tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10842886181865002742024-03-16T13:50:29.041-05:00Prologues to My Prefaces™By Bill LawsonUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-8396520913802513272024-02-12T10:56:00.005-06:002024-02-12T11:11:05.557-06:00Heaven All Around Us<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAfX0YY7mPbEpK_u9d35gkFRvIlPWnJ5t-Xh0QAFBzlP5bZlfw3O30fnnQslayBhoFnWOvF68q3zFHuVvHl3CaTHWIeVfwDyDmgTCMEqTvx2VcRcFPcDLKO-EpK_wrMR-hs-LbBLa_O7minAtDlXPKrkLZNQHaSjqPVXYlUP4ugfB7eDt38aH2VUoawFB/s1590/The%20Transfiguration%20by%20Giovanni%20Bellini.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1590" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAfX0YY7mPbEpK_u9d35gkFRvIlPWnJ5t-Xh0QAFBzlP5bZlfw3O30fnnQslayBhoFnWOvF68q3zFHuVvHl3CaTHWIeVfwDyDmgTCMEqTvx2VcRcFPcDLKO-EpK_wrMR-hs-LbBLa_O7minAtDlXPKrkLZNQHaSjqPVXYlUP4ugfB7eDt38aH2VUoawFB/s320/The%20Transfiguration%20by%20Giovanni%20Bellini.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The
most compelling message of the Transfiguration is, for me, the imagery of
heaven’s close proximity in time and space. Paul said that in God, “we live,
and move, and have our being.”<span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Jesus said that the kingdom of God is within and among us.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Still, it seems our thoughts of heaven are anchored in the imagery of “up.” So
it’s hard to think of heaven the way Jesus described it to Nicodemus when he
spoke of himself as the one who both “came down from heaven” and “is in
heaven.”</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">3</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
Ascension portrays Jesus as going up, up, and away. Elijah was carried up and
away in a fiery chariot. Even the Transfiguration took place <i>up</i> on a
mountaintop. But perhaps the imagery of “up and away” is intended to
communicate a higher plane in our thinking and relationship to each other. Johnson
Oatman wrote in his hymn,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">4</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Lord, lift me up, and let me stand<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">By faith, on heaven’s tableland;<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A higher plane than I have found,<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Everyone is called
to pray as we have come to understand prayer to be, so far, and through prayer,
to grow in that understanding. All of humanity is called into the eternal conversation
of prayer that connects us all in heaven and on earth. We are invited to
explore the implications of the idea that from God’s perspective, everyone who has
ever lived is still alive. The compelling imagery of the Transfiguration invites
us through prayer to explore the broadest possible realms of spirituality in the
concept of heaven all around us. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[</span><a href="https://archive.org/details/heaven-all-around-us" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank"><b>Audo of Complete Sermon</b></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">]</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;">Audio of the sermon preached by Rev. Bill Lawson<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">February
11, 2024, at Briensburg UMC<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bible
Readings for Transfiguration Sunday, Revised Common Lectionary Year B<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2 Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">COVER IMAGE: Bellini,
Giovanni. “The Transfiguration,” 1480. <i>Wikipedia: The Free Encylopedia</i>. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The-Transfiguration-1480-xx-Giovanni-Bellini.JPG <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Accessed 12 February
2024. Painting.</span></p><div>
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<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 </span>Luke
17:28 (KJV).<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2 </span>Luke 17:21.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3 </span>John 3:13 (KJV).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">4 </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Oatman, Johnson Jr. “Higher Ground,” 1892. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Hymnary</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">.
hymnary.org/text/im_pressing_on_the_upward_way</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Accessed12 February 2024.</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">©
2024, William H. Lawson, Jr. All rights reserved. </span></p>
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-78090991905916388382024-01-23T04:23:00.002-06:002024-01-23T04:35:16.836-06:00Loving Everyone into Sacred Community<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxIdZPtD2KaOte8VT07dXJhwlL9aD9Gw6wEdhrBHzeQyGE-K23mdp_dAUnZrOCWy2LoYngAnzPc1IVMQz9lO5H-J0NJyhQLY_rwtqV-FS2Jgi0Ey-zO5xdKCvXy-RzgRekY6Uwlmv6HkPv3swFSbkOtH0lCh-3uIj1JsQcaCSa755asLDyxWFjztIbW5P/s1280/unity-in-diversity-5615018_1280.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxIdZPtD2KaOte8VT07dXJhwlL9aD9Gw6wEdhrBHzeQyGE-K23mdp_dAUnZrOCWy2LoYngAnzPc1IVMQz9lO5H-J0NJyhQLY_rwtqV-FS2Jgi0Ey-zO5xdKCvXy-RzgRekY6Uwlmv6HkPv3swFSbkOtH0lCh-3uIj1JsQcaCSa755asLDyxWFjztIbW5P/w200-h200/unity-in-diversity-5615018_1280.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus
began his ministry by loving everyone into sacred community before he ever
began the teaching, healing, and other facets of his ministry. This is the Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year’s theme comes from the Great
Commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbor as yourself…”</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The challenge for followers of Jesus has always been to reconcile our relationships
with God’s love. Wherever we fall short in loving as Christ loves, we are
invited to acknowledge and revise our behavior. How we relate to each other within
and beyond the faith community is a reflection of the progress we are making in
our ultimate reconciliation and unity with God, humanity, and all Creation.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Humanity
has been invited into an ongoing holy conversation ever since Jesus announced, “The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe
the gospel.”</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p>Everyone
is invited to join this eternal spiritual chat room and to engage as
participants in exploring all the ins and outs of a universal faith community that
spans all barriers of time and space and life and death. Beliefs, expressions,
and practices will always differ among everyone as they always have, and people
will always continue to associate and organize around similar ideas and objectives.
We are all called and sent to love one another into the sacred community of God’s
family.</span></p><div><div id="edn1">
<div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">____________</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on January 21, 2024, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;">Bible
Readings for the 3<sup>rd</sup> Sunday after the Epiphany, <br />Revised Common
Lectionary, Year B<br /></span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
Jonah 3:1-5 & 10, Psalm 62:5-12, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Mark 1:14-20</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Complete Sermon with Bibliography and Notes:<br /></b><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"> [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/loving-everyone-into-sacred-community/Loving%20Everyone%20into%20Sacred%20Community.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/loving-everyone-into-sacred-community_202401" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/loving-everyone-into-sacred-community/mode/2up" target="_blank">All Text Formats</a> </span>]</b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0in;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div>
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">COVER IMAGE: Pixabay
User ooceey. “Unity in Diversity,” 2020. <i>Pixabay.</i> pixabay.com/illustrations/unity-in-diversity-all-forms-of-love-5615018/
<br />Accessed 16 January 2024. Image.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
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<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a name="_Hlk156661608"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;"> </span></span>World Council of Churches. “Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity,” 2024. <i>World Council of Churches.</i> www.oikoumene.org/news/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2024-you-shall-love-the-lord-your-god-and-your-neighbour-as-yourself Accessed 20 January 2024.</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a name="_Hlk156661608"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 </span></a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">Mark 1:15 (KJV).</span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a name="_Hlk156661608"><br /></a></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a name="_Hlk156661608"><br /></a></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a name="_Hlk156661608"><br /></a></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a name="_Hlk156661608"><br /></a></p>
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-57430496535916912082024-01-14T15:25:00.019-06:002024-01-16T12:12:02.469-06:00Angels Coming and Going<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxL3z91os3H_bZdTkzx1GCsV9xHgY0MFDhjTzVHj1VqZXet1sPxGaP7om0Qx1a8_YcK9-FkVbZOKTQGJK_LrWYPXvez-Ak4iBN94_VIhQ-DL6cLrFGrtEc9y9IjAoX2bwOTwDTolTdcJnuon6aFC-QvxKidHXFIEaOk5pwczXL_S0qbS0W11YP0Y55A1T/s2048/Blake_jacobsladder.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1609" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxL3z91os3H_bZdTkzx1GCsV9xHgY0MFDhjTzVHj1VqZXet1sPxGaP7om0Qx1a8_YcK9-FkVbZOKTQGJK_LrWYPXvez-Ak4iBN94_VIhQ-DL6cLrFGrtEc9y9IjAoX2bwOTwDTolTdcJnuon6aFC-QvxKidHXFIEaOk5pwczXL_S0qbS0W11YP0Y55A1T/s320/Blake_jacobsladder.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today
is Human Relations Day in The United Methodist Church, and tomorrow is the
national observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Human Relations Day
is celebrated annually across our denomination on the Sunday before King’s
observance. <a href="http://www.umc.org/en/content/human-relations-day-faq" target="_blank">The UMC website says</a>, “Human Relations Day calls United Methodists
to recognize the right of all God’s children in realizing their potential as
human beings in relationship with one another.”</span><span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Similarly, our mission statement here at Briensburg United Methodist Church is “Helping
each other serve to our full potential.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;">”</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Just
think how the world would be if everyone could feel the love and friendship,
the mutual respect and supportiveness, and the sense of community we share in
this room today. Many communities around the world already do feel this way
about each other, and they do extend this love into all their other
relationships. But there are still many others who feel differently and extend
their animosities into all their relationships. Part of our work as believers
in the teachings and example of Jesus is to overcome their hostility with our
love – with God’s love. St. John framed it metaphorically at the beginning of
his Gospel in the Good News Translation, “The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness has never put it out.”</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I’d
like to share this from <a href="http://thekingcenter.org/what-we-do/beloved-community-teach-in/" target="_blank">The King Center Website</a>:</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">3</span><o:p style="font-size: 12pt;"></o:p></span></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Martin Luther King, Jr. described the “Beloved
Community” as a society where “caring and compassion drive political policies
that support the worldwide elimination of poverty and hunger and all forms of
bigotry and violence. At its core, the ‘Beloved Community’ is an engine of
reconciliation.”</span></p></blockquote>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Human Relations Day
emphasizes the value and potential of every human being. Jesus did that. In his
allegory of the Judgement of the Nations, “when the Son of man shall come in
his glory, and all the holy angels with him,” Jesus specifically targeted the
way people treat each other across governments, societies, and institutions in addition
to individuals. The messages of people like Martin Luther King, Jr. challenge
us all to listen to our own better angels, to be thoughtful about our unseen environment,
and to treat everyone as spiritual beings like Christ or like angels, or like
divinely created souls whose bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on January 14, 2024, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.<br /></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial;">Bible
Readings for the 2<sup>nd</sup> Sunday after the Epiphany, Revised Common
Lectionary, Year B<br />
Psalm 139:1-6, 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 1 Corinthians 6:17-20, John 1:43-51<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0in;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Complete Sermon with Bibliography and Notes:<br /> [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/angels-coming-and-going/Angels%20Coming%20and%20Going.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://ia601300.us.archive.org/26/items/angels-coming-and-going/Angels%20Coming%20and%20Going.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/angels-coming-and-going" target="_blank">All Formats</a> </span>]</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">COVER IMAGE: William
Blake. “Jacob’s Dream,” 1805. Public Domain. <i>Wikipedia, the Free
Encyclopedia.</i> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blake_jacobsladder.jpg Accessed 14
January 2024. Painting.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a name="_Hlk156112571"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 </span>The United Methodist Church. “Human Relations Day FAQ,”
2014. <i>United Methodist Communications</i>. www.umc.org/en/content/human-relations-day-faq
Accessed 14 January 2024.<o:p></o:p></a></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 </span>John 18:5 (GNT).<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a name="_Hlk156112775"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3 </span>The King Center. “Beloved Community Teach-In,” 2014. <i>The
King Center.</i> thekingcenter.org/what-we-do/beloved-community-teach-in/
Accessed 14 January 2024.</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-7640795514526477252023-08-13T18:10:00.002-05:002023-08-13T18:10:56.659-05:00Punctuated by Prayer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTO-4_0GeSJf19pmAr_IOaCtudsB4g9DQBQzT7M5tf_ay21jILg5YTWhgXswxBOivyM0RuoM0NO7lN1-jlZSvp__Nk29exvUdLryLUQS9eltdQzkDdyPkiraRQd33DogNz6o098xBpdzKkvf7kh3aq_O3IlJv9IxroSuvmlRpER1Q0JZnlTl35kd1UkYt/s620/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTO-4_0GeSJf19pmAr_IOaCtudsB4g9DQBQzT7M5tf_ay21jILg5YTWhgXswxBOivyM0RuoM0NO7lN1-jlZSvp__Nk29exvUdLryLUQS9eltdQzkDdyPkiraRQd33DogNz6o098xBpdzKkvf7kh3aq_O3IlJv9IxroSuvmlRpER1Q0JZnlTl35kd1UkYt/w204-h136/Picture2.png" width="204" /></a></div><br />Jesus found respite, relief, and empowerment in prayer, and we can, too. His miracles, preaching, teaching, and healing were often punctuated by intervals of prayer. Jesus often withdrew from even his closest friends to spend substantial amounts of time praying. Sometimes he shared these moments with a few others, but usually, they were spent in solitude. These were personal focused times apart with God, in addition to the ongoing constant communion Paul referenced in First Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” <p></p><p>Prayer is at least as much about our listening as about our speaking, about what we hear, at least as much as about what we say. At the Transfiguration, Jesus’ disciples heard God speak from heaven during their shared prayer time with Elijah and Moses, as worded in The Message, “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” Jesus pointed out in the Sermon on the Mount just before giving the Lord’s Prayer that God already knows what we need before we ask, so we don’t need to “use a lot of meaningless words,” as it says in the Good News Translation. </p><p>We know that God already knows what we are thinking about, but do we know what God is thinking about – what God is trying to communicate to us? Prayer is an opportunity for us to engage with our Creator and receive the guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus promised she would give us. Listen for the “still small voice.” Perhaps if our activities were more punctuated by prayer, then “oh ye of little faith” might become “oh ye of a little more faith.”</p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on August 13, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">11th Sunday after Pentecost</span><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 85:8-13, Romans 10:5-15, Matthew
14:22-33</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0in;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Complete Sermon with Bibliography and Notes:<br /> [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/punctuated-by-prayer/Punctuated%20by%20Prayer.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/punctuated-by-prayer/Punctuated%20by%20Prayer.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/punctuated-by-prayer" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-46884838785552433832023-08-08T07:58:00.002-05:002023-08-08T07:58:55.077-05:00More Than Enough for Everyone<p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2c2c2c; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2c2c2c; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ323jWgCWFsddQeVhGw7xKqnqP5byEJH-roxRkyZQZyG9K9ps3GH8cg6l8lbxjgSsdJkNWI1P3oSNpDp_YX1ehjaoo6wWuZslrcILuFdfxs-PJT7F_46TjaqD0nhhZdYv2sQdnRFsc9VikPHBciLUlj_1qh_6N9xq7Q5Lt3LYFCf1welFFsuLY0yYU655/s1600/1600px-Courtyard_of_the_Church_of_the_Multiplication_in_Tabgha_by_David_Shankbone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ323jWgCWFsddQeVhGw7xKqnqP5byEJH-roxRkyZQZyG9K9ps3GH8cg6l8lbxjgSsdJkNWI1P3oSNpDp_YX1ehjaoo6wWuZslrcILuFdfxs-PJT7F_46TjaqD0nhhZdYv2sQdnRFsc9VikPHBciLUlj_1qh_6N9xq7Q5Lt3LYFCf1welFFsuLY0yYU655/w264-h199/1600px-Courtyard_of_the_Church_of_the_Multiplication_in_Tabgha_by_David_Shankbone.jpg" width="264" /></a></span></div><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2c2c2c; font-size: 12pt;">God has provided more than enough food for everyone in the world to have plenty every day, and yet world hunger is a persistent issue. It doesn’t matter how much food is available if those who control the distribution refuse to allow it to be shared fairly. What if we think about sharing the world’s food resources as being sacramental, perhaps as an extension of the Sacrament of Holy Communion? </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt;">World hunger is, and never ceases to be, a spiritual issue. It o</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt;">nly becomes political when it is used as leverage to deprive people of their fair share of the world’s nutritional resources. In the Judgement of the Nations in Matthew 25, the nations are gathered and divided according to how they have treated their most vulnerable populations. The pronouncement of the One sitting on the throne of glory begins as phrased in the New Revised Standard Version:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0.5in; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt;">Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. <i>(Matthew 25:24-35 NRVS).</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on August 6, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">10th Sunday after Pentecost</span><br /></span>Isaiah 55:1-5, Psalm 145:8-9 & 14-21, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 0in;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Complete Sermon with Bibliography and Notes:<br /> [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/more-than-enough-for-everyone/More%20Than%20Enough%20for%20Everyone.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/more-than-enough-for-everyone/More%20Than%20Enough%20for%20Everyone.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/more-than-enough-for-everyone/" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-28553898633921505482023-08-05T14:41:00.002-05:002023-08-05T14:41:38.598-05:00What do These Have in Common?<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #2c2c2c; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGygZzsd3il32yuf5L6-NGdOyQYfBAi7zaRfFkqdpDnbM2YzYpH_z_pnVIadrNzDEdHVfheuarmraxDnN1KydzUa46FFMk9yXkf6EdJ10lpwKiRWmw8LjPhGq17g6KZYdzKmNylQryVTtjE2O9lbuRRTUVpj3d8oOKFHKwEfuvjf9PSZpUJrzus5PL_qTH/s1280/globe%20puzzle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1280" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGygZzsd3il32yuf5L6-NGdOyQYfBAi7zaRfFkqdpDnbM2YzYpH_z_pnVIadrNzDEdHVfheuarmraxDnN1KydzUa46FFMk9yXkf6EdJ10lpwKiRWmw8LjPhGq17g6KZYdzKmNylQryVTtjE2O9lbuRRTUVpj3d8oOKFHKwEfuvjf9PSZpUJrzus5PL_qTH/w177-h125/globe%20puzzle.jpg" width="177" /></a></div><br />Sower, tares, mustard seed, leaven, hidden treasure, pearl, net, scribe – What do these have in common? Each is one of eight parables presented in succession in Matthew 13. These, along with all the other parables of Jesus, are short figurative analogies similar to fables, which, like the lengthy allegories and legends throughout the Old Testament, are intended to communicate timeless spiritual messages. The enduring nature of Biblical teachings is owing in general to their inspiration by the Holy Ghost and in particular to their innate quality of universal, eternal application. They are as old as old can be, yet fresh and new each time they cross our minds.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2c2c2c; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">The wisdom of the Scriptures is in the discernment by which they are applied to any present situation. The imagery of the Bible provides a limitless cache of metaphors through which the Holy Spirit continuously speaks as she guides us, as Jesus promised, “into all truth.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">God’s love, as demonstrated in Jesus, invites the broadest possible perception, in contrast to any efforts to narrow and restrict our understanding of the Scriptures to arbitrary boundaries. What do these parables of Jesus have in common? They are like windows into Heaven. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on July 30, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Complete Sermon with Bibliography and Notes:<br /> [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/what-do-these-have-in-common/What%20Do%20These%20Have%20in%20Common.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/what-do-these-have-in-common/What%20Do%20These%20Have%20in%20Common.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/what-do-these-have-in-common" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-80282926801779359672023-07-24T14:54:00.002-05:002023-07-29T16:30:06.822-05:00Growing Together in God's Field<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzkaRe-xOU6od3ggv5OjHkEGsZFAPX4VOZu5fh-3MIecZd7nH3umHeLVZTTNzvVBb1rTZcVirEzdayP8L_K1JEgPrwULM5N_XzteF3P664BvZY01WaUidpvr7fhAZfUQgy_QFfv_McgumwqGCQjO3zfjwWy6e47twf32cFOkMQFbdwWkBG3UB3ZeN4gtn/s1280/wheat-1845835_1280.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1280" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzkaRe-xOU6od3ggv5OjHkEGsZFAPX4VOZu5fh-3MIecZd7nH3umHeLVZTTNzvVBb1rTZcVirEzdayP8L_K1JEgPrwULM5N_XzteF3P664BvZY01WaUidpvr7fhAZfUQgy_QFfv_McgumwqGCQjO3zfjwWy6e47twf32cFOkMQFbdwWkBG3UB3ZeN4gtn/w232-h137/wheat-1845835_1280.jpg" width="232" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">God
loves everyone and wants everyone to live together in peace and harmony. Our
part is to reflect God’s kindness. If there is any judging to do, God will do
the judging. If there is any sorting to do, God will do the sorting. No matter
what we think of ourselves or others, God’s expectation is that we will be
respectful and cooperative, loving others as Christ has loved us.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone is a child
of God. Everyone has a place in God’s world. God’s own Spirit communicates her
love to us and to all, helping us to know that we are her daughters and sons. One
of the great sacramental messages of Holy Communion, as practiced in our United
Methodist heritage, is that it is the Lord’s Table around which we gather.
Likewise, it is the Lord’s World we live in, and God loved the world so much that
God sent Jesus to be our savior. Today’s Bible readings invite us to grow
spiritually right alongside everyone else, and let God work out the rest.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on July 23, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Complete Sermon with Bibliography and Notes:<br /> [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/growing-together-in-gods-field/Growing%20Together%20in%20God%27s%20Field.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/growing-together-in-gods-field/Growing%20Together%20in%20God%27s%20Field.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/growing-together-in-gods-field" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p><div><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div><div><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Cover Image: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pixabay User
Pexels. “Wheat Field,” 2016. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/wheat-wheat-crops-barley-crops-1845835/ 20
July 2023. </span></p></span></div><div><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-75479545152735211292023-07-20T12:24:00.002-05:002023-07-20T12:24:56.969-05:00Sowing Seeds of Kindness<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVH_ZfPpRJsVUPsVHlNgq6-cqM0S_aR8mLGBfTPY6WRb34ny97UsgzhJ8w_JYMKwhb5E41lBGg7S7Kcml3I7DroZwIQK7gP1qV403eYIhqcDZn2Dw9YdCfpZKfdRGKU-NKKrb7hx3erU9lPiKm9nYQ1SZOCckKMQOpIFAQzHN_b5jWOA36l2ASUGCDrUF/s901/Sowing%20in%20the%20Garden.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="901" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVH_ZfPpRJsVUPsVHlNgq6-cqM0S_aR8mLGBfTPY6WRb34ny97UsgzhJ8w_JYMKwhb5E41lBGg7S7Kcml3I7DroZwIQK7gP1qV403eYIhqcDZn2Dw9YdCfpZKfdRGKU-NKKrb7hx3erU9lPiKm9nYQ1SZOCckKMQOpIFAQzHN_b5jWOA36l2ASUGCDrUF/w212-h172/Sowing%20in%20the%20Garden.png" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus
demonstrated what it means to sow seeds of kindness everywhere he went. His
criticisms were reserved for those who worked against kindness. But even those
criticisms were intended to protect the vulnerable while persuading the
powerful to be more kind.</span><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is a view of
Scripture that is harsh and condemning, but this is not the view of Jesus.
Jesus’ view is kind, gentle, and forgiving. There is a view of Christian faith
that expects large numbers, that quantifies spirituality, that measures faith
in material terms. But Jesus’ expectation is measured in spiritual terms. The
growth Christ looks for is the spiritual growth of each soul. The expectation
is that we, like Jesus, will spread seeds of kindness wherever we go, that we
will tend to those seeds and nurture them, and that we will trust God with the
results. If we believe everyone is made in the image of God (and most people do
believe this in one form or another regardless of their religious
associations), we can also believe that every person God has made is already on
some sort of spiritual journey. Rather than thinking of people as primitive and
misguided souls disconnected from any relationship to their Creator, we can
instead relate to everyone as spiritual beings, united with their Creator and growing
by grace. We are invited to emulate Christ in planting the proverbial seeds of
kindness. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on July 16, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">For the Complete Sermon: [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/sowing-seeds-of-kindness/Sowing%20Seeds%20of%20Kindness.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/sowing-seeds-of-kindness/Sowing%20Seeds%20of%20Kindness.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/sowing-seeds-of-kindness" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Cover Image Photo by Larry <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Jacobsen. “Seed and the Sower.” Cheyenne Botanical Gardens. “A bronze statue of
the Seed and the Sower – a Prairie woman – sowing seed in her garden.” Creative
Commons License. </span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Flickr</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ljguitar/1099799640/</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">10 July 2023.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-78173654741404498702023-07-09T17:58:00.002-05:002023-07-09T18:03:42.853-05:00Invitation to a Refreshing Partnership<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEvTr9s6pI2YQXYU75LPtjjvGtRIPtlVUTEtaiOItTdQ8Rr5s8KuNs1KzKGH3JCczo1Hl9A1z_nE_sndCDDN895Q5Sxte5jUf2DEXXeyuzbD3pYangDFTyrje5IK4msuov7u4zg3vTeQeKlIZKMPWU5qpeN_IKa4tA9DZToaea4aLH93MoTmAGgEshH8D/s1280/hands-1846428_1280.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEvTr9s6pI2YQXYU75LPtjjvGtRIPtlVUTEtaiOItTdQ8Rr5s8KuNs1KzKGH3JCczo1Hl9A1z_nE_sndCDDN895Q5Sxte5jUf2DEXXeyuzbD3pYangDFTyrje5IK4msuov7u4zg3vTeQeKlIZKMPWU5qpeN_IKa4tA9DZToaea4aLH93MoTmAGgEshH8D/s320/hands-1846428_1280.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Acceptance of Jesus’ Great Invitation, “Come unto me,” is not defined by the books we carry, the verses we quote, or the organizations we join, but by the way we love</span>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Normalization of
prolific mass shootings and protected gun violence, rollback of women’s rights,
violent rhetoric against our LGBTQ community, and racist adjudication of the
death penalty are among the most recent setbacks for humanity in general and
our nation in particular. As wearisome as our resistance may sometimes seem, we
remember the encouragement of St. Paul through the Galatians, as expressed by
Charles Gabriel in his hymn, “Let us not grow weary in the work of love.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Christ invites us
to join together in an eternal partnership, overcoming the heartbreaks and
injustices of the world by ministering the healing kindness and goodness of
God’s love. How refreshing it must have been to see and hear Jesus exemplify
and teach, revealing the true nature of God in contrast with what those who
were professing traditional orthodoxy were practicing and proclaiming! How
refreshing it is for us today to hear the Great Invitation as an opportunity to
join Jesus in making this world a better place, even as we look forward to the
life of the world to come! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Isn’t this what we
want: Peace in our hearts, peace in our land, peace around the world? Imagine
how it would be if God’s love were perfected in our personal lives and
relationships. Imagine how it would be if our community, state, and nation were
ultimately governed by perfect love. Imagine an entire world brought together
in peace and love for everyone. This is the vision of Christ for the whole of
humanity that we would love one another as Christ has loved us. Jesus invites
you, me, and everyone else to join in a divine partnership of spreading peace
and love. Isn’t that refreshing?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest" <i>(Matthew 11:28 KJV).</i></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on July 9, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">For the Complete Sermon: [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/invitation-to-a-refreshing-partnership/Invitation%20to%20a%20Refreshing%20Partnership.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/invitation-to-a-refreshing-partnership/Invitation%20to%20a%20Refreshing%20Relationship.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/invitation-to-a-refreshing-partnership" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></b></p>Cover Image Photo by Pexels. “Teamwork,” 2016. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/hands-heart-red-paint-heart-shape-1846428/ 4 July 2023. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-63553658668435242942023-07-02T19:01:00.001-05:002023-07-02T19:01:47.054-05:00Kindness is the Best Offering<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRZYr-z-zm8VcW6T2BQ5fC_z0NBSHZtxb0oTquI78udjf6CvEuTbwnO3jPvabdSzly7FBBPVYCWa4qMYJLh6oxo3Jkl4lMW3_oEuZ63AAV3Ol0CiWkCTy2evll3efc_vZy1PXplQIkufPebfs3iWJ5NMf31nPVZS827GCpK3PG_9rtNVW-r3pV85uoJ4M/s1280/Give%20Water.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRZYr-z-zm8VcW6T2BQ5fC_z0NBSHZtxb0oTquI78udjf6CvEuTbwnO3jPvabdSzly7FBBPVYCWa4qMYJLh6oxo3Jkl4lMW3_oEuZ63AAV3Ol0CiWkCTy2evll3efc_vZy1PXplQIkufPebfs3iWJ5NMf31nPVZS827GCpK3PG_9rtNVW-r3pV85uoJ4M/w177-h118/Give%20Water.jpg" width="177" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Here
again, we are confronted with the kindness of the New Testament juxtaposed with
the harshness of the Old Testament. Through the dichotomy between the two, we
recognize the many vast differences between how people <i>think </i><span>of God and
how Jesus </span><i>reveals</i><span> God. One of the greatest differences is what people </span><i>think</i><span>
God expects of us </span><i>versus</i><span> what God </span><i>actually</i><span> expects of us. This
dichotomy is not only </span><i>between</i><span> the Testaments but also</span><i> within</i><span> the
Old Testament, as prophets and psalmists highlight the goodness, gentleness,
and mercy of God in stark contrast with some of the other writers of the Hebrew
text.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jesus
taught us to interpret all the Scriptures through God’s perspective of love
instead of through the perspective of fear. Faithfulness to the Biblical text
includes attention to the <i>voice</i> of God as revealed through the love of
Christ. Even through the most troublesome passages, the Bible speaks to us of
God’s loving presence and providence. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Christ
teaches us to emulate the goodness and kindness of God. That’s what we are
invited to focus on, even though there are plenty of distractions in the world and even in the Bible. John wrote, “Perfect love casteth out fear.” The eternal
life of God’s heavenly realm is bestowed on us as a free gift. By following
Christ in kindness and trusting the kindness of our Creator, we are
participants in the emerging kingdom of God “on earth, as it is in heaven.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on July 2, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">For the Complete Sermon: [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/kindness-is-the-best-offering/Kindness%20is%20the%20Best%20Offering.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/kindness-is-the-best-offering/Kindness%20is%20the%20Best%20Offering.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/kindness-is-the-best-offering" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Cover Image Photo by Jana Wersch. “Give
Water,” 2015. <i>Pixabay.</i> https://pixabay.com/photos/water-water-bottle-drink-sports-830374/
30 June 2023. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-65107089627163834252023-06-25T16:29:00.001-05:002023-06-25T16:34:49.413-05:00God is in the Response<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKoGDid5z1YtckI0MEpnS6k_ZX3nE-TVCgAuUzjXO5nR5ospRkgK_Sox0SO1rjpav5sBvqdsov57CpwpYX-iT3b5nxp8nba7hi7VL4Vpu6MzCFUEc3M4E931vL4fB2v9bgV-2v7gKkWZPoTMdHB-lQ-p8jTmztMO_mO4jtNwrixREHRQ-jyO9qrjGCwnN/s1280/natural-reserve-480985_1280.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgKoGDid5z1YtckI0MEpnS6k_ZX3nE-TVCgAuUzjXO5nR5ospRkgK_Sox0SO1rjpav5sBvqdsov57CpwpYX-iT3b5nxp8nba7hi7VL4Vpu6MzCFUEc3M4E931vL4fB2v9bgV-2v7gKkWZPoTMdHB-lQ-p8jTmztMO_mO4jtNwrixREHRQ-jyO9qrjGCwnN/w240-h180/natural-reserve-480985_1280.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">There
is no satisfactory explanation for most of the tragedies and hardships of life.
Some are caused intentionally. It is completely unfathomable to me as to why
anyone would want to cause harm to others for no reason or even for selfish
reasons. Others are caused by the weather or other acts of nature whose causes
are completely mechanical according to physics, and people just happen to be in
their way. Many are caused by accidents whose prevention can sometimes be anticipated
but often only speculated about in hindsight. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">God
is not the cause of our disasters, as the superstitious often assert. Rather,
God is in the response. Where family, friends, and neighbors jump in to help
with immediate needs, God is working through them. Where groups, institutions,
and agencies back them up with longer-term assistance, God is working through
them. Where we are able to be any part of these forms of response, God is
working through us. We are so grateful for all the ways God helps us and others
in all the different times of need. God is in the healing response.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our
prayers are a vital part of our response to all degrees of misfortune. Prayer
enables us to center our thoughts and feelings in the midst of any storm. The
Holy Spirit meets us in prayer, and she calms our spirits, reaffirms God’s
love, and reminds us of God’s promises. We connect to Creation in prayer,
especially to those for whom we are praying in the difficulties they are
facing. Through prayer, we begin to discover additional actions we can take to follow
through in the answering of our prayers, some specific and some general, some
in word, some in deed, and some in continuing prayer for ourselves and others.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">William
Batchelder Bradbury wrote in the first song my Dad taught me to play on the
piano,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thy wings shall my petition bear<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To Him whose truth and faithfulness<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Engage the waiting soul to bless<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And since He bids me seek His face<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Believe His Word and trust His grace<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I'll cast on Him my ev'ry care<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And wait for thee sweet hour of prayer</span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on June 25, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">For the Complete Sermon: [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/god-is-in-the-response/God%20is%20in%20the%20Response.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/god-is-in-the-response/God%20is%20in%20the%20Response.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/god-is-in-the-response" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Cover Image by <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mystics Art Design.
“Nature Reserve,” 2014. </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Pixaby</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. https://pixabay.com/illustrations/natural-</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">reserve-responsibility-world-480985/</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">13 June 2023. </span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-88302498718258013872023-06-18T20:21:00.003-05:002023-06-18T20:32:07.284-05:00Father's Day Spirit<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_aqdKc064NJt9u7llEs1YojLk6TeDB-2nxTWc057Q9odX2ukXJoSAKVR92jqaBSlS8mxm1hb2zjgbTLoJmp0EsokgMPxohfklQ1FXP7B6WhGhX33UyrS81QPqSzoJpg6fjepooO7E3Ecp60TQJ-2ZQwOSdn2KJ4i2pIA4r-WnPKuIhSiXmsvSedVGA/s700/Cima_da_Conegliano,_God_the_Father.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="700" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_aqdKc064NJt9u7llEs1YojLk6TeDB-2nxTWc057Q9odX2ukXJoSAKVR92jqaBSlS8mxm1hb2zjgbTLoJmp0EsokgMPxohfklQ1FXP7B6WhGhX33UyrS81QPqSzoJpg6fjepooO7E3Ecp60TQJ-2ZQwOSdn2KJ4i2pIA4r-WnPKuIhSiXmsvSedVGA/w262-h204/Cima_da_Conegliano,_God_the_Father.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Today
is Father’s Day, and perhaps should be celebrated as a form of “Parent’s Day”
since Mother’s Day is also celebrated as the “Festival of the Christian Home.” In
today’s readings, Sarah and Abraham were informed, in style somewhat reflected
thousands of years later by the Annunciation, that, unlikely as it seemed, they
were to become parents.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
Bible invites us to think of God in part as our Heavenly Parent. Jesus taught
us to pray to “Our Father which art in heaven.” Paul taught that the Holy Spirit within us
creates a parent/child relationship, and she “calls out, ‘Abba, Father’” as phrased in the New International Version, on our behalf. The paternal term
is meant to communicate relationship, not gender since God is neither female
nor male and is both feminine and masculine. Our Creator is our eternal Parent.
The Scriptures use both motherly and fatherly imagery to communicate that we
are the beloved children of God. Paul reminds us that our Heavenly Father
“proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for
us,”as the New Revised Standard Version says. As illustrated by Jesus’ “Parable of
the Prodigal,” our Heavenly Parent is always watching for ways to reconcile and
deepen the relationship with us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In my father’s sermon notes for today's reading from Romans, Dad wrote:<br /><br />God’s love says, “I love you unconditionally. I’ve always given myself to you. What is your response?” God’s love does not depend on our virtue or achievements. The nature of God’s love is such that it does not leave us as it finds us. And it does not use us up. It refreshes and renews.<br /><br /></span></p><p>
</p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on June 18, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org/" style="color: #1177cc; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">For the Complete Sermon: [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/fathers-day-spirit/Father%27s%20Day%20Spirit.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/fathers-day-spirit/Father%27s%20Day%20Spirit.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/fathers-day-spirit" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div id="edn3">
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-81029298108582554422023-06-11T19:32:00.003-05:002023-06-11T19:34:40.301-05:00Invitation to Christian Discipleship<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0Y70-kTIRxNJ-IcVRioo-OH8D34y9A9Ck3_HV2C0A5Nd8XYST4CgSPMTNhrz6ZGQR7tzXfCIg6YuMhCW7Cne2tnXMRc1dA3GCak7FokFl0BtN28XJBNLmE5FTbD6jDs8FZAp1sx-HhUgl8Ya-tCp8058n1ZjS85uCFdvaWvvmdZiWcYbEPaVhk-WQA/s1280/photoshop-4503992_1280.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="886" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0Y70-kTIRxNJ-IcVRioo-OH8D34y9A9Ck3_HV2C0A5Nd8XYST4CgSPMTNhrz6ZGQR7tzXfCIg6YuMhCW7Cne2tnXMRc1dA3GCak7FokFl0BtN28XJBNLmE5FTbD6jDs8FZAp1sx-HhUgl8Ya-tCp8058n1ZjS85uCFdvaWvvmdZiWcYbEPaVhk-WQA/w126-h182/photoshop-4503992_1280.jpg" width="126" /></a></div> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">We and all people
are offered the same personal invitation of Christ as Matthew and others in the
Bible, “Follow me.” It isn’t possible for us to follow Jesus physically, but
his first followers only were able to do so at the very beginning of their
discipleship. Most of their lives were spent following Jesus spiritually, just
like we are invited to do. We feel the Holy Spirit moving within and among us.
Her love stirs our hearts, drawing us ever more deeply into our relationship
with Christ and each other. Just as Jesus promised, she teaches and guides us
to respond to the impressions she makes in our hearts and minds, constantly
inviting us – “wooing us to heaven,” as Philip Bliss wrote in his hymn,
“Wonderful Words of Life.”</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The invitation to
Christian discipleship is not a one-and-done <i>demand</i> but a continuing <i>attraction</i>,
new and fresh every day. I hear the invitation of Jesus not like a <i>command</i>
but like the lyrics of John Denver’s <i>love song</i> with the same title,
“<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_otEzDAa5w" target="_blank">Follow Me</a>.” Don’t you just want to take
Jesus’ hand?<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on June 11, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">For the Complete Sermon: [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/invitation-to-christian-discipleship/Invitation%20to%20Christian%20Discipleship.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/invitation-to-christian-discipleship/Invitation%20to%20Christian%20Discipleship.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/invitation-to-christian-discipleship" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-53239555413964383442023-06-04T15:56:00.000-05:002023-06-04T15:56:45.958-05:00Fully Inclusive Trinity<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJgKHT2vG03PNqixTUf3cBqIQQ9cMDu-uQcxnbEv5WZjm4XqX_tpYiSH7d1cfgrtrTFbMFlA6Vtb2Tte4jELnBdZ0Lfg_TveqPYLB9u11Z9wdu6aynRWbJ5wTCE7dvxg0aFwgr2HspizKr6signE59V9FWbf45ebPao_LhDqeYGJJYYaXwOn5I6MNGw/s1920/Shield-Trinity-Scutum-Fidei-English.svg.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="1920" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyJgKHT2vG03PNqixTUf3cBqIQQ9cMDu-uQcxnbEv5WZjm4XqX_tpYiSH7d1cfgrtrTFbMFlA6Vtb2Tte4jELnBdZ0Lfg_TveqPYLB9u11Z9wdu6aynRWbJ5wTCE7dvxg0aFwgr2HspizKr6signE59V9FWbf45ebPao_LhDqeYGJJYYaXwOn5I6MNGw/w173-h155/Shield-Trinity-Scutum-Fidei-English.svg.png" width="173" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Today is observed as Trinity
Sunday throughout much of Western Christianity, celebrating the unity expressed
through the doctrine of the Trinity. Today is also observed as Peace with
Justice Sunday across The United Methodist Church. A reminder in an article, “What
is Peace with Justice Sunday?” on the denominational website, says, “Our Social
Principles call us to love our enemies, seek justice, and serve as reconcilers
of conflict.”</span>[i]</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Inclusiveness
is about justice, and justice is about peace, and peace is about love, and the
Bible says, “God is love.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
The Bible starts with the Creation narrative by providing imagery to support
the oneness of all creation as a reflection of the oneness of God. On the night
he gave himself up for us, Jesus prayed in John 17 that we all “may be made perfect
in one,” or as phrased in The Message, “the glorious unity of being one.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
The “greatest law” Jesus quoted<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
begins,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: [and
continues] And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy might.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
[Jesus combined this law from Deuteronomy with another from Leviticus as the “second
greatest commandment:”] Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
prophet Amos, in his role as the mouthpiece of the Lord, declared in the Good
News Translation,” Let justice flow like a stream, and righteousness like a
river that never goes dry.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vi]</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">June
is Pride Month,<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
and yesterday our church participated in a ministry of presence at the Paducah
PrideFest as one of the sponsors for the event. We also had a booth for
providing information about Briensburg United Methodist Church and the
Reconciling Ministries Network. We circulated among the crowd to meet people
and share the love of Jesus. LGBTQ inclusiveness is a <i>justice</i> issue, not
only in society but in the Church. It is a great and harmful injustice that
people of the same gender are not allowed to be married in their own churches or
by their own pastors in The United Methodist Church. It is a great and harmful
injustice that practicing homosexuals are restricted from being ordained or
appointed as pastors in The United Methodist Church. LGBTQ Christians <i>are </i>encouraged
to participate fully in all other ministries of The United Methodist Church. We
gladly recognize all the ways The United Methodist Church is actively and prominently
engaged in many social justice issues worldwide. Still, we advocate for<i>
those</i> harmful, restrictive, and unjust rules added to our Discipline as
recently as 1974 to be removed <i>this year</i> at General Conference.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Every
month of the year also has several days set aside for awareness of other important
social justice issues. Health care, poverty, hunger, racism, gender inequality,
gun violence, domestic violence, war, child abuse, and human trafficking are only
a few of the countless grave injustices worldwide. Our individual power is
limited in addressing these enormous spiritual challenges. Still, the Holy
Ghost’s power to unite us has repeatedly proven to make a remarkable difference
for the victims of injustice. The second of three United Methodist baptismal
vows is to “accept the freedom and power God gives [us] to resist evil,
injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[viii]</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
prophet Micah famously preached in Micah 6:8 in the Good News Translation, “The
Lord has told us what is good. What [God] requires of us is this: to do what is
just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.” Working
together in harmony and peace for justice and unity is what Jesus prayed in
John 17 and what the prophets, apostles, and church leaders from Augustine to
Wesley have preached. God continues to call women and men to preach social
holiness in our generation. The more fully and inclusively we unite in
Christian love and service, the more we reflect the oneness of the fully
inclusive Trinity. Paul wrote to the Ephesians as phrased in the Good News
Translation:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Do
your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace
that binds you together. There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one
hope to which God has called you. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
there is one God and Father of all people, who is Lord of all, works through
all, and is in all.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ix]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">_______________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on June 4, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">For the Complete Sermon: [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/fully-inclusive-trinity/Fully%20Inclusive%20Trinity.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/fully-inclusive-trinity/Fully%20Inclusive%20Trinity.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> | <a href="https://archive.org/details/fully-inclusive-trinity" target="_blank">E-Book & Other Formats</a> </span>]</b></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div>
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1"><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">[i]</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <a name="_Hlk136545000">The United Methodist Church. “What is Peace with Justice Sunday?” 2023. <i>The United Methodist Church. https://www.umc.org/en/content/peace-with-justice-sunday-ministry-article </i>1 June 2023.</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> 1 John 4:8 (KJV).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> John 17:23 (KJV, MSG).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Matthew 22:36-40.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (KJV).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn5">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[v]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Leviticus 19:18 (KJV).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn6">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vi]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Amos 5:24 (GNT).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn7">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[vii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Wikipedia Contributors. “Pride Month,” 2 June 2023. <i>Wikipedia:
The Free Encyclopedia</i>. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_Month 2 June 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn8">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[viii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> The United Methodist Church. “The Baptismal Covenant
I.” <i>The United Methodist Book of Worship</i>, p. 88. Nashville: The United
Methodist Publishing House, 1992. Print.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn9">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ix]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Ephesians 4:2-6 (GNT).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div><div><!--[if !supportEndnotes]-->
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<div id="edn1">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><br /></p>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-81201750146964946572023-05-28T14:19:00.000-05:002023-05-28T14:19:08.622-05:00Empowered to Minister Forgiveness<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnNTdxcPb-UhDuk2G3ts3lkbuwu5E12HCsQwiV9MNUXQktoAeNjpvUzCZ35l3BnaYyFLyRW3W3S8MxbKlLfLUXFJbgAesAld-N3ZKsg7S7cnPR8LCQc9u4HlsqCvAwe4OiFbtDjvKP_H8ievgG3uv42HAp6kduJlZWy_QemNPXpyJvc4J_WQFjyMnHw/s492/Pentecost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="492" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnNTdxcPb-UhDuk2G3ts3lkbuwu5E12HCsQwiV9MNUXQktoAeNjpvUzCZ35l3BnaYyFLyRW3W3S8MxbKlLfLUXFJbgAesAld-N3ZKsg7S7cnPR8LCQc9u4HlsqCvAwe4OiFbtDjvKP_H8ievgG3uv42HAp6kduJlZWy_QemNPXpyJvc4J_WQFjyMnHw/w254-h220/Pentecost.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Today we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Some days of celebration on the Christian calendar come at times when current events
in our daily lives make celebration difficult. The first Pentecost was
celebrated shortly after Jesus’ death and resurrection and ascension at the
beginning of a great persecution of Christians that intensified over several
hundred years. Yet, we, as they did, celebrate that God is with us in the midst
of all our heartbreaks and sorrows to strengthen and guide us. Jesus called the
Holy Spirit the “Comforter,”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
and we are so very thankful for the comfort she brings in difficult times. Francis
Bottome wrote in his hymn,<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come!<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Holy Ghost from heaven, the Father's promise
given;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The
first empowerment of the Holy Ghost specified by Jesus after the Resurrection is
the power to forgive sins. Paul further addressed in his writings the additional
powers to minister spiritual gifts and to bear spiritual fruits. Together,
these powers enable us to learn how to keep the commandment of Jesus, to love others
as Christ has loved us,</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
and to serve the world in the ministry of God’s unconditional, universal forgiveness
and love.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">God’s
dream always was to pour out the Holy Spirit on all humanity, inclusively and
without exception, as Peter explained on the Day of Pentecost, citing the
prophet Joel. We are empowered individually and collectively, as Jesus promised
at his Ascension:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> “</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but
tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[iv]</span></span></span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: Roboto; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">Our acceptance of this empowerment
is a personal decision we make in our relationship with God.</span></p><p>
</p><div><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excerpt from the manuscript and audio of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on May 28, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">For the Complete Sermon: [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/empowered-to-minister-forgiveness/" target="_blank">E-Book</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/empowered-to-minister-forgiveness/Empowered%20to%20Minister%20Forgiveness.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/empowered-to-minister-forgiveness/Empowered%20to%20Minister%20Forgiveness.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> </span>]</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> John 16:7 (KJV).<br /></span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Francis Bottome. “The Comforter Has Come,” 1890. <i>Hymnary</i>. <a href="https://hymnary.org/text/o_spread_the_tidings_round" target="_blank">Web</a>. 26 May 2023.<br /></span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> John 13:34.<br /></span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12pt;">Luke 24:49 (KJV).</span></p></div>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;">Image: Gerd Altman. “Pentecost,” 2018. <i>Pixabay</i>. </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/illustrations/pentecost-holy-spirit-christianity-3409249/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Web.</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 400; text-align: left;"> 27 May 2023. </span></b></p><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div id="edn2"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p>
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-32631254627682036492023-05-21T18:31:00.000-05:002023-05-21T18:31:00.274-05:00Christ Ascended Into Heaven <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4fZq7fUJO_dMUgPmAoLcnj1q4i2FPS-S3fe7LuFP2TSKlCd1XwjRUKS5BqdSiR4CEJfno_RMxYjtgEqjEWJOzwrtCZ3OVfKM_VA4hwaA_eyuRaUpUxlOAyjN8N0nb5CrGa-eXd5XCKVS0Dpv4oRTHxQNDD5s9lkUldbAUYQfAW8zw4jiajni78CNOQ/s1432/Jesus_ascending_to_heaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1432" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4fZq7fUJO_dMUgPmAoLcnj1q4i2FPS-S3fe7LuFP2TSKlCd1XwjRUKS5BqdSiR4CEJfno_RMxYjtgEqjEWJOzwrtCZ3OVfKM_VA4hwaA_eyuRaUpUxlOAyjN8N0nb5CrGa-eXd5XCKVS0Dpv4oRTHxQNDD5s9lkUldbAUYQfAW8zw4jiajni78CNOQ/s320/Jesus_ascending_to_heaven.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We celebrate
the Ascension of Jesus as the completion of his transformation from the One in
whom dwelt “all the fulness of the Godhead bodily”</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
to the One who “filleth all in all.”</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
But he didn’t leave us behind. Christ remains within and among us through the
Holy Spirit and includes us all in the Church Universal, “which is his body,
the fullness of [the One] that filleth all in all.”</span><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">During the
forty days after the Resurrection, Jesus appeared in many forms. Since the
Ascension, Christ continued to appear in different ways in the Bible.
Throughout the history of the church, many have reported various types of visual
apparitions of Jesus. Most Christians can testify that we have experienced some
sort of spiritual connection with the risen Christ. Methodism commemorates John
Wesley’s Aldersgate Experience, about which he wrote,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust
in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He
had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Manuscript and audio of the sermon preached by <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on May 21, 2023, at </span><a href="https://briensburg.org" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">Briensburg UMC</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">Complete Sermon: [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/christ-ascended-into-heaven" target="_blank">E-Book</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://ia801607.us.archive.org/18/items/christ-ascended-into-heaven/Christ%20Ascended%20into%20Heaven.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/christ-ascended-into-heaven/Christ%20Ascended%20into%20Heaven.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> </span>]</b></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></b></p>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Colossians 2:9 (KJV).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ephesians 1:23 (KJV).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn3">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Ibid.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn4">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[iv]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> John Wesley. “Entry for May 24, 1738.” <i>The Journal of the Rev. John Wesley, A.M.
in Four Vols, Vol. I. </i>London: J.M. Dent & Co., 1907. Digitized by the
Internet Archive, 2017. </span><a href="https://archive.org/details/journalofrevjohn01wesl_0/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Web</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. 15 May
2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Copley, John
Singleton. “Ascension,” 1775. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons. </span><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jesus_ascending_to_heaven.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Web</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. 19 May 2023.
Painting, Image. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-3685900149645346552023-05-14T13:32:00.008-05:002023-05-18T22:46:21.653-05:00Mother's Day Spirit<p><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #2c2c2c; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs5IEoi_H5a5bdmbcvWxf1EOGcrXX1u8j_yeV0UVkLNTKuWJ_x7p3dLlsVd0sgMjBmZ_Wev_PIn-94pkiX9MMi8CTWS_wvLE49cejYQWdSVBjNHafmiMrea_34WQFTn8m_Ua1MRLzp20py4xh0e7WPllaAIPd9Vsvaj-jD2Dqsa3jBjSJJ79WIxgKQA/s480/William-Adolphe_Bouguereau_(1825-1905)_-_Maternal_Admiration_(1869).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIs5IEoi_H5a5bdmbcvWxf1EOGcrXX1u8j_yeV0UVkLNTKuWJ_x7p3dLlsVd0sgMjBmZ_Wev_PIn-94pkiX9MMi8CTWS_wvLE49cejYQWdSVBjNHafmiMrea_34WQFTn8m_Ua1MRLzp20py4xh0e7WPllaAIPd9Vsvaj-jD2Dqsa3jBjSJJ79WIxgKQA/s320/William-Adolphe_Bouguereau_(1825-1905)_-_Maternal_Admiration_(1869).jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The motherly
attributes of God as well as the godly attributes of motherly women, are
highlighted by the Mother’s Day spirit. Pope John Paul I, acknowledging the
traditional patriarchal references to God as Father, added, “Even more, God is
our Mother.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span>
Motherhood is even more spiritual than it is biological. We do greatly honor and
are so very grateful for our biological mothers. We also honor all the women
who manifest the motherly spirit, whether or not they are biological mothers. Both
motherly and fatherly persons reflect the Deity. Juliana of Norwich wrote,
“Just as God is our Father, so God is also our Mother.”<span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><div><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Manuscript and audio of the sermon preached by Rev. Bill Lawson </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">on May 14, 2023, at Briensburg UMC.</span></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Complete Sermon: [ <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/details/mothers-day-spirit" target="_blank">E-Book</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/mothers-day-spirit/Mother%27s%20Day%20Spirit.pdf" target="_blank">PDF</a></span> | <span style="color: #1177cc;"><a href="https://archive.org/download/mothers-day-spirit/Mother%27s%20Day%20Spirit.mp3" target="_blank">MP3 Audio</a> </span>]</b></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </b></p>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> David McBriar. “The Feminine Face of God,” 2021. The
Franciscans. </span><a href="https://thefranciscans.org/the-feminine-face-of-god/"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Web</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. 10 May
2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="edn2">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Juliana of Norwich. “God is Our Mother,” 1416. The
Holy See, reprinted from <i>Revelations of Divine </i></span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Love</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">. </span><a href="https://www.vatican.va/spirit/documents/spirit_20010807_giuliana-norwich_en.html" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Web</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">. 10 May
2023.</span></p>
</div>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bouguereau, William-Adolphe.
“Maternal Admiration” 1869. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:William-Adolphe_Bouguereau_(1825-1905)_-_Maternal_Admiration_(1869).jpg"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Web</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.
11 May 2023. Painting<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-40998115014545991302023-05-07T14:27:00.040-05:002023-05-13T05:00:16.872-05:00A Place for All Y'all<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJU8Cs7y_cZIk4xv80doJ8Pi1xNq3wNlOlzF1-aPwqNr1LMvUMDgFudkTVk6SwOcLH4Tzu8B5OQxxfI1XDKHLxrE8qzGHvJe_YTCwthF5KPu0JcWEb5cmCXoB8DcvRAmRgmN5shPMcu0iYO5qkxA6Js4wk0ZOdnxkw4fL1C2wD0DedgfiscQWi2X8UwQ/s1280/world-1348808_1280.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJU8Cs7y_cZIk4xv80doJ8Pi1xNq3wNlOlzF1-aPwqNr1LMvUMDgFudkTVk6SwOcLH4Tzu8B5OQxxfI1XDKHLxrE8qzGHvJe_YTCwthF5KPu0JcWEb5cmCXoB8DcvRAmRgmN5shPMcu0iYO5qkxA6Js4wk0ZOdnxkw4fL1C2wD0DedgfiscQWi2X8UwQ/w170-h170/world-1348808_1280.png" width="170" /></a></div><div>I recently had a dream about a great banquet table around which people of all the different religions in
the world were gathered in groups according to their various faith communities. Each congregation
had brought the sacred foods of their religion to this common table. For example, the Christians
brought the bread. The wine or grape juice was furnished for all by the unseen Host. </div><div><br /></div><div>As everyone received their cup of wine or juice and started to eat, we began to realize that the sacred
food each group had provided was intended by the Host to be shared with all. We had all come to the
table thinking that our food was only for ourselves – only for those who shared our beliefs and
practices. We discovered that each group’s sacred food was part of a great shared meal, like a giant
potluck dinner or maybe a wedding feast… perhaps what we might think of as the Marriage Supper of
the Lamb. And the Christians brought the bread. </div><div><br /></div><div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>Internet Archive: [<a href="https://archive.org/details/a-place-for-all-yall" target="_blank">View</a>, <a href="https://archive.org/download/a-place-for-all-yall/A%20Place%20for%20All%20Y%27all.pdf" target="_blank">Download</a>, or <a href="https://ia902609.us.archive.org/15/items/a-place-for-all-yall/A%20Place%20for%20All%20Y%27all.mp3" target="_blank">Listen</a>]</b></h3></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>I woke from the dream and immediately associated it with the sermon I would be preaching today. I
thought of the words from Psalm 23, “Thou preparest a table before me.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span> I thought of the promise
Jesus made in today’s lectionary Gospel reading, “I go to prepare a place for you.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">2 </span></div><div><br /></div><div>As I continued to reflect on the dream between then and now, the vision only kept expanding in my
mind. The ideas were fed in part by the context of the festive atmosphere at the place where we were
staying, whose motto is “Love all, serve all.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">3</span> Cheryl and I were surrounded by people from all over
the world. One spectacular group from India was celebrating a week-long wedding party with
participants wearing their traditional attire of brilliant colors and beautiful designs. Mesmerizing music
of their culture filled the air. They were happy and friendly. One couple gladly shared with us a little bit
about what they were doing. </div><div><br /></div><div>My waking dream continued to unfold as I imagined the vast array of spiritual music from each of the
religions gathered around the banquet table, flowing together harmoniously. I remembered personal
experiences of multi-cultural worship services where the types of bread from various countries and
cultures were placed together on the Communion table, then shared during the Sacrament. I thought
there must be multicultural versions of the various foods that are sacred to all the other religions as
well. I could almost smell the blending of aromas wafting among us. </div><div><br /></div><div>I thought about all the various languages of the earth represented in this vision. Each brought to the
table their sacred texts, with favorite passages memorized for sharing their faith. The Christians were
quoting John 3:16 and 1 John 4:7-8, and others were quoting representative verses of their
Scriptures. I thought about the sacred arts that have graced humanity, transcending all its spiritual
communions. I remembered visits to the worship spaces of other faiths and sacred spaces I’ve only
seen pictures of and others I might not even be able to imagine. Still, the ideas keep flooding my mind
with a magnificent sense of unity in diversity. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have been so excited to come here this morning and preach this sermon. I love being pastor of a
congregation that shares a passion for inclusiveness and harmony. It’s like Jesus prepared a place
for us – this place. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, as John Lennon expressed in “Imagine,”<span style="font-size: x-small;">4</span> we’re not the only ones. We are part of the Reconciling
Network of United Methodist congregations and other groups and individuals who share this dream 2
along with other like-minded people in our denomination and other people all around the globe.
Norman Rockwell conveyed a similar vision in his painting, “The Golden Rule.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">5</span> Martin Luther King,
Jr. powerfully shared his vision for inclusiveness in his speech, “I Have a Dream.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">6</span> John Wesley
began his sermon “Catholic Spirit” by writing, ”It is allowed… that love is due to all mankind, the royal
law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," carrying its own evidence to all that hear it.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">7</span> St. Paul
captured the yearning of humanity for unity in his letter to the Ephesians as he wrote, </div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect
[person], unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.<span style="font-size: x-small;">8</span> </div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>The aspirational prayer of Christ embraced the highest possible vision for humanity as Jesus prayed
in John 17, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be
one in us.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">9</span> </div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><b>The places Christ is preparing for us are just what we need. </b> </div></blockquote><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2 KJV)</blockquote><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. (John 14:2 NRSV) <span style="font-size: x-small;">10</span></blockquote><br /><div>This passage from John’s Gospel contains the kernel of many conversations, sermons, articles, and books. The first six verses are especially comforting at times of bereavement. Yet the original context for this promise is the death of Christ and his return to those who were continuing to live. He would be returning to take them to their dwelling places in this life as well as in the life of the world to come.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Christ is preparing places for everyone, not just in heaven but every day in this life, too. There are many kinds of dwelling places. My mother used to keep “Mansion Over the Hilltop”<span style="font-size: x-small;">11</span> on the piano, and I can still see and hear her sing it every once in a while. The imagery of “many mansions” and “many dwelling places” communicates the many types of physical and spiritual places God makes available to us.</div></div><p>Cleland Boyd McAfee wrote in his hymn,<span style="font-size: x-small;">12</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">There is a place of quiet rest…</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">A place where sin cannot molest…</blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">A place of comfort sweet…</blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">A place where we our Savior meet…</blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">A place of full release…</blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">A place where all is joy and peace…</blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p>Near to the heart of God.</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b>Christ has prepared a place of full inclusion in the life and ministry of the church.</b></p><p>Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.<i> (1 Peter 2:5 KJV)</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">13</span></p></blockquote>Reginald Fuller, in his book <i>Preaching the Lectionary</i>, suggests that this passage is perhaps designed to inform new converts of “the nature of the community into which they are being admitted.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">14</span> Like the grand idea of America as a melting pot, Christ, as we say in our baptismal covenant, “has opened [the Church] to people of all ages, nations, and races.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">15</span> Our Inclusiveness statement, adopted unanimously by the church council five years ago, says,<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">We invite everyone to share fully in the worship services, life, ministry, and leadership of Briensburg United Methodist Church, inclusive of age, race, nationality, gender, LGBTQ, theology, politics, and legal status.<span style="font-size: x-small;">16</span></p></blockquote><p>I loved hearing this excerpt from the Coronation Prayer of King Charles, </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and belief, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace.<span style="font-size: x-small;">17</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b>Christ prepares a place of wholeness, love, and mercy for all people.</b></p><p>Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. <i>(Psalm 31:16 KJV) </i></p><p>Look on your servant with kindness; save me in your constant love. <i>(Psalm 31:16 GNT)</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">18</span></p></blockquote><p>It is not a far stretch to add to the examples Jesus gave in Matthew in his parable about the Judgement of the Nations, something like, “I was homeless, and ye gave me shelter, a refugee, and ye gave me sanctuary.” “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these… ye have done it unto me.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">19</span> Mercy and kindness urge nations and their citizenries to emulate Christ in preparing places for everyone, especially their most vulnerable populations.</p><p>Most people want to live in peace and harmony with each other and accord everyone the freedom and rights, and fairness they want for themselves. In other words, “love thy neighbor as thyself.”<span style="font-size: x-small;">20 </span>Sacramentally, we express that longing as we gather around the Eucharistic Table. Gordon Thompson <span style="font-size: x-small;">21</span> taught in a class on Sacraments that for us as United Methodists, the mystery is not only what is happening <i>on</i> the communion table but also <i>around</i> the communion table in the hearts and minds of those who gather. We share this point of intersection, that we love God and desire to live in peace and harmony with each other.</p><p>We are invited to network with others who share the vision of Christ “that we all may be one.” We are invited to meet those who join us at each table we gather around in those places Christ prepares for us every day. We are invited to embrace what other people bring to the table, even as we share with them what we bring to the table.</p><p>And the Christians brought the bread. </p><p>In the Name of Jesus, Amen.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div><br /></div><div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">_________________________</i></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>A Place for All Y’all<br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Manuscript of the sermon preached by Rev. Bill Lawson on May
7, 2023, <br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">at Briensburg United Methodist Church<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Bible Readings for the 5th Sunday of Easter, Revised Common Lectionary<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal">_________________________</p></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><b>Acknowledgments </b></div><div>____________________ </div><div><br /></div><div><span>Maicon Fonseca Zanco.
“World Globe,” 2016. Pixabay.com. </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/illustrations/world-earth-globe-sphere-planet-1348808/" target="_blank">Web</a><span>.
8 May 2023. Image.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Revised Common Lectionary. Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. <a href="http://www.commontexts.org/" target="_blank">Web</a>. 4 May 2023.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Revised Common Lectionary. Vanderbilt Divinity Library. 2008. <a href="https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=43" target="_blank">Web</a>. 4 May 2023. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Copyrights</b></div><div>____________________ <br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div>© 2023, William H.
Lawson, Jr. All rights reserved. Unaltered copies may be freely circulated in
electronic and print media. For other uses, please email the author at <a href="mailto:bill@livingweb.com"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">bill@livingweb.com</span></a><span>.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div>Bible quotations are from the King James Version and are in the Public Domain, except as otherwise
indicated. </div><div><br /></div><div>Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version -
Second Edition, Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission. </div><div><br /></div><div>Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright ©
1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Notes </b></div><div><div>____________________ </div><div><br /></div></div><div> 1 Psalm 23:5 (KJV) </div><div> 2 John 14:2 (KJV) </div><div> 3 Hard Rock Hotel Motto. “Love All, Serve All.” Hard Rock Hotels. <a href="https://www.hardrockhotels.com/all-inclusive/news/love-all-serve-all/" target="_blank">Web</a>. 6 May 2023. </div><div> 4 John Lennon. “Imagine,” 1971. John Lennon Official Website. <a href="https://www.johnlennon.com/music/singles/imagine/" target="_blank">Web</a>. 6 May 2023. </div><div> 5 Norman Rockwell. “Golden Rule,” 1961. Painting. Norman Rockwell Museum. <a href="https://www.nrm.org/2014/02/golden_rule/" target="_blank">Web</a>. 6 May 2023. </div><div> 6 Martin Luther King, Jr. “I Have a Dream,” 1963. National Public Radio. <a href="https://www.npr.org/2010/01/18/122701268/i-have-a-dream-speech-in-its-entirety" target="_blank">Web</a>. 6 May 2023. </div><div> 7 John Wesley. “Sermon 39 – Catholic Spirit.” <i>John Wesley Sermons.</i> ResourceUMC. <a href="https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/sermon-39-catholic-spirit" target="_blank">Web</a>. 6 May
2023. </div><div> 8 Ephesians 4:13 (KJV) </div><div> 9 John 17:1 (KJV) </div><div>10 John 14:2 (KJV, NRSV) </div><div>11 Ira Stanphill. “Mansion Over the Hilltop,” 1949. Word to Worship. <a href="https://wordtoworship.com/song/115788" target="_blank">Web</a>. 6 May 2023. </div><div>12 Cleland Boyd McAfee. “Near to the Heart of God,” 1903. Hymnary.org. <a href="https://hymnary.org/text/there_is_a_place_of_quiet_rest" target="_blank">Web</a>. 6 May 2023. </div><div>13 1 Peter 2:5 (KJV) </div><div>14 Reginald H. Fuller. <i>Preaching the Lectionary</i>, p. 83. Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press,
1984. </div><div>15 The United Methodist Church. “The Baptismal Covenant I.” <i>The United Methodist Book of Worship</i>,
p. 88. Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1992. </div><div>16 Briensburg United Methodist Church. “Inclusiveness Statement,” 2018. <a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/inclusion/" target="_blank">Web</a>. 7 May 2023. </div><div>17 King Charles III. “King Charles’ Coronation,” 2023. The Telegraph. <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2023/05/06/king-charles-coronation-prayer-in-full-sermon/#:~:text=The%20King's%20prayer%20in%20full&text=Grant%20that%20I%20may%20be,through%20Jesus%20Christ%20our%20Lord." target="_blank">Web</a>. 6 May 2023. </div><div>18 Psalm 31:16 (KJV, GNT) </div><div>19 Matthew 25:40 (KJV)5 </div><div>20 Matthew 22:39 (KJV) </div><div>21 <span>Thompson Family. “Obituary
of Rev. Dr. Gordon G. Thompson,” 2009. Mayes Ward Dobbins Funeral Home. </span><a href="https://www.mayeswarddobbins.com/obituaries/RevDrGordonG-Thompson-530/#!/Obituary"><span>Web</span></a><span>. 7 May
2023.</span></div><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><o:p></o:p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-84434903426240297532023-04-16T14:21:00.000-05:002023-04-16T14:21:29.208-05:00Lift Us to the Joy Divine<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnl3dBFTZ3pz42ivrhHmTIKcXWV5TO9w8CU0NMSeXJwrsWxs8-R8u_b_oei3c6s63e-Y3rjrJuubAX6Ylr3Pl42o-A5i2UjgnlBfUSQgOFHjSdJR7w0ZrFiJr6ycZ6aQrtcCcIskqY8ItZzNGw7QeVQ5t4PG-NDKogS-DgKC1pl0mAybkcQ3XCG1DJw/s1280/balls-313405_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1185" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJnl3dBFTZ3pz42ivrhHmTIKcXWV5TO9w8CU0NMSeXJwrsWxs8-R8u_b_oei3c6s63e-Y3rjrJuubAX6Ylr3Pl42o-A5i2UjgnlBfUSQgOFHjSdJR7w0ZrFiJr6ycZ6aQrtcCcIskqY8ItZzNGw7QeVQ5t4PG-NDKogS-DgKC1pl0mAybkcQ3XCG1DJw/s320/balls-313405_1280.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>The
Resurrection culminates the teachings and example Jesus demonstrated of a spiritual
realm coexisting among all the world’s opposing forces. One approach to life
promotes a culture of fear, violence, and authoritarianism. The other is a path
toward love, peace, and freedom. One kind of society grows within the other
like the bread leavened by yeast in Jesus’ parable about the Kingdom of God. One
is timeless and eternal, extending even beyond death. The other is not. God’s
goodness and love will eventually completely overcome every evil dominion in the
universe. We choose which way of life we will resist and which we will nurture.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Violence,
racism, and all forms of intolerance and discrimination are heralded by some as
“good Christian values.” </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Regulations
against corporate fraud and pollution are decried as government overreaching while,
often in the name of faith, the same people demand government regulation of
women’s choices about their own bodies, parental decisions for their trans children, and loving relationships shared by
LGBTQ couples. Individual and mass shootings seem to have become the norm
rather than the exception. Autocratic nations, not content to dominate their
own citizenry, reach across their borders to intimidate, start wars, commit war
crimes and atrocities, and unlawfully detain citizens of other countries. And
all that is just the tip of the iceberg of things going on this week!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">_________________________</i></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Manuscript of the sermon preached on April 16, 2023, at Briensburg UMC</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bible Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Easter</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31</div><div style="text-align: center;">_________________________</div></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We
live in a dual culture, characterized by Jesus in his Parable of the Wheat and
Tares, and in other religions and philosophies by various similar imagery of
good and evil in constant conflict. There are people of all different religious
views who desire the good for the betterment of humanity through love, peace, harmony,
spirituality, and cooperation. And then there are those who seek the opposite,
often in the name of the same religions. The whole Bible narrative assures us
that eventually, good will entirely overcome evil, and all sorrow will be
displaced throughout Creation with perfect love and true happiness. We are
invited to support this vision of Christ, individually and collectively, as we cultivate
relationships and nurture faith. We pray as Henry Van Dyke wrote in “Joyful,
Joyful, We Adore Thee,”</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Teach us how to love each other,<br />Lift us to the joy divine.</span></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God invites us into eternal spiritual relationships
of true happiness.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence
is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Psalm 16:11 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
17th-century friar, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, emphasized “The
Practice of the Presence of God.” He invited us to cultivate increasing
awareness of God’s presence through our ongoing natural conversation with God. At
my Dad’s memorial service, a woman told me that years before, Dad had taught
her about “conversational prayer” and said that her life had never been the same
since. This kind of natural flow to our relationship with God is much like our
relationships with the people we love. We share experiences and talk freely
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We encourage each other, and
it makes us happy just to know someone who loves us is around. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The
more we think about God and the people we love, the more we feel spiritually
connected. The more we intentionally engage God as a spiritual friend and
companion, the more our fears of God subside and our love for God increases,
and with that love comes true eternal happiness and endless joy. Cleland Boyd
McAfee wrote,</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There is a place of full release,<br />near to the heart of God,<br />a place where all is joy and peace,<br />near to the heart of God.</span></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On
the way to the Garden, Jesus told his disciples, “These things have I spoken
unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” <i>(John
15:11 KJV).</i> The invitations and teachings of Jesus, and of the whole Bible,
are meant to offer us a vision of joy to accept and vanquish the visions of despair
within and around us. Maybe that’s why “Just a little talk with Jesus makes it
right,” as Cleavant Derricks wrote in his song. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How we understand God’s presence makes all the
difference in how we understand our faith.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou
shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Acts 2:28 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You
have shown me the paths that lead to life, and your presence will fill me with
joy. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Acts 2:28 GNT)</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Bible presents
two opposing realms of thought and addresses the conflict of choice for
humanity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This dichotomy comes from how
people have historically understood God’s presence and speaks more to who we
are than to who God is. Today as in Old Testament times, there are those who
choose to invoke an irrational terror of the kind of God they present as enraged
toward humanity, only reluctantly allowing the possibility of a few to escape
eternal wrath. Others, now as then, have embraced the relationship with God described
in the familiar imagery of Psalm 23, who “leadeth me beside the still waters…
restoreth my soul… leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for [God’s] name
sake” <i>(Psalm 23:2-3 KJV). </i>We choose which relationship we will accept.
The Bible has plenty of material we can interpret to support our decision
either way, so the actual choice is ours to make. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love resolves that
choice. Consider the reconciling position of Jesus and the Apostles in the New
Testament, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God…” “Thou shalt love thy neighbor…” “love
one another as I have loved you…” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Perfect
love casteth out all fear…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>(Matthew
22:36-40; John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:18).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus reassured
Nicodemus in John chapter three that God’s presence is not one of scorn and
condemnation but of love and merciful salvation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not
his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him
might be saved. <i>(John 3:16-17 KJV)</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our hope and joy come from believing in the loving
presence of our Creator.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now
ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of
glory:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(1
Peter 1:8 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In today’s Gospel
reading from John, Thomas famously doubted the Resurrection until he saw Jesus
for himself. Jesus told him, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have
believed” <i>(John 20:29 KJV)</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter
repeated that idea in his letter, emphasizing that we love Christ even though
we have not seen him, yet are filled with amazing happiness because of it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Why might it be a
greater joy to believe what we have not seen?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Perhaps because of
the <i>way</i> we come to faith “having not seen.” It isn’t just blind faith
without any reason, because that kind of faith does not produce the kind of love
and joy Jesus and the Apostles described and demonstrated. This faith comes as a
gift through love. We are being loved into believing, and through our love,
others are coming to believe.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The kind of faith Jesus
taught is reflected in his Parable of the Mustard Seed suggesting that the
tiniest amount of faith will eventually grow into something remarkable. True
faith is a contagious confidence that spreads not only throughout our own
personal hearts and minds but throughout the hearts and minds of those around
us. The seeds of faith Jesus planted in his day continue to spread from person
to person, community to community, and generation to generation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We plant seeds of faith
by uniting at points where our beliefs intersect with those of others. The
Golden Rule… The Good Samaritan… Love thy neighbor… These are the kinds of
seeds that take root and grow. These are the seeds that transcend religious
differences. Many Christian faith seeds are shared concepts with other
religions and even with people who profess no religion.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In his hymn, “Joy
Unspeakable and Full of Glory,” Barney Elliott Warren wrote this poetic imagery,</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have found that hope so bright and clear,<br />Living in the realm of grace.<br />O the Savior’s presence is so near;<br />I can see His smiling face. </span></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We believe in God because God believes in us.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But these are written, that ye might believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(John
20:31 KJV)</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We may have trouble
believing what some people insist we must believe about various particulars and
interpretations coming out of the Christian religion. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">People believe what
they choose to believe, based on their own experiences and understanding. We
understand that and respect that, just as Paul respected and affirmed everyone
on Mars Hill with all their various beliefs. Then he told them about Jesus.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We share a variety
of creeds in our worship services. Sometimes, someone will tell me they don’t
believe this or that tenet in one of the creeds. My response is, “That’s fine,
just don’t say that part.” Some people and some churches don’t believe in freedom
of thought, but we do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The personal and
group affirmations of faith are not intended to be imposed on others, but only
to share with others these particular opinions we find helpful as spiritual
guideposts. Those who do agree with the statements made in a creed may also
disagree as to what those statements mean.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To believe in Jesus
is not just to believe facts about him, as James pointed out in his letter when
he wrote, “the devils also believe, and tremble” <i>(James 2:19 KJV).</i> To
believe in Jesus is to believe in what he is doing. To believe in Jesus is to believe
in what Christ is about -- his love, his compassion, and his vision for
humanity. We believe in his goal of transforming everyone from sorrow to joy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Talking to Nicodemus,
Jesus illustrated what he meant by “whosoever believeth” with the story of the
Serpent in the Wilderness. Everyone only needed to believe just barely enough to
peek up at the symbol Moses had put on a pole, and they would be saved – they would
be healed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In her hymn, “Freely,
Freely,” Carol Owens wrote, “Because you believe, others will know that I live.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Jesus provided
several strong metaphors in his parables for the difference each person or
group can make, no matter how small or inconsequential we may feel our contribution
is. Light shining in the darkness… seeds planted in good soil… the tiniest of
seeds growing into large plants… yeast spreading throughout the bread… all
speak to us of love growing by the power of the Holy Spirit working within and
among us to spread faith and happiness and unity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Love may seem to grow
slowly and tediously. Think about how Christianity began with a handful of
people who were scattered at the Crucifixion and then reunited around the Resurrection.
Little by little, over the years and centuries that followed, generations of people
have encircled the globe with Jesus’ vision of love, right in the midst of all
the opposing forces. Even today, even here, even now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Love grows within
us throughout our lifetimes and into eternity. Love grows among us in our
congregation and spreads throughout our community and the world at large. Love “lifts
us to the joy divine.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the Name of Jesus,
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-77514994515654883482023-04-10T14:30:00.004-05:002023-04-10T14:30:59.878-05:00The Spirit of Easter<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25T9vNfwlFyWBdWcts9PjPFTl4aos5ypJk9j__ePNd1QdqzezZd6kIQUncrdSmUWC1YyzAjX2wRx8mYqMYCfDC--7E_zruAFFIQz1E-4M7ZuOWXZDIgJEIzsRkiV1_uf-yE8AHlRKCPeI2HtIEXtZ4Y7qFZfTKbg_LTgvB8CdWFeCzOmp1yZ_H_-d2g/s898/Spring%20flowers%20&%20sunrise%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="898" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25T9vNfwlFyWBdWcts9PjPFTl4aos5ypJk9j__ePNd1QdqzezZd6kIQUncrdSmUWC1YyzAjX2wRx8mYqMYCfDC--7E_zruAFFIQz1E-4M7ZuOWXZDIgJEIzsRkiV1_uf-yE8AHlRKCPeI2HtIEXtZ4Y7qFZfTKbg_LTgvB8CdWFeCzOmp1yZ_H_-d2g/s320/Spring%20flowers%20&%20sunrise%20cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Easter affirms that love works! There are no limits to God’s love!</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Easter
is first and foremost a day of celebration. We join with all the various
expressions of the Western Church in each successive time zone today, and with
all the expressions of the Eastern church in their time zones next Sunday, in celebration
of the Resurrection. For the next forty days, we will continue to celebrate the
different forms by which our risen savior appeared to his disciples during the
forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension. As part of that
celebration, we will also explore some of his teachings about his vision for humanity
from the perspective of the empty tomb.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">_________________________</i></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Manuscript of the sermon preached on April 9, 2023, at </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Briensburg UMC </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;"> [<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/podcast/" target="_blank">Audio Podcast</a><i>]</i></i></b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Bible Readings for Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Acts 10:34-43 or
Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18; Matthew 28:1-10</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-size: 12pt;">[<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/lectionary/" target="_blank">Video of readings by Briensburg UMC lectors</a>] </b></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: right;">__________________________________________________</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
Resurrection is not only an event in the life of Christ but stands as an
eternal metaphor for universal new beginnings that are constantly happening in
our lives and will be forever, even beyond the death of the body. In our Service of Death and Resurrection at
the passing of our loved ones, we reaffirm the resurrection promises of Jesus
even as we “look to the resurrection of the dead in the last day and the life
of the world to come.” <i>(UMC Internment Liturgy). </i>Hear what comfortable
words the Scripture saith to all who truly believe.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I am the resurrection, and the life: [they] that
believeth in me, though [they] were dead, yet shall [they] live: And whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? <i>(John
11:25-26 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Because I live, ye shall live also <i>(John 14:19
KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Prophetic
voices of compassion such as those expelled from the Nashville legislature,
ironically on Maundy Thursday, can never be silenced. The voices of the martyred
Old Testament prophets still speak of mercy and justice. The voices of the martyred
New Testament apostles still speak of hope and inclusion. The voice of the
crucified Christ still speaks of unconditional, universal love. The
Resurrection promises that such voices will resound from both sides of the
grave.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
Resurrection paints a picture of a life – our life – that continues regardless
of our body’s condition. Jesus came from
Heaven, was born as a baby, became a man, died on the cross, was raised from death,
and ascended back to Heaven. He was the same person in all of these stages of
life. Likewise, we are the same person in all the stages of our lives. We grow
and mature spiritually even as our bodies age. Eventually, when we lay aside
our earthly tabernacle as Peter described <i>(2 Peter 1:14 KJV)</i> we have
another as Paul wrote, “a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” <i>(2
Corinthians 5:1 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Like
the mystery of Christmas, we celebrate the mystery of Easter. The Nativity begins
to unwrap the mystery of the life and teachings and vision of Jesus. The
Resurrection begins to unfold the mystery of our own eternal lives as
participants in the divine nature of Christ. The Resurrection finalizes the new
and everlasting covenant in his blood and spiritualizes the Promised Land “flowing
with milk and honey.” The Resurrection we celebrate at Easter is echoed each
Sunday as we gather for worship and invites us to constant renewal every day
and every week.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let [them]
that heareth say, Come. And let [them] that [are] athirst come. And whosoever
will, let [them] take the water of life
freely. <i>(Revelation 22:17 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In Matthew’s account, Jesus sent women to men as the
first preachers of the resurrection.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then said Jesus unto [the women], Be not afraid: go
tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Matthew 28:10 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the "Gospel According to St. John," Jesus sent Mary Magdelene to preach
his resurrection </span></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">instead
of</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> the two men who had
already been right there at the empty tomb.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus
saith unto her… go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father,
and your Father; and to my God, and your God. <i>(John 20:17 KJV)</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jesus
sent the women to proclaim the Resurrection. Last month was Women’s history
month, and this appointment at the first Easter is a momentous historical affirmation
for women in ministry. The only disciples not scattered at Jesus’ arrest were
women. Women accompanied Jesus along the Way of the Cross. Women, except for
John, were the ones who were present with Jesus at the Crucifixion.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Persons
called and sent by God to minister any spiritual gift should not be
discriminated against for any reason, especially for any issues related to gender.
All persons should be encouraged in fulfilling God’s call on their / our lives.
God promised to pour out God’s own “spirit on all flesh” <i>(Joel 2:28, Acts 2:17)
</i>regardless of any age, gender, social economic position, or any other
distinction used by some humans to divide and oppress others.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Jesus who came </span></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">out </span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of the tomb is the same as the one who was placed </span></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">in</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> the tomb.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
</span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Acts 10:38 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How can so many
people portray Christ, “who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed” as being in any way capable of suddenly and wholly changing his entire
divine nature to turn on the most vulnerable people and shower them with
eternal wrath because they are unable to wrap their minds around some abstract theological
concepts we have come to affirm from what Paul Tillich expressed as “the leap
of faith”?<i> (“The Leap of Faith by Paul Tillich).</i> Such a dramatically diametrical reversal of
God’s nature from Love to Hate is not even remotely possible. God loves the
world so much that God sent Jesus to be the savior of all. Any scriptures that may
seem to suggest otherwise need to be reinterpreted.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In his hymn, “Come
O Thou Traveler Unknown” Charles Wesley wrote these words I use as the tagline
for my emails:</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Pure, universal love Thou art;<br />To me, to all, Thy mercies move;<br />Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.</blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Bible says, “Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” <i>(Hebrews 13:8 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus turned out to be the most important stone in God’s
whole spiritual building.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The stone which the builders refused is become the
head stone of the corner. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Psalm
118:22 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The psalmist uses the
cornerstone as a metaphor for the Messiah. Rejected by the religious leaders,
the Messiah would become the most important part of human society. Paul continued
this imagery in his letters, comparing us all to stones in the temple God is
building. Each person has their place in the building with Christ as the chief
cornerstone, built on the foundation Jesus has laid. We all fit together in
this building of God, and until every stone is in place, the building is incomplete.
Likewise, everything in our individual lives, everything in our relationships
with others, and everything in our connections to all of Creation is built up
around our centering friendship with Christ.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The resurrection affirms the everlasting and eternal
nature of God’s love.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea,
I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have
I drawn thee. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Jeremiah
31:3 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What part of “everlasting love” do we not
understand?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The spiritual concept of sacramental Israel is a
sign that the whole of humanity is the family of God. God repeated in
Revelation 21 the promise spoken through the prophet Jeremiah,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And I heard a great voice
out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with [people], and [God]
will dwell with them, and they shall be [God’s] people, and God himself shall
be with them, and be their God.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Adding,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> And God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">(Revelation
21:3-4 KJV)</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My mother sent me a
letter at a discouraging point in my life about a half-century ago, and she
included this verse from Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and
underneath are the everlasting arms.” The voice of God through the voice of
Moses through the voice of Mom still resonates through my soul to this hour,
and will from everlasting to everlasting, through this life and the life of the
world to come. God’s love has no time limits, no end, no conditions, no
exclusionary clauses, and no death. God’s all-encompassing, universal love envelopes
everyone everywhere; it always has and always will.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For
I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor
any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord. <i>(Romans 8:38-39 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Something of our nature has already been
resurrected through our affirmation of the resurrection of Christ. Can you feel
it?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things
which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Colossians 3:1 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Rather than trying
to bring God’s nature down to our level, the Resurrection invites us to follow
Jesus up to God’s level. We are invited to learn how to see humanity through
God’s eyes. We are invited to learn how
to love everyone the way Christ loves everyone. As Paul phrased it, we are
invited to “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” <i>(Philippians
2:5 KJV). </i> Let God’s vision for
humanity become our vision. Let us find ways to implement the teachings of Jesus
in all our decision-making.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Conclusion</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let us take the resurrection
spirit as we experience around this table in this room with this group of
people, to the next table in the next room, and to the next people. Let us establish
that as our pattern throughout this life and into the life of the world to
come. Room to room, table to table, person to person.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We believe in the
resurrection as pertinent to Jesus, ourselves, our family and friends, and the
world at large. We proclaim the risen Christ and God’s love for humanity as
expressed and demonstrated in the person of Jesus. God is stretching our
thoughts to ever-increasing expanses of heavenly possibilities for life and
love and fellowship and unity</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Charles Wesley wrote
in his hymn, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today,"</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Soar we now where Christ has led,<br />Following our exalted head! </blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Alleluia!</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May we each come
alive in new and fresh ways today! May our congregation come alive in new and
fresh ways today! May we bring our community and world to life in new fresh
ways today!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is the spirit
of Easter.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the Name of Jesus,
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-74371586783068830872023-04-02T13:26:00.001-05:002023-04-07T13:00:08.440-05:00The Spirit of Holy Week<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9XInV152BQxcxtiVr7FBor-mSr6xNAuDmKY7uc-A739rzHFyZ_CPRfQtl2blhfVvP0UEfjCDFFDQdliQYgTdKgCrJxeUtFoX6gqs_Vas4IksS09M2r2Giddf0juKYaSmO3vUPB0VdETHjQs6Ogy43TRutNkAU63T4wglr9M3pPzOuJPjNSZd8fRMbg/s713/Crosses%20Background.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="713" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9XInV152BQxcxtiVr7FBor-mSr6xNAuDmKY7uc-A739rzHFyZ_CPRfQtl2blhfVvP0UEfjCDFFDQdliQYgTdKgCrJxeUtFoX6gqs_Vas4IksS09M2r2Giddf0juKYaSmO3vUPB0VdETHjQs6Ogy43TRutNkAU63T4wglr9M3pPzOuJPjNSZd8fRMbg/s320/Crosses%20Background.png" width="320" /></a></div>During
Holy Week, we reflect on the events surrounding the crucifixion and face
ourselves honestly in the presence of the Almighty. We compare ourselves in our
frailty to Jesus in his perfection, like the proverbial plumbline set in the
midst of Israel <i style="font-size: 12pt;">(Amos 7:8). </i><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For
the last six weeks of the Lenten season, we have been withdrawing from some of
our normal activities to give more time and energy to focus on self-examination
and spiritual renewal. Now is the time for us to start implementing the changes
we have been thinking about, deciding what to add back in, what changes to make
permanent, and what improvements we want to continue.</span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Holy
Week invites us to internalize the love Jesus demonstrated as we prepare to express
greater depths of love in all our relationships and encounters. Whatever
spiritual exercises and devotional practices we may have intensified during Lent
now begin to abate as we return to our normal activities and address the issues
and concerns of the coming days and weeks.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span face="calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">__________________________________________________</i></span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Manuscript of the sermon preached on April 2, 2023, at </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Briensburg UMC </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;"> [<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/podcast/" target="_blank">Audio Podcast</a><i>]</i></i></b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Bible Readings for Palm & Passion Sunday: </p><p class="MsoNormal">Liturgy of the Palms: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Matthew 21:1-11</p><p class="MsoNormal">Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66 Matthew (26:14-27:1-30) 27:31-52 (53-66)</p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-size: 12pt;">[<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/lectionary/" target="_blank">Video of readings by Briensburg UMC lectors</a>] </b></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: right;">__________________________________________________</i></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Especially
on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, we unite our spirits with Christians from
every faith tradition on Earth and in Heaven in remembrance of Jesus. We gather
around all kinds of tables and crosses in all kinds of settings and places. We
come together from all different theologies and ideologies, belief systems, and
cultures to remember what Jesus has done and why he did it. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved. <i>(John 3:16-17 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Holy
Week Events</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jesus
joined friends and followers on Saturday before Palm Sunday in Bethany at the
home of Mary, Martha, and the recently resurrected Lazarus. The Triumphal Entry
took place on Sunday as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey’s colt. People carpeted
the road with articles of clothing and waved victor’s palm branches in celebration
of his arrival. Monday, he cleansed the Temple. Tuesday, he reiterated the
Great Commandment as the basis for interpreting everything about our faith as
he was teaching in the Temple:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. <i>(Matthew
22:36-40 KJV)</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jesus
again taught in the Temple on Wednesday and was confronted with a trick
question about whether our foremost allegiance should be to God or to a
political leader. He held up a coin and
famously asked whose picture was on the coin. ”Render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's,” he declared <i>(Mark 12:17 KJV)</i>.
This tension between spiritual and civil authority continues to this day in the
arenas of free societies, while supporters of authoritarian societies continue to
elevate their leaders inordinately. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Thursday,
Jesus gave himself up for us. The Twelve joined Jesus for the Passover Seder Supper.
After the supper, Jesus consecrated the bread and wine as his body and blood,
given for us and for all so that sins could be forgiven. He knelt on the floor
to wash his disciples’ feet as a sign of servant leadership. The group sang and
talked as they made their way to Gethsemane. Jesus promised the coming of the
Holy Spirit as Comforter, Guide, and Teacher. He said he was going to prepare a
place for us in the “many mansions” as the King James Version puts it, or “many
dwelling places” as worded in the New Revised Standard Version <i>(John 14:2).</i>
Along the way, he gave this defining instruction that echoes through ages and
strikes fresh chords in our hearts each time we hear it, each time we repeat
it, each time we think about how to manifest it more effectively:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all [people]
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. <i>(John
13:34-35 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Betrayed
by one of his best friends, Jesus was arrested in the Garden after he prayed, “nevertheless
not my will, but thine, be done” <i>(Luke 22:42 KJV). </i>He endured mock trials and severe
beatings throughout the night. On Friday he was led to Calvary where he was
crucified. His body was placed in a sealed tomb.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Spoiler
alert: on Sunday he was resurrected!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Through the Epistle
reading for Palm Sunday</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Bible makes this all-Inclusive promise – never
a threat -- only a promise:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that
every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Philippians
2:10-11 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What a wonderful,
encouraging word of assurance Paul wrote in the Bible, that everyone will
eventually come into a personal saving relationship with God in Christ! Ironically, so many depictions of this
promise are treated as an awful threat, that everyone will be forced to comply
with the arbitrary narcissistic demands of a cosmic tyrant and worship in tears
of sorrow against their will. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Everything about Holy Week, everything about
the Cross, everything about the life and teachings of Christ, and everything
about God's grace, mercy, and love tells us otherwise. Everyone is being<i> loved</i> into the
fellowship of believers. The saving relationship is a <i>free</i> gift, given <i>before</i>
anyone ever came to faith in Christ. Everyone has been, is now, and will
continue to be accepting this free gift in their own time and way, as they and
we come to greater realizations of God’s all-embracing, unconditional,
universal, infinite love for humanity.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We each have the
free will to accept or reject God’s love. We should respect and honor the
spirit of that free choice, trusting that everyone will gradually stop
resisting God’s love and fully embrace God’s love according to the freedom and
grace they experience. Nobody will “worship God in Spirit and truth” as Jesus
described to the woman at the well because they are <i>forced </i>to under threat
of eternal punishment. Everyone will “worship in spirit and truth” because they
<i>want </i>to, by their own free will and accord. Together we are loving each
other into the Reign of Christ as we cultivate the commandment Jesus gave on
the night he offered himself up for us, that we love one another as Christ has
loved us. By this, all people will know who <i>has become</i> a disciple and
who is <i>yet to be converted</i> to the perfect law of love – converted not by
fear but by the love of Christ working within and among us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Holy Week begins
with the Triumphal Entry and ends with the Crucifixion. This ending turns out to
be the new and glorious beginning of the transformation of all Creation – a “new
heaven and a new earth” so to speak. We are each personally included in that metamorphosis.
As we implement the teachings and example of Jesus in our lives and
relationships, we and the world around us experience what Charles Wesley
described in his hymn,</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Changed from glory into glory,<br />till in heav’n we take our place,<br />till we cast our crowns before thee,<br />lost in wonder, love and praise.</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This is the spirit
of Holy Week. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the Name of
Jesus, Amen.</span></p></div><span><a name='more'></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-79576915061606398852023-03-27T16:54:00.000-05:002023-03-27T16:54:18.362-05:00Perpetual Resurrection<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhF3ObZtRSY1OnXzEeILEhVjNP5TRwKkgdDAS2MznJ5qX8OyQf91X2fGYOt34q0zTVAauZH61KpzHpkxa8QWlgTTPluYIPcb1e6Grx9GnnAXT3EY_g14Hr3O_vOtLZ7yrl_RRAyxIpoPCMjPwFEjuHoO3VCz7pLvyVedX_WpQjg1nB8qsyGNHPKtYug/s1026/Door.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1026" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhF3ObZtRSY1OnXzEeILEhVjNP5TRwKkgdDAS2MznJ5qX8OyQf91X2fGYOt34q0zTVAauZH61KpzHpkxa8QWlgTTPluYIPcb1e6Grx9GnnAXT3EY_g14Hr3O_vOtLZ7yrl_RRAyxIpoPCMjPwFEjuHoO3VCz7pLvyVedX_WpQjg1nB8qsyGNHPKtYug/s320/Door.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Resurrection
takes many forms. Religiously speaking, we associate resurrection with the bodily
raising of Jesus or others and with the general resurrection of the dead on the
last day. Through the Apostle’s Creed and other affirmations of faith from the
most ancient to the most modern, the Church affirms that we believe in and
anticipate the resurrection of the body. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Our
religious views of resurrection point us to continuing regeneration in every aspect
of our lives. New beginnings emerge from every ending. The affirmation of
resurrection becomes an affirmation of life itself and the power of life over
death in every circumstance. We can only “<i>die daily</i>,” as Paul declared <i>(1
Corinthians 14:31 KJV)</i> if we also are <i>resurrected daily</i>. The Bible uses
physical resurrection as a metaphor for spiritual renewal.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><a name='more'></a><p align="left" class="MsoNormal"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Manuscript of the sermon preached on March 26, 2023, at </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Briensburg UMC </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;"> [<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/podcast/" target="_blank">Audio Podcast</a><i>]</i></i></b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bible Readings for the 5th Sunday in Lent: <br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130;
Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45</span><br /><b>[<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/lectionary/" target="_blank">Video of readings by Briensburg UMC lectors</a>] </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><!--more--><br />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some things are hard to believe.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall
never die. Believest thou this? </span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(John
11:26 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The familiar miraculous
Resurrection of Lazarus took place a short time before the Resurrection of
Jesus. Jesus ascended to Heaven after his resurrection. Eastern church tradition
says Lazarus died again while a bishop in Cyprus<i>; </i>Western church tradition
says he was martyred while serving as a bishop in France. Both traditions
protect tombs and relics associated with their respective burial places. <i> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus_of_Bethany#:~:text=Bishop%20of%20Kition,-Church%20of%20Saint&text=According%20to%20Eastern%20Orthodox%20Church,(present%2Dday%20Larnaka).">(“Lazarus
of Bethany.” Wikipedia. Web. 25 Mar 2023</a>).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is a certain
comfort inherent to believing in eternal life.
Believing that we “shall never die” assures us, not only for ourselves but
for our friends and families, that our lives and loves and friendships and kinships
extend beyond the grave. During the forty days between Easter and Ascension,
the church’s lectionary Bible readings historically focus on the ways Jesus
taught and demonstrated life after death. Specifics are largely omitted,
freeing us to explore and discover through love and friendship and our own
spiritual experiences of what, as Paul phrased it, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him” <i>(1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is a certain
joy that comes with believing in eternal life. The thought of being reunited in
Heaven with each other and with those who have gone on before us and those who
will come after us fills our hearts and minds with happiness and hope. We are
inspired by the sense of presence among us of those who, as Charles Wesley wrote
“sing the Lamb in hymns above and we in hymns below” <i>(“Happy the Souls to
Jesus Joined,” Charles Wesley)</i>. Many of our favorite hymns lift us in
celebration. My favorite hymn is “When We All Get to Heaven” by Eliza Hewitt. We
all share countless hymns about Heaven because they paint vivid imagery and
rouse feelings of closeness to our loved ones who continue to live just over
the proverbial Jordan River “In the Sweet By and By.” William
J. Irons wrote in his hymn,</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Sing with all the saints in glory,<br />sing the resurrection song!<br />Death and sorrow, earth's dark story,<br />to the former days belong.<br />All around the clouds are breaking,<br />soon the storms of time shall cease;<br />in God's likeness we, awaking,<br />know the everlasting peace.</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do you believe… <i>Can</i>
you believe… the extraordinary promises Jesus declared at the tomb of Lazarus? Do
you, can you, believe all the other extraordinary promises of Jesus in the
Bible? Do you, can you believe, as Paul wrote
to the Romans, “that all things work together for good to them that love God” <i>(Romans
8:28 KJV)</i>? If we do -- if we can believe such promises, then the same hope
permeates all our circumstances, relationships, and opportunities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone experiences the grief the Psalmist
expressed.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Psalm 130:1 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Today’s Gospel
reading reflects the grief of Martha and Mary and the other friends and
relatives of Lazarus at his death. Out
of those depths came the shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus wept” <i>(John
11:35 KJV)</i>. From those depths with which we all can empathize also came some
of the most comforting words in human history. In the resurrection of Lazarus,
Jesus forever transformed death into life in the event superseded only by his
own Resurrection.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Likewise, all our darkest
moments in life contain within them the possibilities for transformation. How
many people have cried out to the Lord in their most desperate and challenging
situations and found strength and guidance?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 300.6pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God can revitalize any person or situation.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith
the Lord God… (vs 13) And [I] shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live,
and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have
spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.
</span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Ezekiel 37:12-14 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God gave Ezekiel the resurrection of the dry bones as a metaphor for bringing
Israel back to life as a nation and returning them to the Promised Land. The prophecy
of dry bones coming alive still calls the church to continuous spiritual renewal.
When we as individuals or as a congregation, as a denomination or the whole Body
of Christ come to challenging moments, the prophecy encourages us to let the
spirit breathe new life wherever and however it is needed. The Spirit
transforms what may appear to some as a sign of decline and death into a sign
of regeneration and never-ending life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead
lives within us and among us.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from
the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also
quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Romans
8:11 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The same Spirit who
moved on the face of the deep at Creation moves among us today to transform the
chaotic waters of life in our generation into the green pastures and still
waters of Psalm 23. The same Spirit who brought the dead to life in the Valley
of Dry Bones continues to revive and renew us and our church in every dimension.
The same Spirit who was poured out at Pentecost continues to be poured out on us
and our friends and neighbors across our community and around the world.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is hope –
always hope – because of the Spirit who continuously revives us like the Spring
after Winter. “Behold, I make all things new” says the One that sat upon the throne
in Revelation 21:5. As we near the end of our Lenten renewal and as we prepare
to celebrate Holy Week and Easter, let us reflect on what the Resurrection of
Lazarus means for us in this life and in the life of the world to come. James Rowe wrote in his hymn,</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">O, the joy of the souls that victoriously sing<br />In the beautiful land of the glorious King,<br />Where the blooms never fade, where it always is Spring,<br />In that bright Immortality Land.</blockquote><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Many loved ones are there, and their faces all shine<br />In the light of the love of the Master divine;<br />There are dear ones of yours, there are dear ones of mine,<br />In that bright Immortality Land. </blockquote><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">We shall all soon be there with our trials all o’er,<br />With the sages and saints on that beautiful shore;<br />There the One that we love, we shall see and adore<br />In that bright Immortality Land. </blockquote><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Immortality Land, Immortality Land<br />It has mansions of light, it has palaces grand!<br />O the joy that we’ll share when we all gather there<br />In that bright Immortality Land.</blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In the Name of Jesus,
Amen.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-1829301418713279712023-03-19T16:46:00.001-05:002023-03-19T17:27:27.548-05:00Anointed by the Lord<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFE29PvCtBJ1hIvUdd3ybSX0bfveT16bdK-zLY06DTrnR1-EZoZXxbNiHZFUqnyrURxmFXxPrk3_byLgvaDwxoLXC5JAju_70pBZxFQGivK3pyNdCDThNlM7-ntYF3PBZBpFVu2nOP52tZZYRGNDPXQHDElGCG5y0CaCcjOQLqfFz9eKgm4CjmeQOfZQ/s1130/Blind%20Man%20Washes%20in%20the%20Pool%20of%20Siloam.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1130" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFE29PvCtBJ1hIvUdd3ybSX0bfveT16bdK-zLY06DTrnR1-EZoZXxbNiHZFUqnyrURxmFXxPrk3_byLgvaDwxoLXC5JAju_70pBZxFQGivK3pyNdCDThNlM7-ntYF3PBZBpFVu2nOP52tZZYRGNDPXQHDElGCG5y0CaCcjOQLqfFz9eKgm4CjmeQOfZQ/s320/Blind%20Man%20Washes%20in%20the%20Pool%20of%20Siloam.png" width="320" /></a></div>Christian
anointing is sign of spiritual blessing, healing, and consecration. The spiritual
anointing of the Lord is manifested outwardly in unique ways for each person as
the Holy Spirit empowers and guides us. The Scriptural word from which Messiah
is derived literally translates as “The Anointed One.”<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Jesus
accepted his Messianic mission in his home church at the Nazareth synagogue
after reading from the prophet Isaiah:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath
anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable
year of the Lord<i> (Luke 4:18-19 KJV)</i>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
anointing of the Lord in our lives is cast in today’s Bible readings within the
rich history of anointings throughout human existence since time immemorial.
The sacramental anointings continuing in the rituals of today’s church
celebrate the ongoing action of the Holy Spirit to persist in carrying out the
mission of Jesus in every generation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><a name='more'></a><p align="left" class="MsoNormal"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Manuscript of the sermon preached on March 19, 2023, at </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Briensburg UMC </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;"> [<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/podcast/" target="_blank">Audio Podcast</a><i>]</i></i></b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bible Readings for the 4th Sunday in Lent: <br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23;
Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41</span><br /><b>[<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/lectionary/" target="_blank">Video of readings by Briensburg UMC lectors</a>] </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><!--more--><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Several
Hebrew words in the Old Testament are translated into versions of the English
word “anoint.” The most frequently used refers to consecrating someone or
something for a particular purpose, such as in today’s reading from 1 Samuel,
where David is consecrated to become the King of Israel. One refers to thriving
and success, as it is used in the Psalm, “thou anointest my head with oil” <i>(Psalm
23:5 KJV). </i>Another word similarly alludes to the healing and saving grace,
as used by the prophet:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">And it shall come to pass in that day, that his
burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy
neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. (Isaiah 10:27
KJV).</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This
usage reminds us of the Great Invitation of Jesus:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I
am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke
is easy, and my burden is light. <i>(Matthew
11:28-30 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The
Greek words in the New Testament that are translated as forms of the English
word “anoint” shift their emphasis to even more spiritual senses of
consecration and providence, and salvific healing. We often quote the admonition
of St. James in his letter,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders
of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. <i>(James
5:14-15 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Consider
how many of these ideas are brought together in the New Testament Greek word <i>“chrisma”</i>
as used by St. John in his letter to all Christians translated in the New
Revised Standard Version:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">As for you, the anointing that you received from him
abides in you, so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing
teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has
taught you, abide in him. <i>(1 John 4:27 NRSV).</i></span><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The anointing of the Holy Spirit is a part of our
daily lives and relationships.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him
in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from
that day forward. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(1 Samuel 16:13 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Holy Spirit
came upon David. The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus. The Holy Spirit came upon the
gathered believers at Pentecost and then has continuously been poured on all
those who come to believe, including us. The promise of Pentecost is that the
Holy Spirit will eventually be poured out to everyone. Through this spiritual <i>chrisma</i>
(anointing) comes the distribution of our <i>chrisms</i> (spiritual gifts). Our
calling and consecration are empowered and led by the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit into our personal and corporate lives. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even in the most unlikely circumstances, God
anoints us abundantly.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of
mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Psalm 23:5 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Even in the
presence of our enemies, referring to our most difficult times and places in
life, God is present to bless us and strengthen us, and see us through. Constantly
throughout our lives, God is present with guidance, providence, and love. We
affirm with the Psalmist, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the
days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” <i>(Psalm
23:6 KJV). </i>The Holy Spirit moves within us and among us, and blesses those
around us through each of us and through our faith community<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We might not know how or why God has anointed us,
but we do experience the effects.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no,
I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(John 9:25 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paul noted in his
letter to the Corinthians that “not many wise… not many mighty… not many noble,
are called” <i>(1 Corinthians 1:26 KJV). </i>Jesus used the metaphor of the wind
in talking with Nicodemus. He pointed out that we can’t see the wind blowing,
but we can hear it and see its effects. “So
it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit,” he explained<i> (John 3:8
NRSV). </i>No one knows ahead of time what our lives have in store…”So do not
worry about tomorrow,” Jesus encouraged <i>(Matthew 6:34 NRSV).</i> Each day we
trust and learn and grow and move forward and discover more about life and love
and spirituality. Our spiritual gifts and callings are a discovery to be
explored throughout this eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We are anointed to please God.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Ephesians 5:10 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Try
to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. <i>(Ephesians 5:10 NRSV)</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Note this important
difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Under the Old Testament, the prevailing
thought was that we should find out what was not pleasing to the Lord, and try
to keep from doing that. People thought they should try to appease God and keep
from doing anything that might make God mad because they were afraid God might
reign down terrors of wrathful vengeance on them for the least infractions. Under the New Testament, (although some
people still have that Old Testament view), we are encouraged to find out what
God likes and do that, not from fear but from love as our response to the great
love we are realizing God has for us and for all, as Jesus demonstrated.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Humanity was assigned
at Creation (anointed, consecrated in a manner of speaking) to be stewards of
the earth, according to the Bible in the first two chapters of Genesis. Learning
how to take good care of God’s world, or vineyard as Jesus used to say in his
parables, is one way of pleasing God. That includes the environment, our fellow
creatures, and each other. Jesus prayed in the garden, “Not my will, but thine,
be done,” <i>(Luke 22:42 KJV),</i> and taught us the same principle in the Lord’s
Prayer. Reconciling ourselves with God and humanity, even when it sometimes means
sacrifice and compromise, is part of the discovery process as we, in the
Message paraphrase of this verse, “Figure out what will please Christ, and then
do it” <i>(Ephesians 5:10 MSG). </i>The key verse in the whole Bible for
unlocking the mystery of what pleases God is this all-encompassing commandment Jesus
gave, “love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” <i>(John
13:34 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Fanny Crosby, in
her hymn, “I am Thine, O Lord,” alluded to our being anointed by the Lord,</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,<br />By the pow’r of grace divine;<br />Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,<br />And my will be lost in Thine.</blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the Name of Jesus,
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Image: </i>"Blind Man Washes in the Pool of Siloam" <i>by</i> James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum, New York City. <i>From</i> <a href="https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=27" target="_blank">Vanderbilt Divinity Lectionary</a> Library</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-5665377427756528662023-03-18T14:23:00.001-05:002023-03-18T14:23:46.078-05:00Life-Giving Water<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjqFp-Ny6nztp2MHX6TYw53AlWS5TsaFW60byDMw_1nm-VTstunK6dBo_dKRcyUjgFCS0mvAsRF7qXdwsPyFAni-sFYw-65Lw3vLsrzWCRsd3LCwSziHC6eLc5Lfl8yR4fvNVEp6RnyeXchhbQlV7aMup3PFnDcTk136XZWcqgOvet9jdhC6WytSsJw/s960/kuang-si-falls-463925_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjqFp-Ny6nztp2MHX6TYw53AlWS5TsaFW60byDMw_1nm-VTstunK6dBo_dKRcyUjgFCS0mvAsRF7qXdwsPyFAni-sFYw-65Lw3vLsrzWCRsd3LCwSziHC6eLc5Lfl8yR4fvNVEp6RnyeXchhbQlV7aMup3PFnDcTk136XZWcqgOvet9jdhC6WytSsJw/s320/kuang-si-falls-463925_960_720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Living
Water is a metaphor for the endlessly flowing supply of God’s regenerating love
poured into and through us by the Holy Spirit. <span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are you thirsting for “things that could not
satisfy” as Richard Blanchard’s song puts it? Or do you know someone who is?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest
the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou
wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(John 4:11 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Living Water is a Gift
from God. God’s love and God’s Spirit and God’s Salvation represented in this Gospel
reading, is the free gift Paul referenced in Romans 6:23, “The gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If
only we knew! If only they knew! If only everyone could realize at least in
some small measure how wonderful the gift encompassed by the phrase “eternal
life” really is, what a difference that would make in everyone’s personal lives
and in the whole world. Just think how different the news on TV would be if
everyone wanted the gift God has already made available, instead of pursuing
things that only bring harm to themselves and to others and to Creation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Asked and given. The
woman at the well asked for this living water, even though she understood even
less than we think we understand today about what it means. At the moment she
said to Jesus, “Sir, give me this water” <i>(John 4:15 KJV)</i> her new life
began.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><a name='more'></a><p align="left" class="MsoNormal"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Manuscript of the sermon preached on March 12, 2023, at </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Briensburg UMC </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;"> [<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/podcast/" target="_blank">Audio Podcast</a><i>]</i></i></b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bible Readings for the 3rd Sunday in Lent: <br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 95;
Romans 5:1-11; John 4:5-42</span><br /><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><!--more--><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God provides all our spiritual and temporal needs.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the
rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of
it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of
Israel. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Exodus
17:6 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">During the forty-year Journey through the Wilderness, God provided all
the needs of everyone, even though at times it wasn’t apparent to them how God
would or could meet their most imminent necessities. Getting ready to give the
Lord’s Prayer in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminded everyone that God
knows our needs before we ask </span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Matthew
6:8 KJV)</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. Paul encouraged
the Philippians that God would “supply all your need according to his riches in
glory” </span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Philippians
4:19 KJV).</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God is the Rock of our Salvation.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a
joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
</span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Psalm 95:1 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Let it flow.” The
last time I saw Bishop Richard Wills in person we were standing by his car at
the Carson Center and his parting words to me were, “Let it flow.” Those words have come back to me many times
over the last several years, in many different circumstances. They are like a modern-day version of what
Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:19, “Quench not the Spirit.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A few chapters after the Woman at the Well, Jesus would call out to
everyone at a festival, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water </span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(John 7:38 KJV)</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. The New King James Version says, “our of his heart will flow rivers
of living water,” and the New American Standard Bible reads, “From his
innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” This inexhaustible supply of
living water comes from deep within the soul of whoever believes it is there.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The living water of God’s love and Spirit is a part of our salvation. Our
salvation is accompanied by various religious encounters, each uniquely
provided and experienced in different ways by different people at different
times. My father received his call to preach as a separate experience decades
after he was saved. I received my call
to preach kneeling next to him at the altar for Holy Communion at the same time
he received his, but also for me, I was saved in the same experience. Years
later I experienced what I identify as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and
sometime later received what I recognize as Sanctification. We are saved,
sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost and called into our various
ministries each in different times, ways, and combinations as the Lord sees
fit.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Each and every experience of God’s grace and love is not the end of our
spiritual journey, but a new beginning. Even our first conscious experience
when we place our faith in God and when in our own ways we ask Jesus to come
into our hearts and we make our personal professions of faith, these are each a
new beginning born out of the prayers and guidance of those who have loved us
along life’s way combined with our own seeking and longing for a deeper and
more meaningful relationship with God and Creation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Living Water continues to channel its way through the winding corridors
of our lives, replenishing what moves on through with fresh water from the everlasting
reservoir of God’s love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Psalmist
implores us to celebrate the spiritual life that flows <i>into</i> us by
letting it flow <i>through</i> us. Like water, love always finds a way forward,
even through the desert stones as evidenced by the Grand Canyon or the streams
flowing through the rock walls along the highways we travel. Our Creator provides a never-ending supply to
meet whatever physical or spiritual challenges we face throughout this life,
and will continue to do so in the life of the world to come.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God himself is the
Rock from which the Water of Life flows, symbolized by the rock in the
wilderness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Book of
Revelation paints a picture of the River of the Water of Life flowing down the
median of the main street of New Jerusalem <i>(Revelation 22:1-3). </i>The
Bible ends with this last grand invitation on the last page,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And
the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let
him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life
freely. <i>(Revelation 22:17 KJV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Holy Spirit works within and among us to spread
God’s love wherever we go.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of
God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. </span><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Romans
5:5 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And what a hope this is! The
love of God transforms everyone and everything it touches! Who is so strong to be able to resist the
power of God’s love? We can see the best
evidence of this in our own personal lives.
Even at times when we have hardened our hearts like the sojourners in
the wilderness, still God has eventually overcome our fears and resistance and
stubbornness to turn us around and move us forward – if only a tiny bit at a
time – over and over throughout life. God hasn’t brought us this far just to
give up on us now. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And that is how it is not only for me and for you, but all our friends,
all our enemies, everyone we know, and everyone we don’t know. To hijack and paraphrase the movie title,
God’s unrelenting, universal, unconditional love is for “Everyone, everywhere,
all at once.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Bible uses food
and beverages as metaphors for spiritual nourishment. One of the most famous of
the ancient invitations given through the prophet Isaiah is phrased in the
Contemporary English Version, ”</span>I<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">f you are thirsty,
come and drink water! If you don't have any money, come, eat what you want!
Drink wine and milk without paying a cent” <i>(Isaiah 55:1 CEV).</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the Name of
Jesus, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1084288618186500274.post-26459097643709021072023-03-08T10:22:00.000-06:002023-03-08T10:22:55.965-06:00Echoing the Call to Reclaim, Revive, and Renew<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcfLhbvXm86kzoqn3yaTh0avEnvse7RkOdYSkM7KQqKHQF_kpvlMB1mZd7hJVTrFHv0DljdQibZDGfj8i6Mme39ORdwpOnzCQudncrIJTcAF5dB3r3aO5raDSkDjIkDZ3HAU4BPq11i4qDxvZ7jouf1p9lCytH6dxR4zxgWQxApCC8TMLTEm5CYraDg/s869/reclaim-revive-renew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="869" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcfLhbvXm86kzoqn3yaTh0avEnvse7RkOdYSkM7KQqKHQF_kpvlMB1mZd7hJVTrFHv0DljdQibZDGfj8i6Mme39ORdwpOnzCQudncrIJTcAF5dB3r3aO5raDSkDjIkDZ3HAU4BPq11i4qDxvZ7jouf1p9lCytH6dxR4zxgWQxApCC8TMLTEm5CYraDg/s320/reclaim-revive-renew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The
invitation to Reclaim, Revive, and Renew has been called by The United
Methodist Council of Bishops for this Lenten Season. We echo their call, which
is itself a reverberation of the calls and invitations to Humanity throughout
the ages. Today’s Bible readings, especially the Gospel reading, are major
landmarks in the everlasting cycle of regeneration reflected in the blooming
flowers and budding trees of Springtime.<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God’s purpose is the salvation of Humanity.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through him might be saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(John 3:17 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Any Bible
interpretation that makes it seem like God is unable to eventually meet the
goal for which God sent Christ into the world is erroneous on its face. There
are plenty of ways to misunderstand the Bible. Jesus explicitly said he did not
come to condemn anyone but to save everyone. Any interpretation of any other
passage in the Bible that seems to contradict this clearly stated objective
needs to be rethought and re-understood. Perhaps some Bible passages even need
to be put on a shelf for future reflection after more information can be obtained
to help us reconcile them with the mission of Jesus.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><a name='more'></a><p align="left" class="MsoNormal"><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Manuscript of the sermon preached on March 5, 2023, at </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;">Briensburg UMC </i></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: right;"><i style="font-size: 11pt;"> [<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/podcast/" target="_blank">Audio Podcast</a><i>]</i></i></b><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"> </span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Bible Readings for the 2nd Sunday in Lent: <br /></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121;
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17</span><br /><b>[<a href="https://www.briensburg.org/wordpress/lectionary/" target="_blank">Video of readings by Briensburg UMC lectors</a>] </b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><!--more--><br />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Greek word <i>sozo
</i>translated as <i>saved</i> in this and other similar Bible verses are
defined as “to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction”
according to the New Testament Greek Lexicon. The word communicates past,
present, and future salvation. We <i>have been</i> rescued, we <i>are being</i>
healed, and we <i>will be</i> preserved forever. Hebrews 7:25 confirms, “He is
able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he
ever liveth to make intercession for them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To think that God is unable to save anyone is itself a contradiction of
the Bible. God is able to save everyone and not just a little bit; God is “able
to save them to the uttermost” – that is in every respect, in every facet of
the idea. Even if it seems to take forever for some people to come to saving
faith in Christ, God is still able because Christ, “ever liveth to make
intercession for them.” There are no time limits. God is eternal and God’s love
(including patience, one of the attributes of love Paul listed in 1 Corinthians
13) is eternal.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jesus talked with
Nicodemus in John 3:7 where it says, “Ye must be born again,” about rebirth as
a metaphor for the spiritual regeneration we all need, not only once as with
our physical birth, but repeatedly throughout eternity as we grow in our
relationship with God and Creation. Paul used a similar metaphor in his letter
to the Corinthians where he wrote, “I die daily” to illustrate his point in
that passage that “in Christ shall all be made alive.” <i>(1 Corinthians 15:31,
22 KJV)</i>. Paul went on to write, “Howbeit that was not first which is
spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual” <i>(1
Corinthians 15:46 KJV)</i>. To the Philippians Paul wrote the wonderful promise
as phrased in the Good News Translation, “And so, in honor of the name of Jesus
all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their
knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father” <i>(Philippians 2:10-11 GNT).</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spiritual rebirth is much more than what we
experience the first time we consciously place our faith in Christ. These
metaphors to “die daily” and to be “born again” communicate to us the need for
constant renewal throughout this life and into the life of the world to come.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God sent Abraham to the Promised Land to “be a
blessing” to the world</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will
bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Genesis 12:2 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God sent Abraham
and his descendants to the Promised Land to establish a priestly nation that
would channel God’s blessings to all the people of all the nations of the
earth. Their claiming of the Promised Land symbolizes our reclaiming of the
Spiritual Promised Land and our commission as the Church to be a blessing to
everyone around us.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everyone becomes a spiritual descendant of Abraham
through faith in God.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by
grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only
which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is
the father of us all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Romans
4:16 KJV)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And so the promise was based on faith, in order that the promise should
be guaranteed as God's free gift to all of Abraham's descendants—not just to
those who obey the Law, but also to those who believe as Abraham did. For
Abraham is the spiritual father of us all;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Romans 4:16
GNT)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Paul used several metaphors in his letters to describe how we are
considered the spiritual children of Abraham, even if not genealogical
descendants. He wrote later in this letter to the Romans, “You have received a
spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father’” (Romans 8:15 KJV) and
goes on to compare us to a branch being grafted into a tree</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (Romans 11:11-24).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The point is that we share a common spiritual heritage when we place
our faith in God. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a heritage of
family and community, of priesthood and blessing, of new beginnings and
everlasting life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Spread the word: God wants the best for everyone.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy
coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(Psalm 121:8)</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of our traditional United Methodist rituals for Holy Communion includes
the words, “The body… and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for
thee, preserve thy soul and body unto everlasting life.” </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(A Service of Word and Table IV)</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. This blessing reflects the ancient understanding
of the church through the ages that our salvation is comprehensive, constant
and all-inclusive, not only for this life but for the life of the world to
come. With the psalmist, we affirm that we are being preserved “even for
evermore.” In John 3:16, Jesus promised permanent salvation, “that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Civalla Martin put it simply in her hymn,</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">God will take care of you, </span></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">through ev'ry day, o’er all the way; </span></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">He will take care of you, </span></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">God will take care of you.</span></blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God’s love is
universal and unconditional. God loves everyone everywhere, regardless of what
we have done or left undone. When we place our faith in Christ, we acknowledge
and accept and experience the love God already has for us. As we continually
renew our spiritual life, we grow in our appreciation and understanding of the
depths of God’s love. God’s love is given to us not as a reward for our
behavior or decisions, but as a free gift to everyone – not because of who <i>we
</i>are, but because of who <i>God</i> is. God’s love is for all, available
whenever and wherever we accept it, but it is still there all the while along
the way, enveloping us until we do, even if it takes forever.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The church today
joins the church throughout all the ages in encouraging everyone to enter into
a saving relationship with God in Christ “sooner rather than later” and to
renew that relationship constantly throughout our lives, not for the sake of
fear or wrath, but for the sake of life and love.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let us join
together during this season of Lent to reclaim our identity as the people of
God, revive our community, and renew our spiritual relationships with God, with
Humanity, and with Creation</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the Name of
Jesus, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0