First Sermon at First Cong. UCC, Rock Springs,WY

Ministry of Reconciliation
By Rev Steven R. Mitchell
Isaiah 61:1-2a & 11; II Cor. 5:16-21; John 1:1-14
September 6, 2009


I first would like to bring to you “greetings” from St Paul's UCC of Seattle! It is with mixed emotions that they celebrate in my joining you here at First Congregational UCC of Rock Springs! I wish to say, “What a pleasure and a privilege it is for me to be entering into relationship with you; serving as your new Transitional Minister.”
With this Labor Day weekend, we are at the end of the one season, Summer and at the start of a new season, Fall. As we begin this new season, we also stand at the “Threshold” of a new chapter here at First Congregational. Some of you may think of me as your new “Interim Pastor” and that the phrase “Transitional Minister” is just a fancy name, but there is a very different meaning and subsequently differing actions between the two. The word “Interim” means: the period of time between; or temporary. The word “Transition” means: a passing from one condition, place and/or activity to another. So, as your Transitional Minister, I will be walking with you through this passing from who you are presently, to where you wish to be moving toward. The work that we as the body of Faith found here at 1275 Adams Ave during this period of “Transition” will be very different than what would be done during the period known as “interim.”
I would like to share a poem with you that was written by Robert Frost, that I think helps speak to the whole idea of “transition”. The title is The Road Not Taken


TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. 20


The inspiration for this poem came from Frost's amusement over a familiar mannerism of his closest friend in England, Edward Thomas. While living in England, Frost frequently took long walks with Thomas through the countryside. Repeatedly Thomas would choose a route which might enable him to show his American a rare plant or a special vista: but it often happened that before the end of such a walk Thomas would regret the choice he had made and would sigh over what he might have shown Frost if they had only taken a “better” direction. Frost, himself had been reared with the biblical notion that a man, having put his hand to the plow, should not look back. However Frost found something quaintly romantic in sighing over “what might have been”, which after returning to America, he so thoughtfully expressed in this poem.
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Life is a journey, a journey that is full of choices. Here at First Congregational, we are going to start looking down differing paths to see which one will look best to follow. There are three words associated with the time period for any congregation that is between “settled” pastors: change, transition and transformation. Change is inevitable, whether we want it to happen or not, nothing stays the same. It is a given that during the interim time, a congregation will struggle with the concept of change.
Transition is the process process by which individuals and congregations will deal with change. What are the options? What can be done that will create the best opportunity to handle this change in a healthy way?
Transformation, then, is the new shape that grows out of this time of transition. Transformation is the result of individuals and congregations struggling with change. Transformation is what gives the church new life and new possibilities and new energy as we her people clam our place and purpose in God's Kingdom.
The three scripture lessons that we heard this morning all deal with change, transition and transformation. Isaiah was writing to a people who had found themselves in a foreign land and longing to go back home. In the Gospel of John, we hear about transition, “In the beginning was the Word....”; “There as a man sent from God....”; “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming....” All of these are speaking about movement toward something. In Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, we read, “the old has gone, the new has come.” Change, transition, and transformation!
The church during the time of Jesus' life had grown stagnate and inward. It had forgotten Isaiah's words of what God expected from them, “to preach good news to the poor; bind up the broken hearted; and to proclaim freedom for those in captivity...” Jesus used this passage in Isaiah to announce his ministry and what the focus of his mission was going to be about.
The Apostle Paul was a man who went through great revelation in his life and came out transformed. Paul's early career was that of knowing the “law” of the Torah and was active in upholding it. So much so that he saw the mission and ministry of those who were calling themselves “followers” of the Christ, as heretics of the church and actively pursued and punished anyone who was deviating from the prescribed law's. Paul was proud and untouched by his attitude of “righteousness” with the stoning of Stephen. After all, Stephen was speaking about a man whose teachings on love and acceptance went against the understanding of the established church leaders. The teaching that Jesus was teaching actually allow women position in society; Jesus spoke radically about reaching out beyond your own and treat them as you would treat your own family member; and Jesus challenged the laws, saying that the law was made for the people, not the people for the law. Meaning that people were more important than that of established tradition.
To put it into today's terms, those who have, if they were to buy into the teachings of Jesus, would feel endanger of letting the “have not's” become equal with themselves. I think the debate that we are hearing about with regard to making sure everyone in the United States has affordable medical coverage is an excellent example of how the power structure in Jesus' day viewed and feared the message Jesus was speaking. There is a fear of loss - when everyone has what you have. I remember at my first vocal contest, how proud I was when I had received a “First Place” rating after my performance, only to be deflated and having the sense that I was no longer “special” when I found out that the majority of vocalists that day also received “First Place” ratings. It took away all of the joy that I had received and satisfaction in knowing that all of my hard work was not being helping me in being “outstanding” but rather, equal with the other students who were participating.
Paul then was assured that his persecution of these Christians was the right thing to be doing. Then one day he had a revelation, that changed his whole understanding of what God was wanting the church to be about. It was on the road to Damascus, that he encountered Jesus and was transformed into the man who became the churches greatest church planter. In his very own words, Paul states, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.” Paul realized that when you do not have God's spirit in your worship, in your heart and are only following form through “tradition”, you really are only able to view the teachings presented by God through the lens of worldly understanding.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to God in Christ, not counting anyone's sins against them. And has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassador's, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, he stated that his mission, his focus of his work was Social Justice: “To preach good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for those captive and release from darkness for the prisoners.” This past week, I have made several visits down to the Broadway Bargain's. I did this in part because it is one of the outreach programs of this church and I wanted to see what it is about. Let me share with you how impressed I am of the depth of involvement that the members of this faith community has in this mission. I have also had the opportunity to witness the food bank in operation as well as how the benevolent fund is used. These are social ministries in action. I am sure there are more things like this going on, but with only 4 days of being with you, this is all that I have experienced so far.
During this time of Transition, we are going to be looking at who we are; at what we do; we will look at our strengths and examine our weak points and work at reshaping them so they will not hinder the mission of this ministry but help in moving it forward. For us as a church to build upon what we have done in the past and move into the future as a healthy congregation who is able to be a people who truly are ambassadors for Christ and do the ministry of reconciliation; we will need to have the same type of “transformation” that the Apostle Paul had in his life.
Over the next number of weeks we are going to be taking valuable lessons out of the book of Job. I understand that you studied Job in the not to distant past, but I think there are some great lessons that can be gleaned from his story. Through the book of Job we will learn a lot about solitude, self-examination, the role of friendship, spiritual guidance, and , ultimately, forgiveness, confession and reconciliation. The book of Job also examines the depths of anger, bitterness, grief, the pain of false hope, and the enduring power and ache of memory. All of these aspects that we during this transitional time need to work through, learn, understand and build upon as apart of the journey to move into the next chapter of this churches ministry.
As Isaiah stated in verse 11 of the 61 chapter, “For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden cases seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” Just as we are moving into the season we call Fall and then in to Winter, where it appears that life dies back, we here at First Congregational, are seeds that are waiting in the soil to sprout up. The season of transition can be thought of as Fall and Winter, where we will work on becoming the hope that sprouts and brings forth a beautiful garden. For it is in the winter when seeds rejuvenate themselves for the next season.

Seeking a "God Friendly Heart"

Seek A 'God Friendly Heart'

I Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14; Ephesians 5:15-20
for Aug 16,2009
at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Seattle,WA
by Rev Steven R. Mitchell


In the Disney version of the story of “Aladdin”, we see a young street beggar who longs to have a live that he thinks would be a better life than what he has had thus far, if only he were living in the Sultan's Palace. Through a series of events he finds in his possession a magic lamp. After rubbing it, out comes the occupant of the lamp, a very jolly and thankful Gene who has been imprisoned and whose job is to grant wishes to whom ever is the owner of the lamp. Every new owner gets only three wishes. To help thicken the plot, the young Aladdin finds out that the only way the Gene can gain his freedom is by having the owner give up one of his/or her wishes and use that one wish to “wish the Gene free.” The Gene's comment to Aladdin was, “and you know how often that happens!”
There is a similar story about a young boy who finds himself in a new situation – as King of a great country after his father’s death. The young man has not had the training to do this job, in fact he actually has an older brother who thought 'he' would become king after their fathers death. So much so that during the last hours of the father’s life, the older son gives a large party to celebrate his new crown, only to find that his father has bequeathed the throne to the younger son. We find this story in the First book of Kings in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Young Solomon found himself thrust-ed upon the throng of his father David with a sense of little preparation for the job. Some scholars say Solomon may have been as young as twelve years old while others put him at no more than twenty. None the less, Solomon was very young and now King of Israel and in his own word's said, “I don't know how to go out or come in.” Even the very basic's seemed to have escaped his up bringing. After all, how do you rule when you don’t even know how to make an entrance!
Well luckily Solomon has a “Gene” on his side, so to speak. After a rather substantial sacrifice to God, Solomon has a conversation with God in a dream. God comes to Solomon and says, “I will give you what ever you want.” Boy, what a loaded offer to be presented with. In the Disney movie, when Aladdin is presented with the power offered before him, the Gene does this enormous musical number, “you've never had a friend like me”, filled with dancing girls, untold riches, bountiful tables of food and just about anything else you can think of that would relate to “excesses” of basic needs!
How would you answer if you were presented with an opportunity like Solomon was given? Reading from Eugene Peterson's translation “The Message” Solomon responds by saying, “Here's what I want: Give me a God-listening heart, so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?” The story continues with God responding, saying to Solomon, “Because you have asked for this and haven't grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I'll give you what you've asked for – I'm giving you a wise and mature heart.”
A wise and mature heart! This is the focus of today's readings. So before we answer the question that I posed just a few minutes ago, “What kind of answer would you give if you were presented with the opportunity like Solomon.” we need to understand what was going on in the question that God was posing and in the answer Solomon gave.
The underlying theme in this story; well actually in any story we read from both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament Scriptures is about “Relationship.” Solomon recognized that the primary reason for his father’s long and successful reign was largely a result of the close relationship David had with God. From a personal note: out of all the people I read about in the Hebrew Bible, David is one of the dearest to my heart. What attracts me to David is his relationship with God, one that was deeper than the priests of his generation. “If it were burnt offerings and incense that you wanted oh Lord, I would have given them to you, but it is my heart that you desire....” This was the type of relationship that David had with God.
There is only one way to gain the wisdom that scripture speaks about and it only comes through a personal relationship with the Creator of all that is. We live in a world filled with facts and figures, of information, of great literature and recorded history, yet none of these gives us what is called “Wisdom”. I fear that most of the world operates on “intelligence” but with very little “wisdom”. What is the difference between “intelligence” and “Wisdom” and why is “Wisdom” more important than “intelligence” you might be thinking. When it comes to decision making, it may mean the ability to tell the difference between “good and evil” or if you prefer, the difference between choosing the “better over the lesser.” Wisdom means the ability to “discern”.
Our world is besieged with heavy burdens. The leaders of the world are being faced with issues such as Climate change; large scale hunger; pandemic diseases' such as Aid's, or the potential threat of Swine and Bird Flu’s; with energy shortages; the build up of nuclear weaponry; natural disasters to name just a few. How do the leaders of every country deal with the needs of their country in relationship to the global community? Information and intelligence is not going to be enough to address such enormous problems. It will take wisdom, wisdom on the part of all the world leaders. How does this happen? If you look to any religious faith, the basis for wisdom comes in “relationship”, relationship with the One who has created all that is. If we have just one prayer for world issues maybe it should be praying that those in power seek a deepening relationship with God.
Let's bring this back into our own backyard. Quoting from this weeks lectionary commentators, “Today we live in a society that, unlike ancient Israel, claims to be built upon the separation of church and state but often brings religious beliefs and claims of authority into the political arena. For example, we may argue vehemently about putting the Ten Commandments on a courthouse wall as a mark of our faithfulness or expect political candidates to speak fervently of their faith life. Yet so many of us fail to make sure that all of God's children have the basic goods of life – in other words, we neglect “the widow, the poor, and the foreigner in our midst” - those most vulnerable and in need. Wasn't this exactly what God expected in both the Old and New Testaments? Aren't justice and compassion the “gospel” values preached and embodied by Jesus, the one whose wisdom we desire? Would Jesus have much to say about engraving Commandments in stone when the heart of God's law is broken all around us?”
When I read this statement, things like Tent City here in Seattle comes to my mind. Of the lawsuits brought forth by those who have, toward churches who provide a space for those living in that community of poverty. Where are we as faith communities in addressing misdirected statements such as, “these people are living this way because they choose to?” Where are we at in addressing issues at the city level to help the homeless? At a national level, where are we at in the discussion of “health Care”? What a scandal this is and how can we as a nation, one of such abundance give advise to other nations on “human rights” issues when we do not provide basic needs to all our citizens. These were the type of things going throw Solomon's mind when he was questioning, “How do I rule with justice to such a large number of people? So the secret of gaining wisdom is in the seeking a deeper personal relationship with God.
I want to finish up the story of Aladdin. After Aladdin learns that the only way the imprisoned Gene can gain his freedom is by wishing for the Gene's freedom, he makes a covenant with the Gene that after Aladdin receives his two wishes, he will wish for the Gene's freedom as his third wish. Since Aladdin wasn't exactly a Solomon, he wished for a false identity that would allow him to be presented to the girl of his dreams, the Princess. One wish gone. He ended up using his second wish to be saved from drowning in the sea. Then comes the dilemma of giving up his 3rd wish to free the Gene or continue his charade as a prince in order to be able to marry the Princess, for only a Prince could wed a Princess. Will he be a man of his word or will he bend to a lesser good and continue that of self-serving wishes. He realized that with each wish that was self-serving, he was getting himself into deeper trouble and was not achieving his dreams. Once he came clean with who he was to the Princess and her father and became a man of integrity, he makes his third wish, to give freedom to the Gene. As a man who has learned to serve the interests of those in need, he was able to help the Sultan realize that laws can be changed for the betterment of all and was able to marry his love, his Princess!
There is a second part of the lesson in today's reading. When Solomon asked for a “God Friendly Heart”, God was pleased and gave Solomon a wise and mature heart. But God also said, “If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.” Loose translation, “If you keep your relationship with me, you will live long and prosper!” If we read the entire story of Solomon, over time he left his first love, his relationship with the God of Israel and started worshiping the idols and gods of his many wives. His life was presumably shortened and his kingdom didn't last long after his death.
I bring this piece forward because as a faith community, we, while working with all our best intentions toward doing “justice”, can loose our personal relationship with God. How? We can become so involved in programming, in growing the church, in doing social justice, that we start to neglect our person time with God – that of prayer, meditation, study and renewal. When this happens we have elevated the “programs” to the level of “idol” and have placed their importance in front of God's importance in our heart and have become idolaters in the eyes of the one we were striving to serve.
As in any relationship, we have to work at keeping it active and meaningful; otherwise it drifts away and dies. In any marriage, to keep it fresh and the love growing, we need to set times where we can be with our spouse, where we give total 100% to the moment with that individual. In the same way, we must do this with God. We must be intentional about setting “alone” times with God, where we can talk and meditate; have fun and laugh; where we can cry on God's shoulder when life becomes to hard. Again reading from the Message, in Ephesians it says, “So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. Don't drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.” It doesn't matter if you can carry a tune in a bucket or not. Music is the language that speaks and touches our hearts in the most of intimate of ways. This is the reason to sing praises to God; it is one of the most basic ways of opening our hearts to the love, to the relationship, to the joy and wisdom of our God! If this were not so, then the Psalms would not hold such deep meaning to us in worship, for the Psalms are nothing more than thoughts set to music to be communicated between the worshiper and God.
The ultimate relationship that we as Christians practice is that in what we call Communion. Where we celebrate the Eucharist of Christ not individually but corporately. I will close with the reading from John once more: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I give for the life of the world is my flesh. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.” The Wisdom of Solomon faded away as he lessened his relationship with God. The wisdom that we seek comes through that of Jesus, for he never lessened his relationship with God but always moved deeper and deeper into relationship with God. The bread of life is represented in his teachings and sayings and the Blood of life comes through the continual relationship with our God. As we come to Christ’s table think upon your relationship with God, think of it as part of seeking a “God Friendly Heart!”
Amen!

Being Open to God's Gifts!

I have never been one to watch reality shows or so called talent shows, particularly “American Idol”, however, through YOUTUBE, I have had the opportunity to view a couple of newly discovered talents through the talent show titled, “Britain’s Got Talent.” Two of the talents that I have been most struck by have been the voices of Susan Boyle and Jamie Pugh.
When you watch the clip of Susan Boyle walking onto the stage and viewing the three judges and more particularly the audiences reaction, I was struck by a problem that so many of us are plagued with – that of prejudicial thinking and what we then receive from this behavior. When Susan walked on, there was a sense from the audience that this was going to be nothing more than a waste of time at the very least and possibly something hard to endure at the very most. There were actions of ridicule picked up by the panning of the camera. It was intensified with the dialog that went on between the judges and Ms. Boyle. But when she began to sing her selection the audience was stunned to hear such an angelic voice. Within the first bar, the audience was cheering, clapping and standing on their feet in wild appreciation for such a fine talent.
With Jamie Pugh, there was not the sense of disbelief that the man standing in front of the audience would do poorly, but rather a respectful wonder of, “can this guy actually sing?” For Jamie, it was a test of not his talent but of his ability to be able to sing in front of 4,000 people. Jamie was a warehouse man by day and a pizza delivery man by night. The general feeling was someone of this type would be mediocre at best. When I watched Jamie sing, I was brought to tears by his sensitivity to the words and music of the song as well as blessed by the quality of his voice. I also could relate to the feeling of being scared in front of large crowds, putting yourself on the line, to be torn to shreds should the audience not appreciate what you had to offer them – a piece of your inner self.
What has come to my mind and once again being reminded of is the numerous blessing that we can receive when we are open to receiving them or the ability to close off and not receive blessings because of our pre-judgments. Everyone in that audience thought Susan Boyle had nothing to offer them. Had she been put off by their pre-judgments, then none of us would have had the blessing that comes from her singing. The same goes with Jamie Pugh, if he allowed the belief of many that a pizza delivery man has no talent, we again would have missed this beautiful talent that God has given Jamie to share with this world.
How many times do we deny ourselves of receiving God’s blessings each day, just because we have a preconceived notion about something or someone? How often do we allow ourselves to be influenced by others preconceived idea’s and limitations and do not share the gifts that God has given us to share? I fear more times that what we ever will recognize. Racism, Ageist, Sexist, Social Economic, Politicalism and anything else that closes the mind and heart deter us from receiving Gods blessings. Being open and living in the moment is basic to being able to enjoy all the gifts that our loving God so wants to lavish us with. So the next time you find yourself “turning off” because of some pre-judgmental thought, just open up and step beyond that thought and let yourself be experience the many blessings that are at your feet!

The Waiting Game

The Waiting Game!
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:4-5

This evening the thoughts that keep going through my mind are many but they all have one theme in common – Wait, wait, and wait some more! For many months now we have been waiting for spring, (I think it might almost be here.) My youngest daughter and son-in-law are working toward and waiting for the opportunity to adopt their first child. My son and daughter-in-law are waiting for the birth of their 8th child. My oldest grandson is waiting for my visit later this summer. And I, I am waiting for a pastoral call.
In a society that thrives on “instant” gratification, waiting seems almost unbearable. We no longer wait weeks for answers to our correspondence with the advent of e-mail. In fact, if we write a note to someone using e-mail and do not receive a message back with in six hours, we tend to feel snubbed. I have to ask myself in the light of the society that I function in the question, “What is the value in waiting?”
Try to imagine what ones life would be like if there was no such thing as “waiting.” From the time you were born till the day you pass beyond this life, all the experiences that you would have, would be continuous, with no breaks, no time for reflection upon the experience – its merits, its lessons, its joys or its pains. How would you know the value of what you have lived? For it is in waiting that we do the tasks of examining, the tasks of setting value and judgment on an experience; of experiencing the anticipation that comes with waiting. For much of the value we put on an event or experience comes from the anticipation.
I think about a couple who become engaged to be married. There is usually a period of waiting, of making preparations for the wedding. One experiences the planning of the wedding, the picking out the invitations, of choosing the colors of the wedding, finding the right wedding dress, sometimes writing your own vows, but certainly thinking about the seriousness of the commitment that is going to be made to your beloved. Then comes the day of the wedding. The event, the words spoken, the commitment pledged holds it power, its worth, it’s meaning by all of the preparation that preceded it.
So it is when Jesus was telling his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for what God had in store for them. For it would be by the power and nurture of the Holy Spirit that would give the Disciples understanding and vision of their 3 years with their teacher and savior, Jesus. During this time of waiting for a call as pastor, I have to remind myself that it is in God’s timing the things that are to be will be. Joyce Landorff, an author of the 70’s and early 80’s once address waiting as the time when God takes the raw ore and refines it to the precious medal that it is. We all are precious metals; some of us just need more refining than others it seems. Susan Boyle is my patron saint this week. As she has waited for decades, caring for her parents before she was able to present herself on British television and start living her dream of being a professional singer. We of the world are now blessed with a most beautiful voice. A voice that has been molded over the years with her waiting for “her” time.
“….but to wait for the Promise of God…” this is the true battle cry for a world that is in such a hurry to get on with it, to get things done, to have the experience. Wait, for it is in waiting that we find the depth of what we are looking to experience. Amen

Several views of Cratar Lake.

Lent 2009 thought

Reflection on Psalm 137
For Lent 2009
“By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?”

This Psalm was popularized in the musical “Godspell” in the early 1970’s and has been a focus in my minds eye this season of Lent. Why? Is it because “Godspell” is the focus on my personal devotions this Lenten season, or is there something deeper going on within my mind and heart? Possibly I might discover what it is as I place my thoughts into sentences.
When reading is Psalm, the obvious thought that comes to mind is the idea of being in a foreign land, where there is hostility and sarcasm being heaped onto those who have been taken captive by a more powerful people. This is a song about the Israelites while in captivity. Very similar to those who were captured, brought from their homelands and sold into slavery to a white population in America. Men and women and children sold into slavery, traded like stocks and bonds on the open market, to be laborers in an agricultural society that could only flourish on the sweat and pain of its victims – those oppressed.
True, my ancestor who found his way to the shores of America did so as an indentured servant. But he contracted himself to be in this position as a means to pay for his passage to the New World. He was a willing slave, but there was a time limit and after the fulfillment of his contract, he was once again a free man and as a white European male was able to enjoy all the empowerment that was given to those who held control in that new democracy.
So how can I, as a white male of European descent, having all of the privilege that comes by being male, white, educated and middle class relate to this Psalm? Even my religious faith as a Christian is the standard in my environment. Possibly if I were living in an area of the United States where political and religious norms were more conservative and where a person who is not 100% hetro-sexual might possibly feel some social ostracism; I might be able to relate a little to what the Psalmist was expressing. But I live in Seattle, WA and am surrounded with social norms that coincide with who I am as a person, in general.
How then, during this season of self-reflection can I connect with these words; these feeling of despair and alienation that come from the writer of this Psalm? I will have to leave the physical dimension of these peoples experience and look to the metaphorical expression to be able to find a relationship to these words.
For me, heaven translate into the “kingdom of God.” Christ says, the kingdom of God is within us. So where does the separation come into play? This again must become an individual definition and I believe it can change at varying points in ones life.
I have felt my relationship with God wax and wane at various times in my journey, we call life. One experience of separation from God came while I was pastor in Kittitas, WA. I had gone threw my divorce, so there was the remorse from loosing my family on the one hand and the other piece to this situation was the struggle I was having around my sexual orientation (which was the reason for the divorce).
I would lie in bed night after night praying my heart out to God, yet I felt my prayers and petitions were going no further than the ceiling. This feeling of separation from God went on for three months or so. Intellectually, I knew God was there with me, hearing me and guiding me; yet emotionally I was alone – in a foreign land, being asked by my congregation to “sing the songs of Zion” , so to speak, through preaching and teaching and counseling.
There ate times that we all feel lose and as we journey through that lose, we recognize that we are in a foreign land. Apart of the sadness comes as we long to go back to what is familiar. Back to a land that we understand and call home. As a Christian, I think of the separation of my spirit from God. My spirit is housed in a physical structure – my body. This body functions in this physical world – a differing finite dimension that does not easily recognize the dimensions that God dwells in. God dwells in this dimension as well; it is my spirit and five senses that have the limitation – thus bringing on that feeling of living in a foreign land.
But through Christ’s teachings, I am reminded that I am not in a foreign land, for God’s Kingdom is here among us; within each of us. So for me, my feeling of isolation – of living in a foreign land is generally a result of my shutting down my senses that connect me with God. It comes from dwelling on the past and wanting to hold on to something or go back to something that no longer exists as my minds eye remembers it.
I suspect this is the basis for the saying, “you can never go back home.” We can never go back or re-create “what was” for life is a forward journey. This entails lose of “What was” and in that lose, a sense of separation. As we journey, it is through Christ and his understanding of relationship with Zion that we are always with God. Life’s journey demands that we experience life in a foreign land (unfamiliar experiences). But with the knowledge that god walks with us and isn’t contained to one location – we do not have to feel we are wandering alone – separated from the love, shelter, protection, guidance and relationship of the on God; our loving Creator parent.

4th Sunday of Lent, 2009

“Believe Into” Jesus!
Fourth Sunday of Lent, St Paul’s UCC, Seattle
John 3:13-21; Numbers 21:4-9; Eph 2:1-10
By Rev Steven R. Mitchell


Today is the Fourth Sunday of Lent. That period of time that we in the church take time out, 40 days specifically (those are 40 business days), for contemplation about our relationship to God, Christ, our planet and of one another. Each congregation approaches this time differently, as do we as individuals. As a church we journey through this time with varying activities and observances. We started off with a joint service of Ash Wednesday with Luther Memorial Lutheran Church and our sister church Broadview Community UCC. On Friday evenings there is a small group who gather and attending the film series that is called, “Voices Not Heard”. This past Friday was dealing with the human rights issue of same sex marriage; last week it was discussing misunderstandings between Faith communities, specifically between the Christian/Muslim/ and Hebrew faith communities. The first week was examining self-images of women who are Native American/ Black/Latino/Asian/European Jew/European Christian in our society as well as those who come from bi-racial backgrounds. Next we are going to be confronted with the issue of Transgender and gender re-assignment with the film called, Call Me Malcolm. I can guarantee you that this is pressing the envelope for some people at St. Paul’s. Then we will finish on Good Friday with the film, 10 Questions I would like to ask the Dahlia Llama. As a church we will also celebrate Lent with a combined service that is traditionally called Maundy Thursday Service, at Broadview UCC, again with Luther Memorial Church joining us. Palm Sunday is the final observance that we as a church will observe before celebrating Easter Sunday, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Some of us take on a personal challenge of contemplation during Lent. I heard this last week in choir where one person was giving up chocolate during Lent. Another person was going through a specific personal devotional time on a daily basis. I have chosen for my devotional time this Lent to listen to the 1970’s musical, Godspell, on a daily basis and reflect upon the message in the music. I was also going to write out those reflections and post them on my blog, but that piece I haven’t accomplished. The purpose for Lent is to press the envelope of our relationship with Jesus and with our God parent. Issues of how involved or even aware of social justice issues I am should be addressed; where am I at in my relationship to God, should be addressed; do I recognize God’s partnership in the daily drudgery of my life?
Today’s lectionary readings from the Hebrew scriptures, the Psalms, the Epistles and the Gospels are so rich in their pressing the envelope that every one of us should find something in one of these readings that make us feel a little discomfort. My skin starts to crawl when I think about snakes. My sensibility is ruffled when I read about a God that brings on poisonous snakes as a means of punishment to those who were complaining; it seems a bit extreme to me as a way of dealing with the situation. Then there is the phrase in John, 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” What about that person who is morally good and have never harmed anyone, but has never spoken those magic words, “I believe in Jesus Christ as my personal savior.” Are they doomed to eternal damnation?
So let’s take a journey through each of the readings and see what we might glean from these stories. Ronald Allen in his book Lord of Song explains the story of the snakes in the desert this way: “One of the last rebellious acts the people of the wilderness community committed against Yahweh and his servant Moses was on their way to Edom. As had happened so often in the past, the people became discouraged with their harsh life in the desert and as before, they complained that Moses should have left them in Egypt to die rather than to die in the unbearable wilderness. Food and water were scarce and the people hated the detestable bread.
Worthless bread? It was manna from heaven the people were complaining about. Manna, the daily miracle of God’s provision. Manna, the mark of God’s grace. Manna, gift of God’s love. But the people, in an all-too-human way, had turned on God’s gift because of its very regularity….. In their contempt for manna they showed contempt for Yahweh. In spurning his gift of food, they spurned his daily grace.
God caused them great grief by bringing into their midst venomous snakes which cased a terrible plague amount the people. Then, in an abrupt and surprising manner, God had Moses make a bronze image of one of those detestable snakes and held it high on a pole. Whoever would look at that snake image on the pole would be spared from painful death by the snake venom. They had contemned God’s gift; he made an object of contempt the only means for their life.”
A question this 4th Sunday of Lent: What gifts from God, have you become tired of and complain and no longer appreciate? What snakes are in your life? What would God tell you to hang up on a pole to look at as a reminder of the love God wants to share with you?
Let’s move onto the Gospel reading. John 3:16 has become one of the most misunderstood and inappropriately used passages of scripture since it was penned. It has been used by the church as a means to beat people up, to exclude and divide humanity and to lord power over one another. This abusiveness comes in verse 18, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
In the translation called The Message, we hear a slightly differing verbiage, “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. ….Anyone that trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”
This portion of scripture is the latter part of the story of Nicodemus, a Pharisee and prominent leader among the Jews, coming under the cover of night to visit with Jesus trying to discern who Jesus was. Nicodemus states, “Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren’t in on it.” Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to – to God’s Kingdom.” How can anyone,” said Nicodemus, “be born who has already been born and grown up? You can’t re-enter your mothers womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?” Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation – the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life- it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch-the Spirit-and becomes a living spirit.”
Too often we pass over the corner stone of John 3:16 and this is where the misunderstanding has come and why the ability to abuse somebody with this concept has come about. “No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man.” In the Hebrew scriptures Ezekiel used the phrase, son of man, 90 times, referring in every case where God is speaking to his prophet as the human agent for the divine message. In the book of Daniel, the idea of the son of man takes on the understanding of a Messianic title. Meaning “He ho is the victor over the “evil” one at the end of time. Quoting from Ronald Allen, “The term also suggests the mystery of the Incarnation. From our perspective, the amazing thing about Jesus of Nazareth is that he, a man, was truly God. Perhaps we may say that from the perspective of deity, the amazing thing was the he, truly God, was now truly man.” Pg 28-29.
Jesus continued saying to Nicodemus, “In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up-and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.”
The message that Jesus is trying to tell us, is that our salvation, if you will, comes from the Spiritual connection we have with God. We can only recognize God because God’s spirit has descended into us. That is the One who came down from God’s presence. The message the church should be giving to the world is not “believe in “Jesus, but rather “believe into” Jesus. For too long, fairly or not, John 3:16 has been associated with escapism, with fire insurance (believe X and get your “get out of hell free” card.) Methodist study guide for 4th Sunday Lent
Thus John 3:16 is not referring primarily to believing things about the life, execution, and resurrection of Jesus, but rather by following in Jesus’ way. Eternal life is thus not a “thing” we get when we give assent to the right theology, but rather the reality in which we live as we follow the one who is Way, Truth and Life.
I would like to close with some thoughts from the letter to the Ephesians: “Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.”
Let the words from the Song Day by Day, which is from Godspell and was number 13 on the music charts in 1973, be the challenge for your 4th Sunday of Lent. “Day by day, Day by day, Oh Dear Lord three things I pray. To see thee more clearly; Love thee more dearly; Follow thee more nearly. Day by day!