BROKEN CISTERNS & LIVING WATER

      The word "sin" isn't in vogue these days. It sounds harsh... outdated. I can admit that I make mistakes. I use poor judgment. I carry "baggage" from my past, but I don't like to think of myself as a sinner. But I am! I am tempted to worship myself first, my family second, my work third, the things that make me feel better fourth...and God on Sundays. I am a sinner- not so much because I cuss, smoke, lie, carouse, and drink- but rather, because I don't love God with all of my heart and I don't love my neighbor as myself.
      By any Biblical measure, I am a sinner. I am not humble; I'm not much of a peacemaker, and my heart's not nearly as pure as it ought to be. I could go on and confess that I don't turn the other cheek or love my enemies... but the case against me just gets stronger and stronger... until, at last, I cry out, "Lord, have mercy on me!" Whether we're talking about the Ten Commandments... or the seven deadly sins of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, or pride...or the seven things that are an abomination to God (Prov. 6:16ff)- a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift to run into mischief, a deceitful witness that utters lies, or a man who sows discord among his brothers... I fare poorly. Perhaps you do too. I've always been fond of Ghandi's seven deadly sins- wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, science without humanity, knowledge without character, politics without principle, commerce without morality and worship without sacrifice... but I'm not sure that I would meet that standard either.
      We're all sinners...but rather than talking about specific sins, I want to focus on the 2 sins that Jeremiah cites in the 2nd chapter of the book that bears his name. The individual sins that the ancient Hebrews committed are impossible to know, but the nature of their sin fell into two categories-1) they abandoned God and 2) they trusted in themselves. Listen to God's emotional case against Israel... as I paraphrase it in my words. In the beginning, God said to Israel, you loved me and you obeyed my commandments. You kept yourself separate from the world- and in that way, you remained holy, but now you are lost. You've chased worthless idols, my priests have become full of themselves, and my shepherds fatten my flocks for slaughter (as if they were theirs). My people have committed 2 sins- they've forsaken me and they've put their trust in broken cisterns, which cannot hold water! It boggles my mind (God noted) because no people has ever abandoned one god for another... except you! You had the living God as your God. You had a God who could hear and see and love. You had a God who was willing and able. You had the ONLY one who could give you living waters, and you through me under the bus... in your rush to be worldly.
      Friends, we are still trusting in broken cisterns and we continue to forget our God! There was a time in our country when Bibles were used a primers, and now they're not even allowed at school. There was a time when our leaders really believed that they were responsible to God because America was in His hands. There was a time... when people joined in prayer at civic events. There was a time when people came to America to for religious freedom, and there was a time when Christmas was Christmas and Easter was Easter. There was a time when people knew that "separation of church and state" was meant to protect the church. In short, there was a time when we acted as if we knew who we were... and whose we were.  But now we're in a time, where we're all encouraged to trust in our broken cisterns- ourselves, our ideas, wishes, pleasures, and the little gods we make. Instead of trusting in God, we trust in our money, education, status, power, charm, intelligence... neither knowing nor caring that we're trusting in broken cisterns that can't hold water, 
      This would be a bleak picture... if it were the end of the story... but God is not through with us yet.  Who we were yesterday is not who we need to be tomorrow...because, in Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin! We cannot serve Christ on our own terms- it is an obvious oxymoron- and we will never get free from the chains of self and the burdens of living... if we continue to trust in broken cisterns. Friends, it is my prayer that you will give up the fruitless search for a cistern that will quench your thirst... and embrace the One who offers living water! Amen!

THE WORLD'S GONE MAD! IS IT THEM, OR IS IT ME?

Throughout my adult life, I've made an effort to stay young... in the ways that I think and act. Even though I knew that I was not part of its target audience, I watched The Chappelle Show faithfully, and the same can be said for Family Guy, the Colbert Report, and a host of other programs. Knowing that I should be listening to "oldies but goodies," I've tried to keep up with current music. I love Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, and Blake Shelton. Given the choice, I've chosen the progressive side of most of the socio-political issues that have affected my life, and I've tried to make sense of every "cause" that came my way. I've tried to find power in diversity, and I've tried to believe that it doesn't matter what you believe, just as long as you believe something.

I've tried. I am 67 years old,  and I've tried. I've tried to stay up with the times and to embrace the ever-increasing rate of change.  But It's not working. With each passing day, I am persuaded that the changes I've believed in... are taking- even shoving- us in the wrong direction. Perhaps I am just getting old, but it now seems clear that:

1)  Handouts are not empowering, and excuses are not solutions.
2)  The word "sin" is not outdated, and
3)  there is "right and wrong," which is not based on feelings or passing fads.
4)  It does matter what we believe. In fact, it may be the only thing that matters. and what we believe
     must include faith and family.
5)  Boundaries and permission were both part of Eden, and so were consequences. Doing whatever  
     we want to do... is not paradise.
6)  Words matter. They build up; they tear down; and they should be chosen carefully.
7)  Love is more action than words, more sacrifice than pleasure.
8)  All that glitters is not gold, and perception is not everything. 
9)  Chipping away at longstanding values will bring the whole house down.
10 Abortion is not a solution... for poverty or immorality.
11 Children are affected by what they see over and over again. Isn't that the point of parenting and 
     most advertising?
12 Soldiers- and certanly those who faced an enemy- are heroes, and they should be saluted.
13 The highest calling of any man is to lead his family to a life of faith and worship.
14 Life is neither easy nor fair, and neither of these should be our goal.
15 Happiness is a consequence word- it cannot be chased down or purchased
16 Spending time with their children is the wisest choice for any parent. It cannot be replaced with
     occasional chunks of "quality" time.
17 "Working things out" is much better than "walking out" of a marriage, especially when there are
     children involved.
18 We're all connected. We're all related to one another. I have 4 grandparents, 8 great grandparents,
     128 5 times ggps, 32,768 13X ggps, 1,048,576 18X ggps, .... (do the math)
29 As Camus noted, the world would be changed in an instant... if Christians just acted like
     Christians.  My granddaughter, Brooke, once asked me if there was any truth in "all of this faith 
     business," and I let her down terribly. I should've told her that accepting Christ as Lord and Savior
     is the greatest truth there is. He is THE source of love and serenity, and our only hope of being 
     "fully human."

At one time, I would've disagreed with all of these thoughts. I would've argued for the other side because it would've seemed more sophisticated to me. But now, I've given up on trying to keep up with this crazy world.  There are a lot of needy people who come to our church for help, and Alzheimer's and cancer are ripping at the lives of our parishioners. Our country is paralyzed by divisiveness and name-calling, and for all I know, we may go to war with Syria tonight. But in glancing at the news sites on my desktop, I see that "twerking" and "selfies" have been added to our dictionary, and Burger King is selling "French Fry Burgers" for a dollar. Also, I see that people are hoping that "strippers" will save Atlantic City. even as our new Casino is expected to save Davenport.

Is it me, or is it them? Tonight, I will teach my scheduled class on Genesis, go home to have dinner with my wife, and watch a new episode of Duck Dynasty as I research my ancestry or my sermon text on my laptop. When Duck Dynasty is over, I will listen to Willie Nelson and thank God that I don't have to raise my children in this world gone mad.

WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?

I've got a long list of real good excuses... for all the things I've said and done, and I don't suppose there'd be room in a book... to recount them one by one.

I would've been a better student... if there hadn't have been so much chaos at home.
I would've had more confidence... if my parents would've affirmed me more often.
I would've been a better husband... if my father had been a better role model.
I would've been a better ballplayer... if he would've taken the time to play catch.
I would've had a better tee shot Friday... if there hadn't been an unexpected noise.
I would've become addicted to alcohol... if it didn't run in the family genes.
I would've attended Grinnell College and became a professor... if anyone else would've cared.
I would've written the great novel by now... if people would've given me a little time, and
I would be a more effective pastor... if people would just listen and follow my lead.

Come to think of it, I DO have a long list of reasons for all the things I've done and left undone. I've made a 1000 excuses for my own mistakes and missed opportunities... but (and this is important) I took God seriously when I heard him call! Even though I'd never read a single book of Scripture, I knew his voice, and even though I'd never even considered that He was part of my life, I believed He could save my soul. So, I raised my hand and I followed. It was a no-brainer... but it wasn't easy. I had a lot of confessions to make, and old habits are hard to break.  I needed to repair things at home. I needed to be a better husband, a better dad, a better executive, a better person, and the last thing I needed... was the challenge of letting go and walking with God... in trust. But I did... because I had run out of options. Yes, I admit it. I had an advantage that most of you don't have. I had used up all my excuses, and I knew that following Christ was a matter of life and death for me.

Most of you have the luxury of making excuses if you want to make them. Or at least you think you do. Even as I speak, we're looking for men and women who will be servant-leaders for us- who will raise their hands and say "here I am," to serve Him as elders or deacons. Even now, we'd be blessed if more men and women signed on to minister to us...and for Christ... by joining our choir, and even now, many of our ministry teams (committees, if you will) are woefully understaffed and not representative of our corporate vision. Last Thursday... was the first day when any of us had the chance to respond to our Property Committee's call for help. It was in the bulletin last Sunday, and we mentioned it as well... but no one showed up... other than the same old handful. Of course there are exceptions. I'm confident that if we find a way of helping our younger famlies help us by scheduling our meetings and activities when they're not working, many of them will, and we all owe a debt of gratitude to elder Deryl Miller, who has taught over 100 kids and adults to read and do math. I try to keep my eye on the glass that's half-full... but most nominating committee members that I've ever known have been half-afraid to ask people to serve... because they expect to hear an excuse! And they might receive one, but they won't hear anything more than God hasn't already heard. Some people, like Moses, tell God that they're not qualified, which is pretty much the same as telling God that He's made a mistake. Moses asked, "Who am I to go to Pharoah?" and then went on to say that he couldn't speak; Jeremiah said he wasn't old enough (as you heard in our Old Testament passage); and Amos wasn't properly trained (although to his credit, he didn't let that stop him). Some people, like the men who turned down their invitations to the banquet, tell God that they can't follow Him because they have a higher calling. Luke 14:8ff makes it clear that many people don't answer God's call because they have more important things to do. Like the man who had just purchased new land, or the man who just had to try out his new team of oxen, some people tell God- in this case, God Incarnate, that they have greater priorities. Some people, like the man who had to bury his father, tell God that His call just doesn't fit into their schedule. It seems that they will let Him know when, and if, they ever have time for Him. Some people, like Jonah, simply don't want to do what God is asking them to do (which, in Jonah's case was giving the people of Nineveh a chance to repent). Today, our Jonahs' say "no" to showing God's love to modern-day "Ninevites" who are gay, black, or unsavory. Some people, like the rich and religious young man who walked away from Jesus, (Mark 10:17ff)  simply don't want to pay the price of saying "yes" to God. It's not that they're confused- they're not. In fact, they know that God knows that they are able to do big things for Him... so they keep their hands down, or in a technological sense, they screen God's calls. Some people think that, unless they are being called to change or lead the world, God's call is too small for them. If they get a chance for center stage, they'll grab it, but if they're being called to set up chairs or clean dishes, they pretend that they don't hear. Some people won't answer God's call because they're not perfect, but God wouldn't have called Moses or David, or anyone else ...if this excuse held water. 

Excuses for not answering God's call are legion, but they tend to fall into one of these categories:

1)      I am not able.
2)      I am not ready.
3)      I am not perfect.
4)      I am not the pastor.
5)      I am not willing.

The answers to which are

 1) of course you're not, but God is, and besides He has given you many gifts;
 2) So what? Who says? And if it's required, getting ready is part of the response.
 3) Who is, and what's that got to do with anything? We're ALL sinners.
 4) Pastor's have their own calling and it may not be your calling. However, the church would  
     collapse without elders, deacons, and members who give their hearts and their all to Christ.
 5) Well, this excuse, at least, is honest... but it's NOT acceptable because answering God's call and
     following Christ is what it means to be fully alive!

Friends, God is calling you. He is calling you through His word, and even through these words. He is calling you through your dreams and through your nightmares. He is calling you through the abilities and interests that He has given you, and He is calling you through the things that break your heart. He is calling you to build, tear down, open, close, stand with, walk with, minister to, sing to, teach, pray with, pray for, and fellowship with... His people within and outside His church. Friends, God is on the phone. Answer His call now. No excuses. Amen.

A TRIBUTE TO REV. RANDY SAXON

It is time for me to tell you how much I care for Randy (Rev. Dr. Randall) Saxon, who is my friend and was my Co-Pastor at United Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Il..

The church is named "United" because we oversaw the union of Arcadia Avenue Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church. Both of these churches had long, independent histories. Both of them were reasonably large by our denomination's standards, and uniting them was not an easy task. Thankfully, we were blessed with gifted and supportive leaders who shared our vision for a new beginning and a stronger ministry that would bless our members at the time and generations to come. So, we united, but we also had to unite two distinct ruling bodies, two distinct deacon boards, and two distinct cultures- each of which had always done things "their way."  And we each had our own choirs and our own financial assets. These challenges (opportunities) certainly existed, but we also had two experienced "Senior" pastors- both of whom loved to talk, preach, teach, and see things go their way. Some people said they would give us a year or two at best, but we worked together closely for five years... and I enjoyed every minute of it... because I enjoyed working with Randy.

He was a great partner, and I will always value our friendship. He has a masterful grasp of words- their etymology (if that's the right word) and their usage- and he has a seemingly limitless well of knowledge. He knows virtually everything, and he is a respected authority on Lincoln. He also writes song and poems, gardens masterfully, and as far as I am concerned, he has the best grasp of Robert's Rules in the state. All of these things, and more, are true about Randall Saxon, but they are not why I care so much about him. I care for him because he is genuine, at times even vulnerable; I care for him because he really cares about being a "good shepherd;" and I care for him because we shared some important "kairos" moments. On most Friday mornings, we met for breakfast, and I could tell a hundred stories about those meetings. We simply had fun. We shared thoughts that were inane and thoughts that we surprisingly deep. We laughed at things that anyone would've laughed at, and we laughed at things that might have made others "roll their eyes." Being entertainers at heart, we gave our servers a hard time, but there were also times when we listened to their stories... as pastors ought to do... and there was never a time when we were mean-spirited or took another person's  inventory. We once put a skit together for a church function. It was pretty much off-the-cuff, but it came out alright. We shared the same stage many, many times, and we shared it with grace and respect. We have different personalities in some ways, but we share many of the same interests, and our church members knew that neither one of us- or even the both of us together- could change a light bulb if our careers depended on it.

Saxon is a good preacher, and an even better teacher. He and Anna have a wonderful family and I wish them the best because Randy is retiring this fall. He will be missed. He has touched the lives of many people- many of them in powerful ways- and he has left a huge footprint in Peoria. My friend is not perfect. He's a bit of the absent-minded professor and he tends to schedule too many things at the same time. Both of these traits can be frustrating at times... but he is passionate about the things he loves, and he loves the right things.  He has a pastor's heart, a professor's mind, and a host of well-developed talents. One of them-it turns out- is being a very good Co-Pastor. The church we united will always be a shining moment for me, and he will always be my friend. The good doctor is simply delightful.

OUR DISAPPOINTED GOD

I came one day to this vineyard of mine;
hoping, expecting that it would all be fine.
The soil was rich, the corner... divine;
I loved it, for sure- this vineyard of mine.

The water was plenty, the sun warm and bright;
I worked it by day and watched it by night.
The hedge was protective, the tower sublime;
I invested so much... in this vineyard of mine.

I came to visit my vineyard in the course of time;
Expecting a yield in this vineyard of mine.
Looking for truth, I found nothing but lies;
Looking for justice... I heard nothing but cries.

I came to bask in it's righteousness;
but there's blood in the garden and it smells of distress.
My disappointment's so deep- who will pay for the crime?
What more could I have done, for this vineyard of mine?

Down with the hedge, the watchtower too;
My disappointment's real- I was counting on you.
I gave you a garden with a world of potential;
I filled it with love and all that's essential.
I did all I could, but there will be no wine
for my people never loved... this vineyard of mine.

There you have it: the first draft of a love song that I'm writing about our disappointed God. We've all experienced the sting of disappointment. It's led to a hundred little deaths. Love is disappointing, especially love based on fairy tales. Friends disappoint us. Work disappoints us, especially if we expect it to be more than it ever can be. To mention that politics is disappointing is too easy, but church is disappointing too.  What ought to be a labor of love becomes just a labor for many, and people who are expecting to experience the grace and joy of Christ... are likely to be disappointed.

We all know disappointment well... but it may surprise us to see that God knows it too. According to Scripture, God has experienced moments of extreme disappointment, and he experienced them from the time he walked in the garden to the moment he hung on his cross. After God created Adam and Eve, He said it was "very good," and He delighted in His evening walks with them... until the day came when they were both hiding... in their nakedness and in their sin. They were punished, of course, but as He made clothing for them, I can't help but think that God was extremely disappointed... in and for them. They had had it all and just threw it away. Later, in Noah's day, when God could no longer watch his people sin, his heart filled with a grief that we will never know, He said it plainly: "I am sorry I made humankind." How disappointing to know that no one, save Noah, gave any thought to pleasing or obeying him. So, with emotion that our Bible doesn't try to hide, God started over with Noah. Then came his call to Moses, and his law, which was an act of grace, showing his people how to practice mishpat (justice) and sedeqah (righteousness), but they continued to chase idols and go their own way. Prophet after prophet came to teach, warn, cajole, and plead with them. God tried  ...  but his people would not listen, which brings us to our passage today- Isaiah's wonderful love song. It is much better than my song, and it calls for a moment of our time.

Imagine the emotions- the disappointment- that underlies this song of a love gone wrong.

 I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.
 He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines
      (the ones that were sure to bear fruit)
He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well
      (believing that it would soon produce wonderful wine)
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit
      (called "wild grapes" by other translators, the fruit also had a displeasing odor)

 “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.
      (take stock in yourselves. I'm listening-tell me...)
What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?
      (Sunlight, gentle rain, the best of soil, alot of care, preparation and maintenance-
        I've done all of this and more)
When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?
Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed;
I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled.
      ^{(Animals will eat what is left and trample on what they don't eat)}
I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated,
    and briers and thorns will grow there.
I will command the clouds not to rain on it.
      (It will be as dry as hopeless as those who refused to take care of it)

The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel,
and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.

Cross references:

1. Isaiah 5:1 : Ps 80:8-9; Isa 27:2; Jn 15:1
2. Isaiah 5:2 : S Ex 15:17; Isa 16:8
3. Isaiah 5:2 : 1Sa 2:9; Isa 27:3; 31:5; 49:8; Mt 21:33
4. Isaiah 5:2 : S Job 24:11
5. Isaiah 5:2 : Mt 21:19; Mk 11:13; Lk 13:6
6. Isaiah 5:3 : Mt 21:40
7. Isaiah 5:4 : S 2Ch 36:15; Jer 2:5-7; Mic 6:3-4; Mt 23:37
8. Isaiah 5:4 : Jer 2:21; 24:2; 29:17
9. Isaiah 5:5 : 2Ch 36:21; Isa 6:12; 27:10
10. Isaiah 5:5 : S Ps 80:12; S Isa 22:5
11. Isaiah 5:5 : Isa 10:6; 26:6; 28:3, 18; 41:25; 63:3; Jer 12:10; 34:22; La 1:15; Hos 2:12; Mic 7:10; Mal 4:3; S Lk 21:24
12. Isaiah 5:6 : S Ge 6:13; S Lev 26:32; Isa 6:13; 49:17, 19; 51:3; Joel 1:10
13. Isaiah 5:6 : ver 10, 17; S 2Sa 23:6; Isa 7:23, 24; 32:13; 34:13; 55:13; Eze 28:24; Hos 2:12; Heb 6:8
14. Isaiah 5:6 : S Dt 28:24; S 2Sa 1:21; Am 4:7
15. Isaiah 5:7 : Ps 80:8; Isa 17:10; 18:5; 37:30
16. Isaiah 5:7 : Isa 10:2; 29:21; 32:7; 59:15; 61:8; Eze 9:9; 22:29
17. Isaiah 5:7 : S Isa 1:21
18. Isaiah 5:7 : S Ps 12:5

Isaiah's song, which probably rhymed better in Hebrew, in 720 BC, give or take a decade or two, and I wish I could say that God never again experienced disappointment...but I can't... because Jesus also endured the pain of watching others, even his friends, turn their backs on His Father's invitation. For instance, when Jesus preached his sermon in Nazareth, (Mark 6) I imagine that he was really anticipating the moment because Nazareth was his hometown. He had more important things to do than making a good impression, no doubt, but it's reasonable to think that he expected a warm reception. In any event, when he finished preaching, the people accused him of pretending to be more than he was. "Look at you," they suggested, "Up there at the pulpit, acting like you're a prophet, when we all know that you're just the kid who used to play on our streets." According to Scripture, Jesus narrowly avoided physical harm, but it seems that his feelings were hurt the most. The Bible says, Jesus was "amazed at their unbelief" and "could do no miracles in their presence." Jesus was disappointed with his people's unwillingness to accept the good news he was offering, but he was also disappointed with the pain that he saw all around him. We can almost feel his pain when he stood in front of Lazarus' grave.  The Bible says, "Jesus wept," which some believe is better translated, "Jesus sobbed." He sobbed, not because he thought death had won (he knew he would resurrect Lazarus), but because he was overwhelmed by the fear and loss his friends were experiencing. When he saw the "holes in their souls," when he considered their fears and their dashed hopes, he could scarcely take it in... and he sobbed. Standing as God Incarnate, he knew that people, like foolish sheep, had forsaken God's ways and in doing so, they had forfeited his promises. There's nothing much sadder and more disappointing than watching those you love miss opportunities for life. Finally, as he approached Calvary, Jesus stopped and cried over Jerusalem itself, exclaiming that he had longed for a long time to gather her people unto himself. He meant it. He meant it with all of his heart, and he showed it by carrying his cross to Golgotha. He hung there, on that cross of his, feeling a pain that we will never know, taking on our sins, and looking around, in disappointment, I suspect, to see that his friends had run and hid. When he looked down, he saw his mama crying, he saw men taunting him, and he saw any number of others simply gawking or passing by. It must have been keenly disappointing, but in a moment of unimaginable grace, he cried, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing."

For this he had come, lived, suffered and died. "It is finished," he said, in victory, and utter disappointment died with him- at least for those who embrace him as Lord and Savior.  There can be no real disappointment for those who are in Christ for they have inherited full, abundant, and eternal life. Other than not keeping my head down when I swing a golf club, I have little reason to be disappointed because Jesus is my Lord and Savior... but I am convinced that unachieved possibilities still disappoint God. Friends, if you, or anyone you know, is still laboring under the illusion that they don't need Christ, it is time to invite them, or yourself, to experience a joy that only surrender can bring. Friends, if God has given you gifts of time, talent, and/or treasure, please use them. In fact, use them as if there is no tomorrow... for someone you know may not have a tomorrow, and to someone, you may be the only representative of Christ that they will ever know. Friends, God has given us a vineyard, with very rich soil, and he's given us every opportunity to bring forth a yield of life-giving grapes. If you can nurture our vineyard by calling on others, by tending to a section of our property, by joining our choir, by helping us with Drop-In Center, by picking up the cross of servant-leadership, or simply by showing up so that the rest of us don't feel so lonely, you need to respond. I can't promise you a standing ovation, but I am sure that God will smile. When God visits South Park, he expects to see sedeqah and mishpat- righteousness and justice- where righteousness includes the way we live, worship, and serve... and justice includes who we invite and serve, who we stand with, and what we stand for. Let's tend to his vineyard- this one that he has entrusted to us- and let's do it with energy and love... so that we will not disappoint him. Amen.

A BORN-AGAIN PRESBYTERIAN ?

When I was in the throes of my spiritual struggles (which had economic, relational, physical, and marital repercussions), my wife was counseling with the pastor of our neighborhood church. She was searching for serenity and hoping for a miracle. I've never been sure of just how long she'd been seeing and praying with Pastor Lu before I got involved, but in time- as my life spiraled more and more out of control, I certainly got involved. I "hit bottom," as they say in the 12-step world, and Pastor Lu came to visit me on the 6th floor of the Eppley treatment center in Omaha, Nebraska.

I was particularly vulnerable at that time, and I would've welcomed virtually anyone who cared enough to visit me. So, we talked... about my pain, my fears, my regrets, and my need for a new beginning. It wasn't a matter of philosophy or academic research- I had discovered first-hand that the way I was living my life was NOT working. It was a disaster- a complete and utter train wreck. I didn't know where to turn, but Pastor Lu said that he did. He said that I could find forgiveness and new birth in Christ. He didn't mention joining "his church." He just continued to tell me that there was new life in Christ, and that I would discover this life if I turned my life over to Him. He cited several Bible passages to support his position, not seeming to know that Biblical passages meant nothing to me. I didn't know any, hadn't read any, and certainly wouldn't put my trust in any, but... I was ready to embrace the new beginning he was talking about. I needed a second chance. I had reached the point where the unknown- whatever it turned out to be- had more appeal than the darkness that engulfed me.

So, I accepted my visitor's invitation to accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and to put my trust in Him. Sounding like Nicodemus, I asked Pastor Lu what I needed to do to claim the peace and cleansing that he was referring to, and he led me through a "Sinner's Prayer." Sometimes called the "Salvation Prayer," it's a prayer of surrender and trust. It's a prayer in which we can "release" our sins and receive forgiveness. As I recall, the prayer we said together was something like this: "Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and I ask your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn my sin over to you and invite you to come into my heart and life, as Savior and Lord. I want to trust and follow you from this point forward, and with your help, I will serve you in every way that I can. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for redeeming me and for receiving this prayer. Amen." That was it- a decision, a prayer, a commitment. That moment was the beginning of a new life for me. In that moment, I was reborn. I was "saved," and I when I finished my treatment program, Sherry and I began to attend Lu's neighborhood church down the street. The people there loved us... and they showed it by involving us. We attended events, big and small; we were regulars at the Sunday evening service; I taught Bible Study (although I was never sure if it was E-phe-sus or Eph-e-sus); and I joined the church's Evangelism Committee (which really was evangelism).

All of this took place in the fall of 1976. It's been 37 years since Lu and I sat together on my treatment center bed, and God continues to bless Sherry and me in many ways. There are still hills to climb and obstacles to clear, but I never walk alone, and I always know that God is with me. I've been pastoring a "mainline" church for some time now. We don't lead many people in the Sinner's Prayer, but I will be forever glad that Pastor Lu did. We don't talk much about "being saved" either, but being saved is the source of our joy and our power. Rather than beginning with a surrendered life, we are more likely to struggle with how, and if, we can fit Christ into our lives. I know that I will not change the mainline church's direction, but I will always be grateful that the Rev. Luther Ratmeyer believed that the Christian life begins with surrender. In fact, although we've strived to be "relevant" for decades now, we (the mainline churches) continue to lose members in droves. Why? Because relevance is not the issue- rebirth is. Amen.

WORSHIP... IS A VERB

Like most of Israel’s prophets, Isaiah was concerned with matters of mercy and justice, and like his contemporaries, Isaiah railed against the abuse of the powerless and the lack of concern for the needy. Instead of caring for the widow, the orphan, and the stranger, the leaders in Israel were abusing and neglecting them. They were worshiping themselves and pretending to worship God. They would take the coat off of a debtor’s back and use it for a cushion in church. They would take a poor man’s last dollar and put it in the offering plate. They had come to believe that they could exchange God’s commandment to love Him exclusively and to love the least among them as they loved themselves… for a ritualistic sacrifice and a modest offering. They'd come to believe that God would ignore their disobedience and willfulness if they showed up at the temple and offered a gift from time to time. They had fooled themselves into believing that God could not see their idolatry and lies... but they were wrong! Like the prophets before him, Isaiah told them "the way it was" in God’s eyes. Like the other prophets of the Old Testament, Isaiah could read the future, but his fundamental job as a prophet was to "read the writing on the wall" and speak for God. Therefore, he told them that their self-indulgent worship would not stand. In fact, in words that we would be afraid to use in our time, Isaiah let the people know that God had had enough! Israel’s self-indulgent leaders and self-righteous clergy were behaving as if they lived in Sodom and Gomorrah… and they would surely face the same consequences… unless they repented and began to worship God as if He were Lord.

Bear with me as I paraphrase Isaiah’s passage in my own words. Listen to what God is saying to the great church of Christ today.­­­

Hear the word of the Lord, you leaders and people of the church. Your ritualistic sacrifices have become a burden to God. They mean nothing. You’ve been dragging your offerings… to God's altar forever and a day… but you’ve never offered your hearts. You’ve brought your sin offerings and your guilt offerings, and God has seen them. But He's also seen the blood of injustice on your hands, and He's heard the cries of your victims. He's seen the animals that you’ve offered, and He knows that it was an act of giving. But giving ought to be a way of life. He's received the meal and flour you’ve presented. He knows they involved a sacrifice of time and labor… but you should’ve devoted the same time and labor in showing mercy and breaking the bonds of injustice. In the beginning, these rituals of yours seemed to have a place, but they were never… meant… to replace love and justice. When God spoke to your ancestors at Mt Sinai, He comma­­nded them to love Him with all of their being and to love their neighbor as themselves. He said that they would be His people… if they lived…as if they were His people, but you've brought shame on yourselves by disregarding His word and abusing your neighbors.

 

Where did your covenant go so wrong? When did you get the idea that, instead of living for God, you could live for yourselves and offer Him a token gift from time to time? How could you possibly believe that a covenant based on His grace and your obedient love could be replaced with a manipulative and self-serving ritual… that you call worship? How many times must He repeat that it is justice and righteousness that He seeks, not polity nor piety. Don’t you know that, as liberated slaves, you ought to liberate slaves; and that as a people whom I fed day by day in the wilderness, you ought to give others their daily bread; and that as a people who had to struggle for life quality in a land in which you were aliens, that you ought to pave the way for all of the struggling aliens in your land? Don’t you see that you’ve been saved to serve… and that your service… is worship to God?

Some day, God will establish a new Jerusalem and it will be a place or complete joy and real love. There will be no tears there, no fears either, or wounds that can’t be healed. People, all people, will eat like Kings, and all of the Cinderellas will be Queens of the Ball. There will no need for judges, or counselors, or unemployment clerks… because everyone will be treated with respect and love. Justice and righteousness, love and obedience, health and life- don’t you see that these are God's goals? Don’t you know that loving me with everything you have- your heart, your soul, your all- and loving your neighbors- male and female, black and white, straight and gay- is why… you were created! Amen!

Friends, real worship cannot be reduced to our coming and going into a sanctuary and the offerings that find their way into the plate. Friends, it is true- a house of worship is sacred … but worship is a verb that involves surrender, obedience, service, promise, sacrifice, and commitment. Worship is a way of life… that honors God and treats others as if they were Christ. Worship is other-directed and God-centered, and no church building, no matter how grand; no choir, no matter how talented; no youth group, no matter how large… will ever substitute for it. But here’s the good news: hope is not lost because, in Christ, God will make our sins as white as snow if we stop worshiping ourselves and trust in Him. If we are willing and obedient, our forgiving God will cleanse us and feed us the good things of the land. In short, our tomorrows do not have to be the same as our todays. We can change. We can repent. We can trust in Christ as our Lord and Savior, and live boldly. We can begin to worship God in willing obedience…and we can begin now!

Let us vow… to be a church… where worship… is a verb, and let us agree to evaluate the quality of our worship more by the way in which we treat the least among us and less by the size of our foundation.  Amen. 

REFLECTIONS ON FAMILY REUNION

When the faithful congregate this Sunday, they won't find me in the pulpit... because I'm taking my first Sunday off this year. I'm going to be in Belle Plaine, Iowa... to attend our annual Shedenhelm family reunion. With the exception of uncle Duane and aunt Betty, my father's siblings have passed on, and uncle Duane is unlikely to attend the reunion. Still, I have cousins that I want to see and besides, I feel a genuine connection with these people and, for that matter, with all of those who comprise "my" family tree. If you had asked me "who I was" a few years ago, I would've said a Shedenhelm (Schuttenhelm in the old country) from Aach, Bavaria. My dad always said we were "Dutch German" and in some ways, he was right... but we are much more than that.

In the first place, most of my family can trace their roots back to England, although there is a strong contingency from Scotland and a few from Wales.  Secondly, there are many more last names in my ancestry that I could've imagined. I should have known this. I wasn't "just" a Shedenhelm in the first place. My mother is a Sylvester, but beyond that, my grandfather, Clarence Shedenhelm. was married to Myrene Simmons. His grandmother was Catherine Schall and my grandmother's mother was Mary Agnew. So, almost from the beginning, I was a Shedenhelm-Simmons-Schall-Sylvester-Agnew. Thirdly, although he would not have been impressed, dad would've been surprised to see that the "rich and famous" dot our family tree, including Robert the Bruce of Scotland, Louis VII of France, Charlemagne, Henry II of England, Anne Boleyn, and Sir Walter Raleigh. Fourthly, he would've been surprised to learn that we have so many ancestors who immigrated to America in colonial times. One of them arrived on the Mayflower, one of them co-founded Hartford, CT., one of them arrived in his own ship, many of them arrived as indentured servants, and most of them were in America by 1650. However, Friedrich Schuttenhelm, Nicholas Schall, John Beck, John  Liebenstein, and Georg Dotterer  came to American as part of the Palatinate migration. I suspect that dad, like me, would have an interest in learning more about the lives and times of our ancestors. What were their dreams? Their burdens? Their victories? Their defeats?

All of this is on my mind as I prepare to drive to Belle Plaine, but I do know that, as a Army pilot in WWII, my father would've been pleased with the number of heroes and warriors among our ancestors. As an example, John Agnew served America with the 7th Virginia Regiment in the REVOLUTIONARY War. Abraham Barnes also fought for our freedom in Virginia, although he served as a gunner with the 2nd Artillery Regiment, Continental Troops. Michael Blue served in the 2nd Battalion of the NJ Militia, and Samuel Simmons fought for freedom in Cook's Regiment of the Rhode Island Militia. More than a dozen Schalls fought for the Union in our CIVIL WAR, mostly in Pennsylvania units, while Thomas Shedenhelm served the Union in the 164th Ohio infantry and John W. Shedenhelm fought for the 24th Iowa infantry. Finally, although dad didn't know it, other Shedenhelms joined him in the War against Hitler, one of whom enlisted at the same facility in the very same week.

I have all sorts of family members. Some are famous-most aren't. Some were Quakers- many were Catholics. Some have been victims of injustice (one was executed as a witch in Salem)- others have been in law enforcement (the Agnews were hereditary sheriffs in Scotland for centuries). Some have been wealthy- most have not, and not a few have even been poor. They came to America for all sorts of reasons, and as a group, the Shedenhelms, Schalls, Slaymakers, and Rosenbergers moved first, from Frederick, MD to Seneca, OH., and then to Iowa County. The Shedenhelms were farmers. The Simmons family were business people. So, I don't know how a girl like Myrene Simmons even met Clarence Shedenhelm, who struggled to make a living off the land throughout his life, in the first place. But she did... and here I am... on the way to Belle Plaine, Iowa to break bread with my family.

I only see them once a year and I don't know much about their daily lives... but I sure do feel connected to them. If I could, I would gather them all together, from all of their times and places, in one big hall... and thank them... for their blood, sweat, and tears... for the efforts... and for doing the best they could.