Alive in God's House

November 15, 2015  “Alive in God’s House” I Samuel 1.4-20, *Mark 13.1-8 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

The gospel of Mark tells of a day that the disciples were admiring the magnificent stones as they walked around the Temple. We understand how awe-inspired they must have been. Every society has landmarks. Every community has historical buildings, monuments and temples that either reflect God’s glory or man’s God-given ability.

If you have ever been to Russia, you may have seen St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square.   . It was built in the 1500’s on orders from Ivan the Terrible and commemorates the capture of the fortified cities of Kazan and Astrakhan. The church is shaped like a flaming bonfire rising 156 feet high in the sky.

The Kiyomizu-dera of Japan is a Buddhist temple that was built in the 1600’s on the side of a mountain. Its name Kiyomizu means waters that are “pure” and “clear.” In the middle of this temple is a waterfall that flows from the hills. It is made without a single nail. When earthquakes come to Japan as they often do, this temple sways on its beams and pillars that interconnect and interlock in ways that stabilize the temple.

Africa’s massive Temple of Kom Ombo  was built during the Ptolemaic dynasty in the second century BC. It is actually two temples built for two ancient gods. The two temples are mirror images of each other, with two sanctuaries, two halls, two courts, and two entrances.

We do not have to go far to see beautiful architecture.  The Chester County Courthouse was built in 1846 at a cost of $55,346. It was designed by Thomas Walter who also designed the dome of the United States Capitol. 

Our own Bethel United Methodist Church began in 1844 at the bottom of the hill. The basement of the building we worship in today was dug by hand by members. Stones were hauled one by one before it was dedicated in 1932. Forty years later, in 1972, the education wing was built. In 2016 the First Phase of the renovations will be complete by the grace of God. 

It is a wonderful thing to build something majestic and beautiful! There is a great deal of satisfaction that comes with fulfilling a plan, overcoming every obstacle, smoothing out the rough places, and working each detail to its fruition.

Verse 13 tells us that as Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ 

They were in awe of the great accomplishment. Still Jesus reminded them that the physical building is very much a part of our spiritual building.

As buildings go up or down, so our spiritual life is regularly renovated. As wars ebb and flow in reality or in the rumor mill, so we struggle with one issue or another. We grow closer to God and one another. We deepen our understanding of God’s will for our lives. We are able to manage every burden knowing that God is making something beautiful out of our lives.

There are those days of terrorists and homelessness and such when the whole world could cry out in faith like the songwriter: Something beautiful, something good, all of our confusion he understood. All we have to offer him is brokenness and strife, but he makes something beautiful out of our life. No matter what is happening around us and in us, God means is working it out for our good. God is building a house not made with hands.

While we are building on earth, we are also constructing spiritual places where we can dwell secure even when all around us is sinking sand. We are building places where justice and mercy are the pillars that cause our church to sway rather than break. We are building spiritual places where unity brings us to the table together and we partake of the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (generosity), faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Then the world will know that we are Christians by our love and by our love our children, too, will know that we are Christians. Amen.

Alive In the Courtoom

November 8,  2015 “Alive in the Courtroom” Psalm 127, *Mark 12.38-44 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

You may have noticed that much of the bible is written in the backdrop of some secret military meeting, or a courtroom or a classroom. If you are in the habit of watching the evening news, you find stories in the same backdrop as the bible stories.

This morning’s text begins with a classroom conversation. Jesus is the teacher speaking to what could be a group of young lawyers who are debriefing after sitting in on a courtroom trial.

‘Beware of the scribes,” he teaches. “They like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.' '" Jesus using the word “condemnation” probably rings in the ears of his listening learners. The word “condemnation” echoes like the boom of a judge’s gavel. Boom! They devour widow’s houses and will receive the greater condemnation. condemnation….condemned…damned….punished….boom. There it is. Class dismissed. The case study of the corrupt is over. The Scribes who fleece the widows until they have nothing left have been theoretically convicted of many crimes. The judge has so ordered! 

In the verses that follow, Jesus is now on a stakeout, watching folk in the Temple. Verse 41 says, “He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. [It makes you wonder if some made a point to show off their giving, like those big banquets where pictures are taken with donors with their checks that are 5 feet wide. That is not as popular as it used to be, for many reasons.]

Jesus notes, “a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.”

His disciples who are never far away were watching, too. They were probably watching Jesus to see what he, as their master teacher, was watching.

Once I was in a Chinese takeout with a friend. He began staring intently at the young, fair-skinned Chinese clerk who had pink lips, and I was watching him as he was watching the clerk. I was puzzled at the puzzled look on his face. After what seemed like a long time, he finally turned to me and whispered, “She looks just like a newborn baby mouse.” What others see can be very interesting.

Jesus had finished his stakeout of those putting their money into the treasury. Verse 43 says, “Then he called his disciples and said to them, “‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.’”

Who does that? Who gives out of their poverty? Who gives all they have to live on?

The story comes to mind of a chicken and a pig who lived on a farm. The farmer was very good to them and they both wanted to do something good for him.

One day the chicken approached the pig and said, “I have a great idea for something we can do for the farmer! Would you like to help?”

The pig, quite intrigued by this, said, “of course! What is it that you propose?”

The chicken knew how much the farmer enjoyed a good breakfast. “I think the farmer would be very happy if we made him breakfast.”

The pig thought about this. While not as close to the farmer, he too knew of the farmer’s love for a good breakfast. “I’d be happy to help you make breakfast for the farmer! What do you suggest we make?”

The chicken said, “I could provide some eggs.”

The pig knew the farmer might want more, “That’s a fine start. What else should we make?”

The chicken looked around…scratched his head…then said, “ham? The farmer loves ham and eggs!” 

The pig, very mindful of what this implied, said, “Oh no. That means you get to make a donation but I would be making a sacrifice.”

God did not call that poor widow Jesus saw to sacrifice her life and live in poverty. The greedy and corrupt in the ancient system did.

There are moments when we catch the temple guards, scribes, and the Pharisees strong-arming widows in ways that remind me of the Internal Revenue Service.

If you wanted to live peaceably in the ancient community you had to pay your Temple "tax" or else, be isolated, railroaded, ransacked, mistreated and denounced. It was not a pretty picture. That is not God’s perfect plan for his children.

When the IRS finishes its business with us, we may be left with a headache, trembling, angry or frustrated. We may feel robbed. We may face what seems like cruel and unusual punishment. When we think we have it bad, we can always compare our economic life with that of other countries. We know some are more corrupt than others, at some times in history more than others. Some show more justice than others. Some abuse their poor more than others.

Boom! The gavel goes down. The condemning evidence is witnessed in the face of every child of God that is poor.

The causes of poverty may be complicated. What is not at all complicated is that God is calling us to DO SOMETHING, SOMEWHERE, SOMEWAY, SOMEHOW. In our family, in our church, in our community, God is calling us to do something whether it is small or great. God is calling us to witness, to testify, to give, and to share understanding that God will provide what we need.

Our calling may be to give something material and financial like food or money. We may hear God’s call to give something spiritual like a listening ear or a kind word. But there is no way in this world that God is not calling all of us to do SOMETHING, SOMEWHERE, SOMEWAY, SOMEHOW.

Don’t get mad if God is asking you to give something small and unnoticeable. Don’t be mad if God is asking you to give something bigger than you think is reasonable. God knows the beginning and the end of each gifts. God has a purpose and a plan.

Don’t be mad if you look back and see you have made a mistake in giving more or less than you believe God called you to give. God sees your heart and can move you forward. 

As you move forward with your offerings, Jesus sees all. The poor widow he sees is not the example of sacrificial giving that God wants us to follow. The poor widow is the evidence that proves God is calling all of us to do whatever God is asking us to do so that we will not bear the judgment of making matters worse for the poor or doing nothing while others are in need.  

This is a season to seek God with ALL of our hearts. It is the season to hear God’s voice guiding us to give and to receive. For God is surely speaking to me and to you on behalf of someone in need It may even be our own need. 

It is obvious in this life that we were made to depend on God and one another. Just think about the daily urgency of our need for food, water, shelter, friendship, support, freedom, and opportunities. These ultimately come from God, and God works in our hearts. We need the Lord, the Lord needs us, and we need each other. Amen.

Alive in Christ

November 1 2015 “Alive In Christ” Isaiah 25.6-9, *John 11.32-44  Pastor Jacqueline Hines

You probably have had some exasperating circumstances in your life. Your circumstances may have been so exasperating that you asked the same question that was asked in verse 37 of our lesson from John: ‘Could not Jesus who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’  From time to time we may wonder, if Jesus did that, why did he not do this?

Jesus was weeping at the tomb of Lazarus. Some said it was out of love. Others wondered why he was weeping when he had power all along to keep him alive. There are no real answers to all that happens in this life, accept that God is God and we are not.

We struggle in the mystery of what God or we coulda, woulda, shoulda. We can work ourselves into a tizzy thinking about a past that we cannot change or circumstances over which we have little control. In such times many of us have prayed that prayer used in alcoholics anonymous:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Instead of giving in to the habit of worrying and complaining about our situations, no matter how rough, we do better, even if only for a moment, to follow the discipline of sharing our gratitude. Instead of looking at the glass half empty, we are hope-filled when we see the glass half full and are grateful. Instead of focusing on the grey clouds, looking thankfully at the silver linings can help us cope a little better. 

Concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl  is known to have survived dire circumstances because he refused to dwell on the question, “Why me?” Instead he kept his eyes on God and the blessings that never ceased to flow. He found focusing on the love of his family brought happiness and being grateful paved the way for peace.

It is not easy to look up when the devil is throwing swords at your feet. It is not easy to focus our faith on the idea that God has our back, to keep on believing that no matter what happens God will never leave us or forsake us and will always give us something to manage our difficulties for which we ought to be thankful.

Let us rest assured that Christ lives in us and around us to make love a real and healthy part of our family and our community. It is natural for life and love to flow among God’s people. 

We are alive in Christ. We are alive with conviction, conversation, and constant change. We are blessed with so much : connection, cleansed hearts, the proven ability to correct our shortfalls. We are busy like our creator, creating new and wonderful ways to bless God and those who most need a blessing. Bethel, we are equipped and ready to serve God and enjoy God in every way that we are called.

We are especially alive with the three that I first mentioned - conviction, conversation, and constant change, and so we should be. 

The reason we are alive as a church today is because of our convictions.  Since 1844 – 171 years, we have trusted in God, by the grace of God. God has been faithful to us and we have, by the grace of God, been faithful to God.

We fast, we pray, we serve, we tithe, we sacrifice. We practice what we preach and we repent when necessary, and we are yet alive!

Though our faith may dim and our doubts trouble, we emerge again and again trusting that we are never alone. We are a people of conviction. Secondly, we are alive also because of our conversation. 

Adult conversation is able to endure whatever issues that we face. Adult conversation is able to figure out what to do in a cultural clash. Adult conversation does not run when trouble comes on the scene.

A psychologist was asked by a parent of a teenager, what they could best do to survive the mood swings and growing pains of their child. The psychologist’s answer was to do all you could do to keep the conversation going.

Other wise persons would add – keep the laughter going in the conversations. Finding a reason to laugh, or at least smile, is exactly the spoon full of sugar that helps the medicine go down.

We keep the church alive in Christ just like we keep our families alive in Christ. Visitors who come to worship are often grateful for a little conversation. They want to hear what it is like to be a part of our church, and they are happy to talk about life in general. Smiling goes a long way in communicating our welcome; going deeper and engaging in conversation can work wonders.

There is a delicate balance to be had when it comes to visitors. One woman said she went to a non-denominational church and it took her twenty minutes to move the few feet from the front door through the lobby to the sanctuary because there were so many people greeting her, engaging her, getting to know her, and wanting to show her children where Sunday School classes were held. She found that just a little overwhelming. There is a delicate balance to be struck.

Our convictions and our conversations keep us alive as a church. Much of our spiritual health and well-being is because of our willingness to adapt to the third point: constant change.  It is said that the only constant IS change.

A few weeks ago, I heard a woman tell of her experience with storm Sandy. She mentioned that her husband was an emergency worker and had to leave the home in order to help find survivors and victims in the storm. She knew she would have to eventually evacuate like the rest of the neighborhood, but she found it excruciating to leave her home. Changing her routine and facing the uncertainty and loss was very, very grueling for her. She finally did it, but it was torture.

Others flat out refused to adapt to the necessary changes in the storm and not only put their own lives in jeopardy but called on emergency responders who risked their lives as well.

At the next Administrative Council meeting, I will be looking at ways that we can best prepare to adapt to the constant changes that are before us and every church in our nation and our world. It is not and never has been easy to change, but by the grace of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in us, we can remain alive in Christ. 

We have learned that it is the Holy Spirit working in us that enables us to stay alive with our convictions, our conversations, and our constant changes. Just like a surgeon learns to look through a microscope to heal, 

we learn to see things that are not visible to the naked eye. Just like a pilot does not look out of the window like the passengers, we learn to navigate heights by watching the panel of instruments. 

Rather than focusing on our circumstances, we are learning to trust God and watch God work in us through the Holy Spirit; that is how we stay alive in Christ. Amen.