OUR COMPASSIONATE GOD

 OUR COMPASSIONATE GOD is on my mind today. 

      Some people think that God is at a distance, uninvolved, unchangeable, and unresponsive... but this is NOT the God of the Bible. No, the Bible tells us about a God who created us, walks with us, is sometimes disappointed in us, and even weeps for us! The Bible tells us of a forgiving God of mercy who came to earth to save us by giving his own life on Golgotha's cross of agony and shame.
Our God speaks to us, listens to us, and sees us with eyes of love and compassion, which brings me to the story of the "Bent-over Woman" in the gospel of Luke. 

      According to Luke, Jesus was preaching in a synagogue on a Sabbath and there was a woman in attendance who was "bent over." I suspect she was sitting alone and I suspect that she didn't get many invites for coffee after the service. People ignored her and pretended that they didn't see her... but Jesus saw her! He saw her and called her forward and then without delay, he told her to rise and stand up because she had been freed from the forces that imprisoned her. And she stood straight up and looked Jesus in the eye, which is something that she hadn't been able to do for 18 years! She looked him and the others in the eye. She saw their faces and she saw that many of them were filled with joy and emotion. She stood tall and saw that it was God who had set her free and she began to praise God from the depths of her heart!
       It was a moment of unfettered joy, but the leader of the synagogue could not see this. He could not see that God had just touched and transformed a woman in his midst, and he even blamed the woman, pointing out that she could've been healed on any other day of the week. He could only think of process and the way he had always interpreted things, and he didn't have room in his mind or in his spirit... for the wonder and power of God. Well, Jesus rebutted his argument and rebuked all of those who couldn't see that an isolated woman had received a new lease on life. I suspect that she would have been more than pleased if Jesus had only recognized her, asked her how she was doing, and listened to her story. I'm sure that alone would have made her day, but he touched her and set her free.
       Friends, God loves us more than we love ourselves and much more that we love our neighbors. God is filled with grace and compassion and He expects us to pass it forward (which is what Matthew 25 is about). It's a great little story, which invites us to answer these questions: 1) what does God require of us? (Read Micah 6), 2) What does it mean to be "holy"? Does it involve staying away from people who don't meet our standards... or does it require us to give the respect, listen to their stories, and do what we can to meet their needs? 3) Jesus gave the leaders and scribes credit for tithing what they owned, down to and including the spices they owned, like mint and cumin. (see Matthew 25) in Jesus' view, they should have done this, BUT they ignored the more important matters of God's law, which are justice, mercy, and faithfulness! Record keeping is great, but people are greater and the most important Christian acts we will ever do... require us to show mercy because everybody is SOMEBODY in Christ, work for justice because every child of God deserves opportunity and justice! Forgiving, inviting, including, listening, responding, helping, affirming, sacrificing- these are the words that changed a lonely and isolated woman's life!
       May God give us the courage and grace to make them part of our journeys as well! Amen!

WHAT'S UP WITH THE FORKS?

Scott Peck began his well-known book, “The Road Less Traveled,” with these words- LIFE IS DIFFICULT. And indeed it is! 

It’s not easy to get through from beginning to end, without tears, or loss, or unpleasant turns in the road. Over the course of time, we become weary and wary, and the dreams that once seemed doable seem more than a bit silly. Almost everyone gathered here this morning has buried a parent and many of us have said goodbye to our siblings. Our old house on Shawnee Place in Des Moines, Iowa was filled with noise and activity at one time. Some of noises were unpleasant, but we shared life there. But now, mom and dad, and my brothers, Larry and Randy, have left the stage and it is empty. In the 12-step world, we talk about living one day at a time, but I've discovered that a terminal cancer diagnosis can immediately rid you of any tendency to live in the future! When we’re down-sized, or let go, we feel smaller that we did before. When the person who swore to walk with you in good times and in bad time, tells you that they’ve found someone else, the road we’ve been traveling together… crumbles before our eyes. When we bury our children, whether they are 5 or 55, the pain is unbearable and it seems like we will never get back on our feet.. 

Life is difficult, in part, because we’re prone to sin. Our greed, insecurities, and emotions run wild and we end up harming ourselves and many others. Life is also difficult because we can’t control, won’t accept it, and can’t bring ourselves to let go and let God! Life is difficult. Consider Jesus of Nazareth, who was called the “illegitimate” son of a Roman soldier before he reached puberty, challenged by teachers of the very law he was fulfilling, and who heard his people cry, “Crucify him. Give us Barabbas!” And when Jesus asked his best friends to pray for him in Gethsemane’s garden, they fell asleep instead. 

Life is difficult. Consider the Israelites who were exiled into Babylon. They were defeated and dejected, wondering how God’s chosen people could end up as losers… when their prophets begin to spread the news that today’s losses, this moment’s pain, our worst memories, most bitter tears… are not the final word! Not in a million years… because all things are possible with God! When God asked Ezekiel if a valley of dry bones could live, the prophet cautiously answered, “You know, Lord.” But the better answer is “of course, they can live because all things are possible for you.” The day is coming, God claimed, when my people will come streaming from every corner of the earth. The strong, of course, but the elderly, the disabled and the little ones too. People of faith, our God is an awesome God... and He will see us through. In Christ we are free to sing a new song...of praise and love forever! 

This morning, our hearts are heavy thinking about my cousin, Del, and my friend, Terry- both of whom have cancer, Jim and Pat, closer to 90 than 80 and they both have Covid… and our very good friend, Mike, has suffered a serious stroke and has COVID complications too. Life is difficult now for these wonderful people, and I know that life has been difficult for you as well. I imagine the rocky roads you’ve traveled at one time or another, the deep valleys that you’ve been in, and it gives me grief… BUT I do not despair… because I see the fork in your hands! 

Perhaps you’ve heard the story of a woman who was dying of cancer. She was an avid church goer, so she talked with her pastor about her funeral service- and went over every detail- the verses to be read, the songs to be sung, comments and prayers, and even what she would be wearing on her special day. She began to leave the pastor's office, but stopped and said, "There's one more thing. I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand. It's odd, I know, but in all of my years of attending church gatherings, my favorite part was the moment when I was told to keep my fork. When our tables were being cleared, someone would lean over and say, 'You can keep your fork!' You can keep your fork- that’s what they said- and it always gave me great delight because I knew that something better was coming. Something great- not pudding or Jello- but am awesome cake or one of my favorite pies. You can keep your fork… has always meant something special to me," she concluded, "And I want to spread the word. Pastor, when people file by my casket and say, "Hey, what's the deal with the fork," I want you to tell them that something much, much better IS coming and that they should keep their forks too! Tell them that the best is yet to come. 

The best is yet to come! The best is yet to come! May we bear witness to Christ by the love we show to one another and to others, and may we also witness to the wonderful truth that the best is yet to come… by carrying a fork! I pray that people will recall our ministries fondly, and I pray that we will also be known as a fork-carrying people who believe without a doubt that nothing is too hard for God!

OLLIE, OLLIE, OXEN FREE!

“OLLIE, OLLIE, OXEN FREE” According to Scripture, the day came when the Lord God put the man he had formed in a garden in Eden. It was a beautiful setting because a river ran through it and because the trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Adam had meaningful work to do because God had instructed him to work in the garden and to take care of it. And Adam had also been blessed with a partner whom he called “Eve.” Adam was not alone. Eve was at his side and they were “free to eat from any tree in the garden, except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Yes, paradise included boundaries because blessings and freedoms always include limits and responsibilities. And as it turned out, the “Tempter” was also in the garden, looking for the opportune time to lure Adam and Eve into sin, So, he approached the woman with a leading and insincere question: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” It’s hard to believe that God wouldn’t let you eat from any of these trees. Of course, this wasn’t true and Eve set the record straight, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but she went on to exaggerate what God did say, noting that God had warned them “not to touch or eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden.” She told the Tempter that she would die if she violated God’s commandment, but the Tempter disagreed. “You won’t die,” he said, “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to Adam, who was with her, and he ate it. Then their eyes were opened, but they weren’t like God. Not at all. They saw, instead, that they were naked, vulnerable, and sinful. They saw that they were no longer worthy of God’s presence and they ran and hid among the trees in the garden. They felt guilty and small, but then God called to the man, “Where are you?” And Adam replied, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” And so it was that God planted a garden and gave Adam the job of tending to it and watching over it. There were all sorts of trees in the garden (although not likely an apple tree) and many vegetable plants too. They provided color, shade, and food. There was a river running through it and the garden provided everything they needed for a full and blessed life. Adam and Eve had plenty of food… and permission to eat the fruit from more trees than they ever needed. They had one another. They weren’t alone, and they lived in a beautiful place. The greenery and the colors around them were pleasing, and they had work worth doing. Their lives were filled with blessings and the Bible notes that the Lord God visited them in the cool of the day. God’s presence, the beauty of nature, a vocation, companionship, food, drink, sun, shade, and joy. Who could ask for anything more? How could anyone want more? Well, they did! They wanted to be “like God.” They wanted to decide for themselves what is good and what is bad. They were created to live in “joyful dependence” before God, but that wasn’t good enough for them. Neither was the food, the comfort, and God’s presence. They wanted to be like God and free from any limits. So, they threw their home away for a bite of fruit that never had a chance of delivering what they wanted and needed. They disobeyed and then they ran for it. They hid… and they are still hiding to this day. Call still calls, “where are you”? and we still hide, wanting at times to enjoy the light, but too afraid to come out of the darkness. God still cries, where are you, and we still cry… we’re hiding, Lord. Hiding because our sin is too great, hiding because we like some of our sins, hiding because our heads are filled with doubts, hiding because our spirits are broken, hiding because we’re not able to completely trust, hiding because we are drunk on our own wine, hiding because we have let loved one, you Lord, and our own best self, down. Hide and seek. It’s a lifelong game for many people. It’s a sad story, but it doesn’t need to drag on because Christ calls from Calvary’s Hill: “Come on in. You’ve been in the dark long enough. You will never be like God, but you can be God’s. So come on in. Come to me and I will set you free. Come to me and discover the fullness and the joy of walking on the narrow road. Lay your sins down and come to me. Drop your guard and experience the power of being known and loved anyway”! In the midst of all the noise, we can hear Christ calling, “where are you?” and in when we are overwhelmed, isolated, and just want to get a little rest, Christ cries out, “You have been hiding way too long. Ollie, Ollie, Oxen Free!” Amen.

“TOM TERRIFIC: THE MAN WHO DIED FOR JESUS”

When it came to things he could see, touch, and understand, few men had more courage than Thomas the Twin (which is what Didymus means in the Greek). When Jesus told his followers that he was going to Judea because Lazarus needed him, they were frightened because they were nearly stoned when they left Judea. “We can't go to Lazarus because the Jewish leaders will kill us.” This is what the disciples thought and it was a distinct possibility... but Thomas said, "Let's go and die with him!" And that was terrific. Also, according to Christian tradition, Thomas traveled to India after the first Pentecost, where he preached "Christ crucified and risen" and ministered in His name... until he was martyred himself in the year 72AD. He was run through with a spear because he wouldn't bow to an idol, and that was surely terrific. Tom could give his life for things he could see, touch, feel, and understand, but he wasn’t comfortable with things that he didn’t understand. When Jesus said, "I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be also (and) you know the way to the place where I’m going," his disciples were silent. If they didn’t understand what their teacher had said, they were afraid to say so… but Thomas spoke up. "Master," he said, "we don't know where you're going. How can we possibly know the way?" It was an honest question and it led to one of the best known verses in the Bible, "I am the truth and the life and the way," and that is terrific! We could know Thomas as "Courageous Tom," but we don't. We know him as "Doubting Thomas," with an inference that he's sort of second-rate, and here's why. On the evening of Easter Sunday- the disciples were hiding behind closed doors, and Jesus appeared to them! "Shalom, alakem," he said. "Peace to you," and he showed them his hands and his side, which filled them with joy. Then he gave them the Holy Spirit and the power to liberate others by forgiving them. They were empowered and Spirit-filled... but Thomas wasn't with them! He was out doing something else. Maybe he was more afraid that the others, maybe he just wanted to be alone. We don't know, but when he showed up, the others told him that they had seen the Lord... and Thomas couldn’t believe them. He wasn't able to take a leap of faith. So he asked to see the very things that the others had already seen- the wounds in Jesus' hands and sides... and rather than ignoring or judging him, Jesus responded... by showing up again, on the first Sunday after Easter. Thomas, he said, if you need to... reach out and touch my wounds. Put your hands in my side... and believe... and Thomas believed. His doubt gave way to the boldest confession of faith in the entire Bible. He cried out, "My Lord and My God!" This passage is filled with sermon material, but today I will say only this: 1) Doubt is not the opposite of belief- so don't give up or throw in the towel if you find yourself doubting! Indeed, your doubt may lead to greater faith, just as it did for Thomas; 2) There is a big difference between someone who doubts and a doubter, just as there is a big difference between someone who drinks alcohol and an alcoholic. So don’t let your doubts have their way with you- use them to grow your faith. Study, read, join a Bible study, ask questions, pray; 3) Jesus appears to us IN THE MIDST OF our doubts and our fears. We may feel God’s presence when we’re feeling great ourselves, but God is always present! There is nothing that God can't do; there's no one too lost or too far gone for God; there is no barrier that's strong enough to keep God out. When you're brokenhearted, fearful, doubting, scared to death... claim your faith and turn to God because these things will never keep God out; 4) Thomas is just like all the others, he wanted proof. And many of us are in the same boat. We long for proof. We strive for greater faith and we honestly hope for it, even while we're crying for something tangible, that we can get a hold of and measure. If we would only have seen Jesus ourselves, heard him teach, witnessed a miracle, saw his face, and touched his wounds; if only we had stood at the bottom of his cross, or at least, had a Damascus Road experience like Paul did... then we would believe. Surely we would, but these things will not be part of our journey… which is why Jesus said that those who believe without seeing our the most blessed of all! Amen.

SONGS OF CHRISTMAS

“Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” “Silent Night,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “What Child is This,” “O Holy Night,” “Mary, Did You Know?” Songs that glorify and praise God. Songs that describe some part of the Christmas miracle. I love them, but there are many other Christmas songs, aren’t there? Songs that capture the joy of Christmas, the warmth of family on Christmas, how Christmas itself affects people, and of course, the silly songs about Christmas. There are a lot of Christmas songs that we don’t sing in church (for good reason)- songs like “Rock Around the Christmas Tree,” “Run Rudolph Run,” “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,”“When My Heart Finds Christmas,” “Aint’s No Chimneys in the Projects,” and Tom Waite’s wonderful song, “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis.” I love Christmas songs in all of their forms and genres. They try to describe the indescribable, to tell of a joy that surpasses understanding, and to deal with a moment that is both soft and sweet, and radical and threatening. Christ is born in Bethlehem (house of bread). The anointed Savior lives and he is the King of Kings. Unto you a child is born- unto you who are unclean, uninvited and unwelcome, unto you who are tied to your machine in the factory, your desk and paper, or your kitchen sink, unto you who have walked mostly uphill in the rain and who have grown weary making lemonade out of life’s lemons- unto you, a forgiver and a life-giver is born! Sing it out! Joy to the world! Unto you Christmas has come… and whether you get all that you want, or nothing at all, you will never be dismissed as a nobody again- not in God’s eyes- for unto you, a Savior is born! The characters of Christmas will soon fill the stage in our churches- Mother Mary and Joseph, and their newborn child; the cattle and the sheep (their numbers vary depending on the number of children in the church), the feeding trough is there, the room is filled with unclean shepherds and the foreign astrologers who had seen the star are there too, although it’s not quite accurate. The innkeeper is out of sight, Herod is lurking behind the curtain, and we know that the critics, the doubters, and the powers-that-be, will soon challenge and a reject both the singer and the song… but it doesn’t matter really, because unto… you... Christ is born! Mary’s boy is born! So lift your hands in praise and raise your voices… for he is calling you to a joyful and purposeful life, which will go on and on and on, forever! Amen. If you are hungry in all the ways we get hungry, he will feed you; if you are thirsty, he will give you a drink of living water; if you are naked and vulnerable, shabby and embarrassed, he will clothe you; if you are lost, if you are walking in the shadows, and you can’t see where you are going, because of the tears in your eyes, He will walk with you and carry you if you fall; if you are chained and imprisoned in all the ways we get chained, He will save your souls and set you free; if you’re shut-in, shut-away, shut-down, and shut-up, if your voice is silenced and unheard, He will listen to your story and open doors that have long been shut to you; if you have trouble living, remember that his eye is on the sparrow, and if you are afraid of dying, know that those who trust in Christ will never die! Christmas is worthy of a 1000 songs. Christmas is worthy of adoration and praise! They say that we should put Christ back in Christmas … but Christ is Christmas… and apart form Christ, Christmas loses its meaning because He is the gift! And without, Christmas, there is little to sing about because, for every sentimental song we know, there is a sad song too. We can’t make Christmas good or bad, not really, because it is not about us. It’s about the gift of life that God chose to give us because He so loved the world. Without Christ, Christmas will be gone as soon as the company leaves, but with Christ, it will change who we are and how we live. Christmas is surely worth a song and I will close with the first Christmas song. It was sung by Mother Mary, and the words go like this: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. I sing because I must! I celebrate my Lord and praise God from the depths of my being… Because He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. In a world where everyone is known by a number, my Lord knows my name. He has an eye on me and I am somebody to him- somebody worth blessing and worth calling to a sacred place. From now on generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him from generation to generation, He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has scattered those who are drunk on their own wine, who are lost in their own thoughts, blind to God’s presence, and deaf to God’s invitation. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble. He has brought those who think little of him… down, and lifted up those who know they need him and who embrace him as their Lord. He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty. He has blessed those who hunger for righteousness and justice, but dismissed those who think that it is all about them. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful  to Abraham and his descendants forever just as he promised our ancestors.” It is Christmas and the King of Kings has arrived. He is partial to those who see that they need a Savior and also to those who hunger for justice and righteousness. He has an eye on those who struggle and tread water. He is mindful of their need for love, grace, new beginnings and joy… and he offers these gifts to all who would receive them. It’s Christmas, and the God of renewal, empowerment, and mercy… has showed up in a cattle shed, in a nothing little town, in an occupied state. Sing a song of salvation. Sing a song of grace. Sing a song of acceptance. Sing a song of love. Sing a song of victory. And sing of gratitude too. Joy to the world! Good for you… because unto you a Savior is born!

When Christmas Was All About Me

       Well, its Christmas time and I'm a little nostalgic again. I think about the Christmases my brothers and I had when we were growing up. They were traditional and festive. Mom and dad tried their best to give us a good Christmas and mother made sure that the dollar amount spent on each one of us was exactly the same. Dad was around more on Christmas... as we gathered with family and friends to celebrate and open our gifts. Since we weren't a religious family, Christmas, for us, was a time when we gathered together, had fun, and opened gifts.
      There was more drinking than there needed to be, but Christmases were good for my brothers and me because we always got more than enough presents. As a kid, I looked forward to Christmas, but I was concerned that things were "just right." It was up to me to give just the right gifts to others, and I had lot of anxiety about receiving just the right gifts myself. Even as we gathered to celebrate, I had a secret fear that I would disappoint someone... or be disappointed myself... which brings me to the Christmas when I received a shotgun instead of the bowling ball. I was bowling in league at the time and I wanted my own bowling ball. My father, on the other hand, wanted me to join him and my brothers on their hunting adventures. He didn't take many days off, but sometimes, he would get up extremely early and hunt pheasants in a farm field... or take a day trip to his duck blind. I'm sure that he saw hunting as a right of passage and as something we could bond around because he wasn't into sports... but I hated hunting and my heart was set on a bowling ball.
      I made my wishes known for weeks before Christmas, but come Christmas morning, there it was- a brand new shotgun. My number one, central gift, was a stupid shotgun... and I was devastated! My Christmas was ruined because it didn't meet my expectations. It didn't play out as I had envisioned it and I was heartbroken. I was fixated on what I wanted and I couldn't appreciate what I had actually been given. Christmas, it seems, was all about me. I couldn't let go and celebrate the joy that others were experiencing. And I kept struggling to accept things as they were until I first believed! Yes, until I first believed.

      When I accepted that God had sent his Son to save my soul, I felt loved for the first time in my life. A peace that I had not known before came over me, and knowing that I had been accepted by grace... freed me to accept others. Now, I look forward to Christmas without anxiety because I am focused on Christ instead of myself. Indeed, once I had got out of the driver's seat and "let God," the ride became much more enjoyable, and I know that Christmas will be good because things are good when God's in charge! My brothers are gone now and I would give anything to see them at Christmas. Mom and dad are gone too, and it's been over 60 years since I received a shotgun as a present... but if I could do it over again, I would say, "Thank's for the gun, dad. It's beautiful. Do you have time to take us out shooting later this week?"

 

GRACE AND NOTHING ELSE AT ALL

A friend once told me that her pastor preached "responsible grace," and while I think I know what she had in mind, grace cannot be burdened with any adjective. Grace is simply grace, unearned, undeserved, unfair, and hard to understand. It must be unmerited and unconditional to be grace at all. I've known people- perhaps you have too- who seem to believe that grace ought to be given to those who are "trying hard," or who will "appreciate it," or who "won't need it again." But this cannot be grace because grace cannot keep score. Grace is unfettered and undeserved loving kindness. It forgives those who will "straighten out their ways"... and those who won't. It lifts up those who will "pass it forward"... and those who won't. It blesses those who are very, very good... and those who aren't even trying to be good! Grace seems unfair to us and most people feel as if they don't "deserve" it. They don't... deserve it... but it is the only hope we have                                                                                                                                         

When God "speaks" to us. it is grace... when God listens to us, it is also grace...when God clothed Adam and Eve, it was grace... when     Jesus dined with Zacchaeus, it was grace...when a Rainbow appears in the sky...when a wound heals...when hope rises, it is grace...when   people stick with us and don't run away...when they don't give up on us, it is grace...a smile is grace... so is a tear... when Jesus hung on his  cross and welcomed the thief hanging next to him into his kingdom, it was grace and when the Son of God ended his work by saying, "Father, forgive them," it was amazing grace!

 "Rain is grace," Updike said. "Grace is love that stoops and rescues," according to John Scott. "Listen to you life," Buechner says, "touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it (because) life itself is grace." In Rumi's view, "grace comes to forgive and then forgive again." When Jesus talked about forgiving 70 times 7, completely and as a way of life, he was talking about grace. Creation is about grace. Salvation is about grace. Kindness is about grace. Heaven is about grace. Dying with a loved one at your side is grace. Forgiving and loving yourself is grace! It's all about unmerited, unearned. undeserved favor and that is grace! May we dry our tears, leap for joy, and get out there and shower others with grace in Christ's name and for God's sake! Amen.