November 28, 2021 "Signs that the Kingdom Has Come” - Pastor Hines

 

November 28, 2021

"Signs that the Kingdom Has Come” - Pastor Hines

We talk often of how the bible is hard to understand and even harder to study. If we can think of the bible as God’s word, we can think of the bible as needing the same tender love and care and attention in communicating and understanding that we have to give to our family, friends and neighbors. We want to listen carefully to God, not casually as if God were a stranger that does not matter at the end of the day. We may have to ask, “What did you say God?” and wait for an answer. We may have to say, “What do you mean?” and wait for the answer. We may find ourselves feeling a range of emotions when we talk to God and listen to God’s word. Sometimes we are glad, but we may also feel sad or even mad. It’s ok.

Just as we relate to one another in stages and phases, with understanding and misunderstanding, just as we accept one another for who we are, we also do well to accept God and God’s word with all its clarity as well as perplexity. As we grow in our intimacy and appreciation of one another, our love for one another grows. It is the same in our relationship with God. We grow in our knowledge of how God works and how God loves us more than words can say.

Jesus, as the son of God, tells the disciples in verse 31 that the kingdom of God is coming. Romans 14.17 tells us that the kingdom of God is three things - righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. The kingdom or kin-dom as we often say – is, was, and will be. It’s, at the same time, now and not yet. Time is not cut and dry or as predictable as we may imagine. India is 11 hours ahead of us. Our today is their yesterday. God knows. We can only wrap our mind around so much at once. God’s kingdom was here, is here, and will be here.

Like an ocean wave, we see coming our way a world full of righteousness, a world full of peace, and a world full of joy! There are days that we are inundated with God’s goodness. Then there are days that we have to look far and wide in order to see the good we long for and we desperately need. By faith, we know a wave of goodness is coming our way. Even though there are often waves that toss us and challenge us in many ways, one tough wave is a reminder – a sign - that another wave will follow and there is sure to be a blessing among them.

In verse 25 of this 25th chapter of the gospel of Luke, Jesus reminds the disciples that the sun and the moon and the stars are not always aligned calmly, but at times they will indicate stress and strain. The chaos of the atmosphere, like we have seen in the last few years with increased floods, fires, and so forth, cause many of us to be confused, fainthearted, fearful and even lose our right minds. Meteorologists look in the atmosphere in order to be able to forecast storms, thunder, lightning, torrential rains, hail and other daunting weather changes that mystify us and force us to take heed and take shelter. As verse 32 says, every generation experiences the chaos and has an opportunity to create something good. What we know as heaven and earth will disappear like an ocean wave. It will reappear and be recreated in time and out of time, in place and out of place. Fortunately for us, God is our refuge no matter what happens! Jesus will return in our lives again and again in a cloud - that is physical or spiritual.

I was walking with Dorene one day and she noticed a fig tree. Dorene could identify the fig tree by its leaves. She could say with confidence that there were no figs on the tree because the season for figs was over, but like the waves of an ocean, the season would soon return. Linda has a fig tree in her back yard and during the summer, she shared with us the most delicious and delightful fresh figs. I’ve never seen her tree, but I’ve eaten the figs because, as simple as it sounds, she knew the signs that the figs had ripened. She took heed and picked them so they could be enjoyed, which is certainly God’s intention. 

God gives every Christian signs. I hiked a trail at Innabah the other day and there were many signs that kept me safe. They directed me to many pleasant paths and wonders to explore and enjoy.  Signs are a good thing.

God gives us signs regarding our health. Stamina, strength, calm, and peace of mind are signs of health. When we see signs of distress in our children during this pandemic, we begin to watch and pray and wait for God to guide us, for it is likely that we have not traveled this journey before. We need signs to guide us.

If we see a traffic sign, we do well to pay attention. I witnessed a man running through a stop sign. When the ambulance came, his moaning and groaning on the gurney suggested his injuries were not worth the risk he took. He may not have seen that he took a risk. The other day I was coming out of Giant and I nearly drove in front of an oncoming car because I thought he had a stop sign but the sign was for traffic going in the opposite direction. Nevertheless, thank God for signs. Signs are a blessing, especially when the Holy Spirit trains our spiritual eyes to see the many signs that God gives to lead us in the right paths, or beside still waters, and green pastures.

How have your spiritual eyes been trained by the Holy Spirit? Do you receive insights while praying or serving? Does reading and studying God’s word bring to mind a greater sense of where God is guiding you?

In this world of so much uncertainty in the weather, deception among businesses, grief around unsettling changes, and contradictions in the health field, God gives us signs that guide us to strength, forbearance, constant love and presence that helps us be the church and the kin-dom we are called to be. These signs come from the words of loved ones, a dream, a vision or whatever and however God chooses. The most important thing to know is that there are signs, there are indicators, there are things to see and know that only God can show you. God is for you, not against you.

Pay attention to the signs of the kingdom. Where do you see someone doing the right thing and where are the good works being done? Can you identify in your life or the life of someone you know the fruit of the spirit of joy? We need to know the signs of joy because the joy of the Lord is what gives us physical and emotional strength. Do you see the signs of peace anywhere in this word of woe? Pray to God we find our way to peace. We may even have to go back to the songwriter saying, “When there’s no peace anywhere on earth, there is peace in Christ.”

Don’t miss the signs, my friends. Listen to Jesus! May the signs be in our lives like a neon light to brighten our paths and the paths of those who follow in our footsteps.

 

 

November 14, 2021 - "Labor Pains” - Pastor Hines

 November 14, 2021 - "Labor Pains” - Pastor Hines

Bethel members remind us that the foundation of this sanctuary was laid by hand in stone. There is something beautiful and awe-inspiring about stones. When the disciples came out of the temple after worship, they marveled at the stones that made the temple. They were huge.  They were gorgeous. It took a lot of love, muscle, and determination to put them in their proper place. The results were breathtaking.  Humanity always recognizes the beauty that results when people work together, creating something wonderful. The disciples noticed, saying “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” We hear the same type comments when people visit Bethel. Most everyone who visits for the first time remarks about the beauty of the renovations, the ark, the pavilion, the open space and the towering trees. Many worked together to make all of it happen.

At the same time, Jesus reminds us that working together to create something beautiful is great, but it is not permanent, nor is it the end- all. God is always working in us to build and to rebuild. Like a river flowing, the kin-dom of God is not stagnant. God’s people and God’s plan are always changing, always creating and recreating.

Change is good because change is growth for the better. Change keeps us healthy. If the fetus in the womb does not change from hour to hour, it cannot live. If a seed in the ground does not change, growth can’t happen. We’d all starve. Change is a necessary part of life.

People smile when I tell them that I have participated in several Christian denominations and I think of myself as Metho-costal-penta-holy. I’ve been strengthened by my experiences in a Christian college, two different seminaries, Quaker Friends meetings, Catholic gatherings, and more. Some of these experiences have left me scratching my head. There are things that go on in some mega meetings that could curl your hair. A police officer retired when he was losing his eyesight to diabetes. He went into a healing line but it was not a good thing. He witnessed those praying for people with crutches. Their crutches were snatched and people fell helplessly to the ground. In one store front church a man was slain in the spirit nearly every Sunday. People were assigned to “catch” him, but all too often he would fall and crack his head. In another meeting, a woman in charge, snapped her fingers and directed another person to start speaking in tongues. Nothing seemed to happen except awkward silence, befuddlement and embarrassment. Certainly, the Holy Spirit would want growth to happen for the better in those situations.

The church is always in need of growth and change in order to stay alive. We know it is necessary, still we are not always ready, we are not always willing. Can you imagine what the disciples thought as they came out of the temple and Jesus told them, “Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

The first temple was built 957 years before Jesus was born. It was looted and destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem in the year 586 BC. It took 70 years to rebuild the second Temple in Jerusalem in 516 BC. The second Temple, stood for 585 years before the Romans destroyed it in AD 70 as retaliation for constant protests by the Jews.

Since both Temples were destroyed, the only thing left is the Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall. You may have visited it at one time. People go to the wall from all over the world to pray. The Wailing Wall has been standing since 516 BC, well over 2000 years. As things go these days, it may not be there tomorrow. For, all around us we see God building, rebuilding, creating, and recreating. Something new is being birthed in us and around us constantly. We have the labor pains to prove it. We have seen the shifting of so many building blocks in our life and the lives of those we care about. We’ve seen in our lives what Jesus said would happen to the Temple. Not one stone is left on top of another. All will be thrown down.

New life can be quite painful. When the disciples heard about this major change, of course, they wanted to know when the stones would be thrown down, when things would change. Perhaps they wanted a heads up so they could prepare in one way or another.

But, Jesus did not give them the when. Jesus gave them the what. He told them to beware of what leaders do when they are trying to lead you astray. Jesus told them what not to do when they heard about wars and rumors of wars. They were told NOT to get alarmed. Don’t even get alarmed when there are earthquakes and famines. Jesus compares these catastrophes as birth pangs.

The disciples may have thought, “What does Jesus know about birth pangs?” They may have soon realized that being calm during a catastrophe requires supernatural help. Labor pains indicate that something new is about to be delivered. Labor pains indicate that deliverance is about to take place. It may take minutes, hours, or days, but deliverance is on its way.

When humanity is pregnant with possibilities, growth is occurring in stages. When the labor pains begin, it signals a need to prepare for the delivery of something new and deliverance from certain pain and sorrow. The pain becomes intense. Deliverance often happens when our pain is intense. How intense is intense? If the labor pains are four minutes apart and they last at least one minute long and they happen over and over again for a whole hour, it’s time to prepare for deliverance. It is time to go through the four stages of labor.

The first stage of labor is dilation which makes room for a new creation.  The second stage is the actual delivery and new life arrives. The third stage of labor is pushing out the placenta – this afterbirth organ has provided nutrition, oxygen, and waste management for that which is being delivered. It’s pushed out because it is no longer needed. There may be something resourceful in our lives that is no longer needed and needs to go. The fourth stage is recovery. Labor is hard work. Giving birth to God’s new creation is traumatic. Time is needed to recover. It can take 6-8 weeks.

It seems Jesus did not tell the disciples when the urgent need for deliverance would come, when they would have to go through something tough, unpleasant and at times seemingly unbearable. They asked when this would happen. Jesus may have thought what a silly question. Catastrophe is happening anywhere and everywhere and all the time. Deliverance is needed by us or someone everywhere all the time. Likewise, we can experience the joy of new beginnings anywhere, everywhere and all the time.

So, what is Jesus expecting from us when trouble comes. He says, “Do not be alarmed. This is the beginning of labor pains.” Something wonderful is on its way. God the father, son, and Holy Spirit always, always call us to not be alarmed and to look far enough past our troubles until we can see what God wants us to do and where God wants us to go. May today be the day we look to God for the good and the new that we so urgently need. Amen.

November 7, 2021 "Unless The Lord Builds the House..." - Pastor Hines

 

November 7, 2021

"Unless The Lord Builds the House..." - Pastor Hines

On this all Saints Day we think of the great highlights that all Christian Saints have in our live. There are things that all of us have done that stand out and please God, for everyone who has some God in them can surely be credited with great good that they have accomplished, whether privately or publicly. We make a point to remember so that we won’t forget how good our God is. All Saints Day is about remembering and being grateful.  

There have been times when the word “saint” has been used with tongue in cheek. In one Adult Sunday school class, the teacher was trying to lead her class in a discussion on the biblical concept of sainthood. She asked, “Does anyone here claim to be a saint?” No one responded at first. Finally, a gentleman spoke up saying, “Well, I didn’t know him, but I’ve heard of one saint.” The teacher asked who it was, and the man replied, “My wife’s first husband.”

Our Psalm today is one hundred twenty seven, reminding us to remember to put God first in every area of our lives. Verse 1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it.” Test it for yourselves. Is God the foundation of your life? Have you dared to pray about everything? Have you surrendered something to God while waiting for God’s will to be revealed to you? Have you surrendered anything? Is there something you think you should surrender today? Whatever your case, as a Christian, God has enabled you to do great and Godly things.

All Saints Day is about remembering and being grateful that God does wonderful things in our life. We especially remember the great and Godly things God has done through our deceased loved ones. God has used them to bless us abundantly. They are gone but not forgotten. We stand on the shoulders of their greatness. We live with the treasures of memories and legacies that they have left behind. As we live our lives day to day, it is good to remember the extraordinary and magnificent ways that God is good and God is great. Every day of our life is surrounded by majesty and miracles that we may not notice.

Journalist and poet Alfred Joyce Kilmer was known for poetry that celebrated beauty in nature. Kilmer was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1886, he studied at Rutgers and his father was the inventor of Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Powder. Kilmer was a War Veteran killed by a German sniper bullet. However, he is best known for his poem Trees. I love the lines – 

I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree, A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in Summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree. Don’t you love that poem?

Our lives are surrounded by God’s magnificence.  God’s glory and beauty is not only around us, it is in us. There are things that only God can create. Only God can create goodness in us. We might describe saints as one whose footprints lead us to God and God’s goodness, whose memories are precious and alive in our hearts, whose favorite hymns strike a cord with us, whose voices speak directly to our situation, whose trials have taught us to pray, whose prayers were like wings lifting us from  trouble and anguish.

There are saints in all of our lives, especially at Bethel, whose good deeds connect us, comfort us, hold us together and turn our lives around, whose small acts of kindness bring tears to our eyes, whose generosity leaves us speechless, whose very memory makes our hearts skip a beat and brings a smile that illuminates the whole world for God’s sake.

The reason we gather as Christians is so that we will grow to be thankful for God’s goodness and grow in that goodness. When we grow, we change every day in small ways and large ways.

Bill gates, college dropout is categorized as the fourth richest person in the world. Third is Bernard Arnault of luxury designer brands like Christian Dior. Second is Jeff Bezos from Amazon. First is Elon Musk of South African known for Tesla and Space X. Bill Gates knows the rewards of change. We can learn from the business world and appreciate that God is always helping us to grow and change for the better. Gates says that humans fear change.  He looks back in history saying there were those who were afraid to mine and burn coal; some feared gas powered engines; some even feared electricity.

The church, like the world has feared change, too. We have feared unity and we have feared sinners. We have feared gays and blacks and browns, and yellows, and whites. Nevertheless, change has happened and WILL HAPPEN with or without us, in us or around us, for our benefit or the benefit of the one who dares to take the risk. In contrast to the richest people in the world, we won’t find a list of the poorest people in the world. However, the poorest countries in the world are Central African Republic, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Malawi, Liberia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Sierra Leone, and Afghanistan.

Don’t you agree, a change is needed, not only for the sake of the poor, but for the million ways that God’s goodness is needed in our lives?

In the world and in our lives, the Holy Spirit is guiding us toward growth in goodness. Spiritual growth means change. It is a change that is for our long-term benefit as well as short-term profit. We cannot be the ones to stand still lest our blessings pass us by. As Mr. Gates puts it: “We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two ears and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten.”

If God guides us to change for the sake of our spiritual growth, it is good to move forward without delay. It is good to be good, Saints! We grow slowly, but surely. If we ask God to help us, we will change for the better slowly but surely. Looking at God’s goodness in the lives of our loved ones who have gone on before us inspires us and helps us to see what God has done and will also do in us as we are willing to pray and watch and wait.

God has a purpose and a plan worth waiting for, worth holding onto, worth trusting and having faith in. So, we wait, not for the check in the mail, not for a miracle, not for life, not even for death. We can learn to wait for God to reveal God’s self in whatever powerful and loving ways God has and always will have for all the Saints. Amen.

    

October 24, 2021 “Lowering our Voices That Blind Bartimaeus May Be Heard.” Pastor Hines

 

October 24, 2021

“Lowering our Voices That Blind Bartimaeus May Be Heard.” 

Pastor Hines

This story in Mark is the last healing miracle that Jesus did. The story is unusual not only because it is a healing story but because we know the name of the person Jesus healed. We don’t usually know the names of the people Jesus healed. His name was Bartimaeus – “Bar” meaning “son of” and “Timaeus” being the name of his father. When Jewish boys and girls come to the age of responsibility, they celebrate with a Bar/Bat Mitzvah. They then become a son or daughter of the Law, of the Commandment. Bartimaeus was the son of Timaeus. Timaeus is associated with the name Timothy which means “honor.”

Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus had a disability. He was blind. Evidently there was little in ancient times like the American Disability Act that began for us in 1990. Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus apparently had no job. He spent his day sitting by the roadside, waiting for someone to give him money for food and other things he may have needed.

When I was in Spain many years ago, the seminary professor who set up the trip decided it was cheaper to get a hotel in a “red light” district. As several of us were walking down the street for dinner, there were women who appeared to be drug abusers hiding in the shadows of the dark doorways, mumbling, inviting, even begging for the men who accompanied us, and promising a night out on the town in exchange for money. They seemed to be poor souls, hiding their hunger for love.

You’ve probably seen a recent television commercial showing a young child coming home from school, opening up the refrigerator and closing it because there was nothing there to eat. His mother then comes home with a bag of rolls of bread she brought from the cafeteria where she worked that day. She puts it on the table and the little boy grabs a roll and begins to eat one. The words spread across the screen said – “Hunger Hides.” We all need something at one time or another. We all have our pride too. We all want our dignity. There is no evidence that God intends that we be humiliated and need to hide our need, humble yes, humiliated, no.

I was stranded in a snow storm on the way from Washington, D.C. and I joined dozens of travelers in a fire hall who camped out. We stood in line waiting for volunteers to give us food. We were all in the same boat. We were all hungry and homeless for a couple days because the snow had made it impossible for us to get to our chosen destination. There was nothing to be ashamed of.

We were one big family waiting for the blizzard to stop and the sun to melt the feet of snow so we could be on our way. No one wants to stick out like a sore thumb. No one wants to be alone in a time of need. We as the body of Christ help one another in our distress. We cover one another with a blanket of loving care. We lower our voices enough to hear the voices of those in need, to see their faces as God sees them. Through us, God provides the comfort and the care we all need at one point.

Sometimes that care and provision is blocked. There is a spiritual battle going on. There are strongholds that cause certain blessings to be delayed. However, even in the waiting, God is present. There are particular blessings that God has ordained in our seasons of waiting and wanting. 

Bartimaeus was on the side of the road in full view. When he saw Jesus he found hope. He began to yell loudly to Jesus. He called Jesus Son of David because he recognized him as the Messiah, a descendent of the royal line of King David. Do you recognize how great Jesus is?  Bartimaeus was asking Jesus for help. Are you wise enough, hungry enough and self-aware enough to ask Jesus for help?

Jesus heard him shouting and called him to come forward. Those in the crowd were quiet enough to understand what was going on with someone who needed help. Some may have been annoyed or disturbed by the shouts of a begging man. Others were encouraging, understanding. Perhaps they even lowered their voices so that Blind Bartimaeus could be heard which is a prayer I have been led to pray: Help us to lower our voices that the voices of blind Bartimaeus can be heard. They spoke gently and kindly to him, saying ‘Take heart, Bartimaeus. Be encouraged. Don’t cry. Look, Jesus is calling you. He wants to help you.’

We have all heard such kind words from people in our circle when we are in trouble, haven’t we? Bartimaeus was so happy to hear, though he could not see what was ahead of him. He jumped up, leaving his precious coat where he was sitting, not something everyone can afford to do in a crowd. Whether we are on the side of the road where all can see us or whether we are hiding in the shadows, Jesus sees us. Jesus sees you. He knows what you want before you ask and what you need before you need it. He knows.

We know Bartimaeus was blind. We are not told why. Sight can be lost in a number of ways. There is a condition called River Blindness where eyesight is loss due to exposure to a parasite. Some become blind after an injury from an accident or a medical condition that affects the arteries like strokes or diabetes. Psychiatrists have treated those who suffer from what is called hysterical blindness or psychological blindness. Great anxiety can blur the vision and overshadow one’s life with darkness. Those traumatized by war, who see death and destruction to the point where their hearts shut down and they just can’t stand to see anymore, are blind, even though doctors see nothing medically wrong with their eyes.

We may wonder what caused Bartimaeus to become blind, but we don’t have to wonder about whether it is ok for US to call Jesus when we are on the side of the road figuratively or literally, when we can’t see what’s ahead of us, when dark shadows surround us. Are you on the side of the road in any way in your life…does your health have you sidelined? Is the coronavirus casting grey shadows on your life?  Is your family troubling you? Your neighbor, your job…your mental health.

Jesus asked Bartimaeus as Jesus may be asking you today, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus’ answer was simple. He said “Good teacher, let me see again.” Spiritually or physically, he wanted to see again. That presupposes that at one time he was able to see. Spiritual or physical sight may come and it may go. Whatever the case, we do well to cry out to Jesus.

Jesus may say to us like he said to Bartimaeus: “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately Bartimaeus regained his sight and followed Jesus on the way. Many times if we have the faith to ask Jesus for healing, we immediately feel better. That is often how the healing process begins. We feel better immediately for having put our faith into action by trusting that Jesus can help us.

God has many ways to heal us – counseling, doctors, family, friends, sleep, surgery, supplements, rest, diet, exercise, church fellowship and more. Some healing is simple and quick. Some healing is complicated, costly and may take more time and energy than we are willing to give. Have you ever gone to the doctor with pain in your body and discovered that the problem was not what you thought. Maybe the problem was not even where you suspected. Our healing is not always as clear or simple as we imagined it to be. Every fix is not quick. Every pill is not pleasant.  

When the bible describes someone whom Jesus heals, the description may be two or three sentences, but what is described in a few words may represent hours and days and weeks and months of activity in the process of healing. Paul Harvey used to tell us “the rest of the story.” When we listen to the stories of Jesus’ healing, we also want to keep our ears open for the rest of the story. And, if we want to be healed, don’t we have to do our part like Bartimaeus, to honor God, to go wherever God sends us, to follow Jesus?

There is much that happens if we could only read between the lines. It may be like the lady I knew who was inspired to give up smoking, so she threw her pack of cigarettes out of the window. The next day she had cravings so strong that she was outside crawling around on the ground looking for that pack. Or the story may be like the person who gave up smoking and had no cravings at all and never smoked again – adding years to their life without the struggle that Joyce Meyers said she had when she stopped smoking.

The work of God is never confined to a sentence on a medical chart or a beautifully written biblical story. God never fits into a box. There is always more to the story. In the in between there may be joys and concerns. The may be challenges and tough choices. Keep the faith and you will see how God turns our stumbling blocks into stepping stones and our messes into miracles. Stay committed to God. Let it not be said among us that we want the wedding but not the marriage.

When we keep our covenant we are saying we are trusting God to work all things together for good. When we keep the covenant we are believing God is able to do great things. When we keep the covenant without complaining, we are lowering our voices, we can hear love in the voice of Jesus and those surrounding us. They are telling us to “take heart, be encouraged. Go.” When we go to Jesus we will immediately see something wonderful. We won’t worry about the rest of the story. We will follow Jesus. We will walk by faith, not by sight. What do you want Jesus to do for you today? Take heart. He’s calling YOU. Have faith. Most of all keep the faith. Go. Immediately, you will see Jesus. Follow him and you will be healed in one way or another. Amen.