Wednesday, March 23, 2016

March 20th 2016 "Tied Up"


Mach 20, 2016 Palm Sunday Isaiah 50.4-9a, Luke 19.28-40 (Palm Sunday) “Tied Up” Pastor Jacqueline Hines
When many people come to Chester County, they say they are in the country. They see the farms, the horses, the fields behind the church that grow barley or corn, the open spaces. One of my friends from Baltimore said that the air smells so much fresher and cleaner than the city and the pine trees look healthier and more beautiful. [pine tree]
One year the youth group played a game of hide-and-seek. About 10 tweens wandered in the corn field that we rent to Farmer Dan. I took one step in, heard the crackle of dry grass under my feet and felt the itchy branches, dust and cobwebs on my face and decided I was best suited to wait outside until the kids came out. It was too much country for me.
Country is beautiful to see but country can be a bit rough at the touch. Jesus sent two of the disciples to untie somebody’s colt. [a colt]  These two, being familiar with animals day to day, were well able to untie a donkey. They were no stranger to the feel and the smell and the flickering ears that accompanied any donkey. They knew the ropes and how to untie lots of animals. This baby donkey would be no challenge at all.
Has the Lord ever sent you to untie a donkey? Have you ever approached an animal and attempted to take it somewhere? [Jesus sent two of the disciples, 30saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden.]   Jesus sent two of the disciples, 30saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden.
St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals in the Catholic Church. He had lots of affection for animals. Animals seemed to be unusually attracted to him. St. Francis was even know to preach to the animals and encourage them to praise God with their wings or their paws. He was in the mindset of Psalm 150 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. [Francis of Assisi]
Though he became great after his death at the age of 44 in the year 1204, St. Francis was an ordinary man, not known for his giftedness or attractiveness. Perhaps the most dramatic part of his life was his conversion to Christianity. He was spiritually on fire. Though his family was well off, he made a vow of poverty, humility and obedience at the age of 24. He was quickly made a saint because of the many miracles involving animals that surrounded his life. Millions of people pilgrimage to his tomb in Assisi, Italy in order to reflect on his unique relationship with God and his gentleness and respect for life.
Some of you love and appreciate animals more than others of us. You would have been the first in line to go get the donkey that Jesus sent the two disciples to untie.
Any of us could be called at any time to untie a donkey. For the world is full of folks that are tied up. We are tied up in knots, tied up in predicaments, tied up in dilemmas, tied up in doubts, tied up in danger. The world is full of folks that are tied up. That is why Jesus called the disciples to untie the donkey. At times we may be that donkey that needs to be loosed and set free to go with Jesus.
Could you be that disciple whom Jesus calls to untie our donkeys? Could you be the one to go respect all of God’s creatures, even the lowly ones, even the animals, even the beastly ones, even the ones that are tied up because if they were not they would wander, or if they were not tied up they would be unpredictable? Could you be that disciple whom Jesus calls to untie our donkeys?
Sure you could. If God calls you, God will equip you. If God calls you, God will empower you. You cannot go anywhere God sends you without the help of God. The two disciples that went to untie the donkey did not have an address. They just kept walking. They were told to go to the village. They did not know who owned the donkey. They were just told what to say when they started untying the donkey.
As a disciple, you already know that when God tells you to go somewhere, you do not always have an address, or you may be told what to say to a stranger before you meet them or you may not know if the life you are untying will be meek and mild or wild and wooly. You may not know how long the journey will be or when you will be able to get a break. As a disciple, you already know that God will be with you to the end.
As disciples, you know what to do with a donkey. You bring it to Jesus to drive it, to steer it, to feed it, refresh it to train and develop it until it is ready to be driven wherever the people are praising God.
37As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,
37As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,…
Every time we find ourselves tied up in knots, tied up in predicaments, tied up in dilemmas, tied up in doubts, tied up in danger, we can trust that Jesus has sent us disciples to untie us and set us free. And, when we are set free we will be driven to places where God is respected and honored and blessed and praised and treated gently. [donkey caravan]
Everywhere we go there will be people on a journey praising God and there will be people tied up. You may be the disciple that Jesus sends to untie a donkey that Jesus might drive them to a place of praise. Follow in faith, for you do not go alone. [footsteps] Amen.




March 13, 2016 “God’s Prize”


March 13 (Communion Sunday) Isaiah 43.16-21, *Philippians 3.4b-14 “God’s Prize” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

You’ve heard the story of the young man who waited eagerly in a lawyer’s office for the reading of the will of his late uncle. [slide #1 waiting] Finally, the time came and the lawyer gave him, of all things, a bible. All his uncle had left him was a bible. He was infuriated. How could this be happening with all the wealth that his uncle had so wisely stored up throughout his life?
Years later, the young man grew wiser and finally opened the bible. [slide # 2 opening the bible] Inside were the keys to a new car and a check for a million dollars. The story proves once again that we cannot lose when we have the right attitude, when our eye is on what God says is most valuable.
The apostle Paul was no slouch. He was accomplished in every way. He took learning seriously, studying under the famous rabbi Gamaliel according to the book of Acts chapter 22. [slide # 3 rabbi] He traveled widely. Instead of the convenience of trains, buses, airplanes, and cruise ships, Paul and his first century companions traveled by way of high maintenance animals and hand-made ships. [slide # 4 ancient boat]
Paul was accustomed to a rough and rugged life. He was very strong physically. He was also strong-minded and strong-willed. He let nothing get in the way of his exercising the faith that he and his family had highly prized for generations. So often Paul used words like training, running, victory, and winning in order to teach early Christians how to live a Godly life.
In verse 14 of our reading today, Paul says, “ I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”
[slide # 5 I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.]
Those of you who have pets know that they quickly learn when they are about to get a treat. As soon as they hear the bag of Kibbles and Bits rattling, they come running – for their prize. (rattle)
The spirit calls us, too. Throughout the day, we are prompted to taste and see, to do and hear, to speak and listen, to serve and pray. (rattle) If we understand that God’s word is a prize, then we come running to do God’s will, because God’s will is always something good. [slide # 6  when God calls your name]
God’s will does not always look like what we are hoping to see. The bible does not seem very interesting until we read it, study it, meditate on it, and pray about what it has to do with our life. There are times that God’s will is wrapped in a very dull cover. Getting to God’s may mean getting past a high risk situation. It may require longsuffering or facing circumstances that generate tremendous fear and disappointment in us. Nevertheless, God’s will is always something good.
A famous philosopher, physicist, and mathematician was basking in his glory when an admirer came up to him saying, “If I had your brains I would be a better person.” The philosopher had been known for his genius since he was a boy advised his admirer, “Be a better person and you will have my brains.” [slide # 7 be good]
Apostle Paul tells us of many attributes that most people in the word think of as a prize: he had a spotless reputation and an enviable ethnic heritage; spiritually, he was as dedicated as an Olympic champion. He endured greater strain and was more faithful under pressure than the average Christian.
We all have something that this world thinks is a real prize. It may be a nice retirement package and health benefits, a stable marriage, a gifted child, a pedigree or a doctorate degree.  Still, Paul reminds us that whatever great things we have – they are all rubbish when you compare them to having a good attitude, doing the right thing, gratefully carrying whatever cross is ours to carry, and living fully anticipating that our cross will become a crown of victory because of the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. We can be confident that our mess takes on meaning. It becomes a message and brings forth the miracles that God intends for us.
The world wants to use us for our prizes. We find the word “used” in the middle of the word “abused.”  The world uses us, but God just wants to love us. [slide # 8 rose]
So when God calls us, let’s come running. For, there are prizes that we can claim only when we come running as God calls us. God is faithful and will provide something good. (rattle) [slide # 9 God provides] Amen.



Friday, March 11, 2016

February 28 2016 How Love Guides Us

February 28 I Corinthians 10.1-13, * Isaiah 55.1-9 “How Love Guides Us” Pastor Jacqueline Hines
What a greeting Isaiah begins with in this well-known passage from the prophet Isaiah. Ho! If we were trying to get one another’s attention we might say “Ho” like Isaiah did or we might say “Hey” or “Hey You” or “Whoooooah” or “Yoooo Hoooo”. Some even whistle, “reeee-u -iittt”. Once in a classroom of rowdy kids, I dropped a book on the desk, making a loud noise. That got everyone’s attention. It is the loud things in life that get our attention. It is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease, isn’t it? When God wants our attention, God knows just what to do!
This Lenten season is about God getting our attention. Lent is a time appreciate that we are blessed when we let God have all of our attention all of the time. We especially want to pay attention to God during those times when our hearts are most restless, when someone is irritating the devil out of us, when we fall down emotionally and we can’t get up, or when we fall down physically or spiritually and we can’t get up, when our patience is at its wits end. There are definitely times when we want God’s attention, so it is good to pay attention to our God.
Verse 1 tells us whose attention God is trying to get. “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money,  buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. God’s blessings are priceless; they cannot be bought or sold. All who are willing can receive the good things God has for us.
God wants our attention when we are most vulnerable, when we are in need. Are you vulnerable? Are you in need? Then God is calling you. Are we vulnerable as a church? Does our church have a need? Then God is calling our church. Is there a generation that is vulnerable? Is there a generation in need? God is calling that generation. God calls us when we are vulnerable. God calls us when we have a need!
Many of us keep our cell phones close by our side. A ringing phone usually gets our attention right away. Have you noticed that television and radio commercials have a lot of telephone ringing sounds that are not always related to the product that they sell?  Advertisers know how to get our attention. God knows how to get our attention, too.
“Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wine and milk, like milk and honey are symbols of health and nurture, sweetness and life. In our most vulnerable and needy moments, God calls us to blessings that heal and nurture all those for whom God can get their attention. God is calling us, guiding us to heal and nurture wherever we go.
Does God have your attention, today? Good! When God gets our attention, God is so ready to make covenant with us as verse 3 says, “I will make with you an everlasting covenant,..”   The covenant is God’s promise to heal us and pour love and support into our lives. It is our opportunity to do what verse 3 says, 
 “Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.
Listen so that you may live. When we are vulnerable and have a need, we are often at risk. We have dug wells for families around the world because we understand the need to have clean water in our communities. 
In Flint, Michigan they are afraid for their lives. We hear of the rashes, sickness, and the high levels of toxic lead in the brains of children. They have a need. They need clean water. For over a year they have been thirsty for good water. Hopefully, God has their attention and they will be guided to the healing and nurture that they need to receive and to give.
In last week’s movie Unbroken marines’ plane crashed and were adrift in the Pacific Ocean for about 30 days.  They could not drink salty sea water. They became thirsty. Their thirst was so prolonged that it became a traumatic, life-threatening experience. God guided them one way and another.
Life can throw any of us into waters too deep and over our heads. We can be turned upside down. We lose stuff when our lives are turned upside down. Stuff falls out of our pockets, and out of our lives. Hearts get hurt,  bruised and broken. Yet, out of life’s chaos God creates great good. There is always a miracle in every mess. During Lent we set aside time to find God’s message and meaning in the mirk and the mire of our mayhem.
I was meditating at the beginning of the week and I thought I had not heard of any random shootings lately. My bubble was burst a couple days ago when I heard of a man in Kansas who went berserk and killed several people when the courts confronted him about his violent behavior.
If we think God was silent from the day this poor man was born, we must think again. There is no doubt God speaks to us when we are vulnerable and in need. The question is, are we listening? Does God have our attention? Prayer is a conversation? Are we participating? Are we listening?
In New Life Live Christian Counseling radio show, a man called in to complain that his wife would not obey him. I would do anything she asks me to do, so I expect her to do the same. I asked her to make chicken for dinner. She baked the chicken. She knows I do not eat baked chicken. The counselors advised him to listen more carefully because evidently his wife was not able to use her adult voice and ask for what she wanted;  acting like a juvenile was the best she could do to get her message across.
We must listen if we are going to be prepared to respond with or without words to each other’s message and to God’s message. Listening brings us to the next level, to higher heights and deeper depths of God’s love. Listening brings life.
Lent is our time to search for God through spiritual disciplines of fasting, prayer, worship, study, service and so on. It is a time to search for God until we hear God’s voice, for we live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. So we must, as Isaiah reminds us in verse 6:
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found,
   call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake their way,
   and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
   and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts. 
God has beautiful plans for us, whether we are prospering or struggling,   overboard or under the gun. Whether our situation is making us better or bitter. God is speaking, trying to get our attention to guide us in the ways of life.
I saw a commercial that showed a young man playing a piano. He was masterful and passionate and made beautiful music. There was a caption across the screen that said, “Every key is different.” Then he turned to another piano behind him, started playing and the caption read – “What if all the keys were the same.” He played the piano with all the keys sounding the same. He played with the same fervor and passion, but the music was not beautiful. It was more like noise. Then the caption appeared – “Let’s be different, but let’s stay together.”
We are designed to work together, to stay together, to be the church together for the sake of clean water and every beautiful blessing God has for us. May this Lenten season keep us making beautiful music together.