August 27, 2017 "Patterns" Romans 12.1-8

August 27 2017 “Patterns” Romans 12.1-8 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

If you paid attention to the eclipse this week, you heard that the timing of the moon’s total eclipse over the sun has a pattern. [slide # 1 eclipse] The pattern occurs every eighteen months somewhere in the world and every 375 years in the same spot. Like humans, God has patterns for everything God does. [ slide # 2 patterns] Some of what God does happens with great precision and predictability like an eclipse, the sun rising or setting, or the coming of summer and winter. [slide #3 snow]

Other acts of God happen suddenly and are unexpected like the thunderstorms we had this week. [slide # 4 lightening] Fortunately, we live in a society that values the meteorologist whose sights are so high that he or she can see the emerging weather pattern days before they appear. [slide #5 meteorologist] Meteorologists warn us of inclement weather and assure us of sunny days and pleasant temperatures so we can prepare to confirm our plans or to take cover, or bring an umbrella or whatever else we can do to make it through the day successfully.

Paul addressed the Romans in our scripture reading this morning. The Roman’s pattern of behavior was wild. [slide # 6 Roman soldiers] History tells us that the Romans were known for their unspeakable crimes against humanity. Suffice it to say that when humans can bear to watch a crucifixion or other acts of physical violence and punishment with their bare eyes, such an appetite has been carefully nurtured from one generation to the next. [slide # 7 teach love…]

Unfortunately, the church in Rome found it easy to imitate their Roman neighbors. If it were not for Martin Luther, [ slide #8  Martin Luther] the minister who was bold enough to post his protests to the Roman Catholic church, with its 95 points, on behalf of us Protestants, the Christian church would be as hard-hearted as a rock. We will leave that debate for another time.

The apostle Paul was well aware of the struggle Roman Christians had to be all that God would have them be. He knew that to change from the worldly ways would be like swimming against the tide. [slide # 9 fish] Still he preached, reminding them to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is spiritual worship. One need not wonder too far to know exactly what they were doing with their bodies.

To change their pattern of behavior from unholy to holy would be a radical change, even a miraculous change, but Paul was begging them to do just that. [slide # 10 praying on knees]  He was begging them to let their feet go places for God’s sake and nothing less. He was begging them to allow their hands to be used for good and not evil. Paul was begging them to speak the truth in love and to love in truth. He wanted every inch of themselves from head to toe, mind, body, and soul, to be offered to God in faithful and sober ways.

Paul knew that if they followed their maker’s pattern instead of jumping the gun and doing their own thing, the church would be sooooo blessed. Paul knew that if they followed their maker’s pattern instead of straying away into some wild and wicked scheme, the will of God would be done and hearts would be helped and homes would be healed and nations would have more peace. [slide # 11 dove]

Following God’s pattern inevitably opens every door in the universe for good things to happen, for enemies to be fought, and friends to be enjoyed. God has provided everything we need in the body of Christ, in the church, we just have to follow the deliberate pattern that God has revealed to us. We just have to recognize and accept the gifts God gives each of us so we can make the world a better place. [slide # 12 use your gifts…]

It is always wonderful when Christians are busy prayerfully using all that God gives them. [slide # 13 dominoes] It is a beautiful thing to watch all the wonders that happen like a domino effect. One after another great things fall in place. Hungry people are fed, souls are saved, hearts are comforted, spirits encouraged, faith is fueled, tears of pain and sadness released and tears of joy are streamed-live. The world will then hear us say with confidence and joy, “Our God is good and faithful. Our God is an awesome God.”

One of the ways we experience God as awesome is through our children. There have been several babies born in the last few weeks. There are great, great grandchildren; grandchildren, and children. (As far as I know, they are all headed for baptism in one church or another like Adeline is being presented this morning.). Baptism is a part of a pattern of behavior passed down from generation to generation and it is good.

We must pray that this generation will accept the vows made at their baptism, that they will pattern after those of us who put their hand in God’s hand, and love God selflessly, and serve in the church with dedication and joy all the days of their lives.

We must pray and do all that God guides us to do so that just like the church is here for us as we baptize our children, the church will be here for our children when they baptize their children. 

We must pray and be the church, for as you know, there are those in this world who are exercising forced conversions to other religions. We heard our president talking Monday about the immense security threats coming out of Afghanistan. He reminded us that the 911 attack was planned in Afghanistan. We have enemies and they are ruthless. They are not Christians.

During the election, I was shocked to hear several young people in my family and several strangers I spoke with in the grocery store, etc. They declared that they would not be voting. Voting is a civil right that people have died to preserve since the beginning of time. These young people said they could not make a choice, that they did not know who to vote for, that they could not choose one side or another.

The hair stood up on the back of my neck as they explained what was in their minds. Somehow we had not inspired them to walk by faith, to make a decision and do their best to be responsible citizens. Somehow, we had made them so comfortable that they believed they had the luxury of not voting at all.

The same thoughts go through my mind regarding young people participating in the church. Have we failed to inspire them to walk by faith? Are they so comfortable that they cannot perceive that while they are living their lives free and easy the enemy is lurking and planning its next attack on our country, our community, our church? Will they be victims of a forced conversion to some other God? Or will they find their way to patterns that keep the church alive and strong enough to face every enemy and strong enough to handle every blessing? [slide # 14 world…blessings]

We know first-hand how easy it is to become complacent with sin that keeps us from staying on track, but the words of evangelist Billy Sunday are inspiring. Billy Sunday was a runner and baseball player born in 1862, 18 years after Bethel was organized. He became a very famous evangelist and preached passionately about the need to fight against sin in our lives. He said, “…I’m against sin. I'll kick it as long as I've got a foot, I'll fight it as long as I've got a fist, I've butt it as long as I've got a head, and I'll bite it as long as I've got a tooth. And when I'm old, fistless, footless, and toothless, I'll gum it till I go home to glory and it goes home to perdition.” [slide # 15 sin chasm]

That is a good pattern by which all of us can be inspired, especially in these challenging days. At Wednesday’s community meal a woman said she was having a down day. Others at the table worked to comfort her saying you should take better care of yourself. She answered, “For what? Why should I care?” Others shouted out several answers. The best answer I heard this week comes from a man in the UK named Godfrey Birtill who wrote a song called Outrageous Grace. The words include:

There’s a lot of pain but a lot more healing

There’s a lot of trouble but a lot more peace

There’s a lot of hate but a lot more loving

There’s a lot of sin but a lot more grace

There’s a lot of fear but a lot more freedom

There’s a lot of darkness but a lot more light

There’s a lot of cloud but a lot more vision

There’s a lot of perishing but a lot more life

May the choices we make lead us again and again to a church that we have helped to build, [slide # 16 building together] a church where everyone inside knows and sings with joy and confidence, “We can make good things happen by the grace of God. There’s a lot of bad but there is a lot more good.” Amen. [slide # 17 …try me]

August 20, 2017 The Words That Are Coming Out of Our Mouth

August 20 2017 “The Words That Are Coming Out of Our Mouth” *Matthew 15.10-20 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Our world is preoccupied with what we eat. We want the good food, the healthy food, the nutritious food. [slide # 1 veggies] Sometime that means the expensive food, the fresh food, the tasty food. [slide # 2 fruit] For some the best food is food you plan and prepare and present for all to enjoy. For others the best food is anything you do not have to cook yourself. [slide # 3 food served]

Along with good food, we are regularly cautioned in the news about food poisoning. There are regular recalls of bad production and reminders of safe temperatures that eliminate the growth of bacteria and keep us from getting sick or even dying from bad food. [slide # 4 sick / toilet]

Jesus knows that being careful about what we eat is critical, but even more critical than what goes into our mouths is what comes out of our mouths. [slide # 5 speak life-giving words…] He tells us in verse 18 “¹⁸But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.” These are what defile us and make us sick and make the society sick...’” [slide # 6 dirty speech….heart]

We all appreciate good words. Nutritious words keep us mentally healthy and spiritually fit. Words that are beautifully presented, seasoned well and tasty can really make our day. [slide # 7 ice cream]

Just like an apple a day keeps the doctor away, a good word keeps the devil at bay. [slide # 8 Angel’s foot on the devil] Apples are rich in antioxidants which lower inflammation and fights disease. Good words are rich in encouragement which lowers the propensity to despair and fights depression. [slide # 9 apples]

August has been a month when the world has been hungry for words that satisfy. We are hungry, we are longing for justice and peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our country, in our world. [slide # 10 police]

Thank you all for all you have done to make this church a place of peace and justice. Thank you all for being helpful and positive and kind even when you do not agree with what is being said and done. Thank you. [slide # 11 star thanks]

Thank you for speaking the truth in love, for praying without ceasing, for remaining committed to the church rather than finding excuses and copping out. Thank you. [slide # 12 thank you smiley face]

Terrorism and racism are taking its toll. We want to be blameless as a church. We want to keep busy nurturing Bethel as a safe place to serve. We want to be a model and inspiration for our children, [slide # 13 child praying] our community and our world.

When I first came to Bethel, I needed information about where to go for this or that. A lovely Bethel member gave me the name of a business that could provide the service I needed. I called and the person on the other end of the line, denied that they did those services. The Bethel member, indignant and outraged, insisted that I go anyway which I did and another employee was sympathetic and apologetic, Thank God. All worked out well.

This week I was informed about a doctor whose prices were very reasonable. I found myself hesitating to explore that doctor, wondering if they would do harm to people like me.

But, it is not just certain people who do harm. Every human heart is prone to evil until it submits to the power of the Holy Spirit.

We have all sinned and come short of glorifying our God. So we should all be humble and daily surrender our lives to the living God. [ slide # 14 when God speaks] We should, as the psalmist says, seek peace and pursue it.

A dedicated member of another United Methodist church mentioned to me this week that she was so mad and she was planning to participate in a protest. In the midst of the conversation, I reminded her that Dr. King taught us to embrace non-violent protests. She said to me but he is no longer here to keep that teaching going. I left that conversation believing that she was planning to share angry words to wound others, rather than healing words. I hope she and all of us can follow the bible’s urging, to be angry, but sin not.

A good person learns how to use the right spices for words that would otherwise be tasteless. [slide # 15 spices] A good person learns to speak truth even when it is bitter or sour [slide # 16 bitter words] and blend it in ways that bring health and strength to our society. The good we speak, comes from good hearts. Good hearts come from worshipping a good God and produces words that are sweet and Godly. [slide # 17 sweet words]

So, as we move forward in this world, for better or worse, let us be true disciples –learners, followers in the footsteps of the prince of peace who found many ways to protest against evil. Our bishop, in her response to this week’s tragedies and reminders of how hateful the world can be, sent an email with the song we are using as an invitation to discipleship, “God, with Joy We Look Around Us”.

Let’s use this as a point of reflection in a different way this morning. Before we sing each verse, I will share an idea to help us go deeper in our thinking, speaking, and responding to religious and racial terrorism.

Silence - As we sing the first verse, give thanks for all those in the path of our lives regardless of what they look like, who they love, what they have and what they do not have…

God, with joy we look around us

At your world's diversity.

Folk of every kind surround us

And you call your church to see:

All are made in your own image!

All are people whom you love!

As we begin the second verse, let’s be honest about our pre-judgments and the hurtful anger and distracting anxiety we pour into the lives of others…silence

In the times we've hurt each other,

Lord, we've hurt the ones you bless.

Hating sister, cursing brother,

We've denied what you express:

All are made in your own image!

All are people whom you love!

Lastly, let us recommit ourselves to our God and cling to the only one who can save us and deliver us and heal us…..silence

God, you sent a Savior to us,

Breaking walls that would divide.

By your Spirit, now work through us

As we witness side by side:

All are made in your own image!

All are people whom you love!   Amen. [slide # 18 …what did your words do?]

August 6, 2017 "What Do You Mean, 'Nothing Here'?"

August 6, 2017 Matthew 14.13-21 “What Do You Mean ‘Nothing Here’? ” Pastor Jacqueline Hines

How wonderful it is to be in the church this morning. This is the house of God. It is our treasured time with God. [slide # 1 man on bench with Jesus] God has gathered each of us for the purpose of nurturing us, reminding us of God’s greatness and God’s divine purpose for us, reminding us of the paths that lead to right living and warning us of the wretchedness of our wrongdoing. This is where God particularly chooses to lavish God’s affection upon us. Everything and anything we need can be found in God’s house. This is a place of warm fuzzies, laughter, peace and joy, good food and fun. [slide # 2 jumping for joy]

Crowds follow Jesus today just as they did two thousand years ago as Matthew says in verse 13 ¹³Now when Jesus heard this, [that is when he heard that his cousin John the Baptist had come under religious persecution and been murdered] he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. Jesus was in mourning. He was embattled. One of his leading men, John was dead. It felt like defeat at the hands of the wicked. But when the crowds heard the news, [that is when they heard about the religious persecution and murder of Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist] they followed Jesus on foot from the towns to that deserted place where Jesus was trying to mourn and have some quiet time to heal from his loss. [slide # 3 verse 13….the crowds followed Jesus]

The crowds followed. They surely understood that when you speak out for what is true and right like Jesus did, somebody is going to be mad at you…they might do you wrong….they might even kill you. The crowd understood.

Word had gotten around quickly, and they did not even have cell phones or Facebook. News travels fast in every age and every culture. Thousands of men and women, boys and girls heard the sad news and followed Jesus. It seems reasonable to believe that they were all Jesus- sympathizers, that they understood how rotten it was to endure religious persecution and that they felt compassion for Jesus in the loss of his cousin John the Baptist at the murderous hands of Herod’s ruling government.

Evidently, Jesus had gone out on a boat to get away and mourn because verse 14 tells us that [ slide # 4 verse 14 …he went ashore] ¹⁴When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; the crowd that followed Jesus reminds me of one of those good flash mobs that get a text message and meet at a mall and decide to surprise the public with beautiful dance and music. Perhaps they came to surround Jesus with their beautiful presence, words of comfort and encouragement, songs that brought peace. Perhaps they followed Jesus in order to protect Jesus and his disciples. The crowd also reminds me of a political rally or a revival meeting gathered around a leader or preacher to affirm American values and prepare to assist in a good cause, to be a blessing to those who need it most, to unite as one in doing some act of mercy. We all have reasons for following Jesus. We all have to ask ourselves “What are my reasons for being in this crowd today?”

When Jesus came to shore and saw the crowd, Matthew tells us in verse 14 ”¹⁴When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.” [slide # 5 moved with compassion]

How many of you know that compassion is a cure for many diseases? We are like Jesus. When we show compassion, hearts are healed, we are healed, our neighbors are healed, our friends are healed. [slide # 6 compassion heals] Showing compassion is showing selflessness, caring, kindness, respect. In a world where humans are caught so often doing only for ourselves and not caring about certain people, being kind to one, but not to ourselves, picking and choosing whom we will respect instead of respecting everyone, then the world becomes a scary place, a broken place, and a sad place.

Even our most peaceful corner of the world can suddenly become a place that breaks the heart of Jesus, a place that Jesus leaves in order to be alone to mourn, to soak in enough love to help him get through the many losses of life.

But Jesus is never far away from us. He comes toward us wherever we gather. He notices our need for love and compassion and he heals us. Oh how we wish we would be totally healed. That day of complete healing will come in Heaven. For now, we must remember to give thanks for every healing – great or small that we receive while on this earth.

After Jesus healed them, he fed them because as the scripture tells us, the crowd was hungry. Have you ever been hungry? Do you know anyone who is hungry at this moment? Are they hungry for food or change or love? Hunger is often a hidden thing, a deep thing, a private thing. Hunger - when it lasts long enough and goes deep enough - is always a sad thing.

Jesus notices us when we are hungry. He has a plan just like he did that day. The disciples suggested that the crowd go away and find food for themselves, but Jesus showed the disciples how to feed the hungry crowd. [slide # 7 bread and 2 hands] The disciples didn’t see how they could feed so many people. The disciples saw only five loaves of bread and two fish. The disciples considered that to be as good as nothing. Jesus looked at them as if to say, “What do you mean there is nothing here.” In other words Jesus wanted them to appreciate the fact as one songwriter put it, “Little becomes much, when you put it in the master’s hands.” [slide # 8 children around pot]

We understand that at Bethel. That is why we care enough to open our hearts to a few little children in Sunday school and preschool. That is why our Sunday school students brought nickels and dimes to the Heifer project providing a goat for a poor family and we share prayers and dollars with a little boy in Guatemala. That is why we recycle a few plastic bottles, ink cartridges and cell phones. That is why we collect dimes for the building fund. Little becomes much, when you put it in the master’s hands. That is why we tithe even though it is - as one of my confirmation students said – just one little dime for every dollar we earn. We expect God to show up when we give an offering. We expect God to bless us in multiple ways when we submit to being faithful and obedient. We expect our blessings to blossom when we share even a tiny seed of something. We expect God to show up to feed us and to heal us in ways great or small. [slide # 9 cried…lord healed me]

We are all in that hungry crowd that Jesus sees as he approaches the shore. We all hunger from time to time to know the right way to go or to have food or finances or something unspeakably painful or sad to share.

At the same time, our lives overflow with more blessings than we can count. One of my seminary professors and a Yale graduate Ron Sider wrote a book called Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger -  Moving from Affluence to Generosity. [slide # 10 Rich Christians –book cover] In the spring edition of our Yale Divinity School publication called Reflections he said:

Globally, we have made stunning progress in reducing poverty. The Human Development Index (an important measure of poverty) has improved 41% between 1970 and 2010. One of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals set in 2000 – to cut in half by 2015 the percentage of people globally living in poverty – was actually achieved five years ahead of schedule. The percentage of people living below the international poverty level ($1.25 per day per person) has plunged by more than 50 percent since 1990. Central to this progress has been global trade and widespread embrace of market economics, especially in Asia.

But it is still the case that today about 1.2 billion people struggle to survive on $1.25 per day. [slide # 11    about 1.2 billion…] And another 1.2 billion try to manage on only $2 per day. We have made astounding progress, but about one-third of our global neighbors still struggle to live on two dollars or less per day.

The picture in the U. S. is less hopeful. For decades the richest nation in the world has had the highest poverty level of all Western industrialized nations – currently between 14 percent and 15 percent of the population. In the last several decades the middle class has declined, and income and wealth have become more and more concentrated at the top.

My professor goes on to say that there are indeed personal choices that keep the poor stuck in poverty, but there are also systems and structures that keep the poor and hungry from living a decent life.

Now do we understand why Jesus insists that his disciples feed the hungry? [slide #12 Run to feed the hungry]

Let us all be brave enough to follow Jesus in these days of sadness so that he can give us his peace and joy. Let us all taste of his goodness in the feast that he provides. Let us all follow Jesus who shows us how to feed the hungry and look at others with compassion so someone can be healed. Let us never send them away. Let us be together, united as ONE in this mission today and always. Amen. [slide # 13 united – hands]

July 23 2017 Growing Together Weeds and All

 Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43  Pastor Jacqueline Hines

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we were perfect, if everything we did worked out just as perfectly as we wanted it to? Wouldn’t it be great if we lived in a perfect world, where things ran smoothly and perfectly?

All you gardeners can appreciate Jesus’ parable this morning about gardening. You spend hours choosing the right seeds and preparing the ground just right and putting up fences to keep the critters away. You water, you weed, and you constantly realize that no matter how hard you work, gardening will never work out perfectly the way you wish it would. There will be plenty of weeds. Rain may hide for weeks within the clouds above. Critters will run away with your plants and ruin your crops…there will be all sorts of situations that make our lives less than PERFCT.

It would be wonderful to be perfect and to live perfect lives, but when life is less than perfect, Jesus has the answer! [slide # 1 try Jesus…]

First of all Jesus taught us to pray. [slide # 2 man praying] In Matthew 6, we learned to pray “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven.” Now in this morning’s chapter 13 of Matthew and verse 24 Jesus describes God’s kingdom. He says “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; so God’s kingdom is activity- someone sowing good seed, [slide # 3 sowing seed]²⁵but while everybody was asleep, (and we know that sleep is a spiritual metaphor for prayerlessness –  [slide # 4 Perils of Prayerlessness] an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. [slide # 5 hooded enemy] ²⁶So when the plants came up, the weeds appeared as well. [slide # 6 weed]

This scripture reminds me to pray about everything because the devil is always on top of his game, and when we pray, God helps us to find our way, even in the dark. [slide # 7 lightbulb on floor] As we pray, the bible tells us, God reveals the secrets things, the hidden things that we need to know about. God sheds light on the things that can easily trip us up. [slide # 8 lit bulb among dark bulbs]

You’ve heard my story of one day working in a community college. In my morning prayers I understood that one of my co-workers would confront me that day. I understood that when it happened God had my back and I should be silent and need not defend myself. Sure enough, while in the ladies’ room a co-worker started to ream me out from head to toe. I just stood there in shock. A few moments later, her boss emerged from another stall with a frown and directed her to meet her in the office. Somedays forewarned is forearmed. My greatest weapon was remaining confident and peaceful instead of angry and argumentative. [slide # 9 yoga pose]

Just as we know God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives, we also know that Satan hates us and has a terrible plan for our lives. While we are sleeping, that is while we are distracted and forgetting to pray and ask God’s direction and help for our lives - the devil and his imps are busy stealing, killing, and destroying everything they can. The devil will enter every door we open. And, if you have anything that belongs to Satan, he will come and get it and destroy you in the process. If you have anything in your mind, your body, your house, your mouth, your hands that belongs to Satan, you can expect evil. [slide # 10   six monstrous wolves]

Down to verse 37 Jesus explains that the master sower sowing the GOOD seed is the son of man which is another name for Jesus. He explains in verse 38 that the field is the world. What a terrible world we live in. The church is a wonderful place to be a part of in the midst of this rude and murderous world we live in. [slide # 11 jumping for joy]  Jesus tells us that the good seed are the children of the kingdom. We are the good seed! The weeds are the children of the evil one, ³⁹and the enemy who sowed them is the devil;  

We are good seeds that God sows and develops us into something heavenly. We might as well surrender our lives to the God who truly loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives. If our lives are not surrendered to God let us not fool ourselves into thinking that we are in charge of our lives. If God is not the head of your household, do not think for one minute that you are in charge. If we do not surrender to God we are in the hands of Satan. That may start out like peaches and cream, but it ends up with a mouth full of sand.

Just as scripture tells us that Satan appears so beautiful and innocent and full of light, it is just a mirage. You have heard the saying that all that glitters is not gold. All that looks and acts like a Christian may not be Christian, but may instead be committed to the things of this world. The weeds in Jesus’ parable are said to have looked just like the wheat. Yet they had none of the qualities and nutritional value that real wheat have. 

Each of us has the job of surrendering ourselves to be sown wherever God wants to sow us. We are called to offer ourselves deeply into the rich presence of our creator, receiving the showers of God’s blessings, [slide # 12 showers of blessings ] so God can grow something wonderful out of our lives, something that brings God’s kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. We all have a job to do to make this world a little bit like Heaven. Whatever we do will not be perfectly perfect, nor will it make life’s situations perfectly perfect. Worldly weeds will always grow.

Nevertheless, we must work patiently and confidently. We must wait for God to deal with all the causes of sin and all evil doers. For, God is not mocked. Whatever is sown will be reaped.

I mentioned to you that around Father’s Day, I experienced an overwhelming sense of God’s peace. Peace was knocking at my door, [slide # 13 peace ] waiting for me to let go of my worries and instead embrace God’s peace.

Last week, I had a similar, experience with joy. [slide # 14 joy] It seemed everywhere I turned, I was reminded of God’s joy in the midst of daily routines. I was reminded of God’s joy even when routines were being disrupted. Being surrounded by God’s spirit of joy was especially encouraging when Vacation Bible School was about to start. Vacation Bible school has been a great joy and blessing for many years at Bethel.

As I reflected on God’s wonderful joy and peace filling our lives, I remembered the scripture that says those who sow in peace, will reap in righteousness. And we all know that God’s kingdom is righteousness, and joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.

As always, we each have a choice every day to let go of anything that belongs to Satan [slide # 15 let go of sin…] and enter into God’s presence and embrace the peace and joy that God offers. It is a joy and peace that overcomes the evil of this world. We cannot do anything good without God’s help. Pray for God’s guidance. Amen. [slide # 16 freedom in Christ]

April 16 2017 Easter Mission Possible - I Have Seen the Lord

April 16, 2017 Easter Sunday - "Mission Possible – I’ve Seen the Lord", John 20.1-18 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

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We gather here following behind centuries of those who have celebrated, not only Resurrection Sunday, but the coming of spring. Spring makes this Resurrection Sunday even easier to celebrate. [ slide # 1 spring] We have plenty of sunshine, green grass, budding trees and brilliant flowers that brighten our mood. [slide # 2 daisies]

Spring brings out the playful child in us and we are more apt to gather for picnics with those who love us. [slide # 3 picnic] For ancient cultures, springtime especially meant preparing for harvest time. Crops would soon be coming in abundance and there would be more than enough to share with the neighbors.

We know what that is like at Bethel. For when the local gardens bear their fruit, we find baskets on tables at every meeting. The baskets are filled with all varieties of tomatoes, squash, and peppers both hot and sweet. [slide # 4 basket of vegetables] We share and celebrate just as humans have celebrated since the beginning of time.

So verse 1 of John chapter 20 finds us on the first Easter morning. It was very early on the first day of the week. The first day of the week, Sunday, would become a safer day to seek Jesus and to worship him. For Christians seen worshiping on the Jewish Sabbath or Saturday were likely to be persecuted.

While it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. [slide # 5 Mary in a dark tomb] Mary did not come to celebrate. She came to mourn. She came to show her respect for Jesus who had been crucified. She came even though she had no idea how the stone would be removed from the tomb. She would soon learn that angels went ahead of her and rolled the stone away. [slide # 6 angels rolling the stone away] No doubt since last Easter you have had one heavy burden or another lifted from your life, too. [slide # 7 Jesus holding man up] Halleluiah!

She looked in the tomb and saw that Jesus was not there. She began to cry according to verse 11. [slide # 8 Mary crying at tomb] It was hard to have closure in her mourning since she could not actually see Jesus. Perhaps you have cried in the past year. Perhaps there is a situation for which you did not have closure. The people you looked for had gone and you did not know where to find them. Unanswered questions left you with a broken heart and weeping wounds.

As Mary wept, the angels in verse 13 asked her an unusual question for someone in a cemetery: Why are you crying?  [slide # 9 Why are you crying] Angels are messengers who know that our tears tell more than one story. Do you know all the stories behind your tears?

In verse 15, Jesus asked Mary the same question the angels asked. Why are you crying?  [slide # 10 Jesus and Mary] The question is an important one when angel messengers ask it. The question is twice as important, when Jesus asks, because Jesus gets into even deeper depths of our heart. Why are you weeping? Our tears may have more than one story. Our stories may have more than tear. Why are you weeping?

Are you weeping for fear or anger? Are you weeping tears of remorse or repentance? At times, we may shed crocodile tears. The crocodile tears are the tears of a salivating predator, crying just before they attack their prey. Sometimes we cry tears of relief or tears of joy. Why are you crying?

Whatever our reason for tears, like Mary, in our heart of hearts, we are all seeking to be with Jesus. We may not always recognize him. We may not always see that he is the resurrection and the life, but in our hearts, we will always long for him.

Mary came with spices to anoint his body for burial though he had said he would be alive by Sunday morning. She came like one who prays for rain and leaves the umbrella at home.

It was hard to believe in a resurrection just three days after a crucifixion. It is hard to believe in love after your partner tells you they want a divorce. It is hard to believe in healing after you get sick. It is hard to believe in God after you have been beat down and beat up by the Devil. When there are no signs of rain, who bothers to bring an umbrella? Believing is a choice. As one poet put it:

“I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in love, even when there’s no one there. I believe in God, even when he is silent.” And in a time of trial, a voice rises within me saying ‘hold on my child, I will give you strength, I will give you hope, just stay a little while.’

Lee Strobel [slide # 11 Lee Strobel] was a reporter for the Chicago Tribune and an avowed atheist in the 70’s. The story is told that when his wife Leslie became a Christian, his first words to her included several ugly expletives. His second words included something about divorce. But, as he watched her life change to be kind and respectful to him, he was intrigued about her Godly attitude and he began to do his own research on Christianity. He saw and experienced the evidence of God’s love, and he converted to Christianity and wrote a book entitled A Case for Christ. There is also a movie about his conversion. [slide # 12 Lee and Leslie Strobel]

There is evidence that the God of love is alive in our lives. You may see that evidence in the life of someone close to you. The evidence may be in your own heart and in your own experience. If so, you have found the truth of that song children sing around the campfire. “It only takes a spark, to get a fire going. And soon all those around can warm up to its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love. Once you’ve experienced it. You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring. You want to pass it on.”

Regardless of how dark it is when we come looking for Jesus, on Easter morning, it quickly dawns on us that there are many reasons to celebrate.  We realize that he is risen just like he said he would. [slide # 13 he is risen] We are compelled to go and share the truth of the power of God’s love that lives within our heart. We know he lives, for, like Mary, we too have seen the Lord. Amen. [slide # 14 Jesus hands]

April 9 2017 A Stone's Throw Away from Sorrow

“A Stone’s Throw Away from Sorrow” April 9^th 2017 Jacqueline Hines Luke 22.39-46

        If you are looking for Jesus today, you will find him at the Mount of Olives. [slide # 1 alive trees] The Garden of Gethsemane was there. It was a place of prayer and privacy with the help of the walls made of stone or perhaps trees. It was an agonizing time. Jesus was preparing to do what no one else could do. At the tender age of 33, he was ready to give his life as a sacrifice; he had come unto his own and his own received him not.

He came to express God’s love in the flesh, to make God’s love real and visible in ways that the prophets and the law could only partially do. Yet in return for a message of miracles and a lot of love, he was spat upon. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. He was indeed a man of sorrow, acquainted with grief. [slide# 2 Jesus praying, angel is near]

        There he knelt in fervent prayer. [slide# 3 Jesus praying in garden] His heart was nearly fainting with grief. Sadly, God’s people had sinned; someone must go and save them and cover them with the love blood shield of protective righteousness. God’s people, in their dedication to sin, were in danger, for their sins would cause much harm and much trouble. Danger! Danger! Danger! Sin puts us in danger -Sins of omission, sins of commission. [slide # 4 sin/danger] We, God’s people, need Jesus to save us from our sins.

Jesus had gathered a few disciples for a time of prayer. Prayer is serious business. It was peaceful in the olive garden. The olives reminded them of the anointing oil used to symbolize God’s call to come, come and be healed. Come, come and be delivered. Come, come and be saved from all that your sins can do to destroy your life.

The garden, where they had prayed so often, was a reminder of God’s love, power, and presence. Three things happened in that garden that we must never forget. Number one, the first thing we must not forget is what Jesus said to the disciples. He said, “Pray.” Pray so you will not enter into temptation. [slide# 5 pray]

Seven days without prayer makes one weak (week). We must pray to avoid some trouble. As the songwriter put it, “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” Most people say they pray when they are in trouble. But it is wise to pray so we can avoid certain troubles.

At our last Union of churches service, Bob Meissner told me a couple times about activities for children at the Movie Church. They have activities and a meal for children and families and his neighbor goes to the Movie Church. Since last Easter at least we have had no Junior Church. For a few Sundays, I announced that Jr. Church was under construction. Then Jr. Church was out of sight and out of mind.

That conversation with Bob reminded me to start praying again for children’s ministries at Bethel, because a church with children without a growing children’s ministry is at risk. A few weeks ago, I heard Mary Tyson speaking about the heartbreak of seeing two pews full of children and no Jr Church for them.

We have certainly done everything possible that we know to do. Now it is time to pray intentionally, as we prayed two years for a youth worker and Kim Bradbury and Amy Keller came forward. We have signed up every volunteer we could think of to participate in Jr. Church. We have paid people, we have set aside money to pay people and still, we have no Jr. Church. We have done all we know to do, now it is time to pray intentionally.

When I woke up Thursday morning, I was reminded over and over again to pray day after day, year after year until something happens, and I hope you will join me and the Nurture Committee in the effort to pray for a growing children’s ministry. We may prune some children’s ministries, but we also want to pray for God to bless us with ways to touch the lives of our children in consistent, constructive and lively ways. Prayer can will keep us out of spiritual trouble.

We can’t avoid having some trouble. The scriptures say, “Many of the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.” Sometimes we have to pray to get out safely out of the trouble we’re in. Sometimes we pray to avoid trouble.

Pray! Pray! Pray! We must never forget that Jesus warns us to pray.

After he said that he went to another part of the garden to pray himself. When he left, he told the disciples to pray so they would not enter into temptation. He did not go very far, only a stone’s throw away. He got down on his knees and prayed the most agonizing prayer anyone could every pray, “Not my will but your will be done, Father.” Here’s my money, Lord. Not my will but yours be done, Father. Here’s my refrigerator, Lord. Not my will but yours be done, Father….here’s my time, my attitude, my vocabulary, my lifestyle…my worries, my fears…Not my will, but yours be done, oh God.

This is the second thing that happened in the garden hat we need to remember. We need to remember that Jesus prayed: “Not my will, but your will be done, Father. [slide # 6 your will]

                Oh, how we need to pray more often: “Have your way, Lord. Have your way. I surrender, Lord. I know you have a purpose and a plan for my life. I know you intend no harm to me only a future filled with hope. You say so in Jeremiah 29.11. I know I can trust you, so I will obey. I know you know all things. You know the beginning and the end. You know, Lord, better than I where I need to be broken in order to be blessed. Not my will, but your will, Lord.

        When Jesus turned, to get comfort from the disciples, they were no more praying than the man on the moon. Instead they had fallen asleep. At first I felt sorry for them because the bible says they fell asleep because of sorrow. [slide # 7 sleeping disciples]

        Why did they have sorrow? For the same reasons any of us have sorrow. It was dawning on them that the kingdom was coming, but it wasn’t coming as they expected. They knew they were going to be blessed, but the blessings did not always come when they wanted them. They knew the Holy Spirit would teach them, but it wasn’t the lesson they thought they needed to learn. It was dawning on them that they were on the winning team, but the enemy seemed to be laughing in their face and getting away with the cruelest treatment. They were afraid, and they were disappointed.

        When we look around the church universal, do we not also see that we too are a people of sorrow, acquainted with grief? Have not our hearts bled for the unkind deeds that Satan has perpetrated against us or our loved one? Have we not been disappointed time and time again because someone has failed to be faithful or kind? Have not our bodies been wracked with pain and distress? Have we not cried out as Satan snatched a loved one into the slavery of sin and none but Jesus heard us? Do we not grieve the loss of our will and the dawning of God’s purpose in spite of our fondest wishes? How many times have we cried out for healing and relief but God seemed to be silent.

        Yet, it seems to me that God is rarely silent. What most often is the case is that we don’t want to hear the answer. God’s ways are not our ways. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 53.8, 9)

        Just think about it. A blind man asked for healing and Jesus put mud on his eyes and sends him to a pool to wash it off. One thing is for sure, he probably needed someone to go with him to guide him. The Lord always has a way of getting us together with other people because we need them or they need us or God just want to bless us with his awesome glory.

        Another man with leprosy who came to Jesus for healing was sent to wash seven times in the Jordan River across the way where those other people lived. The first thing the man thought was “I have water in my own back yard among people I know. Why do I have to go over there, Jesus? Why is my healing wrapped up in the strength of my relationships? Why is my blessing in a strange place? --Because God is love and always wanting us to reconcile, and influence more territory for the good of all. Since Naaman wanted to meet the God who heals, he had to go to the Jordan and discover that the Lord our God is one God, and the only God.

        Things were not going as the disciples expected. They were sorrowful. We all understand the heartache that left the disciples sleeping for sorrow instead of praying.

        That is why we must never forget the third thing that happened in the garden. That is that Jesus withdrew merely a stone’s throw away from their sorrow. [slide # 8 two tossing stone’s]

        In our sorrows, Jesus is close by. All we need to do is call the name of “Jesus.” [slide # 9 power in Jesus name] He is there all the time. When we call on him, things change for the better. When we call on him he promises to bring us through. When we call on him, a light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot put it out. When we call on him we feel more hopeful. [slide # 10 Jesus is the answer]

        At first I felt sorry for the disciples, exhausted and sleeping because of sorrow. Now I know that in the time of sorrow, when things are not going as we expect, it is better to wake up and call on him – Jesus. In the bible, sleeping is a biblical metaphor for prayerlessness. We need to wake up and call upon the name of the Lord.  He’s right here to help us. [slide # 11 wake up…]

        In every area of our life, we need to call on him. If your body needs healing, call on him. If your neighbor won’t do right, call on him. If you need a friend, call on him. All we need to do is call on him. Jesus  -  a stone’s throw away from sorrow. AMEN! [slide # 12 Call Jesus first]