a given that if we look at Thursday of the last week we are going to talk about it. Like a bird pooping on your car right after you wash it…it’s almost certain.
We are all familiar with the last supper. We celebrate it each week during worship and almost any time we gather as Disciples of Christ we have communion. During camp we usually have communion every night. There are countless paintings and representations of the last supper. (show pictures-if want in pic)
But today I want to shed some more light on what Jesus was saying. Let’s take a look.
Mark 14: 12-72
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Notice any similarities between this and another story we have already done during this series? Palm Sunday preparation.
Palm Sunday and Passover preparation have some similarities:
Sends 2 of his disciples,
tells them what to look for,
and instructs them what to say.
In the first case, the preplanning was for a public demonstration against an anti-imperial entrance affirming nonviolence. In this case, the preplanning has to do with secrecy. Jesus kept the meeting place secret. Why?
Was it so Judas couldn’t trap him there? This meal-what we call the New Passover-matters, and Judas must not be allowed to interfere with its completion. Why does it matter? What happens that is so significant, so life changing?
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Here we know Jesus reinterprets the symbols of the Passover. Taking the story from Exodus and substituting himself as the Passover lamb. But is there something more?
1) Story parallels feeding of 5000-talk about this in Pastor’s class-took, blessed, broke, and gave.
Shared meals were one of the most distinctive features of Jesus’ public activity. He often taught at meals, banquets were topics of his parables, and his meal practice was often criticized by his opponents.
Food is important. We need it to live. Food can be used as a status symbol can’t it? What do rich people eat? What do poor people eat? Jesus’ emphasis on meals means something more than just the new Passover celebration.
The point of Jesus’ meals is to insist on shared meals as the mandate of divine justice in a world not our own. Jesus does not merely speak of bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood. Rather, he has all of the 12 (including Judas) actually partake of the food and drink. We, like they, are invited to travel with Jesus through execution to resurrection. So first and foremost it is an invitation to discipleship. An invitation to follow Jesus’ path and to live as he lived.
The Last Supper is also about bread for the world, God’s justice against human injustice, a New Passover from bondage to liberation, and participation in the path that leads through death to new life.
Food is God’s justice and just distribution of food. One of the things the Bible talks about in the end times is that everyone will have enough food. It is unjust that people go home hungry every night-right here in our square of earth people go to bed hungry every night. There might even be people in our own church. What is compassion calling us to do? Better yet what is love calling us to do?
What’s interesting is that from this point on it’s not just talk, but actions
In Mark, over half of Thursday is devoted to failed discipleship.
Nature of Jesus and the world divides-the religious leaders talked a good game but weren’t living it.
If you keep reading through Thursday what happens? How many of Jesus’ disciples fail him?
Disciples fall asleep while praying-because no one falls asleep during a prayer-who does that? Judas betrays him, Peter denies Jesus 3 times and you want to read a painful verse read v. 50
50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
Ask yourself this:
If Judas did not kill himself would he have been restored along with Peter and the rest of the disciples?
Neither denials nor even betrayals are the worst sin against Jesus or God. The worst sin is despair. And despair is nothing more than a loss of faith that repentance will always, always obtain forgiveness. Had Judas broken down, wept, and repented, he too would have been forgiven.
We have the same faults as these disciples-we fallen asleep when our friends and family needed us, we’ve betrayed Jesus; we’ve denied knowing him.
But our world tells us it’s ok. We give in to selfishness, it comes easy. We even call it “the me generation.” What can I get? What can I get out of this relationship, friendship, school, car, church, God…
What can I get instead of what can I give? (Question for the week)
And Jesus is anything but selfish-Jesus is all about others and serving them. Jesus doesn’t respond the way we would to the trial and accusations. He doesn’t respond with violence he condemns it. Jesus enters and exits in non-violence.
This trial on Thursday is happening to him, but it’s not about him…it’s about something else. It’s about us, it’s about an end to power and injustice. Jesus is about restoration and reconciliation. Making things right.
Lent is our time to make things right with God. To recognize the times have betrayed Jesus; the times we haven’t listened to God. It is our reminder to ask for forgiveness and to refocus on what is important. As we try to focus on the attitudes of Christ, we can ponder what we can give instead of what we can get this week.
Lent: Wednesday
April 3
Wednesday
Mark 14: 1-11
Intro
Lent-last week Tuesday-importance of learning-focused on one story-money-collaboration with the empire-are you starting to see the pattern? Today is no different.
Let’s take a look:
Mark 14: 1-11
1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
Markean Frame:
Need for a traitor-what would the frame end with? The provision of a traitor. So the story in between is some how related.
At this point to it’s important to note that the people still love Jesus. This is Wednesdday. How does Jesus go from being so loved on Wednesday to the point that the chief priests and teachers are afraid the crowd will riot to shouting crucify him on Friday? Have you given any thought to this?
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
And here we are 2,000 years later reading and sharing this story, in memory of her. Why? What is so special about this woman that Jesus calls her to our attention? She is the first Christian-the first one who understands that he will die-Immense faith of the woman.
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
A little about this story in other gospels:
Matthew & Mark place this event just before the Last Supper, John a week before the triumphal entry and in John Judas is the naysayer, and Luke records a similar story early in his gospel. Mark uses this story to give us another frame-we talked about the Markean frame with the fig tree. The idea that Mark groups similar stories together with bookends. Here you have the need for a traitor, story of the unnamed woman, the advent of a traitor.
Several different theories exist as to why Judas betrays Jesus as a result of this story. I’m only going to touch on two
One side, which we can easily relate to, says:
The simple extravagant act of anointing Jesus, though wasting a year’s wages worth of perfume, resulted in a lasting legacy. Like our permanent fund and the other funds that have been left to the church and other organizations. A lasting legacy has been left from that person’s life. Their generous gift continues to further the work of ministries like Mobile Meals, Habitat, and First Christian El Reno. Everyone sitting in this room has benefitted from those generous and lasting donations.
Judas was particularly irritated with Miriam’s anointing act. Jesus’ response irritated him even more. To Judas, the notion of Jesus going off to find martyrdom was no different than the wasted perfume. Wasted opportunity. Wasted resources. Three years of his own life wasted following a would-be Messiah, who given the opportunity to really accomplish something, was about to throw it all away.
Unable to endure such foolishness any longer, Judas goes to the Temple authorities and arranges to betray Jesus into their hands.
This makes sense. When we feel our time has been wasted, when we feel betrayed and used we can easily turn on our so called friends. And according to the Bible and many scholars, Judas wasn’t exactly the best of guys any way. So why would we expect anything less than betrayal? This is one side of the argument. What about the other?
Well, I’m what you might call a Judas sympathizer. I really think that Judas has gotten the bum wrap in the scriptures and commentaries of the years. That’s why I’d like to offer another possibility.
Consider this:
Mark never mentions Judas’ motives, but identifies him as Judas-one of the twelve. Judas doesn’t ask for money, they promise to give it to him. And if you are skimming off the top as pointed out in John 12, why would you want to mess up a good thing? 30 pieces of silver wasn’t very much money-approx $15 according to one source. We even remember that Judas tries to give the money back. And then what happens to Judas? Hangs himself. Are those the actions of a man with no regret?
What if we thought about Judas’ actions this way? Judas’ betrayal is simply the worst example of how those closest to Jesus failed him dismally in Jerusalem. The traitor has entered into an agreement with those who collaborate with imperial rule.
Maybe Judas was simply tired of hearing Jesus talk about dying and Judas was trying to force Jesus’ hand to be the conquering Messiah that was promised, not the suffering and dying one Jesus kept talking about.
Or what what if it just got too hard for Judas? What if being a follower of Jesus as the sacrificial Messiah was more than Judas could bear?
I think Judas thought that path was going to be hard for him. I think this is nothing more than ultimate failing. As we continue our Lenten journey, ask yourself-how willing are you to follow Jesus-will you quit when the going gets tough? Maybe a better way to ask-for what have you betrayed Jesus? We have all been Judas in some way-betraying Jesus. Maybe that’s why I’m a Judas sympathizer.
Haven’t you felt that way? That life was more than you could handle? Maybe it was a job, an illness, or school, or a relationship, or a death. It all just got too hard and so you quit. I know that when I watch the Olympics and the amazing things they do-I think how do they do that? How does Michael Phelps win 14 gold medals-8 in one Olympics. That’s impossible.
I found a clip to help illustrate a possible answer-it’s from A League of their Own-a movie about the female baseball league that started during WWII.
And that’s the difference. Michael Phelps and other people like him didn’t quit. They kept going. And so now I sit at home and watch them compete at the Olympics believing it to be impossible.
We would like to avoid the implications of this journey with Jesus. We would like its Holy Week conclusion to be about the interior rather than the exterior life, about heaven rather than earth, about the future rather than the present and about religion safely and securely quarantined form politics.
We want our experience of Jesus to be untainted by the outside world and be a more internal spiritual encounter. The temptation is clinging to a faith that doesn’t make waves. WE want to celebrate our spiritual life away from our normal life. But we can’t.
Our faith and our life cannot be split apart. Jesus is what gets inside you, it’s what lights you up. If being a follower of Jesus was easy everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.
Wednesday
Mark 14: 1-11
Intro
Lent-last week Tuesday-importance of learning-focused on one story-money-collaboration with the empire-are you starting to see the pattern? Today is no different.
Let’s take a look:
Mark 14: 1-11
1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
Markean Frame:
Need for a traitor-what would the frame end with? The provision of a traitor. So the story in between is some how related.
At this point to it’s important to note that the people still love Jesus. This is Wednesdday. How does Jesus go from being so loved on Wednesday to the point that the chief priests and teachers are afraid the crowd will riot to shouting crucify him on Friday? Have you given any thought to this?
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
And here we are 2,000 years later reading and sharing this story, in memory of her. Why? What is so special about this woman that Jesus calls her to our attention? She is the first Christian-the first one who understands that he will die-Immense faith of the woman.
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
A little about this story in other gospels:
Matthew & Mark place this event just before the Last Supper, John a week before the triumphal entry and in John Judas is the naysayer, and Luke records a similar story early in his gospel. Mark uses this story to give us another frame-we talked about the Markean frame with the fig tree. The idea that Mark groups similar stories together with bookends. Here you have the need for a traitor, story of the unnamed woman, the advent of a traitor.
Several different theories exist as to why Judas betrays Jesus as a result of this story. I’m only going to touch on two
One side, which we can easily relate to, says:
The simple extravagant act of anointing Jesus, though wasting a year’s wages worth of perfume, resulted in a lasting legacy. Like our permanent fund and the other funds that have been left to the church and other organizations. A lasting legacy has been left from that person’s life. Their generous gift continues to further the work of ministries like Mobile Meals, Habitat, and First Christian El Reno. Everyone sitting in this room has benefitted from those generous and lasting donations.
Judas was particularly irritated with Miriam’s anointing act. Jesus’ response irritated him even more. To Judas, the notion of Jesus going off to find martyrdom was no different than the wasted perfume. Wasted opportunity. Wasted resources. Three years of his own life wasted following a would-be Messiah, who given the opportunity to really accomplish something, was about to throw it all away.
Unable to endure such foolishness any longer, Judas goes to the Temple authorities and arranges to betray Jesus into their hands.
This makes sense. When we feel our time has been wasted, when we feel betrayed and used we can easily turn on our so called friends. And according to the Bible and many scholars, Judas wasn’t exactly the best of guys any way. So why would we expect anything less than betrayal? This is one side of the argument. What about the other?
Well, I’m what you might call a Judas sympathizer. I really think that Judas has gotten the bum wrap in the scriptures and commentaries of the years. That’s why I’d like to offer another possibility.
Consider this:
Mark never mentions Judas’ motives, but identifies him as Judas-one of the twelve. Judas doesn’t ask for money, they promise to give it to him. And if you are skimming off the top as pointed out in John 12, why would you want to mess up a good thing? 30 pieces of silver wasn’t very much money-approx $15 according to one source. We even remember that Judas tries to give the money back. And then what happens to Judas? Hangs himself. Are those the actions of a man with no regret?
What if we thought about Judas’ actions this way? Judas’ betrayal is simply the worst example of how those closest to Jesus failed him dismally in Jerusalem. The traitor has entered into an agreement with those who collaborate with imperial rule.
Maybe Judas was simply tired of hearing Jesus talk about dying and Judas was trying to force Jesus’ hand to be the conquering Messiah that was promised, not the suffering and dying one Jesus kept talking about.
Or what what if it just got too hard for Judas? What if being a follower of Jesus as the sacrificial Messiah was more than Judas could bear?
I think Judas thought that path was going to be hard for him. I think this is nothing more than ultimate failing. As we continue our Lenten journey, ask yourself-how willing are you to follow Jesus-will you quit when the going gets tough? Maybe a better way to ask-for what have you betrayed Jesus? We have all been Judas in some way-betraying Jesus. Maybe that’s why I’m a Judas sympathizer.
Haven’t you felt that way? That life was more than you could handle? Maybe it was a job, an illness, or school, or a relationship, or a death. It all just got too hard and so you quit. I know that when I watch the Olympics and the amazing things they do-I think how do they do that? How does Michael Phelps win 14 gold medals-8 in one Olympics. That’s impossible.
I found a clip to help illustrate a possible answer-it’s from A League of their Own-a movie about the female baseball league that started during WWII.
And that’s the difference. Michael Phelps and other people like him didn’t quit. They kept going. And so now I sit at home and watch them compete at the Olympics believing it to be impossible.
We would like to avoid the implications of this journey with Jesus. We would like its Holy Week conclusion to be about the interior rather than the exterior life, about heaven rather than earth, about the future rather than the present and about religion safely and securely quarantined form politics.
We want our experience of Jesus to be untainted by the outside world and be a more internal spiritual encounter. The temptation is clinging to a faith that doesn’t make waves. WE want to celebrate our spiritual life away from our normal life. But we can’t.
Our faith and our life cannot be split apart. Jesus is what gets inside you, it’s what lights you up. If being a follower of Jesus was easy everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.
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