GET INTO THE BOAT

 

GET INTO THE BOAT!

It was sometime in the 80s. We were living in Omaha and I decided to paint the trim that ran under the roof of our home. I could do this with a step-ladder for most of the house, but on the north side, the peak of the roof was 29 feet high and my fear of heights was a huge problem. I would approach the ladder with a great deal of bravado- nothing to be afraid of- and rush up the rungs with my paint brush in hand. But as I neared the top, my legs froze and I hugged the ladder. When I finally made it to the top, I would reach out with one trembling hand and paint another inch or two of the trim… before I scampered back to the safety of the ground.

I was terrified! Scared to death, and I have never gotten over it! My late brother, Randy, on the other hand, was afraid of the sea…thalassophobia which seemed to call to him when he was on the shore. And it is this fear- thalassophobia- that many people in the ancient world had. Several ancient cultures had flood stories and many people in that time believed in sea monsters and other sources of danger. On the 5^th day of creation, Gen. 1:21, God created the great sea monsters, and except for Noah and his family, God destroyed humankind with the great flood. Jonah tried to run from God, but he was returned to his starting place in the belly of a “big fish.” With God on his side, Moses divided the sea, which allowed the people of God to escape from the Pharaoh. Otherwise, the great sea would’ve kept God’s people in slavery.

The sea was a mysterious and threatening thing for sailors and passengers alike, and this was certainly the case with the Sea of Galilee… where sudden, strong, and short-lived storms often occurred. This brings us to our passage today. After Jesus finished teaching about the kingdom of God, He said, “Let’s go to the other side”… of Lake Gennesaret (another name for the Sea of Galilee). Let’s get into the boat and go to the other side, and he meant “now,” without returning to Peter’s home and preparing for the trip. Jesus meant that they should get into the boat “now.” So they got into the boat, not long before a “great windstorm arose and their boat was filling with water.” The disciples were bailing out water and becoming increasingly frantic- so they woke Jesus up and questioned whether he even cared if they died. Rather than responding to such a question, Jesus rebuked the wind and the storm subsided. It was over. Everything was fine, and Jesus asked two questions: why are you so afraid, and have you still no faith? According to Mark, when Jesus calmed the sea, the disciples were filled with great fear yet again, asking one another, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Well, I hope each of you will give some thought to this brief passage, What did it mean? What does it say to us? And I will start with 5 observations of my own:

1.    The disciples were professional fishermen. They were the sons of professional fisherman, and they must have been familiar with the sudden storms that arose on this sea. So, why were they so terrified? Maybe it was their experience that gave birth to their fear.

2.    Getting into the boat is half of the battle. Unless we get into the boat, we will not experience the journey and we will never grow to be the men and women we were called to be. God calls and we respond… or not. We get into the boat… of not, and if we don’t go, we will miss out on all the things we might have see and all the blessings we would have received.

3.    Going to the other side can be a frightening thing! Who or what is on the other side? Will I be harmed or changed in ways that I don’t want to be changed? Will I be liked or will I be treated with disdain? Will the experience be worth the uncertainty that I will endure?

4.    Who was it that questioned whether Jesus cared? What kind of a question is that? I’ve been in my share of storms- you have too- and I’ve prayed to my Lord! I’ve sometimes wished that God would have said “yes,” instead of “no.” or “now,” instead of “later,” but I’ve never thought that God didn’t even care.

5.    Who is this man who can calm the sea and wind? This is a great question. Who is this man who has authority over the forces of nature? At its core, FAITH is more a matter of trust than intellectual assent. Faith is living as if what we claim and hope for… is true. Faith is actually believing that God’s eye is on the sparrow and that God has the whole world in His hands. If we can get a firm hold on the fact that the man who is sleeping in our boat… is GOD, we can rest easy and get a little sleep ourselves, If Jesus is God, we have nothing to fear! Nothing at all! Absolutely nothing! Amen!

 

 

WHOM SHALL I SEND?

 

WHOM SHALL I SEND?

 

Well, summer is upon us, and next Sunday, we will begin our worship hour at 9:30. it's also Memorial Day weekend, and once again we are called to honor those who gave their lives by answering our country's call to love freedom more than life. When I was in Rock Island, we conducted dozens of funerals at the Arsenal, and while I was waiting for the service to begin, I would sometimes walk around the graves… and take in the courage, the grace and the holiness of it all. Many “ordinary” men and women have given their lives so that we can live our lives in freedom, and we recognize them today!
      But we are also gathered to thank those who answered God’s call in their own lives- giving their time, their tears, their prayers, and their labor… ministering to others… because they were called to! In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah was in the temple when it was suddenly filled with the presence of God. Angels showed up and Isaiah was overwhelmed by a feeling of unworthiness. He was justified by the touch of a hot coal and then he heard God asking, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us!" And Isaiah shouted out, "Here I am! Send me!" Send me to go to where I don't know and use me for as long as you please. Send me! You know the Bible includes several "call" stories- Jonah, Samuel, and Paul among them- but I want to focus on God's call in our lives… because we're all being called to serve.

Each of us is called to do something that needs to be done for others in Christ’s name. Some of us are called to preach, some are called to teach, and some are called to sing or play music... and if God is calling you to do such things, you ought to do them. However, most callings have nothing to do with a far away mission fields or church stages. Let me mention Tammy Boggs, CL Palmer, Bill Seelye, and all of those who worked on building and grounds over the years. They served our Lord by keeping our lights on and our doors open! And I want to mention the servants who feed and clothe our neighbors, year after year, without much fanfare, because they have heard God’s call. And I think of those who host are church fellowship events- who set the beautiful tables and bring the food for our Seder meal, and who carry food and the tables across main street, so that we can serve ice cream and pies to the good people in Knoxville!   

      In Rock Island, we had three church members who attended funerals for people in our church and others whom they knew. No one asked them to do it. It wasn't official, but there they were- Vic, Dianne, and Don- at funerals big and small, to pay their respects, offer a little love, and to do what God had called them to do. In Rock Island, we also had a number of women who spent hours making Prayer Shawls for members and friends of the church, and here in Knoxville we have a vibrant Quilts for Valor ministry. And I must mention our Resale Shop because it's such an exciting place. Stop in, tell others about it, and don’t forget to thank those who give of their time and of themselves to receive gifts that God’s people donate, stock the shelves and fill our clothing racks, and staff the store… which is often crowded and filled with chatter.

      But what about you? What is God calling you to do? God is calling each of us through 1) our prayers; 2) our Bible studies; and 3) the issues that affect the lives of the people we know here. Get into prayer, get into study, and get into community... and you will have a much better chance of hearing God’s voice. God is calling us through 4) skills and talents that God has given us; 5) the events and issues that make us angry and break our hearts; 6) our tears and our own broken places; 7) and the causes that we are passionate about.

      Since I was a counselor for the Iowa Commission of the Blind in an earlier life and since Sherry worked for Access Living in Chicago for years, we are quick to notice things like ramps and large print Bibles. Some people don't give these things much thought, but they are passionate about poverty, gun violence, or drunk driving. Some people have a passion for inviting new people to church, others have a passion for reaching members who've drifted away, and still others don't give either group much thought. As a people we're blessed with different gifts, different stories, and different voices... and we will be stronger if each one of us responds to God when He calls us.
      In the year that someone I loved or something within me died, I was in church, as I had been a hundred times before, when I became aware that God was calling me. I'm not sure why I hadn't heard it before, but I heard God's voice just as clearly as I hear any voice. He was asking "Whom shall I send?" and "Who will go for us?"... and although I've never been one to get involved too deeply, I found myself raising my hand as if I was back in school. "Here I am," I cried, as I waved my hand in the air, "Here I am, send me!" On this Memorial Day, as we honor those who gave their lives in response to our country's call, let us open our own hearts and minds to God's call in our own lives. Each one of us has something to do for God- something that will bless us and some part of the community. Listen now.... listen and pray. Listen and pray, kiss a burning coal if you must. Then raise your hand and say, "Send me, Lord!" Amen.

 

BE LIKE MIKE

 

“BE LIKE MIKE”

 

Christians plant seeds and trust God with the rest. Some of the seeds we plant will fall on hard or shallow ground; some will be overwhelmed by weeds; some will blossom… but we are called to plant seeds of faith and hope as we walk through life. Some of these seeds are planted with words- with Scripture, prayer, and encouragement. Some of these seeds are planted by sharing spiritual insight and/or Biblical knowledge. But most of them are planted by men and women who share their love and faith with acts of service, love, and kindness.

 

Today, I want to lift up Mike Kelley because he planted more seeds for Christ- every day, in acts of compassion and love- than anyone else I’ve ever known. Mike Kelley was the “real deal.” He worked tirelessly to help others (without regard to status, color, and anything else) experience God’s love. Mike didn’t preach sermons, but he delivered a thousand through acts compassion and kindness! Mike didn’t attend Bible study and probably would’ve nodded off if he had. I don’t think Mike could’ve found some of the books of the Bible without looking up their page numbers… but in his life, he actually looked after the widows, welcomed strangers, fed the hungry, and did whatever he could for people in need.

 

Mike Kelley planted seeds for Christ everyday! He did more for me and Sherry than I can mention here, but he did the same for many, many others- individuals, families, and organizations (like church, Crime Fighters, and Rotary). He gave rides (to church and to other places). He repaired things that needed to be repaired. He helped people move and he often did most of the work. He built things that others wanted built. He delivered food, served food, and cleaned up… before he delivered the leftovers to others in need. He visited lonely people and greeted everyone with heartfelt enthusiasm, to let them know that God is with them. I knew Mike well for 25 years and I never heard him say or do anything that would degrade or harm anyone at all. Mike was something of a celebrity in Peoria and he received many awards and accolades. They were all richly deserved, but I think that Mike’s greater “awards” live in the hearts of those whom he loved and served!

 

Today, our focus is on our lectionary passages in Mark 4. Our focus is on scattering seeds of love and grace as we walk though life. Our focus today is on planting seeds of faith as we walk along. Some of us plant seeds by telling our stories of rebirth; some of us plant seeds by writing thoughtful books; some of us plant seeds by financing ministries that do God’s work; some of us plant seeds by providing food, clothing, and shelter to people who need to experience God’s grace; some of us plant seeds by accepting others as we find them; some of plant seeds by fighting for justice; some of us plant seeds by listening, maybe crying with, people whom Christ puts in our lives; some of us plant seeds by praying with and… for others; some of us plant seeds by forgiving others; some of us plant seeds for Christ by simply showing up or being present.

 

We’re are called to plant seeds of love, grace, and faith for Jesus, and in some ways, that’s about all we are called to do. In a sermon preached on March 10, 1522, Martin Luther preached about seeing the growth of the reform movement, saying, “I simply taught, preached, and wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word did everything.” Well, it seems that Luther was a seed planter too! We moved three or four times in Peoria, and Mike Kelley helped us three or four times… and he helped us in important and sacrificial ways. Mike and Linda owned a demanding business and they were committed to many other causes and needs, but… at 10, 10:30 at night, or so, when Sherry and I were sleeping, I would hear Mike’s big truck pull into our drive, and then I listened as he loaded whatever we needed removed (which was usually a lot)… and drove away!

 

Another seed, another sermon, about God’s love in action, another reminder that Christ is at work in our lives in ways big and small. It was just Mike Kelley doing what Mike Kelley always did. If you can preach like Luther, then preach like Luther. But if you have a boundless commitment to showing others- all others- that God loves them… be like Mike! Amen!

 

 

 

THANKING LUTHER RATMEYER  

 

Today I'm thinking about the angel who told the shepherds that a Savior was born in Bethlehem, and the late Rev. Luther Ratmeyer. The angel told the shepherds, who were never invited to much of anything, to go to Bethlehem and see for themselves. They were invited to join Mary and Joseph and the stood around the feeding trough that baby Jesus was sleeping in. I was not invited to join them, of course, but I was invited to know Jesus... by an angel named Luther.

 

It was in the late summer of 1976 and I was sitting on my cot on the 6th floor of the Eppley Treatment center. We were encouraged to spend time reflecting each day and maybe I was doing that. I don't recall, but when I looked across the room, Luther Ratmeyer was standing in my doorway. I didn't know him. I didn't invite him, and I certainly was not looking for a church. I was simply in the room when he asked to come in... to do what he felt he had to do... and what he would continue to do to the day he died... which was to tell lost and desperate people that Jesus loves them. He came to tell me that and also to invite me to trust in Jesus. He told me that Jesus had already forgiven me of the sins that haunted me as I sit there... and that Jesus would lead me into a life with purpose and joy, into a life that built people up instead of tearing them down, into a place where I would live in the moment and leave the rest to God. Lu told me that Jesus wanted me to experience the fullness of life and that I would... if I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

 

I was in a very vulnerable state and besides I was completely empty on the inside... so I asked Lu to lead me in the Sinner's Prayer, which he did, and when we finished, I experienced joy and hope for the first time in a long time. Me... me... who had totally lost my way, who had hardly ever been in a church, and who had never prayed any sort of prayer... me... who had committed sins just to cover over other sins... had been SAVED! Glory to God- my friends won't believe it- I've been saved!

 

Lu moved to Grand Rapids later on, to pastor a large church with a big staff... and I was happy for him. But when I last talked to Lu, he had moved on again... to a smaller church, where he could go out and tell people about Jesus! Lu wasn't geared to manage a big staff or to "run" an organization, but he was great at telling people that Jesus saves. That was his special gift and that's what he did to the end. I loved this man! I'm saved because he told me about Jesus and I'm a pastor because Lu was a pastor.

 

When Sherry and I were struggling with my "calling" to be a pastor, I came up with a compromise. I could be an "executive pastor" in a large church or maybe a Counseling Pastor somewhere. But when I told Lu about my plan, he told me to either be a pastor who leads people to Jesus, teaches the Bible, and preaches the Good News with conviction... or do something else for a living! So Sherry and I sold our home and moved into student housing.

 

Luther Ratmeyer was the "real deal." He was a "man of God," to use a phrase Lu liked to use, and I never thanked him enough for introducing me to Jesus. In my view, there are many angels and some of them have names... like Gabriel, Micheal, and Luther. Amen!

 

THE POWER OF TESTIMONY

 

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to Christ, so that through him all might believe. Now when the priests and Levites asked him who he was. He confessed freely, "I am not the Messiah." They asked him, "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." Finally they asked, "What do you say about yourself?" John replied, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.’ The next day John saw Jesus and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world' Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I testify that this is God's Chosen One."

No talk in John’s gospel about crowd sizes, although we know they were huge. No mention of John’s clothing or diet of locusts and wild honey, even though they are mentioned in the synoptic gospels. No mention of Zechariah and Elizabeth or the naming of John. Just the “foreverness” of Jesus and the witnessing of John, both of whom were living out the calling which they received from God!

Today, I want to lift up the power of testimony to what God has done in our own lives. Perhaps it’s because I left the world of business for the ministry, but people frequently ask me why I changed careers in the middle of the stream. And my answer is 1) pain- the pain I had given to others and the pain that I had inflicted on myself, 2) an deep emptiness in my soul that wouldn’t allow me to embrace… love, anger, regret, hope, joy, peace, envy, or anything else, 3) a faint but nagging thought that somehow, someday, in some way, I would be free to really “be,” and 4) the testimony of Pastor Luther Ratmeyer, whom I had never met before he told me that God loved me and that God would walk with me as I stumbled and walked to the place God had prepared for me. I’m convinced that I would be drunk or dead now if I hadn’t heard that the good news was news that included me.

And so, I tell my story to let others know this simple truth: Jesus loves them, personally, with all of their dreams and secrets, and that He has the power to give them hope, purpose, and a story to share with others! Indeed, even now, I see people who have witnessed to me… by the stories they’ve told, the questions they’ve asked, and the growth I’ve see them make. People here, and in Joliet, Kalamazoo, the Quad-Cities, and Peoria… have testified to others about Jesus in word and deed. They have visited people in need, they’ve given them rides to church and doctors and other places (thanks, Ruth), they’ve helped others repair things that need to be repaired (thanks Mike and Steve and Curtis), they’ve prayed for others, they’ve made room for others in their own worlds, they’ve fed and clothed others (thanks Sherry, C.L, Harold), and given God the glory.

I know the power of baptism. I’ve seen the tears that flow when adults come up from the water. But today, I want to applaud those who are witnessing to Christ Jesus in word and deed. There’s an old story about a family who was crying for help because they were stranded along the road. Well, a car filled with Christians saw them and pulled over to help. And when they heard their story, they offered a prayer and left a pamphlet. Shortly thereafter, another car of Christians pulled over to see if they could help. And when they heard what the others needed, they gave them rides to a place of comfort and safety, where others could meet their needs. The question is, which group of Christians witnessed to God’s presence? The group who prayed with them and gave them a pamphlet, or the group who helped… without ever mentioning why they were doing it?

People sometimes minimize what they call “the little things,” but what other things are there really? Baptizing is an act that generally takes some sort of credential or authorization, but it doesn’t take anything but love to tell others that God loves them, and won’t give up on them, and knows their name. It generally takes some sort of credential to teach a class in a university… but it doesn’t take much more than joy and opportunity to teach others that God is good. People are glad to tell others that they are fans of the Cubs, even if those they are talking with like the Cardinals, but it’s just as easy to be a fan of Jesus and tell others why. Many people have recommended a doctor or a dentist or a plumber they trusted, but it’s just as easy to recommend Christ to people who are hurting, or to tell them that that you have found something that makes life more joyful and more meaningful. May we thank God for those who have witnessed to us in word and deed!  Amen.

 

GOLDEN CALVES AND OTHER PRETENDERS

If I know who and whose I am- I mean really “know”- I will be far more likely to remain faithful… and far less likely to get “caught off-guard,” or to chase a shiny object as it rolls toward a sewer. For the longest time I didn’t know who or whose I was. In a word, I was “lost.” So I gave myself over to alcohol and spent years wandering in a desert. I had values of course, and sometimes I lived as if I did. I saw myself as a “good person” down deep, but I wasn’t sure what that meant. I wanted to be liked and I wanted to be “somebody.” So, I just drifted along, like a bobber, for the longest time.

I remember a cartoon that depicted a well-dressed man and woman kneeling before an altar that had a huge dollar sign on the throne… and one of them turned to the other and said, “I was happier when we were Presbyterian.” Indeed, but we are tempted to worship things that appeal to us and promise to make us somebody worth knowing. Some people fall in love with alcohol or other drugs, and can’t even fathom a good time without them; other people have the same intense passion for chocolate, or sex, or just pleasing others, but money seems to be God’s biggest competitor for worship. Follow the money, it is said, if you wonder what you are worshiping. In the 12 Step world (and I just had my 47^th Birthday), we ask ourselves questions like these: 1) who/what do I absolutely need in my life? 2) When I’m down and out, feeling depressed and defeated, who/what do I need for comfort and support? 3) Who/what do I need to give me courage and calm my nerves? 4) If I have something to celebrate, if I’m looking for a really good time, who/what do I need to be there? 5) And when someone asks, “who are you?” do you stumble for an answer, equivocate, or say, “I’m a child of God?”

To me, it’s surprising that a golden calf even crossed Aaron’s mind when the people became impatient. It’s sad enough that people who had experienced the wonder and power of God… would abandon God so quickly, but it is incredible that Aaron wanted to please the people more than he wanted to please God. Aaron knew better. Surely he knew better, but when the people cried for a god who would lead them to the promised land, Aaron fashioned a golden calf out of their jewelry. Instead of rising in defense of a God who had already shown his compassion and his power, Aaron invited the people to bring him their jewelry and after he had fashioned a golden calf, Aaron proclaimed “this golden calf is your god.” You can trust in him. Let us celebrate the golden calf, and they did because people are inclined to worship tangible symbols of things that are too big for them!

The golden calf seems ridiculous, but our own world is filled with golden calves isn’t it? Ask yourself these questions: 1) whom or what do I love so deeply that I can’t imagine living without? 2) What thing or things would I never do, not even to save my life? 3) What sins, if any, are out of the question for me- impossible under any condition? 4) Who is your God? 5) Who do you trust with your fears, your doubts, and your identity, today and forever? 6) Or are you clinging to a golden lamb, for as long as you can? 6) Are you a God-pleaser, or a people-pleaser? 7) In whom will you finally rest? 8) what is my work while I am here on earth? These are good questions and they cannot be answered if we don’t know the difference between Almighty God and a golden calf!  Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

RUN, JONAH, RUN

 

I love the little book of Jonah! It makes it clear that God’s grace is too much for us and it makes it clear that God always “gets the man or woman He calls.”

 

In Jonah's day, the world was tough and ruthless, but Assyria was as bad as it got. In 722 BC Assyria decimated the northern kingdom of Israel and then besieged Jerusalem 20 years later. The Assyrians demanded “protection” money, or else. from many vassal states and if they didn’t get what they wanted, they ravaged, tortured, and humiliated the people of the land. The Assyrians were feared throughout the known world, and Nineveh was its capital city. Thus, when God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and give its people the chance to repent, Jonah could hardly believe his ears! Giving the people of Nineveh a chance to be forgiven was absurd,,, and Jonah would not do it. No, he wouldn't do it.

 

So, instead of going to Nineveh, he boarded the first ship to anywhere, to get as far away from God as he could possibly get. But God is always aware. Jonah should’ve known that. He couldn't run from God. None of us can, and Jonah discovered that for himself, when he encountered a life-threatening storm at sea. Running from God is surely a mistake, and in Jonah's case it would've been fatal... if God hadn't sent a big fish to gobble him up... and spit him out... right back where he had been in the first place.

 

Hey Jonah, God called again, how about going to Nineveh and giving them a chance to repent? Well, Jonah was obedient this time, and he soon found himself walking up and down the streets of Nineveh, calling both the "great and the small" to repent and turn to Yahweh. And they did! They repented. They all repented... and Jonah was outraged! He couldn't accept the fact that these hated people would be forgiven. So he threw another fit and pouted, and waited to see what would happen. God told Jonah that He (God) had to be concerned about the 120,000 people who lived in Nineveh... because they didn't know "their right hand from their left," which reminds me of Jesus’ prayer, “Father forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing.” They didn't have a clue... and God has a special place in his heart for the confused and lost.
     

Thus, we encounter a God who is more forgiving than we are... which is hardly surprising because we are afraid of grace. We are afraid that others will take advantage of us and we don’t know who deserves grace and who doesn’t. We may give ourselves the benefit of the doubt, but we are prone to be unforgiving of others. Unmerited grace (and all grace is unmerited) embarrasses us. We protest when it's offered to us and we resent it when it's offered to others. To most of us, grace seems unfair, and even though it is not Biblical, we insist on believing that God helps those who help themselves! We talk about grace,  but we expect others to earn the love they get (and we suspect that this is also true for us).!   
     

Someone once told me that the book of Jonah was written as a humorous account of what God may ask us to do…  but grace is not a joke... and our unwillingness to give it to others is not funny! Expecting God to forgive our deepest sins... while holding our neighbor's slightest misstep against him or her... is not a laughing matter. Friends, let us accept the fact that we are forgiven and forgive others to the point where it seems silly! Pray that God will show us how to give grace and show us how to become a more forgiving people. May we come to see that none of us “deserves” grace... and that no one has ever “earned” it!