Faith

Joseph is sold into slavery by his eleven brothers who hated him so much they wanted to murder him. Joseph probably wondered where God was in all this. As it turned out, God was with him through all of this. But it does make a person wonder how strong his faith was through all these trials. It certainly had to be tested.
Paul talks about how difficult it was and is to live totally by the law as prescribed in the Old Testament. There’s just too much fine print.
Paul says that it’s all about trusting God to shape us up for right living. In fact he points out that’s its much easier to trust in God to straighten things out and let him go to work than it is to try to make sure every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed in trying to keep the law.
It does take faith and that may be the hardest part for some folks. In the scripture read from The Message it says, “Say a welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it.”
We don’t have to “do” anything. We simply have to call out to God and trust him to do for us. We do have to embrace the fact that God is going to set everything right and that may be one of the toughest steps to take for some of us.
It’s not easy to put your trust in someone you can’t see or have never seen. It’s not easy to trust in someone you have only heard about or read about but haven’t actually seen or heard. But did you hear what Paul said about what the Scripture says? “No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it.” And it doesn’t matter what denomination or religion you profess at the time you call to him. God is there for anyone who calls out to him. If you ask for help you will get help.
It does take faith to make the first call or take the first step. And for some that is the biggest hurdle.
Last week Jesus had just received the news about his cousin John being beheaded by Herod. He tried to get away with the disciples to a quiet place, a lonely place, but the people followed him and so he ministered to their needs first. And the disciples fed them and cleaned up what was left over. When that was all done he tells them to get in the boat late in the afternoon and go to the other side of the lake.
Jesus takes care of dismissing the people. It doesn’t say how he did that. How do you dismiss 15-20,000 people? But it says he did and finally he was able to climb the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He was there late into the night.
In the meantime the disciples were far out in the Sea of Galilee and they were in trouble. You see the wind had come up and the waves were threatening to capsize their boat.
Can you imagine what they must have thought when they looked up and saw someone walking towards them on the water? I think I would have wondered if I was seeing things too. Jesus assured them that it was him and then Peter thought, “Well, if Jesus can walk on water maybe I can to.” And so he said, “…if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
Good old impetuous Peter. He steps right over the side of the boat and begin walking towards Jesus. But the wind hadn’t stopped blowing and the waves were still rolling and it was then that he realized that maybe he had bitten off more than he could chew. When his doubts got the better of him he began to sink. Peter the Rock began to sink like a rock.
But when he called for Jesus to save him he did. Jesus said he had little faith or a faint heart. He had enough faith in Jesus’ power to take the first step but when he saw the power of the storm all around him he began to doubt.
I think that’s what happens to us sometimes. We take the first step by faith but then we look around us and realize that we’re in a little deep and wonder what if the Lord’s busy today. We forget that the One who made everything controls everything.
Like the man who asked Jesus to cast the demon out of his son if he was able to do anything. And Jesus said, “If you are able! All things can be done for the one who believes.” And he said, “Jesus, I believe. Help my unbelief.”
That’s it. If we believe, anything, absolutely anything is possible for God. Like Jesus said, “Let those with ears to hear listen!”
It takes faith to get started. It takes faith to put words together and ask for God’s help. It takes faith to pray. Without faith it’s impossible to believe.
God is here for everyone and wants nothing more than to be in a loving relationship with us. But he’s not going to push himself on us. He is waiting for us to get to that point where we realize that he is God, that he loves us, and forgives us no matter what we have done in our lives prior to coming to him.
Faith, faith as small as a mustard seed, is all it takes. My friends pray to God to strengthen your faith.
Thanks be to God for his grace in our lives. Amen.

A Lonely Place by Yourself

Have you ever felt the need to go off somewhere and be by yourself? You know what it’s like when the daily grind of work and the noise all around you, real and imagined, just get to be too much and you just want to be alone so you can sort things out. Maybe even talk with God about the why and the where of things. Have you ever been there?
I have. And I find its not always easy finding a quiet place to be alone with your thoughts and with God. Oh it’s easier now that the kids are grown but when they were young and clamoring for my attention when I would come home from work that was different. There was no peace or quiet or alone time, except very late at night or very early in the morning.
Jacob knew what it was like; Jesus knew what it was like and so did Paul. They all felt the pull of the Spirit to be alone with God. Because when they were alone, alone with God, they could get rid of all their burdens and talk with Him about all the things that were troubling them. They could wrestle with their problems; sometimes they even wrestled with God. That’s what Jacob did. And it changed him physically and mentally. He was a different person after being alone and wrestling with God.
Jesus often when away into the wilderness or up on the mountaintops to be alone, to talk with His Father. Sometimes he succeeded in being able to have some privacy but other times like in today’s scripture lesson the people would find him and his alone time was interrupted.
Do you think it’s important that we have time alone with God? I believe that it’s very important to spend time alone with God every day. Do I always get to? No, I don’t but I try because I’ve learned or I should say that God has taught me that it’s necessary to be alone so he can communicate with me and I can listen to his voice without being distracted by the noise of my daily life.
I come back to the pulpit today after having been able to have some alone time with God in some of the most beautiful places in his wonderful creation. One week I was camping alone every night in my tent as I biked across Iowa. The early morning and the late evenings were the best times for me. I woke to the sounds of robins, wrens, and cardinals singing their hearts out welcoming the sun and in the evening while lying on my sleeping bag I listened to the world quiet down. It was then I could talk with God and thank Him for all he had done for me that day or thank Him for a restful night as I woke in the morning.
And last week in the North woods it was the same thing. I woke to the singing of the loons and when to sleep listening to the sounds of boys talking as the recounted their adventures fishing and swimming in the Minnesota lakes. I thanked God for all of it.
We all need to find that lonely place so that we can talk with God and listen to Him as he fills us with his peace and love. These lonely places aren’t always idyllic places where everything is easy. Sometimes they are places where we encounter our problems and struggle with them all night and maybe, like Jacob, we may even wrestle with God trying to find answers to some personal life’s questions.
But no matter what the outcome, whether our time in the lonely place is quiet and peaceful or a wrestling with God we still need to find lonely places.
I pray that God will lead you to that lonely place where you can hear his voice and he can hear you give him your praise and thanks. I pray that he will show you the lonely place where you can be relieved of your burdens and finally be free of your sin realizing that you have been forgiven and know that you are loved.
Thanks be to God for the lonely places. Amen.

Have You Heard Jesus?

Hey folks. Have you seen and heard about this man called Jesus? He’s been travelling all over. Right now he’s hitting all the cities in Galilee.
Not long ago I went out into the wilderness to hear another fella some called the Baptizer. When I got to the Jordan River there he was out in the middle of it raising cane and telling everyone to repent and be baptized. He was the strangest looking character. He was wearing animal’s skins and he lived on a diet of wild honey and locusts. Yuk!! I heard him say that he wasn’t the Messiah as some thought but he did tell us that one was coming who was mightier than him. Someone he was even good enough to tie his sandals.
John’s been arrested. You knew that didn’t you? Yep, that’s righet. Herod had him arrested for giving him a bad time about his new wife. John never was afraid of a confrontation, especially if he knew it was against God’s law.
So today some of John’s disciples came asking Jesus if he was the one everyone was waiting for or should they expect someone else. Jesus told them to go back and tell John what Jesus was doing as he travelled among the people. Surely you have all heard about the healing, casting out demons and curing sick people, haven’t you?
Jesus told all of us there that John the Baptizer was indeed a great prophet; in fact, if we were willing to accept it, he said he was the prophet Elijah who was to come. Can you believe it, the Prophet Elijah?
I can’t believe you haven’t heard him speak yet. He’s really been coming down hard on the religious leaders. You know the ones who know all that great theology stuff and can pray really long prayers and keep all the commandments all the time. He compared them to little children. Can you believe it, little children, the Pharisees? I can’t believe he said that. And they just took it. I think they’re just waiting for the right time. Just you wait. I bet they find a way to get back at him.
You know, you’d think that Jesus would’ve stopped there but nope, he went on to tell them that two of the most sinful cities around, Tyre and Sidon, would have repented quicker if they had witnessed the miracles that he had done. You know none of the cities that Jesus had visited has changed one bit even though he’s taught as one with authority and he’s healed all sorts of people, even cast out demons. Nobody has seen anything like it before but they still don’t believe that he could be from God.
I don’t know about you but I think he’s the One. I mean, how else would you explain everything he’s done and everything he’s taught. He even brought a young girl back to life that had died. Now who could do that if God hadn’t authorized him?
I can’t believe you haven’t heard him speak. Everybody’s talking about the things he teaches and all the miracles he done. Are you sure you haven’t heard of Jesus?
I heard him say the other day if we would just come to him he would give us rest. Let me tell you, I’m ready for a rest. I mean I worked all day yesterday putting up gutters and all I got for it was a beef burrito, a Diet Pepsi and a sunburn. And I’m still tired.
He says we can put on his yoke and learn from him. I’m not sure this tired old brain can learn anymore but he assures us that he is gentle and humble in heart. And we’ll find rest for our souls. You know that sounds really good. I’m so worn out I believe my soul could use a rest.
I think I’m going to see if what he says is true. I’m going to check it out. I want to see if all the hype I’ve been hearing is right. I can’t imagine a yoke being easy. Have you seen those wooden contraptions? They sure aren’t made of feathers. I know my burdens have never been light. If you only knew half the work I have to do.
I do hope you get to see Jesus work a miracle or two and hear him speak. I don’t know where he got all his wisdom if not from God. But I tell you he really knows how to tell a story so it all makes sense. I’m really beginning to believe God loves me even though I’ve never been able to keep all those rules the Pharisees say we have to follow.
I’m telling everyone I know that they should come out to hear him speak. I think he may be the Messiah. Really! Just mark my words.
Well I’ve really got to go. No rest for the wicked you know. Just remember the name Jesus. I’m sure you’ll being hearing more about him. He’s gathering quite a following.
In fact you may want to check back next week. I hear he’ll be teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Go check it out for yourselves. I think you’ll understand what I’ve been telling you.
May God’s grace and peace follow you as you journey in your search for rest and comfort for your soul. Shalom.

Friendly or Welcoming

How many of you, without looking at your bulletin, can tell me what is said, at top, about our church? It’s the part that’s in italics just above the other part that tells us what Sunday this is in the church year. When was the last time you looked at it and really thought about what it says about us?
For those of you who haven’t peeked and don’t really know for sure what I’m talking about it says, “We are a positive friendly group of faithful followers of Jesus Christ, who invite young and old to be a part of our fellowship.”
How many of you remember when this was written? Pastor Gerry Oliver worked with us as we developed this mission statement. Like quite a few mission statements that were created they are often forgotten and not really thought about too much, and that’s really kind of sad. Sad, because the people who constructed this really put some thought into it.
The one part I want us to reflect on today is the friendly group. Think back to when this was put together; what were we thinking about when we decided to use the word friendly? What does being friendly really mean?
The gospel lesson you heard read today from Matthew said that, “Whoever welcomes you welcomes me,…” or in some translations it says, “Whoever receives you receives me,…” or they might use the word accepts in place of welcomes or receives. But you notice that it doesn’t once say anything about being friendly does it. So what is the difference between being friendly and being welcoming? Are they the same thing? Is it possible to be friendly and not be welcoming? Think about that for a minute.
Now think about the actions of Jesus as he traveled among the people. Was he just friendly or was he genuinely welcoming?
Now before I go too far let me say that being friendly is not a bad thing. It’s just that I believe Jesus expects us to be more than just friendly. If we are just friendly we aren’t stepping very far outside the box. We aren’t being stretched very far.
Being friendly, I believe, is shaking someone’s hand and saying, “I’m sure glad you came to worship with us today,” and walking away to talk to someone else, maybe another friend.
But being welcoming is something altogether different. Welcoming can be defined as, “received with gladness; admitted willingly to the house, entertainment, or company; as, a welcome visitor; producing gladness; grateful; as, a welcome present; welcome news; free to have or enjoy gratuitously; salutation to a newcomer; kind reception of a guest or newcomer; as, we entered the house and found a ready welcome; to salute with kindness, as a newcomer; to receive and entertain hospitably and cheerfully; as, to welcome a visitor; to welcome a new idea.” I personally like the, “admitted willingly to the house” one...Jesus died for us so all of us can choose to be in Father's House! To have freely with grace...I like that one too!
This defines for us all what welcoming should be, what it’s supposed to be. Are we a welcoming group or do we have some work to do? I know that I could do a better job than I do right now.
We really need to understand that when we welcome someone we are welcoming the one who sent them. In the case of the prophet we would then receive a prophet’s reward and if we welcome a righteous person we receive a righteous person’s reward. If we give something as small as a cup of cold water to one of the little ones in the name of a disciple then none of these will lose their reward. The One who sent them, most times, is Jesus.
When we are truly welcoming to those who enter this sanctuary to worship God with us then we will receive our reward from the One who loved us so much he came to earth to die for our sins. Our reward for believing in him is eternal life.
You know this welcoming thing is a little bit like receiving a new baby into a family. If it’s the first child you know there are going to be changes. If it’s the second or third there are still things that have to change to make room for this new person.
It’s like when two people decide to build a life together as a couple. When they make the decision to have their union consecrated by God in a marriage ceremony they may not realize it at the time but there are going to be changes. The families of the couple welcome a new son or daughter into the family and things have to change. Mothers and fathers have to let go of a son or a daughter and at the same time they are to welcome this new person who is taking their son or daughter away from them. Sometimes it’s easy and other times it’s very difficult. This welcoming thing isn’t always easy. In fact sometimes it’s down right hard work.
As I’ve said before what we do in Jesus’ name doesn’t have to be perfect. I believe that he just wants us to get out there and do it. The more comfortable we get in welcoming folks the better we become at it.
So maybe we need to look at our mission statement and think about rewriting it. Or maybe we should read it every Sunday and think about what it means and decide if we are living out our mission as we are sent out into the world.
As it says in The Message, “We are intimately linked in this harvest work.” This is a team effort. Jesus is saying we can start small by offering a cup of cold water and then it builds from there. But we do have to begin.
Let’s go into this week with the focus to welcome our friends, neighbors, and family into this community of faith where God has placed us. Now you realize that these friends, family, and neighbors may be folks we haven’t met yet. All Jesus is asking us to do is make them feel welcome. Accept them into the fold as Jesus accepted us when we were less than perfect.
Thanks be to God for his bountiful, forgiving grace. Amen.

You Are the Answer

When Linda and I were first married I was a farmer, not a very good farmer but for 10 years I gave it a try. We suffered through drought, hail, too much rain, sometimes too many bugs and too many weeds but one year the harvest was beyond anything we imagined. The crops produced way beyond our expectations. The bins filled up, the granaries were filled right up to the top of the walls, and the corn crib couldn’t hold another ear of corn, so we made a pile right beside the pen of sows. The harvest was so great.
But there weren’t any extra laborers to help get it in, just Linda and me. Everybody was in the same predicament, a huge harvest and not an overabundance of people to help get it in.
That’s the way it is sometimes. Most of the time when I worked at Glacier there was more work than there were people to do the work so we would have to work 10-hour days five days a week and then work Saturdays and sometimes Sundays. After a while it began to wear on everybody and we became pretty grumpy. We complained a lot. And we wondered when it would end. Why didn’t they hire more people? We were getting tired of the overtime.
Our supervisors and their managers tried to explain that this was a short term thing. They didn’t want to hire folks and then have to lay them off. Well that kind of made sense but after couple years of the same thing we were ready for a break.
Jesus went out into the towns and the countryside preaching, teaching, and healing folks everyday. He quietly observed that they were like sheep without a shepherd. They were just getting by day by day, paycheck to paycheck you might say. Kind of like some folks today.
They were looking for something or someone to show them the way. Jesus could tell that their basic needs weren’t being met. They were seeking and no one noticed, except God. That’s why Jesus was there.
Jesus knew he wasn’t going to be here long and it was time for his disciples to learn what it meant to do ministry. He could see that the harvest was huge but there weren’t many laborers. So he asked them to pray, to get down on their knees and pray for laborers.
God answered their prayers then by showing them that they were the answer, the needed laborers were in fact they themselves. Jesus told them that they weren’t to start with the Gentiles or the Samaritans but with the people in their own neighborhoods, the lost ones of their own families and friends.
I believe that is God’s message for us today. We are to go out into our own neighborhoods and preach the good news to those who are lost or wandering looking for the way home. I believe we are to start with those from our own congregation who have fallen away from the church. You know who they are. You may have even taken the time to go visit them and try to understand why they quit participating. And you may have been rebuffed and so didn’t go back again. Or maybe you did go back another time and they just didn’t seem interested.
But then there are those others we haven’t visited, the ones who have just kind of quietly faded into the woodwork of the community. They’re really like lost sheep. They need God, they need healing.
Friends, the harvest is great. And God needs you to get down on your knees and pray for laborers. And when you get up and brush the dust off your knees I think you will find that your prayers have been answered. The laborers are you.
I would like to quote one of the contributors to Desperate Preacher.com. Glen in OH said this, “Jesus says, go to them. Go to them and confront their pain with them. Tell their illnesses and diseases, "You have NO power!" Tell the unclean spirits that torment their minds and distort their self-image, "You have NO power!" Tell the religious elite and scripture shouters who are quick to judge and slow to serve, "You have NO power!" Tell the politicians who court the votes and resources of the rich and ignore the poverty and desolation of the poor, "You have NO power!" Tell the presidents and kings of this world who are obsessed with making war at the expense of those with no voice, "You have NOpower!" Tell those who secretly laugh and scoff when humanity cries out for peace, "You have NO power!" Tell those who preach a message of fear and hate, "You have NO power!"”
“Going to the "lost sheep" is dangerous. Preaching good news to these dangerous ones is dangerous. Acknowledging these powerless ones isdangerous. Jesus said so. He warned his disciples, and he warns us, too.”
Too often we don’t think we have the power or if we do think we have the power we are consumed with a fear that keeps us from the fields. Friends, these are our family and friends who need healing. Some of them may be friends we haven’t met yet but they are our friends.
In the words of Paul, “Throw open your doors to God.” It takes faith to do this work. God has given us his grace. Pray that our faith will be strengthened.
Jesus isn’t waiting for us to get ready. The laborers have been sent out but more are needed. The sheep are wandering; the crop is heavy with grain and waiting to be gathered in.
I just realized that there may be some here who have never herded sheep or harvested grain and therefore may not understand the references to sheep and harvest. These words may have no relevance to the average person today.
But think about what it would be like if Jesus came to our school, our places of work, to our church, how do you think he might respond to what he sees, especially today with the crowds of people here looking for antiques and good eats?
Wow! What a bunch of people. There’s so many. They look so worn out. Some look about ready to give up. Who helps these people? No one helps them? We need each other so we can be strong enough to go on.
That’s the message today. Let’s pray that God will enable us to see the emotional and spiritual needs of our neighbors. Friends, this means that we are going to have to get out into the midst of things, ask questions, listen, lend a hand, give a hug, and share the good news that the kingdom of heaven is here. By helping each other we can all live better. Our social and spiritual needs will begin to be met.
It is dangerous work. Some may not want our help. That’s okay. Just move on. There is someone down the street who will accept our help, in fact they are praying for it right now.
Remember we aren’t in this alone. Jesus is walking right beside us. He has been there before us. He knows every danger and he will give us what we need to do the work. Have faith my friends. God hears our prayers. He has looked out over the crowds and his heart is breaking for those who are confused and wandering aimlessly in the world.
May God open our eyes so that we can see the harvest and then give us the strength to go out into the harvest. Thanks be to God for his grace. Amen.

Pack It All Up and Move

About 20 years ago Linda came home to the farm at Hancock and told me that she wanted to put a bid in on this house across the street from the school. Actually if I remember right she said that she thought we should look at some houses in Walnut to live in since it would save us money in our commutes to work.
And so I consented to look at some homes that were for sale; one of them was the house owned by Dwight and Lilah Wuster. It must have been meant to be since we did buy it and have been there now some 20 years. I have to tell you thought that I didn’t really think our loan would be approved and then we wouldn’t really move. It looks as if God had other plans.
I don’t know about any of you but I didn’t like the idea of all the work to move from Hancock to Walnut. Somehow everything got moved and we’ve both decided that neither one of us wants to do it again. That was after helping each of our children move from apartments to houses and houses to apartments and …well you know how that goes. It’s just not fun to pack up and move. But sometimes no matter how we feel about things there is something that compels us to load everything in the car and pickup and go. I still don’t think it’s much fun. Have I told you before that I don’t particularly like change?
Every one of the lessons you heard read today is about change or changes that took place because God was calling folks to step outside the boxes they were in and do something different. God’s call to Abram was a very big step, way bigger than our move from Hancock to Walnut. That was only about 18 miles and I didn’t have to walk it.
Abram heard God’s call to leave his home and move to a land that God was going to show him. He didn’t even tell him where, he just told him to go and he went.
God didn’t ask Abram to do anything other than to go. God promised him that he would make him a great nation, his name would be blessed, and his name would be great so that he would be a blessing. And then he promised that he would bless those who blessed Abram and he would curse those who cursed him so that in Abram all the families of the earth would be blessed. Abram’s response was to go forth. I like to think that of course he went, he was a nomad and that’s what they do. They move from one place to another. But even with that it took a lot of faith to pack it all up and go someplace they had never been before.
And all of this Abram did before God had given the people any laws. It was even before God had made his covenant with Abram and sealed it with the circumcision of every male of Abram’s family. God made his promises and then no matter how many times Abram tried to help God and messed it up God stayed to his plan. He fixed whatever it was that Abram messed up.
It takes faith to change, to pack it all up and move, doesn’t it? Just think about how much faith it took for this tax collector, Matthew, to pack it up and follow Jesus. How much faith would it take to turn your whole life around and do something completely foreign to the natural way you were used to doing things? Matthew would no longer be extorting money from his neighbors. What was he going to do for income?
You know that’s what I think keeps quite a few people from doing what they know God is calling them to do. Their faith is not strong enough to believe that God will actually provide everything they need. If they decide to quit a job that has provided very well for them for many years and pack it all up to do what God is calling them to do how are the bills going to be paid? Will they be able to continue to make ends meet? Those are questions most of us ask ourselves and maybe that’s what keeps us from caring for the prisoners, the widows, the oppressed, and the ones who are in need.
Did you notice in the gospel message from Matthew that not only did Jesus ask Matthew to follow him but Jesus actually did most of the following? After he called Matthew, he turned and followed him to his house to sit down and eat with all his disreputable friends. After he left Matthew’s house he was approached by leader of the synagogue who asked him to come to his house and bring his daughter who had died back to life. Jesus followed him to his house. On the way a woman who had been suffering for 12 years with hemorrhaging somehow got through the press of people surrounding Jesus to touch the fringe of his prayer shawl so she could be healed. Jesus turned and his eyes followed her. Her hope was that she would be healed and her faith was confirmed when Jesus said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”
He continued on his way following this man whose daughter was lying dead at home. The people there laughed scornfully Jesus’ words when he said that she was just sleeping. Can you imagine how that father felt then? These people were ridiculing the man he believed would bring his daughter back to him. It wasn’t until they had all been sent outside that Jesus went in an took the young girl by the hand and she got up. How hard do you think that leader of the synagogue was praying? God made his faith strong enough to buck the crowd and ask Jesus to come to his house.
Friends, God asks us to do difficult things. Most times he asks us to do things that we have no idea about how they can be accomplished. And what do we do? We think about budgets, we think about building maintenance, we think about what we have to work with and don’t often think about this great God who has promised to be with us every step of the way. It is terribly difficult for us to pack it all up, turn around, and have faith that Jesus will follow us into the new frontier where we have been told to go.
God is calling us to do his work. I believe that he will continue to call us to this ministry of serving the community where he has placed us until we answer his call trusting in his promises.
It all depends on faith and that through the grace of our loving God. God is calling us to follow him and he promises that he will follow us as we step out in faith. We are being called to move beyond our comfortable boundaries into the great unknown. Let’s work to cultivate the art of following God wherever he leads us.
Abram had faith in God. God promised he would and Abram believed him. Jesus called Matthew and his faith was such that he answered the call. The woman and the leader of the synagogue had faith that Jesus could heal and God blessed their faith.
Our faith is God’s gift of grace for us. Pray that God makes our faith strong enough to follow him wherever he leads. Thanks be to God for his gift of grace in our lives. Amen

FOUNDATIONS TO BUILD LIVES ON

Foundations!Trouble with foundationsis that nobody sees them.Roots.Trouble with rootsis that nobody sees them.And in our "show time" societymost people aren’t interested in foundations and rootsMost people want the skin deepthe show mefoundationless-Storyteller from DesperatePreacher.com

Foundations are one of those parts of a house or any building for that matter that most people don’t pay much attention to. We all figure that the contractor we have hired to erect our building knows everything about the building codes and understands the laws of physics and will put a foundation underneath that can’t be shaken. How many of you have checked the foundation of your houses lately? Is it still as strong today as when your house was built?
So, how many of you can tell me what are the requirements for a strong foundation, one that won’t be phased by strong winds or earthquakes? What type of foundation is best, poured concrete, cement block with rebar, or what about a wood foundation? Which one is the best?
I’m like most of you; I put my faith in the person I asked to construct my building to put the proper foundation in place so there would never be a problem for as long as I was alive. You do know that if the original design is flawed the whole house or structure will be susceptible to damage.
In order for a structure to be resistant to high winds or earthquakes the building design has to incorporate strong connections between the foundation, wall, and roof and connections between the walls, particularly at the corners and connections amongst all the components that make up a wall and roof. Connections and what they are made of are very important to a structure.
First, the proper foundation and footings needs to be in place at the proper depth and the proper width to carry the weight of the building sitting on it. And then the two have to be connected properly with bolts and/or plates up through the sill plate and into the walls.
Think about what I have just said and then think about us as human beings. I remember hearing my parents and grandparents talking about kids having a good foundation to build their lives on. I didn’t understand it that well then but now that I’m older and Linda and I have seen our own children more or less grown and out on their own I have a much better understanding what they meant.
Just as the a building must have a foundation constructed of the best materials with the exact physical dimensions to support the weight of the structure for a lifetime or two so our lives need a good foundation. So again, the same question as before, what is the best foundation for our lives?
Let’s start with the Old Testament lesson. It said that Noah was a good man, the most innocent man of his time; he walked with God. And when God told him to build this great boat it said that he did everything God commanded him to do. I guess that meant that he didn’t question him about any of it; he trusted that God’s word was enough. His faith in God to take care of him and not lead him down the wrong path was the foundation he built his life on.
The psalm we listened to this morning asked us to look at the beauty and wonder of the world all around us, to look at God with loving eyes. The psalmist knew that God would fight for us, that he would protect us. The foundation he built his life on was faith that the God who created this world would fight for him and protect him.
Foundations are seldom seen and don’t add a bit to the beauty of the structure but you won’t find one building plan that doesn’t have one. Well maybe you might find one or two, but you all know that kind of building is not going to be around long. It won’t be able to withstand the forces of nature. It probably won’t even last one lifetime.
Paul in his letter to the Romans reminded us that God has a plan for all of us, to rescue everyone who trusts in him. He said that our acts of faith show that we have a right standing before God and because we trust him we really live. Paul tells us that things have changed. It used to be that it was God who set things right but now it’s Jesus who is setting things right. And it’s not just for Jewish Christians but “for everyone who believes in him.”
Because God had a plan and created this solid footing through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ those who put their faith in Jesus are experiencing the glorious lives God wills for all of us. Like Paul said this is “pure gift,” there is absolutely nothing that we can do or could do to get ourselves right with God. We would just mess it up; in fact we often do make messes that he has to clean up for us. Getting the foundation right, trusting in God’s love through the sacrifice of his Son who took the world’s sins upon himself and died, went through Hell for us and rose again, is the first step in building a life that will stand up to the storms Satan sends our way.
It’s begins with the foundation but there’s more to it. In order for a house to be able to withstand the storms and forces of nature everything has to be connected. The connections between the foundation, the walls and the roof have to be solid and the connectors must be made using the right materials. I mean you wouldn’t think of using Liquid Nail to connect all the components of a house together would you. No, in some places you might use bolts and in other places you might use plates of steel or sheet metal straps to connect the structure together.
Connections are important in our lives too. We should begin with a good foundation, a belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior, but then we have to go one step further. We need to be sure that we have good connections. Without connections our lives can fall apart just as buildings do that don’t have all the components of the house secured properly to each other.
What kind of connections do you think we need? Houses or buildings use bolts, rivets, plates, etc but what type of connectors do we need in our lives? How is the foundation connected to the walls and the walls to the roof?
I believe it begins when parents make the decision to bring their families to church to worship and to be taught. I’m making the assumption that they have already given their lives over to Jesus and are now taking the next step.
That’s what church is. It’s about connecting mature Christians with new Christians, mentoring each other; it’s about being connected to each other in our relationships, supporting each other and holding each other accountable and loving each other. People who come to church are connected, connected with God and connected with other people who have come to worship God. Relationships develop in small groups and before you know it we are all held together by our connections.
When we begin by coming to church we learn that there is more we can do to build a strong life, a life that will withstand the forces of evil. We learn to build strong connections with God and each other through the study of the Word, through prayer, and in fellowship in small groups. We build connections when we are “sent” out into the world to make disciples of all nations. We are connected when we go out and tell others about God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. Each of these connections works to grow God’s family and make the church stronger.
It all begins with a strong foundation upon which to build. The body of Christ is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). Paul told the Corinthians that “No one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.” Jesus is the foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, the sure foundation that the prophet Isaiah talked about.
Friends, our foundation is in Jesus. He is the rock we can rely on to be there for us and support us no matter what comes our way. With Jesus as our foundation we have not one thing to fear. It’s all part of God’s wonderful architectural plan for his church.
Through God’s generous love we are connected to him through Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are connected to Jesus and his teachings. We are connected to all God’s children when we go out and share the love of God with those we meet on our journey through this life.
Foundations to build lives upon and strong connections to hold everything together trusting in God’s plan for his church, that’s what our lives are all about.
My friends God loved you enough to send his Son to die for you so that you could be saved from your sin. God laid the foundation stone. Today God is calling you to take the next step, trust in his Word, give your life to him and be changed. Come and be connected to the One who gave his life for you so you could be freed from the hold sin has over you life.
God loves each of you and so do I. Amen.