April 24 Welcoming God’s Word * Acts 11.1-18, Psalm 148   Pastor Jacqueline Hines

The book of Acts tells story after story of what was going on in the church in Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified, died, and buried. Every year we tell our stories at Charge Conference. Lately, lots of folks around our community are talking about the renovations being done by the congregation on Bethel Church Road. There is always a story being shared here or there.

Verse 1 of Acts tells us that the apostles and believers heard the story of how the Gentiles had accepted God’s word. (slide # 1 Now the Apostles…) As always, there are those who accept God’s word and there are those who live according to other words.

We know persons who are Jewish, atheist, or agnostic who live by rules that are different from the rules by which we live. We know persons who are Muslim, Baha’i, and Buddhist who believe in a God that is different from our God. (slide # 2 Buddha)

In the early church in Jerusalem, the book of Acts tells us that the Gentiles, who had not claimed our God before, were now claiming our God. As always, life is full of changes some more surprising and challenging than others. Now, the church was being put in a position to welcome the Gentiles whose background and experiences were different, not in an interesting way, but in ways that took them completely out of their comfort zones. (slide # 3 step out...note)

The weirdest thing about the Gentiles was that they were not circumcised. Circumcision is talked about in the scriptures in a variety of ways. To be circumcised was primarily – and still is for our Jewish brothers and sisters - a spiritual ritual that indicates giving God our heart, making a covenant with God like the promises we make at the altar for baptism, communion, confirmation, and weddings. (slide # 4 Create in me a clean heart) Circumcision was also performed for health reasons; priests in the Old Testament were directed to complete infant circumcision 8 days after a boy was born.

I read years ago about a doctor who circumcised a child within three days after birth, but the baby would not stop bleeding. The doctor learned that a newborn’s clotting mechanism functioned best at 8 days old. That could explain why the Old Testament rule is for circumcision on the 8^th day.

So much of our protection and provision come to us through prayer, obedience, intuition, spending time in God’s word, in God’s presence and among God’s people. That is how we learn what to do. We learn to welcome God’s word, to listen, to receive it and believe it.  

Verse 2 in this story of what happened in the early church after Jesus rose from the dead says, (slide # 5 So when Peter went up….) 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, 3saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’” Peter had broken the rules. Jewish persons were not supposed to get so cozy with the Gentiles. Somewhere along the way in human history, Gentiles began keeping the rule not to get too close to Jewish persons either.

Every community has rules, and if you are going to change the rules, you better know what you are doing. If you refuse to abide by the rules, you need to be aware of what might happen. Every community has rules. Every church has rules. Every family has rules. Every individual has rules. (slide # 6 family rules/clock)

Some families take off their shoes and leave them in the doorway as a rule. Others never eat without bowing their heads and whispering a prayer of thanksgiving – even in restaurants. Schools often have rules about wearing hats. Churches have rules about how loud the music should be. (slide # 7 Book of Discipline)

Peter knew the rules. Gentiles were not welcome unless they had been circumcised. That was the rule. But, God gave Peter a vision that convinced him that those whose hearts were turned toward God should be welcomed into the church, even if they happened to be uncircumcised Gentiles.

There are many rules in life and in the bible. Jewish dietary laws were rules given to protect the health of God’s people, but without education and reflection what we eat and what we do not eat can easily become an argument and a reason to eat at separate tables. (slide # 8 I am a child of God)

I emailed a Rabbi once, asking him about those delicious Hebrew National hotdogs. I said, “These hotdogs taste real good but when I read the label there are things in them that I have learned that I should not eat on a regular basis. I believe kosher is about eating healthy. Rabbi, what do you say?”

The rabbi told me frankly that the Jewish laws needed to be updated according to the environment and the age. Rules need regular reflection to take into consideration what is going on in the community and in the environment.

Doctors tell us that when we do not drink enough water, we are at risk for getting gall stones caused by the concentration of uric acid that hardens tries to pass through with excruciating pain. The doctor’s rule is to drink enough water. Fortunately, our laws also include water regulations that inspect the quality of water, limiting the levels of lead and harmful bacteria.

Peter saw a vision of unclean animals on the forbidden-to-eat list - pig and shrimp and probably possum. The forbidden animals were predators and scavengers that when introduced into the body, could bring harm. Don’t you hate those lists that the doctor gives you with all your favorite foods that you cannot eat anymore!

I have eaten non-kosher food all my life, and I want to trust that the way we raise and regulate them in the U.S. lessens the risk. That is all I know.

Peter saw the forbidden animals in his vision and he said, “I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat. (slide # 9 kill and eat) But I replied, “By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” I can imagine Peter may have also thought, “You know you want it. You know you are so hungry. Eat it!!”

Peter seemed not the least bit tempted. Deliverance from temptation is a great blessing, but the vision was obviously not about food, it was about seeing what God sees in us. It was about reflecting on the rules we keep and seeing what steps we need to take today in order to stay spiritually alive and healthy as the family of God.

Rules that are kept without reflection may make us rigid and unreasonable.

In the last several weeks we have been discussing our rules for Sunday School. The first thing that comes to mind is that we want to use the words “Christian Education” because it seems a more modern word. The second thing we have discussed is possibly having Christian Education classes for children during the same time as we have a worship service. We are praying and listening, knowing that we need a change since this is a season when there are fewer children and fewer teachers than the past.

Change is natural. The only constant is change. Rules of how we conduct church and Christian Education for our youngsters require our thoughtful reflection year after year. We do not want to become   rigid and unreasonable.

The part of Peter’s story that I appreciate most is verse 15 where Peter says,

15And as I began to speak, (Remember, Peter was trying to help them understand why he was breaking the rules by hanging out with the uncircumcised Gentiles) he says, (slide # 10 and as I began to speak…) “the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. (perhaps Peter is referring to the beginning of the faith journey and the beginning of the Jerusalem church)

Peter continues, 16And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 17If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’” (slide # 11 baptism of the Holy Spirit)

¹⁸When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’ 

What a story. Would that we would all know the repentance that leads to life. Would that we would all have the gift of the Holy Spirit fall on us until we are baptized, soaked, surrounded and inundated with God’s word and will. (slide # 12 soaking in sunshine)

If we really want more of God’s will in our life, if we really want more power to do good and be good, then let us welcome God’s word and God’s people whose heart is toward God. (slide # 13 caution God at work) Amen.

April 17, 2016 Jacqueline Hines

Be still and know that I am God, Psalm 46 reminds us. No matter what is shaken in us or around us, the psalmist speaks for God saying, “Be still.” (Slide # 1 Be still – boat) If there is one thing that is easy to do when our world is being torn apart and turned upside down, it is to be still. To be still means to relax, to be quiet, to let drop, to sink, to idle, to fail or to faint.

If we ever manage to be still in a time of testing, it is because of divine intervention. (slide # 2 white clouds, sun rays)     (slide #3 God’s got this) Many years ago, I was leaning against a wall waiting for a bus near the elevated train in Philadelphia. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a person sliding along the wall coming directly toward me. Normally, it is disturbing when a stranger is moving too close. Surprisingly, I had no fear. It turned out to be a friend who was traveling the same route and trying to surprise me. It was not a stranger preparing to attack. All was well.

Apostle Paul had several real shake-ups in his life. He was ready to go to jail for preaching the gospel. First century jails did not hold to the standards for human rights and sanitation that we have come to know.  Ancient prisons were probably more like those shown on that National Geographic program (slide #4 Locked Up Abroad.)The conditions are horrible.

The only way we can be still and know that God is God when conditions are terrible is to let God work in our lives. (slide # 5 Let God lead) We have had to be still when we are getting a sliver removed so as to avoid infection, when we go hunting lest we scare off the game, when we get a cat scan to keep the image from being distorted, or when we want to avoid being seen by an intruder. We know how to be still, but it is not easy. But, it is a door to many blessings.

During surgery, the only way we can remain still is when we are anesthetized. (slide #6 woman under anesthesia…) You may remember an occasion when you were spiritually anesthetized, you may have been given a situation that rendered you unable to move a muscle or bat an eyelid in protest, even if you wanted to. There are those occasions when we realize that we are in deep, and there is nothing we can do about it. There are also those times we are smack dab in the middle of God’s great oasis of love. (slide #7 pool of water) We can’t escape knowing that we are loved, and there’s nothing we can do about it.

The scriptures raise the question, “Can a leopard change his spots?” (slide # 8 leopard) the answer is “no”. And neither can we be still and know that God is God without God working in our lives.

Once I prepared a prayer for worship in Maryland. I had been praying for a man who was a heavy smoker. I prayed, “Lord, deliver us from smoking.” (slide #9 lit cigarette) Quietly, I felt as if God’s hand was on the nape of my neck, gently pulling me aside, in the middle of my prayer, saying, “Don’t do that!” (slide # 10 Don’t do that sign) Later, as I meditated and prayed and argued with God about my style of praying, I began to understand that God did not need my help in changing people. And, if God ever wanted my assistance, God would ask or somehow let me know what to do and what to say.

Have we not understood, yet, that removing an embedded bullet (slide # 11 x-ray) can bring more harm than good, and some wounds need careful protecting before healing can happen? (slide # 12 knew wound)

When we see a hopeless situation, it may be hard to be still. We want to see Jesus raise lives from their deadness like he rose Lazarus from the dead. But, recently I have paid attention to those unnamed witnesses on the sidelines who saw Jesus coming onto the scene two days late. They saw him weeping over the death of Lazarus; they understood that he loved Lazarus, so they asked themselves the question for which we all have sought an answer, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, kept Lazarus from dying in the first place?” (slide # 13 Raising Lazarus)

Our question may be more like, “Why did you allow this to happen, God? (slide # 14 Why God?)  Why did you not stop it before it got this bad.” When I listen I hear God putting the question back on us in the same way that our children put the question back on us? “Can I trust you to do the right thing even when you are suffering because others are not doing the right thing? (slide # 15 Can I trust you with my heart? ) Can I trust you to be still and know that God is God? Can I trust you to love each other under pressure because that assures me that you will love me, too?  That makes your love credible.” (slide # 16 child looking up)

Without a doubt, these are the questions that Isaac will be asking us as his spiritual nurturers. These are the questions each new member and oldest members alike have in the back of our minds as we journey together in faith. Our answers are, of course, “Yes, we can be trusted. We will never be perfect, but we can be trusted to love one another under pressure and we will be still enough to let God work in our lives, and from time to time we will find ourselves sitting still in an inescapable oasis of love, (slide #17 God is sovereign) knowing that God IS God. Amen. (slide # 18 God Is….)

April 10 Native American Ministries Sunday; Psalm 30, John 21.1-18 “Feed My Sheep” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

This morning’s text begins with the words “after these things.” [ slide # 1 after these things] We immediately ask ourselves, “after what things.” The chapter before tells us that Mary Magdalene had gone to the tomb and found it empty.[ slide # 2 Empty tomb]Jesus, who had risen from the dead, found his disciples hiding behind closed doors, fearing for their lives. The Roman government in cooperation with the Chief Priests had executed Jesus and they would surely come after the disciples, now that his body was missing.

The government had sealed the tomb and set up two Roman guards [slide # 3 Roman Guards] so that his disciples could not steal the body and then claim that he had risen from the dead. In spite of all their efforts, they could not prove that Jesus had not risen.

How about you? Can you prove that Jesus did not rise from the dead? Biblically, historically, psychologically, or spiritually we believe Jesus rose from the dead!

“After these things” John writes, the sweetest things happen. The disciples went fishing together, which was sweet; it was great male bonding, but then everything went wrong that could go wrong. They spent the whole night and did not catch any fish. No fish. No results.[slide # 4 disciples in boat at night] Well, that is most undesirable. That is cause for quitting. No fish is like having no money, no food, no friends, no satisfaction, no help, no results, no job. [slide # 5 head down]They worked all night long and had nothing to show for it, even though they were together. How discouraging is that? [slide # 6 discouragement Satan’s tool]

At the break of day, they heard someone calling from the shore. “Children, you have no fish, have you?” [slide # 7 Jesus on the shore]How many times has someone asked you if you have any results, a good outcome, or money, or members? When have you been asked, “How are things going?” by others following up when they know things haven’t gone well. Things may not be any better or they may even be worse than ever. Sometimes bad news is all we have at the moment. “Children you have no fish, have you?”

On the other hand, how many times have you heard Jesus speaking to us while we are out in the depths? When things were at their worse? How many times have we heard Jesus’s direction:  ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find what you are working for.’  [slde # 8 Jesus on shore, again ]

Good stuff is always on the right side. [slide # 9 Jesus with  lots of fish] Think about a situation in your life or the life of a loved one where there is a struggle, where everything that is tried leaves you feeling like you’ve worked long and hard and you still get nothing out of it. You get no results. Nothing you do seems to work out. None of your fervent prayers lead to the answer for which you are looking.

That is the time to ask yourself if you are on the right side of the boat. Are you on the right track or did you get off track somewhere along the way? [slide # 10 stay on track] A time of struggle is a time to make sure you are on the right track so the journey can be as smooth and safe as possible. Whenever you are struggling through the night and getting no results is a time to listen and hear as Jesus tells you what next steps to take.

The next steps always involve others because whatever God has for us, it involves somebody working together. None of us can steer the boat, cast the net, and pull all those blessing to shore on our own. It only happens with unity and togetherness. We count our blessings, and we can name them one by one. We would rather not count the blessings that we forfeit when we cannot stick together in unity. [slide # 11 unity]

Alter the crucifixion, Peter and the disciples go about their normal lives; Jesus shows up suddenly and feeds them breakfast. [slide # 12 breakfast with Jesus] I enjoy hearing so many of you talk about your breakfast rituals. I hear, “my husband makes blueberry pancakes on Sundays,” “my wife fixed a special omelet for me this morning” or “Mom made a chocolate chip smiley face on my waffles,” [slide # 13 waffles] “I ate four apples and two bananas for breakfast” or “I start each day with a bowl of oatmeal for me and my children.” We are fond of the fellowship that we have around breakfast or coffee hour or special church dinners.

Psychologically, we are convinced that the Lord is with us during those times. Biblically, we read that he is with us always. Historically, we hear again and again the old, old story of Jesus’ loving presence with us. Spiritually, we are inspired to draw near in faithful fellowship, serving one another and serving our God. He IS alive! [slide # 14 He is Alive]

There are still those days when our best efforts leave us empty-handed. We know we need a miracle. We pray for miracles, but we forget that miracles come when we are together, when we have prepared in the light of day together and worked through the darkness of the night together. [Slide # 15 working together on nets]

We really want the miracles and the money and the might to just roll into our lives and sit at our feet, but as we well know, miracles come with blood, sweat, and tears. Sacrifice, hard work, and some grief over having to make a change are a part of any miracle.

Are you ready for a miracle? Let’s ask ourselves, what sacrifice I can pray about making in that area of my life, or the life of a loved one, or the life of our church where the desired results are not happening. [slide # 16 Jesus walking on sand] What work can I pray about accomplishing where nothing seems to be going well? What grief, sorrow, or sadness will be mine if I venture out into the deep and follow Jesus’ direction? [slide # 17 at the cross]

When we ask, the Lord always provides enough physical or spiritual food to feed each little lamb and enough love to love every one of the sheep and enough strength to feed the weakest and most ornery of all the sheep. If and when we ask.

Jesus is clear with us as he was clear with Peter in verse 18, there are times that the journey with Jesus ‘takes you where you do not wish to go.’ And, if you have been on this journey long enough, you have already allowed the Holy Spirit to lead you to places you did not want to go! It seemed too hard, too much, to sad, but you knew you were being led there, and you knew the end result would bring glory to God and blessings to many.

When we are with Jesus, we are used to letting the good times roll. [slide # 18 let the good times roll] There are plenty of good times; there are also times when we learn to roll with the punches. [slide # 19 keep calm…] Are you ready for a miracle in a place where nothing seems to be going well? [slide # 20 Lord, I need a miracle] May today be the day of miracles in one of your places of struggle. Amen. [slide # 21 God will not…]      [slide # 22 He Lives]

Easter - An Out of Body Experience

March 27, 2016 EASTER Luke 24. 1-12 “An Out of Body Experience” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

They went to the tomb at dawn, but they did not find the body. They did hear, however, the most powerful words in the universe: “He is not here, but has risen.” [ slide # 1 empty tomb ]They did not find the body because the resurrection is not about Jesus’ physical body. The resurrection is about an out of body experience. The resurrection is about the body of Christ. We are the body of Christ. The resurrection is about what we do when we are joined together as a body of believers.

We are all connected  - from generation to generation. We are all connected  - from family to family, from Church to Church and committee to committee. [ slide # 2 serving around a church ]In the church, as that children’s song goes: the head bone is connected to the shoulder bone and the knee bone is connected to the leg bone. Hear the Word of the Lord.

The resurrection is about us connecting to the love of the one who lived his life for you and for me. He gave his whole life, holding nothing back. It feels good when someone gives us their all, doesn’t it? [slide # 3 give it all…jumping]

When the ladies arrived at the tomb they were just like every other human being. They wanted to stay connected. They wanted to show their love for one with whom they felt attached and with whom they had made a covenant and commitment. We all have the privilege of having somebody to love. We all need others who love us. Their mind was on the love of their savior, the one who had given them their all, the one for whom they had great devotion. [slide # 4 gold background – how they love…]

It was that simple. The last thing they had on their mind was something as complicated and mystifying as a resurrection. They planned to keep it simple. Little did they know that they were about to see how love explodes and sends waves of power around the world. Terrorists have nothing on the power of our love. The power of our love is bigger than a bomb, better than a bullet.

Love is the most powerful thing in this world. [slide # 5 love is powerful] We have a love that resurrects. We have a love that renews and rejuvenates. Our love reconstructs after destruction, recovers after loss. Love always has a reason to rejoice.

For 171 years we have been serious about what we do as a body of believers. We are doing the work of the body of Christ. We can only do this because the Holy Spirit is in you. The Holy Spirit is working good things in and through you. [slide # 6 walk in the Spirit] The idea of the Holy Spirit working in you is a spiritual law as certain as the law of gravity that keeps us in our seats instead of floating up to the ceiling.

We want everyone who sincerely seeks love and healing and help and hope to find it among this body of believers, the body of Christ. As Christians, we hope everyone whose lives we touch will have an out of the body of Christ experience.

Everyone you meet should have an out of the body of Christ experience. Everyone you meet should find in you a light that leads to love. Everyone you meet should find, in some measure, healing of their minds, bodies, souls (which is their will) and their spirit (which is their indestructible connection to God). You are a member of the body of Christ. God’s hands are your hands. What you do makes good things happen. God’s feet are your feet. Where you go makes good things happen.

It may not seem like one Church or one person or one family or one generation can make a difference, but when we give love all we’ve got, love explodes and powerful things happen. This is a great day to decide to give love all you’ve got, to listen to God’s call to be a blessing in ways that will blow your mind.

There is only one catch. You can decide, but you are powerless to make it happen. You must get help from the Holy Spirit that is within you!

The world we live in is so unpredictable. From one minute to the next we have no guarantees. From one mile to the next, things can change in the blink of an eye. The only assurance we have is in the presence of God. The only comfort we can cling to is in the savior of the world who loved us with all he had. He loves us with a love that defies the cacophony of catastrophe and the dirge of death. Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal. [slide # 7 trust in his presence]

We are human. We are not perfect so there may have been days that we held back, that we did not give our all. There may have been days when God is working on us, shaping us and molding us into what we should be. We understand we are a work in progress.

A dedicated Christian tells the story of when he was having a rough patch. He was seeing a therapist week after week to get things off his mind and to work out sensible solutions. One week when things were particularly hectic, he left the therapist’s office, walked into the parking lot and quickly noticed that his tire was flat.

He got out the spare and began to undo the nuts and bolts, highly annoyed. By this time the therapist came out on the way to his car, walked up to this man and said, “Would you like me to help you with your language?”

In one area or another we all wear the sign in our hearts that reads, “Be patient with me, God is not through with me yet!”

No matter what shape we are in, God can still use us as we are. And, if we stand together and help each other, knowing that we are on this journey of love together, we can do even greater things than we can imagine. [slide # 8 Body of Christ better together]

Who would have imagined that we could hear the voice of God telling us to install an elevator? It was clear that we wanted to bless those who could not easily climb the steps. It is a supernatural event to listen and to hear, to comprehend what God is saying, and to seek God for all the needed resources. It is a miracle to actually do it!

Do not think that it is a small thing that we put our hands to the plow for the last three years to work on getting an elevator. It takes a wise and spiritual people to pledge back to God the resources that come from God. We are doing what we believe God is asking us to do. We are not doubting the will of God for our lives, we are not delaying acting on the will of God for our lives; we are giving it our all. [slide # 9 people around a cross]

We are living the resurrection power of Easter every day of the year. God has a purpose and a plan that is for the good of everyone. It is a plan that is bigger than any one of us. It is about all of us together as the body of Christ, united as One, out of which God can does great things.

One of my favorite ideas about the out of the body of Christ experience is the way we help each other stay physically healthy. Our soups are out of sight. Our dinners are delightful. We have great cooks. On every occasion, there are bountiful servings of love and care. On many occasions I have had a fully natural, even organic meal.

We do well, as a body of believers, to learn all we can about staying healthy in an age of chemical warfare. There are chemicals that invade our hormone system and throw us off balance. In the last few weeks I have heard doctors say things like most adults have about 380 chemicals and heavy metals in their bodies from exposure in our modern world. Children are said to be born with about a hundred foreign chemicals.

The United Methodist Women’s reading group read a book about how certain lipsticks and beauty creams adversely affect those in their child-bearing years. I heard a tomato a day can keep prostate cancer away because of the lutein, and 3 tablespoons of olive oil can prevent some heart disease and 4 tablespoons can reverse some heart disease, and a vitamin d level around 70 can reduce inflammation that causes disease and cure essential high blood pressure.

As Christians, it is a good thing to be a part of conversations that help us explore ways to stay as healthy as we possibly can. [slide # 10 wellness] We won’t live forever, our bodies will definitely have its share of aches and pains and disease and distress, but if we give it all we’ve got, we will at least have a fighting chance to finish what God has for us to do on this earth. [slide # 11 give it all we’ve got]

We want to do God’s will, not only for our sake, but for the sake of the children who walk in our footsteps. Our children desperately need us to lead the way. They need us to lead in Easter Festivals like we had yesterday, and the Bethel Christian Preschool we have every day of the week, and the Christian camps like Camp Innabah three miles or so from here, and the Sunday School classes we staff every Sunday, and the Vacation Bible School we are planning on July 11th, and Junior Church which we struggle to have for every service. Though, Junior Church is less of a struggle when one family member of every household gets their Safe Sanctuary Clearances and serves at least one Sunday in the year. Our children need us to lead the way. They need us to value, and visualize, and verbalize the gospel, so they can learn to avoid being Satan’s victims. This is what we do!

If we give it all we’ve got to lead our children in being a part of the body of Christ, if we lead them in doing their share that the world can have wonderful experiences that come out of the body of Christ,   then their chances of being led and trained by spirits that are godless and evil will decrease. We are either for God or against God; there is no in between.

God has a purpose and a plan. [slide # 12 dunking basketball] We are the body of Christ, and this is the day to give love all we’ve got. Amen. [slide # 13 He is risen]