May 22 2016 "Peaceful Vision"

May 22 2016 (Trinity Sunday) Proverbs 8.1-4, 22-31, *Romans 5. 1-5 “Peaceful Vision” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

A new acquaintance of mine works as a cashier in a grocery store. For the last year or so, I would see her in the store and we would make small talk, laughing and chatting about anything and everything. One day she was glowing, beaming, and smiling brightly. I asked, and of course, she had finally met the perfect guy. A few weeks later, she was looking pretty distressed and weary; I thought the worse; she never mentioned that guy again.

The hope of love brought her a lot of joy and peace. I could see it in her face. On more than one occasion, I have gently invited her to join me somewhere anywhere so she could see close up the faith that Paul talks about in the 5^th chapter of Romans. He says it is a faith that justifies us, that makes us acceptable in a place where we long to be acceptable, to be at ease, to rest, to have peace. [slide # 1 dove of peace]

If we go to see the Eagles play, we will not be able to get past the gate unless we have a ticket. [slide # 2 Philadelphia Eagles] It is not acceptable to climb the fence in order to watch the game. We cannot run past the security guard and into the stands in order to watch the game. It is not acceptable. We will be justified or acceptable when and if we have a ticket. Then we can watch the game in peace. [slide # 3 Eagles fans in the stands]

Faith makes us acceptable to be in a place where we want to be, where we were created to be – in the presence of God and Godly people. [slide # 4 green peaceful scene]

Since we are justified by faith we have peace with God as verse 1 says. [ slide # 5 peace with God] Everything we do takes some faith. To sit in a chair takes faith that it will hold us. Pursuing an education or job training takes faith that step by step we can accomplish that goal. Putting our lives in the hands of a God we cannot see, takes faith that there is a God who will love us and take care of us, that God is closer to us than our next breath, that we are loved and precious in God’s sight.

Why not decide to believe and put our faith in action? Faith justifies us and gives us peace with God. Peace with God is a good thing. Where can you find peace in this warmongering world accept with God? Every time we hear of a plane going down, the first thing that comes to mind is a terrorist that is at war with us or a lost soul that is at war with his or her self.

When we see our friends sad and despondent, we often realize that they are at war because of some conflict in their home or on their jobs. They may have had their feelings hurt real bad or maybe they are digging in their heels after feeling justified in hurting someone else’s feelings real bad. In either case, the peace and joy seem to have vanished from their faces. We believe God is our source of peace. [slide # 6 God our source of peace]

This week our General Conference [slide # 7 General Conference assembled] held in Oregon has been in the international news. It has not been very peaceful.  General Conference meets every four years to review the Book of Discipline  – [slide # 8 Book of Discipline] the official, legal manual of the United Methodist Church. The ten day meeting in Oregon was full of worship services and important meetings involving 864 delegates from around the world – South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. There were 432 laity and 432 clergy voting on important issues involving reproductive right, relations with Israel and human sexuality.  Not everyone spoke English. Several used earphones to hear translators. [slide # 9 delegate booths wearing earphones]. Can you imagine going to a ten day conference needing a translator? [slide # 10 delegate with earphones]

The proceedings were held in the backdrop of many protests – some silent, some not so silent. There were “Black and All Lives Matter” protests. Supporters of the LGBTQ community, representing lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender and questioning persons shared their views. [slide # 11 LGBTQ gathering] More than 100 clergy and clergy candidates in the U.S. and one in the Philippines came out as gay. Our Book of Discipline says that homosexuality is contrary to Christian teaching. As we struggle as an international church, we have plenty of anxiety, grief, and distrust as we try to speak the truth in loving ways and to be at peace with everyone as much as it depends on us – as the scriptures guide us.

International news reporters shared rumors that the United Methodist church would become the untied and divided Methodist Church this week. But, instead of splitting with rancorous arguing and debating about whether to affirm or disaffirm various LGBTQ motions, the majority vote was to move forward spending the next four years in serious prayer, confession, and compassionate conversation in order to resolve as many issues as possible before the next General Conference in 2020.

Compassionate conversation may help those who experience the language of the current Discipline as “contradictory, unnecessarily hurtful, and inadequate for the variety of local, regional and global contexts.” 

That vote for prayer and conversation was not unanimous, but hopefully, it will bring some unity and unity brings peace. God’s vision is for us to have peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our communities, our countries, and our churches.

Not all of General Conference was focused on protests and heated debates. Twenty-nine missionaries were commissioned to bring good news to other lands and serve God’s people [slide # 12 kneeling for commissioning]

In one of the many sermons at General Conference, the bishop from Sierra Leone John K. Yambasu, a former missionary, [slide # 13 bishop Yambasu in pulpit] called God’s people to pray and work to dismantle the “demons of poverty, injustice, racism, war, disease, hunger and all forms of inequities in our world.”

He said, ‘ I know through and through what poverty is. I have slept with it, and I have woken up with it. … Countless times, I went to bed without food….I wrestled with poverty as a missionary….as a bishop….I now live side by side with poverty and misery…millions struggle to survive in this world every day, so it is urgent that we engage one another, talk to one another whether we are red and yellow, black and white, poor and rich, haves and have-nots, gay or straight, bisexual or homosexual, and polygamists. We need to shake up the church and pray God will give us sleepless nights until we can look each other in the face and see each other as brothers and sisters…if we think we can fix this without prayer, we are only fooling ourselves.’ [slide # 14 non violence training]

We all need God’s peace. Somewhere in our lives, yesterday, today or tomorrow there are situations and circumstances where we need God’s peace to makes us acceptable, at ease, and rested. If we think we can fix those situations and circumstances without believing and trusting, and without humbling ourselves in prayer to God, we are only fooling ourselves. [slide # 15 hands joined] May we go in peace to pray for peace and make peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our churches and in our countries.  Amen. [slide # 16 Go therefore]

May 15 (Pentecost) “Fiery Vision”

May 15 (Pentecost) “Fiery Vision” Psalm 104.24-34, 35b, Acts 2.1-21Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Most of the time, our lives are rather ordinary and calm. We enjoy quiet times. [ slide #1 water dock] When life is calm, we become rested and rejuvenated. The seasons of peace allow us to build and prepare for times that can may be unsettling. [slide #2 turbulent water]

Somewhere in this world this morning, there may be loud, unsettling noises. Someone may at this very moment be hearing what early Christians heard on the day of Pentecost – what verse 2 tells us was the “sound like the rush of a violent wind.” [slide #3 a sound like the rush… ] Someone, somewhere could be hearing that same sound at this very moment.

The sound may be filling a whole house as it did THAT Pentecost day. It was a rushing sound. In the Greek “ a rushing violent wind” means a wind that is carrying, rushing, and enduring. It was a wind that was carrying a burden that needed to be intentionally managed according to God’s purpose. It was a wind that moved with urgency, rushing to announce and produce God’s plan.

At this very moment in this world, someone may be able to perceive that God’s Spirit is rushing and enduring whatever must be endured like an ambulance or firetruck [ slide #4 ambulance ] endures the traffic, seemingly recklessly, or violently through streets. [ slide #5 firetruck]

All this happened on the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost was a legal feast day, a holiday, a day to celebrate and enjoy, to bring lavish gifts to the altar; today we dress the altar in red. [slide #6 red balloons] It was a day to give thanks for the bountiful harvest of wheat – there was no thought of famine, no fire, floods, and no fear this day. It was to be a day of relaxation; they marveled at the latest profits of the quarter; they had planted, and watered and weeded their crops; they began to harvest and pick and store the grain, package and cook and share.

Pentecost was a day to put your hair down, put your feet up, get out the music, clap your hands and thank God because God had blessed them and helped them through the circumstances of the season; they were celebrating that God had helped them through the thick and the thin, and that God would always come. [ slide # 7 dove]

Pentecost was on every ancient Jewish calendar; it was 7 weeks, or 50 days after Easter, which is the Jewish season of Passover. Today, May 15th it has been 50 days since Easter which was March 27^th.

Today in the Judeo-Christian tradition, we are celebrating the feast of Pentecost! As in every Sunday, we have gathered together on this day to give thanks for our bounty, to acknowledge that God is God and we are not. We are the sheep of God’s pasture. We follow because we know we will be able to lie down in green pastures, and we will be led beside the still waters until our souls are restored. We know this. [ slide # 8 lamb in Jesus’ hands ]

On the day of Pentecost, Christ’s followers heard the sounds of a mighty rushing wind throughout the house. But that was not all. Some saw tongues of fire. [slide # 9 fire overheads] Others heard their own language being spoken by Galileans, who were foreigners. It can be surprising to discover what language God’s children around the world can speak.

I went to Bank America in Connecticut. I was the only customer for the moment and there were two young men working as tellers. I asked the one young man, who looked like he might be of Latin descent, if he spoke Spanish so I could practice, and he said, “No.” While the other man who was African American chimed in, “But, I speak Spanish.” He had worked for the government in Russia and India and could speak several languages. My jaw dropped in surprise and I confessed the stereotype that was planted in my brain.

The same shock came when I met a Russian woman working to get a degree in Baltimore City Community College. She was also fluent in Spanish. We’ve met Asian friends whom we might expect to speak Chinese, but who speak fluent English without any accent at all. It is a good thing to see with our own eyes and to hear with our own ears that God is weaving us together in an awesome and beautiful tapestry! [slide # 10 tapestry   ]

The sound was so loud on the day of Pentecost that a crowd began to gather around the house. If it were a scary sound, they probably would have run the other way. If the saw signs of a destructive wind, they probably would have scattered, but instead of running away, they were moving in, trying to satisfy their curiosity and see for themselves exactly what was going on in that house where they were fellowshipping.

Verse 4 tells us that they were filled [  slide # 11 full water glass  ] with the Holy Spirit and spoke as the Spirit enabled them. [slide # 12   three languages] They were filled – the Greek word for filled is pletho – meaning filled and fulfilled. From the Greek we get the word plethora, meaning abundance.

If we know what it is to have our belly filled, we also know what it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. A full belly does not stay full for long. It is constantly digesting and moving forward. Spiritually and physically we are constantly taking in and letting go.

If we want to be spiritually fit and healthy, we must take in the word of God, fellowship with the people of God, do the will of God, and let go of that which does not please God.

If we want to be full and fulfilled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, (generosity), faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we must take in God’s word – through songs, sermons, teachings, readings and meditations. We must fellowship with God’s people in worship, gatherings, events, projects, missions, phone calls, prayer, social media and every way possible.

If we want to be fulfilled in God’s presence we must enter God’s presence by doing God’s will. If we want to be satisfied in this life that God has given us, we must let go of that which does not please God. We must put whatever does not please God in a furnace of fire [ slide # 13 fire   ]  and allow God’s urgent flames to purge it from our lives.

This is the Day of Pentecost. Today, may we hear the sound of God’s mighty rushing wind. May we understand God in our own language and may our lives be purged and our burdens carried carefully to their destination, until we are filled, fulfilled, and satisfied in the presence of God and the people of God. [slide # 14 dancing children] Amen. [slide # 15 spirit of Pentecost]

May 8 (Mother’s Day) – “Light Vision” Psalm 97, *Acts 16.16-34

In the sermon series I have preached from the book of Acts – two weeks ago - we preached about Peter’s vision – a sort of day-dream that directed him to eat non-kosher foods, symbolizing God’s will for Peter to accept and welcome all of God’s children, not just his Jewish brothers and sisters. The next week we looked at a vision apostle Paul had during the night, where a man asked him to come to Macedonia and Paul went, believing God was directing him to preach and teach in Macedonia.

In this morning’s scripture, we find Paul in prison where a lamp light enabled him to glimpse a vision of the spectacular work of God.

Last week we left Paul down by the river side praying and preaching with [slide # 1  riverside] Lydia and her friends[ slide # 2 Lydia]. They knew about Jehovah God, but Jesus’ death and resurrection were new ideas for them. Paul was there to give them the good news of a savior.

While he was in Macedonia, he encountered a few ungodly people and situations as we all will from time to time. He was in the city of Philippi of Macedonia, where God had sent him through a night vision, and he came upon an ungodly spirit. Verse 16 says there was a slave-girl being used to make money for her masters. Even today, there are young girls captured to make money. This girl – somebody’s daughter – was making them a lot of money as a fortune teller. Verse 16 calls it a spirit of divination. The spirit of divination is a deceptive spirit that pretends to have what can only come from God.

Only God gives us truth naturally and supernaturally. God speaks to us through dreams, visions, prophets; God works to get a message through to us using our senses, our friends, our families, our situations, even our problems. When someone claims to get supernatural truth using their own ideas, the scriptures calls it the spirit of divination as in a divining rod that detects precious gold. The scriptures call it witchcraft when we gather for séances, Ouija boards, talking to the deceased, examining animal livers, using voodoo dolls, psychedelic drugs, hypnotic trances and such.

The bible warns us that such activity can stir up a storm of evil that might be distressing and destructive. If we are not content with the answers God gives us through prayer, worship, and fellowship with Godly people, then we need to talk to God about that. If our discontentment leads us to consult a psychic, or someone or something other than the God of the universe, we could be better of showering ourselves with chicken grease and walking into a pen of pit bulls.  [slide #3 pitbulls]

We well know that all that glitters is not gold. Scriptures tell us that Satan masquerades as an angel of light. There are lights shining in this world that call us down an evil path, like the world’s red light districts, bar lights, shadows of street corner lights where evil deeds are consummated. Mostly though, as one wise person said, “Nothing good is on the streets after midnight.” Oh, how we need God’s light to point us in the direction of a healthy life. God mothers and fathers us so we will grow up, and not be forever like toddlers who turns their attention to whatever is bright and colorful at the moment, [slide # 4 toddler] or a kitten that is totally distracted by any old ball of yarn that moves. [slide # 5 kitten and yarn]

Paul had words [slide # 6 arguing] with this fortune-teller’s greedy entourage – whose mothers were probably outraged at their indecent behavior. And Paul helped the girl – somebody’s daughter - to release her spirit of divination and witchcraft. The devil lost his hold on her and the ability to make money in that way disappeared.

Paul and Silas wound up in jail for healing the girl and messing up their business. He knew he was risking jail time when he confronted the evil. Paul reminds us of the story of Adam LaRoche [slide # 7 Adam LaRoche] White Sox first baseman who retired a few weeks ago when his 14 year old son  was not allowed to come to work with him. Adam also put his life on the line by going undercover to help authorities find young girls captured and enslaved for profit. One wrong move and he could have been pushed off a building or worse.

One wonders who God might be sending to rescue the sex slaves on route 30 or that bar we hear about in Spring City. One wonders how much money they make every day and every night, or what the girls and their mothers are praying for. One wonders.

The Apostle Paul knew he was putting his life on the line when he confronted these evil people, but he also knew good would come out of it. That’s why they were singing and praying as they sat in jail according to verse 25 [slide # 8 singing and praying…]

Suddenly they felt an earthquake. Earthquakes have always been common in that area near Greece where Paul was on his mission. There are lively volcanoes and fault lines that cause tremors. Wednesday the internet reported no earthquakes in the area that day, but two had occurred in the past 7 days, 7 in the past month, 175 earthquakes in the past year.

The earthquake hit the jail where Paul and Silas had been dragged. It was strong enough to break their chains. Has God ever used an earthquake to break a chain that was holding you down? The earthquake was strong enough to tear the doors off the hinges and wake up the prison guard who knew that if the prisoners escaped, he would be killed by order of the Roman Emperor, and his execution was sure to be cruel and sadistic.

This guard was like Maria Toorpakai from Pakistan – author of A Different Kind of Daughter - who pretended she was a boy in order to compete as a weightlifter. Later she became an internationally known squash player. [slide # 9 Maria Toorpakai] The Taliban believes women are supposed to stay isolated at home, obedient to men or be killed. Maria knew she was risking her life to be an athlete even as a girl, so she thought about carrying cyanide pills to kill herself rather than be tortured. Her father gave her a gun to kill or be killed.

The Roman guard took out his sword and was getting ready to kill himself because he thought the prisoners would escape and he would be tortured. But Paul, who had been up through midnight praying and singing hymns, was full of the Holy Spirit and cared for the life of this Roman prison guard when Paul himself was suffering innocently in this rotten hole with murderers, thieves, rapists and traitors. He was somebody’s son. Paul cried out to the guard, ‘We are all here; Do yourself no harm.’

This prison guard put his sword away, and called for a light so he could see who it was who was bringing this good news in the dark. After he saw the light, he turned his life over to God and he and his family were baptized and they began to minister to Paul who had ministered to him.

On this Mother’s Day, we know that some mother’s child always finds us and shines enough light so that we can see our way to the truth and the life that God has for us.

That mother may be like all the mothers of Bethel  who have shone their lights generation after generation. [slide # 10 mother/child hands] There are mothers like Harriet Tubman who guided 300 children of God to freedom and became active in women’s rights in the Methodist church, or Dr. Leslie Ray Matthews, [slide # 11 Dr. Leslie Ray Matthews] trauma surgeon from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, who gives his Godly 92 year old mother credit for nurturing his near miraculous work in the ICU, [slide # 12 – healing love] and my own mother, daughter of the segregated south, who led protests to close an unsafe school, whose family tree blossomed with preachers and teachers of which she became one; we graduated from college in the same year.

We need mothers whose lights are shining and when we have them, we are forever grateful. [slide # 13 Blessed Mother’s Day] Amen.

May 1 2016 “Night Vision”

May 1 2016 “Night Vision”   Psalm 67, *Acts 16.9-15 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Last week we looked at a portion of scripture where the apostle Peter had a vision during the daytime that convinced him to welcome God’s people who were not of his same Jewish descent. This week, we come face to face with Apostle Paul’s story of a vision as well. We can appreciate that God speaks to us through the written word, through the preached word, through the prophetic word, through dreams as well as through visions as we see today.

Acts chapter 16 tells us that “During the night, Paul had a vision….” [slide # 1 during the night….] In his vision, he saw a man. The man was standing, and while he was standing he was pleading, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” [slide # 2 “Come over……”]

Immediately, Paul was convinced that God was speaking to him through this vision and directing him to go preach and teach the gospel to those in Macedonia, the northern province of Greece. Some of you have traveled to Greece, by the grace of God, and seen the ancient ruins and the relics of the Roman Empire. You may have walked where the apostle Paul has walked and heard the echoes of worshipful refrains of 2000 years ago.

I have come to learn that all kinds of people hear from God. You do not have to be Christian to receive God’s direction through dreams and visions. People of all nations and persuasions have heard what they perceive or believe is the voice of God. The king of Babylon wanted nothing to do with God, but seeing the handwriting on the wall made him take notice.

Whenever I have had opportunities to ask groups of people about their spiritual experiences, I always find them speaking of at least one deep and mystical moment that speaks louder than another.

There are also those situations where persons are lured by a substantial voice that has nothing to do with our God. On Eastern College’s campus it was common to hear young people discussing hearing God’s voice calling them into the ministry or the mission field. Being a Christian school, students are very alert to hearing the call. It is a culture that is nurtured for males as well as females. That was a good. At the same time, every now and then you would hear someone confess that they grew to understand that they were not really sent into the ministry, they just went.

 It was also apparent on campus that certain students, eager to be married would allow their emotions to run away with them. So much so that the prettiest girl on campus was put on notice by several gentleman who heard God speaking to them that she would be his wife.  With time and little tender love, they came to their senses, and so it is for each of us. Hearing God’s voice is a process involving our whole self and with time and tenderness, we grow to discern God’s voice above doubt or confusion.

Paul was convinced that God was speaking to him through a vision during the night. The fact that Paul had his vision at night reminds us that night is a time when we are more ready to relax rest and perhaps in more of a position to hear the voice of God. Paul’s vision happening at night also somehow reflects the darkness of the political and religious events that can occur in every human age.

In our United States military we hear of the use of night vision glasses and goggles. God uses dreams and visions to help us see in the dark; night vision is a part of God’s battle plan for Christians. [ slide # 3 green background – night vision glasses]

Scripture tell us that Paul immediately got on a boat in Troas [ slide # 4 Map Troas Macedonia] where he was when he saw the vision. Troas was such a nice seaport area that Julius Caesar was rumored to have considered it for his capital instead of Constantinople or Rome. Paul sailed from Troas to Samothrace, a protective island that shielded boats from strong winds. Samothrace was also a place where the wealthiest Greeks worshipped. [slide # 5 Nike goddess]Archeologists were not surprised to find a statue of Nike the Greek goddess of victory in Samothrace. [slide # 6 Nike sign]

From Samothrace Paul sailed to Neapolis, a seaport town – another good rest stop -  about 10 miles from Paul’s final destination, Philippi. Philippi was a city in the Roman Province of Macedonia. [slide # 7 Map Macedonia]  One does wonder of all the places in the province of Macedonia where he believed he was called to go, why Paul decided to go to Philippi, except that it was described in verse 12 as a major city, under the rule of the Roman Empire. Paul was a Roman citizen with all the rights of the ruling party. He stayed in Philippi several days and we know that he established a church in Philippi because we see his letters to them in the book of Philippians. Being a citizen may have made it much easier, as does being a citizen in any country.

Philippi was the first church Paul established in Europe. Like many American churches it may even have been called “First Church” or perhaps it was so esteemed that it had a road named after it. In 2 Corinthians, Paul lifts up the church in Philippi as a super model of organized and generous giving. The members of the Philippian church were examples of a united people who went all the way and even had a heart to go an extra mile. God started the ball rolling for the Philippian church with a vision given to Paul.

On the Sabbath Paul went to the river to pray. [slide # 8 river] There he met a woman whose name was Lydia. [slide # 9 Lydia in purple] She ran her own business, selling purple cloth to royalty and such. She had connections in the community. If she were a member of Bethel, we would count on her to sell at least 30 hoagies for the preschool.  

Verse 14 tells us that Lydia was a worshipper of God. Her ear was perched, so the Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what Paul was saying. [slide # 10 Lydia talking]

Then Lydia invited Paul and those with him to her home. When worshippers gather together God does amazing, amazing things with us.

Whether we gather in the sanctuary, in our homes, by the river side, [slide # 11 folks gathered by riverside] on the phone, through texting, snapchatting, Instagram, twitter, Facebooking, emailing, or whether we gather with each other in solitary or corporate prayer, we can be assured that just like a river rolls to and fro, God is speaking in dreams and visions that help us ever to flow with love and to flow in excellence even in the darkest night. [slide # 12 moonlit river] May it be so today. Amen.

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]