Prepared: Ready or Not

          Last weeks lesson was about planning for the future, the eternal, heavenly one, not our future here on earth.

          Today let’s think about being prepared. Part of being prepared does involve planning, gathering resources, and maybe even double checking to see if we have everything, checking to see we haven’t forgotten something.

          Let’s say we do that, plan, check, and double-check.  It’s all done, then what? Do we just sit and wait?

          I don’t think so. Jesus said, in our gospel reading today, that the disciples, and I believe that includes you and me, were to, “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on.” And before Jesus made that statement he said, “Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

          What’s that mean, give you the kingdom? What does Jesus really mean when he says, “Sell your possessions, and give alms?” 

          Last week Jesus reminded his followers, and us, that it is futile for us to build huge nest eggs for ourselves because “we can’t take it with us.” And none of us can possibly know when God will call us home.

          No one knows, and that’s why he said, “You must also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” 

          So, the question or questions are, “Are we ready for the Son of Man to come?” Have we been storing up treasures in heaven?

          If the Son of Man appeared right now and separated the sheep from the goats, which group would we find ourselves in? If we look in Matthew 25 beginning with verse 31 we’ll find that the Son of Man, Jesus, will be seated on his throne in glory and all the nations will be gathered before him and they’ll be separated just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

          On one side will be those who cared for the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, the naked, the sick, and those in prison. On the other side will be those who didn’t. And so, the question, “If the Son of Man arrived today, where will we be found?”

          The question is are we ready for the Son of Man to arrive or have we been saving for the wrong things?

          To help us in our discernment Jesus said, “…where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Where is our treasure, that’s the question?

          How have we been saving for our salvation?  You see, what we are saving for is the real focus of our lives. What we are focusing on is where our heart is.

          So, how far out are we looking? Are we looking too far into the future? It would seem so to me.

          Jesus, I think, is telling us we need to focus on the ‘now’ doing things like caring for the poor, the naked, the hungry and thirsty, the sick and the imprisoned. And not doing these things begrudgingly, judging them every second that we’re helping them but performing these tasks with genuine love, love like Jesus did when he healed and touched and taught and forgave.

          The Nike slogan comes to mind right about now, “Just Do It!”  Just do it and don’t count the cost or worry about the future. Just do it and help that person who doesn’t have anywhere else to turn. Just do it and ‘Don’t be afraid.’

          Easy for me to say, but it’s not so easy to ‘just do it.’ What if we did ‘just do it?’ What do you suppose would happen? Would the earth stand still? Would the plight of the poor and the homeless change? Would there be fewer folks in need?

          Maybe not, but is that the point? Jesus said that the poor would always be with us. Our focus should be on God’s kingdom right here, right now.

          Focusing on that, and not on ourselves, frees us to love and care for those who desperately need love and compassion.

          God blesses us with so much every single day and all he’s asking us to do is to share the gifts with the folks we meet. By doing so we build a savings account that earns more interest than we could ever imagine. And that’s something we can take with us when God calls us home.

          Thanks be to God for his grace showered upon us every day. Amen.

Plans for the Future

This message was created from the Bible Notes from Spill the Beans, Issue 8.

          You can’t take it with you. That’s a saying we’ve all heard at one time or another. That’s the justification we give when we spend a little more of our savings than we think is wise. Sometimes we say the same thing when we notice our neighbors buying the fancy car or the newer house that we’re jealous of them having.

          Today’s lesson from the gospel of Luke sounds a little bit like something Solomon wrote, “There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil.”  When we read Ecclesiastes we get the idea that life is fickle and not long lasting, therefore saving for the future isn’t such a bad idea.

          Jesus suggests just the opposite. He’s saying that saving things, money, assets, is what’s fickle and Life is what we should invest in, life in Him.

          The landowner seemed to have it made. A bumper crop that needed new barns, a bumper crop that, he thought, was insurance against his retirement.  But just as he’s fixing to settle back and take it easy, he dies and all that wealth does him no good what so ever.

          So, is hard work for nothing? All our lives we’ve been taught that we should save for the future. Save for our retirement.  Wouldn’t we all like to have the rich landowner’s problem of a plentiful harvest, a good nest egg to ensure us our comfort clear to the end of our life?

          What should be the focus of our lives if it’s not hard work and saving for our future? Maybe this parable is telling us that we should pay attention to what’s happening in our lives now and how we’re living them. The fullness of our lives is available to us now. That doesn’t mean partying every night and spending whatever we have on whatever we want.

          Living life to the fullest, in the Bible, is talking about living a life of justice, peace, truth, and honesty. It’s taking all those values we read about in God’s Word to heart and living them completely in every action, in every decision we make. This is living life fully. This is making an investment in the kingdom of God.

          In order to do this we must re-prioritize our lives by getting rid of the clutter, the things we don’t really need and then to fill them with the things of God.  Things that prioritizes people, the values of heaven, life-in-community.

          As we contemplate our lives and our community what are the things that bring us closer to the kingdom of God? Are there examples for us of people who use their richness towards people, a richness that isn’t just material wealth but a richness of love, truth, and justice? What is our plan for the future?

          May we lead by God’s Holy Spirit to consider these things as we go into this next week. Thanks be to God for his grace. Amen.

Prayer

          Prayers, petitions to God, how do we pray? Do we pray? Do we pray constantly as Paul said in one of his epistles? How do we learn how to pray? And, why do we pray? Does it do any good? Is God really listening to our prayers?

          Don’t get nervous. I’m not going to ask any of you to answer these questions. But we do need to consider them. They’re important because it gives us some idea about our own spirituality.

          God does know everything about us but God also desires an intimacy with us that is only complete when we talk with God. I almost wrote “Him.”

          If God in the feminine gender is what you need to be intimate with God then I believe God can do that for us. I really don’t think about that too much, though I do say “he” and “him” but it’s habit more than anything else. I think God understands.

          So, how do we pray and why? Do we just have conversation with God when we do our devotions and then never talk with him/her the rest of the day? Or do we just talk with God right before we fall to sleep thanking him for the blessings and trials of the day? Or…do we have a running conversation with God…all day…and God’s probably happy when we do dose off. At least then he/she can pay attention to someone else’s needs.

          Speaking of needs, is that the only time we come to God in prayer? It may be true for some folks. When life is good and everything is running smoothly do we think that we don’t need to bother God with our prattle?

          Friends, those who’re married, do you only converse with your spouse when you need something or do you talk with them all day long? Think about that. Maybe our prayer life is patterned after our own lives.

          So, let’s go on to how we learn how to pray. How did you learn how to pray? Was there someone in your life who you thought was a good pray-er? And did you create prayers that were similar to theirs? I think that’s okay. The best teachers are those who teach us by their own examples.

          Or...maybe you’re still working on praying.  Actually we’re probably all still refining our prayers because we don’t think they’re good enough. But, you know, if we’re praying to God then whatever we’re saying is good for God. At least we’re making the effort to be in conversation.

          But, how to pray is a concern for most of us and it certainly was for Jesus’ disciples. They wanted Him to teach them how to pray as John had taught his disciples.

          So, Jesus gave them an example, a rough draft, of what prayer with God, the Father, should be like. I don’t think it had to be exactly, word for word, like that but it gave them an idea of how to pray to God.

          The Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father is one of the examples Jesus gave his disciples and it provides a good foundation for us.

          We come to God in prayer with respect as if we were talking to our own fathers. We pray, realizing that God can and will do what is best, asking that His will be done, His will not ours.

          And…we pray that what is being done in heaven will be done on earth. We are letting God know that we desire heaven on earth. We desire peace and tranquility. We desire beauty and justice and righteousness.

          We then ask God to forgive us as we forgive those who do wrong against us. So, if we aren’t forgiving then it might be that God wouldn’t be very forgiving toward us.

          We pray that God will provide food to sustain us. We don’t pray for extra large portions but for just enough to get us through the day.

          And then we pray that God will keep us from the trial and temptations of life. I think we pray that because we know how weak our wills are. We know that we can’t resist the temptations of this world without God’s help.  Look how hard it is for us to give up cigarettes or alcohol or drugs or gambling or shopping or eating or any of the other things that we abuse just our bodies with every day. We want, we desire that God would keep us away from the evil things of this world.

          Not in Luke but in Matthew the petition continues by asking that God protect us from the evil one.

          And that’s where it ends. So, what’s the right way to pray? Friends, it may be that if we would do nothing else but begin by praying the Lord’s Prayer everyday, every time we felt the need to pray soon our prayers might evolve into prayers that were more conversational because we’d become comfortable talking with our Creator.

          The Lord’s Prayer is just the beginning, the foundation upon which to build our prayer life. There are many different and varied ways that we can pray. And, I believe, that God hears us and is paying attention to all prayers that are lifted up to him.

          I’d like to end today’s message with a reading from 2^nd Chronicles… it says…

2 Chron. 7:14…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

          Thanks be to God for the gift of prayer and his grace. Amen.

Just Ordinary People

          How did Naaman happen to be in Samaria? How did Moses get so lucky to be found by the princess and still cared for by his birth mother? How did Joseph get to the level of prominence in the Pharaoh’s court?

          They all came to where they were because of ordinary people, people like you’d meet on the streets in Walnut, people like you’d meet at McDonald’s or Robert’s Bakery, just ordinary people. And yet, because of their actions these people’s lives were transformed.

          If it hadn’t been for Naaman’s wife’s slave girl he’d never have heard about a prophet in Samaria let alone traveled to the Jordan to be washed and cleansed of his skin condition.

          If Moses’ sister, Miriam, hadn’t hidden herself in the reeds by the river watching to see where the basket with the baby Moses landed he would never have learned about his heritage at his own mother’s knee.

          What about the people of Sychar in Samaria? They would’ve never come to know Jesus if the Samaritan woman hadn’t went to Jacob’s well at noon. If she hadn’t stopped to talk…and listen to Jesus they would’ve never come to the well themselves. They wouldn’t have invited him to stay for 2 days nor would any have had the opportunity to believe that Jesus was truly the savior of the world.

          Think how different Jesus’ ministry would’ve been without the help he and his disciples received from the women who followed Jesus, women like Mary Magdalene, Susanna, Joanna, and others who provided for them out of the resources they had.

          Just ordinary people, because of them the world was changed. Because of them others learned about God and his love. Because of ordinary people the world has learned about Jesus and the kingdom of God right here.

          We’re all here, more than likely, because of ordinary people. We’re here because someone cared enough, loved enough, to take the time to let you know that there is a God and he loved the world so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to save it.

          Because of ordinary people we know God’s Spirit is within us lighting the fire in our bellies. Ordinary people are the reason this church is here today. Ordinary people who knew that people still needed a place to worship…and learn about God.

          And so it continues that the Word goes out today through ordinary people, maybe people like you and me. Just think, someone may not ever know about God and his Son, Jesus if you don’t tell them.

          Friends, even if you feel like you don’t have the gift or the skill to talk about your faith or your hope I ask you to put your trust in God to provide the courage, the desire, …and the right words at the right time.

          Someone’s life will be changed because you share your story of God’s love with them. Trust and have faith that God is still at work in our world today.

          Thanks be to God for his love and grace given to ordinary people. Amen.  

Hope

          Every time a loved one dies all of us are reminded that our days are numbered. Our physical bodies can only last so many years. We realize we aren’t immortal.

          But, my friends, death doesn’t have the final word. The writers of every scripture read this morning in their own way spoke of the hope they had in God and Jesus and the Spirit. God is righteous. God loves us. He is always with us everywhere we are. Even though our bodies wear out and we die our hope is in God who will raise us up at the last day. As Jesus said, “…my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

          Friends, that’s our hope, our faith is grounded in God’s love and grace. And I believe that’s what gives us hope and the assurance that one day we will all be reunited with those saints who’ve gone on ahead of us. Dorothy has just passed through the door before us but one day she’ll be reunited with her family and friends.

          In the meantime it’s our responsibility to continue the work she started through God’s good grace. God has blessed each of us with gifts that we’re to use to tell the story of God’s love to our families, our friends, and everyone we meet on our journey through this life.

          As Paul told the Ephesians, “¹⁸ I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”

          We have hope because of God’s grace, that wonderfully free gift of love that we have by no stretch of the imagination earned.

          “⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

          Our hope, our faith rests on God’s love and grace for his creation and we whom he created in his image. As Jesus said in John’s gospel for us today, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away… everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

          Friends, that’s the good news. We believe and so we shall have eternal life and we will be raised up on that last day.

          Death doesn’t have the power it had before Jesus came and we need to be reminded of that. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Persistence

Elijah was the voice of God until the time when God called him home. His successor, Elisha, had already been chosen by God.

Ahab died from a mortal wound he received in a battle with the Arameans. His chariot was taken back and washed at a pool in Samaria and the dogs licked up his blood as the word of the Lord declared.

So it was that Elisha began his apprenticeship with his mentor Elijah. Elijah and Elisha were on their way toward Gilgal when Elijah told him to stay behind because the Lord was sending him on to Bethel. But Elisha refused to stay behind and insisted that he continue on with Elijah on this his last journey.

Elisha knew this was the last hours he would be spending with his mentor and friend…and he didn’t want to miss out on any of it. As persistent as Elijah was that he stay behind Elisha was just as persistent that he wouldn’t leave him.

And so, they traveled on toward that place where the fiery chariot and whirlwind would take Elijah away.

Have you ever had to take over someone else’s job? Have you ever followed someone who was very good at what they did and wondered if you could really do it as well?

I suppose Elisha might have been experiencing those same feelings, having those same doubts about his ability to do what God asked Elijah to do. 

There were other prophets, disciples of Elijah’s who followed along at a distance. Elijah and Elisha walked from Gilgal, to Bethel, to Jericho, to the Jordan River. At each place more prophets joined the troop and followed them at a distance.

This group that followed was quiet and respectful. They just wanted to see what would happen. The air must have been electric with anticipation.

When the two reached the Jordan Elijah rolled up his cloak and struck the river. Just like what happened with Moses and his staff, when the cloak touched the water the flow ceased and they were able to walk across the river. When their feet touched the other bank the flow resumed.

The two men, the older and wiser one talking and teaching the younger less experienced one, walked on. The younger one not sure if he’d have what was needed to confront kings and queens as Elijah had. Elisha had to be afraid. Especially, since he’d heard all about Jezebel and her threats to kill Elijah.

But God had protected and cared for Elijah and therefore Elisha should have known that God would look after him too.

Elisha had known for quite some time that he would be Elijah’s successor. So, when Elijah asked him what he could give him he asked for double the power Elijah had.

Elijah’s response was that if he watched and saw him go home to God then his request would be granted.

Sound easy? Have you ever tried keeping your focus on just one thing? Have you ever stared so long at something that your eyes almost crossed? Don’t you kind of wonder how long Elisha had to persist in keeping his focus on Elijah?

And then, in the blink of an eye, all at once, there it was the chariot of fire pulled by fiery horses. Elijah was taken into the chariot and it ascended into the sky in a whirlwind and then…he was gone. 

There was stillness. There was quiet. Not even the birds were singing. Elisha saw it all, the flashing hooves, the dust, and then Elijah was gone. All that was left was his cloak.

Elisha received double the power that Elijah had. He also received his cloak which he picked up and began the walk back to the river. When he arrived at the banks of the river you know the prophets on the other side were watching to see what he’d do.

He rolled up the cloak, struck the water with it and said, “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” The water stopped flowing and he crossed over.

All who were witnesses knew there was a new prophet in Samaria.  They knew the Spirit of the Lord that had rested on Elijah now rested on Elisha because he had been persistent in staying with his mentor to the end.

No longer was Elisha’s job to plow the fields. He had a new job with new challenges and everything that went with being the voice of the Lord in Samaria.

          And so, Elisha followed in the footprints of Elijah prophesying s and queens just like Elijah. 

We're Guilty

          We hear the story of Ahab and Naboth; we listen to how Jezebel coerced leaders to lie about Naboth. We hear how the corrupt leaders and noblemen of Samaria were so quick to do the bidding of Jezebel. And we think that couldn’t or wouldn’t ever happen to me…or happen here!

          Ahab wasn’t guilty of the actual lies or the stoning of Naboth but he didn’t say anything when Jezebel told him, “Naboth is dead. You can have his garden now.” He didn’t ask how Naboth died. He didn’t ask anything about Naboth, because he knew that his wife had done something underhanded so he could have his garden. He just didn’t care!

          So he went to the garden and began to make it his own, planting and cultivating it as if he were the rightful, legal owner.

          God spoke to Elijah, we don’t know exactly how the communication happened, about where to find Ahab and what he, and Jezebel, had done. God gave Elijah some pretty harsh words to relay to Ahab. God said, “In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!” There was no doubt that Ahab wasn’t going to enjoy the fruits of this garden, and it sounds fair to us because it wasn’t really his.

          How does this story apply to us, today? We haven’t taken anyone’s land. We haven’t had someone killed so we could waltz in and take it over. We’re good guys.

          But wait, what about all that happened to the Native Americans? What about what happened to the Japanese Americans during World War II? What about the land foreclosures during the Great Depression? Sure the banks loaned the money but was it ethical to take the farm, sell it, and keep enough from the proceeds to pay what was owed? What about what’s happening in our Senate and House in Washington right now? Who’s paying the price for the mismanagement of finances in our federal government? You know who it is. It’s those who have no voice, no leverage, no super pacs to lobby for them. They’re the ones who are paying. The Food Stamp program is one those programs that may be cut or reduced. Who will feed these folks if they no longer can get food stamps?

          Injustices are still happening today, people taking advantage of someone else in order to accumulate more wealth; not caring what happens to the other guy as long as they get what they want, more land, more money, more prestige.

          It’s not just individuals, corporations and countries are doing it too. Leveraging the competitor until they cave in and their business…and customers…become part of the conglomerate.

          Wars, most times are about one country trying to get more land, more people, more natural resources. In the process, children and families pay the price…and most of us turn and look the other way. It’s not in our back yard. It’s on the other side of the world, it’s easy to ignore…and forget about.

          Friends, we’re all guilty. We’re guilty when we don’t speak out over injustices we see happening all around us. We’re guilty when we pass along rumors when we haven’t even asked if there’s any truth to them. You know what I’m talking about.

          We’re guilty when we don’t try to do something to right the wrongs done to those who have very little to start with. We’re just guilty.

          So, what are we to do? How do we stop the process?  I think first we have to admit that some of the blame does indeed belong on our shoulders. And then we need to ask God to forgive us, and show us, allow us, to begin to right some of the wrongs.