Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat

Well, we talked about it this morning with the kids, but what’s coming up this week? That’s right on Tuesday, it is the night where kids will dress up in their costumes and wander around collecting candy from people…When you’re younger, there’s something magical and mystical about the time…This is the one time when you don’t hear, “Don’t take candy from strangers!” It’s actually encouraged for supervised children to knock on others’ doors…And remember when you knocked on that door? The anticipation of what was going to come next…You had a pretty good idea that you were going to get a treat, something chocolatey or gooey or very sweet…But you were pretty sure that it was going to be something good…Yet even in that very phrase that’s spoken after you open the door can bring out some fear…Because that very phrase is “trick or treat.” And you can be almost sure that you’re going to get something that you’ll like, but what if? So, there’s the choice whether or not to even utter the phrase, trick or treat…
The blind man, Bartimeaus had that choice too…Bartimeaus had been hearing things about Jesus—the healings, the teachings…Jesus’ reputation was getting around. And yet there were some things that Bartimeaus shouted out about Jesus that even the disciples weren’t sure about quite yet…In order to get Jesus’ attention, Bartimeaus screams after Jesus, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” How is Jesus the “son of David?” Well, it’s traced back through his lineage that Jesus is an ancestor of David…Do you remember who David is? David the king…The same David who killed Goliath…Who had some difficult children…Who also made some poor decisions…David who was a man after God’s own heart. Why on earth would someone call Jesus, “Son of David?” Even though David is one of his ancestors, it still wouldn’t be that common to call him a “Son of David”…He was Joseph’s son! So, why does Bartimeaus call him “Son of David?” Well, it means a lot…David was a man after God’s own heart…Even though David made mistakes, God still loved him and planned on using him…God made a covenant with David that his lineage would carry on forever and that his lineage would always have the throne and be the king…For Bartimeaus to cry out to Jesus that he was the son of David meant that he was considering Jesus the king…And according to Jewish thought, that king who would come was to be the Messiah…Well, Bartimeaus cries out to Jesus—“Son of David, have mercy on me!” He was recognizing Jesus as the potential Messiah…As a king.
It’s no wonder that people were trying to get him to be quiet! Not everybody recognized Jesus as who he really was…Most often it was the least likely of people who did…In this case, a blind man. The people on the street, the disciples, those close to him didn’t recognize that Jesus was the Messiah…Oh, they knew that something was different, but they couldn’t quite grasp that Jesus was the Messiah….Plus; they were waiting for a political Messiah—one who would overthrow the government and bring about radical change! Well, Jesus wasn’t quite the picture that they had—oh he brought about radical change…Just not in the way that they thought he would…So, the others, even Jesus’ closest friends and companions didn’t recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but this blind man, Bartimeaus does…And people are telling him to be quiet! Bartimeaus was causing a bit of a raucous… He wasn’t just calling out to Jesus—he was crying out to Jesus…Almost a cry of desperation, a cry that Jesus is his only hope. He’s a blind man—he can’t work anywhere, he can’t do anything…All he can do is sit at the gates of the city and beg for money and hope that there are some who would be kind enough to give him some money to spare…Sometimes they would and other times…Well, it would be a trick and not a treat…So, Bartimeaus cries out to Jesus to have mercy! And in the midst of the crowd trying to quiet this annoying Bartimeaus, Jesus says, “Call him here.”
And the crowd has to tell Bartimeaus that Jesus wants to see him…And Bartimeaus doesn’t waste a second…He throws off his cloak and goes to see Jesus. He is excited…He’s got that nervous energy…Full of excitement and full of anticipation…
Jesus had heard Bartimeaus’ cries of mercy, but that could really mean anything…Anything from a meal to eat, a place to eat, some money to get by…Bartimeaus could need just about anything! So, Jesus asks him what he wants…Now, do you remember last week when the disciples, James and John approached Jesus? They told Jesus that Jesus had to do whatever it was that they told him to do…And Jesus asked them a question… “What do you want me to do for you?” The same question he asks Bartimeaus… “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimeaus wasn’t as presumptuous as the disciples…Sure, he cried out to Jesus to have mercy, but if you remember the disciples asked Jesus for all the power in the world…So, Jesus asks Baritmeaus, “What do you want me to do for you.” Can you imagine standing in front of Jesus and him asking you, what do you want me to do for you? You’ve been standing on the street crying out for his attention, and now there you are in front of him! Bartimeaus has to be in some kind of a shock…And he could ask anything—I mean he needs a lot of things…And Bartimeaus said to Jesus, “Let me see again.” This means that once Baritmeaus was able to see…He had vision and sight and probably had a job…He was able to function in society and for some reason, lost his sight and now was forced to sit at the gates of the city and beg for money…Bartimeaus could have asked for anything and he asks Jesus for his sight…And in the midst of what he asks from Jesus, there’s those nervous butterflies…He was pretty vulnerable right there in front of Jesus…People were staring, he had caused a scene already! What if Jesus were to point and laugh and make fun of this man? What if Jesus were to push him down to the ground and run away? What if Jesus would give him a trick instead of a treat? Bartimeaus was pretty sure that wouldn’t happen—Bartimeaus knew who Jesus was as the Messiah…But still…There he was standing in front of Jesus…
Oh the courage that this man had…In some ways he didn’t have anything to lose…He was already poked, made fun of, teased, humiliated on a daily basis…Sure there would be those who would give him some money when he would beg, but there were those who would not give him any respect or dignity at all…So, he didn’t have a whole lot to lose…Perhaps the rest of his dignity…His hope in the Messiah and his understanding of Jesus…It doesn’t seem like a whole lot, but Bartimeaus had everything to lose—this was almost like his last shot! He didn’t want to sit and beg at the gates anymore! He wanted his respect back!
So, he’s standing in front of Jesus and he’s just made his request…And he waits with that nervous energy…Pretty sure that something good is going to be coming…But, you never know…
And Jesus says to Bartimeaus, “Go, your faith has made you well.” And Bartimeaus leaves being able to see…He got what he was after, Bartimeaus was able to see! Jesus didn’t tell Bartimeaus that it was because of anything that he did or didn’t do…Jesus tells Bartimeaus it was because of his faith—his faith has made him well…
How amazing is that!? Bartimeaus could have lost everything, but instead it was his vulnerability that made him the strongest…When he wasn’t afraid to tell Jesus that he knew who he really was…Even in the midst of all of the people trying to get him to be quiet…Bartimeaus wouldn’t and ultimately got his sight returned to him…His faith had restored his sight…
How many times have you been as vulnerable as Bartimeaus…Especially when your faith is concerned? When you knew that it would get you in trouble or you could lose part of your dignity or respect from other people…Have you been in that position? It’s a freighting place to be on one hand…Because you are vulnerable and you are out there and you’re just waiting…With that nervous energy because you have a pretty good idea that something good will come, but you really don’t know…And on the other had it’s one of the most amazing places to be! Because you’re waiting in anticipation because you know that what you’re doing is a good thing…You are pretty sure that something good will be coming…Oh, that anticipation…Frightening and yet so exciting!
The part of Job’s story for today has hints of that…Throughout Job’s story, Job did lose everything—his family, house, health, everything…Yet, he didn’t lose his faith…Oh, Job questioned God for sure! He wanted answers as to why these things were happening to him in the midst of his faith! And God’s answer to Job is simply, I am God and you don’t understand everything in the world or how the world works, but I do, so you need to trust me…Trust in the midst of all these tricks that keep coming instead of the treats! But Job does trust…He even loses some of his friends because they just don’t understand why he has such faith and why he would continue to trust God…And in the end, it was through Job’s faith that he was made stronger…Job got everything back—his house, land, he had more children…Because of his faith…
Oh that faith…Perhaps you’ve been in a position like Bartimeaus or Job when you’ve lost almost everything! Except for faith…That faith that can give you strength because you know that God will be there…Oh, it’s okay to question and wonder how everything works together the way it does, but knowing that God is God and had a limitless supply of love and grace for all people—when we seem to be the most vulnerable…God is there in the midst, holding the door open for us at all times…God offer us strength, healing, mercy, forgiveness, love, grace, and so much more…Those seem like pretty incredible “treats to me!”

Humility

When I first arrived here, I was asked to take part in a national consultation...It was a very difficult decision for me because I didn't want to take too much time away from the church. Ultimately, after receiving a personal call from the person setting things up, I agreed. This consultation will happen in February, so there was/is plenty of time for me to get things straightented out and ready to leave the church for a couple of days.

Now in addition to that, the topic is of great interest to me...It is surrounding the judicial counsel decisions of the United Methodist Church-- 1031 & 1032. The topic at hand appears to be homosexuality, but ultimately it is much more than that...It has to do with the make up of the church, who has authority, and how the pastor relates to the connection...There are some far reaching implications here that I'm not sure that most people are thinking about. I must admit that I am uneasy with the implications of not allowing a homosexual person in membership of a church...Or anyone who professes Christ...However, as a pastor, it is important to know my role and who I am as the administrator of the church...

So, this consultation...When I've been asked to be a part of consultations through this organization, it's been fairly large-- groups of 100 or more...Well, I got an e-mail that this has been publicisized throughout the country...And the participants have been listed...There are only about 15 people who have been asked to participate...Most of those being bishops, district superintendents, and seminary professors....I am truly, truly humbled to be asked to be a part of this group that will ultimately put out a theological statement of the church. I can't believe that I have been asked to be a part of this kind of a group...I'm not sure how I got to be a part other than I know people...I am absolutely humbled....

http://www.umc.org/site/c.gjJTJbMUIuE/b.2134499/k.C0E6/Consultation_will_study_impact_of_2_church_court_rulings.htm

Revelation

I was sitting last night among a group of widows at a church dinner and I was struck with a revelation from God. I have been waiting patiently and seeking God's guidance on what I am called to do and be at these churches. Now, I'm talking more specific becuase I know my role as the pastor...But what are the churches and I called to do and be together? And it struck me last night!

I've not yet presented this to the churches as I'm still working through some things and how to get to the place where I have things formulated in a somewhat cohesive plan...Which of course will be somewhat fluid!

Here's what I know so far: I have heard from about half of the church that so many people are leaving to go to the Lutheran church...And people are getting discouraged because so many people are leaving...I was talking with a member of the Lutheran church and he explained their membership structure and how most people are not coming from the immediate area...They have about 200-250 attending worship on Sunday mornings...So, in the midst of the revelation: there are nearly 1,000 people in the town...Who's reaching out to those who are not attending either church? Because combined, we're only covering about 350-400 people...That's not nearly the entire town!

So how do we do the mission of the church and create and form disciples? That's the crux! It's partially through evangelism and I suppose that it's using evangelism in a very broad sense. It's not just knocking on doors or handing out pamphlets...It's telling the story! It's telling the story of Christ and Christianity...It's telling the story of the past, present, and future of the church...It's telling our personal stories. Because, all three are so intertwined into everything! And maybe that's the focus-- story telling...Because through Christian education we tell the story of Christ...Through worship we experience the story of Christ and are given opportunities to tell our own stories...Through board meetings, while we are making decisions, we are also telling the stories of the church...

And it's more than just for those who cross the doorstep...How do we get them to cross the doorstep? First we need to find out what their needs are...We can't tell them what they need! We need to offer what it is that they need and the only way to find that out is through asking. Not asking the whole town, because of course you'll get 1,000 different responses...But, askign some key leaders of the community what the needs of the town are. I'm perceiving some just by being present for the short time that I've been here, but they need to come from the community as well...

It's also being prepared...There will be people who will be uncomfortable, pushed out of the comfort zone, angry...It happens! The church isn't called to be comfortable...It's called to be missional and pursuing the Gospel. And the Gospel is anything but comfortable...Now, there is a level of comfort in faith...It's not comfort to be complacent, though. It's comfort in knowing that God is present and always loving...That's where the comfort lies. So through the process, people may feel uncomfortable with changes...Change isn't a four letter word and sometimes it is necessary in order for things to function better!

Sharing stories seems to be the theme that I'm running with...So, there needs to be a class on how to share your story...Faith sharing...But it may need to be thought through differently that I've experienced it...I'm not sure yet-- each group is different and needs a different way of presenting information...I'm working on that one still...

In the meantime, after this dinner with the widows and my revelation from God, I continued to be in prayer and conversation with God...And other things were revealed that seem to fit well within in this plan...Most of it seems to be revolving around the first of the year and building up from there...I haven't decided if that's my own understanding or if that's really what God is telling me...I suppose it makes sense becuase we're coming up to Christmas where many things are going to be happening and it will be busy...So, to start a new class now would be chaotic...And it doesn't have to start exclusively after the first of the year, I've already begun planting seeds even though I didn't know that's what I was doing, at least not explicitly! Funny how God works, isn't it!?!?

So-- beginning January, I've got a sermon series planned on "Reconnecting"-- it came after hearing Tait's song, "Reconnecting." and some conversation with the PPR here about wanting to reconnect with membership vows...So, each week in January, the service will be about reconnecting to our vows of: Prayer, presence, gifts, and service. That keys in well with what the PPR perceives the needs of the church and what I've seen and experienced through my eyes and in conversation with God...

February is the love month-- who can forget about Valentine's Day?!? So, I think that the sermon series will be on love...Becuase there are 27-ish different words for love in the Greek language...I think that love can be covered for a few weeks there! I haven't got the specifics figured out there quite as much as I do for January yet...But, they'll be coming, I'm sure!

The "problem" with this is the immediacy...Advent and Christmas being just around the corner...Yet, there are ways to key into this as well...I mean telling the story is so evident there! How can we share the story of Christ? Well, let's start with his birth! The town itself, through school and leaders of the town, are open and welcoming to hear the story of Jesus and want it told in the various arenas of celebration. Let's take advantage of that!

There are still some details to work through-- some of the business aspects...How to talk about stewardship, finances, and other issues...Also how to teach the congregation about being disciples...What it means to deal with conflict, because Jesus has a thing or two to say about it! And being direct about problems and concerns rather than going behind someone's back...No, it won't go away-- I'm not naive to think that it will...But, maybe we can work on decreasing it! that would be awesome!

It's refreshing to have this picture being made clearer...Now, I also know that there will be some who will not like the picture-- some because they don't have control, some becuase there's work involved, some because it may seem to be too large...I'm not looking for things to change overnight...It takes baby steps...But we have to start making some bigger steps instead of crawling...And that can happen...With God's help it will!

Through God-- nothing is impossible!

Right or Left?

Right or Left?
There are times when I wonder if Jesus wants to just throw his hands up in frustration at the disciples…It just seems that they don’t get it…They spend all this time with Jesus and still ask some crazy questions! Yet, Jesus seems to be pretty patient with them…Oh, he corrects them all right but, he doesn’t tell them to stop asking questions or stop following him…
And we come to another one of those times in our Gospel lesson for this morning…The disciples just don’t seem to get it! Let’s start from the beginning of the story, because it comes from the very first question…James and John walk up to Jesus and it actually isn’t really a question…It’s a statement, no an order to Jesus…James and John say to Jesus, “We want you to do whatever we ask you.” Can you imagine just walking up to Jesus and saying, “Hey Jesus, I want you do whatever I ask you to do.” That takes some guts right there…It’s not asking Jesus to think about or consider it…No, it’s flat out telling Jesus—do whatever I tell you to. Now, to be fair James and John had been following Jesus for some time and had a relationship with Jesus…He was their teacher, their advisor, their friend…It wasn’t just a stranger that they were talking with…Jesus was someone that they knew very well…And Jesus had asked some things of them too…They had to leave everything behind to follow him and Jesus didn’t really ask them either…He told them, Follow me…But really…Going up to Jesus and saying, “Do whatever I ask you to do.” Now, if someone were to come up to me and say, “Do whatever I ask you to do.” I’d have some questions and I’d probably already have some feelings that I’m not going to whatever they say, just because…
Well, Jesus does have a few questions…First; he asks what it is that they want. Good question and good way to handle the situation…Find out what they want first before agreeing to anything…And then the worlds tumble out of their mouth… “Grant us that one of us may lift on your right and one will sit on your left in glory.” Now, this just isn’t asking Jesus to sit next to them at dinner…This is the whole big thing…They’re asking Jesus to give them power. A few weeks ago, in our story, the disciples were arguing about who was greater…And now, James and John are making sure that they’re the greater ones…It almost like a top secret plot…Like James and John have been working on this idea for awhile and now they’ve got the opportune time to ask Jesus to make them the greatest…And it’s probably more, in their minds, just affirming that they’re really the greatest of all the disciples…And really not just the disciples, but all people…Better than the rest of the disciples…Greater than the rest of humanity…Greater than their ancestors…Now that’s pretty big stuff there…James and John want to be greater and more powerful than any of the people who have gone before them…That’s pretty arrogant! Now, looking at some of the good here…James and John have come to recognize Jesus as who he is, the Messiah…They know that he is great and powerful and close to God…But in the midst of that understanding…They still just don’t get it…
So, Jesus tries to help them understand even more…He tells them that they need to drink the cup that he drinks…The idea of the cup was highly symbolic to those in Jesus’ time…Different cups held different meaning. The disciples probably misunderstood Jesus and assumed that the cup he was talking about was a cup of high honor…However, ultimately Jesus was referring to the same cup that he refers to later as he is praying in the garden of Gethsemane…Just before he is arrested. Without hesitation, James & John tell Jesus that they can drink from the cup. You know, these disciples here…First they tell Jesus that he should do whatever they ask, they put themselves above everyone else, and think that they get a cup of honor!
Now, it’s easy to point fingers at the disciples and say how they’re such awful people…I mean, they’re not here to defend themselves for one…And we don’t have their interpretation of the story—I’m sure they have good reasons in their minds for some of the silly things that we can see them do and say…It’s easy to point fingers and say, “Oh you silly disciples!”
But it’s not so easy to point fingers at ourselves and see the times when we act just like them…It happens, doesn’t it? Those times when we demand things of Jesus…Those times when we place ourselves above others…Those times when we crave power that doesn’t and shouldn’t belong to us…Those times when someone could look at us, just as the disciples and say, “Oh, they just don’t get it do they?”
And yet, that doesn’t stop Jesus from loving us any less…As we see in our letter from Hebrews this morning, Jesus cries out in prayer and supplications even at the time of his death…Supplications are prayers offered on behalf of someone else…So, when you pray for someone else, you are offering a supplication for them…And Jesus offers supplications for all, even when it would be easy to say that they just “don’t get it.”
Jesus continues in his discussion and as he is talking the other disciples are angry with James and John…Maybe they’re angry because they weren’t included in the conversations leading up to this…Maybe they’re angry because they wish that they’d thought about asking Jesus first…Maybe they think that James and John have just lost it! Whatever the reason, the other disciples are angry with James and John…
So, Jesus continues his conversation with the disciples and teaches them yet again, “Whoever wants to be great, must first be a servant of all.” This isn’t the first time that Jesus said something like this…Actually in the Gospel lessons that we have read over the last few weeks, we have heard Jesus say something like this each time…The first will be last, the last will be first…These kinds of things that the disciples had been hearing Jesus teach for several weeks, well for his whole teaching! And yet, it didn’t sink in completely because they were asking for great power…They were asking for great power without having to do anything for it…
There’s a quote that I heard and I’m not sure who the original author was, but it was a quote that struck me and was a reminder of this passage… The quote goes, “Sometimes in order to be a leader, you must first be a servant.” That’s what Jesus is saying here… “Whoever wants to be great must first be servant to all.” My dad works as a warehouse manager. He’s been in his current position for about 4 years and it’s much different than the job he previously worked in for 20 years…Where he was a warehouse manager before, while he had paperwork responsibilities, he was also able to take time and work with those he was supervising…He loaded trucks right alongside them…He lifted and carried boxes…He gained their respect…In his new job, those he supervises are in a union and he’s not able to lift and carry any boxes or load the truck…It would be very easy for him to get lost in the paperwork, but he maintained that if he was to be a successful supervisor, he needed to know those he was supervising…So, he joined them at lunch…He made conversation…He got to know who they were…Sure, he could have been a great supervisor without doing all those things, but by understanding those he works with, he was able to fight for certain things with the company and make sure that those employees were taken care of.
“Whoever wants to be great must first be servant to all.” It seems like a contradiction…But Jesus was always flipping things that were understood for the disciples…He was always turning their world around…He was always trying to help them understand what grace really is! It doesn’t make sense sometimes…Yet, it is there, always present for all people…
Yes, sometimes Jesus’ words seem mysterious and coded to us, but they really aren’t…They also seem like contradictions…But there’s a different word…That word is paradox…Now, a paradox is different than a contradiction…Because a contradiction means that there are two ideas that just can’t be held together—complete opposites. But a paradox…A paradox is when two ideas seem like they can’t be held together, but they are…Like when Jesus says that “Whoever wants to be great must first be a servant.” It means that you can be great and be a servant…Not only can you…But in Jesus’ words, you must…It’s holding two seemingly opposites together and it makes sense…
Maybe it doesn’t always make sense to us…But, it makes sense to God…Just like God’s grace doesn’t always make sense to us…How can God love everybody? How can God love the things that are wrong? Well…That’s God’s paradox…God can do it, well because God is God! Jesus lead by example that whoever wants to be great must first be a servant to all…Jesus was great and powerful…Jesus was God! Yet, Jesus walked the earth…Jesus ate with sinners…Jesus touched those that were unclean…Jesus became a servant of all…And Jesus was great…God walked the earth…God ate with sinners…God touched those that were unclean…God became a servant of all…And God is great!

Is that All?

Is that All?
One of the things that Jesus was accused of throughout his life was abandoning the laws…Some claimed that he refused to follow the laws of Moses, those laws of history…The ones that the Pharisees were so quick to protect…The problem with that accusation is that it is completely false…and actually, the truth is that Jesus did the opposite of the accusation…Usually when he was asked a question about the law, he would restate the law in question and then go a step further where he would make an addition to the law, which then made it a little bit harder…Like the time when Jesus was asked about murder and Jesus said that murder was awful, but if you even speak a harsh word under your breath at someone, it meant that you were breaking the law. And as Jesus said, he was here not to overturn the law, but to fulfill it. So, we come to this passage from Mark this morning…And the rich ruler comes to Jesus.
This rich ruler comes to Jesus and is aware of Jesus and what he has been teaching, because he addresses Jesus, "Good teacher"…Now, there may be good reason why he addresses Jesus as "Good teacher." The first being that he knew what Jesus had been teaching and he was so impressed with these amazing ideas…And the second, that he was trying to flatter Jesus a little bit…So that he could get the answer to his question, "How can I receive eternal life."
Well, Jesus answers this rich ruler that he must follow the commandments…Jesus answers not in opposition to the law, but instead he agrees with it! Now this rich fellow that came to talk with Jesus was probably more than a little disappointed…I mean he had traveled to hear Jesus say something new and innovative about eternal life and maybe give this rich ruler some praise and instead, he hears the same thing that he hears in temple all the time…So, it's probably with some annoyance in his response that he tells Jesus that he's already kept those commandments from his childhood.
Then, comes the Jesus twist…Where Jesus pulls the crank a little bit…Where he makes things a little bit harder…He tells this rich man that he needs to sell all of his possessions…And the rich man walks away sad because he has many things…Today, there are all kinds of ways that a person might become rich…With some internet companies, there are stories all the time of someone becoming multi-millionaires overnight…People earn a fortune in the stock market, get hired in a new job that insures their financial security for a lifetime…Well, in Jesus' time, it wasn't all that common for someone to become rich overnight…If someone were rich it was because they were born that way or were part of a family that was rich…Very rarely it was through hard work…Of course there were the less than honest ways, just like we have today…There are certainly some people who have earned their money at the expense of others…Those people and companies who have made their money by forcing others to do work for pennies…Those people who cheat others out of a fair wage…In Jesus' time, these ways were also ways that people either got rich or maintained their wealth…
To be fair, we don't know how this rich ruler obtained his money…Perhaps he was just born into money and perhaps he was rich by hurting other people…What we do know is that when Jesus told him to sell everything he owned, he just couldn't do it…
Now, Jesus didn't just tell this man to sell everything that he owned and hoard the money…He told him to sell everything he owned and give the money to the poor…So, not only was this man supposed to sell all of his possessions, but he had to then give the money to the poor too! This was getting out of hand…This instruction was getting just too difficult…
Jesus of course takes the opportunity to then teach the disciples about this. They talk about how hard it is for someone who has any wealth to get into the kingdom of God. He uses a preposterous illustration to bring things home for the disciples. He tells that that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to get into the kingdom of God. Now, that's a pretty intense illustration…It's a great picture to imagine…I mean it's just ridiculous! A camel going through the eye of a needle! And yet Jesus says that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Who are the rich people today? You have to mention Oprah, of course…Who else? (wait for responses) Now imagine if Oprah went up to Jesus and asked what she needed to do to enter the kingdom of God…Now, it can't be denied that Oprah is a huge philanthropist, and she gives a lot of her money to help others…Yet, Jesus says, sell all of your possessions and give the money to the poor…
A few months ago, someone recommended a website to me that calculates how rich you are…At the time, I was in school, so I thought it would be interesting to see…I went back just the other day to check out my status…I am in the 9.9% of the richest population in the world…I thought that was just ridiculous, so I ran it again…and again…And the number came out the same every time…Now, I certainly don't feel like I'm in the top 9.9% of the world…But the truth of the matter is, that if you have a roof over your head, are able to eat three meals a day if you choose, and have more than one outfit in your closet, you are richer than more than 90% of the world…Three billion people in the world live on less than $2 a day…1.3 billion people in the world get by on less than $1 a day…
So, now the scenario changes…And it's not Oprah who goes to see Jesus, but we go to see Jesus and ask him what we need to do to enter the kingdom of God…And Jesus says to us, you must sell all of your possessions and give the money to the poor…What is your response? Do you go away grieving?
There's another example within this passage…As Jesus is teaching the disciples about entering the kingdom of God, Peter pipes up…He tells Jesus that they have all left everything in order to follow Jesus…The disciples have left their home, their friends, their family…Everything in order to follow Jesus…And all Jesus said to them was, "Come, follow me." I mean, today if someone said to us, "Come, and follow me." There would be extensive research done to find out who this person is…Background checks, personal interviews, tests…The works! Now the disciples didn't have those things at their disposal…But, they wouldn't have used them if they did…They went without questioning Jesus…
It's intimidating is it not? That we need to give up all of our material possessions in order to follow Jesus…
How many have seen the movie: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? Now, I'm talking about the original one…Not the one with Johnny Depp, but the one with Gene Wilder…The one with the Oompa Loompas with the orange faces…Well, Charlie Bucket is very poor and through some great happenings, he wins one of 5 chances to tour the great Willy Wonka's chocolate factory…As these children and their adult with them are touring the factory, Willy Wonka gives each of them an Everlasting Gobstopper…A piece of candy that according to Willy will never get smaller…He proclaims that it's great for someone who doesn't have a lot of money because they can spend just pennies for something that lasts forever! Well, as they go through the factory, each of the kids does something to disqualify them from the running from the incredible prize…Even Charlie…But, Charlie and his grandfather are the only two left at the end of the tour who are able to walk out of the factory with no real injury to themselves…As they have this explosive scene with Willy Wonka who yells at Charlie and his grandfather for causing more work, Charlie's grandfather tells Charlie that they'll leave and sell the everlasting gobstopper to Willy Wonka's competitor…That gobstopper was the only thing keeping Charlie and his family from living on the street…Yet, in the final moments, Charlie takes the gobstopper out of his pocket and gives it back to Willy Wonka…Charlie Bucket gave everything that he had…
Oh goodness it's so hard…But, as Charlie and the disciples show us, it's not impossible…It's not impossible to give up everything that you own to follow Jesus…
Jesus tells the disciples that whoever gives up everything that they own will receive hundredfold both now and in the age to come…Jesus says that by giving stuff up, we will actually receive more…That's pretty incredible…And actually continuing with Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka…By giving up the everlasting Gobstopper, Charlie received the entire factory…He received back hundredfold by giving up everything that he had…
Perhaps, it's not having such an addiction or dependency on all that stuff…You don't have to go to the store to buy the latest gadget just because…You don't have to get the latest and the greatest…You really only need a few things in order to survive…
Jesus also tells the disciples that for humans…This task, selling everything is impossible…Oh sure there are some who do it! And there are others who give up a little bit and some who give up a lot…And Jesus doesn't say that since it is impossible, you shouldn't try…Jesus says that yes, for humans it is impossible…But nothing is impossible through God…
Nothing is impossible through God…God will help with our addictions to stuff…It takes simply asking God and recognizing that we do need some help, that we can't really do it on our own…And God is there ready to be with us and work with us in anyway that we need God…Because nothing is impossible with God…God is bigger than any issue, any thing, everything…And God's love is bigger than any thing…And God's grace is better than any thing…Nothing is impossible with God…

One of those Days

Oh yesterday was one of those day...Actually last night, I wanted to sell a cat or two! It wasn't completely their fault, but they aggrivated things...

I don't like to have a set in stone plan for my days, but I do know that there are some things that I like to accomplish on a given day. It doesn't mean that I can't be flexible, but I like to feel like I've gotten a few things done for the day! It goes with the job that I'll be interrupted and I know that...That's what I'm here for! I'm here for those who need to be listened to or counseled or who are seeking assistance that I can offer. I am totally with that! But it seemed like every time I went to go and do something, I was interrupted...Finally I just gave up. Don't get me wrong, I loved talking with the people that I did, but that meant that I got nothing accomplished. When I gave up and just waited for someone to pop in or another conversation, it was quiet for the rest of the afternoon...So, nothing really got done yesterday.

I had a meeting at 6:30 last night and I knew it would probably go until about 9 or so, but I really wasn't hungry for dinner yet...So, I decided to wait until I got back...Although, I knew I was in trouble when I got up from the couch at 6:30 and wanted to go to bed! I was wiped! But, the meeting called...I should have made some coffee or something, but it's all good...Anyway, the meeting got finished relatively early (8 instead of 9), so I thought that I would grill myself a chicken breast on my handy dandy George Foreman grill...As I was salivating thining about this wonderful dinner, I pulled a massive chicken breast out of the freezer. I figured I could thaw it out and cut in half and have lunch for the next day! So, I tossed in on the grill and when it was thawed enough to cut, it slipped from my grasp and half of it fell on the floor...No use in the 5 second rule becuase it was gross! No problem, I still have the other half which was massive enough (still) to be enough for dinner and lunch...It took FOREVER to cook! And each time I thought it was done, it was a nice shade of pink still inside...In the meantime, my cats have learned that they can jump on the counter now. So, I'm struggling with my chicken as my cats are poking their noses near the hot grill. Next to me is my plate with the bun on it...The little cat thought that would make a good dinner for her and as she nosed it around, she knocked the plate to the ground. I'm here to say that Corelle does indeed smash...There were pieces everywhere! So, I'm trying to clean that up as the timer goes off on the oven to pull out my tator tots and as I do that, I smell my chicken burning, so I try and pull it off the grill only to have that piece fall to the floor! Now, I have a mess of chicken and glass on my floor with my cats trying to eat the chicken fat...After I got everything cleaned up, at 10:15, I sat down to eat my tator tots...

Today, I'm cleaning up my house for Bible study tonight...I'm really tired and I want to take a nap so bad, but those things that I didn't finish yesterday...I have to do today now. And I can't put them off!

Plus...I had to turn the heat on and that makes me sad...It means that it really is fall and I should probably start wearing tights or nylons with my skirts...That makes me sad too...

Maybe I'll make myself a cup of tea and finish up some paperwork...Friday can't come fast enough!

Un-expectations

This morning's sermon had a few personal stories that I don't think would be appropriate to share with the whole world...If you're really interested, let me know and I'll consider e-mailing it to you...In the meantime, here's the sermon from my first Sunday here!

Un-expectations

So, I was thinking as I was driving from Dayton, OH to here earlier this week about the English language. And I had quite a bit of time to think about it while I was in my car for that 6 hour drive…I'm not sure what got me started, maybe it was looking at the billboards or seeing the road signs along the way….Whatever it was, I started thinking about the English language and how it came to be…Where some of the words came from, the roots of words, and slang…And I realized that there must have come a time when someone made up a new word…Maybe it was by sticking two words together or maybe it was using another language, but it was a new word…And the only way for a new word to catch on is to use it right? Use your new word in conversation and as people are trying to figure out what in the world you mean, you just look at them like it's a word that everyone is using! And in the meantime, they start using the word around their family and friends and before you know it, it's a word that you can find in the dictionary!

So, this morning, we're going to talk about un-expectations…And yes, it's a word that I made up…But, it makes sense doesn't it? Un-expectations…Those times when you have an idea of what is going to happen and it turns out opposite or something that you didn't even think of, happens…It's a moment of unexpected surprise or un-expectation…And these moments can turn out great or they can be a little nerve-wracking…They catch you off guard…

Both of our Scripture lessons from this morning contain moments of un-expectation…The first story that we heard from the book of 1 Samuel…The story of David and Goliath…How many of you had heard the story before or at least heard of the story? It's the classic tale of the underdog winning the victory! And oh, how we love those stories. It gives hope to us, because if the little guy did it, then we certainly can as well!

But, let's be honest…The first time you heard this story, you didn't expect it to end the way it did, did you? I know that I didn't…Who would have thought that in all of the possibilities to send to go up against Goliath, Saul would send David…David, a child…David, the shepherd boy…David, the future king…Who would have thought that this little boy would defeat one of the largest men of the army! Saul certainly has a moment of doubt within the story, when David offers to go against Goliath, Saul basically says…No way…Not gonna happen! Yet, David is just audacious enough or maybe crazy enough to keep pursuing the chance to go up against Goliath…And he convinces Saul that he should be allowed to go against Goliath…And even as the words were tumbling out of Saul's mouth, there must have been a moment of un-expectation from Saul…While his mouth is saying one thing, Saul's head may be saying, "What are you doing!?!?!?"

And as David rejects Saul's idea of using his armor, again Saul has to be thinking that both he and David are out of their minds! Yet, he still lets David go into the ring—no armor or "real" weapons, just his sling shot and five stones…And then comes the end of this story…David beats Goliath! Talk about un-expectation! This was not supposed to happen! But, it's certainly welcomed and celebrated!

The Gospel lesson for this morning is the story of Jesus calming the sea…And again, it's an un-expectation! Jesus was out teaching and preaching all day and was so exhausted from the day's activities that he was in a dead sleep on the boat…The disciples were all around trying to get the boat ready for the next trip and Jesus is asleep…As the boat is out in the lake, suddenly a storm hits! This was an un-expectation! And the disciples start to panic about what's going to happen and they have a hard time waking Jesus up. When they finally get him awake, he stands up and calms the storm with his hands…As the disciples stare in disbelief, Jesus acts as though it was nothing new and even tells the disciples that they should have more faith!

Un-expectations…There are certainly many that you can think of in your life…Those moments when you've been surprised by something. The moments that just shock you and you can't figure out what's going on? Where you're left scratching your head and a look of confusion on your face…

It was like that for me when I accepted my calling into ministry…That moment when I heard God saying to me, "You are my child and I have called you to do my work…Where you go I will be." Oh, I didn't jump up right away and say yes, I sat for a few minutes…Okay, let's be honest for about a year and scratched my head, saying, "Are you serious? I was just hoping that you would say something like, 'Well done good and faithful servant." It was a moment of un-expectation! But, accepting that calling and journeying into seminary has brought me here with you as the new pastor for Sheridan and Norway United Methodist Churches. A series of un-expectations…

Un-expectations are just that…Unexpected—there's nothing in the definition that says that they're good or bad, they're just simply unexpected… Un-expectations…They may catch you off guard, but in those moments, just like the moments from our stories this morning, God is there in the midst of them…God is present in the midst of the un-expectations…

Oh God always has surprises for us…Those moments when you scratch your head and just have to say, "Oh God, You got me on that one!" Or you realize, that the unexpected way turned out better than you had planned…And you just have to say, God's hands were all over that one! Moments of un-expectation…Oh they're all around…Sometimes it's not all that hard to find them and yet other times…Other times you really have to search! But oh how those moments are precious…They're unexpected moments of blessing... Unexpected moments with God…Unexpected moments of God's grace…

Those un-expectations…It's hard to say that you should have un-expectations because by the very definition, you shouldn't be expecting them! Yet, it's living in an attitude of un-expectation…To be waiting and watching for those moments when God surprises you! The phrase: Expect the unexpected comes up…Watch for what God has in store for you…Maybe it's slaying that giant that's facing you or calming a storm…Maybe God is calling you to do or be something that you hadn't thought about!

Moments of un-expectation are all around…Wait for them, look for them, relish in them…Because God is present in the midst of them…

Somebody's got to nail that girl's fins to the floor

Yesterday I wrote what was probably the most intelligent blog that I've ever written...It was about the recent current events and my pontifications on them...However, myspace deleted it as I was posting it and so, now it's gone! It's floating around in cyberspace, I'm sure...I'm sorry that you won't be able to read it...I'll try and be intelligent again, but just not today...

Last night was beginning for our Wed. night programs, the children's midweek program Live BIG and the adult Bible study Jesus in the Gospels. I have to admit that I am so excited to be on this schedule...I think I walked around all night with a smile on my face. These are the things that feed me so, so much!

I won't deny, though, I'm very tired this morning...I'm supposed to be in the office by 9 on Thursdays, but maybe that'll need to change...We'll see as time goes on!
One of the things that I did to unwind last night was kick back with some old school cartoons! I watched some She-Ra, Princess of Power! As I was watching, I had to laught at some of the situations and things that happened, that I must have thought at one time were the most awesome! I can certainly see why I loved He-Man & She-Ra so much, but there were certainly some cheesy moments...

But, really to unwind, I fell asleep to The Little Mermaid...I can't tell you how much I love this movie! It is my favorite Disney movie and could quite possibly be my favorite movie...At least it's in the top 3...When I watched it on Tuesday, I remembered most every line and was able to say them along with the movie, while also singing along (of course!).

So, I've been pontificating what it is about The Little Mermaid that is so appealing...I have wanted to be Ariel forever! There are so many lessons that come from the movie...There is the racism lesson that King Triton teaches us-- how he hates the humans because of prejudices...Flounder teaches us loyalty to friends...Sebastian teaches us that there are times when we need to ask for help from people and times when we can do things on our own...And Ariel...Oh, Ariel teaches us so many things. Ariel wants so desperately to be part of the human world-- sometimes, I want to be part of a "normal" world where I'm not a pastor and I can be just a "normal" 25 year old...However, unlike Ariel, although there are those times, I wouldn't trade my life for anything-- I'm extremely happy with who I am and where I am in life! Ariel also teaches us to go for whatever it is that we want with our whole heart-- she throws her whole heart into her quest to win the heart of the prince, Eric...

Oh and there are so many more lessons...Those Disney movies are clever there...

Okay, time to make some coffee and get ready to head into the office!

Pick Up!

Pick Up
There’s a phrase that I’m sure that you’ve heard many times in your life…And probably that you’ve said many times as well… “Pick up this mess!” I can remember when I was younger and my sister and I would play Barbies, we would make quite a mess…By the time you get all the Barbies out, plus the extra outfits, and all the accessories, it would make quite a mess! Things would be spread out all over the room…And our parents would let it go for a couple of days, because we couldn’t disrupt the story line we had going…But, eventually, we would hear, “Pick up this mess!” Usually because someone had tripped over something or my sister and I had gotten into an argument over who was going to wear a particular outfit…And we’d have to pick up the mess.
In our Gospel lesson for the morning, Jesus is talking to his disciples and is brought with a complaint…It seems that there is someone else going around casting out demons in the name of Jesus. The disciples are upset because this person is not following with them and not receiving the same training. Jesus is not concerned…If this person were doing something bad, it would be different, but whoever this is that is going around is helping as well, so Jesus says, “Whoever is not against us is for us.” But the event does bring about a lesson to teach the disciples…
Jesus has a lot to say about children and how to treat children. There is on going debate among scholars as to who Jesus means when he says “children” or “little ones.” Some say that he means children and only children…Others say that he means those who are new to faith or who have just begun their faith journey…But, if you also read the lessons that he teaches when Jesus says something about children or little ones, often it’s something that can apply much larger than to children or someone new to the faith…Like this lesson for today.
Jesus begins by telling the disciples not to put stumbling blocks in front of the little ones…If one does put stumbling blocks in the way, it would be better to have a millstone tied around their neck and be tossed into the ocean…That seems like a pretty harsh consequence right there, but Jesus doesn’t stop there! He continues on his teaching by telling the people that if their hand causes them to stumble, they should cut it off, same with the foot and with the eye…Jesus isn’t holding anything back here! Now, part of Jesus’ language here comes from the time that he was speaking in…He knew that the disciples would be familiar with some Greek plays in which when one part of the body caused a character to stumble, they would cut that part off…Eyes, feet, hands…It was to insure that they wouldn’t do it again…
Those stumbling blocks…Those things that are in place in our lives that make it difficult for us…Sometimes they are put in place by someone else…Those things that are just out of our control…The loss of a job that can make us distrust God…When someone tells lies about us that can make us want to be angry with not only that person, but also with God…When someone runs a stop sign and hits our car…Those times that things are out of our control, but become stumbling blocks in our relationship with God…Now, Jesus says that anyone who puts stumbling blocks in front of people, should tie a millstone around their neck…Perhaps that millstone is the guilt or shame that someone feels for doing that…And that can weigh a person down so that they feel like they’re drowning…
But, Jesus doesn’t lay the blame with others completely…He makes sure to point out that there are times when we do it to ourselves…When we create the stumbling blocks…Now, it is most likely not intentional that we do it, but yet they are still created…When we go on a shopping binge and spend way too much money and then can’t make the credit card payments…When we refuse to eat healthy or exercise and wonder why we can’t lose weight…When we go a little bit over the speed limit and get upset when the police pull us over for a ticket…Those times when we have put the stumbling blocks in our way…And instead of cutting off our feet, eyes, or hands…Simply removing them from our reach…Picking up the stumbling blocks and throwing them out of our way…
The story of Esther is filled with stumbling blocks…Both those that are placed out of her control and those that she creates for herself as well…Esther is a Jewish woman, but hides that fact as she marries the king…In the meantime, one of the king’s advisors, Haman, has begun a war on all the Jewish people and he is causing a genocide…Killing or enslaving any Jewish person who refused to pay him off or looked at him wrong…Esther is sitting quietly in the palace as these things are happening to the people that she loves, even her family. Finally, when Esther can’t take it anymore, she goes into see the king uninvited…Now, this was a big deal and the king could have put her in prison for this act! No one was to come and see the king unannounced or uninvited, not even his wife…And especially because she was a woman! But, the king didn’t get upset, instead he listened to her and she invited him to dinner with her…On the second dinner with the king and Haman, she finally got the nerve to tell the king that she was Jewish and that there was someone who was killing her family and friends. When the king asks who could be doing this, Esther says that it is the king’s advisor, Haman…The man that she should be the most afraid of…The man who has placed many stumbling blocks in her way, she tells the king what was going on and who was behind it. The king is surprised and angry and orders that Haman be punished…But, it is the bravery of Esther that is remembered from this story…The bravery of Esther to remove the stumbling blocks…
Now, Esther didn’t remove the stumbling blocks all on her own…Her uncle Mordeaci helped quite a bit…He helped to convince her what she was doing was right and gave her the extra courage that she needed up to the moment she talked with the king…
Sometimes the stumbling blocks are bigger than we think and it’s hard to pick them up or even realize that they’re there! Sometimes it’s asking someone to help you…To have someone to point out the stumbling blocks that you’ve put, not accusing, but to hold you accountable…That person to exercise with you or to take shopping with you to make sure that you stick to what you’ve said! And it’s also asking God to help you…For those things that are beyond your immediate control…To help to keep your eyes opened for a new opportunity…To be able to forgive…To be able to give you the extra strength and courage that you need when you remove the stumbling blocks….
And when it happens that you miss something and you find that stumbling block and you fall, there’s no need to just lay on the ground, getting dirty and frustrated…Even when we stumble and fall, God is there in the midst…Offering the help to get up—covering us in love…God doesn’t love us any less when that happens…God’s love for us is constantly surrounding, and there in the midst of those moments…
The same love and grace that we encounter at the table this morning…The grace that says that even when you stumble, I AM there in the midst of this…The grace and love that are greater than any stumbling block…The grace and love of God…