“Born Again – Glad” *Isaiah 35.1-10 December 11, 2016

December 11, 2016 “Born Again – Glad” *Isaiah 35.1-10, Matthew 11.2-11 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, [slide # 1 wilderness] says the prophet Isaiah in the beginning of chapter 35. This is a beautiful passage. It is a very poetic passage whose words make our heart sing and puts our minds at peace. The images and ideas are very nurturing to our souls.

That is the job of the prophet according to the bible. The prophet’s purpose is to bring comfort [slide # 2 comforting hug] and consolation and encouragement. Every now and then encouragement may even come in the form of a big boost or maybe a little “boot. In any case, every one of us has a bit of a prophet in our souls. It is no surprise when the Spirit uses us to bring comfort, consolation, and encouragement to one or to many. Mark Batterson [slide # 3 Mark Batterson] author of 40 Days of Prayer affirms that every one of us becomes a prophet when we are in the habit of praying. At the same time, he says life without prayer can make life pathetic.

In bible study this week we went around and made a note of Isaiah’s verses that stood out strongest in our minds. [slide # 4 bible and light] From this abundance of words they pulled out verse 3 where Isaiah says weak hands will be strengthened and unsteady knees supported, [slide # 5 walker] verse 4 telling of God coming with vengeance, [slide # 6 vengeance, gavel] verse 6 waters springing in the desert [slide # 7 desert water] and streams in the wilderness. [slide #8 wilderness water]

The purpose of Isaiah’s joyous images of peace and power is to motivate us as we continue [slide # 9 backpacker on path] our journey of faith no matter what difficulties challenge us or pleasures distract us.

It is amazing how poetry and beauty and laughter and praise and thanksgiving and countless other wonders can transform [slide # 10 changes] us into human beings and diminish our savage instincts, just like a butterfly emerges out of its cocoon. [Slide # 11 butterfly]

When we take the high road we are lifted to a better place. [slide # 12 shoulder ride] Isaiah wrote wonderful words to a weary people. Are you weary today? Is something wearing you down? As the songwriter says, “Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.” Come ye disconsolate wherever you languish. Come to the mercy seat. Fervently kneel. Here bring your wounded hearts, [slide # 13 wounded heart] here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow that heav’n cannot heal. [slide # 14 Heaven’s gates]

Just as we look to Isaiah [slide # 15 book of Isaiah] and other scriptures to lift us up, we can look [slide # 16 binoculars] wherever we find holy comfort, wise consolation, blessed encouragement, pure laughter, righteous beauty, and wherever there is praise and thanksgiving to God. [slide # 17 arms raised praising]

This season for Bethel is especially appreciated because of the awesome beauty of the light [slide # 18 candles] and the love that the decorations have brought us. They truly glorify God. [slide # 19 God glorified] Truly! God is pleased when we make something beautiful. God is pleased when it is over-the-top beautiful because God has made us over-the-top beautiful inside and out. God knows that over-the-top beautiful transforms us in wonderful ways. [slide # 20 blue butterfly]

You may get chills down your spine and a smile on your face when you remember our family Christmas party last week, or the meal that is planned for a special community this week, or the dozens of meals prepared for those who are homebound and unable to cook on their own for one reason or another. There is beauty in feeding those who, though their primary need is not food, can definitely be nurtured by the fellowship. Just like a picture is worth a thousand words, a gift as small [slide # 21 small gifts] as a meal can reflect a thousand hugs. [slide # 22 Jesus’ hug] That is why Christmas will always be our time for giving!

The first Christmas was not the happiest. Even today, some lawyers call the Monday after Christmas, D-Day, Divorce Day as some families mark the end of their relationships. It does not matter what our situation, beauty and poetry and laughter and praises to God prime the pump and allow rivers of peace and joy to flow into our lives. [slide # 23 jumping for joy]

Have you ever sung yourself happy!! I remember my friend as a young woman who suddenly lost her Godmother. She was the type to talk out loud to God and lift her hands in prayer and praise. It was her custom and her culture. She went privately into a corner and began to pour out her sadness to God. She was not aware that I saw her. She lifted her hands and began to thank God, [slide # 24 dancing in the spirit] then praise God, then danced with all deliberation as the tears of sorrow continued to flow. It was clear that she was flowing in the rivers of God’s peace and comfort. It happened for my friend just as Isaiah prophesied.

35⁴Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”

⁵Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; ⁶then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; ⁷the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. ⁸A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. ⁹No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. ¹⁰And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah was right then and he is right today.

May it also be so in our lives forever! [slide # 25 trust God ] Amen.

“Born Again – Safe” *Isaiah 11.1-10 December 4, 2016

December 4  2016 “Born Again – Safe” *Isaiah 11.1-10 Mathew 3.1-12 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

We continue our Advent season with words from the prophet Isaiah. He is speaking to a world that longs for peace and safety, [slide # 1 dove of peace] even while many choose violence. We are to find comfort in Isaiah’s reference to the new life found in roots and shoots and branches of a tree that has been cut down and is now only a stump called Jesse. [Slide # 2 Verse 1]

Jesse is listed in Matthew chapter 1 as part of Jesus’ family tree. [Slide # 3 stump ] Jesse was the father of King David of the royal city of Jerusalem – the city of God. Jesse goes back about 28 generations before Jesus. [slide # 4 genealogy list ]

Violent lifestyles rather than a determination to participate in a [slide # 5 Kinder, gentler] kinder, gentler nation created an ugly spiritual atmosphere in Israel, generation after generation. Creating an unholy atmosphere, [slide #  6 garbage] cut them off from God and made it easy for the Babylonians to plunder Jerusalem and destroy Solomon’s beautiful temple nearly 586 years before the birth of Jesus, just as the prophets predicted.

In this world we can do anything we are big and bad enough to do, but there is always a price to be paid. We can ignore the small evils and injustices, but, sadly, if we forget to pay attention to the details, trouble will follow. While growing up, my father would take note of any five of us who got out of hand. He would chuckle and say to my mother, “Anna, we’ve created a monster.”

We cannot control every aspect of our life or the life of our loved ones and neighbors. We cannot live life perfectly, but we must take [slide # 7 keep calm] the responsibility that is ours to nurture the opportunities God gives us. Every day is a new day, born again [slide # 8 …born again] with new opportunities to bring forth some good.

How does God decide to allow a stump that has been cut down to grow roots and produce branches again? [ slide # 9 man and stump] Amazing wonders happen in spite of incredible odds. We see flowers blooming in the dessert and trees bursting through concrete. We see arrogant people repenting – turning around in order to right a wrong. We see the church thriving and prospering when other businesses are breathing their last.   How does God decide to allow that which is cut down to grow again? [slide # 10 green bud]

History shows us that God works in the hearts and minds and wills of humans. We saw the collapse of apartheid, the falling down of the German wall, the end of segregation, and the turning of a tide that persecutes people for their sexual orientation. [slide # 11 scales of justice]

When God looks at us, God sees us as marvelous, precious, and beautiful. In each of us are the wonderful seeds of greatness passed down from generation to generation. [Slide # 12 wonderfully made….] The mysteries of life are unfolded in each of our hearts. Even when we cannot seem to get ourselves together, God is still good to us. God is still working and growing great things in us so that we can know that God is our source of the peace and safety we so desperately need.

Even when our lives, our family, our country seems cut off and cut down [slide # 13 man on knees] we have the hope of new life and we can grow into something great as a person, as a family, as a country. Some of us know what it is to be cut off, yet the Lord has helped us overcome great trials. We have lost loved ones but the Lord has been our companion. We have been betrayed, cheated, ignored, but the Lord has provided in abundance. We have suffered and the Lord has been our comfort, holding our hand in the midnight hour.

The world may choose violence and death, but we, the children of the Almighty are made safe because the seeds of greatness within us are always producing life that leads to peace and safety. [slide # 14 seeds of greatness] It is within us to be motivated and driven by the Spirits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Having the spiritual strength to forgive, to reconcile, and to use our talents and our gifts creates a more peaceful and safe environment within and without. [slide # 15 safe place]

We all have the potential to grow as powerful as the ancient prophets, speaking life, living life in ways that create life where life has been cut off.

My family has its share of good news. When we gather there is always laughter and encouragement. At the same, when I get with them on the   phone or on Facebook, I hear the back stories and the incredible contradictions to our wholeness. When negative predictions of the future come to my mind, I remember that there is power in prayer that creates the future. Praying Christians [slide # 16 praying] do not have to stand by helplessly and watch a situation being propelled by a self-fulfilling prophecy. We do not have to just let things happen; we can pray and get God’s wisdom to make things happen even when things seem impossible as Mark Batterson New York Times best-selling author of the 40 Day prayer Challenge reminds us.

It takes spiritual strength to stay alive and grow. If you have ever had surgery, you know that your doctor will not allow you to just go under the knife. You have to have some readiness and strength. When I was in college, I had reluctantly signed papers for my dentist to extract a tooth. He lined up all his tools and instructed me to say, “Ah.” But, he wisely, noticed that a tear had begun to stream down my face and he stopped the procedure. He knew I was not ready. [Slide # 17 ready?]

But, we are ready. We are ready to invite others to church, knowing that 80% of new members come – not to hear this wonderful choir or my great sermons. They come because you invite them. A warm, sincere invitation goes a long, long way in this world. We are ready to serve, not because we have nothing better to do, but because we want to keep the body of Christ strong enough to take care of itself as well as minister to the needs of others. We are ready to trust and obey the voice of God. We are ready to let go and let God handle our sins and weaknesses because we know that if we cling to sin, our heart will become hard and if our heart is hard toward God, we will become spiritually hard of hearing, too.

We are ready to experience in our own lives the sense of safety that Isaiah shows us in verse : 6The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them…. [slide # 18 verse 6 wolf…]  [slide # 19 lion and lamb]

When we intentionally, conscientiously and deliberately decide to lock arms and work together, synchronizing, harmonizing, uniting, agreeing to be one body, cherishing one another, knowing diversity makes us stronger, then all things are possible as the kingdom comes. [slide # 20 unity holding hands] Peace and safety will grow from generation to generation, despite the odds.

The world may choose division and devilment, but we have the power to build up what is torn down and to mend what is broken. May it be so for us always. May the seeds of goodness and greatness give birth in us again and again in our lives that we may know what it is to grow safe in the arms of Jesus.  [slide # 21 I died for you] May we trust God to change ourselves and our world until it is a safe place to be. [slide # 22 winner on red tape]. Amen  [Slide # 23 dove]

"Back In the Day" November 27 2016 Isaiah 2.1-5

November 27, 2016  *Isaiah 2.1-5   Romans 13.11-14   “Back in the Day” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Can you think back on a time when things were going your way? You were happy and hopeful and satisfied. Thinking about the good old days can quickly put an ear-to-ear smile on our faces. Talking about what used to be can bring a joy that strengthens and inspires us to work with all our heart and all our strength to make something good happen again and again as often as possible.

Isaiah is one of several prophets of God in the Old Testament. Prophets were often called seers because they could see things that God saw in the present, the past and the future and that could easily be missed by others. Clearly God gives information about the past, present, or future to some and not to others and never all to any one person. [slide # 1 lens]

Prophets use spiritual tools of meditation, fasting, prayer and sacrifice that help them to see God’s hope in what some experienced as hopeless situations. They present God’s guidance in the darkness. They give Godly insight from the scriptures. [slide # 2 scripture]

There are men and women boys and girls today whose spiritual gift is to prophecy. We do not talk about them often in the Methodist church, but there are people in every culture and language that speak for God, that tell of God’s goodness and guidance and remind us of God’s word, whether we want to hear it or not.

There are some religious groups and congregations that put the idea of prophecy so high in importance that they are easily deceived and devalued. You remember Christian teacher Harold Camping, founder of Family Radio. He prophesied that Jesus was returning on May 11, 2011. [slide # 3 poster May 11]

One man esteemed Camping so highly that he sold his house and waited on a mountain for Jesus to take him in the rapture. The prophecy turned out to be false. This man who apparently trusted Mr. Camping was left homeless and tried to sue his ministry so he could get a new house.  

Allan Lichtman ran for the Maryland senate in 2006. He is a historian and political science professor at American University in Washington, DC who has correctly predicted the winning presidential candidate since 1984. [slide # 4 Alan Lichtman]

Rabbi Johnathan Cahn is the author of the 2012 bestselling book called The Harbinger. A Messianic Jew, he suggests that the 9/11 terrorism attack was a divine warning to the United States. He ties the 9/11 attacks to a section of Isaiah 9, which describes God vowing to destroy ancient Israel for persistent disobedience towards Him and ignoring the warnings He has sent them. One such warning was a military attack on Israel which caused physical damage to the land. Rabbi Cahn asserts that instead of recognizing God's warning and repenting of its sins,[slide # 5 Rabbi Cahn] Israel defiantly vowed to rebuild using stronger materials and planting stronger trees. Of course, prophetic criticism of anyone quickly becomes controversial.

Prophecy is as complicated as our human nature and should be heard and spoken with great humility, caution, and reservation. If you are a praying Christian, there will be moments that you look in God’s hands and see wonderful blessings in store for you. There will also be times as we pray that we will look into the holy creator’s face and know that God is not pleased with something we have done or said or plan to do or say. Blessings as well as warnings are both a big part of a praying Christian’s life.

The prophet Isaiah – speaking for God – listed many wonderful moments that God had in store for the nation. In verse 2 [slide # 6 verse 2] they were to look forward to God’s place of worship being high like a mountain in the eyes of the world. The house of God would be a place, where people all around the world would stand in line, patiently waiting to come and worship. [slide # 7 hands raised praising] Seems like everybody everywhere would find a seat in a Sabbath morning class and a weekday study of scripture, seeking to be instructed by the Lord. People would prayerfully seek God’s wise judgments, knowing they truly made a difference in their lives. [slide # 8 verse 2 all the nations…]

Perhaps the most pleasant verse of all is verse 4 where Isaiah speaking for God says that the people of our nation – the nation of the people of God would beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning-hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.  [slide # 9 verse 4 no more study war]

We can all look at one time and perhaps several seasons that we call, “back in the day” where we can remember there was peace, and rest, and good times. Where it seemed everybody who was anybody would be an active member of some church and Sunday classrooms and evening services were packed with wall to wall worshippers.

We can always look back and see how greatly God has blessed us. At the same time we can look around and see how greatly God is blessing us today. And, if we are not satisfied, we need to talk to God about it and be prepared to follow directions until God’s word is fulfilled. [slide # 10 All about Him]

The Holy Spirit encourages us to look back only long enough to get the courage and hope we need to keep us moving forward. [slide # 11 sideview of mirror] So often I hear members saying they remember when Sunday School classes were bursting at the seams, so much so that an entire education wing was built. Not everybody was in favor of it, but it was built and paid for anyway. And now we cannot imagine life without an education wing. We will even host our Central District’s Tools for Ministry workshop in the spring because we have been blessed with that space.

It is a blessing to have our new space to meet and study and facilities that enable everyone with various capabilities to enter and worship. We are grateful for an elevator and ramp and welcoming entrance. We can also recall that not long ago the entrances were blocked while we were under construction. God has favored us with building and maintaining what we build. We are very grateful for our Board of Trustees at Bethel. They are here often two or three times in the week, caring, digging, inspecting , and testing anything and everything as needed to keep God’s house in order.

During the Bazaar November 12^th, we had a close call with our underground drainage. We were so blessed with our Trustees who attended to the matter quickly and fervently, but we could also see God’s hand blessing us every hour as we texted, and phoned and emailed, and met together to fix the problem. God remained our help in that time of trouble.

We remember every day that we are praying for more than the important needs of our building. We are praying about programs like VBS, Christian Education, and junior church because they too are either “under construction” or need regular maintenance, and they too are very important in the life of our church. We are blessed with Godly missions like UMW adopting a child from a part of the world that does not have half as much as we have. We are listening carefully as God calls us to make soup for missions, and to work in the food pantry or serve at the Wednesday Community dinners.

Whether near of far, there are needs to which God is calling us to respond. God is guiding us to serve, and God is giving us a preview through the mouth of one prophet or another who is predicting whether we will enjoy beautiful blessings or bitter consequences.

In the Christian calendar, we have set aside four Sundays to prepare spiritually to receive our King in new ways. We have heard that he is coming into our lives in new beginnings and fresh starts. We have heard this from prophets, from the scriptures, and those who dare to share their testimonies in worship or coffee hour or wherever. We have lit the first candle of Advent – the candle of hope, for we have high hopes that we will be saved from our sins and the sins of others, too. [Slide # 12 hope Advent Candle]

Prophets - whether out of the mouths of babes or weird voices in a wilderness have been preparing us for thousands of years. Herod the Great was the king who ruled over Judea where Jesus was born. He heard God’s people talking about the prophecy of Isaiah in the 6^th chapter which says -  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Herod the Great received the prophecies as truth to be taken as seriously as God’s people took it. He knew Jesus was coming to rule the world, but Herod was threatened by this. He was jealous and that inspired him to be cruel, cold, and a calculated murderer. Herod the Great was so power hungry and blood thirsty that he had some of his own sons and wives killed. Prophecies of the coming of a king as great as Jesus drove him to order the death of children born during the time Jesus was predicted to be born.

Herod the Great died before Jesus was born, but 30 years later, Herod Antipas participated in the condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus. Those were terrible days. Yet, even in terrible days, God is good all the time. God rules and reigns and provides blessings that bring comfort and joy, that is, to those who want God’s comfort and joy. [slide # 13 Jesus bringing comfort]

So we begin this advent season by reaching back in the day to a hymn written in the 16^th century to inspire hope in tough times.

God rest ye merry, Christians

Let nothing you dismay

Remember, Christ, our Saviour

Was born on Christmas day

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy. So it may be for each of us, no matter what joys, sorrows, or troubles come our way, may we always hope and wait to hear God’s tidings of comfort and joy. Amen. [slide # 14 comfort and joy]

"Reflections" November 20, 2016

November 20^th 2016 Reflections

Joy to the World

Reflection – In this life, some days are more filled with joy than others. The ancient world was a political world, so it was a big deal when a king was crowned. Today it is a big deal when a mayor is elected, or a governor, or a president. Our elected officials can bring us joy and they can bring us sorrow.

Every day the news is showing that politicians are bringing joy and some are bringing sorrow.

I met with a group of Methodist preachers in our Conference this week. We discussed the election. Some were silent. Some cried. Some expressed great sadness and some left the room too angry to speak. They talked about members of their church who were afraid of what has been happening in the last few weeks. There have been over 400 acts of racial hostility in the last few weeks. One incident occurred in our Methodist college Albright College in Reading and another in a Methodist youth group in North Carolina.

We preachers understood that in order to be able to sing Joy to the World, we must do what verse 2 tells us to do. No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground, he comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found.

God is always speaking to us of ways to resist evil, to alleviate the curse of evil in our lives, to quench sin wherever we can and to be a part of making God’s blessings flow! Scripture tells us in the book of Nehemiah verse 8 that that the joy of the Lord is our strength. [ slide #1 The joy…strength]  Whether our government makes us feel sad or makes us want to celebrate, it is the joy of flowing blessings that keeps us strong.

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

This song calls us to do what Habakkuk 2.20 says The Lord is in his holy temple, let all the earth keep silent before him or the Psalmist, quoting God as saying be still and know that I am God. Or in Ecclesiastes 3.7 There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.

I will never forget the day I was getting ready for the day, standing at the sink, thinking about how ridiculous a certain person was. I began to chuckle. I do not remember who or what I was thinking about, but I do remember a sense of the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart, saying, “Stop laughing.”  I was jolted into a serious mode and realized that all of us are God’s children and no parent – not even God - is going to sit still while anyone laughs at their child. Laughing with them is one thing. Laughing at them is another. [slide # 2  stop laughing ]

In God’s presence and in the presence of all God’s children, there are moments that we best keep quiet. That brings to mind Isaiah 30.15 which says in quietness and confidence is our strength!

Angels We Have Heard on High

It seems to me that every human being hears from Heaven. In one way or another, it has been my experience that everyone has had an experience with angels, or a dream that gave Godly direction, or some divine intervention or an encounter with the mysterious. Even those who are atheists or practice no religion have heard from Heaven. [slide # 3 angel on bridge]

It also seems apparent that the more we listen, the more we hear. The less we listen, the less we hear. If we seek, we shall find. If we knock the door will be opened to us. That does not mean that we will understand everything we hear. Sometimes we may even misunderstand or may need an explanation or a repetition of what we hear. Sometime we will not appreciate what we hear or even wish we did not hear.

We are most blessed when we are hungry to hear from Heaven, and I do mean hungry!

What Child Is This

It is hard to think of Jesus as a child, as human. We have painted him and sculpted him. We have symbolized him and we have known him as bigger than life and we have worshipped him as our God. So it is not a simple thing to see Jesus as a humble human being, a vulnerable baby with needs and wants. [slide # 4 Jesus with angel]

The best way to understand the humanity and weakness of Jesus is to see Jesus in everyone we meet. Every breath every human being takes is a breath from Heaven. Every move they make is by the grace and mercy of God. So if we see Jesus in everyone we meet, we understand what Jesus needs and wants. If we behold each person as precious and divinely inspired, if we humble ourselves in their presence and in that instant worship the God who create all of us, we will have little time and energy for rejecting and arguing and oppressing. If we look into the eyes of our neighbors, our friends, our family and see Jesus and praise the Lord, we will see a light that leads to unity, harmony, diversity, forgiveness, reconciliation, liberty and justice for all. [slide # 5 liberty and justice] Amen.

“Marry ME” November 6, 2016 Luke 20. 27-38

Luke 20. 27-38 “Marry ME” November 6, 2016 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Television and radio and social media are full of interviews of public figures. [slide # 1 Clinton / Trump] On any given day you can hear interviews of your favorite people and people you do not know but find interesting. Journalists [ slide # 2  Fox News] make an art out of asking the right questions and presenting the perfect challenges to public figures. The Pharisees tried to ask pointed political questions like, [slide # 3 Dan Rather]  “should we pay taxes to the Roman government that is oppressing us?”, and Jesus answered, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,” and he sent Peter to get the tax money from the mouth of a fish. The Pharisees brought a sinner woman to him, without her guilty male accomplice, and asked Jesus’ if they could have permission to stone her to death as the law required. Jesus invited those without sin to cast the first stone. The Pharisees asked penetrating questions and Jesus always came out on top. [slide # 4 Pharisees]

The Sadducees on the other hand asked even harder questions because the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, or Heaven, or angels. [slide # 5 Sadducees] That is why – as you learned in Sunday school – they were sad you see! So when they asked Jesus if a woman had seven husbands and they all died, which of the seven would be her husband in Heaven, [ slide # 6 verse 33 whose wife will she be? The question was a setup, a mockery of those who believed in the supernatural and angels and life after death, for the Sadducees did not believe in any of that.

I found a story in the Fishwrapper about a tired mother driving her son to a piano lesson during a sleet storm. The roads were icy roads. She thought about turning back when her 6 year old shouted, “Look” as he pointed to a car that was spinning out of control on a patch of ice. It crashed sideways into a telephone pole. As a nurse she wanted to run to their rescue, but was a bit nervous about leaving her son. At her urging, he promised to stay put while she walked over to the scene of the crash. The ambulance came and one of the passengers had died. By now mother was feeling sad that her little boy – anybody’s little boy - had to see such terrible things. When she returned to her car her little boy’s eyes were as big as saucers, staring at the crash site. He whispered, “Did you see it?” “See what, Honey?” she asked. “The angel, Mom! He came down from the sky while you were running to the car. And he opened the door, and he took the girl’s hand, and they floated to Heaven together. Did you see it?” [slide # 7 boy pointing]

The Sadducees could not or would not see things that were above. Believing is a choice. We walk by faith, not by sight. It is nice when we have inspiring experiences that stir up our faith and convince us one way or another. Still, our faith has to be nurtured in as much Christian fellowship as we can get. Our faith grows as we feed into as many biblical readings and studies as we can muster in our spiritual journey. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism taught us to make decisions about what we believe based on the Scriptures, our traditions, our reasoning as well as our experiences. Our guts do not always tell us everything we need to know.

The idea of resurrection [slide # 8 resurrection of Jesus] is before us once again on this communion Sunday [slide # 9 last supper] when we celebrate our Lord who rose from his grave, when we remember our loved ones who are no longer with us in this life but, as we affirm, have been raised like Jesus into a new life. We experience a resurrection when we see that the dreams that God gives us in prayer are alive in every heart that can see it. [ slide # 10 see what God sees ]

So Jesus says to the Sadducees in verse 38, all those dead husbands have become like angels, surrounding and serving God. They are alive in Heaven. Just like Moses talked about the God of our spiritual ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God is also the God of all those husbands. [slide # 11 God…not of the dead]  as verse 38 says, “Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”

Just like God is the author of true love, God invented marriage. [slide # 12 two hearts…purpose of marriage] The purpose of marriage is the purpose of all of life: to give God the glory, to fulfill God’s purpose. [slide # 13 heart cloud]  Marriage without a covenant with God is not a marriage. Call it a partnership, call it a union, call it a blessing, call it a contract, call it a convenience, but until we say “I do” to God, it is not what God intended as a marriage. [slide # 14 wedding ring / bible]

We are thoroughly blessed and satisfied as can be when we give our hearts fully to God and to one another as God guides us day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. Every morning we wake up, we can affirm our covenant, we can say “I do” to God, who is always seeking and proposing to us “Mary ME. Marry ME.” [slide # 15 Jesus at the door]

When we rush about with our important agenda’s we can hear God’s gentle voice, “Marry ME, Marry ME.” In earth as in Heaven our love for one another is no small thing, but even greater than our greatest love is the covenant we keep first with our God. In the end, that is all that matters. So we are all the more blessed if we keep a covenant from the beginning. [slide # 16 dare…walking in sand]

I am in awe with the love I experience and witness at Bethel.  There is not enough time to tell of all the wonderful work that is done here in a given week. The countless kindnesses from the Compassionate Care Team, the loving phone calls, the gentle gestures, the divine comfort, the exchange of joy and humor, the hopes handled, the faults overlooked, the sorrows shared, the burdens borne, the closets that are cleaned meticulously, methodically, the soups made, the pots watched, the messaged emailed, the fuses fixed, the tables tethered, the signs painted, the furniture assembled, the hours freely spent, the songs sung, the worship videos recorded, the thanks given, the nails driven, the hearts healed, the marriages mended, the souls saved, the bodies made healthier, the dollars sent, the seeds planted, the time sacrificed, the dialogues dared, the conversations cleared, the respect revealed, the missions managed, the toilets plunged. I even caught someone conscientiously vacuuming behind couches even though no one ever looks there. 

There is no end to the wonders that God is performing among us as we serve God and minister to one another. There is nothing greater than love! [slide # 17 nothing greater]

Our love is a Christian love because we do not just do good for goodness sake. We do good for God’s sake. We pray, not just for good ideas. We pray for God ideas. Our elevator was not just a good idea. It was a God idea. The idea of an elevator was confirmed in more ways than I can number. When we meet in committees, we do not just brainstorm, we praystorm! God reveals ideas and insights and direction that can only be seen in the presence of God. [slide # 18 man bowed in prayer]

Bishop Johnson gave us clergy a book on prayer by Mark Batterson. He helps us see how our ability to see God grows clearer. He says, “When babies make their grand entrance into the world, [slide # 19 baby] their visual resolution is one-fortieth of that of a normal adult. They lack depth perception. And their visual range is only about thirteen inches. The world is low-definition, two dimensional and only thirteen inches in diameter. Slowly yet sovereignly, the world begins to take on width and breadth and depth. By four months, a baby can perceive stereoscopic depth. By six months, visual acuity has improved fivefold. Their black-and-white world has burst into a kaleidoscope of colors, and they have volitional control of their eye movements. And by his or her first birthday, the child sees the world almost as well as an adult.” * [slide # 20 children ]

The more clearly we see God’s love for us, the more we can accept God’s proposal and hear the call, “Marry ME, Marry ME!” May we all engage in this world and with one another and with our God in ways that show we are in love and we are married in the truest sense of the word. Amen. [slide # 21 God’s love never fails]

 * Draw the Circle, Mark Batterson p. 70

October 23 2016 Stand Up to the Stand Off

October 23, 2016  Joel 2.23-32, *Luke 18.9-14 “Stand Up to the Stand Off” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Jesus tells this parable to a specific audience. Verse 9 says He told this parable to some who trusted in themselves. [slide # 1 verse 9 He also told this parable…] We are all in that audience because we all have trusted in ourselves. From time to time, we wake up and go our own way, forgetting that we do not have to walk this journey alone. We have a guide and a comforter who is always with us!

In this parable, Jesus gives us two examples of praying people to think about. Two is the biblical number indicating a choice that needs to be made. The first choice is the example of the praying Pharisee. A Pharisee in Jesus’ parable is the symbol of one who is identified as a spiritual person, trained in the word of God, certified to fulfill its rituals, credited with ethical composure and moral behavior. The Pharisee had authority and privileges and respect whether they deserved it or not. They were so protected by tradition that they could even get away with murder - by crucifixion.

Our second example, a praying tax collector, on the other hand, had a very bad reputation. Stories about tax collectors were in the ancient news ever week just like police officers and politicians are today.

Jesus reminds us in this parable that not all tax collectors deserved the bad name they were given. All tax collectors did not steal from the poor and middle class citizens of Israel. All tax collectors did not skim off the top before they turned the funds over to the Roman government. Some tax collectors, like police officers and politicians had hearts so pure and innocent that they could have passed for Pharisees.

Both these two who came to pray, no doubt, had their own concerns around money. That’s why Jesus talks so much about money. It matters to us all. In my last lecture with the Financial Leadership Academy on Monday, Jack Brooks director of the United Methodist Foundation noted that on an average Sunday the church receives 121 million dollars. That is 12,000 dollars every minute. Money matters everywhere and no less in the church. There is always a reason to talk to God about some issue concerning money because it effects every area of our life.

When the Pharisee prayed, he stood by himself, thanking God he was not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like that tax-collector in the pew on the other side of the sanctuary. The Pharisee reminded God that he fasted twice a week and gave a tenth of all his income. The Pharisee had great credentials, but when it came to matters of the heart, there was room for improvement which is exactly what Jesus’ parable was highlighting.

From time to time we all live with the inner tension and the moment by moment choice of whether to be holy or haughty. We can choose to look at how great we are compared to others or we can choose to look at how great we are by the grace of God.

The tax collector may have made a few mistakes here and there, but he was humble enough to genuinely and fervently thank God for forgiveness. The tax collector no doubt came to the Temple to pray aware that the scriptures in 2 Chronicles 7 promised forgiveness and healing for those persons who humbled themselves, bowing below God and not above God. Verse 13 says “He stood far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” [slide # 2 verse 13 be merciful to me]

Serious responses are often accompanied by physical reactions. That’s why when we worship we sing, or clap, or smile, or shout hallelujah, or stand or kneel. We take worship seriously.

The tax collector’s prayer brings to mind the image of a youngster lifting his or her arms, reaching high, [slide # 3 child reaching] signaling that they want to be picked up and lifted to a height where love and comfort can be found in abundance. That is exactly what is promised. Verse 14 says “all who humble themselves will be exalted.” [slide # 4 verse 14…] To be exalted is to be raised high in spiritual and physical prosperity, to be raised to dignity, honor, and happiness.

When our hearts are humble [slide # 5 heart with dove wings] we have a habit of recognizing and confessing our limits, our shortcomings, our faults and failures. We bring them to the altar so that we can be healed and delivered and forgiven. Then we can start the day with a clean slate and heavenly hopes.

Last Sunday our lay leader [slide # 6 blue leader on green arrow] ended her prayer in line with the tax collector. She gave thanks for Jesus forgiving our sins. On Tuesday evening, missionary, Pastor Vitali ended his talk with a prayer in the Russian language. The last words of the English translation were thanksgiving for our savior who forgives our sins.

Whether we come to prayer in a spiritual stand-off [slide #7 sheriffs in stand-off] deciding whether to talk to God like a haughty Pharisee or a holy sinner reaching toward Heaven, we will get the answer we need.

At our Charge Conference, Aubrey and Scott Johnson led in the opening devotions whose theme was prayer. [slide #8 plug into…prayer] They were splendid. That evening, I heard about an interview with Mother Theresa. She was asked, “How do you pray?” Her answer was “Mostly, I just listen to God?” “Well,” the interviewer continued, “What does God say?” She answered “God just mostly listens.”

God hears us when we pray. [slide # 9 pray with sincerity…] We need to listen! [slide # 10 man bowed in prayer] Amen.