Sunday, September 25, 2016

When God Is With Us In a Poverty Oddyssey

September 25 2016 Psalm 91.1-6, 14-16; Luke 16.19-31, “When God Is With Us in a Poverty Odyssey” Pastor Jacqueline Hines
Jesus said to his disciples there was a rich man who looked every bit the part. He not only looked like a rich man, he talked like a rich man, he smelled like a rich man, he stood like a rich man, he ate like a rich man. He was a rich man. [slide # 1 rich man]
Interestingly enough, Jesus did not say that this rich man was dishonest like the dishonest manager was in last week’s parable. Jesus did not say that this rich man was greedy like the rich young ruler who walked away sadly when Jesus asked him to give to the poor. This was a rich man who probably got up early with a big smile on his face, free as air, happy to handle big affairs and enjoy the day. [slide # 2 feet up]
Somewhere, way back in this rich man’s mind every now and then, he may have thought to begin the day with prayers of thanksgiving but he was not necessarily the most devout person ever. At family gatherings he might have been happy to be reminded of his family’s spiritual roots with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. One could guess that generally, he had as much interest in talking to God as he seemed to have in talking to Lazarus [slide # 3 poor man] that dirt-poor guy, covered with sores who hung out at his gate, perhaps looking for kind attention. (This was not the Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead.)
One day the rich man found himself in Hades – in the Greek the word is - hah'-dace. It sounds hot because it was hot. It is another name for “hell.”  It was intense. It was something you rather not go through. We have all lived moments, even seasons that we describe as being as miserable as what we imagine a living hell is like.[slide # 4 hell/heaven]
I thought a lot about hell through a bible study we did here using the book entitled Divine Revelation of Hell written by a woman who said she went to Hell in a type of trance and she emerged with a vivid description of what Hell was like.
The story is told of an army chaplain who reported to a new duty station. Upon arrival some of the men came to see him and asked him this question; Do you believe in a literal hell? He replied that he did not. The men asked him to resign and he asked them why. Their response to him was; ‘ If there is no Hell then we don’t need you and if there is a Hell we don’t want you to lead us astray.”
Whatever you believe about hell or heaven, why take a chance. What’s the sense in going to hell over it? [Slide # 5 sinking war ship]
To remember how we are all human, someone said if you have ever been in love, you have thought about murder. If you have never thought of murder, you have never been in love. We constantly have the opportunity to make the right choice.  
I learned how serious hell was when I tried to be funny one day referring to a Christian man who had made some serious mistakes that caused enormous problems for lots of people – I referred to him as the “husband from hell”. I immediately felt the presence of God rebuking me, warning me not to say such an evil thing about this child of God. I understood that Hell is no laughing matter. Hell is real and the thought of us choosing hell breaks God’s heart. [slide # 6 broken heart] 
Jesus tells us that a certain rich man found himself in hell. He was used to being in charge, but this was a moment when his will was not being done. Just like on earth, he was not close to Lazarus. He could only see him from a distance and that was fine with him, as he probably felt he was superior to Lazarus. As was his habit, instead of asking Lazarus to help him, he called out orders to Abraham, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus [slide # 7 Send Lazarus] to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue;…” It is kind of radical that he looked for poor Lazarus to help him.
There is a Lazarus in each of our lives. Poverty – or not having what we need - is linear in that - poverty ranges from bad to worse. Poverty makes a line from a beginning to an end, and even when the economy is doing wonderfully, there is always someone in the front of the line and there is always someone at the end. That is why Jesus said the poor you have with you always. There is always one who is willing to use force to take or keep something that rightfully belongs to another. [slide # 8 thief]
Lazarus can be found wherever there is a desperate need of water, food, and shelter. Lazarus is found wherever there is physical pain or emotional heartbreak of any kind.
Lazarus is often accompanied by dogs, [slide # 9 dogs] animals void of human discretion who feast off of others pain and desperation. There are scavengers exhibiting savage behavior who get as close to Lazarus as they possibly can to delight in another’s woundedness. Is there a Lazarus somewhere in your life?
It is highly likely that there is a Lazarus inside each one of us! I attended a community meeting on Thursday that was declared to be a safe place for all to share what was deep inside our hearts. [slide # 10  x-ray heart]  held in the Spring City Library on Thursday. It was a safe place where we could look inside ourselves. It was an effort to discuss police communications and race relations and to determine what we could do about it. [slide # 11 community]
We explored together what our community could do to prepare or prevent the catastrophes that seem to be erupting overnight throughout this country and this world. Not surprisingly, most persons present at this meeting were religious, and the meeting began with prayer.
One of the leaders told an interesting story of a group of people of various cultures who were gathered for conversation. Some felt real hate and indifference in their hearts for one group or another. They all agreed to do DNA tests and have the results shared publicly among themselves.
Some were shocked to learn that according to the DNA results, they were not who they thought they were. Some found that the blood of the ancestors running through their veins was of the very people they hated. Arabs had the blood of Jewish ancestors and Europeans had the blood of Africans and vice versa. Some were shocked and humbled and moved to tears and hugs of repentance and reconciliation.
As the light of our world, for God’s sake, Jesus illuminates what is around us as well as what is inside of us. With enough light we can see that Lazarus shows up at our doorstep anywhere and anytime. Because Lazarus may be bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, we ought to be careful not to undercut, undervalue, overlook or avoid ANYONE, even in a roundabout way. Because Lazarus may be disguised as our beloved savior, we want to be careful not to bite the hand that saves us!
Lazarus is the only character in any of Jesus’ parables that has a name.   “Lazarus” is derived from a word meaning “God helps”. [ slide # 12 Lazarus means] It is a reminder to all of humanity that God helps us through whatever we are going through. Trouble can happen at the blink of an eye for anyone, but God helps.
At our lowest points, [ slide # 13 man bowed low] God is with us. God never leaves us or forsakes us. God has a purpose and a plan in every trial. Of course, sometimes we do not care how wonderful God is when we are miserable. We just want out. [slide # 14 mask of misery]
Nevertheless, if we are honest, we can say that there are always priceless perspectives and valuable lessons that we learn when we go through trouble, even if we would never want to go through it again. [slide # 15 light bulb!]
I heard a doctor say recently that once society gets a hold of an idea that is true, it takes nearly 13 years for it to be accepted. [slide #16 truth]
We learn that our attitude determines our altitude. We grow to understand that if we look at our situation as a glass half full rather than a glass half empty, we feel better and therefore do better. We understand that hope is HUGE and we know WE have the choice to rejoice.
Every day we have a choice to keep our covenant with God or to turn our back on God and those who need us. As Lazarus was at the rich man’s gate, hoping for someone to help him in his time of need – and we all have needs – I can imagine he might have sung a song like the one we sang last week: Lord you are more precious than silver. Lord you are more costly than gold. Lord you are more beautiful than diamonds and nothing I desire compares with you.
Then, even as he was waiting for the help he longed for with all of his heart, I can imagine he heard the love song God was singing for him to hear: Son, you are more precious than silver. Son, you are more costly than gold. Son, you are more beautiful than diamonds, and nothing I desire compares with you. [slide # 17  “I love you,” signed  God]
With such a love that reverberates to us throughout the universe, we cannot go wrong. Still, it is our choice to accept it.
One day, when Vice-President Calvin Coolidge was presiding over the Senate, one senator angrily told another senator to go “straight to hell.” The offended Senator complained to Coolidge as presiding officer, and Coolidge looked up from the book he had been leafing through while listening to the debate and wittily replied. “I’ve looked through the rule book,” he said, “You don’t have to go.” [slide # 18 heaven/hell]
Every day we each have a choice to live out our lives in the presence of God or without. As the days and years go by, we may be watching someone drifting away from God. They may be family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or someone we pass by every day at a distance. We can be confident that they have a Lazarus in their life or in their hearts. We can be sure that they have a choice to keep that conversation and covenant going with God or not.
Whoever it is that you are watching drifting farther and farther away from Heaven’s gate, whoever it is that is keeping their distance from God and the love God’s people have for them, keep them in your heart while putting them in God’s hands. Pray fervently and faithfully for them in their need and seek God’s wisdom as to how you can best be a blessing to those who are growing far away from God.

For such wisdom only comes from God! [slide # 19 wisdom]Amen. [slide # 20 green light bulb]

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

September 18, 2016 "When God is Our Manager"

September 18 Jeremiah 8.18-9.1, *Luke 16.1-13 “When God is Your Manager”
Pastor Jacqueline Hines

 In today’s passage, Jesus talks about a subject that is very near and dear to all of our hearts: MONEY! MONEY! [slide # 1 money bag]
He starts off by telling a story to his disciples:  ‘There was a rich man…’.  ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, who was caught up in a scam. He was a fraud. He could no longer be trusted. He was caught, called on the carpet and about to be fired for fraudulent actions. [slide # 2 Fraud]
So why does Jesus tell this story to the disciples? Jesus tells them the story because they confirmed that they were interested in following the ways of Jesus. They made a choice to be inundated, baptized, and intoxicated in the Spirit that would enable them to follow Jesus’ lead. [slide # 3 Jesus and disciples] So, because of their stated intentions they received these wise and penetrating and puzzling examples, these case studies so that they could learn and develop their expertise in the faith.
Jesus’ story is an old and universal story. We hear such stories in the local and national news all the time. One internet source lists the top ten fraud cases in recent history. To name a couple:
In 2009 Ramalinga Raju chairman of Satyam Computers the fourth largest IT company of India with 53,000 employees was charged with illegally manipulating the balance sheets. He claimed a balance of over a billion dollars when in reality he had less than 80 million with a 3% margin, not the 24% he claimed.
In 2005 the Daewoo Group the second largest conglomerate in South Korea with interests in about 100 countries, went bankrupt, with debts of about 80 billion won ($84.3 million). In 2005, chairman Kim Woo Choong was charged with masterminding accounting fraud worth 41 trillion won ($43.4 billion), illegally borrowing 9.8 trillion won ($10.3 billion) and smuggling $3.2 billion out of the country.
In the USA Wall Street is still reeling after the 2008 FBI investigation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, causing many retirement accounts to collapse, even after they were fined $400 million in 2006. They did not learn their lesson. We know more than we want to know about AIG insurance fraud and folks like Bernie Madoff running off with billions in order to live a life of inconceivable luxury. Trying to outdo the Jones’s.
There is also a lot to be said about great philanthropists in this world. There seems to be no end to the generosity and kindness displayed by people like Melinda and Bill Gates, Rockefeller, Alicia Kehs, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Dale Carnegie, Warren Buffett, and the good folks of Bethel United Methodist Church who’ve given and given and given since the church’s inception 172 years ago. [Slide # 4 Bethel]
When we act in philanthropic ways our world is a better and safer place for everyone. When we are fraudulent, the Holy Spirit is grieved and somebody suffers. Jesus is all about our being there to prevent and alleviate suffering!
The man in Jesus’ story was fired for squandering God’s property. God is not pleased with squandering. A Christian young adult sister told me that God blessed her with a beautiful new car that she needed to get back and forth to work. From time to time, one of her co-workers asked to borrow the car. It was evident that he was using the car to go see a woman who was not his wife. At first this good-hearted and generous sister just thought she would mind her own business, but one morning she said God spoke to her and rebuked her for allowing the gift of her new car to be misused. She then stopped allowing the person to borrow the car.
Her obedience was a blessing. [slide # 5 butterfly obedience] It may not have been easy because there are times when it is not easy to take back something that you have given to someone. Sometimes people give you a hard time when you change your mind. Sometimes people are quick to retaliate when you say “no.” But at all times it is worth it in the end to go with God.
The fired manager came up with a brilliant plan – give away money. But, his was a dishonest plan. That is, he made a dirty deal giving discounts, stealing, and giving away his master’s money hoping the recipients would like him and help him when he was down and out. Hoping as verse 9 says,  “And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.” [slide # 6 verse 9 make friends…]

We are to use whatever comes our way, even filthy lucre. When I worked as a social worker for United Methodist Neighborhood Services in South Philadelphia, I was surrounded by the influence of mobters and their money. One of my superintendents said he was offered a nice chunk of money that was clearly connected to corruption for a community project but he refused it. That was the right thing to do. All money is dirty. That is why we do not put it in our mouths. It has been said that most money has traces of cocaine dust on it. When it reaches our innocent hands we are to use it according to God’s will. What a genius of an idea!
We are to keep our hearts and hands open to provide as well as receive God’s eternal blessings. The manager, though dishonest was smart enough to see that giving was an investment into his eternal home, his long-lasting lifestyle, not just a one-time opportunity, not just a temporary handout, but a long-term agreement that would last forever and make him feel secure and confident like BFF’s. 
So, we too as Christians ought to think about the lasting effects of our finances, by giving to the poor and living within our means and becoming debt free and making a will. If it had not been for the Bethel saints that gave generously to Bethel, this church would be a different place if a place at all.
What a genius of a plan this manager had: Giving money to those who need it and appreciate it. [slide # 7 no one has ever become poor…] Accept it was not his money to give. He was making friends dishonestly. Giving money is a perfect plan but he had putrid motives. What God expects is for us to use God’s resources in the right way and make friends with holy motives so that our eternal homes, our life-long lifestyles and generational legacies will not only be pleasing and acceptable to others who have grown to love and appreciate us, but will be acceptable to God who sees all and knows all.
Sociologist Tony Campolo [slide # 8 Campolo] had an audience with a group of young thugs who were known for robbing other people’s homes. He asked them flat out, ‘Why do you steal? Why don’t you just get a job and go to work? ‘They answered, ‘Robbing is hard work. You have to do research and scope out your targets. You have to be able to maneuver in the dark in strange places. You have to run like crazy to keep from getting caught, jumping over fences and turning corners like lightening. Stealing is really, really hard work.’ Thugs have creative genius, perfect plans with ungodly motives.
I heard a fourth generation Christian talk about how her children and her children’s children were very nice, bright, and successful people but they had no interest in going to church and worshipping God. They were surrounded by good examples, but they were yet to be inspired to go to church Sunday after Sunday and look to God for answers in life, like the generations of disciples before them.
Often when I hear these stories I remember the song we have sung many times in the 8:30 service:

Come, now is the time to worship.
Come, now is the time to give your heart.
Come, just as you are, to worship….
One day every tongue will confess
You are God.
One day every knee will bow.
Still the greatest treasure remains for those
Who gladly choose you now.

Come, now is the time to worship.
Come, now is the time to give your heart.

Last week I told you about my friend and prayer partner for 7 years. She kept telling us how the Lord spoke to her over and over again about going for a physical. She heard God’s voice for two years. When she finally went for that physical, it was too late. It was not easy to watch her die. I knew in my heart that she was dying even though we kept up our faith talk. We were prompted by the Spirit to read the story of Lazarus over and over again for week and months. This made me believe that God was about to perform a miracle and she would recover.
After my prayer partner’s funeral I asked God why he prompted us to read the Lazarus story raising false hopes. Then I began to realize that I had raised my own false hopes and I had forgotten that God’s world is so far beyond me that I do well to follow and listen and learn so I won’t get lost.
Her death has inspired me to listen to my doctors’ pleas to take a multi vitamin, drink plenty of water, fruit and veggies, supplement with vitamin D and do regular exercise.

The sun does rise and it will set. But, now is the time to worship God, and obey God and serve God and be a disciple. [ slide 9 Still the greatest treasure…] Now is the time to study and learn the ways of Jesus.  If we delay, God will direct us through every detour, but the greatest blessings belong to those who choose God now. Amen. [Slide # 10 I love worship]

Monday, September 12, 2016

When God Requires Repentance

September 11 2016 Psalm 14. 1-7, *Luke 15.1-10 “When God Requires Repentance” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Years ago, I met with a two women for prayer every week or so over the course of seven years. One was a church musician and public school music teacher. The other was a Methodist elder who gave up her credentials and rights as an elder because she no longer felt comfortable with the conversations that the United Methodist Church was having around sexuality. I was working in Cokesbury Methodist bookstore while serving in a United Methodist Church, substituting in the public school system and teaching English in a couple community colleges.
Our time of prayer could last from one to three hours. [slide # 1 seeking God…] It could include going out for dinner or taking a short trip together. There was a whole lot of laughter and serious theological discussions that have stayed with me even to this day. There was tremendous emotional comfort and spiritual growth and intellectual insight. It was beautiful time. [slide # 2 heart in the clouds]
We were all different, of course, and when one of us was not around, we would talk about the other. We would celebrate each other’s strengths and complain about the irritants. Like many human beings, “we were set in our ways” and changing any irritating habits was as likely as moving a mountain.
Two of us complained to each other again and again and again and again and again about our other sister’s annoying habit of pontificating, acting like she could never be wrong, ever. For years we endured, for the sake of the good Lord, what we considered to be her very bad and annoying habit. Then one day came a breakthrough. [slide # 3 breaking through a wall] She confessed that she understood that she had an annoying habit of always wanting to be right and never wanting to be wrong and she was going to try to do better.
As she spoke the truth, I am sure our faces showed the kindness, gentleness, and compassion that was expected of us, but in our hearts, we were ecstatic, leaping with sheer joy and delight. [slide # 4 dancing snoopy]
It was such a relief to hear her repent, change the status quo, and lighten our load by resolving not to act that way again. [slide # 5 hands raised in praise]
Repentance means a heavy burden is lifted. It was not long before her old attitude slipped back in every now and then, but that day of repentance was a day of rejoicing. It meant so much to us that the truth became the light. [slide # 6 light from Heaven] It was a burden lifted for her, too.
Repentance is another one of God’s wonderful blessings. [slide # 7 repentance] Repentance is a blessing that comes as we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit with every act of kindness, every good deed, every honorable thought, every Word of God read and heard, and every worship song sung. Repentance is so sweet that it makes up for some bitter moments where we have lost precious hours and days and even years that could have been better.
All of us have experienced some losses. Like Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin, we have lost family and friends through death or indifference. We have lost valuable resources. Jesus says in verse 4. [slide # 8   verse 4“Which one of you,…] “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?
In verse 8 he says, [slide # 9   verse 8 having  ten silver coins] “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?...”  
We have suffered some losses, and we have rejoiced greatly when people and things are wonderfully restored to our lives!
Like Jesus says in verse 7 “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. [slide # 10  verse 7 “…more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents…]    
You can probably think about several persons and situations that if they were changed, you would shout for sheer joy. But, at the moment they seem hopelessly and stubbornly lost. Perhaps it is those neighbors who do not care if you think they are too loud, or that family member who for the life of them can’t see how forgiving someone who hurt him or her 30 years ago will bring healing to the whole family. You may have a friend who betrays you and acts as if it is their privilege to do so.
God gives us strength to bear with one another and deal with one another when we step on one another’s toes. God helps us respond with grace and truth and care and love and peace. God does not just help those who help themselves, God helps all who are willing to let go of his or her own will and surrender to God’s will which can sometimes mean surrendering to each other’s will. As the world turns, [side # 11 world] we too need to be checking our direction and making sure we are on the right path at all times.
It takes supernatural strength to change for the better. What is it that you need to change for God’s sake today? What is it that has caused grief and frustration to those around you? Surrender to God and let God take control. It is scary, I know, but it is good. [slide # 12 joyful dancing]
Going in the wrong direction can be an accident waiting to happen. The impact can be dreadful, but whenever there is an accident we either act like police officers who divvy out blame and punishment or we work fast and furiously with kindness and compassion to save lives. From time to time, both roles can be helpful. They can help us get back on the path that leads to peace and victory. [slide # 13 time for a change]
At the same time repentance is not as Korean pastor Hyung Jin Moon put it, ‘ repentance is not self-hatred, not putting the spotlight on ourselves and our sinfulness, but putting the spotlight on God and trusting God’s loving guidance.
Self-pity keeps us focused on ourselves. We should take the focus from ourselves and instead thank God for His forgiving Love. Our Love for God and for others is the best motivation for change.’ May the Spirit fill us to overflowing with such a love that repents, that is ever moving and turning around in the direction that brings joy! [side # 14 mourning into dancing] Amen.







When God Gives More Than Enough

September 4, 2016 Pastor Hines Luke 14.25-33 “When God Gives More than Enough”
Jesus said to a large crowd, 26‘Whoever comes to me and does not HATE father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Can you imagine the crowd’s reaction to Jesus that day? Sure we can! [slide # 1 Jesus’ crowd]
Hate is a word that gets all of our attention because hate creates a tension that keeps our attention. When a distraught teenager lashes out at parental authority, we may hear, “I hate you, I hate you” as the door slams hard. It is common for a scorned lover to throw a book at a former sweetheart in order to express hate-filled rejection. Hate comes easy with practice, and hate stands out in the corners of our minds. [slide # 2 hate]
When our hearts are feeble and less than grateful, we experience true love as boring like a sun rising, ever so slowly and predictable. Through ungrateful, unilluminated hearts, we see the sun as the same every morning, the same color, the same range of temperatures, the same seasons one after another.
Jesus was very wise. He knew his audience. He knew how to get a crowd going to shake them from their boredom. I imagine he communicated to them, “You have followed me this far, if you are going to be MY disciples you have to get your hate on.”
No doubt some looked at Jesus like he was recruiting for Isis or skinheads or the kkk or the Panthers, but that was not his intention at all. He knew that everyone in the crowd was familiar with hate. He knew that some hated the idea of hate, and some were in love with the idea of hate. Those who loved love would be puzzled about Jesus talking about hate. Those who loved hate would stick around and not get bored.
Those who were accustomed to loving and being loved may have been overwhelmed with the prospects of taking their love to the next level. They could hear Jesus calling them to nurture love and foster family in a new way. They understood that they were doing good, but there was room for even MORE, and greater love. Would they, could they go to that next level? [slide # 3 Jesus and children ]
Others became overly excited about an invitation to hate. Jesus spoke figuratively, inviting the crowd to “hate,” a word every family could relate to, surely those who were excited by hate and who knew too little about love could be quickly recognized, identified, exploited, or transformed.
Now that he had the attention of the haters as well as the lovers, he   raised two of the most important questions any of us will ever have to answer. The first question is in verse 28. “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?” [slide # 4…verse 28 complete it]
In the Old Testament towers were constructed for many purposes. There were towering silos that stored grain. There were watch towers surrounded by stone walls and armed guards on the lookout for intruders. Towers were built to make people safe and secure.
In modern times there is no lack of towers in the form of residential and office skyscrapers, [ slide # 5 skyscrapers ] vertical farming, [ slide #6 vertical farm ] and prisons [ slide # 7 prison tower ]. I asked Sally Kolb from Kolb’s Dairy if farmers were still using towering silos like they did in the ancient world or are they doing something more modern. She noted that farmers still make towering silos, but some save expense by simply digging trenches in the ground and covering them with plastic.
She told me about silos that were concrete used for fermenting grain, and there are silo towers that are vacuum sealed so that all the air is sucked out. Such towers might cost about $100,000. [slide # 8  Kolb’s farm ]
Jesus knew that everyone in the crowd had high hopes about something in their life. We all have something great for which we long, something towering in our minds and hearts, something that  keeps our head up in the clouds. We can look high and feel secure and settled and safe and happy and hopeful. Jesus asks, again “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?”
We have dreams, but we know that our sense of security does not just drop from the sky. We know that our sense of safety and security comes from God when we come to God. [ slide # 9 dollar…trust ]
Do you think it is possible for a church to be filled with people who do not look up to God? Who do not seek to serve God? Who are not willing to follow and be disciples of Jesus? Who are not moved by the Holy Spirit? Anything is possible.
This is not the case for Bethel. Bethel is a church following in the footsteps of Jesus. Every 40 years the next generation has captured God’s vision to sit down and build something high and lofty, whether it be physical or spiritual that preserves the body of Christ.
Forty years ago it was the completion of the educational wing. This generation has completed Phase 1 of an incredibly lofty plan. Phase 2 is on the horizon and we hear Jesus calling us to count the cost and come up with a plan in Phase 2. It is to be a plan that we can finish by faith with a secure marriage between the Building Committee and the Finance Committee!
The second question Jesus asks the crowd of hopefuls is in verse 31. Jesus says, [slide # 10…”Or what king] Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand?”
Jesus knows we have lofty dreams and he knows there may be seasons when we will have to resist the devil and all his army of demons. There are battles to be won in Jesus’ name. [slide # 11 fight on your knees]
When our enemies are strong, we must be the delegation of peacemakers that [slide # 12 peacemakers]Jesus refers to in verse 32 so we can avoid war. [slide # 13 verse 32 he sends a delegation]
Jesus raises questions to keep us mindful of our need to count the cost and to fight the good fight of faith and prepare with peace. He raises the questions, and he gives us the answer in verse 33 where he said, “So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.” [slide # 14 give God your all]
That’s my Jesus. He promises us the sky and blesses us abundantly. While our cups overflow with more than enough, he demands that we give it all up again. He demands that we let go and let God do what only God can do. [slide # 15 let go and let God]
Jesus is clear. If we cannot let our blessings go, then we cannot follow. Then we cannot be disciples. Disciples are ready at a moment’s notice to count the cost, expect the best, prepare for the worst, fight like the devil in a good fight of faith, develop peacemakers in the midst of war and all that while letting God have God’s way. [slide # 16 meditating woman – …let God]
A church’s  financial secretary announced sadly that there was only $2.43 cents left in the treasury at the end of the year 2015. The pastor began to cheer! Then he explained. Even though there was only $2.43 cents left, there was no a shortage. In fact, it was more than enough for what they needed in 2015!
When we do not have enough, [slide # 17 glass in desert] we need to give thanks for what we do have and continue in prayer and service until we become true disciples, giving our all.
When we have just enough, [slide # 18 glass mostly full] just our daily bread and nothing in sight for tomorrow and the generation ahead, we can look in our homes and our communities and work prayerfully to make disciples who can help be the good news and do the good work God has for us. [slide # 19 Go make disciples]
When we have more than enough [slide # 20 glass overflowing] we must give thanks, rejoice, and celebrate as we plan to do on October 8th’s pig roast – [slide # 21 pig roast] We celebrate the goodness of the Lord, inspiring the next generation of disciples to trust God and know as the songwriter says: It is no secret what God can do. What God has done for others, God can do for you. With arms wide open, God will welcome you. It is no secret what God can do! Amen. [slide # 22 celebrate]