tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143893182024-03-07T02:37:44.440-05:00Graceful Sermons Dr. Maynard Pittendreigh is the Senior Pastor of the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida. Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-11089293858948514652019-01-31T16:04:00.001-05:002019-02-01T10:06:32.612-05:00My Personal Testimony - Next to the last sermon before retirement<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Scripture
Lesson<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Philippians
3:8-12</span><span style="color: black;"></span></i></div>
<i>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">8 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">More than that, I regard everything as loss because of
the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have
suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I
may gain Christ </span><sup><span id="en-NRSV-29414">9 </span></sup>and be found in
him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that
comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. </span><sup><span id="en-NRSV-29415">10 </span></sup>I want to know Christ<sup data-fn="#fen-NRSV-29415b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-29415b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">
</sup>and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by
becoming like him in his death, <sup><span id="en-NRSV-29416">11 </span></sup>if
somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span id="en-NRSV-29417">12 </span></span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Not that I have already obtained this
or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ
Jesus has made me his own. </span></span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
is my next to the last sermon that I will preach before I retire. I was struggling with what to preach this
week. I’ve already written my last
sermon, but that is for next week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Which
left me wondering for the past few days, what do I preach today?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
I decided to do something a little different today. I thought I might share my personal
testimony. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
grew up in the faith. I was baptized as
a child and never knew a time when Christ was not part of my life. Some of my earliest memories involve my Dad
reading Bible stories to me and my sisters.
Going to church was always part of my life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Which
I guess makes my testimony a bit on the dull side. There was no near death experience for
me. I was not an alcoholic or drug
addict who turned his life around to sobriety by finding Christ. I have always been a Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There
was, however, a time in my life when I became more passionate about my
faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My
high school chemistry teacher and I were meeting after school one day – it was
probably related to the time I almost blew up the chemistry lab. Which by the way, was <u>not</u> my
fault. She was the one who gave me the
chemicals and she should have known better.
Besides, the fire was <i><u>not</u></i>
that big. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But
I digress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For
whatever reason, I was meeting with her after school and she handed me a modern
translation of the New Testament and asked me if I wanted it. I did, and took it home and began to read
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
read the Book of Matthew in one sitting.
I was amazed by it. It was the
first time I had a glimpse of the whole Gospel in its entirety. Up until then, I had read a verse here and
there, or a small passage here and there.
But having read the entire book of Matthew was the difference between
looking at a single piece of a jigsaw puzzle, and looking at the whole picture
on the box. Everything Jesus said began
to make sense in a way that it never had before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And
that was when I became passionate about my faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Not
long after that, while I was still in high school, I decided to drop by the church
and see our pastor and let him know that I felt that God was calling me to
enter the ministry. I knew what he would
say. He would look at me and say,
“Praise the Lord, my son.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And
then he would give me some wonderful advice on what college to go to, what to
major in, and how to prepare myself for the ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
I arrived at the church, walked into his office and told him I wanted to be a
minister, and waited for him to say, “Praise the Lord, my son.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Reverend
Keith looked at me and said, “What the hell do you want to do something stupid
like that for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
was not the response I expected. He then
went on to say, “All day long, people come into your office and complain,
complain, complain.” Actually, the word
he used was a bit more profane than “complain.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
left his office stunned that day. After
all, ministers weren’t supposed to use language like that. I was totally confused by his response. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Obviously
I ignored the advice of my high school pastor and, in his words, did a stupid
thing by entering the ministry. Why did
I do that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Because I felt called to.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
is a spiritual mystery – this business of discerning God’s call. And it is a dangerous thing. I have often heard people say, “God is
telling me to do this, or that.” And as
their pastor I sometimes feel that what they are saying is, “This is what I
want to do, but I’m going to put God’s name on it so you won’t argue with me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Years
ago I lived in Miami. John was an elder
in the church and he operated a very successful business. Mary was a church member and was unemployed. She made an appointment to see John and told
him, “God has told me to come here and that you would give me a job.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">John
looked at Mary and said, “That’s strange.
God told me to tell you to go somewhere else and get a job.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Both
John and Mary told me that story from different perspectives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
is hard to discern God’s will, and to separate it from what we want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Looking
back, I had no great gift for ministry when I was in high school. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
fact, I hated the thought of speaking in public. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Last
week we had Youth Sunday and I have to tell you the kids did great. They stood up and led worship with great
confidence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That
was not me at their age. In fact, I was
afraid of speaking in public. And by
speaking in public, I defined that as speaking to any group that included more
than 3 people. I decided I needed to
overcome it, so I auditioned for a school play.
Much to my dismay, I got the lead part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
remember very clearly standing on the stage and I had the first lines. The whole school was in the audience, my
parents my friends! My heart was
pounding. My legs felt as weak as
jelly. I knew I was about to die. My heart couldn’t take it, and I would
collapse at any moment. Teachers would
gather around me and try to restart my heart, but they would fail. For generations, high school seniors would
greet incoming high school freshmen by saying, “See that corner of the stage,
that’s where that kid died. Dropped dead
right there.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
mean, how embarrassing would that be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But
I got through the play, and somehow I still felt God was calling me to enter
the ministry and to speak in front of people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God’s will – it is a
tough thing to discern.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
finished high school and moved onto college.
Throughout college I felt open to the possibility of being a minister,
but I was not totally committed to the idea – I just open to it. My wife and I met in college and we were
married at about the time we were graduating.
Not knowing what to do with my future, I got a job as a counselor with
the state prison system in South Carolina.
For two years I continued to pray, and sometimes agonize, over whether
to enter the ministry or not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Moses
heard his call when he saw the burning bush.
He literally heard the voice of God.
My call to ministry was like very much like that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Except
without the fire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And
without the bush. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And
without actually hearing the voice of God.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Actually,
my call was nothing like that of Moses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
walking in the neighborhood at night, praying the same prayer I had prayed for
years – that God would guide me and give me an answer. And suddenly ---- I just felt sure. I just felt a certainty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
I told my pastor, Rev. Beckham, that I felt called to enter the ministry. I knew what he would say, because I had heard
Rev. Keith say it to me when I was in high school. “Why do you want to do something stupid like
that for?” Instead, Rev. Beckham said,
“Praise the Lord. The first step is to
meet with the Session and they happen to be meeting tomorrow night.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
the next night I met with the Session.
The voted to sponsor me as a candidate for ministry. When I asked what the second step might be,
one of the elders spoke up and said, “The next step is to meet with a committee
of the Presbytery, and I happen to be a member of that committee and they meet <b>tomorrow night.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
the next night I met with the presbytery committee and they voted approval of
me. They asked me when I might go to
seminary and I said that because it was late August, I probably missed the
admission deadline and would wait a year.
One of the members of the presbytery committee said that he happened to
be on the admissions board of the seminary and that they were having their
final meeting <b>tomorrow night</b>. He thought if I got my application in by the
next morning, I might be able to get the last spot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
I did, and within two weeks, my wife and I were moving to the seminary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There
is a Presbyterian saying that we discern God’s will with the help of the
community, and for me the community helped me to feel a certainty about
entering the ministry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
loved my time in the seminary. I had
great professors and great classes.
Every Sunday I had the opportunity to preach in a different church. Some of them were huge churches with hundreds
of people in attendance. Most were
small, country churches. Some of you
know my wife is a musician, and she learned early on to carry sheet music with
her for the prelude, postlude and offering.
Many times we would arrive at the church and the person greeting us
would ask me, “Does your wife play the piano,” and I would say she did, and he
would say, “Good, we can having signing this Sunday.” I also learned that when he said “singing,”
that often meant I would be signing a solo in front of a tiny congregation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One
of the churches I where I was a guest preacher in my last semester of seminary
was in Sumter, South Carolina. Faith
Presbyterian Church. I knew from the
first moment that I walked into that church, God was calling me to be their
pastor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unfortunately,
God did not tell that to the pastor search committee. They called someone else. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But
-- That person turned them down. And I
knew that it was because he wasn’t called to that church, I was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And
then the pastor search committee called <b>someone
else</b>! And again, that person turned
them down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And
so it went until one day, the Dean of the Seminary called me into his office
and told me that Faith Presbyterian Church was calling Bryant. The dean said, “Look Maynard, I know you have
your heart set on Faith Presbyterian Church but you need to apply
elsewhere. They are inviting Bryant to
be their pastor and he is in trouble in his ministry and he has to take
anything that comes along.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
know the Dean of the Seminary thought I was arrogant when I told him that I was
still confident that I was to be the pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A
few days later, Bryant turned down the call to serve Faith Presbyterian. Finally, after scrapping the bottom of the
barrel and coming up empty, the pastor search committee agreed to call me - an
inexperienced seminary graduate -- to be their pastor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
have to tell you, it was not an easy pastorate.
There were many times I thought lovingly and fondly of my high school
pastor, Reverend Keith, who, when I told him I wanted to be a minister,
responded by telling me that was a stupid thing to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My
Dad thought it was funny that the name of my clerk of session was Joe Hatfield,
and that my church treasurer was named Alice McCoy. Hatfield and McCoys – like the infamous
feuding families from West Virginia and Kentucky in the late 1800s. I didn’t think it was that funny later, when
I found out that even in the church people have feuds and fights. Sometimes, in the church, people fight dirty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
first time I was held at gun point was in that first pastorate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There
have been a few times in my ministry when I have been held at gun point. I’m not sure I ever expected that when I was
ordained, but the first time was there at Faith Presbyterian Church. Bob came to my office one day. I knew he was a bit off and I felt a bit
uneasy with him. I was the only one on
staff of that little church and we were alone in the office, just me and Bob. He told me about how his wife had left
him. He then explained that he had tried
to kill his wife the week before. His
plan was to take her out for dinner and dancing, and he insisted that she where
her best jewelry. He drove from Sumter
to Columbia, a larger city about an hour or so away. But instead of taking her dancing, he drove
to the sleaziest, most crime ridden part of Columbia, opened her car door and
pushed her out of the car and drove off.
He left her there, thinking that surely someone would rob and kill her.
They didn’t. People rushed around her,
took care of her, and drove her to her parent’s house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
am listening to this story wondering if Bob is confessing his sin to his
pastor, or if he is looking for advice from his pastor about how he could come
up with a more effective plan on how to kill his wife. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now
as it happened the church was right next door to a country store where all
sorts of criminal activity took place.
The police would raid the place from time to time and they chose that moment
for their latest raid. Several police
cars rushed to the store next door, and my office window gave us a great view
of the police lights and the armed police officers rushing the building. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bob
stood up and pulled a gun on me and said, “I can’t believe it, you called the
police on me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Knowing
that Bob was more than a little unstable, I didn’t try to reason with him. Instead I said, “I didn’t call the cops. Hey, I bet your wife did. Quick, you go out the back door and I’ll hold
off the cops at the front door.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Bob
went out the back door, I went out the front door, and I went home for the
day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That
first church was a challenging church. I
lacked experience. There were always new
challenges. The church never had enough
money – and believe me, no church ever does.
Many times, the church treasurer had to call me and tell me that the
church couldn’t pay my full salary for the month, and I had to settle with what
they could come up with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Paul,
in his second letter to the Corinthians, reviewed his ministry. He rattled off a list of intense experiences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Five times I
have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. <b><sup>25 </sup></b>Three
times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was
shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; <b><sup>26 </sup></b>on
frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my
own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness,
danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters”… and on and on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now
obviously, I’ve not had those experiences.
But <b><i><u>every</u></i></b> pastor has experienced challenges that have been
difficult and demanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We
do funerals, and they are sometimes very difficult. I remember years ago a husband killed his
wife, and then committed suicide. I had
to do both funerals. But they were not the
most difficult. I recall doing the
funeral for a 3 year old child. At the
time, my own son was only 3 years old.
The sight of that tiny casket will stay with me forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All
pastors have experiences in which a church suffers a crisis – whether it is a
hurricane devasting the community or a terrible crime in the neighborhood such
as a mass killing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
greatest challenge facing the pastor is always Alexander, the Metal
Worker. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When
Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, he wrote, “<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Alexander the metal worker did me great
harm; the Lord will pay him back for his deeds. <b><sup>15 </sup></b>You
also must beware of him, for he strongly opposed our message.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Every
church has an Alexander the Metal worker.
These are people who stir up trouble in the congregation. They undermine the pastor and slander him or
her with untrue gossip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
Apostle Paul had them. So did the
Apostle John. In John’s third letter in
the New Testament, he wrote, “<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who
likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. <b><sup>10 </sup></b>So
if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges
against us.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
another letter in the New Testament, Paul wrote about two particular
contentious people. “t<span class="text"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">heir talk will spread like gangrene. Among
them are Hymenaeus and Philetus... They are upsetting the faith of some.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And
such people do upset the faith of some. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Every
church has these people. Even here at
Grace Covenant. It only takes one, or
two. Such people are the greatest
impairment to the church’s growth. A few
months ago, I visited one of the members of our church who no longer attends,
and she said she was tired of one person always bad mouthing the pastor, the
session and the youth programs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My
approach has always been to treat such folks with love and respect, and when
necessary to share the struggle with the elders. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But
there is always something in the ministry – just like any walk in life that God
calls each of you to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">What
sustained me in that church and throughout my ministry was the awareness that I
was doing what God called me to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And that is what sustains
all Christians no matter what their walk in life may be.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
have enjoyed being a pastor. In spite of
the warnings that my high school pastor gave me, and in spite of the ever
present Alexander the Metal Workers, I
think it is the best job in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As
pastor, I get to stand in front of couples and pronounce that they are married,
declaring that they are now husband and wife.
Later, when they have difficulties, they come to me and share their most
private struggles. I take their children
and hold them and pour water on their head baptizing them in the name of God
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And
sometimes I have the honor of being with them and holding a person’s had as he
or she takes one last breath. And after death has come, I get to do the funeral
and remind everyone of the hope we have in the resurrection, and to be with
their loved ones as they grieve for days, months, and years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Being
a pastor is a marvelous life. And I feel blessed that God called me to this
life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
often feel I have the most meaningful, worthwhile life. But all of us who follow God’s call – <b><i>no
matter what that call may be – are blessed to live worthwhile lives. </i></b>What better life is there than to
live a life in God’s will?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">(pause)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
admitted at the onset of my testimony today that my testimony lacks the drama
of someone who had a vision of Christ during a wartime battle, or who overcame alcoholism,
or who saw a burning bush. But the
common thread in all good testimonies is that we seek God’s call for our lives,
and we live out God’s will. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
would hope that is your own testimony as well.
Whatever your call has been in life, that you have sought to know and to
do God’s will. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">What
better life is there than to live a life in God’s will?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And now unto God the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God the Son,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And God the Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory,
today and forever, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Copyright 2019. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon
in their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the
Internet without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;">the
author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-20132148671340023182019-01-10T09:26:00.002-05:002019-01-10T09:26:33.854-05:00The Pastor's New Tattoo (dealing with changes and pastoral transitions)<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Scripture
Reading
Hebrews 13:5-9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content
with what you have; for he has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” <sup>6 </sup>So
we can say with confidence,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Lord is my helper;<br />
I will not be afraid.<br />
What can anyone do to me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to
you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. <sup>8 </sup>Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. <sup>9 </sup>Do not be
carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to
be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food,<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+13%3A5-9&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30234a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> which have not benefited those who observe
them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: yellow; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">Sermon
<i>The Pastor’s New Tattoo</i>
<span style="letter-spacing: -.2pt;">Maynard Pittendreigh</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I’ve been thinking about how to celebrate
my retirement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I’ve thought about a small gathering at my
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve thought about a special trip
somewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the one thought I keep
coming back to is a new tattoo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">YES – I need a new tattoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Philippians 4, “Rejoice in the Lord
always,” would be a perfect one for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Or perhaps Leviticus 19:28, which says,
“Do not put tattoos on yourselves.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Or maybe the verse immediately before that
one, Leviticus 19:27 – that’s the passage that says men are not to shave their
beards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">What
better way to celebrate my retirement than with a new tattoo?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">How many of you think I should get a new
tattoo?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">How many of you think I should NOT get a
tattoo?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Tattoos have been around for centuries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I suspect I will NOT be getting a new
tattoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know a lot of you have tattoos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you got them when you were in the
military.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you have had a tattoo
since World War II.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you have had
a tattoo for just a few months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In recent years, tattoos have become
increasingly popular to the point that I sometimes hear people complain about
the proliferation of tattoos on people today – tattoos all up and down the arm,
on the back, every inch of skin sometimes seems to be a target for a
tattoo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Why would anyone complain about what
someone else does with his or her body?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Because it is a change in our culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Back in my day,” someone will say, “women
didn’t get tattoos.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or “back my day,
you didn’t get so MANY tattoos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It is a change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And what about the music the younger
people play?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Or the way people dress?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Or what about the….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Well, you can fill in the blanks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our world is changing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And our world is changing more than ever
before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A lot of people do not like change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We like things to stay the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A few weeks ago, I decided to stop beginning
the worship service by asking who is celebrating a birthday or anniversary. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started that several months after I arrived
at Grace Covenant because there were some people who asked me to announce
certain birthdays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt uncomfortable
announcing some but not others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I
started asking about this during the announcements, thinking that if people wanted
to share that, they could, and if they didn’t want to share it, they didn’t
have to raise their hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But recently I stopped, thinking that
little changes like this would help prepare you for bigger changes yet to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Wow – did I hear the complaints!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped counting the emails and phone
calls when I reached 40 complaints about stopping this sort of announcements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It turns out that a lot of you have very,
very strong feelings about continuing this and do NOT want to see this change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So I gave in, and I resumed asking about
birthdays and anniversaries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But guess what, that will probably change
in the near future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Change happens – we have to deal with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In a study, a group of people were given
two pieces of chocolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was
described as a new recipe that had just been developed, and the other was
described as using the same recipe and the same ingredients for 73 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vast majority preferred the chocolate
that had been unchanged for 73 years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There are two things that are interesting
about that study.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One is that it shows we like things to
stay the same, without change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The other is that both candies, the one that
had the new recipe and the one that used the 73 year old recipe – well, lo and
behold, they were exactly the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
difference at all.<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Personal/last%20sermons/2019%201%2013%20tattoo.doc#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But we have a bias against change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We’ve always been that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Let’s look at the Bible for an example.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In Exodus 14, Moses has led the people out
of the Promised Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that is a good
change, but it doesn’t matter, it is a change, and change brings grief over the
loss of something that has been changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This is what happens in Exodus 14,
beginning in verse 10: “<span class="textexod-14-10">As Pharaoh approached, the
Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They
were terrified and cried out to the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textexod-14-10">.</span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="textexod-14-11">They said to
Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>you</u></i></b> brought us to
the desert to die? What have <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>you</u></i></b> done to us by bringing us
out of Egypt?</span> <span class="textexod-14-12"><sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </sup>Didn’t we say to you in Egypt,
‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="textexod-14-12"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Actually, let me stop
there and say I don’t think the Hebrews ever told Moses, “leave us alone, we
happy being slaves.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never happened, but
now that the change has happened the people are reinventing their history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people are in grief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they are in fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they re-write their history thinking that
they were happy to serve the Egyptians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="textexod-14-12"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Picking up in verse 13,
Moses says something really dumb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
doesn’t say a lot of dumb things, but here, he does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="textexod-14-13"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Moses answered the
people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm (in other words, don’t change any more,
but stay where you are).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stand firm and
you will see the deliverance the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 150%;">Lord</span></span><span class="textexod-14-13"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">
will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <span class="textexod-14-14">The </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textexod-14-14"> will fight for you;
you need only to be still.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textexod-14-14"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In other words, Moses
gets sucked into the attitude of the people about change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want the good old days of Egypt and slavery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Moses says “stand firm, no more
changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just pray and let God fix
things.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="textexod-14-14"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now that sounds good – it
doesn’t sound dumb at all, until you listen to what God says.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textexod-14-14"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Moses says, “Stand
firm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay where you are.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="textexod-14-14"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God says in verse 15,
“Stop praying and start moving.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="textexod-14-15"><sup><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“</span></sup></span><span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Raise your
staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the
Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We resist change, but God is always
calling us to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To grow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You are getting ready for a change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I retire, you will have a new Interim
Pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the fastest a search for
a new pastor takes may be as little as six months, but that is unusual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It usually takes about a year before the new
installed pastor is elected and arrives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes it takes as long as 18 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was looking back at the records of our church and found that after Bob
Eckard left, it took 17 months for this church to conclude the search and to
call me as the next pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So, you
have a long process to come, and you need to get ready for changes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And accept
these changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Embrace them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that God is always calling us to
move, to change, and to grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You don’t want to be like the Hebrews on
the edge of the Red Sea, longing for the times of yesterday…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Oh, if we
had stayed in Egypt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the Old
Testament, there is a Psalm written by people who experienced the greatest of
changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their nation had been invaded. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people were being forced into exile to
Babylon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the invading army took the
great Temple choir out of Jerusalem, which was the greatest musical choir of
that generation, and on the way to Babylon, the invaders asked them to sing a
song.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sing us one of the songs you used
to sing in the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Entertain
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re in the mood for some good
music.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textexod-14-16"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And in response, this is what the Jewish
choir sang:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textps-137-1"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">1 By
the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept</span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-1">when we remembered Zion (Jerusalem and the Temple).</span><br />
<span class="textps-137-2"><sup>2 </sup>There on the trees</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-2">we hung our harps,</span><br />
<span class="textps-137-3"><sup>3 </sup>for there our captors asked us for
songs,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-3">our tormentors demanded<sup> </sup>songs of joy;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-3">they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textps-137-4"><sup><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">4 </span></sup></span><span class="textps-137-4"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">How can we
sing the songs of the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 150%;">Lord</span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-4">while in a foreign land?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-4"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In other words, in the midst of change, they have lost their
homes, their work, their Temple, and even their identity – “how can we sing the
Lord’s song?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-4"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Change has that kind of impact on people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textps-137-4"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The passage
continues…</span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><span class="textps-137-5"><sup><o:p></o:p></sup></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textps-137-5"><sup><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">5 </span></sup></span><span class="textps-137-5"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If I forget
you, O Jerusalem,</span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-5">may my right hand forget its skill.</span><br />
<span class="textps-137-6"><sup>6 </sup>May my tongue cling to the roof of my
mouth</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-6">if I do not remember<sup> </sup>you,</span><br />
<span class="textps-137-6">if I do not consider Jerusalem</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-6">my highest joy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textps-137-6"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-6"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In other words, they are stuck in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Change has come, like or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they make a promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will not forget the past. Our theme will
always be, “back in my day…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-6"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And they do not know what Paul in the New Testament promised,
that “in all things God works for good.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On their way to Babylon, as they grieve about the loss of their past,
they don’t know of the good God will work in them during the exile in Babylon:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-6"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the creation of
synagogues, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-6"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">wonderful literature and prophetic teachings, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-6"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">the creation of the Hebrew alphabet, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-6"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">the beginning of the canon of Scripture – in other words, the
realization of what was the holy Word of God of the Old Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-6"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All they see is their grief and fear in the face of change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textps-137-6"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And then
there is an awful passage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span class="textps-137-8"><sup><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">8 </span></sup></span><span class="textps-137-8"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">O Daughter
of Babylon, doomed to destruction,</span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-8">happy is he who repays you</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-8">for what you have done to us—</span><br />
<span class="textps-137-9"><sup>9 </sup>he who takes your infants</span><br />
<span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="textps-137-9">and dashes those infants against the rocks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s in the
Bible?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, because grief and anger are
such close cousins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We often respond to
change in our lives with grief, and yes, with anger. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So what do we do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
do we deal with change?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And it is not just the changes in the church we deal with.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Folks here this morning are dealing with all sorts of
changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cancer, death, job loss,
retirement, birth, good change, bad change – change is hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What to do?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Lord is my shepherd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That is the way we deal with change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We trust the shepherd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We know shepherd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
calls us by name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we trust in him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The shepherd leads us into wonderful places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Calm waters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Quiet places. An abundant table with cups overflowing with good
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But the shepherd also leads us into places we would not choose
to go – into the valley of the shadows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Death, fear, loss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Changes in the
church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But – <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The Lord is my shepherd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And we trust.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We live in a world that is constantly changing, and changing
more than at anytime in human history.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And people don’t like change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You’ve heard that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe you’ve said it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">People don’t like change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But I don’t believe that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We like change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like new movies
I haven’t seen before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like new books
from a favorite author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like
discovering a new author.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like going
to places I’ve never been before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like
meeting new people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The issue is not that we don’t like change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The issue is that we love to have something
familiar and unchanging in the midst of all the other changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We desperately need something that will never
change, even as we move into more and more changes, with new cell phones and
changes in computers and different music, and tattoos on young people and pony
tails on preachers, and cancer that invades our bodies and spouses that die,
and memories that fade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And what is the one thing that we can count on to be the
familiar, unchanging guide to lead us and comfort us in all of these changes?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Hebrews 13:8 says, “</span></span><span class="textheb-13-8"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus Christ is the same yesterday
and today and forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="line" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="textheb-13-8"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Or as the Psalm put it, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not
want”</span></span><span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And now unto
God the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Copyright 2019. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Dr. W.
Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">All rights
reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ministers may
feel free to use some or all of this sermon in their own ministries as long as
they do not publish in print or on the Internet without ascribing credit to the
author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="mso-element: endnote-list;">
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<div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Documents/Personal/last%20sermons/2019%201%2013%20tattoo.doc#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heidi-grant-halvorson-phd/why-we-dont-like-change_b_1072702.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heidi-grant-halvorson-phd/why-we-dont-like-change_b_1072702.html</a>
Heidi Grant Halvorson, “Why We Don’t Like Change.” November 5, 2011.<span class="textps-137-9"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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The PasMaynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-64724512877678880962018-10-10T18:10:00.000-04:002018-10-10T18:10:13.120-04:00For a Time Such as This - Esther 4:3-14<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
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<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Esther 4:3-14</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;">9 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. </span></span><span class="text"></span><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span id="en-NRSV-12773" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">10 </span></span></span></sup></b><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for
Mordecai, saying, </span></span><span class="text"></span><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span id="en-NRSV-12774" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">11 </span></span></span></sup></b><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s
provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court
without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death.
Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live.
I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.” </span></span><span class="text"></span><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span id="en-NRSV-12775" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">12 </span></span></span></sup></b><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, </span></span><span class="text"></span><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span id="en-NRSV-12776" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">13 </span></span></span></sup></b><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in
the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. </span></span><span class="text"></span><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span id="en-NRSV-12777" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">14 </span></span></span></sup></b><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif;">For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and
deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your
father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity
for just such a time as this.” </span></span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Having been a pastor for 38 years, I
can say that I have preached on every single book of the Bible – except one.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you are wondering why I am
preaching on Esther today, I have to admit, that’s why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the only remaining book of the Bible I
have never preached on.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I’m not alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of ministers have not preached from Esther.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were those who did not believe it should
be included in the Bible<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for one thing, Esther and the Song of Solomon
are the only two books of the Bible that does not mention God.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So let’s begin with a quick overview
of the Book of Esther and what this book is about.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It starts with the King deciding to
give a party for the men – no women are invited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Queen has her own party, women only, no
men are invited.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I know, what kind of party are those?</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyway, the king decides he wants to
show off his queen because she is one hot lady – well, the Bible doesn’t put it
that way, it says the King ordered his servants, “</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">to
bring</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in
order to display her beauty</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.</span>”</div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By the way, biblical scholars agree
that the term “wearing her royal crown,” meant that was ALL she was
wearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No clothes at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just the crown. (IB, v3, page 837)</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Queen Vashti refused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Good for her.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was not going to go to a party just to be
put on show and to be sexually harassed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Harriet Beecher Stowe </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">called Vashti's disobedience the "first
stand for women’s rights.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;">Elizabeth Cady Stanton
wrote that Vashti "added new glory to [her] day and generation...by her
disobedience; demonstrating that ‘Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.’”</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Well, the king didn’t like it that
his Queen had disobeyed him, so he fired the Queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only that, but the king also made a law
that women were to respect their husbands and that every man was to rule over
his household – period.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yep, king was old fashioned, but
after all, this was 25 hundred years ago.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Everything went fine until the king
realizes, he has no queen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She he sends his
servants to go out and look for one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
only requirement is that she has to be good looking.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yep, this king leaves a lot to be desired.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So all these beautiful women come in,
and this is where Esther comes in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
she is smoking hot – or as the Bible puts it more delicately, she “</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">had
a lovely figure</span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> and was beautiful</span>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The king picked her to be the queen.</div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As for Esther's backstory, she was an
orphan who was raised by her righteous cousin, Mordecai. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As the story goes, Mordecai helps
uncover a plot to kill the king, he tells Esther. Esther tells the king, and
this earns Mordecai some Brownie points.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But, not enough Brownie points –
because when Mordecai refuses to bow down to one of the king’s counselors, Haman,
Haman goes to the king and says Mordecai is a Jew and all those Jews are
trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s kill all the Jews in the
kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The king ponders this and says, and I’m
paraphrasing here, “Sounds good to me, let’s do it.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What the king doesn’t know is that
Esther is a Jew.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Esther eventually approaches the king
and he offers to give her whatever she wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She asks for a banquet for her and Haman the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yep – that king is still a party animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Haman is excited about the massacre
of the Jews that is about to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
builds a special gallows to hang Mordecai.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But Haman’s hopes are dashed the following morning, when
the king—remembering how Mordecai saved the king’s life—orders Haman to honor
Mordecai and lead him in a parade through the town (which Haman very
reluctantly does). </span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At a second banquet – yep, the
parties are still going on - Esther asks the king to punish Haman for trying to
kill her and her people—and the king does. Haman is hanged to death on the same
gallows he had built for Mordecai.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Man, talk about irony.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Jews of Persia massacre all of
Haman's agents and supporters (roughly 75,000 people in all), Mordecai is made
into the king's new counselor, and Purim becomes an official Jewish holiday to
celebrate this story.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Good times, gang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good times.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hmm… now that I retell this story,
there may be a reason why I never preached about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a wild story.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But it is an
important story because tells how Esther changed the course of history for an entire
nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And looking at her
life can serve as an example of how we can make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you want to be an element of change in your
family, in your community, in your school or work place, or change the world,
here are two things that Esther teaches.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Two things that stand
out.</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The first is – know when to be silent.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In the business of
advertising that the most successful ad campaigns don’t try to change people:
they try to reflect how people are already feeling. Advertisers know that
consumers won’t respond to an ad unless the ad is a response to them. This is
why advertising companies spend so much time and money on market research. They
want to “Listen” to the market and respond to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The story Esther
teaches us the same lesson. If you want to be an element for change there are
times when you must learn when to be silent and listen.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Esther listened to
her mentor – her uncle Mordecai – and kept her mouth closed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Esther had not
revealed her nationality and family background, didn’t tell the king she was a Jew
because Mordecai had told her not to. (Esther 2:10).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Keeping her mouth
closed preserved Esther’s life and enabled her to gain access to the king.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sometimes, you have
to be silent <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for a period of time.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You have to gather
information, learn about the others involved, and sometimes even gather your
own thoughts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Proverbs teaches, “A
fool gives full vent to one’s spirit, but a wise person quietly holds it back.”
Proverbs 29:11</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">James, in his New
Testament letter, wrote, “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak.”</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Whenever we see an
unjust situation, it may well be that our first step is to be silent for a
period of time.</span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">However, there is a second principle we can learn
from Esther.</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">First, know when to be silent, </span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Second, know when to Speak Up .</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps you know
the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer was active in the anti-Hitler
movement of the second world war. He was a German Lutheran Pastor who spoke up
against Hitler; he worked as a double agent; and he was actively involved in an
assassination attempt on Hitler’s life. Bonhoeffer was imprisoned by the Nazi’s
in 1943 and hanged on 9th of April 1945, just days before the end of the war.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But what Bonhoeffer’s
life shows us, is that if we want to be elements for change, we must also learn
when to speak up.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Esther also chose very
carefully her time speak - - this was the third occasion she had approached the
king. And then she came out with the hard truth. Esther said, "The
adversary and enemy is this vile Haman" (Esther 7:6)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There comes a time
when we must speak up for the truth and to speak loudly for justice.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We see evil, we
need to speak up.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We see people
abused, we need to speak up.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There comes a time in Esther’s story that she has
been silent, but it is now time to speak up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is hesitant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uncle Mordecai
tells her “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of
all the Jews will escape.</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="text"><span id="en-NIV-12777" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> For if you remain silent at this time, relief and
deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your
father’s family will die.”</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And then Mordecai says these great words: “who
knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Queen Esther
refused to let her people die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Before her, Queen
Vasti refused to be sexually harassed. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anytime we see
injustice, there comes a time to speak out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We can be elements
of change – in our families, at work or school, or in our nation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We just need to
speak out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-12873561075443853272018-10-03T11:00:00.003-04:002018-10-03T11:00:29.730-04:00Recipe for Christian Living - 2 Peter 1:5-9<h1 class="passage-display">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="passage-display-bcv">2 Peter 1:5-9</span> <span class="passage-display-version">New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)</span></span></i></h1>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> <span class="text 2Pet-1-5" id="en-NRSV-30467"><sup class="versenum">5 </sup>For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, </span> <span class="text 2Pet-1-6" id="en-NRSV-30468"><sup class="versenum">6 </sup>and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, </span> <span class="text 2Pet-1-7" id="en-NRSV-30469"><sup class="versenum">7 </sup>and godliness with mutual<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NRSV-30469a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-30469a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+1%3A5-9&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30469a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> affection, and mutual<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NRSV-30469b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-30469b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+1%3A5-9&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30469b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup> affection with love. </span> <span class="text 2Pet-1-8" id="en-NRSV-30470"><sup class="versenum">8 </sup>For
if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you
from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ. </span> <span class="text 2Pet-1-9" id="en-NRSV-30471"><sup class="versenum">9 </sup>For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. </span></span></i> <br />
<br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I found
a great bread recipe that I’ve been using lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thing I like about it is that it is
simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just whole wheat flour, honey,
oil, water, yeast and just a hint of salt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No sugar added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it only takes
two hours!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love that recipe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think my wife does as well.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There
was a time when I cooked all sorts of complex recipes, but today I want to keep
everything simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The simpler the
better.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Peter
gives us a recipe for living Christ like life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There
are only seven ingredients he lists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Goodness</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Knowledge</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">self-control</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">endurance</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">godliness</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">mutual<sup>
</sup>affection</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">love. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of
the things I have learned about cooking is that there are many recipes in which
you have to add ingredients in a certain order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With this bread, you start with warm water, then add the yeast, then add
the honey, and then you let that set for a while so that the yeast proofs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which means it starts to bubble a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t add anything until then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In
Christianity, you look at Peter’s list and your eye may go immediately to the
ingredient of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know that is the
most important ingredient, so you may think to work on that first.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But that
is not what Peter’s recipe says.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says
to start with the simpler parts of the recipe.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Look,
you and I both know that you don’t love people as you should.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of us do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love is hard.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We can
love our children and grandchildren – but as Christians we are called to love
all people.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do you
really love that neighbor down the street who plays loud music or who walks his
dog in your yard without cleaning up?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do you
really love that co worker who gossips about you or spreads slander about you?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do you
really love your boss?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Or the
strangers in the parking lot who frightens you when they come out of nowhere to
ask for money?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do you love
your enemy?</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sometimes
you have a hard time loving your own family.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love is
hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Peter
says, start with goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emotion is
hard to control, so start with behavior which you can control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on that you add the ingredient of
knowledge – get to know God, Jesus, the people around you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you add the ingredient of
self-control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then endurance, and on
down the list until you finally have built a foundation of character so that
you are able to love for even your enemy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18.0pt;">Jesus said in
the Sermon on the Mount, </span><span class="st"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">“You
have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I
tell you, </span></span><em><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">love your enemies</span></em><span class="st"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"> and pray for them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew 5:”44.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18.0pt;">He makes it
sound easy, but we know, and Jesus knows, it is not easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start with mutual love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Build up that skill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Peter
starts his recipe for being a Christian with the ingredient of goodness.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Just be
good to people.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Smile at
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Call the waiter by name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Treat everyone the way you want to be
treated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
people you encounter may deal with a dozen people every hour, and you may be
the only one who treats them with goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Be that person.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A while back I had the opportunity to
speak to someone who was celebrating her 100<sup>th</sup> birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told me about what it was like growing
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and her family lived on a
forty-acre farm with no phones, no lights, no motor car, not a single luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With all the changes she had seen, I
asked her what she thought was the single most significant change she had seen
in her lifetime.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Smart phones?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Space travel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Medical breakthroughs</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">? Having 1000 channels on television and still
having nothing to watch?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Her answer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt; text-indent: -4.8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">People!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt; text-indent: -4.8pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The most
significant change I’ve seen in the world is people. They just don’t care like
they used to.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She went on to describe how her
family, even though they lived on 40 acres, knew their neighbors. When one
neighbor was in need the other neighbors pitched in to help.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When one of the Fathers were sick and
couldn’t do the chores around their farm, the other neighbors would all get
together and make sure everything was done until that Dad could recover and
return to his duties.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The whole world has changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we are the ones who have changed it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everything we deal with in this world
is due to <i>goodness – or the lack of it</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When we boil down fights, arguments,
wars, terror, tragedies, (like the Pulse shooting a few years ago) we always
come to the same conclusion — <i>humanity has lost its sense of goodness</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Which means that ultimately, if we
want the world to improve, we have to become the change we desire to see.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have to practice goodness to
others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peter lists seven ingredients in his
recipe for living the Christian live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ultimately, what we are cooking up is
a life of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Loving our neighbor,
stranger and even our enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he starts
off this recipe with goodness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First ingredient – goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Start there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Start there and become the change you
want to see take place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Immanuel Kant is one of the central
figures of modern philosophy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wrote a
book on ethics and moral behavior that he titled, appropriately enough,
Groundwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the very first sentence
of the book he says, “</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the only thing that is
unconditionally good is a good will.” Kant argues that anything one might think
of as good, might not be good at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These THINGS, like <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>health,
wealth, beauty, intelligence, etc. could, in certain situations, be bad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wealth is good, if a person uses it wisely. Another person
can be corrupted by their wealth. The robust health of a bully makes it easier
for him to abuse his victims. A person’s beauty may lead them to become vain
and fail to develop their talents. Even happiness is not good if it is the
happiness of a sadist torturing his victims.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The only good in us is what he called “goodwill.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what, exactly, does he mean by a good
will? The answer is fairly simple. A person acts from a good will when they do
what they do because they think it is their duty: when they act from a sense of
moral obligation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That is what Peter is trying to get at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first ingredient to the recipe of the
Christian life is to have this goodness, this good will that comes from a sense
of duty to Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a behavior we
show to others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 21.75pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kant also said that the way we act, changes the world around
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we act mean – that permeates the
community and others become mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we
act good, our good actions infects the others with goodness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In other words, we become the change we want to see take
place.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">WE BECOME THE CHANGE WE DESIRE TO SEE!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We become to others what we wish
others would be to us.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life isn’t fair, and people aren’t
nice,</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> but in
spite of the odds, seemingly stacked against us, we can still win. How?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Not by changing the world – but by
changing ourselves.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus, taught his followers that they
should respond to people who hurt them after this manner:</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Love your
enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for
those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the
other also.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do to others as you would have them do
to you.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s hard – and in Peter that kind
of love is the last ingredient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do
you love your enemy?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Simple steps – start with goodness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And not just Jesus, but all throughout
history countless of other people have given their lives for causes greater
than their own in hopes that one day the world, <b>your world</b>, our
world, would change.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lau Tzu (Lou<s>d</s> Cha) the C</span><span style="background: white; color: #545454; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">hinese philosopher taught </span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by
itself.” </span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Goodness – it is among the most
ancient wisdoms.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do unto others as you would have them
do unto to you</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are the words of Jesus Christ that we
often refer to as “the Golden Rule.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is the best definition of kindness.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Are you fed up with Congress?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you fed up with the way we have devolved
into tribalism of Republicans and Democrats and how nothing gets done because
the two parties are so divided.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can change that – and I’m not just
talking about voting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is something
else that is more fundamental that you can do every day.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have heard people in this church say
the most hurtful and unkind things about people of the opposite political
party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen posts about people of
the other party that are not true – not true, as in violating the Ten
Commandments and its prohibition against bearing false-witness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whenever a person says the Republicans
are evil, or the Democrats are evil, you perpetuate the very thing that you
hate about Congress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You make this division
in our country possible.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We are all Americans – and we need to
return civility to politics and that will start with us and how we talk about
each other.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t like it when someone talks smack
about you? Don’t talk smack about someone else. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Don’t like it when someone cuts you
off on the freeway or jacks your parking spot? Don’t do it to someone else.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do unto others as you would have them
do unto to you</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the best definition of kindness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You may not love the people of the
other political party, you may not love the person who cuts you off in traffic,
but at least you can treat them with goodness – and that is the first step in
the journey of loving them.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love is hard – and that is why Peter
starts with goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love is an emotion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goodness Love is the ONLY cure; the way to
heal our world. Love is the ONLY way to heal our schools. Love is the ONLY way
to heal our families. Love is the ONLY way to begin getting this giant blue
planet spinning in a different direction.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And the power to do that, friend, is
in each and every one of us.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.15pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Each day we
are either a part of the problem or the solution</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. I challenge you, and myself, to be a
part of the solution.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BE THE CHANGE YOU DESIRE TO SEE</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love is
hard – and demanding and challenging, and perhaps it is also demanding and
challenging for us to be good to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let me share an observation from my niece.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My niece decided a year ago that she was going to get
in top physical shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She got on the
floor to see how many pushups she could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Push ups are, after all, a basic form of exercise, and cheap – no gym
membership no equipment required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She started
off wondering how close she could get to 100.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Just one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is all she could do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within a week she
was doing ten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within a month, 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A year later she is still not able to do 100 pushups,
but she is up in the 70s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It takes time to build skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love is a skill and it is hard.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Start with goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of us can be kind to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t
be good to all of the irritable people in your life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start with one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just one. Build up to two, then 20, then
everyone.</span></div>
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<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18.0pt;">I like to
cook, but I occasionally have a fantasy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18.0pt;">You know those
food replicators that are on the television show Star Trek?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone goes to the wall and says, “computer,
tea, Earl Grey, hot.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And out of the
wall comes a cup of hot tea, brewed to perfection.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18.0pt;">Or they say,
“chicken soup.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And immediately, there
it is.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18.0pt;">But I don’t
have a food replicator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And add to that
I have problems with my liver and I’m told I need to eat more things from
scratch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so, these things take time.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18.0pt;">So it is with
the Christian life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t just go up
to the Alter and say, “Make me an instant Christian, saintly and true.”</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18.0pt;">No, these
things take time, and every ingredient has to be added and perfected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes practice.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18.0pt;">Don’t yet love
your enemy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start with the ingredient of
goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One person at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One moment at a time.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18.0pt;">You can be the
change the world needs.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Copyright 2018. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in
their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the Internet
without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-63482731683150212072018-09-27T12:25:00.000-04:002018-09-27T12:25:21.003-04:00What Kind of Church Member Do You Want to Be? Jude 1:1-25<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> J<span style="font-size: small;"><i>ude 1:1-25</i></span></span></h4>
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<h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span class="text"><sup><span>1 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span>Jude,<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30657a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> a servant<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30657b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup> of Jesus Christ and brother of James,</span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><span>To those who are called, who are beloved<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30657c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup> in<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30657d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</sup> God the Father and kept safe for<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30657e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</sup> Jesus Christ:</span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><sup><span>2 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span>May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.</span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><span>Occasion of the Letter</span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><sup><span>3 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span>Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about
the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to
contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. <sup>4 </sup>For
certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated
for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into
licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30660f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]</sup></span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><span>Judgment on False Teachers</span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><sup><span>5 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span>Now I desire to remind you, though you are fully
informed, that the Lord, who once for all saved<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30661g" title="See footnote g">g</a>]</sup> a people out of the land of Egypt,
afterward destroyed those who did not believe. <sup>6 </sup>And the angels
who did not keep their own position, but left their proper dwelling, he has
kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great day. <sup>7 </sup>Likewise,
Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as
they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust,<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30663h" title="See footnote h">h</a>]</sup> serve as an example by undergoing a
punishment of eternal fire.</span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><sup><span>8 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span>Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the
flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones.<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30664i" title="See footnote i">i</a>]</sup> <sup>9 </sup>But when the archangel
Michael contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses, he did
not dare to bring a condemnation of slander<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30665j" title="See footnote j">j</a>]</sup> against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke
you!” <sup>10 </sup>But these people slander whatever they do not
understand, and they are destroyed by those things that, like irrational
animals, they know by instinct. <sup>11 </sup>Woe to them! For they go the
way of Cain, and abandon themselves to Balaam’s error for the sake of gain, and
perish in Korah’s rebellion. <sup>12 </sup>These are blemishes<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30668k" title="See footnote k">k</a>]</sup> on your love-feasts, while they feast with
you without fear, feeding themselves.<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30668l" title="See footnote l">l</a>]</sup> They are waterless clouds carried along by
the winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted; <sup>13 </sup>wild
waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for
whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.</span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><sup><span>14 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span>It was also about these that Enoch, in the seventh
generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “See, the Lord is coming<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30670m" title="See footnote m">m</a>]</sup> with ten thousands of his holy ones, <sup>15 </sup>to
execute judgment on all, and to convict everyone of all the deeds of
ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the
harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” <sup>16 </sup>These
are grumblers and malcontents; they indulge their own lusts; they are bombastic
in speech, flattering people to their own advantage.</span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
<h4>
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><span>Warnings and Exhortations</span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
<h4>
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><sup><span>17 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span>But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the
apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; <sup>18 </sup>for they said to you, “In
the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” <sup>19 </sup>It
is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. <sup>20 </sup>But
you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy
Spirit; <sup>21 </sup>keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to
the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30677n" title="See footnote n">n</a>]</sup> eternal life. <sup>22 </sup>And have
mercy on some who are wavering; <sup>23 </sup>save others by snatching
them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the
tunic defiled by their bodies.<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude+1%3A1-25&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30679o" title="See footnote o">o</a>]</sup></span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><span>Benediction</span></span><span></span></i></span></h3>
<h4>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="text"><sup><span>24 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span>Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and
to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, <sup>25 </sup>to
the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty,
power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.</span></span></i></span></h4>
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<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
you know, I have announced my retirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Come the middle of February, I will preach my final sermon and pack up
my office and head on out for new adventures.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
of the questions you will be pondering in months ahead is this – “what kind of
pastor do we want?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
is a good question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
saw a comic the other day on the Internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A group of people are sitting in a room and the words on the blackboard
says, “Pastor Search Committee.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One
of the members is standing and says this, “So it is agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have decided that what we want our of our
next pastor is someone who will be an innovative pastor with a passion for the
future with fresh ideas who will inspire us to do things exactly the way we
have always done them in the past.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I came across this in my files – it
claims to be an old Report from a Pastor Search Committee:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It starts off:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not have a final report to
give. We have looked through scores of resumes and found fault with
all of them, except for one stand out.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">ADAM: Good man but has problems with
his wife. One reference told us how he and his wife enjoyed walking in the
woods dressed only in fig leaves.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">NOAH: Former pastorate of 120 years
with no converts. Prone to unrealistic<br />
building projects.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">MOSES: A modest and meek man, but
poor communicator; even stutters at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts
rashly in business meetings. Some say he left an earlier church over a murder
charge.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">DAVID: The most promising leader of
all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbor's wife.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">JONAH: Told us he was swallowed up by
a great fish. He said the fish later<br />
spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">PETER: Too blue collar. Has a bad
temper, even said to have cursed. He's a loose cannon. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">PAUL: Powerful CEO type and
fascinating preacher. However, he's short on tact, unforgiving with young
ministers, harsh, and has been known to preach<br />
all night. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">JESUS: Dynamic preacher, and at one
time his church grew to 5000, He managed to offend them all; and his church
dwindled down to twelve people. Seldom stays in one place very long. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">JUDAS: His references are solid. A
steady worker. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We're
inviting him to preach this Sunday in view of a call.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Okay,
on a serious level, you will have to think about what kind of preacher you
want.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
suggest you think of a different question to ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you have noticed the sermon title, you
can guess where I am going with this – what kind of church member do you want
your next pastor to see in you?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
kind of church member will you be?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
is one of the issues of the little New Testament book of Jude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jude
is a very brief book in the New Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, we just read the entire book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jude
presents an image of two different people he finds in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On
one hand, there are the godly people – well, I would hope so!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the kind of people we expect to see
in church.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
on the other hand there are those people who are, in Jude’s words, “<span class="text">worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions” in
our churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">`<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jude
even speaks harshly about these people, saying, “<span class="text">certain
intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated … as
ungodly.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That
really is a harsh word to use in talking about church members, to call them
ungodly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jude says about these people, “<span class="text">These are blemishes on your love-feasts…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>now that term, love-feast, was the way early
Christians sometimes described worship in the Christian Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People would come together to feel and show
love to one another, and they would literally feast together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone would bring food to share and they
would also have the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So Jude says that
these people are “blemishes on your love feasts – worship services - while they
feast with you without fear, feeding themselves. They are waterless clouds
carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted;
wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars,
for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So what are these
ungodly church members like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jude goes
onto say, “These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own
evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own
advantage.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Yep, every church has these
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jude’s church had them.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And so does ours.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And Jude describes
them well.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First, they are
“grumblers and malcontents.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Have you ever met
someone in the church who is always grumbling?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They grumble about the way the elders spend the money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They grumble about the youth programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They grumble about the pastor and how he
doesn’t visit, or about the sermons that are preached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They grumble about the church picnic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything and everything.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In my first church,
there was a fellow named Andy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
complained about everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never
once offered to help with anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
never once offered solutions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just
complained and grumbled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">One of the church
members worked hard to start a Men’s Prayer Breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At our first meeting, we had a great
breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a great turnout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a great time. I was amazed, because we
met at 6am on a Sunday!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
expect very many to show up, but they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But Andy complained
and grumbled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kept talking about,
“This is a failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hardly anyone is
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a waste of time.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I looked around and
counted the men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were 32 men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, maybe that is not a lot – but there
were only 35 men in the whole church!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But the damage was
done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andy’s grumbling convinced many
that we had failed, and we never had another Men’s Prayer Breakfast at that
church.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Constructive
criticism happens when someone has a concern and takes the concern to the
Session, the elders, or to the pastor. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grumbling happens
when the comments are said in small groups, behind the pastor’s back, or
outside of the Session. Grumbling simply destroys.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You know where this
started?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With Moses!</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Time and again in
the Old Testament, Moses is leading God’s people through the wilderness, and
many times they come across a challenge or difficulty, and the people grumble
against Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now this is one place I
like the King James Version, because in that translation, the word is
“murmur.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It is in every
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Jesus experienced this from
time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In chapter 6 of John’s
Gospel there came a moment when Jesus was aware that his own disciples were
murmuring, or grumbling about him.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jude has little
patience with this and calls this -- the behavior of the ungodly.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Churches full of
people who grumble and find fault with the pastor, the youth programs, the
Sunday School – they don’t grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who
would want to go to a church like that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So what kind of
church member do you want to be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jude says, “These people are grumblers and faultfinders, they
follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others
for their own advantage.”</span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On the other hand,
Jude paints an image of the kind of church member we need to strive to become:</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It is these worldly
people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. But you, beloved,
build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep
yourselves in the love of God … and have mercy on those who are wavering.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First, the godly person builds up his or her life on the
foundation of faith.</span></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A godly church member
is not a perfect person.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jude does not say,
be perfect in faith, nor does he say, be mature in your faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He calls us to build
up our faith.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It is a
process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to be people of faith
who are always building up our faith, growing every day in faith.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Faith is not a set
of beliefs we build up on our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith
comes to us from Jesus Christ, through the apostles, through the Scriptures,
and finally to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Faith is about what
we believe, and it is about how we behave.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Faith is more than
the reciting of the words of the Apostles Creed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a belief system that gives you
comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It guides you in life.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This is a real
contrast with the people Jude calls the “ungodly” in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ungodly complain and grumble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They see the negative in everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A person of faith is
able to see beyond the negative and to see God is still in control, God is
still at work.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As you prepare to
say goodbye to me as your pastor, and as you get ready to search for a new
pastor, this is the kind of church member you need to be – a person who is
always at work building up your faith.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Second, Jude says that the godly person is also a person of prayer.</span></b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> The be a person or prayer is to know
that we are dependent on God, and God alone.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the early years of the space program,
Alan Shephard was the first American to fly into space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The countdown for the <em>Freedom 7</em>
capsule’s flight started at 8:30PM the night before, but Shepard did not enter
the capsule until 5:15 AM on May 5th, 2 hours before the “planned” take off time,
but the lift off would not happen until 9:20 AM. This was the period when
Shepard is supposed to have coined what would become known as Shepard’s
Prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is one well known to
astronauts today:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dear Lord, please
don’t let me mess up.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although to be
honest, this tough military man didn’t use the words “mess up” but something
that even a pastor close to retiring ought not say – but you get the point.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After
Shephard’s first American space flight, the news media always seemed interested
in how the astronauts or their wives were engaged in prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Glenn was the third American in space,
and the first American to orbit the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Glenn’s wife was asked by reporters how she felt about her
husband’s safety, Anne Glenn, a strong Presbyterian, said she was praying to
God for her husband’s safety.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
then came the next space flight. And Scott Carpenter’s wife refused to make any
comment that she was praying for her husband.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Americans
reacted negatively about this and perceived that she was a person who rejected
prayer and faith.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
the story behind that was that they had a child who died at the age of six
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rene and Scott had prayed for
the health of their child, and the child died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She believed in God, but she felt that prayer was useless, because God
would do what God would do.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
prayer is not a demand we make of God that God must answer the way we
insist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer often goes unfulfilled in
the way we desire.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
pray because we need to express our dependence on God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to make demands on God.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We
pray because we need God and we need a communion and relationship with God.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
for that reason Paul said in the New Testament, “Pray without ceasing.” (1
Thessalonians 5:17).</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Jude
says that one of our responses to the self-centered ungodly who seek only their
own desires, is to become a person of prayer, so that we can seek what God
desires.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
is a good work to remember as you move through the transition of saying goodbye
to me in February and saying hello to a new pastor in a few months.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Pray
for the elders, pray for the pastor search committee, pray for the outgoing
pastor and pray for the pastor whom God has called to come here soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for the church.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
finally, the godly person will stay in the love of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
is a trap that all of us may face sometime in our Christian journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We start off passionate for God, but then
over the years, the passion fades away.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Jude encourages us, “stay in the love
of God.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the Book of Revelation, the first
thing we read are a series of letters to seven churches, each dealing with
their own challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When it comes to the Church of
Laodicea, the words are painful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I<span class="text"> know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were
either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
am about to spit you out of my mouth.</span>”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Don’t be that kind of church
member.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay in the love of God!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When I was coming to the end of my
seminary training and was close to graduating, I started looking for my first
job as a pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One church wanted an
associate pastor, but I didn’t know anything about the senior pastor. So I
asked the dean of the seminary, “What is the senior pastor like, do you know
him?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, I know him very well,” the
seminary dean said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I would say that
the best way to describe him is that he is a warm pastor.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Warm?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That sounded nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for some
reason I pressed on and asked, “What does that mean when you say he is a warm
pastor?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The dean said, “Look it up in the
dictionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Warm – adjective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so hot.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You don’t want to be a church member
who is “not so hot.”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Be on fire for the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep yourself in the love of the Lord.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Grace Covenant is at the beginning of
an exciting time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will naturally be
asking about what kind of preacher you want to have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The way you prepare for you new
pastor is to ask yourself that other question, “what kind of church member do I
want to be?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And now unto
God the Father,</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son, And
God the Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Copyright 2018. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. W.
Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">All rights
reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ministers may
feel free to use some or all of this sermon in their own ministries as long as
they do not publish in print or on the Internet without ascribing credit to the
author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-82515102028198122018-08-19T11:17:00.000-04:002018-10-03T11:17:26.713-04:00A sermon for a church preparing to close - "Watch Out, That You Do Not Lose What We Have Worked For" 2 John<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">2 John </span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in
the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth, <sup>2 </sup>because
of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father
and from<sup>[<u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20John+1&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30631a" title="See footnote a">a</a></span></u>]</sup> Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son,
in truth and love.</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Truth
and Love</span></b></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the
truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father. <sup>5 </sup>But now,
dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but
one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. <sup>6 </sup>And
this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the
commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk in it.</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do
not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the
deceiver and the antichrist! <sup>8 </sup>Be on your guard, so that you do
not lose what we<sup>[<u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20John+1&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-30636b" title="See footnote b">b</a></span></u>]</sup> have worked for, but may receive
a full reward. <sup>9 </sup>Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of
Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching
has both the Father and the Son. <sup>10 </sup>Do not receive into the
house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching; <sup>11 </sup>for
to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person.</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Final
Greetings</span></b></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use
paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so
that our joy may be complete.</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The children of your elect sister send you their greetings.</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It occurred to me not long ago that I have never preached on
2 John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is such a short book, we just
read the entire book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To tell you the truth, I have read it several times and
thought, “It just doesn’t have anything to say to me or to my two congregations.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And yet, I am haunted by the passage from 2 Timothy 3:16-17, <span class="text">All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness,</span> <span class="text"><sup>17 </sup>so
that the servant of God</span><span class="text"> may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With that passage from Timothy on my mind, I would go back to
2 John and think, this is God’s word, of course it has something to say – and I
would read it – all of it - but I would come up empty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then I read it again after last Sunday’s meeting in which the
Administrative Commission informed us that they, acting with the authority of
the Session, had voted to dissolve our congregation at the end of August.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That is when this one verse jumped out at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Watch out, that you do
not lose what we have worked for.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That
is the way the Scripture is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It becomes
the Word of God in the moment of reading and hearing, and it is eternal because
at just the right time a passage, which never spoke to us before, suddenly
becomes the word of God to us today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Theologian
Karl Barth reflected on this and considered how neither the preacher or the
parishioner have any control over this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Lord is the one who makes the Word of God come alive and chooses
when and where and in what circumstance the Word becomes alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Church Dogmatics I 1 190-196)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Watch out, that we do not lose what we have
worked for.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">What
are we to say to this?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Perhaps
it is easy for us to think “we have lost it all.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have only a few more Sundays left and then
Orlando Presbyterian Church will be no more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Yes
– we do leave a legacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The financial
resources will go to our mission partners and to the work of developing new
churches in our Presbytery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And
yes, all of us will move to other congregations where we will be vital to the
life of other congregations. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But
there will be no more Orlando Presbyterian Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">However
– is that what we were working for?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Was
it to build a church in a community in which there are hundreds of
churches?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And a healthy handful of
strong Presbyterian congregations?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No,
we worked to do God’s work, where we were at the moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That
is what we were really here to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
is what our purpose was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If
you go to the Orlando Presbyterian Church’s web page, you will find our vision
statement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We strive to TOUCH the world
around us to meet human need.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We TELL the Good News of God’s
redeeming love.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We TEACH others and ourselves
to be disciples of Jesus Christ.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With God’s help we do all this
to TRANSFORM lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">No
where did we state that the purpose of Orlando Presbyterian Church was to be a
congregation that would continue for generations, with a building that would
outshine any church facility in Orlando.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
admit, that was always underlying what we were hoping for, perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our stated vision was to touch the world
around us and to meet human need.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Look
at Sadaf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are helping this man from
Pakistan become a lawyer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may well be
saving his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are touching the
world around us to meet human need.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As
2 John tells us, “Watch out, that you do not lose what we have worked
for.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You worked to change the lives of
many, many people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wherever you go, keep
working for that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our
vision statement said we were going to tell the Good News of God’s redeeming
love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At
the moment of your creation as Orlando Presbyterian Church your actions were
declaring that God’s redeeming love were paramount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what you worked for.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Watch
out, that you do not lose what we have worked for.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our
vision statement says we were going to teach others and ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every moment you spent in Sunday School
class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every moment you spent in listening
to all of the pastors who have come to you to preach. Every moment you spent in
the word you were teaching others and yourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Wherever
you go, “Watch out, that you do not lose what we have worked for.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In this short letter that John wrote, there were two things
in particular that he told his reader to “Watch out, that you do not lose what
we have worked for.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>These two things were love, and truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>John opens his letter with this:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">1 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The elder,</span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div>
<div class="top-05" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To the lady chosen by God and to her
children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the
truth—</span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <span class="text"><sup>2 </sup>because of the truth, which lives in us and will
be with us forever:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That in itself is a real affirmation for us to hear,
especially today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The truth will be with us forever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Congregations come and go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Pastors come and go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>People come and go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But the truth will be with us forever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wherever we go, that truth goes with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The things we have learned and proclaimed, we
will continue to believe wherever we go.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>John goes onto say, “<span class="text">And now, I am not
writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we
love one another.</span> <span class="text"><sup>6 </sup>And this is love:
that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the
beginning, his command is that you walk in love.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is so consistent with the literature of John in the
Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love was always a central theme
to everything that bore his name.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is an ancient story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Apostle John was the last living Apostle, and was living out his
last few days in the city of Ephesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All other Apostles had died violent deaths, but John, as you may know,
did not suffer such a death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Imagine having the Apostle John attending our worship
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is often intimidating having
another preacher in the congregation, but I used to especially get nervous when
one of my old Seminary professors showed up and I had to preach to these
learned men and women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Many years ago, I once preached with Billy Graham in
attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am glad he came in casual
dress, came in late, sat on the back row with his daughter, and that I had no
idea he was there until well after the worship was over and his daughter let me
know they had been there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But John?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be
tough<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for a preacher to have a sermon
about a parable of Christ, while there on the front row is John, who literally
wrote the book, or Gospel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As one would imagine, as the story goes the preacher and the
people would often beg for John to get up and preach, and once in a while he
would agree.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This man could have said, “Here is a parable Jesus taught,
but I left it out of my Gospel, as did Matthew, Mark and John.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Or he could have said, “Once when Jesus and I were alone, he
told me this great truth I would now like to share.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Nope, none of that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>John would, in his old age, preach one sermon and one sermon
only, and this is the sermon in its entirety:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Little children, love one another.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The end.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Essentially, what else is there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All else is commentary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The time we spent here at Orlando Presbyterian Church has
prepared us for the next step along our journeys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good we did will endure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lives that were changed, will have an
impact for longer than most of us have left on this earth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And when September comes and we find ourselves in other
congregations, keep in mind these words from this seldom read and infrequently
preached book of Second John:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Watch
out, that you do not lose what we have worked for.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-61864504773737112272018-07-15T11:13:00.000-04:002018-10-03T11:13:20.855-04:00Focused on the Work of God -2 Chronicles 24:1-4, 13-19<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">2 Chronicles
24:1-4, 13-19</span></i></div>
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<i>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joash was seven years old when he
began to reign; he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; his mother’s name was
Zibiah of Beer-sheba. <sup>2 </sup>Joash did what was right in the sight
of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> all the days of the
priest Jehoiada. <sup>3 </sup>Jehoiada got two wives for him, and he
became the father of sons and daughters.</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some time afterward Joash decided to restore the house of
the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>. </span></i></div>
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</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<i>
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<i><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">13 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the
repairing went forward at their hands, and they restored the house of God to
its proper condition and strengthened it. <sup>14 </sup>When they had
finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with
it were made utensils for the house of the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">, utensils for the service and for
the burnt offerings, and ladles, and vessels of gold and silver. They offered
burnt offerings in the house of the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> regularly all the days of Jehoiada.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></i></div>
<i>
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<i><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">15 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died; he
was one hundred thirty years old at his death. <sup>16 </sup>And they
buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in
Israel, and for God and his house.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">17 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Now after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah
came and did obeisance to the king; then the king listened to them. <sup>18 </sup>They
abandoned the house of the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">, the God of their ancestors, and
served the sacred poles<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Chronicles+24%3A1-4%2C+13-19&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-11696a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah
and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. <sup>19 </sup>Yet he sent prophets
among them to bring them back to the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">; they testified against them, but
they would not listen.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Spiritual Truth #1 – Be focused on God’s
work.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In a recent basketball game the Warriors
and Cleveland Cavaliers were playing in the NBA Finals, game 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the odds makers were all betting on the
Warriors to win.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But</b>
during the game, the Cleveland team played an exceptional game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, one of their players did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lebron James scored 51 points and as the game
was coming to a close it looked like Cleveland would win!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The game was tied when in the final
seconds of the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>J. R. Smith grabbed
the ball all he had to do was to make what appeared to be an easy lay-up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But he must have thought his team was up
one point and Smith let the clock run out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The game went into overtime, and the Cleveland
team <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>lost</u></b> the game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After the game, Smith shared with
everyone that he had a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">But
everyone knew</i></b>, he just lost his focus at a critical moment in the game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Second Book of Chronicles gives a
history of a series of leaders of the nation of Judah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of these kings are good, and some are
bad, much like our nation or any nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By reading the history of these leaders, we can learn from their
successes, and from their failures.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And many times what defines failure for
these kings is a loss of focus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our Old Testament lesson we read
about the life of King Joash, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the
first spiritual lesson his life teaches us is – Be Focused on God’s Work.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>J. R. Smith’s basketball story teaches
us about the importance of staying focused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a common theme in sports <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>and</u></b>
in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The story is told of Jack Nicholson who
was about to make an easy putt when he noticed a friend among the
spectators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took just a moment to
speak to him, but that was enough to lose his focus and miss the putt.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The importance of being focused cannot
be overestimated.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the Old Testament lesson, we see that
Joash was focused from an early age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
became king when he was 8 years old, and he was under the care of a priest,
named Jehoiada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as the priest
lived, he was a good counselor and advisor to the king and the king stayed
focused on the work of God.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We live in a world in which many, many
things are always trying to grab our attention, and it is hard to stay
focused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are interrupted with emails
and text messages and phone calls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are targeted by advertising that pulls us away from the things we need to
attend to.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Parents – you are trying to raise your
kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know how important it is to
stay focused on your family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But life
intrudes on life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We have heard all too often the story of
parents who leave a child in the backseat, asleep in a car seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat of the summer kills the child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are usually good parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are devoted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are loving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for a brief moment, they lose their
focus.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Staying focused, is always a
challenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For King Joash, that meant
staying focused on rebuilding the Temple of God, which had suffered from years
of neglect. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To accomplish this goal, Joash turned to
the Word of God for guidance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exodus
stipulates that a regular contribution was to be received from the people for
the support of the worship center (30:12-16 and 38:25-26).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joash ordered that these funds be collected,
and they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joash is focused on the
work of God.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now understand, being focused does not
mean being closed minded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, if
you are focused on anything, you need to be open to new ideas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The world is constantly changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Parents – you know how this is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a young child, and you finally
master the skill of managing a 1 year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then all of a sudden, you no longer have a one year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a two year old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time you master one stage, they go to
the next stage, and you have to constantly adapt.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The same is true with marriage, or work,
or just life in general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Staying focused on your values requires
being open minded and flexible.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
is Spiritual Truth #2 – stay focused, but be flexible.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Joash learned that the old, traditional
way that Moses used to raise money for the worship center for God no longer
worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joash depended on the priests
and Levites to collect the tax, but that did not work any longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The king learned that these people had grown
accustomed to the neglected state of the temple lacked the passion for this
project. Gathering of funds and the restoration project went unreasonably
slowly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He had to try something new.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So instead of demanding that the Levites
go out and gather the money in a format that is essentially a tax, the people
are invited to give directly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A box is
placed outside the temple gate.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Joash’s new idea catches on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people give freely and willingly and they
give in abundance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people catch on
to Joash’s focus on the Work of God.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In fact, they give so generously that
the people not only pay for the necessary repairs, but for more beyond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instruments of gold and silver are given for
use in the temple where simpler items had once been used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And that is Spiritual Truth #2 – stay focused, but be flexible.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Spiritual
Truth #3 – If you are focused on God’s work, Satan will be focused on you.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Anytime you are focused on the work of God, the world will
drag you down.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You may be passionate about helping the poor, or about evangelism, or
about mentoring youth and children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
the rest of the world will drag you down and rob you of your enthusiasm.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>People will say, often with sincere
honest and with absolute accuracy, “I’m too busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between my job and other concerns, I have no
time or energy left for the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have no time for family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to do
these other things.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perhaps the real issue is not that we
are busy – we are.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But maybe we are busy with the wrong
sorts of things.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Everyone knows the Charles Dickens story
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Christmas Carol</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the book, the ghost of Jacob Marley
grieves deeply about his wasted life. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Ebenezer Scrooge tries to reassure
Marley by saying, “But you were always a good man of business.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Business!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cried the Ghost, wringing his hands
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mankind was my business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The common welfare was my business; charity;
mercy, forebearance and benevolence were, all my business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dealings of my trade were but a drop of
water in a comprehensive ocean of my real business.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Dickens 1976, 21)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the Old Testament, King Joash stayed
focused on the Work of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well, for a while at least.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But when his spiritual mentor, Jehoiada
died at the age of 130, Joash began to lose his way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once more the temple began to be
neglected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than that, the temple
was abandoned so that the worship of false gods could flourish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No matter how focused you are on the
Work of God, the world will always try to change your focus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The story in 2 Chronicles does not end
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the death of the King’s
mentor, Jehoida, a group of officials came from Judah to flatter the king, and
Joash listened to them and was swayed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we have observed, when you are focused on the work of God, the world
will always try to change your focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Such was the case of Joash, and sadly, in the end, he never got it back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But that does not have to be how we end.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We can end well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We may have a strong focus, and then be
swayed by some other voices that move us off center from God’s way, but we can
get back on track.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In a sense, how you finish is as
important as how you start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the
finish line that makes the difference.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the 2004 American Lague Champonship
Series, the Boston Red Sox were down three games to zero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the history of baseball, no team ever came
back from that kind of deficit to win a League Championship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the Boston Red Sox won the American
League Championship that year, and then they went onto win the Word Series for
the first time in 80 years!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Or in the Bible, Samson starts off as a
man of God, but along the way comes a distraction, and he leaves behind the
instructions of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of his
story he is old and weak and blind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
then he turns once more to God, and his strength is returned for a dramatic and
glorious ending to his life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Solomon, the wise man from the Bible,
said in Ecclesiastes 7, “The end of the matter is better than the beginning.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After all, in the Kentucky<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Derby, who remembers who was first out of the
gate?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who remembers who was in the lead
as they came near the clubhouse turn?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is who finished first that we
remember.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our spiritual lives, we can loose our
focus, and even our faith, but it is grace that can lead us home so that we
finish well, with our focus back on God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">And
now unto God the Father,</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son,</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And God the
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Dr. W.
Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Ministers may
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Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-21880796038205146892018-05-20T11:09:00.000-04:002018-10-03T11:09:46.774-04:00Keeping Our Focus Titus 2:11-15<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">TITUS 2:11-15</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">11 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For the grace of God has appeared
that offers salvation to all people.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <span class="text"><sup>12 </sup>It teaches us to say
“No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright
and godly lives in this present age,</span> <span class="text"><sup>13 </sup>while
we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and
Savior, Jesus Christ,</span> <span class="text"><sup>14 </sup>who gave
himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people
that are his very own, eager to do what is good.</span></span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">15 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">These, then, are the things you
should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone
despise you.</span></span></i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 1.0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Pentecost Sunday is
considered to be, by many people, the birthday of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During Christ’s earthly ministry the church
had been gathering and forming and following Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The foundation had been laid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But only after Jesus was crucified and
resurrected that the church really came alive, and that was when it was given
the gift of the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Imagine
you were present on the first Pentecost Day when the Holy Spirit arrived at the
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
is how the Book of Acts records the event:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <span class="text"><sup> </sup>Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind
came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.</span> <span class="text"><sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></sup>They saw what
seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.</span>
<span class="text"><sup><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </sup>All of
them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as
the Spirit enabled them.</span>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Imagine
being there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and other Christians
entered the streets of the city and began speaking in different languages, and
being understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How cool is that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Walk up to someone and speak German without
a single lesson!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Peter,
who has been a rather weak disciple, now bravely stands up and preaches --- and
you are there!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now
imagine the years have flown by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twenty years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thirty years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
memory of that day has begun to fade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You
might even begin to question how true the memories might have been. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Did
I really have fire sitting on top of my head?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Did
I really speak German all of a sudden?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Faith, by its very nature, has to be
renewed and revived.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You cannot simply have an experience with God, and then not do anything
to maintain that faith.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
have a nice garden in my back yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
looks great – right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are red
roses, and yellow daisies and all sorts of plants that attract
butterflies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if I don’t work at it,
the garden will become overgrown with weeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The roses will fade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flowers
will die.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And
so it is with faith.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You
have to work at faith, exercise it and nurture it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or over the years, your spiritual life just
dies of neglect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Mother
Teresa is known as a wonderful saint of a Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gave her life to Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think of her as never wavering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, in private letters that have recently
been made public, she struggled in her faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God who once seemed so close to her, later seemed very absent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The memory of an earlier experience with God
began to fade and for a long time she struggled with doubts which she revealed
only to a few close friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But she
kept exercising her faith and nurturing it, so that she was able to overcome
doubts and fears and continue to be the saint that we know her to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It
is easy to <u>become</u> a person of faith, to dedicate one’s life to Christ,
to respond with commitment when one has a mountain-top experience with God –
but to <u>keep the faith blooming takes work</u> and commitment and the
determination to stay focused.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
writer of the small book of Titus is addressing a person of faith. The value of
this book is that we get to see how a person who has long been a Christian is
being reminded in this letter to stay focused!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
writer of Titus encouraged this Christian to stay spiritually healthy by
encouraging Titus to do three things.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First, stay focused on Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In the letter to Titus,
the writer said, “<span class="text">we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing
of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
story is told of a little boy who came forward for the Children’s sermon, and
the preacher had a brown bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at
the 6 or so children who had come up for the Children’s sermon, the preacher
said, “Guess what I have in this bag.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
little boy’s hand shot up in the sky and said, “Jesus Christ!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
preacher was caught off guard by that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“No,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t have
Jesus Christ in this bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would you
say that?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
little boy spoke up confidently, “Well, you’re a preacher, ain’t ya?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of
course I am,” said the pastor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“This
is a church, ain’t it?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of
course it is.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well,
it’s your job to talk about Jesus Christ, so my guess is that Jesus must be in
that bag.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our focus should be on Jesus Christ.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we get distracted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We focus on ourselves and how good we feel or
don’t feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or we focus on the world’s
idea of success, and we forget to stay focused on Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or we focus on how popular we are or want to
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If
we focus on Jesus Christ, everything else in life begins to take care of
itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may not get the job we
wanted, but if we stay focused on Christ, we learn to deal with that better. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We
may not have the things we might like to have in our home, but by staying
focused on Christ we learn to deal with what we have more effectively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We
may still have health problems but staying focused on Christ helps us to manage
our stress and to face realities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
the Old Testament, the people of Israel kept their focus on the Law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The would tie boxes on their hands, and boxes
on their foreheads, and nail boxes on their doorposts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside these boxes was a small parchment with
the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that when they
reached for something, the box on their hand would remind them that they were
people of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they looked at
something, they could see out of the peripheral vision that box on the forehead
and they would know they were the people of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they left their home to go out into the
world, they would be reminded of that box and remember – they were a people of
God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now
we shouldn’t have to put boxes on everything to remember who we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we need to do what is necessary to keep
our focus on Christ.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A second thing we need to do in order
to stay spiritually healthy is to stay focused with our self-control.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writer of our New Testament lesson told
Titus, and us, “<span class="text">say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and
to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If
you are going to be a disciple of Christ, you should understand that the word
“disciple” comes from the same root word as “discipline.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To
be a disciple is to be disciplined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
be disciplined means to have the kind of self-control that Titus was encouraged
to possess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Marshmallow man” Walter Mischel is an Ivy League professor
known for his experiments in self-control. Nearly 50 years ago, he created a
test to see how various five-year-olds would respond to being left alone with a
marshmallow for 15 minutes with instructions not to eat it — and with the
promises that if they didn’t, they would be given two. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Preschoolers who waited longest for the marshmallow went on
to have higher SAT scores than the ones who couldn’t wait. In later years they
were thinner, earned more advanced degrees, used less drugs, and coped better
with stress. As these first marshmallow kids now enter their 50s, Mr. Mischel
and colleagues are investigating whether the good delayers are richer, too.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now Mischel is in his 80s and in a recent interview said he
wants to make sure that the nervous parents of self-indulgent children don’t
miss his key finding: “Whether you eat the marshmallow at age 5 isn’t your
destiny. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Self-control can be taught.”</u></i></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">You
may be a senior citizen well aware of your lack of self control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You blow up at people around you, your anger
gets the better of you, you steal what is not yours, you cheat on your spouse –
and you have the self awareness to know that you have no self control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As
Walter Mischel says of his Marshmallow experiments, self control can be
taught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">You can learn discipline at any age.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If
you want to have a health spiritual life, stay focused on developing your self
discipline.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
how do you learn self discipline?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Professor Mischel preaches a gospel of distraction and
distancing:</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The children who succeed turn their backs on the cookie, push
it away, pretend it’s something nonedible like a piece of wood, or invent a
song. Instead of staring down the cookie, they transform it into something with
less of a throbbing pull on them. . . . If you change how you think about it,
its impact on what you feel and do changes.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
it is with the Christian – you turn your focus away from what is tempting, and
focus on Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Always
keep your focus on Christ.</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally, Titus is told that actions
are important to one’s spiritual health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As the writer of our New Testament lesson says, “be <span class="text">eager
to do what is good.”</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Your
spiritual health is not just about having the spiritual discipline to <u>avoid</u>
doing bad things, it is about having the strength to be <u>eager to do the</u>
good things.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the New Testament book of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ephesians, 2:8, we read, “</span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For
by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it
is the gift of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So it might be easy to think that
salvation is all there is, and there is no reason to do good deeds because the
good we do will not save us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But doing good is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Our actions are not important to our
salvation, but they are important to maintaining a good spiritual health.</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">James,
in his New Testament book, wrote, “</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without works is also dead.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(James
2:26)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the
Book of Acts, on the day of Pentecost, the people could tell that there was
something different about the disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They had tongues of fire on their heads and they spoke in different
languages.</span></strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Today, it
is through our good works that people can tell we are Christians, filled with
the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In <strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Matthew 5:14-16,</span></strong> Jesus told us that we are the light of
the world. He said, <em><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Let your light
shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father
in heaven.”</span></em> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Our doing good reveals the Holy Spirit to others.</span></strong></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
had a doctor who used to tell patients that in order to be <u>physically</u>
healthy, all you had to do were to do three things – eat right, drink plenty of
water, and exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
mentor of Titus wrote him with three simple instructions to keep <u>spiritually</u>
healthy:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Stay
focused on Christ,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Stay
focused on Self-Control,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And
Stay focused on exercising good deeds.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: -7.15pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 434.25pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And now unto
God the Father,</span></i></div>
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son,</span></i></div>
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Copyright 2018. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in
their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the Internet
without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-26828336509611820752018-04-01T11:04:00.000-04:002018-10-03T11:04:15.148-04:00Beyond Belief (Easter Sermon) Matthew 28:1-20<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Matthew
28:1-20</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After
the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary went to look at the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going
to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His appearance was like lightning, and his
clothes were white as snow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guards
were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The angel said to the women, "Do not be
afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not here; he has risen, just as he
said. Come and see the place where he lay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and
is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told
you."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the women hurried away
from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly Jesus met them.
"Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and
worshiped him. <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then Jesus said to them,
"Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they
will see me." <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While the women were
on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief
priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the
elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling
them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him
away while we were asleep.'<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this
report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of
trouble."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the soldiers took the
money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely
circulated among the Jews to this very day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus
had told them to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they saw him,
they worshiped him; but some doubted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore go
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age.""(NIV)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span>
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<br /></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I
came across an interesting book a year or so ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Eyewitness to History.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What
makes this book so fascinating is that it contains pieces of diaries, letters
and all sorts of other writings in which people describe some historic event.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Some
of the writers are famous, but most are not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are just regular people who happened to be at the right place and
the right time and saw some very important historic event take place.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There
is an eyewitness account of the execution of Mary, Queen of Scotts; the battle
of Gettysburg; the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906; and so forth – wonderful
descriptions of history from the point of view of eyewitnesses.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Christian religion is built on eyewitness evidence.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When
Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians he made out a list of some of
the eyewitnesses. (1 Cor 15:1-8)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Now,
brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you
received and on which you have taken your stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By this gospel you are saved, if you hold
firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For what I received I passed on to you as of
first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the
Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that,
he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of
whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to
James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to
one abnormally born.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To
witness the Resurrection of Christ must have been an awesome experience for
these people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It changed their lives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Paul
was a witness to the Resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It
changed him from being a person who persecuted Christians and tried to erase
the Christian religion from the face of the earth, to become the leading
theologian of the faith who helped firmly establish Christianity as a world
religion for all people.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But
Paul was not the first eyewitness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact, he says he was so late that he describes himself as “abnormally born.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Before
Paul, the resurrected Jesus appeared to all of the original apostles, except of
course for Judas who committed suicide after betraying his master.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And
for each of them, the Resurrection changed them forever.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Peter
was once weak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the night of the trial
of Jesus,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter was asked three times if
he was one of the disciples, but he denied it every time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After becoming a witness to the resurrection
of Christ, Peter becomes a strong, dynamic preacher.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Other
disciples took the Gospel into far countries and distant places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of them – most of them suffered death
for their faith in Christ.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But
these men were not the first to see the Resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Paul
doesn’t mention them in his list on his letter to the Corinthians, but Matthew
mentions them in our New Testament lesson for today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary
were the first disciples to visit the tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They were among the earliest witnesses of the Risen Lord.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And
we often think of the women as the first witnesses.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But
they were not the first.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There
were other witnesses we tend to completely forget about – the first people to
witness the Resurrection of Christ were, according to our New Testament Lesson,
the guards.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And
that amazes me!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Because
these first people who were witnesses to the resurrection did not find their
lives changed, or inspired, or motivated by the fact that Jesus rose from the
dead.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">These
first witnesses, these guards left confused and bewildered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were bribed by the chief priests and
scribes to tell others they had been asleep on their posts and the body had
been stolen by the disciples while they had been asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were willing to destroy their careers
for the sake of the bribe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, they
were willing to risk death for the bribe, because sleeping on duty was
punishable by death.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">These
guards had been the first to witness the resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They
had the best evidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They
knew beyond doubt. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They
had been there all night long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They
knew no one had stolen the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They
knew Jesus had risen from the dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
had to have known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to
believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But
it wasn't enough to believe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It could have changed
their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it didn't.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because believing is never enough.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If believing is not enough, what then is enough?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Most of us believe in the resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of us here today believe that Jesus
lived and died and rose again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That is why we are here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are here because we believe.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But believing is never enough.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You must do more than just believe.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>James said in his New Testament letter (James 2:17-20),
"faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead... You
believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-- and
shudder."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Matthew's Gospel, shortly after the resurrection, Jesus
did not say, "Go out into all the world and make believers."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, "Go out and make
disciples."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is a difference between being a believer and being a
disciple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not enough to just
believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guards believed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They had the best evidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were the only ones there at the moment of the resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone else came after and saw the empty
tomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they were there when the body
of Christ came back to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
believed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it made no difference.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is never enough to just believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must become a disciple.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What does that mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If believing is not enough, what is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How should our lives be different?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First, if the resurrection is to make a difference in our
lives, then we should become a people of a community.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is not enough to just believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One must join a community of believers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is impossible for a person to be a
Christian alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When God created Adam, God looked at Adam and said, "It
is not good for the man to be alone." (Genesis 2:18).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need others around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are meant to be part of a community of
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We need the nurture we receive from one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Proverbs (27:17) we are told, "As
iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When Jesus sent out his disciples, we are told in Mark 6:7
that he sent them out in groups of two. He never sent anyone out alone.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Paul said in Romans (14:7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to
himself alone."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So often Christians are described in the New Testament as
being part of a body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A body is composed
of arms and hands and fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his
letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, (1 Cor 12:18-21), "As it is, there
are many parts, but one body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The eye
cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say
to the feet, "I don't need you!"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You need the rest of the members of this church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot be a Christian in issolation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You cannot be the Lone Ranger of
Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Granted, there are times when you want to be alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus himself prayed in the hours before his
death in solitude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went to the Garden
to be alone with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even in that
solitude, he was constantly going back to be with the disciples.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As a pastor, I often see the church respond to people in a
crisis.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A man's wife dies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
church responds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People call on the
telephone to see what they can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Food
is brought to the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are hugs
and hands to hold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the days and
months that follow, the church members keep in contact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Comfort is given.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the other hand, another church member experiences the
death of a husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pastor is there,
but the church is largely invisible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There may be one or two people who call, but there is not the outpouring
of support found in the first crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
bitterness.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What makes the difference?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The difference is not that one person is more loved than the
other.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The difference is not that one person gave more money to the
church than the other person.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The difference is not that one person had more power or
respect.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have seen this happen time and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The difference is that one family is part of
the church and the other is not.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Both believe.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But only one is a disciple.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is not enough to believe.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You have to become part of the body of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to become part of the church.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Solomon in his wisdom said in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "Two
are better than one, because they have a good return for their work:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one falls down, his friend can help him
up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the New Testament Lesson, the first to believe in the
resurrection are the guards, but they do nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are afraid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The resurrection doesn't change their lives
for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, those
who are changed were always drawn toward one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were part of a community, so when they
believed in the resurrection, the first thing they did was to go and look for
one another.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is not enough to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have to become a disciple.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Becoming a disciple means joining a church community and
being part of that community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a
disciple also means that we become a people who worship.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the Psalms, there is a man who almost loses faith in
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says (Ps 73), "As for me,
my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For I envied the arrogant when I saw the
prosperity of the wicked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have no
struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are free from the burdens common to man; they are not plagued by
human ills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore pride is their
necklace; they clothe themselves with violence...This is what the wicked are
like-- always carefree, they increase in wealth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure; in
vain have I washed my hands in innocence."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This man believes, but in this world of violence, injustice,
and discouragement, belief is not enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This man found faith strengthened through worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He continues in his Psalm, "When I tried
to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of
God; then I understood."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Matthew's Gospel, as soon as the disciples learn about the
resurrection, they worship. (Matt 28:16-17)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is not enough to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
must also worship. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To be a disciple also means that we need to become a people
who grow in our faith.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Paul tells us in his letter to the Colossians, "So if
you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ
is, seated at the right hand of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Set
your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,
(Colossians 3:1-2).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Many people believe, but they do not have the mind of the
disciple. They do not focus their minds on Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do not set their minds on spiritual
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They do not grow.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the Old Testament, Moses leads the people out of Egypt and
toward the promised land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is not a
trip made in an instant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a long
journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes 40 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the first sign of trouble, the Hebrews
complain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"We should have stayed in
Egypt."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God wants his people to
move forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants his people to
grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does not want us to stay where
we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn't want us to remain
children.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One of the first things that happens after the resurrection
is the disciples begin to grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
faith grows by listening to God's Word.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Psalmist memorized Scripture so that he could always be
nurtured by God's Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I have
hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Ps
119:11).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After the resurrection, disciples begin to turn toward
Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Luke, some of the disciples meet the risen Lord on the
road to Emmaus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus begins to explain
all of Scripture to them, beginning with the words of Moses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they realized it is Jesus who has been
raised from the dead, the disciples say to each other, "Were not our
hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the
Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:27-32).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Many of us here today will neglect God's Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it is not enough to believe.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We must join a church fellowship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must grow in faith through reading and
studying God's Word.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We must also get up, go out of this sanctuary, and make a
difference in the world out there.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Matthew's Gospel, the disciples listened to Jesus after
the resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, "Go into
all the world and make disciples."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We need to share the faith with others.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Matthew's Gospel, when the women come to the grave and
realize that Jesus has been raised from the dead, the angel says, "Go
quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead
of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
(Matthew 28:7)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The news of the resurrection is not news that we keep
silent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tell others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We share it with others.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is not enough to believe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We all believe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But are we all disciples?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>James said in his New Testament letter, (James 2:19-20)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"You believe that there is one God.
Good! Even the demons believe that-- and shudder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You foolish man, do you want evidence that
faith without deeds is useless?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We all believe in the resurrection.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So did the guards at the tomb.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It made no difference in their lives.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It can make a difference in ours.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let's do more than believe.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let's become disciples.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 200%; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And now unto
God the Father,</span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son,</span></i></div>
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Copyright 2018. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in
their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the Internet
without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-64525205381991202162018-03-03T17:08:00.004-05:002018-03-03T17:08:24.479-05:00The Voices of Prayer - Psalm 40<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <i>
Psalm 40:1-17</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I waited patiently for the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;<br />
he inclined to me and heard my cry.<br />
<sup>2 </sup>He drew me up from the desolate pit,<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40#fen-NRSV-14528a" title="See footnote a"><span style="color: blue;">a</span></a>]</sup><br />
out of the miry bog,<br />
and set my feet upon a rock,<br />
making my steps secure.<br />
<sup>3 </sup>He put a new song in my mouth,<br />
a song of praise to our God.<br />
Many will see and fear,<br />
and put their trust in the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span></i></div>
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<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Happy are those who make<br />
the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
their trust,<br />
who do not turn to the proud,<br />
to those who go astray after false gods.<br />
<sup>5 </sup>You have multiplied, O <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
my God,<br />
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;<br />
none can compare with you.<br />
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,<br />
they would be more than can be counted.</span></i></div>
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<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sacrifice and offering you do not desire,<br />
but you have given me an open ear.<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40#fen-NRSV-14532b" title="See footnote b"><span style="color: blue;">b</span></a>]</sup><br />
Burnt offering and sin offering<br />
you have not required.<br />
<sup>7 </sup>Then I said, “Here I am;<br />
in the scroll of the book it is written of me.<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40#fen-NRSV-14533c" title="See footnote c"><span style="color: blue;">c</span></a>]</sup><br />
<sup>8 </sup>I delight to do your will, O my God;<br />
your law is within my heart.”</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have told the glad news of deliverance<br />
in the great congregation;<br />
see, I have not restrained my lips,<br />
as you know, O <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.<br />
<sup>10 </sup>I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,<br />
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;<br />
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness<br />
from the great congregation.</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Do not, O <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
withhold<br />
your mercy from me;<br />
let your steadfast love and your faithfulness<br />
keep me safe forever.<br />
<sup>12 </sup>For evils have encompassed me<br />
without number;<br />
my iniquities have overtaken me,<br />
until I cannot see;<br />
they are more than the hairs of my head,<br />
and my heart fails me.</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be pleased, O <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
to deliver me;<br />
O <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
make haste to help me.<br />
<sup>14 </sup>Let all those be put to shame and confusion<br />
who seek to snatch away my life;<br />
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor<br />
who desire my hurt.<br />
<sup>15 </sup>Let those be appalled because of their shame<br />
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16 </span></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But may all who seek you<br />
rejoice and be glad in you;<br />
may those who love your salvation<br />
say continually, “Great is the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>!”<br />
<sup>17 </sup>As for me, I am poor and needy,<br />
but the Lord takes thought for me.<br />
You are my help and my deliverer;<br />
do not delay, O my God.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 1.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How
do you pray?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How
do you pray?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By
that I mean, what is your mood when you pray to the Lord?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well,
hold that thought for a minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we
talk about prayer, let me ask you about your school days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>How
did you – or do you - study?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
mood were you in when you approached tests?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
I was in high school there was one kid, Tommy, who knew every answer to every
question ever asked by teacher or test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If a test was on Friday, he would not have to study at all, because his
whole life was filled with academic pursuits, and when his test grade came
back, he would receive his "A" with the mundane feeling that life
never changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He approached every test
with confidence, grace, and ease.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then there was Chuck, who struggled and
studied and agonized over every test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
a test was on Friday, he started studying on Monday -- TWO Weeks before the
test, and when he got his grade, which was always a "C", he was
always thankful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chuck approached every
test with concern, carefulness and patience flavored with mild anxiety.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then
there was this other fellow, whose name I will not repeat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a test was on Friday at high noon, he
would not think about it until he walked into the classroom and would say with
a panic, "Test?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There's a Test
today?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And he would rush to his desk and open his
book and spend the next 45 to 55 seconds to study for the test.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And when he received his usual
"D" his response would be, "Wow, I passed!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In your school days, how did you study?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We study in different ways, and it just so
happens that also pray in different ways.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Some pray like Tommy studied -- with
confidence, grace, and ease.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Some pray like Chuck studied -- with
concern, carefulness and patience flavored with mild anxiety.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Others are like that other nameless person
in my high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They pray with
breathlessness and a pleading for quick mercy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our reading from the Psalms, we read
such a prayer that may well have been prayed by that nameless student in my
high school as he yanked open the text book to study in the few remaining
minutes before the test.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">11<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Do
not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always
protect me.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">12<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot
see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">13<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Be
pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Such a prayer is seen many times in the
psalter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Psalm 70, the psalmist
prays,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">1<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hasten,
O God, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">2<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>May
those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my
ruin be turned back in disgrace.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">3<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>May
those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">5<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yet
I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my
deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">(NIV)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
is the kind of prayer that a lot of people pray.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last
minute prayer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Panic-button
prayer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>O
God, help me, help me, Aha Aha.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Most
of us probably pray that prayer at some point in our lives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Word circulates through the office that
someone is going to be fired, and just as you are settling into your desk, the
boss calls you into his office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>O
LORD, come quickly to help me.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">You go out to the
mail box and instead of greeting cards and letters from old friends, your
credit card bill tells you your limit has been reached, the bank has notified
you of a bounched check, and your power bill is twice what it usually is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>O
LORD, come quickly to help me.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">The telephone rings, and a policeman
informs you there has been an accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your son is being rushed to emergency surgery.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>O
LORD, come quickly to help me.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Some of us live our lives in a state free
of any preparation, and some of us carefully and deliberately prepare and plan
for every move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But all of us sometimes
pray the prayer that has had no preparation for the crisis of the moment, all
of us sometimes pray the gut-wrenching prayer of Psalm 40, <b>Be pleased, O
LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Now
the interesting thing about this prayer is that this is not the way the psalm
begins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than the anxiety filled, <b>Be
pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me,</b> we find a
more sedate, patient prayer of calmness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned
to me and heard my cry.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In my high school, there was always one
student who never panicked when walking into a classroom to find there was a
test that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What others would have
seen as a crisis of an academic career, this student would have seen as just
one more very natural part of the day, nothing to get excited about.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And for some, this is the approach that is
taken in prayer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I heard someone tell a story once about a
church he'd grown up in.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Every Wednesday night, this elder, Mr
McElroy, would stand and give the prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The man who told me this story says the elder died at age 104.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Elder McElroy would stand and pray from
his place in the pew and he would grab the pew in front of him, holding on with
ancient, leathery hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He'd been a
farmer most of his life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His prayer would always be something like,
"Oh Lord, we need rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know
that it has not rained since June and we need rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need it bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And we trust."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There was a story that was told at this
man's funeral that on the night when Orson Wells gave the broadcast about War
of the Worlds, a war that -- during the broadcast --many believed was really
happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone burst into the church
while a Prayer service was going on and said, "The Martians have landed!
They're invading."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Strange
call to worship!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To which Elder McElroy
is said to have replied, "If it is true, then what better place to be than
in a house of prayer."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I
waited patiently for the Lord."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Your
business becomes more and more difficult, you spend more and more time and
energy at it, but to no avail. The inevitable can be easily seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be a day or a month away, but the
business cannot last long, and you will have to look for a new job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in the midst of this slow growing crisis,
there is a gentle patience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And slowly,
things begin to turn around, and hope is restored.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned
to me and heard my cry.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">For months you feel the overwhelming
burden of finances that seem beyond control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Credit card bills you cannot pay, Utility bills that you cannot reduce,
a check book you cannot balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you
work, and struggle, and month by month, things get slowly better.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned
to me and heard my cry.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">You rush to the hospital to find a loved
one in the emergency room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an
unexpected instant, the lifestyle of your family has changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Medication and therapy becomes the keystone
of your family's daily routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
months and years go by, the family stays together in the living through this
crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And through it all, the quiet
prayer...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned
to me and heard my cry.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I find it so interesting that in this one
single psalm, you find both extremes of these voices of prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The psalm that begins, <b>I waited patiently
for the LORD;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>ends with the anxiety
filled, <b>"Help me -- come quickly to my aid."</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A few years ago, while serving another
congregation, I was approached by a parishioner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had 3 sons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first was about to enter college and his
mother, an elder in my church, came to me to inquire about scholarship
possibilities from the Presbyterian Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During our discussion, I asked her how much she'd managed to save in
preparation for this event, and she said, $250.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well let's see, in today's world that buys one chemistry book and 16
paper clips.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her prayer is found in the end of the
Psalm, "Oh God come quickly to my aid."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
remember visiting with an elder in the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His body was full of cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I met with him as he was about to be taken
into surgery and he said to me, "You know, the doctors tell me that after
this surgery, there might not be a John Thompson anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I told those doctors I was not concerned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know the Savior I have served."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His
prayer is found at the opening of this Psalm, "I waited patiently on the
Lord."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There was another time I was in the
hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just passing through, leaving
a room, I was on my way to the parking lot and in that particular hospital, the
walk would take me by the emergency room and I developed the habit of looking
in the ER lobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I noticed a
parishioner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her husband had been rushed to the
hospital with a heart attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
working on him now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so
sudden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was so healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had no idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a pain in his chest, he fell to the
ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her prayer was not the knarled hands of a
farmer like Elder McElroy praying patiently for rain, but the wringing of hands
in lonely desperation, Oh God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need you NOW.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Psalm 40 is a great psalm to present these
two voices of prayer and to affirm both as valid prayers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are times when we pray, that we pray
with a heart full of patience; and there are times when we pray that we pray
with a stomach that is churning with fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">What matters most
is not what kind of voice we have in prayer, but what matters is that voice our
prayers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">What matters is
that we pray, and that we speak with an honesty to the God who hears either
prayer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the heart of Psalm 40, there is a
benediction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After the quiet prayer of "I waited
patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry;"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And before the psalmist begins the anxiety
filled prayer of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>"O LORD, to
save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me;"</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Comes this blessing found in verse 4...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Blessed is the one who trusts the LORD. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is the voice of God in our prayers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Your prayer may be
lifted up in your most anxiety filled voice, or the voice of patience and calm.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may speak with the voice of doubt, or
in the voice of deep faith.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">What matters is that
you voice your prayers, and that you listen to the voice of God in this Psalm:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Blessed is the one who trusts the LORD. </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And now unto
God the Father,</span></i></div>
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son,</span></i></div>
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.9pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Copyright 2018. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.9pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.9pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 11.9pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in
their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the Internet
without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-31987715350717234022018-02-14T17:02:00.000-05:002018-02-14T17:02:10.902-05:00Ash Wednesday - It is OK to Grieve 1 Thessaolonians 4:14-5<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1 Thessalonians 4:14-15</span></i></div>
<i>
</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span class="text"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">But we do not want you to be uninformed,
brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as
others do who have no hope. <sup><span id="en-NRSV-29601">14 </span></sup>For since
we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will
bring with him those who have died. </span><sup><span id="en-NRSV-29602">15 </span></sup>For
this we declare to you by the word of the Lord</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My wife texted me the other day while she was at
school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of her friends wanted to
borrow anything we might have about pirates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hats, necklaces, toy swords, and such.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I figured someone was having a party, but no, they were planning a
funeral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They wanted everyone to come
dressed like pirates.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In the past several years I have seen a growing discomfort
with death.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It has always been with us, of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woody Allen once said that he wasn’t afraid of
death, he just didn’t want to be there when it happened to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We hesitate to say that someone has “died.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So instead we began saying things like “passed
away.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lately we don’t even say that, we
say, “he passed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Several times people have told me that someone has
passed and my first thought, literally and honestly, is to think “Good, what
kind of test did he pass?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bar
Examination?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Drivers License test?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Even the way we speak of funerals has been
softened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used to gather together
when people passed – or died, and have what was called a funeral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funerals are often called “celebrations of
life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now on one hand it is good to have to encourage the
sharing of good memories and I’m all for laughter at any occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we are more and more going to the extreme
of disguising the purpose of these post-death gatherings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But more and more this term “celebration of
life” has become synonymous with a party, not a worship service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I walked into one such Celebration of Life recently
and there was a sign at the entrance, “No grieving allowed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below that it said, “This is not a funeral
but a celebration and laughter is encouraged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anyone shedding tears will be asked to leave.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But here’s the thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You cannot live your life without death or grief or
pain or hardship.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the most beautiful arias in opera comes from
Pagliacci.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A clown has learned tragic
news that hurts him to the core, but he is a clown and cannot allow himself to
grieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he sings this song, “Turn
your distress and tears into jest, your pain and sobbing into a funny face, Ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Laugh clown at your broken love!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Laugh at the grief that poisons your heart!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Each one of us is going to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one of us will have many, many beloved
friends and family members die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The secret that most people don’t know about living life,
is that death will happen and it is OK to grieve.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Ernest Becker wrote a book back in 1973, The
Denial of Death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a profound book
that claimed that people are too terrified of death to face it. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">American writer William Saroyan said shortly before
his own death in 1981, “Everybody has got to die, but I have always believed an
exception would be made in my case.”</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In the place of an awareness of death, we nurture
what one person has called, “a flippant air of invincibility that only gives a
second thought to our mortality for the briefest of seasons when tragedy
strikes.” (“Overcoming the Denial of Death” Matt Reagan, July 7, 2012 article
in Desiring God).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">In the book, Becker asserts, "To live
fully is to live with an awareness of the rumble of terror that underlies
everything." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Are we really so naive that we will, like a
child playing hide-and-seek, place our hands over our eyes and convince
ourselves that death is no longer there? If we want to live, we need to face
the reality that everyone of us will die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Death is both inevitable and terrifying, and
denying it will accomplish nothing but emotional shallowness. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">On the other hand, knowing that you will die
liberates you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accepting that you will
die, enhances your life.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Early
in my ministry, in fact it was while I was still in seminary, a professor sent
me to the nursing home to visit some shut-ins there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was part of a class I was taking on
ministry to the elderly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got to know
one of the shut-ins pretty well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mentally, he was pretty alert, and we had a number of
conversations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally one day, I asked
him, as one 23 year old to someone who was, in my mind, incredibly ancient,
“What is it like to be old?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s
the kind of question only a very young person would ask.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He
thought for a minute and said, “I now view everything in life from the point of
view of my death.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Without
thinking, I pitied him and said, “How sad.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Not at
all,” said the old man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We are all
dieing, but for most people, death is a secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People hide if from themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I know the secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I’m
going to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that helps me to
treasure life, and to enjoy it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
here in a nursing home.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have
remembered that man’s words for a long time now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I think he’s onto something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is something very liberating about
knowing that we are all dieing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Garrison
Keeler is a radio personality who is heard each week on Public Radio’s Prairie
Home Companion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a story teller and
in one recent show he told this story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A man
was tilling manure into a field in the Spring, using a tractor and a disc
plow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was a long field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tractor was moving at five miles an hour,
and the man was bored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a warm day
and the man wished he could be anything other than a farmer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was tired of working for his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of sheer boredom, he dozed off and
started to fall backwards off the tractor seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He woke up falling and,
because the tractor was an old model with the throttle lever that was notched
into place, the tractor just kept moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The man fell in between the tractor and the discs and, as he hit the
ground, he grabbed on to the tow bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
hauled himself up as far as he could, but he couldn’t pull himself all the way
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just hung onto the tow bar with
both hands as the steel discs were moving behind him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">His body was literally
being dragged through the dirt and the manure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He held on as tightly as he could because, if he lost his grip, he would
have been cut in two by the moving discs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He was just about to lose
his grip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t even have enough
strength to cry out or to weep – he just kept hanging on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The tractor kept moving,
ever so slowly, until it came to the end of the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It began moving up the incline of a hill, and
then into the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Finally it hit a tree and
stopped, although the wheels kept spinning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It took him about ten
minutes before he could stand on his two feet, climb up into the seat, and turn
off the engine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That man lost his life
and got it back again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As Garrison Keeler told
this story, he made the observation that he would think that after an
experience like that you would have the feeling of absolute freedom and
liberty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the weight would be gone.
You would feel the sort of liberty that you read about in the Epistles when a
person has died and has been reborn.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The sunsets are lovelier.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The friendships are
richer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Life is savored more
deeply.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The gift of Ash Wednesday
is that we come forward and have ashes placed on our head, and as each person stands
before the pastor he or she hears the words, “You are dust, and to dust you
will return.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All of us are on a
journey toward death.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Death is hard, it is not
easy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Denying its reality does not make
it easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grief his difficult, and you
cannot rush it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I mentioned a few moments
ago that I once went to one of those funerals that was billed as “A Celebration
of Life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the entrance was a sign
that read, “No grieving allowed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But it is fine to
grieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus, himself, attended the
funeral of his friend Lazarus, and even though he knew that he was about to
bring Lazarus from the dead, he cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is the shortest verse of the Bible: “Jesus wept.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But allowing grief and
acknowledging sadness and pain is not the same as giving up hope.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">St. Paul wrote in 1
Thessalonians, “<span class="text">But we do not want you to be uninformed,
brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as
others do who have no hope. <sup><span id="en-NRSV-29601">14 </span></sup>For since
we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will
bring with him those who have died.</span>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Later, when death was no
longer an abstract of some distant future, but close at hand, Paul wrote the
Philippians while in prison, saying, “<span style="background: #FDFEFF; color: #001320;">I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will
have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my
body, whether by life or by death.</span>”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Having hope is not the
same as being in denial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having hope is
what Christians do in the face of reality.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is fine for us to fear
death – that is a human thing for us to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It is fine for us to
grieve – to lose someone dear to us is not something that should be
painless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But in the midst of our
fear and in the struggle with our tears, “What shall we say about these
things?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If <span class="text"><span style="color: black;">God is for us, who is against us?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That question was asked by Paul in the New Testament
book of Romans, and in that question he continued to ask questions, “Who will
separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
who loved us. </span><span id="en-NRSV-28140" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, </span><span id="en-NRSV-28141" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span>”</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
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<br />Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-31299185857415755852018-01-24T17:13:00.001-05:002018-01-24T17:13:43.573-05:00In The Same Boat - a sermon on the book of Philemon<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>Philemon<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">1 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">To Philemon our dear
friend and co-worker, </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">2 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our
fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">3 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">4 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">When I remember you<sup>]</sup> in my prayers, I always thank
my God </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">5 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">because
I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord
Jesus. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">6 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I
pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all
the good that we<sup>]</sup> may do for Christ. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">7 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I have indeed received much joy and
encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been
refreshed through you, my brother.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">8 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you
to do your duty, </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">9 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul,
do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">10 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus,
whose father I have become during my imprisonment. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">11 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is
indeed useful both to you and to me. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">12 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to
you. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">13 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I
wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place
during my imprisonment for the gospel; </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">14 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">but I preferred to do nothing without your
consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something
forced. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">15 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Perhaps
this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might
have him back forever, </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">16 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a
beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh
and in the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">17 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would
welcome me. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">18 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">If
he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my
account. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">19 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">I,
Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about
your owing me even your own self. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">20 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you
in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">21 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Confident of your obedience, I am writing to
you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">22 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">One thing more—prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping
through your prayers to be restored to you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">23 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to
you,<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philemon+1&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-29945g" title="See footnote g"><span style="color: #b34b2c; text-decoration-line: none;">g</span></a>]</sup></span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">24 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my
fellow workers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">25 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Sermon
<i>In the Same Boat </i>
Maynard Pittendreigh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The Help</span></i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> is a novel that was published a few years ago. <s><o:p></o:p></s></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">In the book, and also the movie based on the
book, Eugenia, or Skeeter as she is more commonly called, has just returned
home after graduating from the University of Missisippi and wants to become a
writer. For her first major writing
project, she decides to interview some of the residents of the town in order to
tell their stories. The residents she
wants to interview are the African American women who work in various white
households in Jackson, Mississippi, during the early 1960s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Skeeter slowly builds trust
with these women and begins to listen to their stories of what it is <b><i>really</i></b>
like to be an African American maid working for white families in Mississippi
in the early 1960s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">It becomes very clear that t</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">he maids are simply not regarded as human
beings; they are <b><i><u>“the help.”</u></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">One of the stories Skeeter hears is told to her by Abilene. Abilene tells about serving a luncheon for
her employer’s card club. While Abilene
serves the food and fills up the drink glasses, the conversation at the table turns
to a local initiative to have every family construct a second bathroom, outside
if necessary, for the help—the black housekeepers and maids—to prevent them
from using the white family’s bathroom.
In a town and in a time in history in which there where separate public
bathrooms for whites and blacks, in Jackson Mississippi there is a sudden fear
about cleanliness and hygiene <b><i><u>those people</u></i></b> to use their
bathrooms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">As Abilene serves the women their lunch and iced tea, Abilene
hears it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">They talk as if she isn’t even there, <i><u>which in a way she isn’t.</u></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">It is easy to look at people and not see them as -- PEOPLE. They are not people – they are the other
race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">How many times do we look at others and fail to understand – that is
a human being, with feelings and pain and desires and hopes and dreams?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">No - they not really people – they are just members of the other
political party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">That man is not real people.
That homeless person is just a bum, not a person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The rich look at the poor, not as people. They are just poor trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The common person looks at those who are wealthy and powerful –
they aren’t people. They have no idea
how real people live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">One of the many things the recent “Me, Too” movement can teach is
that there are so many men who look at women as objects. They are not real people, you can do anything
with them and get away with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">In Mark
Twain's “Huckleberry Finn,” Young Huck
has run away from home to escape his cruel father. Everyone thinks poor Huck
has been murdered, but he is alive and well and adrift on the Mississippi River
in a canoe. He takes refuge one night on
Jackson’s Island. Soon darkness falls
and he is afraid, exhausted and alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">Long past
midnight, Huck creeps through the dense woods to a clearing where he finds the
remains of a camp fire, and in the flickering of the fire’s light, sees the
figure of a man on the ground. The man
gets up, to the terror of young Huck.
But then he realizes who this man is.
It’s Jim! Miss Watson’s slave
from back home. Jim is an <b><i><u>escaped</u></i></b>
slave!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">It is at
this point that Huck Finn reflects, “'I was ever so glad to see Jim. I warn't
lonesome now.''<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">This
unlikely pair begin their journey together down the Mississippi. Two very different people, <b><u>both in the same boat.<o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Huck is, in the beginning
of this journey, conflicted about his travel partner. In particular, he is conflicted about the sin
and crime of supporting a runaway slave.
He wonders if Jim even has a soul.
<i><u>But being two people in the
same boat,</u></i> the two talk in depth and they begin to bond. Huck connects
emotionally with Jim. Jim becomes Huck's close friend and guardian.<span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">Being in
the same boat, they begin to see each other differently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">They begin
to see each other as – well, people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">Which
brings us to the book of Philemon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">Philemon. It is not the shortest book in the
Bible. But it comes close. Close enough so that we just read the entire
book of Philemon. <s><o:p></o:p></s></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">Philemon. I don’t remember anyone every starting a
Bible Study on the book of Philemon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">I don’t
think anyone has ever selected as his or her favorite verse of the Bible one of
the 25 verses of Philemon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">In fact, I
have been preaching for 41 years! This
sermon you are hearing is my 2,749<sup>th</sup> sermon! You think I’d gotten better at it by now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">But I have
never preached on Philemon. Which is why
I felt moved to preach from Philemon today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16.0pt;">After all,
Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16, “</span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">All scripture is inspired by God and is <b><i><u>useful</u></i></b> for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Which
means that even Philemon, as short as it is has something to say. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And what
Philemon basically teaches is that we are all in the same boat. Just like the Skeeter and Abilene in the
Help, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">or like
Huck Finn and Jim in Mark Twain’s novel.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Let me
give you a bit of background. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Paul is
writing to a man named Philemon, which is how this book gets the title,
Philemon. He writes about Onesimus, who
was a slave who, like Huck Finn’s Jim, ran away from his owner. There is even an implication in the book that
Onesimus stole some money from his owner, Philemon. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Sometime after running
away from Philemon, Onesimus encounters Paul.
We don’t know how. It may have
been that he knew Paul, had heard about Paul, or even that for a short period
of time they were cell mates in the local jail.
After all, Paul is writing this letter from prison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">At any rate, Onesimus,
whose name means “useful,” has been very useful to Paul. And an affection and friendship grows between
Onesimus and Paul. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Legally Onesimus should be
sent back to his owner. Paul does not
want to do that, however. But he writes
this letter and he tells Philemon to receive Onesimus – not as a slave – but as
family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">You see, Paul, Onesimus
and Philemon are all in the same boat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">They are all children of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Paul is the greatest
theologian in history, but his is no better at being a Christian than Onesimus
or Philemon. They are all in the same
boat. Just Christians called to love and
respect each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Philemon is the legal
owner of Onesimus according to the secular world of that time. And yet Onesimus became the Bishop of the
church in Ephesus. It was one of the radical things that gave the Roman Empire
a struggle – that a slave could be so highly regarded as to become a bishop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">They are indeed all in
the same boat. Before God, all are
equal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">That is a very American
value, that “all men are created equal.”
That phrase is in the preface of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson penned those words, but
where did he get that concept of equality?
Some would say the concept came from John Locke or Voltaire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Scholar Sarah Ruden, in
her book, <i>Paul Among the People, </i>argues that the concept started here –
right here in the letter to Philemon. It
was here that Paul created the Western concept that the individual human being
is "unconditionally precious to God and therefore entitled to the
consideration of other human beings." Before Paul wrote this little
letter, Ruden argues, a slave was considered subhuman, and entitled to no more
consideration than an animal. (<span class="reference-text">Sarah Ruden, <i>Paul
Among the People</i> (2010), p. xix.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">It
is so easy to look at people as subhuman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">You
see someone and think, “That person doesn’t matter.” Think again.
You are both in the same boat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">This
month the American government shut down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">In
our country, a government shutdown occurs when Congress and the President fail
to pass an appropriations bill to fund government operations. The first time this happened, if my research
is correct, was in 1976, but they have become increasingly more common in
recent years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We
watch these shutdowns with increasing frustration. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Now,
I am no expert in the economy or the Constitution or politics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">But
I watch the politicians. The Republicans
blame the Democrats, and the Democrats blame the Republicans. They demean and dehumanize each other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="reference-text"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">I
think they would get a lot more done if they understood they were all in the
same boat, that boat being Congress. Or
better yet, that boat being America. As
long as one group demeans the other, nothing much gets done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">When you listen to or
read reflections of astronauts who have orbited the earth, this is one of the
concepts they share. We are all in the
same boat. You look down on earth and
you do not see the lines one sees on maps.
There is no line separating Canada, the US, or Mexico. You look at Europe and you cannot tell where
France ends and Spain begins. We are all
in one boat, all citizens of one planet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">But if you walk on the
streets of this planet, you see people with different color skin. You see clothing that suggests wealth or
poverty. You begin to fall into the trap
of thinking – <b><i><u>us versus them</u></i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">But no<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> – we are all in the same boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">In Paul’s day there were
slave and there were free people. Paul
stripped away those differences and wrote about how in Christ we are all in the
same boat, we are all children of God, and there is no north, south, east,
west, no slave or free, no rich or poor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We are all human. Created by God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">When Paul wrote to
Philemon and asked him to take the runaway slave back, he told him not to
receive him back as a slave, but as family.
Look at the former slave and see him as a human being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">What a difference it
would make the next time we look at others we would see them as human beings. Your boss, your employee, your maid, your
teacher, your student, your next door neighbor, the other drivers on I-4, the
stranger you meet at the store --- each one is a human being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The man can no longer
look at a woman employee as an object to be used. The wealthy cannot look at the poor as undeserving
of help. We, like Philemon, need to see
beyond the surface to see each one as a person with hurts and pain and feelings
and needs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Larry Nassar worked for two
decades as a sports physician and as a trainer of some of our nations top Olympic
starts. He was widely respected, but underneath
was a secret. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">He had been molesting the
young women under his supervision. In
recent days he was sentenced to serve 175 years in prison. Before being sentenced to prison he had to
sit in a courtroom and listen to one accuser after another. For seven long days he heard one story after
another – 156 women took turns speaking.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">How could someone do such
horrible things?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="story-body-text" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">It is easy<b><i><u>,
if you look at someone as an object</u></i></b>, and not as a human being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Nancy Ortberg is a Presbyterian minister who serves a church in
California. Prior to becoming a
minister, she was an emergency room nurse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">She tells the story of what happened one night in the hospital at
the end of her shift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">It had been a busy Saturday night and after a rush of seriously injured
patients things were beginning to quiet down.
But the ER was a mess. The ER physician was debriefing a resident about
procedures and protocols, complimenting the young resident on his competence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">And then he put his hand on the resident’s arm and asked, “When
you finished did you notice the young man from housekeeping who came in to
clean the room?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">There was a blank look on the young doctor’s face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The older doctor said, “His name is Carlos. He’s been here for
three years. He does a fabulous job. When he comes in he gets the room turned
around so fast that you and I can get our next patients in quickly. His wife’s
name is Maria. They have four children.” Then he named each child and their
ages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">“He lives in a rented house three blocks from here. They’ve been
up from Mexico for about five years. His name is Carlos. I want you to speak to
him. More than that, next week I would
like you to tell me something about Carlos that I don’t already know.” (<i>Forbes</i>,
23 April 2007).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">We need to look at everyone as human. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">And so Paul wrote to Philemon and said to him, “Perhaps this is
the reason Onesimus was separated from you for a while, so that you might have
him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved
brother”—a beloved brother who, like you and me, was created in the image of
God and for whom Jesus Christ lived and died.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And now unto
God the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Copyright 2018. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Dr. W.
Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">All rights
reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Ministers may
feel free to use some or all of this sermon in their own ministries as long as
they do not publish in print or on the Internet without ascribing credit to the
author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-25200928068374704182018-01-03T16:06:00.002-05:002018-01-03T16:07:17.120-05:00Second Hand Jesus - Acts 19:13-18<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">New Testament
Lesson
Acts 19:13-18</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of
the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the
Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” </span><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-NRSV-27587" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">14 </span></sup></b>Seven sons of a Jewish high priest
named Sceva were doing this. </span><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-NRSV-27588" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">15 </span></sup></b>But the evil spirit said to them in
reply, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” <b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-NRSV-27589" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">16 </span></sup></b>Then
the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered them all, and so
overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded. <b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-NRSV-27590" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">17 </span></sup></b>When
this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone
was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. <b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span id="en-NRSV-27591" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">18 </span></sup></b>Also
many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices.<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></i></div>
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<i>
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<span style="background: yellow; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A few years ago I went to Haiti on a
mission trip, and in getting ready for the travel I had to go to the doctor’s
to have some shots -- Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So I went to the doctor’s to get my
shots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This lady comes into the examination
room and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>she swabs down my arm with
alcohol, and then she starts fumbling around with my chart and fumbling around
with whatever she has brought with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally she says, “You know, I need one of those needle things.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“A syringe,” I suggest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh yes, that’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need one of those things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be right back.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She comes back in and she swabs my arm
down with alcohol, and then she hesitates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You know, I need to get the vaccine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll be right back.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A few minutes later she comes back in
and she swabs down my arm with more alcohol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She looks at me and asks me, “It does go into the arm, doesn’t it?”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She says she’s going to ask someone
about that and she leaves.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She comes back and says someone else
will be giving me my shots.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Suits me!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We start talking and at some point in
the conversation she says she didn’t get much sleep last night because she was
so excited about her new job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today was
the first day she was working in the doctor’s office.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The only thing that kept me from
asking this lady about her last job was the fear of hearing her tell me that
she had worked at McDonalds, or some place like that.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’m sure she was trained, but she just
didn’t seem to have any experience.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At least no first hand experience.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A lot of us are like that woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have lots of second hand knowledge, but no
first hand knowledge or experience in certain areas of life.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I watch a lot of medical shows on
television – ER and shows like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know all about subdural hematomas and defibrillation and saline solutions.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well, I don’t really know about
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have this second hand
knowledge about life in a hospital.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have second hand knowledge about
what the White House is like because I have watched lots of episodes of West
Wing.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have second hand knowledge about the
military, because I talk to people who serve in the military.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Second hand knowledge is good, it’s
helpful, it’s interesting – but it is no substitute for first hand knowledge
and experience.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our New Testament lesson from the Book
of Acts we read about a time when the news of Jesus Christ was growing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole world was beginning to hear about
Jesus – but for many people this news was second hand information.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As the New Testament reading from Acts
tells it, “Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke
the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say,
"In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come
out."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s interesting here is
that they did not know Jesus personally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their Jesus was a second hand Jesus.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
of course, it does not turn out very well for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they were trying to deal with a demon
possessed person, the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know
about Paul, but who are you?"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He
gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">It
is a dramatic illustration about how dangerous “second hand” knowledge about
Christ can be.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Here
is the question for the day -- Is your Jesus a second hand Jesus?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do
you know of Jesus <u>only</u> from what you have seen in the movies, or from
what you have read in books, or by what you have heard from teachers and
preachers?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
said a moment ago that second hand knowledge was a good thing – up to a point.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Knowing
Jesus second hand is never quite sufficient for us.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">It
is not enough to know <u>about</u> Jesus.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">One
must know Jesus personally and through one’s own experience.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">How
do you do that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many people, Jesus
is an abstract thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know about
him like they know about Abraham Lincoln or about George Washington.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">How
do you make Jesus personal in your life?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
our reading from Acts, there are three things the people do to move from
knowing ABOUT Jesus, to the point where they know him PERSONALLY.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Respect the Name</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">First – there must be a respect for the
name and person of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">In
the Book of Acts, news about the power and authority of Jesus begins to
spread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our New Testament lesson puts
it, “When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were
all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Many
people who know about Jesus will never move to the point of personally knowing
Jesus because they do not hold the name of Jesus in high honor.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Have
you ever seen the movie "O God?" George Burns plays God himself, who
has come to earth to speak with a grocery manager named Jerry Landers. In one
of their conversations, Jerry, without thinking, says to himself, "O<br />
God!"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
God says, "Yes, Jerry? What is it?"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
Jerry says, "Huh?? Oh, it’s nothing, Lord. It’s just an expression. A
figure of speech. Nothing more."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
then God says, "Jerry, that’s why I’m here. I want people to know that I’m
not just a figure of speech. I’m more than just a phrase that people blurt out
when they get frustrated. I want you to tell people to take me seriously. That
I am the Lord!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">For
all too many people, Jesus is an empty phrase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>An empty word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The name of Jesus
is spoken as a curse, or as a word of exclamation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">More
than that, people often ridicule Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Now,
you can make fun of preachers – and I know you do!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you email me your best preacher
jokes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of them are actually funny!
Well, the jokes about Presbyterian preachers aren’t funny – but I’ve heard some
hilarious jokes about Baptist preachers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">And
people can make fun of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Lord knows we deserve it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t
always practice what we preach and sometimes we deserve for folks to poke fun
at us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little humor can sometimes help
the church understand the way the world sees us so we can correct ourselves and
put us on the right track.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">But
it always hurts to see people ridicule Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I’m
not saying we can’t use humor to teach about Christ – I’d be the last to say
that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what I am talking about is the
disrespectful humor and comments the world often aims at our Savior.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">If
you want to have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you must respect the name
and person of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">That’s
what happened in the Book of Acts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>People began to respect the name and person of Jesus Christ, and if you
want to have a relationship with Christ, that is what you must do.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Confession</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
second thing you need to do is to be open and honest with God about who we
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The old fashioned word for this is
– confession.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In our New Testament lesson, when the
word gets around about the power of Christ, people begin to respect the name
and person of Christ – and then, in the words of our New Testament reading,
“Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Confession helps move us from the
point of knowing about Jesus to the point of actually knowing the Person of
Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">One
of the most important moments in our worship services comes with the prayer of
confession and the assurance of God’s grace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">God
knows our sins and failures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knows
when we have failed to love others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
knows when we have been selfish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Confession
is not telling God anything He doesn’t already know.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">But
it is our act of admitting of our sins so we can get our past out of the way
and be freed of guilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is not so much that God needs to
know what we have done – he knows that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>WE need to get it off our chest and out of our souls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">When
we sin, we are separated from God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Our
joy disappears, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">our sense of God’s
presence evaporates, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">and we live in a
gray world of uncertainty and frustration. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">If
we continue to sin, then we continue in a separation from God and Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spiral downward into despair, regret,
anger, and deep-seated bitterness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">We
got to put the past behind us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Confession helps us heal our souls and helps open us up to a personal
relationship with Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">That’s
what the people in the book of Acts began to do – they confessed their sins so
they could move from just knowing about Jesus, to the point where they
personally knew Jesus.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Repentance</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
third thing we must do, and this comes right after confession, is repentance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
is not only a turning away from sinful activities, but a change of one’s mind
and heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a change of one’s
lifestyle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Referring again to
our New Testament reading, after the people make their confession, they destroy
the things that tempted them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the
Book of Acts puts it, “A number of those who practiced the occult collected
their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books was
calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repentance means that I own responsibility
for my part in what was unsatisfactory behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I accept responsibility for my part in what
is and what will be new behavior. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repentance is owning responsibility for what
was, accepting responsibility for what is, and acting responsibly now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is responsible action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not a matter of punishing ourselves for
past mistakes, hating ourselves for past failures, and depressing ourselves
with feelings of worthlessness. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repentance is finishing the unfinished
business of my past and choosing to live in new ways that will not repeat old
unsatisfactory situations. In the full Christian meaning of the Word,
repentance is a process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a thawing
out of rigid lifestyles into a flowing, moving, growing, repenting process. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Sunday School teacher once asked a class
what was meant by the word "repentance."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little boy put up his hand and said,
"It is being sorry for your sins."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But then another little child girl also raised her hand and said,
"It is being sorry enough to quit." (Donald Grey Barnhouse)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">There
are so many people who know about Jesus, but they have never built a
relationship with Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">They
know a second hand Jesus – not a first hand Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">If
you know about Jesus, but you don’t know him personally, this is a good time to
begin that process of knowing him personally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a good day to confess one’s sins and to repent and turn from a
former way of life and to turn toward a life devoted to Christ.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And now unto
God the Father,</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">God the Son,</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;">Copyright 2017. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;">Dr. W.
Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;">All rights
reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;">Ministers may
feel free to use some or all of this sermon in their own ministries as long as
they do not publish in print or on the Internet without ascribing credit to the
author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-91663463923796426792017-12-16T14:32:00.000-05:002017-12-16T14:32:08.757-05:00Why We Celebrate - John 1:1-18<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><i>New
Testament Lesson John 1:1-18 <o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<i><b><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. <sup>2 </sup>He
was in the beginning with God. <sup>3 </sup>All things came
into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has
come into being <sup>4 </sup>in him was life,<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-18+&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-26039a" title="See footnote a"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">a</span></a>]</sup> and
the life was the light of all people. <sup>5 </sup>The light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></i></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><b><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 16pt;">6 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">There was a man sent from
God, whose name was John. <sup>7 </sup>He came as a witness to
testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. <sup>8 </sup>He
himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. <sup>9 </sup>The
true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-18+&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-26044b" title="See footnote b"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">b</span></a>]</sup></span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></i></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><b><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 16pt;">10 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">He was in the world, and
the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. <sup>11 </sup>He
came to what was his own,<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-18+&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-26046c" title="See footnote c"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">c</span></a>]</sup> and
his own people did not accept him. <sup>12 </sup>But to all
who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of
God, <sup>13 </sup>who were born, not of blood or of the will
of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></i></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><b><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 16pt;">14 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">And the Word became flesh
and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only
son,<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-18+&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-26049d" title="See footnote d"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">d</span></a>]</sup> full
of grace and truth. <sup>15 </sup>(John testified to him and
cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of
me because he was before me.’”) <sup>16 </sup>From his fullness
we have all received, grace upon grace. <sup>17 </sup>The law
indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus
Christ. <sup>18 </sup>No one has ever seen God. It is God the
only Son,<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-18+&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-26053e" title="See footnote e"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">e</span></a>]</sup> who
is close to the Father’s heart,<sup>[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-18+&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-26053f" title="See footnote f"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">f</span></a>]</sup> who
has made him known.</span></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></i></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <span class="tgc"><span style="background: white;">There are <b>361,481 babies </b>are born each <b><i><u>day</u></i></b>
around the world. That works out to be <b>251 babies</b> born
worldwide per minute. Oh baby! Babies are popping up all over the place!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> The thing is,
when these babies are born their birth is the most important event in the life
of the parents, and of the relatives, and of a few friends. It somewhat important to friends and
co-workers and acquaintances. The birth
is largely ignored by the rest of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> At Christmas
we celebrate the birth of a child whose birth has become more and more noticed
throughout the world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> And even
though the whole world essentially gets involved in the celebration of this one
birth, a lot of important facts get lost in the imagery we have of the first
Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> I have a
manger set in my house. How many of you
have one at your home?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Joseph is
looking devout, and clean, and well rested.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Mary is
looking devout, and clean, and well rested.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> The baby Jesus
looks devout, and clean, and looks about one year old.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> When my wife
and I were expecting the birth of my son, I told my Dad that I planned to be
there for the delivery. My Dad said, “Oh
son, you do not want to do that. When
your sister was born the doctor came to the house and your mother was in
bed. She wouldn’t stop screaming. My arms were scratched and bleeding from the
scratches from your mother who was in such pain. And when your sister was born, she was wet,
and hairy, and was the ugliest thing I ever saw. I asked the doctor what was wrong with her,
and he said this was normal. And by the
way,” my Dad added. “Don’t you ever tell
this to your sister.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Of course,
before the end of the day I was on the phone with my sister telling her about
all of this, and she said, “Oh know all that.
Mom told me years ago.”
Apparently, when the story was told from my mother’s perspective, Dad
scratched his arm when he fainted. My
Dad’s uselessness had a lot to do with the fact that I was the first in my
family to be born at a hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> But I think
about the story of my sister’s birth, from either my mother or my Dad’s
perspective, and I picture the birth of Jesus being very different from the
scene of my manger set at home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Giving birth in a stable
is not a clean and relaxing activity. We
lose sight of that, and we lose sight of a lot of other things about
Christmas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="d8e"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">One thing we should focus
on is not so much the historical details of what this birth looked like, but on
the reasons why we celebrate this one birth.
After all, sometime in the next 60 seconds 251 babies will be born world
wide, so why celebrate this one birth?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Had the baby simply been born, we
would not celebrate that birth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> But because this child grew up, that
is why the birth is worth celebrating, every year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> The child grew up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> John’s Gospel does not pay any
attention at all to the birth of Christ.
For those details we have to go to Matthew or Luke. John is more interested in who Jesus grew up
to become, because the character of the adult Jesus is what makes the birth
worth celebrating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus
is the Word<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></h4>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> First, John tells us that the birth of
Jesus is worth celebrating because Jesus is the Word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">John’s
Gospel begins with a poetic description of Jesus. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“What’s
the good word,” is something we often ask and hear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> With a word, I can make you laugh, or
cry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">I
can draw you closer with words of love and grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">And
I can push you away with harsh critical words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">I
can discourage you with things like, “What a stupid thing to do,” and “you’ll
never amount to anything,” “loser” “quit now and avoid frustration.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Or
I can encourage you. “Yes you can, I’ll help you. I will never quit on you. You
can count on me to be in your corner.” “I WILL love you NO MATTER WHAT!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">If
I can speak properly, I can stir up almost any emotion – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">determination, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">patriotism, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">love, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">anger, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 2.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">jealousy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">“In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">And
what are the words that the Word of God verbalizes?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus
stayed a baby for a short time, but he is always the Word of God, even today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<h5 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus is God<o:p></o:p></span></h5>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Second, John tells us that the birth
of Jesus is worth celebrating because Jesus is God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">One
of the most important messages of John’s Gospel comes at the beginning. He is poetically talking about Jesus as The
Word. “In the beginning was the Word –
Christ. And the Word, or Christ, was
with God. And the Word, or Christ, was
God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">At
Christmas time, we sing carols that proclaimed that Jesus was God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> The rest of the world would say, Jesus
was a good man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Which he was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> The rest of the world would say, Jesus
was a good teacher. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Which he was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> The rest of the world would say, Jesus
a real person who certainly in fact lived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Which he did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> However, the rest of the world would
feel more comfortable leaving out a statement that said that Jesus was the Son
of God and was himself, God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> We need to believe this all through
the year and we need to always proclaim that Jesus is Lord. Without this, the celebration we are having
right now has very little meaning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h5 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></h5>
<h5 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus is
unchanging<o:p></o:p></span></h5>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Third, John tells us that the birth of
Jesus is worth celebrating because Jesus is unchanging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Nothing brings home how much our world
is changing than Christmas, and nothing produces a greater nostalgic longing
for the world to STOP changing than Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> At Christmas, we see changes all
around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Children are growing up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> We may be reminded once again that
someone we loved has died and is no longer with us to celebrate the holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> We remember the way things used to be
when we were children and we miss the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> We may feel overwhelmed by the
changes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> And we may long for the world to stop
changing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> I don’t think we are opposed to
changes in our lives. We need
change. We’d be very bored otherwise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> But we need something, or someone, who
is consistent in our lives. Who never
changes. And Christ is that unchanging consistency.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> The Gospel of John says, “He (meaning
Christ) was with God in the beginning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 16.0pt;"> The Book of Hebrews tell us that
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (13:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> The Character of Christianity is to
trust that Christ never changes. We need
to stay in that character. The world may
change. Christ does not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<h5 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus is the Light
of the World<o:p></o:p></span></h5>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> John also tells us that the birth of
Jesus is worth celebrating because Jesus is the light of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">John
goes into great detail here, explaining how John the Baptist came to announce
the arrival of the light of the world, and how John the Baptist was not the
light, but was announcing that the light would soon arrive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus
is the light of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> And light is a comforting thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> All parents know that the best defense
against the monster who lives in a child’s closet or under a child’s bed, is
light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Turn the light on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Darkness is a frightening thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Light is a comforting thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> I remember when I was 13 years old, I
had a frightening experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> I was in the shower and I was washing
my hair with a new and different shampoo.
Some of the shampoo got into my eyes and it burned. I mean it was really very painful. I rinsed my scalp and my eyes the best I
could and when I was finally able to open my eyes, they still burned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> But more than that, I had actually
lost my eyesight. I was totally
blind. I couldn’t believe shampoo could
be so strong that it could literally blind you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> I didn’t want to call out for help
because I was standing in the shower without any clothing on, and 13 year old
boys are sensitive about stuff like that.
So inspite of the fact that I am now totally blind, instead of calling
for help, I grope in the darkness until I find my robe and put it on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Just as I am about to yell for help,
the electricity comes back online.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> I can see again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> You see, while I had my eyes closed,
the power had gone off for just a moment, and standing there in total darkness
– I assumed the worst.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Of course, I was ONLY 13 years old at
the time and those of you who are 14 years old or older know that is the time
when your body grows faster than your brain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> But darkness – it is a frightening
thing, and nothing dispels the fear like the light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> To live in spiritual darkness is to live
in loneliness and despair and fear – and nothing dispels that spiritual
darkness better than Jesus Christ, the light of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h5 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Through Jesus, we
have a relationship with God<o:p></o:p></span></h5>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Now, John is making several points
here, but he is moving all of them into one single, important point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Jesus is the Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> Jesus is God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus
is unchanging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">Jesus
is the light.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> All of these points converge into one
most important point – Jesus is someone through whom we can have a relationship
with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> This is the main reason for
celebrating the birth of this single baby.
During Christmas we sing those songs of Christ’s birth and of his
salvation he brings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">But
as we come to the end of the Christmas Season, we must continue to believe that
Jesus was born so that we might have a relationship with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 16.0pt;">That
is what Christmas was all about. And
when Christmas is past, and the decorations once again come down, and when the
gifts become forgotten or break from being used so dearly for so long, what
sustains us through one Christmas after another, and what sustains us in all
the months between these celebrations, is the relationship we have with Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And now unto
God the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Copyright 2017. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Dr. W.
Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">All rights
reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-90122250157671849552017-11-19T07:31:00.002-05:002017-11-19T07:31:19.501-05:00Funeral Message - Romans 8 (following a suicide)<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Romans 8<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text"><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">31 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What then
are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? </span></span><span id="en-NRSV-28134" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">32 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He who
did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with
him also give us everything else? </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-28135" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">33 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who will
bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-28136" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">34 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who is to
condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right
hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.</span></span><span class="text"><sup data-fn="#fen-NRSV-28136w" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-28136w" title="See footnote w">w</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-28136w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;" title="See footnote w"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">w</span></a>]</span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-28137" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">35 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Who will
separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-28138" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">36 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As it is
written,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“For your sake we are being killed all day long;</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span></span></div>
<div style="height: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”</span></span></span></span><br />x</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span id="en-NRSV-28139" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">37 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, in
all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-28140" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">38 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For I am
convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor powers, </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-28141" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">39 </span></sup></b></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">nor
height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today is a difficult time to gather
together. We are grieving the loss of
someone who died all too young.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We feel discouraged and sorrowful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">And we are reminded that Nicholas felt dark
days as well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">We sometimes think that a person of faith would
never become depressed or discouraged. If
a person admits to being sad, that is like confessing a sin. Christians are always happy. They are always upbeat. Always positive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">And yet the Bible strips away such silly myths.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moses – if there was ever a man of God, it was
Moses! He had faith and was an example
to all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;">However, in the Old Testament Book of Numbers,
Moses was under tremendous pressure from the people. They were tired of the Wilderness, tired of
the trip to the Promised Land and they were begging Moses to take them back to
Egypt. Moses says in chapter 11 of Numbers, “I am not able to carry all this
people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this,
kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my
wretchedness” (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="Num 11.14–15" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/Num%2011.14%E2%80%9315" style="border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-top-color: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; border: dashed windowtext 1.0pt; color: #666666; mso-border-alt: dashed windowtext .25pt; padding: 0in;">Numbers
11:14–15</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Being overwhelmed is not a sign that one is not
a Christian. It is a sign that one is
human.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;">Elijah is another person of great faith. In the Old Testament book of First Kings, Elijah
had a moment of tremendous success. He
had challenged 400 prophets of the false idol Baal to a test and he won! Elijah was vindicated. He celebrated by running in front of the king’s
chariot. It was a great moment. But then he heard that Jezebel vowed to kill
him. In his fear and exhaustion he went into the wilderness, sat down under a
broom tree, and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am
no better than my fathers” (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><a data-purpose="bible-reference" data-reference="1 Kings 19.4" data-version="esv" href="https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Kings%2019.4" style="border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-top-color: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: ease-in-out;" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; border: dashed windowtext 1.0pt; color: #666666; mso-border-alt: dashed windowtext .25pt; padding: 0in;">1 Kings
19:4</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #333333;">).<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can people of God feel discouragement? Yes!
Moses did. As did Elijah. As did Jonah.
Everyone of faith sometimes feels discouraged. They hit low points.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">When
bad things happen to us, or to others, we want to have an answer as to
why. Why did someone do this, or why did
someone do that? And then there is the
big question, why did God do what he did?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
problem with asking that question is that you may get an answer – but you may
not. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">In
Romans 11, St. Paul wrote, “Who has understood the mind of God?” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">The answer, no one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because
we don’t always get the answer to the question why, let me suggest that in this
time of grief, we ask a different question – one that can be asked, AND
answered.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Forget
why.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ask:
“Who is loved here?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">If
you ask why these things happened, you may get an answer, perhaps!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">But
if you ask who is loved here you will definitely get an answer very quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who
is loved here?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nicholas. You are here today because you loved
Nicholas. He was someone’s son, someone’s
husband, a father of two children. He
was someone’s brother, someone’s uncle, cousin, friend, buddy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">You
love Nicholas and God loves Nicholas. We have no doubt of that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">St.
Paul said in in the New Testament that nothing that Nicholas was or did or
thought could separate him from God’s love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;">We
find that in chapter 8 of Romans. “<span class="text"><span style="background: white;">I am convinced that
nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about
tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.</span></span></span><span style="background: white;"> <span class="text"><span id="en-NLT-28117" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed,
nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God
that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.</span>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">So
in asking the question who is loved here?
Nicholas is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
not just Nicholas. You are loved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">You
are loved by the people around you. You
are loved by Nicholas. You are loved by
God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">You
are here today because you are grieving.
You are grieving our loss of Nicholas.
Perhaps being here reminds you that you are still grieving the loss of
your own child, or husband, or brother, or another friend. Grief takes time. It is not a short journey, but a long
one. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">And
on this journey you need others with you who will love you and sustain
you. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Who
is loved here? You are. Feel free to show that love to one
another. Feel free to be comforted by
God’s love. And feel relieved that
Nicholas is loved by you and by God Almighty.</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-83650552577113753292017-11-08T08:21:00.001-05:002017-11-08T08:21:32.477-05:00Being Prepared - Matthew 25:1-13<i>Matthew 25:1-13</i><br />
<i><span class="text Matt-25-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NRSV-24007a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-24007a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A1-13&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-24007a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span>took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NRSV-24007b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-24007b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A1-13&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-24007b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-2" id="en-NRSV-24008" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </span>Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-3" id="en-NRSV-24009" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span>When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-4" id="en-NRSV-24010" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-5" id="en-NRSV-24011" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-6" id="en-NRSV-24012" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-7" id="en-NRSV-24013" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">7 </span>Then all those bridesmaids<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NRSV-24013c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-24013c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A1-13&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-24013c" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span> got up and trimmed their lamps. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-8" id="en-NRSV-24014" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">8 </span>The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-9" id="en-NRSV-24015" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-10" id="en-NRSV-24016" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-11" id="en-NRSV-24017" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>Later the other bridesmaids<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NRSV-24017d" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-24017d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A1-13&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-24017d" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</span> came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-12" id="en-NRSV-24018" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Matt-25-13" id="en-NRSV-24019" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.</span></i><br />
<span class="text Matt-25-13" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">A few weeks ago I went to Casper, Wyoming, to
observe the Total Solar Eclipse. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Now the thing about a Solar Eclipse is that
you know exactly when and where it will happen. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I had no reason not to be prepared. I even practiced with my cameras and telescopes,
and because I was prepared, I enjoyed that event immensely.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I even know when the next Solar Eclipse will
be. I am planning now to be on vacation
on April 8, 2024, so I can be in Texas.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">More than that, I know that at 1:28 pm on
August 12, in the year 2045, when I am still a young man of 91, a total eclipse
of the sun will be seen right here in Orlando.
I am inviting you now to meet me here at the church. The sun and moon will be 68.33 degrees above
the horizon at that time, so I plan to get a perfect photo of the church and
our remaining steeple in the foreground, with the totality of the eclipse in
the background! Only 28 years left to
wait!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">In astronomy, things happen in the
universe. You cannot speed them up, you
cannot slow them down. They happen at
what I like to call, the “fullness of time.”
When these events happen, there is no reason not to be prepared.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Some things happen unexpectedly. My wife and I have lived most of our lives
either on the coast, or close to it. We
have lived through well over 20 hurricanes.
We have our preparation plan down to a fine science. We are prepared. I have no clue when the next hurricane will
come, but I will be ready.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I met someone the other day who said he was
going to live forever, or die trying. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Well, of course he is going to die trying. We
are all going to die. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I’m prepared for
that. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">This past week I revised my will and all of
my end of life documents, signed them and had them notarized. I am prepared. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I’m also prepared spiritually. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I have always liked what Woody Allen said
about death. “I’m not afraid of death, I
just don’t want to be there when it happens to me.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Well, I’m pretty sure I will have to be there
when I die. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">As a young Boy Scout I embraced the motto,
“be prepared.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">The New Testament lesson today is a parable
about preparedness. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">It is, on the
surface, about preparing for the Second Coming of Christ. But on another level this parable can teach
us about any time in our lives when something is going to happen – something we
no control over. We cannot rush or delay
it. It may the return of Christ, or it
may be your own death. It may be the
hurricane. It may, in fact, be something
that you can control to a degree. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Retirement. You might retire
early, or delay it a few years. But it
is something that calls you to prepare for.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">So within this parable, we learn nothing
about <u>when</u> Christ will return. We
are just told it will happen and we need to be prepared. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">And what this text teaches us about preparing
for the second coming can be applied to many other things for which we need to
be prepared.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">So what do we learn about being prepared?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">It is interesting that in the parable the
bridesmaids all looked pretty much the same.
They all know the bride and groom.
They all dress alike – you’ve been to weddings, bridesmaids always dress
similar. They are all waiting for the
wedding to start. They all have their
lamps, something that bridesmaids needed in that culture.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">They were all ready – or at least they all
looked like they were ready. Some of
them had not brought enough oil.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">So
here is the first lesson to be learned. Be
sure that you are truly prepared,</span></b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">
because it is possible to look just like everyone else, but you have to do more
than look prepared.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Are you ready for the next hurricane? You may have your hurricane prep box in the
garage, but over the months you know that is where there are some batteries to
be found, so one by one you get a battery here and there and when Hurricane
comes and the stores have closed and the power goes off, you realize that you
have only one size D battery left.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">As a Christian you can talk like everyone
else and use all those church words like “saved” or “grace” or
“forgiveness.” You can carry a Bible and
quote it freely and accurately. You can go
to church and call yourself Christian, but it is possible to be unprepared for
the return of Christ, or for you own death.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">“Be
prepared” means being truly prepared, not just looking prepared.<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">The
second lesson of the parable is: No one can do it for you.</span></b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">In retirement, the government may require you
to contribute to Social Security, but in Orlando most people’s Social Security
checks will almost pay for a person’s monthly rent. You have to prepare in other ways as well for
retirement, the government won’t do it, no one else will do it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">That test coming up in class on Monday
morning. No one can study for you. No one can take that test for you. You have to prepare. No one else will do it
for you.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">The foolish bridesmaids saw that they did not
have enough oil, and they asked their wise friends to loan them some of theirs,
but that was not possible. The wise ones pointed out that if they shared their
oil, none of them would be prepared or able to complete their tasks. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Preparing for your death or for the Second
Coming? You can’t say the preacher is
doing that for you – you must prepare.
You must train your spiritual life yourself.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">A
third point of the parable is: There is a time called “Too Late.”</span></b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Bill Kuykendall and I were friends for many
years, until his death a few years ago.
I met him in college – he was not a classmate, but he was one of my
professors. When I arrived at college I
sought advice from some of the upper classmates and one word of advice I heard
many times was, “Don’t take a class under Dr. Kuykendall.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I disregarded that advice, and Kurkendall
turned out to be my favorite professor. But
it was easy to see why upper classmates would advise against taking classes
under him. He was tough.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">I had an 8 am class with him, “Biblical Archeology.” Which, by the way, was another bit of advice
from upper classmates I had ignored – “Don’t sign up for classes that begin
before 11am.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">At this 8 am class, Kurkendall would arrive
at 8 am sharp. He would let us into the
classroom and then lock it! If you
arrived at 8:01, too bad. You were
counted as absent. And you only had two
cuts for the whole class.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Those who were late - found out about the
danger of being “too late.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">This parable teaches that there comes a time
when you are “too late.” The time to
prepare is before the deadline! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">At some point Christ will return with shouts
of acclamation. Or you will breathe your
last. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Too late.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Too late to repair broken relationships with
others. Too late to serve others. Too late to accept Christ as savior. Too late to prepare. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today." Those are great words of advice, but how do you keep from being anxious about tomorrow? In Matthew there are two things to remember - trust God, and make reasonable preparations. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Proverbs, chapter 6, has that great passage about preparation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">It says, "Go to the ant, you lazybones" - I love that translation!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">"Go to the ant, you lazybones;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">consider its ways and be wise. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Without having any chief or officer or ruler, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">it prepares its food in summer and gathers its sustenance in harvest."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Preparation is a gift of God. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">It frees us from anxiety and enriches our lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Copyright 2017. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in
their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the Internet
without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-24098529180145186702017-10-26T08:39:00.003-04:002017-10-26T08:39:53.551-04:00Reformed and Always Reforming - a sermon for the 500th anniversary of Reformation - Acts 10:9-16<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="text Acts-10-9" id="en-NRSV-27257" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i>Acts 10:9-16</i></span></div>
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<span class="text Acts-10-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<i><span class="text Acts-10-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Acts-10-10" id="en-NRSV-27258" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Acts-10-11" id="en-NRSV-27259" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Acts-10-12" id="en-NRSV-27260" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Acts-10-13" id="en-NRSV-27261" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">13 </span>Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Acts-10-14" id="en-NRSV-27262" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">14 </span>But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Acts-10-15" id="en-NRSV-27263" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">15 </span>The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="text Acts-10-16" id="en-NRSV-27264" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">16 </span>This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> If you walk into an Episcopal Church
you will find in the pews a hymnal and a Book of Common Prayer. The prayers in that book are beautiful and
well written. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Many years ago I visited an elderly
woman and at the end of the visit we had a prayer, and I used the opening line
from one of those prayers. I had always
thought that opening line had such beauty.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> “Almighty God, unto whom all hearts
are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid…”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> What I did not know was that this
woman had grown up in the Episcopal Church and had memorized many of the
prayers in the Book of Common Prayer, including that one. She joined in and began to say the prayer with
me. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t know
anything but that opening line. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> The prayer book was originally written
in 1549, but has been revised many times.
One such revision was in 1928, and it was not revised again until
1979. Most revisions were minor, until
1979. Words such as “thee and thou and
thine” were replaced with “you and your and yours.” Throughout the book the language took on a
more contemporary feel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Not everyone was happy with the
change. A small number of congregations
refused to change and continued to use the 1928 version. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Many years ago, I was on vacation and
attended a church where the 1928 Book of Common Prayer was still used. The congregation was small. As I met some of them before worship, I could
sense that they were, in every way, inflexible.
In conversations they talked about how they didn’t like computers or
cell phones. I almost expected them to
complain about the new fangled automobile.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> When the minister came out to begin
the worship service, he was in a wheel chair.
He had an oxygen tank and there was a tube running up to his nose to
provide him with oxygen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> I was the youngest person there among
the almost one dozen in the sanctuary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> I enjoyed worship that day, using the
1928 prayer book. But I was saddened to
be in a congregation in which a church was so resistant to change that it was
about to fade away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> You may have heard it said that the
church does not like change. That is not
really true. The church is the most
flexible organization in human history.
It is always changing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But
what doesn’t change are the local units of the church. Congregations. Congregations resist change. But look beyond the local congregation and
examine the global church, and you will see the most flexible organization humanity
has ever experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We are always changing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Which is good, because it means that God is at work, and we are
growing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">This morning, we, along with thousands of churches in the
Protestant tradition, are celebrating one of the great changes of our church
history. Today is Reformation Sunday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I know that this is not as exciting of a day for many of us as
Christmas Day, or Easter, or July 4<sup>th</sup>, or one’s birthday, or
International Talk Like a Pirate Day – but it is a significant day and THIS
YEAR, it is especially significant because today it is the 500<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of the Reformation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It was on October 31<sup>st</sup>, 1517, that a Roman Catholic
Priest, Martin Luther, nailed a statement on the door of a church in
Wittenberg, Germany that listed a list of 95 issues Luther had with the church.
He wanted the church to address what he
considered to be bad theology and non-biblical teachings. It was the beginning of a split that would
divide the Christian Church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Splitting the church was not Luther’s intention. What he wanted to do was to reform the
church. In his mind, he was trying to
correct the church. The last thing he
wanted to do was to fragment the church into the Lutheran, and eventually the
Presbyterian, Baptist, and all of the hundreds of other Christian denominations
we now have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Whenever we say the Apostles’ Creed, we declare that we all
believe in the holy catholic church. The
term ‘catholic’ there does not mean the Roman Catholic Church, but rather
refers to the term ‘catholic’ that means universal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">In spite of all of the visible fragmentation of the Christian
church into so many denominations, we still believe there is an invisible unity
in the church that binds us together.
That unity is obscured, because of denominations, but it is still there. All of us still believe in Christ. All of us still believe in God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">One of the key mottos that emerged out of the Reformation was the
phrase, “Reformed and still reforming.” Meaning that the Christian Church was
always meant to be undergoing change. We
are always supposed to be listening to the voice of God as we move forward in
history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">If we are not open to change, we die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We can celebrate the past, but if we cling to it, the future passes
us by and we left behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It is a sometimes a difficult thing to accept change in the
church. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Change was difficult for the Apostle Peter. We see this in our scripture reading today. Peter had received a vision from God. In that vision, Peter saw a sheet and inside
that sheet were all sorts of animals.
These different animals had one thing in common – they were considered
unkosher, which meant that they were forbidden to be eaten. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Peter was a faithful man of God, and he obeyed the Bible. And in the Old Testament there are lists of
food that a godly person should never eat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Peter knew that it was not lawful to eat camel or vultures – well,
who would want to? And Pigs! Which means no bacon! No pork chops, ham or pulled barbecue pork
sandwiches. Lobster? That’s out.
Shrimp? Forbidden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">And Peter followed these dietary laws of the Old Testament
faithfully. But in this vision, God
shows Peter lots of unlawful, unclean food, and he commands Peter to “Get up,
kill and eat” the food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Peter responds by saying, “But God, we’ve never done it that way
before!” Well, not in those words. What he says is “No, Lord! I will not! I have never eaten anything that is not pure
and ‘clean’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">This happens not once by three times, and Peter is left struggling
with what this vision meant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">What it meant was that the church needed to change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">One change was that the dietary laws God had given the Jews, were
no longer to be applied to Christians from the Gentile culture. So that means that for lunch tomorrow, I
think I’ll have a cup of lobster bisque.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Another change it meant was that Peter was to accept converts to
Christianity who were not Jewish. The
Book of Acts tells the history of the earliest years of the church. The earliest followers were Jews who were
accepting Christ as Lord. When Paul was
converted to Christianity, he shared the Gospel with the whole world, including
non-Jews. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">What a shock for poor Peter!
We’d never done it that way before!
Peter struggled with that concept of inviting </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">non-Jews to accept
Christ, and in this vision he was being taught that God had not declared any
human unclean. The church was having to
accept a change – welcoming not only people like themselves, but people of
every race and culture and language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Peter’s initial response was to stand fast and resist change, but God
says to Peter, “Do not call unclean that which I have made clean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Those were uncomfortable words for Peter to hear because they are
words of reformation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">God is on a journey of reformation, and the Lord can call to us to
transcend that which has always been accepted or practiced. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We can accept change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">In our New Testament Lesson, the church is called to change, to
progress, to reform, to evolve and to move forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The Christian faith is, at its core, a faith that
demands change and reformation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We say that today is the 500<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of the Reformation, but reforming and changing did not start when Luther
nailed a document on a church door in Germany.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It began with this vision that Peter had in which
he was challenged to change his belief that certain foods, and certain people
were unclean. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It really began before that, when Paul began to
share the Gospel with Gentiles and began to welcome all people into Christianity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It even began before that, when a radical Jewish
Rabbi named Jesus questioned the religious teachings of his day. He dared to heal the sick on the Sabbath,
contrary to the interpretation of Scripture at that time. He touched the unclean and the unworthy and
extended forgiveness to those who had transgressed the laws of God. He overturned tables and spoke words of
truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">To be a follower and disciple of Christ is to follow the greatest
reformer who ever lived. When we call
ourselves Christian we are committing ourselves to be a people who will be open
to new things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We will learn new things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We will follow new directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We will not fall into the trap of saying, “We’ve never done it
that way before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Years ago I was doing some research in church history. I came across a diary that had been kept by a
student a century earlier. In one entry
he wrote about a new pastor at his church.
He was concerned that all of the adult leaders were rejecting this new
pastor, while all of the college students adored this new pastor. As he reflected on why the older people
rejected the pastor, the young college student wrote in his diary, “The adults
have two main complaints about our new pastor.
First, he is clean shaven, and the adults wonder how a pastor who is too
young to grow a beard can be trusted to teach spiritual truths. Second, the
sermons are only 45 minutes long at most, and the adults say nothing worth
hearing can be said in such a short time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">It was nothing more than a time of change, and when viewed a
hundred years later the resistance to change seems silly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When I was a teenager, white congregations were having to decide
whether or not to allow African Americans into the doors of their churches to
worship. Now, some 50 years later, it
seems shameful that there was such resistance to changing what Martin Luther
King, Jr., referred to when he said Sunday morning was the most segregated hour
in America. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When I was in Seminary, students would preach at churches on
Sundays when the pastor of that church was on vacation. We called it “the preaching circuit” and we
all loved signing up to go to different churches every Sunday. One student was not welcome in these pulpits,
and the rest of us stood in solidarity to refuse to preach in those churches
until our fellow student was allowed to preach there. You see that one student was not welcome in
the pulpit because she was a woman.
Today 42% of our seminary students are women and it would be intolerable
to deny someone a presence in a Presbyterian pulpit because of gender. We used to say, “we’ve never done it that way
before,” and now many young people do not even know the struggle women pastors
had – and some cases still have. Things change. And that is good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">In more recent years we face issues of sexual orientation and
gender identification. The church is never able to say, “we have arrived. We are finished.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">No, we are reformed, but we must always be reforming. We are always discovering that in some way
the church has declared as unclean what God has declared clean, and we must be
challenged. We have to be open to
change. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Every day we have to wake up and look at the world and ask, “Where
is the Spirit leading me today?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Like Paul, and Peter, and Martin Luther, and Martin Luther King,
Jr., we can hear the voice of God say, as he said to Isaiah, “Look, and
see. I am doing something new!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When the church changes, never respond by saying, “We’ve done it
that way before.” Instead, be open to
the spirit of God and be willing to walk in what direction God leads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Copyright 2017. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in
their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the Internet
without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-13349826155071281892017-06-28T17:02:00.000-04:002017-06-28T17:02:41.083-04:00Salt of the Earth, City on a Hill -- Matthew 5:13-16
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
Matthew 5:13-16<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 3pt 0pt 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 6pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 5.75pt;">
<span class="textmatt-5-13"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textmatt-5-13"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste,
how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is
thrown out and trampled under foot.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 13.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 5.75pt; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span id="en-NRSV-23249" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textmatt-5-14"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be
hid. </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-23250" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textmatt-5-15"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">15 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textmatt-5-15"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but
on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-23251" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textmatt-5-16"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">16 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textmatt-5-16"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;">In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they
may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus
says, “<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black;">You are the light of
the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">He does not say you are going to be a light of
the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does not say that someday
you are going to become a city on a hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">He says this is what you already are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">You ARE the Light of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">You ARE the city on the hill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">The question is this – when people look at you,
what kind of city do they see?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Now there are at least three levels of
understanding this city on a hill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">One level is personal and individual.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background: snow; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">You, Joe, are the salt of the earth, a city on a
hill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="background: snow; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">And Jane, you are also the salt of the earth, a
city on a hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">And the same is true with you, and you, and you, and oh by the
way, ME!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">This business of being watched by the world brings with it a great
burden of responsibility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">People are watching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Children and youth watch adults and we present a model of how to
be and behave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For good or bad!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">People our age are watching us for inspiration and encouragement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">And non Christians are watching because they love to catch
Christians being hypocrites!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">People are looking at YOU as an individual to be
the city on a hill that inspires and encourages. So you best be the salt of the
earth kind of person.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">On another level, however, you can understand
the church is the city on the hill.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We, collectively, make up that city when we come
together as a church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And people are
watching Grace/Orlando.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others look at
us and want to know how we respond to the homeless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we respond to crime and to victims of
crime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we welcome strangers when
they come in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">The church is a city on a hill, not just
individuals – but the church as a whole is that city.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">So we together need to work together to make
sure that what our community sees in us is the kind of city set on a hill that
Christ desires.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Now there is one other level in which we can
understand the call to be a city on a hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">And it is this level that particularly resonates
with us later this week as we celebrate the Fourth of July.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">It is us as a nation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">I have a friend on Facebook, and like a lot of
friends on Facebook I have never met Kate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kate and I share the hobby of astronomy and that is how we have
connected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kate would be furious if she
found out that I was talking about her in a sermon – she is an atheist and
hates anything to do with the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
we do have good conversations about astronomy, and sometimes about faith. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is intensely interested in politics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wanted Hillary to win so badly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is watching the news very closely about
Trump’s appointment to the US Supreme Court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She counts the roll call votes on certain proposed legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Which surprises me because Kate lives on the
other side of this planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lives in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">I asked her one time why she had such a deep,
deep passionate interest in <u>our</u> politics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, I don’t follow Australian politics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">She said it was because what happened in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> was
felt all over the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> to lead
the rest of the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words,
even though she is an atheist, and even though she might not realize it, she
was in agreement with the words spoken by Jesus when he said to his disciples,
“You are the light of the world, a city on a hill.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1630 eleven ships carrying a thousand
Puritans left <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region> to
immigrate to <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one of the ships, the Arebella, their
future governor, John Winthrop, delievered a sermon named, “A Model of
Christian Charity.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In it he referred to
this text from Matthew and said that the colonies in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">America</st1:place></st1:country-region> were a city on a hill and
the eyes of all people were upon them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">The eyes of the world are still upon us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">The problem is that we are not doing as good of
a job as we should.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We fail, and we often fail miserably.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">As an individual, as a church, and as nation, we
are not that wonderful city on a hill for the world to see and be inspired by.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We have crime in this nation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We have racism.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We have scandals and corruption.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Because we have a Constitution that guarantees a
free press we air our dirty laundry whenever we discover problems and try to resolve
them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Hmmm…. Has there been an example of a community
that was called to be a city on a hill that failed in that calling?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Well, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sodom</st1:place></st1:city>
comes to mind!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">And that is not a very comfortable thought!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">You probably know the story of <st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city>
and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gomorrah</st1:place></st1:city>.
We have the impression, I think, that <st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gomorrah</st1:place></st1:city> were the rotten cities
of the ancient world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Flint</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">Michigan</st1:state></st1:place>,
with the corruption in its city government that failed to provide clean and
safe water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Or like <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Las
Vegas</st1:place></st1:city> and the greed and lust we associate with that
city.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Or like <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Washington</st1:city>
<st1:state w:st="on">DC</st1:state></st1:place> and the political quarmire we associate
with DC.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Sodom</span></span></st1:city><span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Gomorrah</st1:city></st1:place>
calls up the images of “bad and evil cities.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">But no, according to many Bible Scholars, they
were model communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were, by
many standards, living up to the call to be a city on a hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other communities looked up to them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Except for God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">God decides to destroy them because of their
sin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Do you know the sin that condemned them?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Well, the best interpreter of the Bible is the
Bible, and in Ezekiel 16:49, we read this:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">“</span></span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">This
was the guilt of your sister <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sodom</st1:place></st1:city>:
she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did
not aid the poor and needy.<span class="apple-converted-space">”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">As the story goes in the Book of Genesis,
Abraham learns about God’s plan to destroy <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city></st1:place>, and Abraham is concerned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he becomes an advocate on behalf of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Now we all know the old saying that </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">one bad
apple spoils the whole bunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Abraham
turns that around and wonders if a few good apples can save the bunch, or in
this case, the city on the hill, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sodom</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">"Wait a minute," says father Abraham.
"What if there are in that city, 50 righteous people? Will you save the
city?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And the messenger of God, an angel, says,
"Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Almost
immediately, Abraham thinks he might have overestimated the number of good
souls in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He might not be able to come up with 50
righteous people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">“What if there are 45?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I'll save it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"What if there are 40?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"I'll save it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"30?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Save it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Abraham is on a roll here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">"20? 10?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>"Even if there are only ten, I'll not
destroy it."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The concept of course, is not that one bad
apple spoils the bunch, but that one good apple can restore the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">A few good people, simply by being Christian people, the
salt of the earth, and the light of the world, can preserve and restore a
broken society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">You see, anytime we complain about the politicians in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Washington</st1:place></st1:state> not doing
enough, we need to look toward ourselves and ask, “what can I do to restore my
broken society?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We live in an age of violence. We may not be able to change
society, but we as individuals can say, I will not be violent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We live in an age of dishonesty, tax cheats, and workers who
steal from the office. We can't change others. But we can be the salt of the
earth and as individuals be people of honesty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We live in an age
in which others break their word and their pledge. We cannot change others
perhaps, but we can change ourselves. We can be people of integrity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">John Winthrop preached a sermon to a group of
Puritans who were coming to this nation to help build it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told them they were the city on the
hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told them that the world would
be watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the world has watched.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">If we don’t like what we see in our nation, then
we need to listen to one of the lessons of Sodom and start finding a few
righteous souls to redeem the city on the hill – and the only way to find such
people is for us to be better individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">If we are to redeem this nation, it is up to the
individuals who make up this country to become the salt of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textmatt-5-14"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Don’t like what you see in this country, or community?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t look at the sin of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look for the righteousness in yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-56050530263999740172017-06-23T12:08:00.004-04:002017-06-23T12:08:48.267-04:00Israili Chainsaw Massacre - Judges 19:22-28, Matthew 23:23-24<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt;"><strong>Judges 19:22-28<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">While they were enjoying themselves, some of the wicked men of the city
surrounded the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted to the old man who
owned the house, "Bring out the man who came to your house so we can have
sex with him."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The owner of the house went
outside and said to them, "No, my friends, don't be so vile. Since this
man is my guest, don't do this disgraceful thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his
concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to
them whatever you wish. But to this man, don't do such a disgraceful
thing."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the men would not listen
to him. So the man took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they
raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At daybreak the woman went back to
the house where her master was staying, fell down at the door and lay there
until daylight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When her master got up
in the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on
his way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her
hands on the threshold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said to her, "Get
up; let's go." But there was no answer. Then the man put her on his donkey
and set out for home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Book of Judges is one of those books of the Bible that we do not read often,
and yet, we are familiar with several of the stories in that book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We find Samson in the book of
Judges. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You remember him – the strongest
guy in the Bible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Gideon is also there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But most of the stories in Judges
are ones we don't remember well, because Judges is a book we don't often sit
down to read or study.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Because we do not read the book of
Judges very often, when we do read it we are absolutely shocked at what we
find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If
you were going to pick the strangest story of the Bible, then the top ten
finalists for that honor would have to come from the book of Judges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is in Judges you find the story
of dainty little Jael. While a warrior who was on friendly terms with her
husband was asleep, she took a tent peg and a hammer and drove the peg into his
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She drove it all the way through
and into the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Just as children of our age sing
songs of Lizzy Borden who took an ax and gave her father forty wacks, so did
the Song of Deborah sing about Jael being the Most Blessed of Women, and
(unlike her victim) the Most Blessed of Tent Dwellers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully no wives here will get any ideas
from Jael!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then there is Jephthah, who vows
before going into battle that if he wins the war, when he gets back home to the
farm, he will sacrifice whatever he sees at the gate of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wins the battle. When he goes back to the
farm what he sees at the gate of the house is not a goat or a cow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is his daughter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He sacrifices her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then there is Jair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His story takes all of one verse of the
Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are simply told he had 30
sons, who rode 30 donkeys and who ruled 30 towns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There must have been more to it than that,
but who knows what it might have been.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But the strangest story of all is
the one that closes the book of Judges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is about a man who had a concubine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A concubine was something like a wife, but not quite. She was something
like a slave, but not quite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was
something like a mistress, but not quite. Well, this concubine gets fed up with
the man and leaves him and goes home to Daddy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The man follows her and convinces her to come back to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few days, she agrees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But that's not the end of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the way home, they stay in a
stranger's home. That night, a gang of violent men come pounding on the door,
yelling, "Bring out that man, we want to have sex with him."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The owner of the house yells out to
the gang, "That is a disgraceful thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can't treat this man like this. But I
have young daughter, why don't you take her instead."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The men are not interested in the
girl and begin to get angry. So the traveling man takes his concubine, and
without asking how she feels about it, he throws her out the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the traveling man and the owner of the
house go to bed and sleep, while outside the house, the gang rapes and abuses
the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But that is not the end of the
story.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>At daybreak, the gang leaves the
woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She struggles back to the house.
The door is locked and she just collapses at the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The men inside the house wake up and
according to the Bible this is what happened: "When the master got up in
the morning and opened the door of the house and stepped out to continue on his
way, there lay his concubine, fallen in the doorway of the house, with her
hands on the threshold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said to her,
'Get up; let's go.'<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there was no
answer."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman is dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This is a baffling story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">But that's not the end of it.</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This strange story gets stranger as
the master takes the body home. Once there, he does not give her a
funeral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead he takes a knife and
mutilates the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cuts off her arms
and legs and sends pieces of her all over <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> with a description of what
has happened. And he sends a message along with the body parts asking, “Ok
tribe, what are you going to do about this?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As a result, an army of 400,000 men
gather and decide to destroy the Tribe of Benjamin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now if you are wondering what the Tribe of
Benjamin had to do with this, it was in the boundaries of that particular tribe
that the woman was raped and murdered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is then a series of battles
and all of the members of Tribe of Benjamin are killed, except for 600 men who
hide in the hills. To insure that the Tribe would be destroyed, it is agreed
that it will be forbidden to allow any survivor of the Tribe of Benjamin to
have a wife.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>But that is not the end of the
story.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"> begins to regret what it has done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Tribe of Benjamin is on the verge of being wiped out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, there are supposed to be 12 tribes
of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
and here they are about to destroy one of the tribes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are supposed to be 12 tribes, but there
is about to be only 11.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So they make peace with Benjamin,
which is now a tribe of 600 men who have no wives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is illegal to give these men wives, so
what does <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>
do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They throw a party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they don't give the men wives, they let
them kidnap some innocent women, to be dragged off to be wives for the tribe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>NOW it is the end of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like that – that is the way it ends.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I read a good bit of Science Fiction
and as I read this story, I feel that I am reading something out of Science
Fiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not because of some
scientific technology in the story, but because of the alien-ness of this
event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so alien, it feels as if it
must have happened on another planet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What kind of story is this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first it feels like a love story in which
there is a man whose lover leaves him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He goes after her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But no, its
not a love story, because whatever this man feels for the concubine it
certainly is not love that he feels as he throws her out the door to meet her
fate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is a violent story, with rape,
murder, even genocide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is difficult to know exactly what
this story is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so alien
to our way of thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then again, maybe this story and the
behavior of its characters is not so alien after all. They may be more like us
than we would like to admit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When you strip away the outer layers
of the cultural differences and work your way to the heart of the story, what
you have is a people in search of justice. That's all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is no justice in their
land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than anything else, they want
to see justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is a commendable thing to want
justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be that this is the ONLY
commendable thing that you can say about any of the people involved with this
event. They want justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If there was justice, then a man
traveling far from home would not be attacked by a threatening gang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in search of justice, the man stays behind
the safety of a locked door and throws out a woman to the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But - If there was justice, then a
woman would not have been treated that way - like worthless property to be
thrown into the hands of a gang, like a piece of meat thrown into the jaws of a
hungry animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in search of justice,
the nation of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>
goes out to destroy an entire tribe of people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But - If there was justice, a tribe
of people would not face extinction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
in search of justice, their neighbors stand by and let the survivors kidnap
women to serve as their wives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>These people in this story are all
searching for justice, which is commendable, but they are so perverted in their
understanding of what justice is, that they simply continue to make this story
worse and worse and worse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>These people are looking for
justice, and are unable to find it. The obvious reason as to why they cannot
find justice is that they don't know what justice is. They would not know
justice if it were staring them right in the face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You want to find some justice in
this world? Wonderful. The first step is to discover out what justice really
is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This long biblical story presents a
wonderful case study of three common misconceptions we have about justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><u><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">The first misconception is
that justice is something that protects YOU.</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the story, the man is threatened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a sense of what is just, he protects
himself, stays behind the locked door as he throws the woman outside to meet
her fate, while he goes to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The purpose of justice, so he
thought, was so that he would be protected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is not what justice is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
that is not so alien a way of thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>WE sometimes think about justice in that way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We think that if there is justice in
the world, <i>we</i> will be protected from all harm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forget about the poor, forget about racial
hatred, forget about the fellow lost a job yesterday. If there is justice in
the world, protect <i>ME</i>, and my freedom and my job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Justice means God watches over me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Now that is not true, but it is not that far from the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Justice is not God watching over ME.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Justice is God watching over ALL of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">In Judges, the people thought that justice was a way of getting
protection for yourself. So the man in Judges feels it is right to throw the
woman out to the gang to be raped and murdered, as long as he is able to lock
the door, climb into bed and feel protected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Justice, must be for all, or it is perverted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The traveling man in Judges had a right to be
protected, but so did the woman.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">If we want justice for ourselves, fine, but let's make sure that we do
not gain it at the expense of another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we work for justice for us, let's work for justice for the poor in our
community, for the illiterate, for the powerless, for the other person. Not
just for us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><u><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">The second misconception
many people have about justice is that they have the impression that justice
means permissiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">The Tribe of Benjamin becomes the focus of the anger of the rest of their
neighbors not simply because the rape and murder happened within their
boundaries, but because the Tribe of Benjamin let it happened and did nothing
about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose of justice, so
Benjamin thinks, was permissiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is not such an alien way of thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE sometimes think that this is what justice
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's your thing, do what you want to
do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Permissiveness is not justice, but it is not too far off the mark</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>Justice is not permissiveness, but mercy</u>.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> The two are not the same.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Mercy and justice go hand in hand. But mercy is not permissiveness. Mercy
does not permit someone to move into the future unbridled, doing whatever he or
she wants to do. Mercy reaches backward into the past and heals our broken souls
of our past disobedience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">In the New Testament Lesson from Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus rebukes some of
the people listening to his sermons because they give great importance to some
articles of the faith, but very little to justice and mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Justice – you cannot have it without mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<u><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">The third
misconception many people have about justice is that it is the same as
revenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">In the biblical story, the nation of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> decides to destroy the tribe
of Benjamin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revenge, they think, is
what justice is all about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, this
is not so alien to our way of thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You push me, and I'll shove you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Some people don't see a difference in the two – punishment and revenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the difference?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Revenge is getting even. Revenge is inflicting hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revenge is done with a sneer and a fist, with
meanness in one's heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Punishment, however, is meant to build up. It is intended to help someone
move beyond their mistakes and errors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is done with a love in one's heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">This God, who is often described in the Bible as a heavenly “father,” is
a God who loves justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, admittedly
the image of God as Father is stretched too thinly if one thinks of a father
who is absent or abusive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when a
father conducts himself appropriately, we have excellent images of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember my father punished me more than a
few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t remember him ever
seeking revenge against me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, so
many of us confuse punishment as the same as revenge when it comes to justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">This story from Judges is confusing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At first glance you just want to ignore it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go to something simple like the Beattitudes or
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here it is in the Scripture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when you take a deep look, you find that
it portrays humanity at its worst moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a story of perverted justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">You want to find some justice in this world? Fine. The first step is to
find out what justice really is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strip
away the misconceptions and find the truth to what justice is about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Justice is not for you, but for <u>all</u> people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Justice is not permissive, but it is <u>mercy</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">Justice is not vengeful or angry, but <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it is disciplining punishment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"></span><div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;">
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Copyright 2017. </span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><b><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Ministers may feel free to
use some or all of this sermon in their own ministries as long as they do not
publish in print or on the Internet without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText3" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-38416207773277579962017-06-23T12:08:00.003-04:002017-06-23T12:08:30.426-04:00CHANGE - Ezra 3:10-13; Hebrews 13:6-8
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 3pt 0pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>Old Testament
Lesson
Ezra 3:10-13<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<em><span class="textezra-3-10"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></sup></b></span><span class="textezra-3-10"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">10 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezra-3-10"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">When
the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textezra-3-10"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">,
the priests in their vestments were stationed to praise the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span><span class="textezra-3-10"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">with trumpets, and the Levites,
the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to the directions of King David of
Israel;</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span><span class="textezra-3-11"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">11 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezra-3-11"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">and
they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textezra-3-11"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">,</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="line" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-11"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><em>“For he is good,</em></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /><em>
<span class="textezra-3-11">for his steadfast love endures forever toward <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>.”</span><o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="first-line-none" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-11"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p><em> </em></o:p></span></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="first-line-none" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<em><span class="textezra-3-11"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">And
all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="textezra-3-11"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">,
because the foundation of the house of the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span><span class="textezra-3-11"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">was laid.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></em></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="first-line-none" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<em><span class="textezra-3-12"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">12 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">But many of the priests and
Levites and heads of families, old people who had seen the first house on its
foundations, wept with a loud voice when they saw this house, though many
shouted aloud for joy,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span><span class="textezra-3-13"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezra-3-13"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">so that the people could not
distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s
weeping, for the people shouted so loudly that the sound was heard far away.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 3pt 0pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>New Testament
Lesson Hebrews 13:2-8 </em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 3pt 0pt 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 6pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em> <o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<em><span class="textheb-13-6"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">6 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textheb-13-6"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">So we
can say with confidence,</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div class="line" style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="textheb-13-6"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><em>“The Lord is my helper;</em></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /><em>
</em></span><em><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textheb-13-6"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">I
will not be afraid.</span></span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><br /><em>
<span class="textheb-13-6">What can anyone do to me?”</span><o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<em>
</em><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
<em><span class="textheb-13-7"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">7 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textheb-13-7"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Remember
your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of
their way of life, and imitate their faith.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"> </span></span><span class="textheb-13-8"><b><sup><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt;">8 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textheb-13-8"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">Jesus
Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.</span></span></em><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 87%; margin: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 87%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 87%; margin: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 87%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 87%; margin: 0in 0.5pt 0pt 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 87%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
Ezra, our Old Testament lesson for today, something interesting is going
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something exciting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are rebuilding the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was destroyed 66 years earlier, but now
they are rebuilding it and they have laid the foundation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they have a great worship service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The priests are in their finest
vestments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choirs are signing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The musicians are playing their instruments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The young are shouting with joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
– the Bible says “<span class="textezra-3-12">many of the priests and Levites and
heads of families, old people who had seen the first house on its foundations,
wept with a loud voice when they saw this house.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is so easy for people to say, “Back
in my day – things were better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a
better temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had better music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had better worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had better fellowship activities.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Everything in life changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to get used to that, and we should
rejoice at many of these changes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You know what happens when an organization or an individual
refuses to change?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It dies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>AT&T – anyone know what those
initials mean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>American Telephone and TELEGRAPH.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Telegraph?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who sends telegraph messages today?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have one telegram in my scrap book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was 7 years old and a man came to the door
and when my Mom and I answered it, the man said, “Telegram for Master William
Maynard Pittendreigh.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was from my
Dad sending me a birthday greeting from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">New
York</st1:state></st1:place> because he had to be there on business on my
birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No one sends telegrams anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><st1:place w:st="on">Western Union</st1:place>
stopped in 2006.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And no one refers to little boys as “Master” so and so –
people haven’t done that in decades.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But AT&T – American Telephone and TELEGRAPH - is still a
large company, earning $42 billion in revenue in 2016.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>AT&T was founded in 1885, but it changed
and adapted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the way they understood
that they were not in the telegraph business but the COMMUNICATION
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of telegraph machines,
today they are into cable television, cell phones and internet technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>They changed and adapted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the other hand, there is the Kodak
company.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Back in my day, Kodak ruled the
world’s photography culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in my
day, I took photographs with a camera that held a roll of film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would then take the film in my dark room
and developed the negatives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the
negatives dried I put the negatives into an enlarger and projected an image on
paper, then dipped the paper into a developing solution then a solution of
fixer and let that paper dry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Those days are gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very seldom does someone take pictures with
film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s all digital.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Today, I take a picture with my
telephone and in an instant I post it on Facebook and people all over the world
can see it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Do you know what company invented the
digital camera?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kodak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But after they developed the digital
camera in 1975, the company dropped it because they were afraid of change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They felt threatened, so they tried to keep
change from happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.nst.com.my/opinion/editorial/kodak-s-last-days-1.42251"><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: #0b0080; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 150%;">"Kodak's Last Days"</span></a><span style="background: rgb(247, 247, 247); color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7.5pt; line-height: 150%;">. nst.com. February 5, 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="nowrap">March 14,</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="reference-accessdate">2012</span>.</span><span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kodak is still a good company, but it
is not the company it once was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1988
the company employed 145,000 people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Today it is about 6,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1999,
the value of its stock was $80, earlier this week it was about $9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>You can change, or die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Things change in our families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Change happens at work and in school.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Things even change in the church –
believe it or not!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Ezra, things were changing for the community of
faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without getting too bogged down in the history, let me give
you a brief summary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The people of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Judah</st1:country-region></st1:place>
were invaded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They rebelled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They lost and were exiled in the land of
their invaders.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Decades go by.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The time comes when politics change, and the people of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Judah</st1:country-region></st1:place>
are beginning to be allowed to return home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That brings us to the book of Ezra.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Big change!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The people who go back to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place> find that it is not what they
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They grew up hearing stories
of this great <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">God</st1:placename></st1:place>, and they find it
destroyed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the books of Ezra and
Nehemiah, the people begin the work to rebuild the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They could have easily sat back and done nothing about
rebuilding the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city></st1:place>.
But they are willing to create change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And as they rebuild the <st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city>,
it is not the exact same thing as the former <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is ----- different.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And when the foundations are laid in our Old Testament
lesson, the younger people are thrilled, but the old dudes – they are in
tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They remember the way it used to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh the way it used to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span class="textezra-3-12"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The choir was so much better back then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now they sing these new songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
curtains look like this now, but back then they looked different.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Change!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How do you
deal with change?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First, accept it! Deal with it and move on!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Ezra the
people did not have much time to settle in once they returned from Exile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had about two months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They could easily have said, “Wait, you ask me to help building the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city></st1:place>, let me build my
house first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me put my children in
the best schools first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me get
adjusted to things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then call me in 18
months and I’ll help rebuild the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city></st1:place>.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">No – they
got right to work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Earlier
this week, I was talking with someone about the book and the movie, “Hidden
Figures.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That is the
story of some very smart folks who worked to put the first Americans in
space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were human computers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before the age of the IBM Computer, these
people had to do calculations with pencil and paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is particularly interesting because
they were women and they were African American, and in the 1960s that meant
they had a lot of obstacles placed before them by an unfair society.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But they
overcame them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">One day,
one of the supervisors discovers that NASA is installing a new IBM
Computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knows that she will soon
become obsolete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Change is
in the air!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">She could
have sat back and accepted things without taking action, but no, she embraces
the change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She teaches herself computer
programming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She teaches this to all of
her team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that when the change takes
place, they can work with computers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They embrace the change and become part of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The second thing we can
learn from Ezra is that you can handle change best if God is in the midst of
the changes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Ezra,
the people in his day accept change by beginning with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first thing they did was to build the
altar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This meant they could make
sacrifices and have worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They put
God first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were not just building a
monument to the past, they were building a relationship with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Whatever
change comes in your life or to your church, put God first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
you see changes happening in your church, you might be inclined to reject it
because it is change!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But put God
first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is God bringing the change,
you had better embrace that change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is one thing to resist change, but don’t be the one who resists God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Same
thing with changes in your life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Getting
married?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put God first.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Planning
retirement?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put God first.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Starting
college?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put God first.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A third thing we can learn about embracing change is
that it is important to have an unchanging anchor in your life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In a world
in which everything is changing, you have to have some anchors in your life
that never change, that keep your life stable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The problem
is that many of us pick the wrong anchor to hold onto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For example, at one time, most
Christian churches sang only from the Book of Psalms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were the divinely inspired hymns and
people refused to sing any other songs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then came Isaac Watts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took the words of the Psalms and
rearranged them and created brand new songs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“When I survey the Wondrous Cross,”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Joy to the World,” “Alas! And did my Savior Bleed.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The response of some churches was
division.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">People wanted the old songs and
others wanted the new ones. The church was changing back in 1700, and the church
was changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Music was changing!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And as in any time of change, people
needed some unchanging anchors to hold onto.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The problem is, many of them chose
the old music they had grown up with as the unchanging anchor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bad choice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Music was changing whether they liked
it or not.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only thing that does not change
is God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course you need something in your
life that does not change – but the only thing in life that does not change is
God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the New Testament, Hebrews tells
us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God never changes – so cling to God
and God alone as your anchor in the storms of change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for music, it changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some churches began to sing the songs of
Isaac Watts and other contemporary music of the 18<sup>th</sup> Century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some churches held fast to the old music –
and where are they now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you find a
church that only sings songs from the Old Testament Book of Psalms?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They died out in my great grandfather’s time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Change – it is difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But you have to live with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because like it or not, things do change. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But in the midst of change, hang onto
God who never changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let God and God
alone be the stability in your life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">And now unto
God the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">God the Son,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">Copyright 2017. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in
their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the Internet
without ascribing credit to the author.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-36060316359789653762017-06-08T11:10:00.000-04:002017-06-08T11:10:27.984-04:00"How Does This End?" A Sermon for the First Anniversary of the Pulse Shooting<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 3pt 0in 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Old Testament Lesson Psalm 37:1-20<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span class="textps-37-1"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Do not fret because of the wicked;</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-1"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">do not be envious of wrongdoers,</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="textps-37-2"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;"><span id="en-NRSV-14453" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">2 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-2"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">for they will soon fade like the grass,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-2"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">and wither like the green herb.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="line" style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 13.8pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span id="en-NRSV-14454" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textps-37-3"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;">3 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Trust in the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="textps-37-3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">, and do good;</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="textps-37-4"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;"><span id="en-NRSV-14455" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">4 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-4"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Take delight in the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="textps-37-4"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-4"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">and he will give you the desires of your heart.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="line" style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 13.8pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span id="en-NRSV-14456" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textps-37-5"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;">5 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-5"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Commit your way to the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="textps-37-5"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">;</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-5"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">trust in him, and he will act.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="textps-37-6"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;"><span id="en-NRSV-14457" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">6 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-6"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">He will make your vindication shine like the light,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-6"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">and the justice of your cause like the noonday.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="line" style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 13.8pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span id="en-NRSV-14458" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textps-37-7"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;">7 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-7"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Be still before the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="textps-37-7"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">, and wait patiently for him;</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-7"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">do not fret over those who prosper in their way,</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-7"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">over those who carry out evil devices.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="line" style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 13.8pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><span id="en-NRSV-14459" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textps-37-8"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;">8 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-8"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-8"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Do not fret—it leads only to evil.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="textps-37-9"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;"><span id="en-NRSV-14460" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">9 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-9"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">For the wicked shall be cut off,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-9"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">but those who wait for the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textps-37-9"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">shall inherit the land.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span id="en-NRSV-14461" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textps-37-10"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;">10 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-10"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more;</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-10"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="textps-37-11"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;"><span id="en-NRSV-14462" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">11 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-11"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">But the meek shall inherit the land,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-11"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span id="en-NRSV-14463" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textps-37-12"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;">12 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-12"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">The wicked plot against the righteous,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-12"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">and gnash their teeth at them;</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="textps-37-13"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;"><span id="en-NRSV-14464" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">13 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-13"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">but the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textps-37-13"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">laughs at the wicked,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-13"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">for he sees that their day is coming.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span id="en-NRSV-14465" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textps-37-14"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;">14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-14"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-14"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">to bring down the poor and needy,</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-14"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">to kill those who walk uprightly;</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="textps-37-15"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;"><span id="en-NRSV-14466" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">15 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-15"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">their sword shall enter their own heart,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-15"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">and their bows shall be broken.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span id="en-NRSV-14467" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textps-37-16"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;">16 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-16"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Better is a little that the righteous person has</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-16"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">than the abundance of many wicked.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="textps-37-17"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;"><span id="en-NRSV-14468" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">17 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-17"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-17"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">but the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textps-37-17"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">upholds the righteous.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span id="en-NRSV-14469" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textps-37-18"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;">18 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-18"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">The</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textps-37-18"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">knows the days of the blameless,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-18"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">and their heritage will abide forever;</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="textps-37-19"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;"><span id="en-NRSV-14470" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">19 </span></span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-19"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">they are not put to shame in evil times,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-19"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">in the days of famine they have abundance.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span id="en-NRSV-14471" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textps-37-20"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 7pt;">20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textps-37-20"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">But the wicked perish,</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-20"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">and the enemies of the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span class="textps-37-20"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">are like the glory of the pastures;</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 4pt;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span><span class="textps-37-20"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;">they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 12pt;"><i>New Testament Lesson Revelation 19:1-6<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i><span class="textrev-19-1"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="textrev-19-1"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">“Hallelujah!</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
<span class="textrev-19-1">Salvation and glory and power to our God,</span><br />
</span><span class="textrev-19-2"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt;">2 </span></sup></b></span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrev-19-2"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">for his judgments are true and just;</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
<span class="textrev-19-2">he has judged the great whore</span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrev-19-2"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">who corrupted the earth with her fornication,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
<span class="textrev-19-2">and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”</span></span><span class="textrev-19-2"><sup><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 8pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+19%3A1-6&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-31004a" title="See footnote a"><span style="color: windowtext;">a</span></a>]</span></sup></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="textrev-19-3"><b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt;">3 </span></b></span><span class="textrev-19-3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">Once more they said,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="textrev-19-3"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">“Hallelujah!</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
<span class="textrev-19-3">The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="textrev-19-4"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt;">4 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrev-19-4"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="textrev-19-4"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">“Amen. Hallelujah!”</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="textrev-19-5"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt;">5 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrev-19-5"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">And from the throne came a voice saying,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="textrev-19-5"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">“Praise our God,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrev-19-5"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">all you his servants,</span></span><span class="textrev-19-5"><sup><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 8pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+19%3A1-6&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-31007b" title="See footnote b"><span style="color: windowtext;">b</span></a>]</span></sup></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
<span class="textrev-19-5">and all who fear him,</span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrev-19-5"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">small and great.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="textrev-19-6"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.5pt;">6 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textrev-19-6"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out,</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="textrev-19-6"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">“Hallelujah!</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><br />
<span class="textrev-19-6">For the Lord our God</span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 5.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textrev-19-6"><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;">the Almighty reigns.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"> Last year at this time, our community was hurting. It seemed to be one major event after another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Right across the street there was a young man who tried to break into several homes. He finally was able to gain access to one home and murdered 67 year-old Linda Jones. She lived a quiet life, working as a Sunday School teacher in one of our sister churches, and as a volunteer grief counselor at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Arnold</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Palmer</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Hospital</st1:placename></st1:place>. It was a senseless murder that shook many in this neighborhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Then a few days later Christine Grimmie performed at the Plaza Live, just a short drive from here. After the performance she was greeting people and signing autographs, and a young man who had become obsessed with her shot and killed her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">The next day came the Pulse Nightclub shooting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">That was on a Sunday morning and many of you were awakened by the sound of gunfire. Some were unable to come to church because of closed roads. Throughout the morning we kept learning and announcing details during our worship services. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">At about that same time, a family who came to our community to enjoy some time at Disney were enjoying a lake-front beach at the hotel and their two year old child was killed by an alligator. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Last year at about this time we were just hit with one terrible tragedy after another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">It may leave you thinking about what a terrible time it is in which we live, leaving you asking, How does all this end? Do things just get worse and worse? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Even now a year after the Pulse and all of those other terrible things, we continue to have terrible news.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">A few days ago a disgruntled former employee went into a small business and killed a number of workers. It was right here in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Orlando</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">In <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Manchester</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>, on May 22<sup>nd</sup>, there was the bombing with 22 fatalities and 120 injuries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">On June 3<sup>rd</sup>, there was a van that rammed into groups of pedestrians, followed by stabbing attacks, leaving 7 dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">There was quite a scare in Notre Dame in <st1:country-region w:st="on">France</st1:country-region> earlier this week when someone with a hammer and some knives started to attack others, shooting out that “This is for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>.” He was stopped by police, but the fear that gripped the city was deep and real. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">How will all of this end?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Does it just keep going on and on without end?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;"> If you want to have an answer to the question, “how will this end,” you can go to no better place than the Book of Revelation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Revelation is a confusing book. We get bogged down in all of the strange parts of it. We know there are important clues, but we don’t know how to interpret them. 666? What’s that about? All those earthquakes and fires and floods? Meteors falling to earth? How are we to understand all of that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">You <i><u>can</u></i> get bogged down in a lot of little issues in Revelation, but I’m going to give you the bottom line, big picture of how it all comes out in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">The answer to the most important question is not – what does 666 mean. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">The most important question is “how does all of this end?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Revelation was written at a very difficult time in history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Now, we think we have it bad, but let’s be honest. These are not the worst times of history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Some of you lived through the depression – that was far worse than the Great Recession we went through in recent years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Earlier this week we observed the anniversary of D-Day. In 1944, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Allied forces stormed the beaches of <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> in World War 2. In that war 72 million people died.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">World War 1, 65 million dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">The Black Plague, 25 million dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We are living in the safest time of history, and yet we feel unsafe, in part because the very nature of terrorism is designed to do just that. It makes us feel the terror of the violence, even when we ourselves are not personally injured.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">And so in these times when terrorism haunts us, we find ourselves asking, “how will all this end?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">And the answer that Revelation provides is simple: You find it in verse 6 of our reading this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">“Our Lord God Almighty reigns.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">God rules!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">God is in control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">God never stopped being in control. God was never threatened. God has always been on his throne. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">What does it mean to live in an evil world and to say, “God is in control?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">When the Book of Revelation was written, it was during a time of tremendous violence and evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Christians were being killed for their faith. There was no religious freedom. There were wars. There were terrorists. Crime was rampant. The city of Rome had suffered a terrible city-wide fire. Ethics were out and scandals were in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">It would have been easy for Christians to lose their faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">It would have been easy for them to respond to violence with violence. It would have been easy to have given up on ethical living, and to have lived like everyone else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">But when John told his church, “God is in control,” it meant, “we know how the movie ends. We’ve read the spoiler in the review. We know what the last page of history says.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">To know that God is in control is to be able to live justly, in unjust world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">To know that God is in control is to be able to love, when there so much hate in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">To know that God is in control is to be able to watch the television news with its stories of rape and violence and murder and not go crazy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">In 1770, an incident in Boston led to British soldiers firing upon civilians, killing five Americans. You’ve read about that incident – the Boston Massacre. The colonists were outraged and this incident contributed to a growing movement of American independency. Many wanted to hang the British without trial, calling them enemy combatants. John Adams, one of our greatest founding fathers, agreed to defend the British troops in a court of law. He believed that even in the face of great evil, the rule of law and the right of trial must be held sacred.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">But he and his wife faced threats of violence, and they were concerned for their lives and for the lives of their children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">In his diary, John Adams reflected on the encouragement he received from his wife, who had told him that, “she was very willing to share in all that was to come and place her trust that God was in control.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">To say that God is in control is not to understand God, but to trust God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">To say that God is in control is not to how these terrible things in the world will end, but it is to say that we know that they will end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">God is in control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">He was in control at the time of creation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">He was in control at the time John wrote Revelation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">He is in control today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">And someday, Christ will return and establish his rightful and righteous kingdom and there will be no longer any doubt that God is indeed in control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">That is the good news of Revelation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">I heard a story recently about a mother who was struggling with her strong-willed 3-year-old son, Thomas, who looked at him with a stern eye and asked a question that she thought would bring the child in line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thomas, who is in charge here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">She did not get the answer she expected or hoped for, which was that she, the mother, was in charge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">But she was not disappointed with the answer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">Apparently quoting what he had learned in Sunday School, Thomas answered without batting an eye, “Jesus is in charge.”<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/welcome%20template.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We live in a time of violence, but it will not always be this way – for God is in control and Jesus is coming back soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We live in a time of illness and disease and terrible deaths, but it will not always be this way for God is in control and Jesus is coming back soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 150%;">We live in a time of terrorists and crime and natural disasters, but it will not always be this way – for God is in control and Jesus is coming back soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">And now unto God the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">God the Son,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">And God the Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and forever, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">PRAYER IN COMMEMORATION OF THE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE PULSE SHOOTING<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: Gracious and
loving God, on this weekend our community cannot help but be aware of the
significance of tomorrow’s anniversary of the Pulse shooting. We pause to remember those who will lead,
participate and gather at community activities to remember this sad event. We pray that all such gatherings this week
will be peaceful.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People: Hear our
prayers, dear Lord.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: We live in a
world that is often stained by violence and evil. Help us to also see good in our world, that
we may promote love, peace and kindness.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People: Hear us as we
pray for the 49 innocent victims who died in last year’s shooting in our
community. Bring peace to their families
and loved ones.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: Hear us as we
pray in silence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>A bell is tolled 7 times.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: We live in a
community. We are bound together by the
wonderful gifts of family, friends, coworkers and colleagues. When one member of our community hurts, we
share their pain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People: Hear us as we
pray for the survivors of last year’s shooting.
Help them continue to recover from the violence they witnessed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: Hear us as we
pray in silence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>A bell is tolled 7 times.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: You have
called us to serve our community in different ways. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People: We pray for those
called to work in law enforcement, as firefighters, or in emergency medical care. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: We thank you that you gave them strength for the day
of crisis.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People: We pray for
all counselors, chaplains and pastors, social workers, teachers, community
leaders and others who gave comfort to a hurting community.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: We thank you
that you give strength to those who work to give courage to the weak and
hurting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People: Continue to
grant them healing for the spiritual wounds they may have suffered.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: Hear us as we
pray in silence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>A bell is tolled 7 times.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: Gracious God,
we know that many felt intense fear because of last year’s violent attack. We pray for people who feel they are targeted
because of sexual orientation, nationality, race or culture. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People: Help us to
stand strong and united against hate and violence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: Hear us as we
pray in silence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>A bell is tolled 7 times.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: We give you
thanks for opportunities you give this congregation to serve you and our
community. Through us and through our
partners in ministry we provided a safe place for law enforcement and their
spouses to seek counseling in the days and weeks following the Pulse
shooting. Elderly of the victims’ families
found temporary care through our senior day care partners, Share the Care. In many quiet ways known only to you, our
members found opportunities to give comfort to those whom they personally knew
who were related to victims.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People: Continue to
give us opportunities to make a difference in our community.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: Hear us as we
pray in silence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>A bell is tolled 7 times.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h1 style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Leader: Last
year we suffered the terrible news of the Pulse shooting. But we also pause to remember other events of
that same week. We remember the tragic
shooting of the singer, C</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">hristina Grimmie, which took place one day before the
shooting at the Pulse Nightclub.<br />
People: We pray for Christina’s family
and friends, that they would not feel forgotten by our community.<br />
Leader: Days before the shooting at the
Pulse, a neighbor across the street from our church was killed in a home
invasion.<br />
People: We pray for the family, friends
and neighbors of Linda Jones, and we give thanks for her work as a member of
her church, and for the people she touched as a grief counselor at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Arnold</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Palmer</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Hospital</st1:placename></st1:place>.<br />
Leader: Hear us as we pray in silence.<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>A bell is tolled 7 times.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: We pray for
those who have suffered violence in recent weeks and days. We have seen tragic events take place in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Manchester</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
at Notre Dame, France, and in so many other places. We have seen violence once again in our own
community at the hands of a disgruntled worker attacking others here in <st1:city w:st="on">Orlando</st1:city>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People: We pray for
all those who suffer violence in our community and across the globe. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: Hear us as we
pray in silence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>A bell is tolled 7 times.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leader: Loving God,
you have created so much good in this world.
We give you thanks. Teach us to
be a people of peace and compassion.
Give us opportunities to minister to all who are suffering. Teach us to forgive others. Give us strength so that love may overcome
hate, and faith may conquer fear.</div>
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</div>
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<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Copyright 2017. </span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the Internet without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/welcome%20template.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <span style="font-size: 8pt;">PreachingToday.com – A Higher Order; Citation: Susan C. Kimber, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Brea</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">CA</st1:state></st1:place>. <i>Today’s Christian Woman,</i> "Heart to Heart."</span></div>
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Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-83091006466046340792017-05-12T10:35:00.000-04:002017-05-12T10:35:04.799-04:00Eternal Home - John 14:1-4<h1 class="passage-display" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="passage-display-bcv" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-right: 10px;">John 14:1-4</span><span class="passage-display-version" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;">New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)</span></h1>
<h3 style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.55em; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.1; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 20px; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="text John-14-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="chapternum" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; bottom: -0.1em; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; left: 0px; line-height: 0.8em; position: relative; text-indent: 0px;">14 </span>“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NRSV-26659a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-26659a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.62em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:1-4#fen-NRSV-26659a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>in God, believe also in me.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="text John-14-2" id="en-NRSV-26660" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">2 </sup>In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?<sup class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-NRSV-26660b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-26660b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.62em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:1-4#fen-NRSV-26660b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: none; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</sup></span><span class="text John-14-3" id="en-NRSV-26661" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </sup>And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="text John-14-4" id="en-NRSV-26662" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><sup class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </sup>And you know the way to the place where I am going.”</span></h3>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">When I was a young teenager, I got my driver’s
license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would get in the car and
drive all over the countryside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day,
I came across a place along US 25, somewhere in either <st1:city w:st="on">Greenville</st1:city>
or <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Greenwood County</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">SC.</st1:state></st1:place><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was a beautiful oak tree, perfectly shaped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The power lines were on that side of the
road, but when they came to that tree, the power lines crossed the road,
continued for a few poles, and then the lines crossed again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told my Dad about it and he remembered when
the power lines first went up on that road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The owner of that property sat in a chair, shot gun in hand, and dared
anyone to trim that tree – so the local utilities felt it was in everyone’s
best interest, to spend a little extra money on a few extra poles and avoid
damaging that beautiful tree.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">It was going to be there forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">When the road was turned into a 4 lane road, there
was a slight curve in that road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">That tree was going to be there forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">A few years ago I found myself on that stretch
of highway and was looking forward to seeing that tree.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">That wonderful, beautiful tree is now nothing
more than an ugly stump.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">It seems that a few years ago it was struck by
lightning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s dead – dead as can be!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Even trees die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Everything dies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">From time to time I can see in my telescope a
bright star in a galaxy far, far away that had not previously been
visible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such events are called
Supernova!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the stars in that
galaxy blows up. It became a supernova.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For several weeks, months even, there was one very, very bright star in
that galaxy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it fades, leaving only
remnants of a once glorious star.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Even the stars die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Our own star will someday die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It won’t blow up into a supernova, because it
is not massive enough to generate that sort of instability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, our sun is just a tiny little thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But someday it will use up all of its
hydrogen and will burn helium for fuel, thus becoming a red giant star, and the
Earth will be sucked into the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
only have 5.4 billion years left!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">But – everything dies!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Earth!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Hmmm, mmm!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t you love these uplifting sermons!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">In the Old Testament, Isaiah 51:6, it says, “Lift
up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish
like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like
flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well, at least there is some good news.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">One day, I will be dead and gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so will you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">But my soul – and I trust yours as well - the
essence of what and who we are – will be in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Now let’s be honest, it’s one thing to talk
about the eventual death of our sun in a few billion years, but to talk about
our death, which could come at any moment, makes us uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Comedian Woody Allen said it best when he said,
“I’m not afraid of death, I just don’t want to be there when it happens to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">But beyond our moment of death – have you ever
given any thought toward that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
happens when we die and go to heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What is heaven like? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">First,
Heaven is a place beyond our ability to comprehend.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we would like is a travel brochure or a
map or some photographs to show us exactly what heaven is like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said in today’s reading, “In my
Father’s house there are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can have a floor plan of that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
– we don’t have that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot conceive
of heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">I can conceive of the distance of 2 or 3 miles,
but I when I think of a million miles?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s beyond my ability to comprehend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">I can understand having a credit card debt of
$100.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But a national debt of trillions
of dollars?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between a trillion and a
billion I can’t conceive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">To imagine heaven?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the reason it is impossible to comprehend
is because it is so much better than anything we have experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">I’ve had a good life – I can even imagine it
getting a little bit better -- but Heaven is so far, far better than any of my
experiences that I simply cannot conceive with my limited imagination what it
is like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In recent years, with all of the
progress we’ve witnessed in technological advances in medicine, people have
been brought back from the brink of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is not unusual for us to us to hear that someone on the operating
table was dead for a short time, and then revived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Occasionally such people recover with
extra-ordinary memories about their experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is even a movie currently in the
theaters about one young boy’s supposed experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps some of you have had such
experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who have, often say
that it is difficult to describe such events – we do not have the vocabulary
with which to describe the incomprehensible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of course, others question such
experiences and suggest that such experiences are due to nothing more than
oxygen deprivation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>To which I would reply, so what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We base our faith on one thing – the Word of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Near Death Experiences may give us
inspiration for our faith, but we do not base our faith on such stories alone –
we base our faith on the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the Bible tells us what Heaven is like in I Corinthians 2:9, which
says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has
prepared for those who love him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Second,
having said that Heaven is beyond comprehension, one thing we can say with
certainty is that it is a place of joy.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We might not be able to fully comprehend how
much joy there is, but we can say that heaven is a place of joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">In heaven there will be no disappointment or
pain. Death will be no more. Sorrow and sighing will flee away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are told this in the Old Testament book of
Isaiah. (Isaiah 51:11).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">The Bible teaches us time and again about the
joy of heaven, and no where is this more clearly stated than in Revelation,
when it is said that God will “wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be
no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed
away” (Revelation 21:4).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">But
this is not to say that heaven will be a dull place</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heaven will be interesting and exciting
because we will never stop growing spiritually and intellectually. We will
understand things in new ways, for Paul in I Corinthians says this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a
mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know
fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">4
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">What is
heaven like? Heaven is a place of fellowship.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Many people have
expressed concern to me about whether they will know their loved ones in
heaven. Everything in Scripture points to the reality that we will know each
other, and even know each other better than we do now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the Old Testament book of Genesis,
chapter 25, verse 8, it says, “Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old
age, an old man and satisfied <em>with life;</em> and he was gathered to his
people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Now, you might say that “gathered to his people”
meant that his corpse was put in the family cemetery, but take a look later in
the Old Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>King David is facing
the illness of his son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He prays for God
to heal his son, but when the son dies, David gets up and goes about his
business, accepting the child’s death with uncommon strength. (In 2 Samuel
12:23), the people worry about David.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps he is in denial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David says confidently that the
child will never return to David, but he goes onto say, “Someday I shall go to
be with him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David expected to see the
child again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">I know that when I die I will see my sisters, my
parents, my grandparents, my friends who died before me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">5<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">The
final point about Heaven is that we should not be anxious about it.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should have faith and trust in God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death is a difficult process, filled with
fear of pain and the unknown, but for the faithful, these fears should not be
related to whether or not there is a heaven or about what heaven is like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;">Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts
be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many
rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a
place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and
take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the
place where I am going. . . . I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:1-6).<br />
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And now unto
God the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">God the Son,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and forever,
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b>Copyright 2017. </b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b>Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b>All rights reserved</b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b>Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon
in their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the
Internet without ascribing credit to the author.</b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt -7.15pt; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: center 3.0in right 434.25pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-19041185833627571912017-04-29T11:02:00.002-04:002017-04-30T14:39:53.159-04:00The God Who Is With Us - Psalm 22, Luke 24:1-35<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>New Testament
Lesson
Luke 24:13-35<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 3.0pt; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span class="textluke-24-13"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-13"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Now on that same day two
of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles</span></span><span class="textluke-24-13"><sup><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 7.5pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-25995a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-13"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-14"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-14"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">and talking with each
other about all these things that had happened.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-15"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">15 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-15"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">While they were talking
and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-16"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">16 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-16"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">but their eyes were kept
from recognizing him.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-17"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">17 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-17"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">And he said to them,
“What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood
still, looking sad.</span></span><span class="textluke-24-17"><sup><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 7.5pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-25999b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]</span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-18"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">18 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-18"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Then one of them, whose
name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></st1:place> who does not know the things that
have taken place there in these days?”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-19"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">19 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-19"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">He asked them, “What
things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth,</span></span><span class="textluke-24-19"><sup><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 7.5pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-26001c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-19"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">who was a prophet mighty
in deed and word before God and all the people,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-20"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">20 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-20"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">and how our chief
priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-21"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">21 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-21"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">But we had hoped that he
was the one to redeem Israel.</span></span><span class="textluke-24-21"><sup><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 7.5pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-26003d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]</span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-21"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Yes, and besides all
this, it is now the third day since these things took place.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-22"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">22 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-22"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Moreover, some women of
our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-23"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">23 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-23"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">and when they did not
find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a
vision of angels who said that he was alive.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-24"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">24 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-24"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Some of those who were
with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did
not see him.”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-25"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">25 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-25"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Then he said to them,
“Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the
prophets have declared!</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-26"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">26 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-26"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Was it not necessary
that the Messiah</span></span><span class="textluke-24-26"><sup><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 7.5pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-26008e" title="See footnote e">e</a>]</span></sup></span><span class="textluke-24-26"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">should suffer these things and then enter into his
glory?”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-27"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">27 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-27"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Then beginning with
Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in
all the scriptures.</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span class="textluke-24-28"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">28 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-28"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">As they came near the
village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-29"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">29 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-29"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">But they urged him
strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is
now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-30"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">30 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-30"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">When he was at the table
with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-31"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">31 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-31"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Then their eyes were
opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-32"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">32 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-32"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">They said to each other,
“Were not our hearts burning within us</span></span><span class="textluke-24-32"><sup><span style="font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 7.5pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+24%3A13-35&version=NRSV#fen-NRSV-26014f" title="See footnote f">f</a>]</span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-32"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">while he was talking to
us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-33"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">33 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-33"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">That same hour they got
up and returned to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>;
and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-34"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">34 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-34"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">They were saying, “The
Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana";"> </span></span><span class="textluke-24-35"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.0pt;">35 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textluke-24-35"><span style="font-family: "verdana";">Then they told what had
happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of
the bread.</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I was in a grocery store one day. I
have to admit I was looking rather grungy. I had been working in the yard
all day, and I was a bit dirty, but I wanted to go to the store to buy some
bread for lunch, and in the store I saw someone I knew. It was a church
member. I went up to say hello, and I could tell she did not recognize
me, and that she was even a bit nervous with me speaking to her. I
quickly said, “It’s me. Maynard. Your pastor.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">She admitted that she didn’t recognize me
without my pulpit robe.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sometimes we recognize people, and
sometimes we don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This text from the New Testament is a
strange text. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jesus Christ is in the midst of these
folks who are walking along the road. They are talking about the events
of Jesus’ death and the report of his resurrection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">They all chat together, and they do not
recognize him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">This story is interesting on several
levels. On one level it is a dramatic presentation of what the world is
like today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">So many people are on a journey through
life, and even with Jesus in their midst, they do not recognize him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">There are times when we all feel like the
Lord has left us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">We struggle with cancer, and the days are
dark. There is pain and despair. Bills pile high. And it
seems Jesus has deserted us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">We go into work one day, only to learn
that we’ve been fired. We feel overwhelmed, wondering how we will make
ends meet. We feel our self confidence sag. And it seems Jesus is
nowhere near us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Our spouse dies. We feel
alone. We are confused. And it seems that Jesus is nowhere near us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Part of the wonder of this New Testament
reading is that these people who are walking along the way are in deep
grief. They had hope that Jesus was the Messiah, and now he is
dead. Even though they have heard some news about a possible
resurrection, their grief is overwhelming. And it seems to them that
Jesus is nowhere near them. Jesus is distant. Jesus is absent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And yet, in this story, Jesus is there all
along!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">We often think that Mother Teresa was a
great saint who never had any doubts at all. She walked with God and
lived a life of such sacrifice and devotion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">And yet, for nearly the last half century
of her life, she felt absolutely nothing of the presence of God. In
letters that she wrote to some of her spiritual leaders and mentors, she
confessed that she often felt God as absent. This began when she began
tending to the poor and the sick of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Calcutta</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city>.
It continued for the rest of her life, except for a brief period in 1959.
Imagine – she remained faithful to God and obedient to God even though she did
not feel the presence of God in her life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">That is a tremendous faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">It was faith that was NOT dependent on
feeling. It was a faith that was dependent on God alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">What she felt was not unusual. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In the Old Testament, Job was a man who
lost so much. He lost his property, his financial resources, his family
and even his children. In chapter 23 of the Old Testament Book of Job, it
says,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">If I go forward, God is
not there;</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">If I go backward, I cannot
perceive him;<br />
If I go<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>left he hides, and I
cannot behold him;<br />
I turn</span><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 15.5556px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">to the right, but I cannot see him.</span></span></i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i><br />
<o:p></o:p><span style="background: white;"> Why are you so far from helping me, from the
words of my groaning?</span><br />
<b><sup><span style="background: white;">2 </span></sup></b><span style="background: white;">O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;</span><br />
<span style="background: white;"> and by night, but find
no rest.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The psalmist felt the absence of God.
In the 22<sup>nd</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Psalm
the writer cried out in desperate prayer,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><i>My God, my God, why have
you forsaken me?</i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">It is this very psalm
that Jesus quoted from the cross as he hung there in pain and agony, close to
death, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">Every week we stand and
recite the Apostles’ Creed, and in that confession of faith there is this great
line – perhaps the most important line about what we believe about Christ.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">“He descended into hell.” </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">In Ephesians, chapter 4,
the writer talks about how Christ both descended into the lower realms, AND
that he ascended into heaven. We like to remember Christ ascending into
heaven, but we don’t often give much thought to his descent into hell.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">If we give any thought at
all to Christ’s descent into hell, we might consider what St. Peter said in his
first New Testament book, chapter 3, in which there is an explanation as to why
Christ went into hell, which was to minister and preach the Gospel to those who
died before his earthly ministry, and therefore had never known about the
salvation offered by Christ.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">Now those passages alone
make the doctrine of Christ’s descent into hell important, but what makes this
line so very meaningful in the Apostles’ Creed is to stop and consider what
hell is.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">Traditionally, hell is
defined as the absence of God.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">Of course, hell is not literally
the absence of God because there is no place that can exist without the
presence of God. But it is the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><u>perceived</u></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>absence of God.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">And the Apostles Creed,
when it says that we believe that Jesus descended into hell, it is a reminder
that Christ descended into the place of absolute perceived absence of God.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">When he hung on the cross
and cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me,” he was in hell at
that moment.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">So remember – when you
are in the your pain of cancer treatments,</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">When you are in your
darkness of grieving over a loved one,</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">When you are struggling
with divorce,</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">When walk out of your
work place after being told you have been fired…</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">When you feel that God is
not present in your life and that he has disappeared from your world, remember,
Christ has been there. He has descended into hell and felt the total
absence of God.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">You are not alone,
although you may feel that you are.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">And in this text from the
Gospel, these folks are going about their journey. They are grieving and
hurting. Christ died on Friday, and now it is the evening of the third
day, and while they have heard that Christ has risen, they don’t really know
what to make of it.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">They feel alone and
isolated from God.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">And yet, there is Jesus
Christ, right there in their midst.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">They do not feel the
divine presence, but the divine presence is not dependent on what WE feel – it
is dependent on the promise of God.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Now, in this Scripture lesson, they get to
the point at which they become aware of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Open eyes! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">That is the way the Scripture puts
it. “Their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">So how did that happen? How did they
have these open eyes so they could see the Lord was with them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Three things happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">First, they listen to the Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Luke says that as
they walked on the road, Jesus, “beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you don’t feel
God in your life, start reading the Bible. Listen to God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Second, in their
time of despair, they came together. When you feel God is absent, do not
make the mistake of isolating yourself from others. You need others in
your life. You need the company of family and friends and the
church. That is what they did in Luke. They walked together.
They ate together. They stayed together, and that helped them sense the
presence of the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 18.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Third,
worship. In Luke they ate together, but it was more than a simple
meal. Listen to how Luke describes it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><b><sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;">28 </span></sup></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As they came near the village to which
they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. <b><sup>29 </sup></b>But
they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening
and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. <b><sup>30 </sup></b>When
he was at the table with them,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>he took bread,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i> blessed<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>and broke it,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>and gave it to them. <b><sup>31 </sup></b>Then
their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">What does that sound like? He took
bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them. That’s Communion.
That’s the Lord’s Supper. That’s worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">So when we feel God has left us, we don’t
leave God. Because God has NOT deserted us. God is still with us,
so whether we feel God’s presence or not, we continue to come to God in worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">So these three things help us when we feel
the absence of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Listening to the Word of God in Scripture.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Keeping fellowship with other Christians.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>And continuing to Worship.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In Hebrews 13:5 there is a powerful
promise. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background: white;">“I will never leave you or forsake you.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 14pt;">The presence of God is
not dependent on whether we feel it or not – it is dependent on the
faithfulness of God.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p></o:p>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And now unto
God the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Copyright
2017. </span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. W.
Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">All
rights reserved</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Ministers
may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in their own ministries as long
as they do not publish in print or on the Internet without ascribing credit to
the author.</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-82070967347529736752017-03-30T11:33:00.000-04:002017-03-30T11:33:20.741-04:00Reviving Our Hope - Ezekiel 37:1-14<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"><i>Ezekiel 37:1-14<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="chapter-2" style="background: white; line-height: 14.4pt; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span class="textezek-37-1"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">The hand of the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textezek-37-1"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textezek-37-1"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21400" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-2"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">2 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-2"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21401" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-3"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">3 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-3"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">God</span></span></span><span class="textezek-37-3"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">, you know.”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21402" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-4"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">4 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-4"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="textezek-37-4"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21403" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-5"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">5 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-5"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">Thus says the Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">God</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textezek-37-5"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">to these bones: I will cause breath</span></span><span class="textezek-37-5"><sup data-fn="#fen-NRSV-21403a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-21403a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 6pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2037:1-14#fen-NRSV-21403a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;" title="See footnote a"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">a</span></a>]</span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textezek-37-5"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">to enter you, and you shall live.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21404" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-6"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">6 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-6"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath</span></span><span class="textezek-37-6"><sup data-fn="#fen-NRSV-21404b" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-21404b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 6pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2037:1-14#fen-NRSV-21404b" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;" title="See footnote b"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">b</span></a>]</span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textezek-37-6"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="textezek-37-6"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">.”</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span id="en-NRSV-21405" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-7"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">7 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-7"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21406" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-8"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">8 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-8"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21407" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-9"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">9 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-9"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath:</span></span><span class="textezek-37-9"><sup data-fn="#fen-NRSV-21407c" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-21407c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 6pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2037:1-14#fen-NRSV-21407c" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;" title="See footnote c"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">c</span></a>]</span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textezek-37-9"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">Thus says the Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">God</span></span></span><span class="textezek-37-9"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">: Come from the four winds, O breath,</span></span><span class="textezek-37-9"><sup data-fn="#fen-NRSV-21407d" data-link="[<a href="#fen-NRSV-21407d" title="See footnote d">d</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 6pt;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2037:1-14#fen-NRSV-21407d" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;" title="See footnote d"><span style="color: #b34b2c;">d</span></a>]</span></sup></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span><span class="textezek-37-9"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.”</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21408" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-10"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">10 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-10"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span id="en-NRSV-21409" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-11"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">11 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-11"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21410" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-12"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">12 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-12"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">God</span></span></span><span class="textezek-37-12"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21411" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-13"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">13 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-13"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">And you shall know that I am the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="textezek-37-13"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> </span></span></span><span id="en-NRSV-21412" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-14"><b><sup style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 7pt;">14 </span></sup></b></span><span class="textezek-37-14"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="textezek-37-14"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">, have spoken and will act, says the</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"> <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="textezek-37-14"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;">.”</span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 14.4pt; margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<i><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="textezek-37-14"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 9.5pt;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Several years ago, my son was playing on a baseball game, and
like my high school football team, they simply couldn't find a way to win. They'd lost every game that year. Finally it was the day of their last
game. The dug out was like a funeral
home. Not a single kid was cheering the
other kids as they went to bat. They
were just waiting for the game to be over so they could go home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> I stuck my head in the dug out and told these 7 year olds,
"Hey guys, you can win this game.
After all, you're only 25 runs behind."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> One of the kids heard me and said, "Hey, that's
right. We are only 25 runs behind. We've never been this close to winning
before."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> It was as if there was an electric jolt that went through the
dug out. When the next kid at bat hit
the ball right so that it rolled through the legs of the first baseman, the
entire dug out was celebrating and high fiving each other. The excitement and confidence of our team
must have totally confused the other team.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> In the bottom of the last inning, one of our players scored
the winning run. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> I remember thinking that if I had known all they needed was
hope, I would have visited the dug out long before that last game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> We need hope in our lives.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> But we all know what it is like to feel that all hope is
gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> In our Scripture lesson for this morning we encounter the
experience of a loss of hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Ezekiel stands before a great battlefield. He sees before him
a valley of dry bones. The battle is
long over with. The vultures have been
there and gone and all the flesh has disappeared. Even the armor has been stolen by the grave
robbers. All that is left is a valley of
dry bones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> God asks Ezekiel, "Can these dry bones live?"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> And with despair in his voice, Ezekiel admits, "God only
knows."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> The loss of hope is a terrible experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> A woman walks out of a doctor's office after hearing that she
has cancer. What hope is there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> A father hangs up the telephone after receiving a telephone
call from the police and learning that his rebellious son has been
arrested. What hope is there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> A husband or wife can't speak to each other because of the
depth of their anger toward one another.
What hope is there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Where does one go when there is no hope?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> To the grave. Or as
someone once said, “Get busy living, or get busy dieing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> When there is no hope, all is finished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> People need hope for the future. That woman walking out of that doctor's
office after hearing her diagnosis needs hope for the facing of her cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> The father receiving that phone call from the police needs
hope for his son's future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> We need hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> The movie SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION is a great movie about hope,
and it starts in total hopelessness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Andy is sentenced to prison, even though he is innocent of
his wife’s murder. He is sentenced to
life, and he spends 19 years in the Shawshank Prison until he finally
escapes. At one point, Andy is talking
with his best friend in prison about hope, but his friend, Red says, “Hope is a
dangerous thing, it makes a man go insane.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Red says that because he has lost all hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> How do we find hope, when our hope has died – or maybe our
hope isn’t dead, but it’s – well, shall we say – hibernating?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> <b>First, we need to know that God is present in our lives.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> In the Old Testament, Ezekiel looks over the battle field. He
feels the hopelessness of a battle that has been lost, and a war that has
failed. But God is with him. In Ezekiel we read, (Ezek 37:1-2), "The
hand of the <b><u>LORD </u></b>was upon me,
and he brought me out by the Spirit of the <b><u>LORD</u></b>
and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. <b><u>He</u></b>
led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of
the valley, bones that were very dry."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Without God in our lives, we do not have a complete and
sturdy hope for the facing of our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Think about why many of us have lost hope – it is because we
feel that God has left us. That God has
deserted us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> But God is still present.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, we read, “Be strong
and courageous… God will never leave you nor forsake you ." Deut 31:6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> The second thing we need is to know that we can experience
the presence of God, through the Word of God.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> In the Old Testament, Ezekiel looks out at the hopeless
valley of dry bones. Can they live
again? Of course not. But God commands Ezekiel to preach to the
dead – to speak to them the Word of God.
So Ezekiel does, and in this story, the dry bones come to life as the
Word of God is spoken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Without the Word of God being spoken to the dry bones, the
dry bones would have remained lifeless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> The Psalmist wrote, (Ps 130:5), "I wait for the LORD, my
soul waits, and in his <i><u>word</u></i> I
put my hope."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> You want hope to come alive in you again – let the Word of
God dwell in you. Listen to the Word of
God. Read the Word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Thirdly, we need to trust in God above all else.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Hope as the world knows it is in thinking, "Give me what
I want, give me what I want, give me what I want."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Hope as the Christian knows it is in praying, "Not my
will, but your will be done."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> In Ezekiel, the prophet is asked by God, "Son of man,
can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone
know." And there is a trust in God.
Not a bitterness, but a leaning onto the Lord and trusting in God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Real hope is found in God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Lasting hope is found in trusting Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Thinking back to the film, the Shawshank Redemption, Andy never quite loses hope. He holds onto it. Even though he is an innocent man who spends
19 years in prison, he hangs onto hope.
And at one point he tells his prison buddy, Red, “Hope is a good
thing. Maybe the best of all
things. And no good thing ever dies.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 150%;"> Or put it another way, as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:city></st1:place> did in the New Testament book of
Romans, “hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into
our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And now unto
God the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div style="tab-stops: 45.8pt 91.6pt 137.4pt 183.2pt 229.0pt 274.8pt 320.6pt 366.4pt 412.2pt 458.0pt 503.8pt 549.6pt 595.4pt 641.2pt 687.0pt 732.8pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And God the
Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and
forever, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Copyright 2017. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div align="center" style="background: white; line-height: 11.9pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in
their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the Internet
without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14389318.post-75272236093695167482017-03-18T11:09:00.000-04:002017-03-18T11:09:23.106-04:00Broken Cisterns - Jeremiah 2;1-13<div class="MsoNormal">
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Jeremiah 2:1-13</div>
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2:1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Go and proclaim in the hearing of <st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place>:</div>
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"'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown. 3 <st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place> was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,'" declares the LORD.</div>
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4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, all you clans of the house of <st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place>.</div>
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5 This is what the LORD says:</div>
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"What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me?They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 6 They did not ask, 'Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and rifts, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?' 7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce.But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable. 8 The priests did not ask,'Where is the LORD?'Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me.The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.</div>
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9 "Therefore I bring charges against you again," declares the LORD."And I will bring charges against your children's children. 10 Cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this: 11 Has a nation ever changed its gods?(Yet they are not gods at all.)But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols. 12 Be appalled at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror," declares the LORD. 13 "My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.</div>
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NIV</div>
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John 4:7-15</div>
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7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?" 8(His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)</div>
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9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)</div>
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10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water ." </div>
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11 "Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water ? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"</div>
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13 Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." </div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 87%;">Sermon <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 87%;">Broken Cisterns </span></i><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 87%;">Maynard Pittendreigh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Years ago I was in a church that was considering purchasing a new organ. It wasn’t like Grace Covenant, which is blessed with this wonderful organ. This church had an electric organ and it was on its last legs. At times, it didn’t work at all, but thankfully we had the piano and so we always had music. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">After lots of fundraising activities and after looking at several different organs, we were just about to vote on which one to buy. One of the committee members spoke up and said, “I don’t know about this. This new organ is so expensive! Do we really need a new one? After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">We sat there, stunned. Finally one of the members of the committee spoke up and said, “the organ doesn’t make a sound – not a note. What’s your definition of ‘ain’t broke?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">We really do become comfortable with things that are broken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">I think my son is mystified by me, because the automatic locks on my car don’t work. I have to actually insert the key into the car door to unlock it – I can no longer push a button on the key ring and have the car doors unlock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">I have to admit, it is nice to have the ability to unlock or lock a car door from several feet away, and on hot days I do miss pushing a button on my key chain to start the car before I get in – you know, get that air conditioning circulating before I sit in the car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">But it’s broke. I don’t have the time to have it fixed, and I don’t want to let go of the money to get it fixed, so I live with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Are you like that sometimes?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Something is broke, and you just live with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The kitchen cabinet door is loose. You live with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The light bulb in the garage is burned out. You live with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Now – important things get fixed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The television. That has to be working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The airconditioning? Absolutely. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Broken tooth? Call the dentist right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">In the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, the people are drinking from a broken cistern.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Some of you may not know what a cistern is. A cistern is important in many parts of the world, but not so much here in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Orlando</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">A cistern is a place you dig out of the ground, or out of rock, to collect water. Some of us use things like cisterns today to collect rain water from the roof and gutters so we can water our flowers later in the week. But in many cultures, and certainly in the culture of the Old Testament, a cistern was a way of gathering water for drinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">And in Jeremiah, the people are drinking from a broken cistern. Water is leaking out, dirt is leaking in. And the people get used to it and just live with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">But in our Old Testament lesson, water is more than just liquid to drink – it is a symbol of spiritual life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">We see this especially clearly in our New Testament lesson. Jesus is talking to the woman at the well. They are talking about water, but as is often the case in the Gospel of John, Jesus is on one level, and the people are on a different wavelength all together. The woman is talking about the liquid water, but Jesus is talking about spiritual life – “I am the living water,” he tells her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">In Jeremiah, God is talking about how the people are drinking from broken cisterns – but it is more than that – the broken cisterns are symbolic of the broken spiritual lives of the people. They have lost their passion for God. Something in their spiritual life has broken and they are just accepting that and not doing anything to renew and revive their spiritual relationship with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">God is offering living water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">And the people are drinking from broken cisterns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">God is offering us abundant life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">And people accept a broken life of scarcity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">God offers us peace of mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">And many are driven back to a broken life of drama and anxiety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">How many of you are drinking from broken cisterns?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">How many of you are accepting LESS from God than what God is trying to provide?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">God is calling us to a life of meaning, and purpose, and value, and peace of mind, and love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">But most of us settle for less. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">God calls us to pray daily, but we pray whenever things are going badly. We don’t pray for others. We don't offer prayers of thanksgiving when things are going well. Our prayer life is lacking, because we are drinking from a broken cistern and we are not praying daily and continually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">God calls us to worship weekly. But Sunday morning comes and the bed feels so good. And Disney and Universal are open. And it is sunny at the beach. And we are dinking from a broken cistern. God offers us so much, and we accept far less.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">On Thursday night your elders met and one of the elders offered a devotional. It was a story about a member of a church who had been attending worship weekly, but more recently had neglected attending church. The pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening and the pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire - obviously not someone who lived here in Orlando, Florida!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him in, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable, but said nothing. He simply took the fire tongs and carefully picked one of the brightly burning embers and placed it to the side of the hearth, all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The one lone ember's flame diminished. It was soon dead as a doornail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">Then, still without speaking, the pastor took the cold ember and pushed it closer to the fire. It began to glow red once again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">As the pastor got up to leave, the church member said, "Thank you so much for your visit and for your fiery sermon. I will be back in church this Sunday."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">When we no longer commit ourselves to frequent and regular worship of God our spiritual relationship with God becomes broken. Our passion for God is threatened. We find ourselves drinking from broken cisterns. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">It is the same with the study of Scriptures. God calls us to read and study the Scriptures. And we might read a verse posted on Facebook or on the church sign, but we are not allowing the Word of God to permeate our lives. We drink from broken cisterns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">When we don't practice our spiritual disciplines, we find ourselves living in a broken relationship with God. Our passion for God diminishes and we no longer live an abundant life, but a life of scarcity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">We don’t share the good news of Christ with others. We don’t practice generosity. We don’t serve our neighbors or reach out to strangers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">We have become accustomed to the broken spiritual life, and we don’t look for something richer and deeper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">It is like the cabinet door in the kitchen that is loose. We’ll fix it eventually, but for now we just live with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Drinking from broken cisterns. We settle for less than what God desires of us, and when that happens, we find ourselves being led away from God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead of finding our security in God, we try to find it in money. But the money disappears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead of finding our identity in God, we try to find it in our profession. And we begin to feel empty inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Instead of finding comfort in God, we try to find it in pleasure, but that is so temporary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">But God does not want us to settle for less than what he offers us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">He does not call us to live life with scarcity, or with adequacy, but with abundance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">He calls us to drink deeply from the living water, not from broken cisterns.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Years ago I was visiting a church in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region></st1:place>, and right across the street was a Mom and Pop restaurant. It was probably well known in the neighborhood. They had a big sign that read, “serving food that tastes good for 50 years.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">The church across the street had a big banner also. It said, “serving food that satisfies… for 2,000 years.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">When it comes to your relationship with Christ, don’t just take a sip now and then. Don’t give Christ half your life. Give Christ your full life. Give him everything. Worship weekly, not occasionally. Pray without ceasing, not just now and then. Immerse yourself in the Word all the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Don’t settle for less than God is offering. Give God your whole life and drink in the fullness of Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And now unto God the Father,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God the Son,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">And God the Holy Spirit be ascribed all might, power, dominion and glory, today and forever, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Copyright 2017. </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">All rights reserved</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;">Ministers may feel free to use some or all of this sermon in their own ministries as long as they do not publish in print or on the Internet without ascribing credit to the author.</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Maynardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00943575803820644933noreply@blogger.com