March 15 2015 Give It Up Darkness

March 15 2015 “Give It Up – Darkness” John 3.14-21 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

We begin the conversation with John talking about snakes. Snakes get mixed reviews. On one hand, the skins they shed make lovely handbags and shoes. On the other hand, snakes bring to mind the spirit that deceived Eve, enticing Adam to eat forbidden fruit.  Usually, snakes provoke fear and disgust. There are poisonous snakes and snakes that kill. [ slide # 1 brown snake ]  There are also snakes that are cute, colorful, and harmless. [ slide #2 green snake ]. Snakes are often portrayed as a symbol in the medical profession [ slide #3 medical symbol].

If the truth be told, we feel ambivalent about snakes. Even as the best medicine cures, it may have unpleasant and deadly side effects. So, we may hesitate to avail ourselves of the cure for concern about the side effects. We may hesitate to approach a snake because we are unsure of the possible outcomes. We may be hesitant to approach Jesus for the same reason.

John quotes Jesus in chapter 3 of this morning’s lesson as saying, “14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent (the snake)[ slide # 4 snake on pole with crowd  ] in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” [slide #5  verse 14And just as Moses……may have eternal life.”]

Moses raised the serpent, lifting it high so all could see it in the wilderness [stick prompt from closet] because God told him to do so. They needed to clearly see the bittersweet realities of the journey ahead. They were trained to have faith, give thanks, and praise God every step of the way. Free from slavery, on their way to the Promised Land, they were happy, but they still found things to cry and complain about. You would think they would be grateful for deliverance, ecstatically dancing for joy. But we all know, it is easy to be negative.

In order to give God the praise and honor that is due God we have to have help from the inside. Like the sails on a sailboat, we are whipped around by tough winds. Sails withstand because they have weights that keep them keep them on course. [ slide #6 sails  ] Praying and meditating, and worshiping and fellowshipping really are weighty enough   [slide #7 weight ]  to keep us moving along in our journey, in spite of how the world blows them off.

God’s people complained because they thought it would do some good, at least bring some relief. They were deceived. Complaining and negativity only came back to bite them like a poisonous snake. It weakened them. Do not scriptures teach us that the joy of the Lord is our strength? [ slide #8 joy]  Looking up and giving thanks would save them and bless them to prosper.

So when they lifted up the snake in the wilderness, they could keep their negativity, but by looking up they could never miss seeing God. [ slide #9 looking up] It seemed silly of God to direct the traumatized children to lift up a snake, but when we try it, we know if works. No matter what we are going through, if we dare to look up, we always see God and our hearts are always stirred to gratitude [ slide #10 gratitude ] and we see rainbows [ slide #11 rainbow ] and silver linings [ slide #12 cloud]. We see the shooting stars and the guiding lights [ slide #13 light house ] we so desperately need.

On our way to any of God’s promises to us, the journey may have a few rough patches. We may complain and get a little negative. But, just as Moses lifted up the serpent (the snake) in the wilderness, so we must lift up Jesus. The Son of Man is to be lifted up, 15that we might believe in him and have eternal life – that is life that is as wide as the heavens and as deep as the ocean.”

And if we lift him up, as the songwriter echoes, “If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.” Do we all not long to be drawn and driven by such a great and awesome love? It is time to look up to the one who has been lifted up.

If we have issues in our bodies, it is time to look up. If we have financial worries, it is time to look up. If one of our relationships is in a tangled mess, it is time to look up. If our fears and anxieties are getting the best of us, it is time to look up. Snakes may surface, but if we look up, we will see what we need to see in order to make it to the Promised Land. We will see the cross as well as the crown.

A church that looks up sees the light. A church that looks up finds the poor and needy in our homes, our hearts, and neighborhoods that God is crying out for us to see. A church that looks up finds the mission to which God is guiding them. A church that looks up finds solutions for scary problems that seem impossible. A church that looks up finds people who need the Lord and want to serve with us. A church that looks up constructs a handi-capable restroom, drives miles, talks for hours, and bakes cookies for shut ins a Compassionate Care Team. A church that looks up loves and cherishes God’s people, even sacrifices life, and limb, and kidneys, and hundreds and thousands of dollars, and endless hours in the classroom, the board room, the conference room - all at the impulse of God’s love. We love because he first loved us.

Have you ever walked into a room and saw someone looking up at the ceiling? Naturally, we look up so we can see what they see. [ slide #14 man looking up ] That is the best reason of all for all of us to keep looking up. For, there are others who have yet to see the light and the love that we have seen. That person may be a neighbor, a coworker, a relative. They may not know anything about the church we have grown to love and appreciate. But, as we look up they too will look up and find a church where members are united, forgiven, blessed, and talking and walking in a love that the world cannot duplicate because it does not live by the power of the Holy Spirit like we do. As we look up, they will be stirred to gratitude as they see the rainbows and silver linings and shooting stars and guiding lights.[slide # 15 lighthouse ]

For God’s sake and for those who need a savior, let us look up today.       [ slide #16 looking up  ]Amen.

March 8 2015 Give It Up - Destruction

March 8, 2015 “Give It Up – Destruction” John 2.13-22 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Jesus turned the tables over in the Temple. [ slide #1 tables turned ]There he was again, disturbing the peace. Has Jesus ever disturbed your peace? If so, take heart. The whole purpose is to bring you greater peace. [ slide #2 peace ] Doing God’s will brings great peace and a clear conscience.

All four gospels include the story of Jesus turning over tables and shouting for the sellers and buyers to get out of the Temple. His reason - it could no longer be identified as a house of prayer [ slide #3 people in prayer ] for all nations as God intended.

Jesus did this during Passover when worshippers came from all corners of the world. They came to celebrate of God’s deliverance for allowing the angel of death to pass over their homes. Like the pope coming to Philadelphia, every hotel and business looked forward to an increase in sales during Passover. And of course, they had to exchange foreign money as needed.

What a beautiful sight that must have been though, each worshipper wearing clothing made with designs and fabric from their world. Backpacks filled with exotic snacks eaten as they hummed melodies from regions we have seen only in pictures. Each heart encompassed stories of how God worked wonders in their villages that were just as awesome as those in cultures far, far away. Though big and burly, some soldiers, some farmers, they humbled themselves, obeyed God’s mandate to gather, remembering God’s blessings at Passover. 

It does something marvelous for the soul to pray together in unity with others,      [ slide #4 plug prayer] for we are all the same even when we are different. Gathering together in one house of God for one purpose takes us to higher heights and deeper depths of God’s love and human harmony.  A diversity of people with one mind and one prayer gives strength with which we can do what otherwise seems impossible. It is no wonder that Jesus wanted to push the issue and passionately remind everybody that God’s was a house of prayer for all nations, but it had become a den for thieves. They had not only stolen by hijacking the poor and needy, they had bankrupted the magic, majesty, and miracles that God had lovingly given.

God was not pleased and everybody knew it. Some wanted proof that Jesus had the right to confront them. They said, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” For making a whip of cords, driving  both the sheep and the cattle out of the temple, for pouring out the coins of the money-changers and overturning their tables, for telling those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’  What sign can you show us for doing this? Where are your credentials, your prophetic authority, your impressive remarks and powerful deeds that prove you are high and mighty, that prove you are sent by God?

The only answer Jesus had for them was beyond their comprehension. He said, “In three days I will raise up the Temple that you destroy. “ At first they thought he was talking about tearing down the beautiful temple that had taken 46 years to build. [ slide #5 Temple  ] The Temple was 35 acres, the size of 24 football fields, and one of the largest constructions in the First Century. We can picture the double colonnades of[ slide #6 columns  ] the  temple fortified with stone walls with three gates on each side –[ slide #7  gate  ]. In total there were 12 gates whose names through the years, like streets and avenues, represented their function, history and activity [ slide #8 people socializing at the gate  ]: the horse gate, lion gate, sheep gate, garbage gate, flower gate, valley gate, tanner’s gate, golden gate, (which Jesus is said to have entered on Palm Sunday) and the Eastern gate that led worshippers to the sanctuary - for everyone knows God enters our lives from the East, which is on the right. [ slide #9 candle ]

One scholar* notes that the Greek word for Temple in this text does not refer to the whole 35 acres of the temple, but just the sanctuary, which is also symbolized as the body of Christ, the Church, and all us members united for the cause of Christ. The temple was like a tiny town. It would serve no purpose to eliminate all socialization and sales.

One day when I was a substitute high school teacher, a gang of hoodlums came to the room and began to throw dice for serious money. When I told them to stop, they defied me because they viewed me as having no authority. They attempted to turn a place of learning into a place for illegal activity.  

Jesus gave them a sign that was over their heads. He said, if you “Destroy this Temple,  “I will raise it in three days.” The thought of destroying that lofty Temple, was so ridiculous. The idea that what they built was indestructible was inconceivable. But, Jesus, the son of God, they could destroy at the blink of an eye, [slide # 10 Jesus on the cross  ] for he was of far, far less value than anything they were interested in.

Those worth less are always with us, so there is bound to be at least one poor soul on a list of people for whom others could not care less. Lent is a time to ask ourselves – who’s on my list? Lent is our time to let God examine the quality of our connections and our disconnections.

We do not want to be a part of destroying God’s great plans for us by turning God’s house into – a marketplace - an “emporion” [ slide # 11 Greek - emporion ], a place where worldly empires are being built and spiritual values are being destroyed. We want to be fully aware of all the ways the devil is trying to sell us a bill of goods.

Years ago, during a season of prayer, I found myself flooded with moments of great discernment. Many wondrous things happened. One day, I began to focus on a certain drawer in the corner of the living room.  I could not get my mind off of the drawer, so I finally looked in, wondering if God were trying to get my attention or did I just need more rest. I found an old piece of paper with a joke and some foul words on it. It did not please God, and I knew it had to go.

For, is not our house, God’s house? [ slide #12 table ] Amen.

 +++

 http://www.orlutheran.com/html/bscleans.html

Give It Up - Life

March 1 “Give It Up  – Life” Mark 8.31-38 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Our faith is all about life, not only life, but as Jesus says : “abundant life. Jesus said, “ I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” If we ‘seek first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, all we need will be ours.’    "Give, and it will be given to you, scriptures tell us, and it will be poured into our lap a good measure --pressed down, [#1 cup of flour]--shaken together, and running over [#2 overflowing cup].

Our faith is all about life, full life, wonderful life, beautiful life, vibrant life. That is what we aim for. That is what pleases God: life. It is God’s will that we have life.

We do know that life does include some trying and even bitter moments that are not a part of the life in which God ultimately calls us to enjoy and participate. Even though death and destruction come our way, God’s plan and God’s purpose for all of us is still abundant life. [#3 water flowing in hands]

When evil and destruction came as it did for Jesus, his goal was life. All his efforts were toward bringing life. He even died to bring life. He sacrificed for the sake of life. He faced the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and would not turn back until it was time. He gave his all for life. [#4 Cross]

Without our dedication to a Godly life, we risk death when God plans life. Just think about what happens to the lives of those who do not fight Isis. Isis takes over. [# 5 Isis soldiers] You have heard the news of three British high school teenagers who ran away from home to join Isis. They may be trying to join their girlfriend who left weeks earlier. Experts suggest that the need for jobs and a sense of purpose drives youth to run to gangs such as Isis. Whatever happens, we know God is stronger than Isis!

Life is serious business! The price of being indifferent, nonchalant, or fearful is very, very high. A youth named *Hallad ran away from home and joined the Isis child army when he was fifteen years old because he did not feel protected by his own government. His neighborhood was violently attacked. Hallad felt loyal to Isis when they provided much needed food and medicine. Hallad saw propaganda videos of children learning to shoot guns. Isis taught him to love Isis and hate their enemies, instead of love your enemies like Jesus taught. Then they put him in combat.

When young Hallad was shot, he was traumatized and escaped the Isis army. He now lives in hiding in a cheap hotel in Turkey. He began to tell a news reporter of the day his mother finally found him. “What did your mother say to you?” the reporter asked. “She told me to take care of myself.” Hallad began to cry and did not finish his story. We can only imagine the sad ending.

Sad endings are not part of the life we want for our children, nor is it what God intends. As Christians, we know that God intends the Kingdom life – joy, peace, and right living in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Whoever we are, when we keep our eyes on God, we find that kin-dom life and that life finds us.

At times, Christians come to me and share that they are no longer Christians because someone in the church has upset them,[# 6 upset child] made them cry, made them angry, wounded their heart, or broke their spirit. They came to the point where they just could not take anymore. It became “too much” and they chose to let go. It was more than they could manage emotionally and spiritually so they disengaged

We need to know that the Lord has an army to help us fight what terrorizes us, so we do not have to live in fear and disappointment. [# 7 soldier at the cross]The Lord gives the body of Christ weapons [# 8 weapon bible] that can defeat the enemy wherever the enemy seeks to take the life God has given us. If we give the enemy a foothold, the fight may take more than one generation.

Today, we need a church where the army of the Lord is just like the United States Army. They may not always be visible, but they are always present. The army of the Lord is training and being deployed constantly. If you are a soldier in the army of the Lord, you have taken an oath and taken up the cross and you are willing to sacrifice all for the sake of protecting life. If you are a worshipper, you may very well be part of the army of the Lord, around the world, protecting precious children through your prayers and defending spiritual communities with good deeds. You have spiritual authority to arrest demons and carry out peace-keeping missions. You have what it takes to respond to a crisis. You have looked with kindness in the faces of those who suffer.

In our text from the gospel of Mark today, Jesus says that as the son of man – emphasizing his humanity though he was clearly divine –  he “must undergo great suffering.” Like Jesus, sometimes we know we are headed for a season of suffering. Like Jesus, we are aware when trouble is on the horizon. It may be for a day or a lifetime. We know, and we are ready. Like Jesus, our death may not at all be a surprise to us. Whether our death is a death by a cross, a creep, or a crisis, we know and we are ready.

Jesus’ right hand man, Peter, was trying to keep Jesus alive, eliminating all suffering and struggle. Peter, like most of us, was trying to hold on to life as he knew it. He wanted an abundant life on his terms, like most of us do. Jesus knew, however, that there are days that a good life may have to be sacrificed for a better life. There are those days when what we desperately need is not found in our physical circumstances, but is found only in the divine depths of prayer, while practicing spiritual disciplines and communing with the people of God.

The Lenten season brings seasons of suffering in full focus [# 9 camera]. The Lenten season prepares us. It toughens us up through repentance and confession [#10 confession ]. Lent shields us by giving us much to celebrate and sing about [# 11 child rejoicing]. Lent shelters us by baptizing us, [# 12 baptism ] inundating us, dunking us again and again in the Holiest of spirits as we are fasting and praying and giving and reading God’s word every day.  [# 13 child reading bible]

Like Jesus, we have to speak to all those voices that say, “Whatever you do, avoid suffering. Whatever you do, take the easy way out. Whatever you do, don’t die.” We hear Jesus speaking to those voices in verse 33, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” [# 14  ….not on divine things…]

Indeed God has much for us that is utterly divine, even better than material life. We hear that in the song lyrics inspired by Psalm 63, “Your lovingkindness is better than life. My lips will praise you. Thus, will I bless you. Your lovingkindness is better than life.”

Some days we see only a glimpse of the life God promises us. Nevertheless, as Monday’s Our Daily Bread devotional guide reminded us, Spiritual reality is like the invisible microbes on our hands. They outnumber all the people on the earth. Millions of these microbes can fit in the tiny eye of a needle. We do not see them, but they live in our air, in the soil, in our water, and on our bodies. We cannot see all there is in the spiritual world.

We trust God and believe in great wonders even though we cannot see them. We get a glimpse of God’s glory when we see of a newborn baby, or a rainbow, or feel the hope and joy that suddenly floods our soul when the choir sings, the word is preached, or we hear the inspiring testimonies of those who have tasted and seen for themselves that the Lord is good.

In this season of Lent we can hear Jesus speaking to us from verse 34 in today’s gospel of Mark ‘if any want to become my followers, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.’[ # 15 take up your cross]  In every cross we are called to carry, we have hope, for in the cross there is a life worth living, and there is a resurrection up ahead. So we can sing confidently with the songwriter:

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,

And all the world go free?

No, there’s a cross for everyone,

And there’s a cross for me.

How happy are the saints above,

Who once went sorr’wing here!

But now they taste unmingled love,

And joy without a tear.

The consecrated cross I’ll bear

Till death shall set me free;

And then go home my crown to wear,

For there’s a crown for me.

Today, and every day, let us choose life. [# 16 running with joy ]Like Jesus, let us live as if we know that love is something to die for, and let us die as if we have glimpsed the abundant life our loving God has for all God’s children. Amen.

*Morning Joe 2/23/15

February 22 2015 - Under Construction - Covenants

February 22 2015 “Covenants Under Construction” *Mark 1.9-15

Water is so essential to life. Humans have been known to live 40 days without food, but after 3 days without water,[ slide #1 water in desert]  the health of the body is at risk. Water is refreshing. You know this if you have ever meditated before a trickling stream or caught fish [ slide #2 fishing ] on the shores of a lake. Water is necessary for our physical cleansing.  [ slide #3 handwashing ].  We can clearly see the value of including something as precious as water in worship. It is obvious that our physical connection to water reminds us to connect spiritually in order to be alive, refreshed, and healthy.

Water rituals are universal and have been for ages. Sources say the Buddhists provide water for the deceased during funerals; for Hindus all water is sacred; Muslims, Shintos and numerous others share pools, fountains, and basins filled with water that foster the feeling of being spiritually clean and healthy.

The bible has many references to the symbolic power of water. It begins with the flood that covered the earth in Genesis, forcing humanity into a fresh start. There is the apparent medical cleansing using water after touching a carcass, corpse, or exposure to body fluids.  Priests and worshippers washed hands before service and meals. Even our ancient ancestors understood something of the blessing of washing away physical and spiritual bacteria. Water wells surrounding flowing springs were the center of towns built by those seeking to settle. Wells naturally became a social meeting place. [slide #4 a well] The waters of a mother’s womb held miracles and the waters of deliverance were found in the depths of the Red Sea. Even Jesus was baptized by his cousin John in the historic waters of Jordan River.

In Jesus’ time the way to spiritually cleanse yourself was to do what the Baptist church does. They called this a “tevilah” [ slide #5 tevilah].   They were too totally immerse themselves in living waters, like a stream or river.  [ slide #6 river bank ]

This was a new tradition. You do not find immersion in the Torah or the Law of Moses or the Old Testament. It reminds us that traditions changed even for Jesus. Today messianic Jewish brothers and sisters immerse from head to toe in a mikvah [slide #7 mikvah  - a bath for which the Hebrew root word is “hope”]. The Mikvah is similar to a baptismal pool built in many churches. The one you see here is from a Messianic church in Alabama. [slide #8  baptism pool ]

Baptism by immersion was required for non-Jews who wanted to convert to Judaism.* Yet Jesus was baptized by immersion. This was indeed a modification of the culture, the tradition, and the law. [slide #9 Jesus’ baptism]Jesus’ baptism reminds us that rituals contribute best to our spiritual well-being when they are fluid and flexible. First century followers of Christ were developing meaningful rituals and ways of living a holy life. Many came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River. It was all new.

Are we Methodists any less Christ-like for having a baptismal font instead of going down to the Schuylkill River or French Creek? Of course not. Methodists honor baptism through sprinkling, pouring, AND immersion. [ slide #10 Methodist cross and flame] If you have been baptized, it is not because Jesus commanded you to be baptized. It is because you have received one of many gifts of grace and one of many reminders to be clean and holy like our Creator is clean and holy.

Baptism seals our covenant, like a kiss seals a marriage in a wedding, [slide #11wedding kiss] like a notary seals a court document, [slide #12 notary seal ]like applause seals approval, like wax seals a jar of beans, [slide #13 canning jars] or a robot seals a bottle of mineral water. [slide #14 mineral water seal]Baptism signals that a covenant has been made and every intention exists to keep a promise. [ slide #15 baptism ]

We all know, however, that a kiss is a just a moment of bliss but the marriage means constant exercise of faith, forgiveness, and fun. The evidence of a court is affirmed by following through with legal demands. Once the applause stops, we prepare for the next performance. Sooner or later, the seal on a jar is broken; we must eat or the product will be spoiled, and once the water is open, it is better shared than horded.  [ slide #16 glass of water]

Baptism is just the beginning, just a first sign of something wonderful God has in store for us. Our covenants need to be made and kept with or without the rituals that a culture feels it can’t live without, or that a culture puts pressures on us to take on. We are called to construct a covenant, to make it and maintain it.

Just as we are building and maintaining a physical house of God, we are constructing a spiritual place that includes all who are willing to be in covenant.

A healthy spiritual atmosphere comes from God. God guides us through the highs and the lows of building. God guides us through the busiest days and darkest nights. God guides us to be a peculiar people, producing plenty of the fruit of the Holiest Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

We grow as we exercise spiritual discipline – as we meditate, fast, pray, give generously, forgive, study God’s word and do good. We especially grow when we bless those experiencing a moment of being the least, the last or the lost.

We must walk with God in order to grow. Surely, this Lenten season we will find in our time with God that we will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, dunked in many blessings, inundated with love, and overwhelmed by the power to accomplish more than we could ever think or imagine.

Just as we are pledging and planning and preparing for the next steps in our physical renovations, we are doing the same to build an atmosphere that pleases God. We are also preparing to maintain that atmosphere. When the spiritual roof leaks, we climb high. When spiritual crumbs are on the tables we wipe them clean. When the spiritual audio system needs a hand, we plug in. When spiritual crock pots and coffee hour sustenance is needed, we prepare. When the spiritual Jr Church schedule is blank, we fill it in with our name.

We are to be constantly building and maintaining the covenant we made at our baptism. We are affirming our belief in God the father, son, and Holy Spirit. As Mark notes in verse 15, “’the kingdom of God has come near; we repent, and we believe in the good news.’” [slide #17 “’the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’”  ] All we do, we do by the mercies of God.

May our baptism remind us that we are sealed with a kiss, [slide #18 kissing a baby] that the covenant is ours to keep Sunday by Sunday.  [slide #19 hands together to worship]

I close with the instructional words rabbi Jeff Marx in California tells his converts to say when they are baptized by immersion. He tells them to say – and I am translating it into Methodist heritage - ⁺‘may my baptism inspire me and strengthen me in my resolve to enter the ancient and endless stream of a holy life. May I be among those who will help that stream to continue strong and unbroken.’ Amen.

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_to_Judaism#Requirements

⁺http://www.ritualwell.org/ritual/ceremony-tevilah

Forgive to Live - Wednesday Evening Lenten Service February 18 2015

 Luke 23:34: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.

Luke 23 New International Version (NIV)

Verses 1-3, 13-25,32-34

Forgive to Live!

23 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. ² And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.”

³ So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied.

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. ¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” ^[17] [a]

¹⁸ But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”¹⁹ (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. ²¹ But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²² For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”

²³ But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided to grant their demand. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

   

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.³³ When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

⁺⁺⁺

Ash Wednesday begins the spiritual season when we read the scripture with more determination to get it right. Ash Wednesday reminds us to take God seriously, because God is not playing around. God means business!

The 23^rd chapter of Luke starts off with legal details you might find on the front page of the Mercury and at the top of the 6 o’clock news. Jesus was named as a criminal. Politicians provided the usual false accusations, a few lies, and definite criminal charges. The day of execution was set, and life went on as usual.

If you have ever been falsely accused, lied on, or misunderstood, you know how Jesus felt. He felt awful, stressed, sad, hoping for a way to make it all go away, to escape the distress, to have his life get back to the way it was.

If you have ever misunderstood someone, falsely accused, told a lie on someone, or prepared for the day of their execution, you know how the chief priests, rulers, and the people have felt through the ages. They felt like they were in Hell, far away from God, guilty, proud, arrogant, and out of control.

As Christians, we gather as innocent victims and we have been guilty perpetrators. Welcome to Ash Wednesday. Welcome to the cross where the cleansing blood of Jesus flows for every sinner. Welcome to the Throne of God’s grace and mercy where none of God’s children will leave without showers of blessings, mercy and forgiveness.

James B. Comey, director of the FBI said last week that criminal suspects routinely lie and declare themselves to be innocent. Lying is so common, Comey says, that we assume that a lie is eminent and we develop many flavors of cynicism. Our cynicism, however, is a lazy mental shortcut that convinces us that stereotypes are true.

My sister tells the story of one of her three boys who disobeyed her. The evidence was in the kitchen – perhaps a box of cookies had been opened or some such offense. (We have to monitor children well, don’t we?. One mother keeps her food locked in a closet because her children are at a stage when they are out of control and they have ransacked the pantry on too many occasions.) Anyway, my sister confronted the three children who were sitting around on a Saturday morning watching television, asking who was the guilty one. No one confessed. She paused a moment and went on to something else during which time she said the still small voice of the Holy Spirit spoke to her heart and told her which child was guilty. They had all expressed their innocence, but the one that my sister suspected – the one who was often the guilty one, was not at all the one who turned up guilty that day. She said she was so shocked, and if it had not been for the work of the Holy Spirit in her heart and later in her son who was proved to be the guilty one, she would not have understood who was guilty and who was not.

Ash Wednesday begins the season of truth telling, of coming clean, of confession. Ash Wednesday is a day we intentionally seek the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

We especially need the Holy Spirit’s help to forgive like Jesus forgave, saying as he hung on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

I want to say, “Yes they do know what they are doing, Jesus. They know very well they are as wrong as two left shoes. They are wrong and they simply do not want to be right. Jesus you know I am telling the truth, so why would you say, they don’t know what they are doing?” 

Well, it is true that we usually know when we are doing wrong. What we don’t know is what we will know one day. Scriptures say that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. That will be the day that many will say, “If I only knew then, what I know now, I would have worshipped God and got my life together sooner.”   

We do not have to concern ourselves with those who bow above the Lord and not below the Lord. We just need to remember that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess….we need to remember as that song says, “In His time, in His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time.”

What must occupy our time, and talent, and energy is doing what Jesus did on the cross: pray for those who do not submit to the Lord of Lords and the kings of kings, pray for those who bring us hurt, harm, or danger…

Our natural inclination is to revenge and rage against neighbors who refuse to cut their branches that are leaning over our fence, dropping sap onto our cars, or terrorists who come into our country in wolves clothing, or drivers who drink and drive.

Who is it that has hurt you? Harmed you? Endangered you or your loved ones?

What’s their name, where do they live, what do they look like? Bring them to this altar. Put them under the cross. Remember to refrain from screaming obscenities at them. Hold back from trying to give them what they deserve. By the power of God, let’’s forgive them. Let’s get all that yucky, gunky attitude out of our system and leave more room for the sweet, sweet spirit that we find in a place of worship. Let it go, forgive them, and watch God work to heal and fill us to overflowing with the healing love that changes lives. Pray for them. Picture them in the loving arms of Jesus. For, God loves them more than we will ever know.

A woman asked me to visit her home and pray for her son who was a heroin user and a heroin runner in the neighborhood. She was desperate because she was in her second marriage and her husband was threatening to leave her because he did not want to live in that chaos. She was torn between her son and her husband.

I got to the door and began to be overwhelmed with God’s love for this young man, this sinner, this misfit, chief among the least, the last, and the lost. For the first time ever, I took off my shoes to pray through the house because I realized that the ground on which I stood was holy ground. She begged me to keep my shoes on because she had found several used hypodermic needles on the floor that were dropped after he shot himself with heroin. But, I was too overwhelmed. It was as if I was weeping God’s tears – so great was God’s love for this one whom others referred to as worthless, lousy, the very scum of the earth.

No matter what we think or feel about those who have hurt us deeply, endangered us, caused us great grief, agitation, and loss – God is just as in love with them as God is of us. God forgives them as quickly as God forgives us. A couple days later our prayers were answered as he went to jail where his addiction could be treated and his chaos contained.

Ash Wednesday begins the season of dying to ourselves, giving up our lives for divine examination. So, let’s think about any way WE may have hurt our Lord, harmed God’s people, endangered others, harbored hatred, failed to love. Let’s think about the ways we have fallen short of the glory of God. Let’s think about the bountiful love God has for us in spite of our faults and failings.

If we think about it long enough, we will forgive, and we will find new life. Let it be so today and forever. Welcome to Ash Wednesday. Amen.

February 15 2015 Under Construction - Storms

February 15 2015  “Storms Under Construction”  *2 Kings 2.1-2,11; Mark  9.2-9 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

The story of the prophet Elijah and his student Elisha is one of the most dramatic in the bible. [slide #1 Chariots of fire].The story was written in the book of Kings 550 years before the birth of Jesus. In 1981 the movie Chariots of Fire based on this biblical story came out 3000 years later.

What an image! When we talk about intensity and speed in many races, we might say “we feel the burn.” On the road, we might say “we are leaving others in the dust” or “we are burning rubber.” Intensity makes our heart race and our ears stand up for the news of some dramatic win. [slide #2  racer on shoulders ]

Elijah and his student Elisha had been running together for a long time. They were best buds, close colleagues, and intensely spiritual. What a blessing it is to be close to God, close to a mentor, close to a friend. One of my spiritual mentors Bishop O.T. Jones was often heard to say in bible study, ‘You need to come to church and stay close to the people of God because a rose cannot survive without staying connecting to the vine.’

In every day and age, it is important to stay close to God, a mentor, and a friend. When I taught English at BCCC, I had students who had academic gifts and challenges; [ slide #3 classroom   ]  there were students who had just come out of prison making major adjustments,  [slide #4jail bars ]and students who had bitter experiences and bad attitudes to match. [slide #5 t shirt “bad attitude” ]

In my prayers, I asked God what I could possibly do with the students who very likely would not pass the final exam. The answer I received while walking to the school parking lot one day, the answer that seemed to float in a bubble overhead and gently burst around me was both surprising and inspiring. I expected to hear of a special teacher-tip such as give extra homework or send them to the tutoring center. God said, “Be a friend to many.” So that is what I did. I treated all like a very important friend, like they were a child of the Living God, like they mattered! I treated them like I experienced God was treating me every day. [ slide #6 Jesus and little girl  ]

How wonderful it is that Bethel is working to be a warm and friendly church and preparing renovations and an elevator to put our money where our faith is. One family came who visited Bethel when we were a rest stop in the Chester County Historical House Tour a few months ago, said that they came because they were very grateful for the hospitality and genuine welcome we shared that day. It made a difference. [slide #7 happy to see you]

Last Saturday I met a family from Nantmeal UMC. The welcome they gave me was was intense and record-breaking. I am still basking in the warmth of that sunshine. A warm welcome and genuine acceptance gladdens the heart, even heals the heart in a world where hearts are constantly bruised and broken.

Who can forget the testimony of a woman being assaulted by a very broken man; though a stranger in the dark, she intuitively whispered in his ear the words that God constantly whispers to us, “I love you. I love you.” The stranger was disarmed, immediately and her life was spared. [ #8 You are loved]

Elijah and Elisha were close friends walking and talking about things that were deep and divine. [slide #9  Elijah and Elisha] They talked about things that were out of this world – things like the fires of hell and the glory of heaven. They talked about the things that brought new life. Theirs was a once-in-a-life-time-love, a rare and precious connection that is a blessing from God.

Their first stop was Gilgal. [slide # 10 Gilgal… ] In Hebrew, the word Gilgal means “roll” as in roll away a stone, or roll ourselves onto the Lord who takes care of us. In the year 1400 BC, the Israelites rolled into Gilgal after leaving Egypt on their way to the Promised Land. Do you remember a day you rolled into the paths of right living, rolling your cares over to God? Do you remember how it felt to be delivered from some burden of sorrow, sin, or shame and have a new start? We may pass through Gilgal more than once in our lifetime.

From Gilgal, Elijah was on his way to Bethel. [slide #11 Bethel – house of God] “Beth” means “house” and “el” means “of God.” Everywhere we go as Christians, we should be on our way to a place where our Heavenly father is at home, where the Holy Spirit is not grieved, where Jesus is welcome. [slide #12 Jesus at the door]

Elisha insisted on traveling the whole distance to Bethel with his mentor Elijah. He gladly went the extra miles. From Gilgal to Bethel it was probably well over 10 miles. As they walked and talked, they were suddenly separated by a wind storm, a whirlwind, an intense experience with chariots of fire and horses ablaze. [slide #13 whirlwind of fire]

Separation alone can be an intense experience. *A study was done from the University of Missouri on separation from iphones. [ slide #14 phones ] Forty-one students were asked to work on puzzles while their blood pressure and heart rate were being monitored. Researches told the students that the phone was interfering with the monitor and asked that they place the phone in a nearby cubicle. Then the researchers called their phones. When the students heard their cell phones ring [slide #15 phone ringing] and could not answer it, the student’s anxiety level, blood pressure, and heart rate skyrocketed and their performance on the puzzles plummeted. One of the researchers concluded, ‘the iphones can become an extension of our selves and when separated we feel less of a self and take on a negative physiological state.’ Storms change our lives and speak volumes.

The intense experiences, the storms of life speak loudly to us in three ways. First, storms speak to us of life and death. Storms put pressure on us to live as we know we will one day die. Storms help us to die in peace as we see that God has always faithfully taken care of us.

Secondly, storms speak to us of Heaven and Hell. Just as we know nothing of life before our birth, we know nothing of life after our birth. Life is full of unknown factors. Life can be unpredictable. Storms push us into making life meaningful. Storms present heavenly moments we want to foster and hellish moments we work to avoid.

Thirdly, storms speak to us of truth that sets us free and the lies that bind us. The truth of most matters is that storms can shake us up and turn us around if we have the courage to face the storm and ask God for help. The devil is a lie. We can find freedom.

Family therapists say that helping a family change for the better is as challenging as swimming against the tide. Storms push us into change. Still, storms lead us to living waters, but storms cannot make us drink.

Like Elijah and Elisha we choose Sunday by Sunday to stay close together, united as one, always on our way to Bethel – the house of God. As we journey we will always be on fire for the Lord. We will be raising sand and kicking up dust for a good cause. We are stirring up a storms against sexual assault and domestic violence like what we heard about this week at Millersville University and that Laurel Wynn reminded us about when she built a website. [slide #16 www.tinyurl.com/ladies-self-defense.]

On our way to the house of God, we leave a hot trail from our chariots of fire and horses ablaze with power. [slide #17 firery trail ] Clearly we have made fierce efforts to drive out demons of drug abuse, [ slide #18 public school  ], sexism, racism, homophobia, promiscuity, and sex trafficking,  [slide #19 help me],  in our hearts, [slide #20 sin in heart] our homes, [slide # 21 Jesus at our door]and in our neighborhoods. Living our lives faithfully can be very, very intense.

In my report to Council I talked about us going to the next spiritual level. Wherever God is leading, uniting together in new ways is the most important choice United Methodists are making.

A few months ago in typical Methodist fashion, I met with a group of clergy for conversation on tough issues. We all have different views, different experiences, different goals, and different emotions. Our common ground was the rules we had for conversation:  One person talks at a time, no interruptions or clarifying questions, the speaker talked no more than two minutes, continue until everyone has a chance to talk – if they choose to, everyone is a child of God, listen carefully, strive to understand the other person’s view, speak about issues without defaming persons, disagree without being disagreeable, pray, strive to accurately reflect the views of others.

Together we engaged in open, honest conversation in peace instead of in pieces,   that the world will know we are Christians.

One of the most inspiring signs I have seen in recent weeks of watching protests on television was a middle school student carrying a sign that said, “Silence is violence.” Doesn’t it remind us that God has sent us to speak up and stir up a storm, and have conversations that lead to peace and justice in the church, that can be a model for the whole word.  

Let each of us remember that if we are on the way to Bethel, the house of the Lord, we are stirring up a spiritual storm. Go for the storm and watch God show up and fire up our lives and free us to finish the race in victory. [ slide # 22 torch runner ] Amen.

+++

*Erin Blakemore, "Separate people from their phones and they perform less well," Smithsonian.com (1-12-15)

http://www.preachingtoday.com/search/?order=newest

Under Construction - Preachers

February 8 “Preachers Under Construction” Isaiah 40.21-25, *I Corinthians 9.16-23 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

 On this scout Sunday, we see that our cup overflows with scouts in Chester County. Scouts overflow at Bethel, we host about 14 scout troops and meetings. Our scouts appreciate our hospitality and we are certainly the beneficiaries of their good work, yard cleaning, help for our seniors, and just young folks and awesome leaders with creativity, joy and energy. We overflow with their politeness and industriousness, and other character traits, modeled by their outstanding leaders who are ever supportive and humble in their dealings with us. [slide #1 great job]

In a world where shortages and lack are ever looming, it is good to enjoy an abundance of something good. Scout Sunday is a day of thanksgiving for Bethel. What takes us over the top is the fact that the scouts have declared themselves a Christian organization in a world where religion is a reason for war and politicians are constantly resisting the idea of a supreme being that orders our steps and guides us to much good.

Scouts among us is just another reason to celebrate as we worship on this Sabbath. God is glorified when we declare that God is our God and as we cherish God’s word, and hold it in our hearts.

As apostle Paul affirms in this morning’s reading, it is good to declare God’s word, with our lips as well as our behavior which reflects our character. As a representative who usually attends scout courts of honor is fond of saying, ‘scouts make extraordinary leaders.’

Christian values bring peace in the threat of war, help when there is a need, and hope for discouraging times. At times, because of our human nature, even we Christians have days when we are fighting God, hiding instead of helping, or discouraging the hopeless. Even we need Divine Intervention in order to speak and act like children of God. We ask total healing of our lives, but want to give only partial obedience. Our eyes open wide seeking blessings, while our lips are sealed shut for giving thanks and praise to each other and to God.

As always our hope comes from God’s word that drives [ slide #2  let God drive ]us to our ultimate destination when we get into it. Last Sunday a member who is involved in a number of bible studies, mission efforts and has participated in scouting, mentioned to me the hope that the upcoming generation would get into the word, for without the word, we are at risk. Without the word we are vulnerable to defeat.

Staying in God’s word, takes us to a place of blessing. [slide #3 place of blessing]We may think that since we have our blessing, it is up to everybody else to get their blessing. This is only partly correct. We all have to do the best with what God has given us. Still, we are all in this world together. My blessing is a blessing to you. Your blessing is a blessing to me. My problem will eventually be a problem to you. Your problem will eventually be a problem for me.

When we see that every house on a block has been destroyed by a storm, [ slide #4 last house standing] we say how blessed they are that their house is still standing. There are blessings that come with being the only one standing. At the same time, if being the only one blessed while others are homeless, helpless, and hungry will make us vulnerable if not in this generation, surely in the next generation. The work we do is a way of planting seeds for the generations that come behind us.     [slide #5 seeds in hand]

Our lives are not a “me” thing but a “we” thing. [slide #6  group holding hands] Even the Lord’s Prayer reminds us of that when we hear “Our father,” “Give Us this day, our daily bread,” “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

For these reasons, we want to build good character and we want to build those who will speak out with their lips, spreading good news and words that inspire. [slide #7 Gotta tell somebody ] We want preachers who not only behave according to the word, but who have the courage to speak up when the spirit says speak up. [slide #8 speak up] We want to build up young people who will tie themselves up in the word like our traditional Jewish preachers have [slide #9 man with leather bindings ] and even do today [ slide #10 worshipping with black boxes on forehead ]. These tefilin or phylacteries are attached to a small black box with scriptures inside. They are a reminder to keep God’s word close to their hearts and minds. Future generations will need it.

If we keep God’s word close to our hearts and our minds, sooner or later, someone among us will start to bubble up from the inside. They will want to speak, even preach. There is something within them that drives them, urges them on like it did Paul. As he said to the church at Corinth, he wanted to speak to those of different nationalities, or religions, or those considered to be weak, and he wanted to do it “it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” [slide #11 Verse 23 I do it all …]

All during the year, we take opportunities during worship to share how God has blessed us. People are blessed as they get to know one another on a deeper level. Many have been inspired by stories of faith shared during worship.  Many people dread public speaking, so when we first begin encouraging people to share their stories, very few came forward. But, thanks be to God, this year we are overflowing with those who are available to share a testimony during Lent. We have more than 13 people available. It is certain to be a rich and transforming time. God will surely show up and revive us. [slide #12 revive]

This year we are bursting at the seams with people who are full of God’s word, who are prepared to preach. Last month I met Mike Demarco who will preach on Maundy Thursday. Last week I met Eric, a retired preacher who exudes the word of life from every pore. You can feel the fire burning in his heart. For years, we have been blessed by God’s word as flames of fire came forth from the hearts as Mary Tyson and Ron Moore, and Father’s Day speakers, and Mother’s Day speakers stood at this pulpit. God has many preachers who are sent to us as gifts from God.

A pastor’s dream is to witness blessings that multiply like Jesus multiplied the fish and the loaves. Who can forget the rich words of 11 year old Abigail who stood here with a brilliant smile and blue hair as she witnessed to her faith and the love of her late grandfather, Charles Kehs and how he saved her from misery in her math class and gave her the blessed her with a love for learning?

I will never forget 16 year old Luke articulating his family’s work on a well so those without clean water would know what it is to drink freely. You heard him share a mission trip to help those in need with housing. No one invited him; he took the initiative. The Spirit of God led him and he spoke about it from this pulpit.

At age 17, Tyler brought Christian music to this pulpit and spoke of putting his own body on the line when his friends wanted to bring harm to someone just because they were different.

This year we end the Lenten season with Youth Sunday, which is Palm Sunday. All our confirmands will share, and 15 year old Dana McKinley and Tyler Collins will speak a word of Testimony. When a teenager approached me last week and asked if they could share a sermon on youth Sunday, there was only one answer, “yes.”

When the word of God is being multiplied and preachers are coming forth, we know that we have laid a fertile foundation. Obviously, God is at work among us constructing preachers that help God build the word in us.

We have a lot to celebrate. We have come this far by faith. Our foundation in the word is deep and solid. [ slide #13 solid foundation ] We have the most prepared and dedicated Sunday school with 11 classes from toddlers to seasoned seniors that any church could ever have. We have two services with Junior Church and we have a nursery and each has bible-based music and stories, and thanks to our Sunday school superintendent, Mary Tyson and Joann Bachrach, we have lessons for those who have not even learned to speak much less read yet.

It is our constant prayer that your family is participating in Sunday school,[slide #14 Sunday school] or bible study [slide #15 hands on bible] or daily devotional reading [slide #16 daily bread] [slide #17 Upper Room]. It is our constant prayer that you have participated in Rally Day in September. It is our constant prayer that every person in your home has a bible and reads it every day [slide #18 read the bible…]. Those who agree can say, “Amen.”

It is our constant hope and prayer that you sacrifice and serve in Junior Church – at least once or twice each year, for no great thing is maintained without sacrifice! Sharing is one thing, sacrificing is another. Constructing preachers requires sacrifice. Building a strong foundation in the word means that someone has made a sacrifice. [slide #19 sacrifice]

Are you the one being called to make the next sacrifice! It is very clear that the Spirit is moving us at Bethel. As the Spirit speaks to your heart today, may you hear and listen. [slide #20 God is calling] Amen.