Third Sermon At Rock Springs, WY 9/20/09

Equality: Fact or Goal?
By Rev. Steven R. Mitchell
Psalm 1; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37
First Congregational UCC, Rock Springs, WY 9/20/2009



Psalm 1 starts out with this lesson: “ Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of God, and on God’s law they meditate day and night.” In the book of James we read, “show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” In our Gospel reading in the book of Mark we read, “If anyone wants to be first, he/she must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
All three of these pieces of information seem to be very sound and wise advice. Good rules to live by. And I suspect that if all persons who call themselves “Christian” world wide actually embraced just these three rules, the whole world might want to know the God that has laid these rules (if you will) down to be able to live a peaceful and enriched life. How many times have you been in discussions with people about your church and even go so far as to “invite” them to join you in worship that coming week, only to hear them respond with: “Oh I’m a spiritual person, I just don’t believe in organized religion.” as an excuse for not coming with you? Well, the next time this happens to you, I have a response that you can share with them as a come back. Tell them, “That’s cool, and I understand totally. And since you don’t believe in organized religion, you will really like it at our church, because we have dis-organized religion!”
What we are really being informed of is that, historically the church has not lived up to what it teaches. We say we meditate on God’s Laws, but how much time per week do we sit and read the bible or sit in prayer longer than 5 minutes? We say we believe in justice but are we out in the market place voicing our convictions? We say we believe in peace, but how many times have we as a country that labels itself as Christian, gone to war; just since 1950 or have been involved in “skirmishes” or “conflicts”? As a whole, we pretty much talk out of both sides of our mouth, or as the Native American would say, “we speak with forked tongue.”
Today’s title of reflection is “Equality: Fact or Goal?” In the Epistle from James, he writes: “For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.” This is the type of behavior that keeps healthy, well adjusted people, who are Spiritual, away from “organized” religion. It is easy for us to look back at the very first century church and easily point the finger at them and say “shame on you, church people, didn’t you get what Jesus was talking about?” Of course, the twelve disciples seemed to never truly understand what Jesus was teaching. Mark says, “But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.”
But what about now, 2,000 years later – do we understand it? Have we progress any? Do we live in an atmosphere in this church that reflects the true meaning of this banner, “God is Still Speaking?” or the other UCC battle cry, “Never put a period where God has placed a comma?” Do we really understand what this is saying? Do we understand what the “comma” is or who the “comma” represents? Is equality in this community of faith, a fact; or is it still a goal? You do know that anytime you go pointing your one finger at someone, there are three fingers pointing back toward yourself. Ched Myers, in his book “Say to This Mountain, Mark’s Story of Discipleship” writes, “According to Mark – our greatest individual and social addiction is the will to dominate.”
Today’s reading of Mark comes after the mountain top experience by Peter, James and John, where they experienced Jesus in conversations with Elijah and Moses. We call it the story of Transfiguration. After this tremendous experience that only these three disciples out of the twelve are recorded to have had the privilege of witnessing, we read that as they were walking along to Capernaum with Jesus, they were in conversations as to who out of the group of disciples were the most privileged and there by possessed the greater influence or power among them. We are not really told whether Jesus was able to over hear this conversation or not, but once at home in Capernaum, Jesus asked them what they had been discussing. Now in some translations and in other Gospels it is stated more harshly as to, “What were you guys arguing about on the road?” Scripture says, “The silence was deafening “
The silence was deafening. This small phrase can easily be glossed over by the reader thinking the focus of this story is on Jesus holding the little child and saying, “the greatest must become the least and servant of all.” I think this small phrase is the more important lesson out of today’s reading. Its importance is the basis for all non resolved arguments. The first time we read in the Bible about this problem is in Genesis, after Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Up to that point, God had daily walks with Adam and Eve. But once they had eaten that fruit, they ran and hid from God when they heard Him coming. What is being shown here is a breakdown of communication! It is the separation of us from God. The inability to communicate with God is the underlying theme through out the whole Bible and the death and resurrection of Jesus is the bridge to reconcile that broken relationship.
As a people of God, we are not asked or demanded by God to give up our person, our identity, but rather we are asked to develop who we are in the nurturing surroundings that we call our faith community. We all have differing opinions on how things should operate. Just like in a marriage, the idea when we say, “the two shall become one”, doesn’t mean that one person lords’ power over the other person, but rather through communications and working with each others perceptions come to a common agreement or goal, where both have their integrity in tact and not having to have had it compromised or marginalized.
But when one or more people within a faith community perceive themselves as having greater power or privilege then we see what James is warning about, “For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.” This is nothing new to any church. Every church struggles to find balance within its uniqueness of every member as to how to allow every voice to be heard. Not just voiced, but to be “heard”.
When one hears statements like, “I don’t like this pastor and I’m not coming back till he leaves,” or “I don’t like so and so, and I’ll just stay away until they leave,” or “I won’t come to church on the Sunday’s the music isn’t up to my standard, “I as a person of faith have to wonder where Christ is at in that person’s heart? I would have to ask what is the real reason one comes to Worship with these types of feelings. Is not the reason for coming to Worship, but togather with other members of the faith community and open ones heart to receive the Love and mercy of God and experience for that hour an environment where all are equal in the sight of our creator? When I hear statements that are negative about the “why’s” of not coming together, what I am truly hearing is the “importance of Ego” and not what James finishes in say, “ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” Is it any wonder why those who don’t come to church say they don’t like “organized” religion?
So Jesus’ response to the arguing over “who was more powerful” by taking hold of a child and placing this child in the middle of the group and giving us this lesson, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me – God who sent me.” Now for the 21st Century reader, this is a Kodak moment, or a Norman Rockwell painting; For at some levels, we value children in our society a good deal, but for the culture that Jesus was living in, children were the very least of the least. As a child you held no value in society, you weren’t even valuable enough to have been sold as a slave.
Once again Jesus was challenging social norms and values not only of his day, but also the behaviors of our society, not just in third world countries where baby girls are murder because sons hold value or young girls are sold into prostitution to pay for family debt, but also here in the United States; here in Wyoming; and here in Rock Springs. Quoting again from Ched Meyers, “Throughout this section Mark has articulated the Way of the cross as the practice of solidarity with “little ones” in daily life. In every social relationship, power is unequally concentrated, and the Jubilary task is to redistribute it – even in the context of traditional structures such as marriage and the family. Mark has also undermined any “proprietary” rights that the discipleship community may wish to claim for itself. There is plenty of exemplary behavior outside our own communities of faith and plenty of problematic behavior inside them. The vocation of the church is not to render moral condemnations, but to seek justice within and without.”
By using the example of “welcoming” a child Jesus is challenging the disciples as well as us to a new understanding of just how valuable every person is to God. And not just a new understanding but a challenge to truly be welcoming and inviting. In a culture where your “holiness” was based on your worth this is not an easy concept to understand.
The conversation the disciples might have had with Jesus could have sounded a bit like this: You mean Jesus, we are to welcome the person who doesn’t have the power or ability or place to welcome us in return? To invite people into our faith community with no expectation of reciprocity? Basically Jesus, you are telling us to welcome and even value small, insignificant, powerless people? So let me get this right, Jesus, you are telling me that the only way that I can truly integrate you into my heart is to accept and give value to the guy who is beating on his wife and kid and not expect him to stop and live by my standards; or even worse, I have to really accept and value the bum who comes in off the street and smells like the garbage dump and actually sit next to him in Worship and you expect me to invite him to coffee time and then chat with him? Can’t you just accept my money and my good intensions and call that good? Not really huh. That means that I have to give up my good opinion of myself before I can do that Jesus. Oh, that’s what you’ve been trying to tell all this time. I don’t know; can I get back to you on that one, please.
“Marks gospel holds a vision of society, church, and family that is based on access and acceptance. To become like a child is to acknowledge the place and condition of the most vulnerable ones in our midst.” Pg 122 Before we can really break the response of “I’m Spiritual, I just don’t buy into organized religion”, we need to do what James asks us to do, to empty ourselves of the selfish desire to be in control and allow the gentle love and wisdom of God to enter into our hearts. There is nothing scarier in life than to feel like you are not in control of yourself or of your environment. But Jesus is saying that equality is the only way life will be lived out peacefully and where the sense of safety and security is a fact not a goal. In the UCC battle cry, “Never place a period where God has placed a comma”, the comma is “every individual”. Never put judgements or boundaries or self imposed values on any of God’s creatures; that my dear friend’s is the “comma”. For it is in the “comma” that each one of us has the ability to be nurtured and to grow.
Amen

Second Sermon at Rock Springs, WY

When Trust Is Shaken
By Rev Steven R. Mitchell
Job 1:6-22; I Cor 13:1-7 & 13; Matt 26:17-25
Based on “A Hard-Fought Hope” by William Long & Glandion Carney

Today we are going to look at the meaning of “Trust” and what that means and the implications of what happens when our trust is shaken. Webster defines Trust as: a firm belief in the honesty, reliability of some person or thing; faith. Confident expectation, as have trust in the future, hope. As an adjective, Webster gives definition as: acting as trustee – in trust, in the condition of being entrusted to another’s care.
[Trust then covers all facets of our lives! Trust touches subjects as diverse as contract law, political realities, social theory, personal relationships, and religious faith. When we say, “I trust her” or “I trust God,” we express a firm confidence. (p 28) In our walk through the book of Job, we will explore how Job’s terrible suffering endangered his ability to trust God and his friends.]
A good basic starting point is how trust flourishes in one’s life. According to the author of the book, A Hard-Fought Hope, Journeying with Job through Mystery, William Long states, “The instinct to trust is built into our genes, passed on from generation to generation just as physical traits pass from parent to child. Trusting another person often means a commitment to the growth and basic integrity of the other. Trust nurtures faith in and expects the best from another person.” So when I say, “I trust you Mary Ruth Powell” or “I trust you Jonathan Firme” or “Paul Allen I trust you” this is nurturing faith and hope in you to be your best.
On the backside of our money we read, “In God We Trust”. This would imply that we trust God to keep the value of that bill. I’m not sure that is a realistic expectation to put on God, but none the less it is there. What it does imply is our faith and hope in the ability of our monetary system to perform to our expectations. Even in our Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag, we use the idea that God is there to protect us as a nation. A very traditional childhood prayer that parents teach their children is, “Now I lay me down to sleep, the Lord I pray my soul to keep.” So this hope, this faith, this trust in God and in people we have relationship with is very basic to our feeling of security.
But what happens to us when our trust is shaken? How do we react; how do we cope; and how do we survive? This past Friday marked the 8th anniversary of the attack by terrorists on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as well as the downed passenger airliner known as Flight 93. It was the first time within my life time that we have been attacked by a foreign entity on American soil. I shall never forget the sick feeling deep within my stomach as it became apparent that we were under attack. My first thoughts were remembering how my grandparents would talk about the significance of December 7th in their lives and I remember thinking, “this must be the same type of feelings that they were feeling when their learned about the attack on Pearl Harbor.”
There was a shattering of true innocence of many in our nation that we as the leading world power and a nation that is protected by God would be spared such violence on a massive scale. Our trust in who we were and of our self-importance internationally has been forever shattered. In response our whole life style has changed. Out of fear we have given up many of our civil rights to our government, without questioning the legality of what was being asked of us. Out of a broken trust we allowed illegal detention of several thousand innocent people. Out of broken trust our government engaged in torture of prisoners. Out of fear we have engaged in profiling people because of their religious beliefs or the color of their skin without giving equal profiling to their Caucasian counter parts.
When trust is broken, the opposite of having trust happens. Instead of “the best” being brought out in us, broken trust generally brings out the worst in us. Words like treachery, betrayal, disloyalty and fraud are a few of the types of behavior that can occur when trust is broken.
So what I’ve been talking about thus far is what happens when we as humans break trust with other humans. But what happens when we have trust broken by God? How do we react? Is it “okay” to get mad at God for breaking trust with us? Can God actually break trust with us and if so, then just “how firm is our foundation” as Christians. This is the situation with Job. Here is a man who is totally faithful to God and utterly hates evil. He gives sacrifices to God and just in case his children aren’t being faithful enough, Job is giving sacrifices in their names as well.
God is so impressed with Job and his faithfulness that God is bragging to Satan about how wonderful Job is. Of course Satan’s response to God is, “So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does – he can’t lose!” Satan then goads God with this challenge, “But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He’d curse you right to your face, that’s what.” So God tells Satan, that he can do whatever he wished to Job in trying to prove his point, but is restricted from physically harming Job.
Now it is important to understand that in Job’s day, your prosperity was directly related to your righteousness or rightness with God. Job by all accounts is the most holy person alive as he was truly the richest man of his day. The person, who would most likely rank with Job in our time as of February 2009, is Bill Gates as the wealthiest individual in the world who is estimated to have $40 billion, which he has lost value with the current downturn in the market. Mr. Gates just happens to have been raised in the United Church of Christ.
Now if trust is suppose to bring out the better in a person, then with all this trust that Job has in God, should bring out the best in God and in his actions. Yet it would appear that God is feeling insecure with His relationship with Job, by taking on the challenge that Satan has presented. It seems like the traditional 1950’s teenage boys sitting in their car’s, side by side, revving up their motors while waiting for the red light to change to green, so they could prove which car had the more horse power. Instead of being content in knowing that the car that was being driven had all the power it needed to do the job, there is an insecurity pushing them to prove who had the more power under the hood.
So Satan promptly goes to work on Job. In less than 6 verses, Job learns he has lost his fortune, all of his possession and worst of all, all of his children. Job found himself totally alone! In his day, he would have been judged by his friends and neighbors as having some deep and horrible sin in his life to have had all this happen to him. He was no longer the holiest man on earth but the most sinful man!
I am sure that many of you have had negative events happen in your life that seemed to have the hand of God in it. I recall when my wife and I had our first pregnancy. Marsha really wanted to have children shortly after we were married. I was more cautious and thought we need at least 5 yrs of marriage before we should start a family. Well, nature seemed to win out and we became pregnant about a year after we were married. After I got over the shock of the news, I started to really warm up to the idea of fatherhood and was looking forward to it. Then a few weeks later, we learned that Marsha had a miscarriage. We were devastated, but what was hurting in me the most was seeing the extreme disappointment in my wife and the lack of self-esteem that seemed to appear over the lost of this child. I became extremely angry with God. My trust in God had been severely shaken.
[Broken trust leaves us with a huge dilemma. To whom do we confide our sense of loss and betrayal?] Especially if the betrayer is God. [Do we try to act as if nothing has happened but in the meantime plot revenge? Beat ourselves up for being so naïve as to fall for the scheme by which we were defrauded? Chalk up the loss to experience and try to get back on track emotionally and spiritually? Or, just lock everything up in a closet and try to forget about it and let it fester within us? Maybe we decide never to trust again and live on the basis of that vow;] and if that feeling is toward God – just stop coming to worship or stop praying, possibly denying the very existence of God!
These are all normal thoughts and feelings that we can go through when we feel that trust has been broken, be it from God, friends, colleagues, neighbors or our governmental representatives. Under grey rainy skies at this past Friday’s memorial gathering at ground zero in New York, with names of those who lost their lives being spoken out loud – Vladimir Boyarsky, whose son, Gennady Boyarsky was one of the victims – spoke these words, “we miss you. Life will never be the same without you. This is not the rain. This is the tears.”
[The dilemma of trust exposes the fragility of our mechanisms for dealing with life’s adversities. When our trust is broken, we do not die. We keep living. We often have to face the next day with the same people who broke trust with us. So we need to find positive ways to deal with the breaches of trust that enter our lives.] Ways that will heal and rebuild those bridges and allow us to work in an atmosphere of confidence and comfort; in developing an environment that provides hope and faith that is nurtured and lived to its fullness.
As we come today to the table of communion, we have to think about the betrayal of trust that lies at its base. We read in Matt: “After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, Jesus said, ‘I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.’ They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, ‘It isn’t me, is it, Master?’ …Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, ‘It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?’ Jesus said, ‘Don’t play games with me, Judas.’”
Jesus was betrayed by one of his closest friends and colleagues. How did he handle this betrayal? First off, he recognized what it was and called Judas on it, in the presence of the other disciples. Later in the garden he prayed for guidance and strength to go through what was about to happen because of the breach in trust. We do not read that Jesus got angry and quite. We do not read where Jesus cursed God for what was happening. We do not read where Jesus gave up on his disciples. What we do read is Jesus giving his Disciples instructions on how to think anew the idea of fellowship and of communion with the faithful. He did this with the common bread and wine. Jesus tells us to do this as often as we meet. I think one of the reasons for this is to help us remember that we are not alone in this world, but rather we are a part of a larger body and even when we feel that our trust has been shaken, even to its foundation, that through Christ’s example, we can survive and rebuild that trust, that hope, that faith!
Let us dwell upon this lesson as we come to Gods table of love today. Amen

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.