Scriptures: Isaiah 40:1-5; Luke 10:38-41
The season of Advent marks the beginning of the Christian calendar and is one of the special seasons that cause us to focus on spiritual matters. The word Advent means, “coming” or “arrival” and is a time of waiting and preparation. This season is a wonderful time to “un-clutter our lives.” The four weeks prior to Christmas day call us to respond to the words of the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, who challenges people of faith of every century “to prepare for the coming of the Lord.”
I discovered a new book for this Advent season, The Uncluttered Heart by Beth A. Richardson. It’s a brief devotional/reflection book that offers guidance for preparing hearts, homes, and spirits for the celebration of the birth of Christ. In the introduction to her book Richardson writes, “Advent is often the busiest time of the year. And yet, we are called to make time and space to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. What a challenge for us as Christians! This book’s purpose resides in helping us clear away obstructions to God—our worries, distractions, negative habits—so that our hearts and spirits are open to God’s movement during this holy time. No matter how busy we may become, God is waiting to break through our endless tasks and distractions to remind us that we are not alone; indeed, God is present with us in every moment.” In her book, Richardson offers helpful insights to make the most of this season. After all, the purpose of Advent is to help us prepare for a holy encounter.
Too often our lives become cluttered with so many non-essential things that we miss the meaning of the season. There seems to be so much to do and so little time, and our lives become cluttered with events and obligations. We go though the motions of so many rituals and take on many added tasks to satisfy the search for the meaning and joy of Christmas. Our lives become cluttered with mundane tasks and activities with little thought to why we do what we do. This time of preparation becomes a race to get it all done before the special day of Christmas arrives when we hope to discover the mystery, meaning and message, if we think about it at all. If we take our cluttered lives into the observance we will certainly miss the peace and joy that Christmas offers.
So perhaps we should consider what is truly important in this season of preparation. Perhaps we should ask, why do we do all the things we do during this season that urges us to rush to get so much done by December 25th?
If you feel your life is cluttered, I suggest that refocusing how you use your time and energy will help you un-clutter your life and fill it with the “things of the spirit.” Our lives begin to become uncluttered when we reestablish priorities, and take time for reflection and remembrance. To do so will not only add meaning to this season but to every season of life. The most important thing we can do during Advent is to attend to spiritual matters. After all Advent/Christmas is not just about decorations, gift buying and giving, attending parties, and the numerous other activities that fill our calendars. This season really is about preparing once again to claim the message which leads to spiritual well-being.
As a matter of fact, if we think Christmas is about preparing for the observance of one day, then we have missed the point. Christmas is any day love is expressed. It happens when we make spiritual matters important and allow our hearts to become uncluttered with worldly things and expectations, and become filled with the true gifts of Christmas: hope, peace, joy, and love. When we do, we truly have cause to celebrate. It is then that we find our soul’s greatest desire, address our deepest human longing, and we discover what Christ came to bring into our often cluttered lives.
Last Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent, I attended the evening contemporary worship at my home church. Upon entering the chapel, I noticed immediately that the altar table in the center of the room was filled with clutter: a Santa’s hat, Christmas wrapping paper, ribbon, a string of electric tree lights, bells, a Christmas card, colored ornaments, and a small burning candle—all symbols of the season. However the central symbol of the faith – the cross-- was notably missing. During the message, the preacher moved to the table and uncovered the cross which had been hidden from view by all the clutter. She then placed the larger cross in the center of all the clutter. What a powerful moment of truth was highlighted by this simple act! It does take the cross of Christ and its message of God’s love to remove the clutter that often hides the meaning of Christmas.
So if you really want to prepare for Christmas, then make these days of preparation ones that enrich your spiritual life. Don’t be content with the limited secular interpretation of the season, but look for the deeper spiritual meaning. Become more intentional in the daily practice of spiritual disciplines. Offer prayers regularly; look for ways to share the meaning and message of the season with others. Read again the gospel story that tells of God’s amazing love and grace. Un-clutter your heart of worldly desires and fill them with the “things of the spirit.” Fill your heart with the true meaning of Christmas so that all you do will be motivated by Christ-like love. Allow God to break through the clutter to discover and claim the reason for the season. And if you do, not only will your life become more enriched with the true gifts of Christmas, but so will the lives of others whom you touch.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Promise of Emmanuel
Scriptures: Isa.40:1-5; Jeremiah 33:14-16; 2 Cor. 1:20
The season of Advent has begun. It is the first season in the Christian calendar, and has been observed throughout Christendom since the sixth century. The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” This season includes the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day. Advent is properly observed as the season of preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s birth and it is a time of anticipation and waiting.
A central Advent symbol is the candle. A major custom of Advent includes the lighting four candles, one each week, symbolizing the coming of God’s gift of light into the world through Christ. The candles are strategically arranged in a circle wreath representing eternity, and adorned with evergreens, to represent undying faith.
Advent is the season when we once again hear scriptures read from the Old Testament prophets. The message of Christmas cannot be fully understood without their words. The primary task of these messengers of God was to challenge people to live in relationship with God, and in accordance to God’s laws and purposes. Sometimes their words were harsh and condemning, for the times and circumstances called for such boldness. Other times they offered words of hope and encouragement. Two of the prophets, Jeremiah and Isaiah, spoke of God’s promises of deliverance, from which the scriptures were read today.
The four weeks prior to Christmas Day have traditionally been a time of preparation. It is difficult to wait, because we are impatient people. We know the story and we are anxious to celebrate. Many clergy and church musicians insist that we move slowly toward Christmas by singing Advent hymns, and save the more traditional ones that tell the beautiful story of Jesus’ birth until Christmastide.
But it’s hard isn’t it? With all the secular songs of Christmas being played on the radio even prior to Thanksgiving, by December 1, we have already had our fill of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Frosty the Snowman. We long to hear songs with a message of substance, one that that reminds us of the reason for the season. Songs like O little Town of Bethlehem, or Away in a Manger help tell the age-old story. But Advent is a time of preparation, so let’s try to be patient with the liturgy and customs of this season prior to Christmas and use this time as a time of spiritual preparation.
Perhaps the most important thing we can do during Advent is recall God’s promise of Emmanuel. Understanding the word Emmanuel is essential to understanding Christmas. It reminds us of a central truth of our faith, for the word “Emmanuel” means God with us.
But what does ‘God with us’ mean? In the hustle and bustle of so many activities these days, where and how is God with us? My answer to that question is that it means that we are not alone and that we have companionship for the journey of life. It means that what Jesus promised to his disciples, he promises to us. It means that God comes to us sometimes in ordinary and unexpected places (like a stable in Bethlehem) and also in extraordinary times and places (like a hospital awaiting the outcome of tests for a serious illness.) Yes, God is with us in times of both joy and sorrow, when our hearts are glad as well as sad. At times God comes to us when we least expect it, but when we need to know God’s presence the most. Understanding Emmanuel keeps us focused on the true reason for the season.
But how do we claim the promise of Emmanuel? The secret is to come in faith seeking expectantly. Scriptures offer us these words of encouragement: “If with all your heart you seek me, you shall surely find me.” God’s presence is an ever-present reality in the lives of people of faith. God is an abiding presence providing us comfort and strength no matter what life may bring.
Following the communist take-over of Shanghai in 1949, Christian churches were forcibly closed. Dr. Lei, an elderly Christian physician, tells of his experience. The church building had been converted into a warehouse. The beautiful stained gas windows were boarded up, and padlocks placed on the doors. On the Christmas Eve after his church had been closed, Dr. Lei and his wife felt compelled to go to their former place of worship. So they went out into a cold dark rainy night and began the walk to their former church. As they drew near, they became aware that others were walking with them. Before long they had gathered in front of the old church building with fellow Christians. For several hours they stood there in silence. No hymns were sung, no sermon preached. There were no candles or symbols, nothing that is usually associated with the observance of Christmas. But as the clock stuck midnight, a powerful word was whispered and began to spread among them. The word was “Emmanuel.” And in spite of being forced to live under communist control, as they heard that word, it gave them hope and their faith was renewed.
So, as we observe Advent, let us claim once again the promise of Emmanuel -- God with us. When we do, we, too, will be given hope and find our faith renewed, and we will come to know all the joys of this holy season that draws us closer to God.
The season of Advent has begun. It is the first season in the Christian calendar, and has been observed throughout Christendom since the sixth century. The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” This season includes the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day. Advent is properly observed as the season of preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s birth and it is a time of anticipation and waiting.
A central Advent symbol is the candle. A major custom of Advent includes the lighting four candles, one each week, symbolizing the coming of God’s gift of light into the world through Christ. The candles are strategically arranged in a circle wreath representing eternity, and adorned with evergreens, to represent undying faith.
Advent is the season when we once again hear scriptures read from the Old Testament prophets. The message of Christmas cannot be fully understood without their words. The primary task of these messengers of God was to challenge people to live in relationship with God, and in accordance to God’s laws and purposes. Sometimes their words were harsh and condemning, for the times and circumstances called for such boldness. Other times they offered words of hope and encouragement. Two of the prophets, Jeremiah and Isaiah, spoke of God’s promises of deliverance, from which the scriptures were read today.
The four weeks prior to Christmas Day have traditionally been a time of preparation. It is difficult to wait, because we are impatient people. We know the story and we are anxious to celebrate. Many clergy and church musicians insist that we move slowly toward Christmas by singing Advent hymns, and save the more traditional ones that tell the beautiful story of Jesus’ birth until Christmastide.
But it’s hard isn’t it? With all the secular songs of Christmas being played on the radio even prior to Thanksgiving, by December 1, we have already had our fill of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and Frosty the Snowman. We long to hear songs with a message of substance, one that that reminds us of the reason for the season. Songs like O little Town of Bethlehem, or Away in a Manger help tell the age-old story. But Advent is a time of preparation, so let’s try to be patient with the liturgy and customs of this season prior to Christmas and use this time as a time of spiritual preparation.
Perhaps the most important thing we can do during Advent is recall God’s promise of Emmanuel. Understanding the word Emmanuel is essential to understanding Christmas. It reminds us of a central truth of our faith, for the word “Emmanuel” means God with us.
But what does ‘God with us’ mean? In the hustle and bustle of so many activities these days, where and how is God with us? My answer to that question is that it means that we are not alone and that we have companionship for the journey of life. It means that what Jesus promised to his disciples, he promises to us. It means that God comes to us sometimes in ordinary and unexpected places (like a stable in Bethlehem) and also in extraordinary times and places (like a hospital awaiting the outcome of tests for a serious illness.) Yes, God is with us in times of both joy and sorrow, when our hearts are glad as well as sad. At times God comes to us when we least expect it, but when we need to know God’s presence the most. Understanding Emmanuel keeps us focused on the true reason for the season.
But how do we claim the promise of Emmanuel? The secret is to come in faith seeking expectantly. Scriptures offer us these words of encouragement: “If with all your heart you seek me, you shall surely find me.” God’s presence is an ever-present reality in the lives of people of faith. God is an abiding presence providing us comfort and strength no matter what life may bring.
Following the communist take-over of Shanghai in 1949, Christian churches were forcibly closed. Dr. Lei, an elderly Christian physician, tells of his experience. The church building had been converted into a warehouse. The beautiful stained gas windows were boarded up, and padlocks placed on the doors. On the Christmas Eve after his church had been closed, Dr. Lei and his wife felt compelled to go to their former place of worship. So they went out into a cold dark rainy night and began the walk to their former church. As they drew near, they became aware that others were walking with them. Before long they had gathered in front of the old church building with fellow Christians. For several hours they stood there in silence. No hymns were sung, no sermon preached. There were no candles or symbols, nothing that is usually associated with the observance of Christmas. But as the clock stuck midnight, a powerful word was whispered and began to spread among them. The word was “Emmanuel.” And in spite of being forced to live under communist control, as they heard that word, it gave them hope and their faith was renewed.
So, as we observe Advent, let us claim once again the promise of Emmanuel -- God with us. When we do, we, too, will be given hope and find our faith renewed, and we will come to know all the joys of this holy season that draws us closer to God.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Growing Old Gracefully
My wife, Betty, and I were in Indiana July 25 last year to celebrate her mother’s 95th birthday. Family members gathered in the private dining room of her assisted living residence for a small party, including cake and all the trimmings. The highlight was her sharing memories of her earlier years as her great grandchildren asked her questions. It was a delightful day which ended with taking her out to a restaurant of her choice for dinner. She chose Red Lobster and thoroughly enjoyed her shrimp. The smile on her face throughout all the activities spoke volumes about how she has grown old gracefully. The joy of this occasion was enhanced by recalling that seven months ago she was in the hospital and we weren’t sure that she would make it to this recent 95th birthday.
As I recall the joy of that occasion, I remember a conversation I had once with an older acquaintance who was bemoaning the fact that he didn’t like having birthdays. When I asked why, he said, “It’s a reminder that life is slipping away.” I disagreed with him and tried to make some positive statement about growing older. He wasn’t convinced, and grumbled that the best thing he could say about birthdays is that it is better than the alternative! I wanted to disagree with him about that also but realized he wasn’t in the mood to hear any theological insights from me.
How about you? Do you enjoy having birthdays, or would you just as soon forget about them? Birthdays are not only the chronological way of measuring the passing of years, but a reminder of God’s miracle of the gift of life. In order to get the most out of life, we must learn how to accept growing older. So today I want us to think about aging as a part of God’s plan for life so that we might come to affirm and celebrate each day as a gift. I want us to consider what it means to grow old gracefully. To that end let me share several things I am learning about growing old gracefully.
First, growing old gracefully is dependent on maintaining a positive attitude regardless of life’s circumstances. Whatever life brings, our attitude determines how we deal with it and the outcome. Birthdays are occasions to focus on the meaning of life and to recall life’s blessings. Observing birthdays in a positive way calls for an attitude about toward life which speaks of one’s faith.
One day a number of years ago I visited one of my church members on her 100th birthday. The home where she resided had given her a party and numerous friends had come and gone. When I entered the room and inquired about how her day had been, she commented, “People have been coming and going all day. I’ve had 2 birthday cakes and just look at all those flowers and cards. I even got a card from the President of the United States. I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I’m only 100.” Her body was showing her age, but her attitude and positive spirit kept her young and alive.
Second, growing old gracefully is dependent on having a meaningful faith that helps interpret life. The Psalmist wrote: “You are my rock and my fortress; in you do I take refuge all the days of my life. For you Lord have been my hope and my trust from the days of my youth. Upon you I have depended from my birth.” This is such a wonderful age. We have seen so many advances in technology. Every area of our lives has been significantly touched and changed because of the multitude of advancements that have taken place. But even with all the modern advancements, and insights about genetic structure, life is still a mystery that can only be explained and interpreted through faith in God.
Third, growing old gracefully is dependent upon living life to the fullest and fulfilling your dreams. No matter how old we get, we must never lose sight of the fact that there are always tasks we can do, things to accomplish, and questions to answer. I’ve heard some elderly persons say, “I don’t know why I’m still here. I don’t have anything to live for.” To often people give up when they lose sight of any meaningful purpose to life and fail to recognize that each new day is a gift from God to be lived as fully as possible.
I’m discovering that one of the joys of aging is that as we move toward the final season of life our energies are no longer drained by anxieties to succeed. No wonder they call it the “golden years.” We become free from doing and can concentrate on being. Our faith can help us view each day as a unique opportunity to celebrate our existence and live life to the fullest with God’s help.
Rose was eighty-seven years old when she enrolled in college. She had a smile that brightened everyone’s day and an outgoing and positive spirit. When asked why she had re-enrolled in college at her age, she replied that it was to fulfill a life-long dream to get a college degree.
Over the course of the year, Rose made friends wherever she went on campus and became quote popular. At the end of the semester, she was invited to speak at the football banquet. What she shared was profound. This is what she said: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!"
"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything, I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability."
"The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing the song "The Rose" and challenged her fellow students to study the lyrics and live them out in their daily lives. At the year's end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. Her legacy that lived on after she had gone was this: It's never too late to be all you can be and do all you possibly can. Some unfulfilled dreams may still be possible if we dare to dream of accomplishing them.
A number of years ago when I was in the pastorate, I attended a workshop where one of the speakers gave a thought-provoking address on “The Theology of Aging.” I recall one point he made was that “aging brings us closer to God.” I believe this is true, if we work on the relationship, and rely on the resources available to us to grow spiritually. Spiritual maturity is a part of growing old gracefully. It is only through faith that we can unlock the mysteries of life and death. And that leads to my final point:
Growing old gracefully is dependent on the ability to accept death as a part of life. A life well lived in the faith is one that can move toward acceptance of the reality of death as a part of God’s plan.
The writer of Ecclesiastes expressed it well: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” There are things that belong to every season of life. A child enjoys chasing fireflies and butterflies. A young person might dream of love and finding success. A middle-aged person might look forward to a dinner by candlelight, or a quiet evening at home. An older person might enjoy a short visit from grandchildren, or simply a quiet time of solitude for reflection. It is in the final season of life that we have the time and disposition to live everyday completely in the presence of God, experiencing the peace and serenity which comes through faith. In this season we can take time to pray, reflect and meditate while growing into a closer relationship with God, knowing that this life prepares us for eternity. Perhaps the primary purpose of aging is to discipline us to become wiser and more fully committed to the important things of life as stewards of the mysteries of God.
I recall a conversation I had with a church member on the occasion of her 85th birthday. I asked her what advice she could give younger folks. This is what she said: “Take every day that God gives you one at a time, do the best you can, and love the Lord. Read the Bible and pray regularly. Go to church and when you leave, give others a smile and hug. Keep interested in everything, and keep your mind alert. Don’t concentrate on yourself, but have a heart full of concern for others, and show concern for others’ well being. Treasure your friends. Be thankful for the difficult times, for they will make you stronger.” Wise words from one of the living saints I was privileged to know in my journey.
I like the way Robert Browning expressed the idea of growing old. “Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be, the last of life for which the first was made. Our times are in his hand who saith, ‘A whole I planned, youth shows but half; trust God; see all, nor be afraid’”. I suspect that when all has been said and done, that is truly what it means to grow old gracefully!
As I recall the joy of that occasion, I remember a conversation I had once with an older acquaintance who was bemoaning the fact that he didn’t like having birthdays. When I asked why, he said, “It’s a reminder that life is slipping away.” I disagreed with him and tried to make some positive statement about growing older. He wasn’t convinced, and grumbled that the best thing he could say about birthdays is that it is better than the alternative! I wanted to disagree with him about that also but realized he wasn’t in the mood to hear any theological insights from me.
How about you? Do you enjoy having birthdays, or would you just as soon forget about them? Birthdays are not only the chronological way of measuring the passing of years, but a reminder of God’s miracle of the gift of life. In order to get the most out of life, we must learn how to accept growing older. So today I want us to think about aging as a part of God’s plan for life so that we might come to affirm and celebrate each day as a gift. I want us to consider what it means to grow old gracefully. To that end let me share several things I am learning about growing old gracefully.
First, growing old gracefully is dependent on maintaining a positive attitude regardless of life’s circumstances. Whatever life brings, our attitude determines how we deal with it and the outcome. Birthdays are occasions to focus on the meaning of life and to recall life’s blessings. Observing birthdays in a positive way calls for an attitude about toward life which speaks of one’s faith.
One day a number of years ago I visited one of my church members on her 100th birthday. The home where she resided had given her a party and numerous friends had come and gone. When I entered the room and inquired about how her day had been, she commented, “People have been coming and going all day. I’ve had 2 birthday cakes and just look at all those flowers and cards. I even got a card from the President of the United States. I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I’m only 100.” Her body was showing her age, but her attitude and positive spirit kept her young and alive.
Second, growing old gracefully is dependent on having a meaningful faith that helps interpret life. The Psalmist wrote: “You are my rock and my fortress; in you do I take refuge all the days of my life. For you Lord have been my hope and my trust from the days of my youth. Upon you I have depended from my birth.” This is such a wonderful age. We have seen so many advances in technology. Every area of our lives has been significantly touched and changed because of the multitude of advancements that have taken place. But even with all the modern advancements, and insights about genetic structure, life is still a mystery that can only be explained and interpreted through faith in God.
Third, growing old gracefully is dependent upon living life to the fullest and fulfilling your dreams. No matter how old we get, we must never lose sight of the fact that there are always tasks we can do, things to accomplish, and questions to answer. I’ve heard some elderly persons say, “I don’t know why I’m still here. I don’t have anything to live for.” To often people give up when they lose sight of any meaningful purpose to life and fail to recognize that each new day is a gift from God to be lived as fully as possible.
I’m discovering that one of the joys of aging is that as we move toward the final season of life our energies are no longer drained by anxieties to succeed. No wonder they call it the “golden years.” We become free from doing and can concentrate on being. Our faith can help us view each day as a unique opportunity to celebrate our existence and live life to the fullest with God’s help.
Rose was eighty-seven years old when she enrolled in college. She had a smile that brightened everyone’s day and an outgoing and positive spirit. When asked why she had re-enrolled in college at her age, she replied that it was to fulfill a life-long dream to get a college degree.
Over the course of the year, Rose made friends wherever she went on campus and became quote popular. At the end of the semester, she was invited to speak at the football banquet. What she shared was profound. This is what she said: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!"
"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything, I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability."
"The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing the song "The Rose" and challenged her fellow students to study the lyrics and live them out in their daily lives. At the year's end, Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. Her legacy that lived on after she had gone was this: It's never too late to be all you can be and do all you possibly can. Some unfulfilled dreams may still be possible if we dare to dream of accomplishing them.
A number of years ago when I was in the pastorate, I attended a workshop where one of the speakers gave a thought-provoking address on “The Theology of Aging.” I recall one point he made was that “aging brings us closer to God.” I believe this is true, if we work on the relationship, and rely on the resources available to us to grow spiritually. Spiritual maturity is a part of growing old gracefully. It is only through faith that we can unlock the mysteries of life and death. And that leads to my final point:
Growing old gracefully is dependent on the ability to accept death as a part of life. A life well lived in the faith is one that can move toward acceptance of the reality of death as a part of God’s plan.
The writer of Ecclesiastes expressed it well: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…” There are things that belong to every season of life. A child enjoys chasing fireflies and butterflies. A young person might dream of love and finding success. A middle-aged person might look forward to a dinner by candlelight, or a quiet evening at home. An older person might enjoy a short visit from grandchildren, or simply a quiet time of solitude for reflection. It is in the final season of life that we have the time and disposition to live everyday completely in the presence of God, experiencing the peace and serenity which comes through faith. In this season we can take time to pray, reflect and meditate while growing into a closer relationship with God, knowing that this life prepares us for eternity. Perhaps the primary purpose of aging is to discipline us to become wiser and more fully committed to the important things of life as stewards of the mysteries of God.
I recall a conversation I had with a church member on the occasion of her 85th birthday. I asked her what advice she could give younger folks. This is what she said: “Take every day that God gives you one at a time, do the best you can, and love the Lord. Read the Bible and pray regularly. Go to church and when you leave, give others a smile and hug. Keep interested in everything, and keep your mind alert. Don’t concentrate on yourself, but have a heart full of concern for others, and show concern for others’ well being. Treasure your friends. Be thankful for the difficult times, for they will make you stronger.” Wise words from one of the living saints I was privileged to know in my journey.
I like the way Robert Browning expressed the idea of growing old. “Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be, the last of life for which the first was made. Our times are in his hand who saith, ‘A whole I planned, youth shows but half; trust God; see all, nor be afraid’”. I suspect that when all has been said and done, that is truly what it means to grow old gracefully!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Some Things Never Change
If one word could describe our times, it would be the word change. We certainly are living in a time of enormous change. Many folks would prefer things to remain the same. But as Dr. Leonard Sweet of the Theological School at Drew University once said in a seminar when dealing with the challenges of our time, “Change is inevitable. Life is characterized by constant change. Anything that is not undergoing change is already dead!” Now there’s a statement that gets our attention!
Great changes in recent years are in electronic communications with computer technology and smart phones leading the way. We rely on such technology to communicate around the world in a matter of seconds. Some of us use e-mail as a primary means of communication. Some text, tweet, and blog to communicate with others.
I received an interesting article via e-mail listing ten suggestions from a 1950’s Home Economics textbook intended for high school girls. These suggestions were offered to help them prepare for married life. Here are two:
1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead to have a delicious meal—on time. This is a way of letting him know you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. Be a little gay and a little more interesting.
There was an updated version for the modern woman included. Here are the comparable suggestions for more modern times:
1. Have dinner plans ready: Make reservations ahead of time. If your day becomes hectic leave him a voice mail message regarding where you’d like to eat and a time to meet him there.
2. Prepare yourself: Spend some time shopping; buy something new; it will make you feel better. Pay attention to personal details like regular appointments with your hair stylist and manicurist. Use your credit card.
The article concluded with these words: “My, how times have changed!”
How many of you remember when Sears was called, Sears Roebuck and Company? In a 1906 copy of their catalog, (which was referred to as a “Wish Book”), some of the hottest selling children’s toys were a single speed bike, a metal wheel that you rolled with a stick, and a variety of cute dolls. Today we have multi-speed aerodynamic bicycles and dolls that can walk, talk, laugh, cry, and even wet their pants. The most popular toys are now electronic devices, like Wii and hand held games that operate by battery powered microchips. Yes, how times have changed!
Today’s world continues to be characterized by rapid change. Nothing seems to remain the same. Change is often hard on us. It can be threatening, frightening, and even intimidating. Psychologists tell us that there is just one way that we can adjust to change, and that is to have some “fixed points” in life that will provide stability. We need some fixed points that we can rely on – some eternal truths that we can trust and believe in, and commit to. That my friends, is precisely what our faith has to offer! Now I’m certainly in favor of positive change, but I also want to cling to some things that don’t change so I can have some stability in my life don’t you? If you share that thought, then I have good news for you today. There are some things that never change! Let me explain what I mean.
First there are fixed points in God’s creative order. For example, navigators can always count on the North Star. Builders can rely on plumb lines. Scientists can rely on square roots. Musicians depend on set notes. The noted author Lloyd C. Douglas once told of visiting an old friend, an elderly and highly respected musician and professor. He greeted him with the question, “Well, professor, what’s the good news today?” Without hesitation the elderly musician went to a suspended tuning fork and struck it with a soft mallet. Then he said, “That, Lloyd is ‘A’. It was ‘A’ yesterday and it will be ‘A” tomorrow’. It will be ‘A’ next week and a thousand years from now. The soprano may sing off key, the tenor may miss a high note, and the piano may get out of tune, but that,” he said striking the turning fork again , “is ‘A’ And that, my friend, is the good news for today.” Some things by God’s design are constant and unchanging.
Secondly there are also some fixed points that form the foundation of faith. The prophet Malachi told the people of his day of God’s steadfast and unchanging nature, even in the midst of a changing order. He said to them: “For I, the Lord your God do not change!” (3:6) We find the same thing said in an even more powerful way in the New Testament book of Hebrews: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” These words remind us of the timeless and timely message from scriptures that serves as the foundation of our faith.
As Christians, Jesus, through his life and teachings, helps us discover the fixed points. The most important lesson we learn from him is about the depth of God’s abiding love. This eternal truth is expressed in the most popular passage of scripture in the New Testament: John 3:16… “God so loved the world that he gave his only son…” The basic truth that forms our faith is an everlasting truth. “God’s steadfast love endures forever.” The love revealed in the life of Jesus Christ is constant, dependable, and eternal.
The Apostle Paul expressed an unchanging “fixed point” that forms the foundation of the Christian faith this way: “Now abide faith, hope, and love, these three. But the greatest of these is love…” “Love,” he went on to say, “never ends.” ( See I Corinthians13)
A grandmother came to visit her young grandchild, Suzie, one Sunday afternoon. Their conversation included Suzie telling her grandma about the Bible stories she was learning in Sunday school. Grandma listened patiently as the child told of some the great stories of the Biblical faith. Finally, her Grandma asked, “Suzie, what have you learned from these stories?” The child thought for a moment and then said, “I’ve learned that no matter how bad things are, that in God’s stories, things always work out good.” We should say “Amen” to Suzie’s affirming insight. The ultimate truth – the major fixed point of faith is that in God’s time, all things work for good for those who trust in him.
Some things never change. Christ-like, servant self-giving love is still the mark of Christian discipleship. God’s love revealed through Christ still transforms us and enables to face these changing times with certainty. There are fixed points for faith formation and as we hold fast to them they will bring stability to our lives in a changing world. And we can move forward in confidence to face the changes are that are still to come. The things that truly matter in life never change. Thanks be to God!
This sermon was preach by Rev. R. Franklin Gillis, Jr., August 22, 2010
at the Hermitage at Cedarfield, a United Methodist retirement community of the Virginia Conference.
Great changes in recent years are in electronic communications with computer technology and smart phones leading the way. We rely on such technology to communicate around the world in a matter of seconds. Some of us use e-mail as a primary means of communication. Some text, tweet, and blog to communicate with others.
I received an interesting article via e-mail listing ten suggestions from a 1950’s Home Economics textbook intended for high school girls. These suggestions were offered to help them prepare for married life. Here are two:
1. Have dinner ready: Plan ahead to have a delicious meal—on time. This is a way of letting him know you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.
2. Prepare yourself: Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. Be a little gay and a little more interesting.
There was an updated version for the modern woman included. Here are the comparable suggestions for more modern times:
1. Have dinner plans ready: Make reservations ahead of time. If your day becomes hectic leave him a voice mail message regarding where you’d like to eat and a time to meet him there.
2. Prepare yourself: Spend some time shopping; buy something new; it will make you feel better. Pay attention to personal details like regular appointments with your hair stylist and manicurist. Use your credit card.
The article concluded with these words: “My, how times have changed!”
How many of you remember when Sears was called, Sears Roebuck and Company? In a 1906 copy of their catalog, (which was referred to as a “Wish Book”), some of the hottest selling children’s toys were a single speed bike, a metal wheel that you rolled with a stick, and a variety of cute dolls. Today we have multi-speed aerodynamic bicycles and dolls that can walk, talk, laugh, cry, and even wet their pants. The most popular toys are now electronic devices, like Wii and hand held games that operate by battery powered microchips. Yes, how times have changed!
Today’s world continues to be characterized by rapid change. Nothing seems to remain the same. Change is often hard on us. It can be threatening, frightening, and even intimidating. Psychologists tell us that there is just one way that we can adjust to change, and that is to have some “fixed points” in life that will provide stability. We need some fixed points that we can rely on – some eternal truths that we can trust and believe in, and commit to. That my friends, is precisely what our faith has to offer! Now I’m certainly in favor of positive change, but I also want to cling to some things that don’t change so I can have some stability in my life don’t you? If you share that thought, then I have good news for you today. There are some things that never change! Let me explain what I mean.
First there are fixed points in God’s creative order. For example, navigators can always count on the North Star. Builders can rely on plumb lines. Scientists can rely on square roots. Musicians depend on set notes. The noted author Lloyd C. Douglas once told of visiting an old friend, an elderly and highly respected musician and professor. He greeted him with the question, “Well, professor, what’s the good news today?” Without hesitation the elderly musician went to a suspended tuning fork and struck it with a soft mallet. Then he said, “That, Lloyd is ‘A’. It was ‘A’ yesterday and it will be ‘A” tomorrow’. It will be ‘A’ next week and a thousand years from now. The soprano may sing off key, the tenor may miss a high note, and the piano may get out of tune, but that,” he said striking the turning fork again , “is ‘A’ And that, my friend, is the good news for today.” Some things by God’s design are constant and unchanging.
Secondly there are also some fixed points that form the foundation of faith. The prophet Malachi told the people of his day of God’s steadfast and unchanging nature, even in the midst of a changing order. He said to them: “For I, the Lord your God do not change!” (3:6) We find the same thing said in an even more powerful way in the New Testament book of Hebrews: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” These words remind us of the timeless and timely message from scriptures that serves as the foundation of our faith.
As Christians, Jesus, through his life and teachings, helps us discover the fixed points. The most important lesson we learn from him is about the depth of God’s abiding love. This eternal truth is expressed in the most popular passage of scripture in the New Testament: John 3:16… “God so loved the world that he gave his only son…” The basic truth that forms our faith is an everlasting truth. “God’s steadfast love endures forever.” The love revealed in the life of Jesus Christ is constant, dependable, and eternal.
The Apostle Paul expressed an unchanging “fixed point” that forms the foundation of the Christian faith this way: “Now abide faith, hope, and love, these three. But the greatest of these is love…” “Love,” he went on to say, “never ends.” ( See I Corinthians13)
A grandmother came to visit her young grandchild, Suzie, one Sunday afternoon. Their conversation included Suzie telling her grandma about the Bible stories she was learning in Sunday school. Grandma listened patiently as the child told of some the great stories of the Biblical faith. Finally, her Grandma asked, “Suzie, what have you learned from these stories?” The child thought for a moment and then said, “I’ve learned that no matter how bad things are, that in God’s stories, things always work out good.” We should say “Amen” to Suzie’s affirming insight. The ultimate truth – the major fixed point of faith is that in God’s time, all things work for good for those who trust in him.
Some things never change. Christ-like, servant self-giving love is still the mark of Christian discipleship. God’s love revealed through Christ still transforms us and enables to face these changing times with certainty. There are fixed points for faith formation and as we hold fast to them they will bring stability to our lives in a changing world. And we can move forward in confidence to face the changes are that are still to come. The things that truly matter in life never change. Thanks be to God!
This sermon was preach by Rev. R. Franklin Gillis, Jr., August 22, 2010
at the Hermitage at Cedarfield, a United Methodist retirement community of the Virginia Conference.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Making Every Day Count
Scripture Readings: Psalms 118:19-24; 90:1-2, 10,12
The Old Testament Psalms are filled with songs of praise, prayers, affirmations about God, and insights and lessons for faithful living. One insight came to me recently from reading Psalm 118. This Psalm is referred to as a “song of victory.” It is full of suggestions for how people of faith should respond to the Divine Creator. The Psalm contains rich reminders of God’s nature and availability. These words from our scripture reading set the stage for our thinking together about making everyday count: “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (118:24) “So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” (90:12)
I don’t know about you, but periodically I need these reminders I just read from scriptures. To be sure some days are a greater challenge than others. And the older we get, the greater the challenges! I must admit, I look at some days and the challenges they bring with dread. I have a Baptist minister friend and colleague who is an accomplished singer and song writer. One of his songs written many years ago now is one of my favorites. The song is titled, “Good Morning, Lord.” It’s a delightful and uplifting song to hear at the beginning of a new day. I asked my friend Paul how he came to write this song. His response was that he had discovered that too many people begin their day by saying, “ Good Lord, it’s morning” instead of, ”Good morning, Lord,” in gratitude for the gift of another day. Maybe you’ve had days like that. I know I have. But then God’s Word comes to my rescue. Someone once wrote, “Each day is a gift. That is why it’s called the present!” The question each day calls us to answer this: “How shall we use God’s gift of another day?” The challenge each day offers is to break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present.
Orville Kelly was a newspaper man from Iowa. At age 43 he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and told he had six months to a year to live. Such devastating news brought tension to relationships. His family and friends began to treat him differently. No one would talk about the realities of his condition. Even his wife, Wanda, refused to discuss his fate. Every time he brought up the subject, she would say, "Let's not talk about it. Let's just hope for the best." Finally one day Orville said, "Wanda, we've got to talk. Yes, I've got cancer, but. I'm not dead yet. I still have some serious living to do and I need help to do it." So they talked for the first time about his condition. They talked about the anguish, frustrations, and the ultimate outcome. Then after a long and heart-warming talk, Orville said, "I have an idea. Let's have a barbecue and invite all our friends and start living again." And that's what they did.
A short time later Orville saw attitudes and the quality of relationships change for the better. He reminded his family and friends that he was not going to get up each day saying to himself, "This is one less day to live," but rather he took on a new attitude. He claimed each day as a gift and thanked God for it.
Then an exciting new thought came to him. He decided to form a new club called MTC standing for "Making Today Count." In doing so he said, "That philosophy should drive each of us to get up and get going each day so we can really experience all life has to offer. After all, he said, “everyone is terminal. I simply know that my terminus has been more clearly determined. None of us knows for sure when we are going to die. So I am going to make every day of my life really count for something. I'm going to see every day as a special and gracious gift from God."
And that is precisely what Orville Kelly went on doing for the remainder of his days. You can tell by the way he described the mighty Mississippi on a misty morning; or see it in his word-picture of a bluebird sitting on a fence of an Iowa farm; or hear it affirmed in his tribute to the beautiful smile on his wife's face. Though sentenced to death by a terminal illness, Orville Kelly actually became more alive by making each day count for something special! And that is the choice we all have, regardless of our circumstances. We don't have to be diagnosed with a terminal illness to understand the importance of living each day to the fullest as a gift from God.
I think that's what the Psalmist was trying to teach us long ago, when he said, This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! If each of us would repeat those words at the beginning of each day, it would change our lives. And we should also offer the Psalmist’s prayer: “Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” In addition to these, let me offer some other suggestions on how we can make each and every day count.
First, we can make the most of each day by being sensitive to what's happening around us. Several decades ago, when small group experiences became popular, many shared in what was called "sensitivity walks." The exercise called for participants to go for a brief walk and to make a mental list of all the sights, sounds and smells that became apparent during the walk. Persons then returned to the group to talk about the experience. For some it was a fascinating experience. Many confessed that some of the most precious expressions in life, such as the beauty of wild flowers, or the chirping of birds, had long been overlooked. Perhaps it would do each of us good to take a sensitivity walk every day so we might get in touch with the wonders of God's world. A good prayer to begin each day would be: "Lord, open my eyes and ears that I may truly see and hear so as to respond in faith to the joys the opportunities each new day brings."
Second, we can make the most of each day by doing something special for someone else. We live in such a self-centered world! Sometimes we get life's priorities confused. The Christ of faith helps keep in focus what is really important. That's why He said, "Love one another as I have loved you." Life's priorities center in how we treat others. What is really important is how caring, self- giving (agape) love finds expression in our lives. If we are really interested in discovering what life can become and what God intended through us in Christ, we must find answers to questions like these: "How can I make a difference? What contribution can I make?" “What can I do for someone else today?”
As a teenager, I read a devotional booklet that made quite an impression. It was titled A Better World Begins with Me. The woman author offered a simple suggestion, "Look around and see what will bring happiness to others, and then do it." As I recall, one of the acts she described was baking a cake and taking it to an elderly woman in her neighborhood. Simple acts of love and kindness bring quality life, regardless of the quantity of days. Now most of us may not be able to bake someone a cake, but we all have the potential of doing something for someone to brighten their day. And when we do, our day is made brighter, too. Making every day count has nothing to do with one’s age: it’s about attitude and actions.
Dr. Claude Bissell, Canadian educator, writer, and former President of the University of Toronto is credited with saying something profound about living life fully. He said, "Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible." That’s what I call a formula for making the most of each day!
So, how is it with you today? Are you living life fully and making each day count? If so, with the Psalmist, rejoice and be glad in it! If not, I invite you to claim the joys of faith and faith living, which makes each and every day special!
The Old Testament Psalms are filled with songs of praise, prayers, affirmations about God, and insights and lessons for faithful living. One insight came to me recently from reading Psalm 118. This Psalm is referred to as a “song of victory.” It is full of suggestions for how people of faith should respond to the Divine Creator. The Psalm contains rich reminders of God’s nature and availability. These words from our scripture reading set the stage for our thinking together about making everyday count: “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (118:24) “So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” (90:12)
I don’t know about you, but periodically I need these reminders I just read from scriptures. To be sure some days are a greater challenge than others. And the older we get, the greater the challenges! I must admit, I look at some days and the challenges they bring with dread. I have a Baptist minister friend and colleague who is an accomplished singer and song writer. One of his songs written many years ago now is one of my favorites. The song is titled, “Good Morning, Lord.” It’s a delightful and uplifting song to hear at the beginning of a new day. I asked my friend Paul how he came to write this song. His response was that he had discovered that too many people begin their day by saying, “ Good Lord, it’s morning” instead of, ”Good morning, Lord,” in gratitude for the gift of another day. Maybe you’ve had days like that. I know I have. But then God’s Word comes to my rescue. Someone once wrote, “Each day is a gift. That is why it’s called the present!” The question each day calls us to answer this: “How shall we use God’s gift of another day?” The challenge each day offers is to break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present.
Orville Kelly was a newspaper man from Iowa. At age 43 he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and told he had six months to a year to live. Such devastating news brought tension to relationships. His family and friends began to treat him differently. No one would talk about the realities of his condition. Even his wife, Wanda, refused to discuss his fate. Every time he brought up the subject, she would say, "Let's not talk about it. Let's just hope for the best." Finally one day Orville said, "Wanda, we've got to talk. Yes, I've got cancer, but. I'm not dead yet. I still have some serious living to do and I need help to do it." So they talked for the first time about his condition. They talked about the anguish, frustrations, and the ultimate outcome. Then after a long and heart-warming talk, Orville said, "I have an idea. Let's have a barbecue and invite all our friends and start living again." And that's what they did.
A short time later Orville saw attitudes and the quality of relationships change for the better. He reminded his family and friends that he was not going to get up each day saying to himself, "This is one less day to live," but rather he took on a new attitude. He claimed each day as a gift and thanked God for it.
Then an exciting new thought came to him. He decided to form a new club called MTC standing for "Making Today Count." In doing so he said, "That philosophy should drive each of us to get up and get going each day so we can really experience all life has to offer. After all, he said, “everyone is terminal. I simply know that my terminus has been more clearly determined. None of us knows for sure when we are going to die. So I am going to make every day of my life really count for something. I'm going to see every day as a special and gracious gift from God."
And that is precisely what Orville Kelly went on doing for the remainder of his days. You can tell by the way he described the mighty Mississippi on a misty morning; or see it in his word-picture of a bluebird sitting on a fence of an Iowa farm; or hear it affirmed in his tribute to the beautiful smile on his wife's face. Though sentenced to death by a terminal illness, Orville Kelly actually became more alive by making each day count for something special! And that is the choice we all have, regardless of our circumstances. We don't have to be diagnosed with a terminal illness to understand the importance of living each day to the fullest as a gift from God.
I think that's what the Psalmist was trying to teach us long ago, when he said, This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! If each of us would repeat those words at the beginning of each day, it would change our lives. And we should also offer the Psalmist’s prayer: “Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” In addition to these, let me offer some other suggestions on how we can make each and every day count.
First, we can make the most of each day by being sensitive to what's happening around us. Several decades ago, when small group experiences became popular, many shared in what was called "sensitivity walks." The exercise called for participants to go for a brief walk and to make a mental list of all the sights, sounds and smells that became apparent during the walk. Persons then returned to the group to talk about the experience. For some it was a fascinating experience. Many confessed that some of the most precious expressions in life, such as the beauty of wild flowers, or the chirping of birds, had long been overlooked. Perhaps it would do each of us good to take a sensitivity walk every day so we might get in touch with the wonders of God's world. A good prayer to begin each day would be: "Lord, open my eyes and ears that I may truly see and hear so as to respond in faith to the joys the opportunities each new day brings."
Second, we can make the most of each day by doing something special for someone else. We live in such a self-centered world! Sometimes we get life's priorities confused. The Christ of faith helps keep in focus what is really important. That's why He said, "Love one another as I have loved you." Life's priorities center in how we treat others. What is really important is how caring, self- giving (agape) love finds expression in our lives. If we are really interested in discovering what life can become and what God intended through us in Christ, we must find answers to questions like these: "How can I make a difference? What contribution can I make?" “What can I do for someone else today?”
As a teenager, I read a devotional booklet that made quite an impression. It was titled A Better World Begins with Me. The woman author offered a simple suggestion, "Look around and see what will bring happiness to others, and then do it." As I recall, one of the acts she described was baking a cake and taking it to an elderly woman in her neighborhood. Simple acts of love and kindness bring quality life, regardless of the quantity of days. Now most of us may not be able to bake someone a cake, but we all have the potential of doing something for someone to brighten their day. And when we do, our day is made brighter, too. Making every day count has nothing to do with one’s age: it’s about attitude and actions.
Dr. Claude Bissell, Canadian educator, writer, and former President of the University of Toronto is credited with saying something profound about living life fully. He said, "Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible." That’s what I call a formula for making the most of each day!
So, how is it with you today? Are you living life fully and making each day count? If so, with the Psalmist, rejoice and be glad in it! If not, I invite you to claim the joys of faith and faith living, which makes each and every day special!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
When Life Isn't Fair
Job 14:1-6; John 10:7-10
A sermon by Rev. R. Franklin Gillis, Jr.
“That’s not fair!” You who are parents or grandparents have no doubt heard these words many times. Perhaps you‘ve even said that yourself on some occasions. Let’s face reality! “Life isn’t fair!” But then, where does it say that life is supposed to be fair? The closest we can come to fairness is through our own actions toward others, and at times that’s not enough. So many things in life do turn out unfairly. The Old Testament story of Job is a classic example of life’s unfairness and adversity. Sometimes because of what happens to us, life just isn’t fair!
As an adolescent I experienced several surgeries due to a bone cyst on my upper right arm. The physical aftermath left one arm slightly shorter than the other, but the psychological aftermath was one of feeling inferior. The combined effects motivated me to be an achiever. One of my greatest dreams was to play on the George Wythe Jr. High School baseball team. I spent much of my time after school sharpening my ball playing skills, playing with neighborhood kids on a nearby corner lot. My father encouraged me by buying me my first baseball glove, a first baseman’s mitt. I practiced hard and got pretty good at playing first base. Then the day came for tryouts. After the first day, I felt good about the possibility of making the team. I returned the second day, and gave it my best. It appeared to me as if my first baseman skills were at least equal to the competition. Tryouts continued through the week, and I went back faithfully each day. Then in the second week, the word came the coach would be making “cuts” following Friday’s practice.
My fellow students and I reported to practice that Friday with great anxiety and determination to do our best. One of my classmates could throw a ball faster than anyone I’d even seen, and he was a “lefty” at that! It was the luck of the draw that when it came my time to bat, he was pitching. He threw the first ball precisely across the plate and it was called a strike. I tried hard to concentrate as the next pitch was thrown at an amazing speed, and it, too, was right on target! Strike two! I knew the next pitch might be my last chance, so I gripped the bat firmly, and with the ball coming toward me at what appeared to be a speed of 100 miles an hour, I swung with all my might, hoping that somehow the bat and ball would connect. They didn’t! Instead, I lost my balance and fell. My peers laughed as I sat there in the dust feeling defeated. I knew at that moment what mighty Casey must have felt like when he stuck out.
It was a long weekend. Monday finally came and before going to homeroom, I went to the gymnasium bulletin board to review the coach’s list. My name was not there. I remember the feeling of rejection and bitterness toward the coach. At dinner that evening I told my parents I had been cut from making the team and how unfair I thought it was. My story was filled with “if onlys”. If only “Lefty” hadn’t been pitching… if only I had gripped the bat more securely… if only I could have another chance… if only my right arm was the same length as the left one! When life isn’t fair, we usually resort to “if onlys,” and blaming, and having a “pity party”, don’t we? It was then that my dad offered me one of life’s greatest lessons. “Son, blaming isn’t the answer. The most important thing is to get up and shake off the dust, and learn from the experience so you can move on.”
There are so many experiences in life that point to the reality that life isn’t fair! And such a reality leads us to look for answers. We look to great philosophers, and to those who have experienced trials and tribulations in life, but find no satisfactory answers. We look to scriptures and we are reminded that the unfairness of life has been a part of every age and generation. The story of Job portrays life’s unfairness so dramatically. In a search of scriptures throughout the Old Testament to the New nowhere do we find the affirmation that life is fair!
All around us are life situations that point to that reality of life’s unfairness. Devastation from natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and tornados change people’s lives forever as we have seen from Katrina on the Gulf coast, and most recently in Haiti. As a result of the BP platform disaster, not only was eleven lives claimed, but the millions of gallons of crude oil pouring into the Gulf have threatened livelihoods along with animal life and the environment. While people are starving and dying from hunger in many places around the world, most people in our nation and several other prosperous nations have more than enough to eat. Friends and family members whom we have grown to love and respect – people who are good, decent, law-abiding citizens, have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses. It isn’t fair! We see on the news that a teenager with a promising future was killed in an automobile wreck by a drunk driver. We experience heart aches, and heart breaks, and disappointments of all kinds in our personal lives, and we, too, conclude there are times when life isn’t fair.
So what do we do when life isn’t fair? The answer is found in the lessons of faith from the faithful. As a people of a faith, along with Job, the Prophets, and the Psalmists, and the disciples and Apostles of old, we need to claim that we are not without hope. To express it simply, yet profoundly, life isn’t fair, but God is with us, and God’s abiding presence, God’s grace and love will see us through. Because of that truth, we can deal with life’s unfairness. And with boldness, we can sing with those faithful who have gone before us, “My faith looks up to Thee.”
Every time we gather as a community of faith we are reminded of just how unfair life really is. The primary symbol of our faith as Christians is the cross. It reminds us that life offers many forms of crucifixion, persecution, and unfairness. But it also reminds us of the central truth of faith: The power of God is available to help us deal with defeats and despair and enable us to bring forth new beginnings and experience resurrection. This is the most important truth I know! It’s the most joyous good news there is! Jesus taught his disciples who were living in an unfair world that if they would live by his example and trust God, they would experience the abundant life. That truth is offered to us as well.
So if you are here today with a shattered dream, or an aching heart, or feeling bitter because of what has befallen you, there is good news. You can put the pieces of life’s puzzle back together again. God doesn’t want us to be bitter, but to get better! God wants us to live fully the abundant life, and to do that we must conquer life’s unfairness.
You know, although my father was no great theologian, I’ve discovered he was right. When life isn’t fair, we simply have to get up and shake off the dust. The most important thing is to learn from the experience and move on. We can rely on our faith and the faithfulness of others to point the way. While life isn’t fair, God is, and God’s truth deals with all of life’s unfairness to enable the faithful to experience the promise of abundant and everlasting life!
Thanks be to God! Amen.
A sermon by Rev. R. Franklin Gillis, Jr.
“That’s not fair!” You who are parents or grandparents have no doubt heard these words many times. Perhaps you‘ve even said that yourself on some occasions. Let’s face reality! “Life isn’t fair!” But then, where does it say that life is supposed to be fair? The closest we can come to fairness is through our own actions toward others, and at times that’s not enough. So many things in life do turn out unfairly. The Old Testament story of Job is a classic example of life’s unfairness and adversity. Sometimes because of what happens to us, life just isn’t fair!
As an adolescent I experienced several surgeries due to a bone cyst on my upper right arm. The physical aftermath left one arm slightly shorter than the other, but the psychological aftermath was one of feeling inferior. The combined effects motivated me to be an achiever. One of my greatest dreams was to play on the George Wythe Jr. High School baseball team. I spent much of my time after school sharpening my ball playing skills, playing with neighborhood kids on a nearby corner lot. My father encouraged me by buying me my first baseball glove, a first baseman’s mitt. I practiced hard and got pretty good at playing first base. Then the day came for tryouts. After the first day, I felt good about the possibility of making the team. I returned the second day, and gave it my best. It appeared to me as if my first baseman skills were at least equal to the competition. Tryouts continued through the week, and I went back faithfully each day. Then in the second week, the word came the coach would be making “cuts” following Friday’s practice.
My fellow students and I reported to practice that Friday with great anxiety and determination to do our best. One of my classmates could throw a ball faster than anyone I’d even seen, and he was a “lefty” at that! It was the luck of the draw that when it came my time to bat, he was pitching. He threw the first ball precisely across the plate and it was called a strike. I tried hard to concentrate as the next pitch was thrown at an amazing speed, and it, too, was right on target! Strike two! I knew the next pitch might be my last chance, so I gripped the bat firmly, and with the ball coming toward me at what appeared to be a speed of 100 miles an hour, I swung with all my might, hoping that somehow the bat and ball would connect. They didn’t! Instead, I lost my balance and fell. My peers laughed as I sat there in the dust feeling defeated. I knew at that moment what mighty Casey must have felt like when he stuck out.
It was a long weekend. Monday finally came and before going to homeroom, I went to the gymnasium bulletin board to review the coach’s list. My name was not there. I remember the feeling of rejection and bitterness toward the coach. At dinner that evening I told my parents I had been cut from making the team and how unfair I thought it was. My story was filled with “if onlys”. If only “Lefty” hadn’t been pitching… if only I had gripped the bat more securely… if only I could have another chance… if only my right arm was the same length as the left one! When life isn’t fair, we usually resort to “if onlys,” and blaming, and having a “pity party”, don’t we? It was then that my dad offered me one of life’s greatest lessons. “Son, blaming isn’t the answer. The most important thing is to get up and shake off the dust, and learn from the experience so you can move on.”
There are so many experiences in life that point to the reality that life isn’t fair! And such a reality leads us to look for answers. We look to great philosophers, and to those who have experienced trials and tribulations in life, but find no satisfactory answers. We look to scriptures and we are reminded that the unfairness of life has been a part of every age and generation. The story of Job portrays life’s unfairness so dramatically. In a search of scriptures throughout the Old Testament to the New nowhere do we find the affirmation that life is fair!
All around us are life situations that point to that reality of life’s unfairness. Devastation from natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and tornados change people’s lives forever as we have seen from Katrina on the Gulf coast, and most recently in Haiti. As a result of the BP platform disaster, not only was eleven lives claimed, but the millions of gallons of crude oil pouring into the Gulf have threatened livelihoods along with animal life and the environment. While people are starving and dying from hunger in many places around the world, most people in our nation and several other prosperous nations have more than enough to eat. Friends and family members whom we have grown to love and respect – people who are good, decent, law-abiding citizens, have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses. It isn’t fair! We see on the news that a teenager with a promising future was killed in an automobile wreck by a drunk driver. We experience heart aches, and heart breaks, and disappointments of all kinds in our personal lives, and we, too, conclude there are times when life isn’t fair.
So what do we do when life isn’t fair? The answer is found in the lessons of faith from the faithful. As a people of a faith, along with Job, the Prophets, and the Psalmists, and the disciples and Apostles of old, we need to claim that we are not without hope. To express it simply, yet profoundly, life isn’t fair, but God is with us, and God’s abiding presence, God’s grace and love will see us through. Because of that truth, we can deal with life’s unfairness. And with boldness, we can sing with those faithful who have gone before us, “My faith looks up to Thee.”
Every time we gather as a community of faith we are reminded of just how unfair life really is. The primary symbol of our faith as Christians is the cross. It reminds us that life offers many forms of crucifixion, persecution, and unfairness. But it also reminds us of the central truth of faith: The power of God is available to help us deal with defeats and despair and enable us to bring forth new beginnings and experience resurrection. This is the most important truth I know! It’s the most joyous good news there is! Jesus taught his disciples who were living in an unfair world that if they would live by his example and trust God, they would experience the abundant life. That truth is offered to us as well.
So if you are here today with a shattered dream, or an aching heart, or feeling bitter because of what has befallen you, there is good news. You can put the pieces of life’s puzzle back together again. God doesn’t want us to be bitter, but to get better! God wants us to live fully the abundant life, and to do that we must conquer life’s unfairness.
You know, although my father was no great theologian, I’ve discovered he was right. When life isn’t fair, we simply have to get up and shake off the dust. The most important thing is to learn from the experience and move on. We can rely on our faith and the faithfulness of others to point the way. While life isn’t fair, God is, and God’s truth deals with all of life’s unfairness to enable the faithful to experience the promise of abundant and everlasting life!
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
What Jesus Taught Us About Love
Scriptures: John 13:34-35; I Corinthians 13
A sermon by Rev. R. Franklin Gillis, Jr.
Love is the most popular theme for songs, poems, movies, and stories. Who doesn’t enjoy a love story with a happy ending? What more could possibly be said about love that hasn’t already been said? Yet the concept of love is one of the most confusing and often misused words in the English language. We usually think of love in terms that has to do with emotions and feelings about someone or something. But for Christians, it is much deeper than that. The heart of the gospel centers in the word love.
One of the best attempts to describe the nature of love was provided by M. Scott Peck in his book The Road Less Traveled. Dr. Peck defines love this way: “The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.” To live and love like Jesus is about growth toward Christian maturity and the goal of faithful discipleship. That’s why we need to learn and apply the lessons about love from Jesus.
Scribbled on a wall along with other graffiti were these words: “Love is the answer!” Someone had written under it, “What is the question?” And then someone else wrote a response offering the answer: “What gives meaning to life?” Good point! Can you imagine what life would be like void of love and relationships? Love is central to the life God desires for all of us. That’s why it is important for us to understand what Jesus taught about love Against the background of all that we have read, heard, and experienced about love, if we want to be faithful disciples, we need to consider what did Jesus taught about love so we will get it right!
The first lesson from the gospel of John is this: Love is a new command-ment. It is not an elective. While gathered with his disciples in an upper room. Jesus told them: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another…” He offered a simple but clear directive: to love one another. But the love he was talking about was not the sentimental kind, but the self-giving kind. It was a deep, abiding, life changing kind that he had shared with them and others. That’s why he added to this new commandment… to love “as I have loved you.” Those words add a whole new understanding. How did Jesus love? Unconditionally, not selective, not expecting anything in return. That’s quite different from how many people are taught and act. Many think love can be conditional and selective. Selfish love is offered with the desire of receiving something in return, motivated by the question, “What can I get out of this”? But Jesus redefined love as a selfless act, motivated by the question, “What can I do for others?” He wanted his disciples to understand that love was more than some emotional feeling. The Greek word used here is “agape”, which translated means a “self-giving for the good of another.” It is about relationships. It is about reaching out to those who need to know they are loved. It’s about selfless living and giving, not selfish desires.
A woman shopping in a mall took a break and went into a coffee shop. She bought a cup of coffee along with a bag of cookies and a magazine which she placed in her purse. She discovered that all the tables were filled but one at which a man sat reading a newspaper. She seated herself in the opposite chair, pulled out the magazine and began to read it and drink her coffee. After awhile she looked up to reach for a cookie from the bag on the table, only to see the man across from her also taking a cookie. She glared at him, but he smiled at her, and she resumed her reading. Moments late she reached for another cookie just as the man also reached for one. To her surprise there was only one cookie left. Angrily she stared at the remaining cookie, whereupon the man reached into the bag, took out the last cookie, broke it in half and offered her a piece. She grabbed the cookie and stuffed it into her mouth, the man smiled again and got up and left. The woman was furious as she finally rose from the table to leave. She opened her purse to put away her magazine. Then she saw her bag of cookies, and realized that she had been helping herself to cookies that belonged to a gracious stranger. She had experienced a simple lesson in love. Sometimes love is simply sharing what we have with others. Jesus taught us that love is motivated by self-giving, not selfish desires.
In examining Jesus’ behavior we discover another lesson: Love is a verb – and expression of a Christ-like action toward another. Jesus shows us that love is not how we feel, but what we do. The most beautiful stories in the gospels are love stories—stories of Jesus reaching out to persons in loving ways: the woman at the well, Zacchaeus, the tax collector, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha, to name only a few. As we examine these stories the nature of Jesus’ love becomes clear. The kind of love we are to live is action-oriented behavior which addresses the needs of others, even though sometimes risk may be involved. Jesus’ kind of love which we are called to live involves compassionate, responsible actions toward others.
After hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast, many well-meaning Christians volunteered to be a part of the recovery mission efforts. Most of the volunteers were ordinary persons who simply wanted to help. Many United Methodist from Virginia took vacation time and spend their own money to travel to Mississippi to lend a hand in the clean-up and restoration efforts. In fact, mission teams are still going. Similar things have happened recently as a result of the earthquake in Haiti. Many miraculous stories of transformed lives have come out of such responses to needs of others. But the greatest transformation has been experience by those who went to be “Christ at work” addressing the needs of others. One team member of volunteers was interviewed by a reporter who asked, “Why did you volunteer to be a part of such an undertaking?” And the volunteer replied, “Because we are called to love one another, and especially those in need. Hopefully in some small way through simple acts of love and helping hands we restored hope and let them know that love is alive and at work in the world.”
Jesus drove home the importance of his new commandment to love by reminding his disciples that love is the mark of true discipleship. He said it this way: “By this all will know you that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Sentimental songs about love are simple reminders that people need love, but they don’t always define what that love involves. But Jesus has through his life and teachings. Perhaps you remember the song made popular a few years ago by Stevie Wonder: “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” But God did more than just “call” to say He loves us. He sent his son that we might know the depth of His love, and so we could learn from him how to love.
A parishioner once made a felt banner for me. On it are the words of Brother Adrian who expresses the challenge of faithful discipleship. He wrote these words about Jesus: “He came singing love, he lived singing love, he died singing love. He rose in silence. If the song is to continue, we must do the singing.”
Are you willing to keep the song alive by living the new commandment? “Love one another, as I have loved you... by this all will know you are my disciples I you love one another.” That’s what Jesus taught us about love. May God help us to faithfully live love as his disciples today.
A sermon by Rev. R. Franklin Gillis, Jr.
Love is the most popular theme for songs, poems, movies, and stories. Who doesn’t enjoy a love story with a happy ending? What more could possibly be said about love that hasn’t already been said? Yet the concept of love is one of the most confusing and often misused words in the English language. We usually think of love in terms that has to do with emotions and feelings about someone or something. But for Christians, it is much deeper than that. The heart of the gospel centers in the word love.
One of the best attempts to describe the nature of love was provided by M. Scott Peck in his book The Road Less Traveled. Dr. Peck defines love this way: “The will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.” To live and love like Jesus is about growth toward Christian maturity and the goal of faithful discipleship. That’s why we need to learn and apply the lessons about love from Jesus.
Scribbled on a wall along with other graffiti were these words: “Love is the answer!” Someone had written under it, “What is the question?” And then someone else wrote a response offering the answer: “What gives meaning to life?” Good point! Can you imagine what life would be like void of love and relationships? Love is central to the life God desires for all of us. That’s why it is important for us to understand what Jesus taught about love Against the background of all that we have read, heard, and experienced about love, if we want to be faithful disciples, we need to consider what did Jesus taught about love so we will get it right!
The first lesson from the gospel of John is this: Love is a new command-ment. It is not an elective. While gathered with his disciples in an upper room. Jesus told them: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another…” He offered a simple but clear directive: to love one another. But the love he was talking about was not the sentimental kind, but the self-giving kind. It was a deep, abiding, life changing kind that he had shared with them and others. That’s why he added to this new commandment… to love “as I have loved you.” Those words add a whole new understanding. How did Jesus love? Unconditionally, not selective, not expecting anything in return. That’s quite different from how many people are taught and act. Many think love can be conditional and selective. Selfish love is offered with the desire of receiving something in return, motivated by the question, “What can I get out of this”? But Jesus redefined love as a selfless act, motivated by the question, “What can I do for others?” He wanted his disciples to understand that love was more than some emotional feeling. The Greek word used here is “agape”, which translated means a “self-giving for the good of another.” It is about relationships. It is about reaching out to those who need to know they are loved. It’s about selfless living and giving, not selfish desires.
A woman shopping in a mall took a break and went into a coffee shop. She bought a cup of coffee along with a bag of cookies and a magazine which she placed in her purse. She discovered that all the tables were filled but one at which a man sat reading a newspaper. She seated herself in the opposite chair, pulled out the magazine and began to read it and drink her coffee. After awhile she looked up to reach for a cookie from the bag on the table, only to see the man across from her also taking a cookie. She glared at him, but he smiled at her, and she resumed her reading. Moments late she reached for another cookie just as the man also reached for one. To her surprise there was only one cookie left. Angrily she stared at the remaining cookie, whereupon the man reached into the bag, took out the last cookie, broke it in half and offered her a piece. She grabbed the cookie and stuffed it into her mouth, the man smiled again and got up and left. The woman was furious as she finally rose from the table to leave. She opened her purse to put away her magazine. Then she saw her bag of cookies, and realized that she had been helping herself to cookies that belonged to a gracious stranger. She had experienced a simple lesson in love. Sometimes love is simply sharing what we have with others. Jesus taught us that love is motivated by self-giving, not selfish desires.
In examining Jesus’ behavior we discover another lesson: Love is a verb – and expression of a Christ-like action toward another. Jesus shows us that love is not how we feel, but what we do. The most beautiful stories in the gospels are love stories—stories of Jesus reaching out to persons in loving ways: the woman at the well, Zacchaeus, the tax collector, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha, to name only a few. As we examine these stories the nature of Jesus’ love becomes clear. The kind of love we are to live is action-oriented behavior which addresses the needs of others, even though sometimes risk may be involved. Jesus’ kind of love which we are called to live involves compassionate, responsible actions toward others.
After hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast, many well-meaning Christians volunteered to be a part of the recovery mission efforts. Most of the volunteers were ordinary persons who simply wanted to help. Many United Methodist from Virginia took vacation time and spend their own money to travel to Mississippi to lend a hand in the clean-up and restoration efforts. In fact, mission teams are still going. Similar things have happened recently as a result of the earthquake in Haiti. Many miraculous stories of transformed lives have come out of such responses to needs of others. But the greatest transformation has been experience by those who went to be “Christ at work” addressing the needs of others. One team member of volunteers was interviewed by a reporter who asked, “Why did you volunteer to be a part of such an undertaking?” And the volunteer replied, “Because we are called to love one another, and especially those in need. Hopefully in some small way through simple acts of love and helping hands we restored hope and let them know that love is alive and at work in the world.”
Jesus drove home the importance of his new commandment to love by reminding his disciples that love is the mark of true discipleship. He said it this way: “By this all will know you that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Sentimental songs about love are simple reminders that people need love, but they don’t always define what that love involves. But Jesus has through his life and teachings. Perhaps you remember the song made popular a few years ago by Stevie Wonder: “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” But God did more than just “call” to say He loves us. He sent his son that we might know the depth of His love, and so we could learn from him how to love.
A parishioner once made a felt banner for me. On it are the words of Brother Adrian who expresses the challenge of faithful discipleship. He wrote these words about Jesus: “He came singing love, he lived singing love, he died singing love. He rose in silence. If the song is to continue, we must do the singing.”
Are you willing to keep the song alive by living the new commandment? “Love one another, as I have loved you... by this all will know you are my disciples I you love one another.” That’s what Jesus taught us about love. May God help us to faithfully live love as his disciples today.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Hope In Times Of Despair
Scripture: Romans 8:18:25
A sermon by R. Franklin Gillis, Jr.
Hope is a virtue deeply rooted in the Bible. It comes out of the many stories of crisis, despair and difficult times, and reveals how people of faith deal with adversity.
I recall reading a story that came out of World War II. A submarine had sunk in the Atlantic. Rescue teams went down in search of survivors. Locating the sunken sub, the frogmen listened outside the hull for any signs of life. Then one of them heard a tapping noise. Closer listening revealed that what he was hearing was a message in Morse code. Someone trapped inside was desperately trying to communicate. As each letter was tapped, the frogman translated: “I S T H E R E A N Y H O P E. The message was a question, “Is there any hope?” The frogmen quickly tapped a response: “Hope has arrived!”
Given the numerous problems we face in our nation and world, many are asking that same question today. “Is there any hope?” Certainly people affected by the disaster in Haiti, want to know. Persons who have lost their jobs and homes, and much of their savings want to know. Those who face major health issues and life-threatening diagnoses want to know. And those for whom life has lost meaning and purpose want to know. There are times in all of our lives that we ask that same profound question: “Is there any hope?”
So what leads one to have hope in times of despair? To find an answer to that question we must define hope as a Christian virtue, a spiritual gift from God. Hope is not simply wishful thinking. It is the focus on the positive energy that gives us strength to face life’s realities. Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope is the feeling that a desired outcome is possible, or that events will turn out for the best. Hope is grasping the ultimate truth about God’s grace and love revealed in Jesus Christ that sees one through every stage and phase of life’s journey.
In the Acts of the Apostles we are reminded that the Apostle Paul suffered many hardships during his life as a missionary. Yet he was steadfast in proclaiming a message of hope. This is what he wrote to the church at Rome: “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8, selected)
A little over a year ago, moments after flight 1549 departed from the airport, these words spoken by the captain came over the intercom to the passengers: “Brace for impact!” Many of those passengers believed it meant to prepare for their final moment here on earth. But it wasn’t. Most of us saw what happened when the plane came down and landed in the Hudson. To our amazement many are now affirming that there was “hope in every breath” in those final moments before the plane’s crash landing. Now that a year has past, what has been called the “miracle on the Hudson” is being revisited by the survivors and stories being written and shared. There appears to be a consensus expressed by many: “The plane crash gave us hope and a renewed appreciation for life.” That day in those final moments before the plane hit the water many turned to God in prayer. Looking back on that experience, passenger Don Norton expresses it this way, “No matter what our challenges or struggles may be, it really doesn’t have to be so bad, so hopeless. We can still get up every day and appreciate the sunshine, and the rain. We can still breathe. We can still love.”
And as we all know and many of us saw, that plane skidded to a safe landing on the icy cold waters of the Hudson, guided by an experienced pilot. Ferry boats immediately came to their rescue as the anxious passengers waited on the wings of the plane. All 150 onboard that plane survived. It was indeed “the Miracle on the Hudson.” Dorothy Firman and Kevin Quirk are the authors of a new book, Brace for Impact: Miracle on the Hudson Survivors Share Stories of Near Death and Hope for New Life. In their research they learned of countless amazing acts of courage, grace, selflessness, and compassion. They wrote: “Something was guiding them, some force that brings out the best in the human condition. Many wondered if this was this some kind of sign. At our country’s time of economic turmoil, struggle, pain, and uncertainty, could this have been a signal that someone or something was looking out for us? That there was reason to hope? That something good really can come from something that looks bad – very, very bad?”
Having recalled that day’s event and the aftermath, caused me to think that in a way we are all “survivors” of sorts. We have faced life’s difficulties, challenges, battles and defeats. We’ve faced (or perhaps are facing) dark moments, and a situation when conditions appeared to be bleak. Most of us I suspect have had moments when we, like the passengers of flight 1549 have needed to “brace for impact” to survive. In such times we, too, have sought hope. And we have survived, by the grace of God! We, too, have been touched by grace. We have had compassionate hands reaching out to us in difficult times or wrapping us with care and support. We have been granted second chances. Hope appeared in some form through grace to enable us to not only survive but to thrive. That’s how hope works!
Edward Mote was a cabinet maker who became a Baptist minister where he served for 26 years in Sussex, England. In 1834 he was inspired to write the words to the hymn “My Hope Is Built.” The Sunday after he had written a couple verses and the chorus, following worship a parishioner informed Mote that his wife was very ill and asked him to visit. That afternoon Mote went their home. It was his usual custom during such a visit to sing a hymn, read a portion of scripture and offer a prayer. However, he failed to bring his hymn-book, but he did have with him the words from the newly written hymn, so he offered to sing it. The parishioner’s wife was deeply touched and appreciative of the song. Her positive response inspired Mote to write two more verses when he returned home. He had a thousand copies printed and distributed, and it soon became one of the most popular songs of its day. The message was clear and offered a word of hope for his dying parishioner. It has done the same for countless others in despair through the years.
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.”
In times of despair, God is still performing miracles. The miracle on the Hudson is but one example of many. Miraculous stories are now coming out of Haiti and there will be many more in the days ahead. That will remind us of hope in times of seeming hopelessness and despair.
So God’s word to us today is this: “Hope has arrived!” It lifts us up when we are down. It provides encouragement in times of distress. It has the power to overcome doubt and conquer fear.
And that is the good news. Hope will see us through, no matter what! Our hope is built on that promise through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! So we sing with the saints of old: My hope is built on nothing less…” Thanks be to God for this spiritual gift that keeps on giving, no matter what life may bring our way. Hope abides! In the end, there is victory! God has the final Word. Thanks be to God!
A sermon by R. Franklin Gillis, Jr.
Hope is a virtue deeply rooted in the Bible. It comes out of the many stories of crisis, despair and difficult times, and reveals how people of faith deal with adversity.
I recall reading a story that came out of World War II. A submarine had sunk in the Atlantic. Rescue teams went down in search of survivors. Locating the sunken sub, the frogmen listened outside the hull for any signs of life. Then one of them heard a tapping noise. Closer listening revealed that what he was hearing was a message in Morse code. Someone trapped inside was desperately trying to communicate. As each letter was tapped, the frogman translated: “I S T H E R E A N Y H O P E. The message was a question, “Is there any hope?” The frogmen quickly tapped a response: “Hope has arrived!”
Given the numerous problems we face in our nation and world, many are asking that same question today. “Is there any hope?” Certainly people affected by the disaster in Haiti, want to know. Persons who have lost their jobs and homes, and much of their savings want to know. Those who face major health issues and life-threatening diagnoses want to know. And those for whom life has lost meaning and purpose want to know. There are times in all of our lives that we ask that same profound question: “Is there any hope?”
So what leads one to have hope in times of despair? To find an answer to that question we must define hope as a Christian virtue, a spiritual gift from God. Hope is not simply wishful thinking. It is the focus on the positive energy that gives us strength to face life’s realities. Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope is the feeling that a desired outcome is possible, or that events will turn out for the best. Hope is grasping the ultimate truth about God’s grace and love revealed in Jesus Christ that sees one through every stage and phase of life’s journey.
In the Acts of the Apostles we are reminded that the Apostle Paul suffered many hardships during his life as a missionary. Yet he was steadfast in proclaiming a message of hope. This is what he wrote to the church at Rome: “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8, selected)
A little over a year ago, moments after flight 1549 departed from the airport, these words spoken by the captain came over the intercom to the passengers: “Brace for impact!” Many of those passengers believed it meant to prepare for their final moment here on earth. But it wasn’t. Most of us saw what happened when the plane came down and landed in the Hudson. To our amazement many are now affirming that there was “hope in every breath” in those final moments before the plane’s crash landing. Now that a year has past, what has been called the “miracle on the Hudson” is being revisited by the survivors and stories being written and shared. There appears to be a consensus expressed by many: “The plane crash gave us hope and a renewed appreciation for life.” That day in those final moments before the plane hit the water many turned to God in prayer. Looking back on that experience, passenger Don Norton expresses it this way, “No matter what our challenges or struggles may be, it really doesn’t have to be so bad, so hopeless. We can still get up every day and appreciate the sunshine, and the rain. We can still breathe. We can still love.”
And as we all know and many of us saw, that plane skidded to a safe landing on the icy cold waters of the Hudson, guided by an experienced pilot. Ferry boats immediately came to their rescue as the anxious passengers waited on the wings of the plane. All 150 onboard that plane survived. It was indeed “the Miracle on the Hudson.” Dorothy Firman and Kevin Quirk are the authors of a new book, Brace for Impact: Miracle on the Hudson Survivors Share Stories of Near Death and Hope for New Life. In their research they learned of countless amazing acts of courage, grace, selflessness, and compassion. They wrote: “Something was guiding them, some force that brings out the best in the human condition. Many wondered if this was this some kind of sign. At our country’s time of economic turmoil, struggle, pain, and uncertainty, could this have been a signal that someone or something was looking out for us? That there was reason to hope? That something good really can come from something that looks bad – very, very bad?”
Having recalled that day’s event and the aftermath, caused me to think that in a way we are all “survivors” of sorts. We have faced life’s difficulties, challenges, battles and defeats. We’ve faced (or perhaps are facing) dark moments, and a situation when conditions appeared to be bleak. Most of us I suspect have had moments when we, like the passengers of flight 1549 have needed to “brace for impact” to survive. In such times we, too, have sought hope. And we have survived, by the grace of God! We, too, have been touched by grace. We have had compassionate hands reaching out to us in difficult times or wrapping us with care and support. We have been granted second chances. Hope appeared in some form through grace to enable us to not only survive but to thrive. That’s how hope works!
Edward Mote was a cabinet maker who became a Baptist minister where he served for 26 years in Sussex, England. In 1834 he was inspired to write the words to the hymn “My Hope Is Built.” The Sunday after he had written a couple verses and the chorus, following worship a parishioner informed Mote that his wife was very ill and asked him to visit. That afternoon Mote went their home. It was his usual custom during such a visit to sing a hymn, read a portion of scripture and offer a prayer. However, he failed to bring his hymn-book, but he did have with him the words from the newly written hymn, so he offered to sing it. The parishioner’s wife was deeply touched and appreciative of the song. Her positive response inspired Mote to write two more verses when he returned home. He had a thousand copies printed and distributed, and it soon became one of the most popular songs of its day. The message was clear and offered a word of hope for his dying parishioner. It has done the same for countless others in despair through the years.
“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.”
In times of despair, God is still performing miracles. The miracle on the Hudson is but one example of many. Miraculous stories are now coming out of Haiti and there will be many more in the days ahead. That will remind us of hope in times of seeming hopelessness and despair.
So God’s word to us today is this: “Hope has arrived!” It lifts us up when we are down. It provides encouragement in times of distress. It has the power to overcome doubt and conquer fear.
And that is the good news. Hope will see us through, no matter what! Our hope is built on that promise through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! So we sing with the saints of old: My hope is built on nothing less…” Thanks be to God for this spiritual gift that keeps on giving, no matter what life may bring our way. Hope abides! In the end, there is victory! God has the final Word. Thanks be to God!
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