Imperfect Christmas

It was Christmas Eve 1969. I was twelve years old. My family was returning home from the 11:00 Candlelight Christmas Eve service. Our family car was small, so everyone was packed in like sardines. My father was driving. He took us the same route that evening he took every Sunday morning. Everyone was excited about the next day. Without warning, our excitement was replaced with curiosity. We were a block from our home when we noticed something unusual. The air was thick with smoke and the sky was filled with color. There was a yellow haze around the area, only interrupted by the red lights of emergency vehicles. The police routed us around the block as we tried to see what was happening. It was not until the next morning that we got the sad news. A house on the parallel street had caught on fire and had burned to the ground. The loss of property is hard; the loss of lives is unbearable.

The family that died on that Christmas Eve was the Campbell family. The only one who survived was their daughter. She was a friend of my sisters. The investigation revealed Maggie caused the fire. She was the one who lit the candle and left it unguarded. That tiny flame sparked an inferno. Years later, it is still emotional to say. On that Christmas Eve, she lost her entire family, her parents, and a brother. Her brother did not have to die. At first, he had escaped the flames because his bedroom was on the first floor. He returned to the house to save his parents, but he did not return. He was a high school student, who was trying to do the right thing. Memories are such a powerful thing. It has been over fifty years since that tragic night but every Christmas Eve I think about Maggie Campbell. I do not have a clue where she is today but every year on Christmas Eve, I take a second and pray for her. How do you live the rest of your life knowing you caused your family death? The Campbell’s story reminds us that Christmas is not always merry. 

Can anyone here relate to that story? Christmas is not always perfect. How perfect is your Christmas going to be this year? Maybe the perfect Christmas is not possible because the pandemic has forced you to change your traditional Christmas plans? Maybe the perfection Christmas is not impossible because you are grieving? The loss of a loved one is never easy. Maybe the perfect Christmas is not possible because some relationship in your life is broken? People file for divorce twelve months a year. People ignore their siblings twelve months a year. People refuse to forgive twelve months a year. Maybe the perfect Christmas is not possible because you are consumed with worry. How are you going to pay for all those student loans? How are you going to get out of debt? The mole on your back is changing. Maybe the perfect Christmas is not possible because your time is running out? You have not lived out any of your youthful dreams. You feel like you have not done anything! Does anyone here feel like they are letting the next generation down? This is the truth. The world demands we have a perfect Christmas. The problem is none of our lives are perfect. All our lives have imperfections. Perhaps, this is the best piece of pastoral advice I can give you. This Christmas give up on perfect. Let us look at our scripture lesson, Luke 1:26-43.

This morning’s text is about a young woman who was living an imperfect life. Her name was Mary, and she was the one God chose to be the mother of Jesus. I would encourage you to forget everything you think you know about her and simply look at the words of the story. Do not think of her as a saint or some spiritual superhero. Just think of her as a person. The words tell us she is going through an incredibly difficult time. She is more like us then you can imagine. Because of this similarity between us and her, she models for us how to survive in our world. She illustrates three things about life, itself. First, she illustrates for us that life is hard. There is nothing easy about life. Second, she illustrates for us that sometimes we need others. She went to her cousin, Elizabeth. Third and finally, she illustrates for us that we always need God.

First, Mary illustrates for us: life is hard. Life has always been hard. If you do not believe me then look at the Nativity, itself. Do not glamorize the story. Do not get sucked into the tradition. I will say it again. Just read the words. Every single person in the story was in a difficult situation. Mary was in a difficult situation. In a time that valued morals, Mary was an unwed pregnant woman. Joseph was in a difficult situation. There was really was no right answer. On the one hand, he has every right to divorce Mary and walk away. The problem is Mary would have been found guilty of adultery. That means she could be stoned to death. How could he live with her death on his hands? On the other hand, if he takes Mary as his own then he brings shame on himself. He is saying he has broken the abstinence law during the engagement. Zachariah and Elizabeth are in a difficult situation. They had no children, and their society demanded many children. They believed the more the children the greater God’s blessings. The fewer the children the fewer the blessings. They had no children, so they had no blessings. If you turn to the second chapter of Matthew, then you find the story of the Magi. They were in a difficult situation. All they wanted to do was worship the newborn king. Do you remember what happened? Their sincere actions lead to the death of two-year-old baby boys and younger. How many mothers blamed them for their son’s death? Do I have to go on? Each one of the characters reminds us that life is hard. Do you know of anyone who has a hard life? Could it be you have a hard life? Do you know of anyone who has ever said, “Life is much easier than I ever expected!” No! Life is hard!

Second, Mary illustrates for us: sometimes we need others. Look at the story one more time with me. Mary was from the town of Nazareth. In her time, Nazareth had a population of between 100 and 400 people. Have you ever lived in a small town? Have you ever worshipped in a small membership church? Everyone knows everyone else. Everyone knows everyone’s business. Mary is single and pregnant in a small town. Everyone in her life is talking about her pregnancy. She is the hot topic at the well. The story says she went to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. Biblical scholars believe she went for two reasons. First, she goes to Elizabeth to escape the people in her life. Second, she goes to Elizabeth receive some unconditional love. Has there ever been a time in your life when you needed the counsel of someone else? Have you ever been the counsel for someone else? Sometimes we need people. Mary went to Elizabeth. Where do you go? Have you ever gone to visit a relative? Have you ever gone to visit a friend? Have you ever traveled to a counselor or a support group? Do not feel guilty! Sometimes we need people. Life is hard. Sometimes we need people. 

Third and finally, Mary illustrates for us: we always need God. Look at the text with me one final time. The angel goes to Mary and tells her she is going to have a baby. Mary knows it is biologically impossible. She has never been intimate with a man. The angel tells her the Holy Spirit will come upon her and she will conceive. What does that mean? It means that Mary’s personal agenda for her life must be discarded. Her personal will means nothing. God’s will for her means everything. Verse 38 is an incredible verse. It says, “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”  She sacrificed her dreams and desires for her life for God’s will. Generations later, she reminds us that we always need God. How much of your will are you willing to surrender to God?

One of my favorite Christmas movies is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. You must have seen it because it seems like it has been on every night. It stars Chevy Chase who plays the part of Clark Griswold. (However, I love Randy Quaid, who plays the part of Cousin Eddie. He is such a jerk!)  Clark is a good man who wants to bring his family the perfect Christmas. He tries everything but everything seems to go wrong. The Christmas lights do not work. The turkey looks great, but it is dry. The neighbors are annoying. The relatives are weird. How many times have you seen Christmas Vacation? (If you have never watched it then cancel your afternoon plans and watch it. It is on my “A” list, five stars!) Do you know why we love Christmas Vacation so much? The reason is every December we play the part of Clark Griswold. We do our best to give our family the perfect Christmas. The problem is we live in an imperfect world.

In a few days we will celebrate our twenty-sixth Christmas together. I genuinely enjoy spending Christmas Eve with you. Can I be honest with you? There was a time when I ruined Christmas for myself because I was consumed by all the details of the holiday. My attitude about Christmas changed in a single moment. It happened during a 7:00 Christmas Eve service. We were just about to take up the Christmas offering.The ushers came forward and I passed out the offering plate. One of the ushers on that evening was Chic Baber. How many of you remember Chic? I always appreciated Chic because he was such an optimist. I still miss him. On that evening I handed him the offering plates and he dropped one. It hit the prayer rail and it sounded like cymbals crashing. I was frustrated because I was striving for perfection. Chic ruined my perfect service. I was preoccupied by that moment for the rest of the service and was still venting about it the next morning. It was at that moment the person I respect the most I the world saved my Christmas forever. My wife Kathryn said to me, “Russ, it is Christmas. It comes once a year. Enjoy it. Things happen.” And she gave me a kiss and said, “Merry Christmas!”

 I am not going to give you a kiss but maybe those are the words you need to hear? Forget about perfection. It only comes once a year. Enjoy it. Things happen. Why don’t we forget about perfection this Christmas and just remember Jesus? David Jeremiah (born 1941) once said, “All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.”

The Magnificat

The first two chapters of Luke are sacred to us. For it is in these chapters we find the divine events surrounding the birth of Jesus. Those familiar words comfort us at the most challenging of times. Within those stories are four songs. There is Zechariah’s songs, Luke 1:67-79, at the birth of his son, John the Baptist. There is the song the angels sang to the shepherds, Luke 2:13-14, when Jesus was born. There is Simeon’s song, Luke 2:29-32, when he cast his eyes on the infant Jesus. There is Mary’s song,Luke 1:46-56, when she is told she is going to be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah. That song is called The Magnificat. It comes from the translates from the Latin translation for Glorify. It is Mary’s song that grabs our attention today. This is the question you must answer.

Who is Mary? Through the eyes of the world, she is nothing special. Prior to our reading we are told, she lived in the town of Nazareth. As the crow flies, it is about sixty miles north of Jerusalem. At the time, Nazareth was a small town with a population of only several hundred people. We also learned from the prior reading she is betrothed to a man named Joseph. There is no reason to believe their marriage was not arranged. He is from the town of Bethlehem, located several miles south of Nazareth. They are not just engaged, they are betrothed, which means they are legally bound. The only thing Mary desired for her life was to be a respectable Jewish wife and mother. Her story was not much different than many young Jewish women of that time. Through the eyes of the world, Mary is nothing special.

Through the eyes of God, however, she is quite spectacular. Have you ever wondered how many women have been born in the history of the world? I am not just talking about Mary’s generation. I am taking about the beginning of the world. According to the United Nations, there were 7.8 billion people in the world today. 49.6% of the world’s population are women. That means, approximately 3.9 billion women in the world today. There are some outstanding women in the world. I have known some and I married one. Yet, 3.9 billion is tiny next to all the women who have ever lived. I have no clue, how many women have ever lived, but I do know God chose one to be the mother of the Messiah, Mary. She was nothing special through the eyes of this world. However, she was spectacle through the eyes of God.

Who is Mary? If you close your eyes and picture Mary, using your sanctified imagination, what do you see? If you imagine Mary to in her mid-thirties with blond hair and blue eyes with a master’s degree and a bright future, then you could not be more wrong. Mary was fourteen or fifteen. Life began early at that time because life ended early. Yet, God chose this teenage girl and God chose correctly. The Magnificat shows us Mary was advanced for her years. She both trusted God and understood God. Her trust in the Almighty is obvious. Her understanding is hidden.

The words of Mary’s song remind us of Mary’s understanding. It is her understanding that grabs our attention. At a young age she understands God and gives us six attributes or characteristics of God in the Magnificat. Today, I will look at those six attributes. I will be brief with the first five and take my time with the last one. After all, this is Advent. It is the time to marvel at the incarnation of God. These points are not original. They came from P.G. Matthew, who is the Senior Minister at the Grace Valley Christian Center in Davis, California.

God is mighty! The first attribute Mary speaks of is the might and power of God. In Luke 1:49 she sings, “For the Mighty One has done great things for me.” Mary’s God was a God Almighty, the Creator of the universe. There is no one mightier than her God. He alone is able, and with him alone nothing is impossible. Here is are questions you must answer. How mighty is your God? How weak are you? Like Mary, there is no need to fear our mighty God because we are his people. Never forget, God is mighty.

God is holy! The second attribute Mary speaks of is the holiness of God. In verse 49, Mary declared, “For the mighty one has done great things for me – holy is his name.” This is not an isolated piece of scripture. The Bible tells us repeatedly that God is holy.” For example, in Exodus 19 God says to Moses, “Be holy, as I am holy.” In Isaiah 6:1-5, the great prophet finds himself in heaven and sees two winged creatures covering God. They are calling to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty.” Let me state the obvious. We are not like God. God is holy, but we are sinners. Never forget, God is holy.

God is judge! The third attribute Mary speaks is the judgement of God. In verse 52 and 53, Mary proclaims, “He has brought down the mighty rulers from their thrones. He has sent the rich empty away.” God hates arrogance. Someday you will stand before God and be judged. God will not be looking for innocence, because each one of us is guilty. God will be looking humility. Are you open to God’s leading in your life? Never forget, God is judge.

God is merciful! The fourth attribute Mary speaks is mercy.Verse 54 says,“He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful.” That verse reminds us how God’s Chosen People were enslaved in Egypt. They cried to God for help and God heard their prays. He had mercy on them and sent them a liberator, Moses. God hears our cries for help because God is a God of mercy. Never forget, God is merciful.

God is Faithful! The fifth attribute of Mary speaks is faithfulness. Verse 55 says, “To Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised his ancestors.” In other words, God keeps his promises, but it may take some time. Mary lived 2,000 after Abraham. God does things in God’s time, so you better be patient. Do you consider yourself a patient person? I hope you are. Never forget, God is faithful.

God is Our Savior! The sixth, and final, attribute of Mary speaks of being our Savor. The Magnificat begins in verse 47. Mary says, “My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” I saved this attribute for last, because during this time of years, we ponder the incarnation of God. In other words, God left the perfection of heaven to slum it with us. It is hard to fathom. It has been said, the incarnation is beyond all human understanding.

Several weeks ago, I attended an Emmaus event. It is a group that is committed to their spiritual development. Each time they gather, they sing a few songs, pray, and someone stands up and shares something for their heart. On that night, the person who led the group grabbed my attention. I really was not surprised because I have a great deal of respect for him as a disciple. I knew, he would not waste my time, and he did not. I think about the story he told often during the month of December. The story widens both my understanding and appreciation of the incarnation. I hope it does the same for you. This is the story.

There was once a man who did not believe in the incarnation or the spiritual meaning of Christmas. The truth be told, he was skeptical about God. He and his family lived in a farming community. His wife was a devout believer and diligently raised their children in her faith. He mocked her religious observance of Christmas. One snowy Christmas Eve she was taking the kids to the Christmas Eve service at church. She pleaded with him to come, but he steadfastly refused. He ridiculed the idea of the incarnation and dismissed it as nonsense. “Why would God lower himself and become a human like us?! It’s such a ridiculous story!” he said. So, she and the children left for church while he stayed home.

After they had left, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump, something hitting against the window. And another thump. He looked outside but could not see. So, he ventured outside to see. In the field near his house he saw, of all the strangest things, a flock of geese! They were apparently flying to look for a warmer area down south, but they had been caught in the snowstorm. The storm had become too blinding and violent for the geese to fly or see their way. They were stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter, unable to do more than flutter their wings and fly in aimless circles.

He had compassion for them and wanted to help them. He thought to himself, “The barn would be a great place for them to stay! It’s warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm.” So, he opened the barn doors for them. He waited, watching them, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside. But they did not notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them.

He moved closer toward them to get their attention, but they just moved away from him out of fear. He went into the house and came back out with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread trail to the barn. They still did not catch on. Starting to get frustrated, he went over and tried to shoo them toward the barn. They panicked and scattered into every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where there was warmth, safety, and shelter.

Feeling totally frustrated, he exclaimed, “Why don’t they follow me? Can’t they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm? How can I possibly get them into the one place to save them?” He thought for a moment and realized that they just would not follow a human. He said to himself, “How can I possibly save them? The only way would be for me to become like those geese. If only I could become like one of them! Then I could save them! They would follow me, and I would lead them to safety.”

At that moment, he stopped and considered what he had said. The words reverberated in his mind: “If only I could become like one of them- then I could save them.” And then, at last, he understood God’s heart towards mankind, and he fell on his knees in the snow and worshipped Him.

Mankind is like the geese — blind, gone astray, perishing. God became like us so He could show us the way and make a way available to save us. That is the meaning of Christmas, he realized in his heart. As the winds and blinding snow abated, his heart became quiet and pondered this epiphany. He understood what Christmas was all about. He knew why Christ had to come. Suddenly the years of doubt and disbelief were shattered, as he humbly and tearfully bowed down in the snow, and he embraced the true meaning of Christmas. Mary was not wrong. Never forget, God is mighty, holy, our judge, merciful, faithful, and our Savior.

Repent!

We found ourselves in the first chapter of Mark. According to the text, the year is approximately 25 A.D., which makes John approximately 30 years old. He moved out of the city of Jerusalem and lived in the wilderness. Constantly on the move, he covers the country around the Jordan and delivers one message, repent! He wore clothes made from camel’s hair and a leather belt, to underscore his message, like the prophets of old. He ate locust and honey, to underscore his message. He was a visual sign against self-indulgence. His ministry consumed his life. Yet, he also understood he was not the main character in God’s plan of salvation for the world. There would be another one coming who was much greater. His name was Jesus. John told his generation to repent because Jesus was coming. Somethings do not change. Our generation should repent for the same reason. Did you know repentance is referred to 6,735 times in the Bible? Repentance is one of the major themes in the Bible.

Do you remember the story of Hosea? It is a story of repentance. He lived in the middle of the eighth century BC, during the tragic days of the end of the northern tribe. He was a prophet of God, who got an unusual assignment. He was told by God to go out and marry an adulterous woman. In other words, she was a prostitute. She sold her body to men for sex. Her name was Gomer. In time, Hosea and Gomer had three children in their marriage. The first was a boy, who name means “God scatters.” The second was a girl, who name means “I will no longer love you.” Their third child was a second boy, who name means “I am not your God.” Let me ask you three questions. Do you think those children liked their names? Why did God tell Hosea to marry a prostitute? Why did he have him name his children those names? Because, every day Hosea played the part of God, and every day Gomer played the part of Israel. God continued to love, and Gomer continued to be unfaithful. As the drama played out, God was confident that the people would get the message, but they did not. They failed to repent.

Do you remember the story of Jonah? It is a story of repentance. God told him to go to Nineveh. That was in the Middle East. The reluctant prophet does not want to go to Nineveh for one reason. He does not like them. He is afraid to go to Nineveh because the people might listen and repent. You know the story. Jonah runs in the opposite direction and heads toward Tarshish, Spain. This is the problem. You cannot run from God. In the end, he goes to Nineveh and his great fear happens. The people of that great city repent. The last time we saw Jonah, he was sitting under a tree having a pity party. Why is it we have such a hard time with mercy when the recipients are not like us? Repentance is not just found in the Bible. It is found in our world.

I was driving through downtown Youngstown, and someone told me I needed to repent. It was the day after the war in Iraq started. Everything was normal. The traffic was moving through the metropolis. The only thing abnormal about that day was a man standing in the middle of the divide. He was a wild un-groomed character holding a homemade sign. He yelled at me to read his sign. Written in large black print on a white poster board were these words: REPENT! THE END IS NEAR! Let us just be honest. There is nothing original about the topic of repentance. John was not the first and he was not the last to deliver that message. When was the last time someone told you, you need to repent? This is the problem.

Very few understand Biblical repentance. It is not just words, “Forgive me!” Repentance is an inward response. Genuine repentance pleads with God to forgive and deliver from the burden of sin and the fear of judgment and hell. It is seen in the story of the tax collector in Luke 18. Afraid to look toward heaven he beat his chest and cried, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.” Repentance is not just reformed behavior. True repentance involves a changed heart. It is illustrated in this old preaching story.

Rodney “Gipsy” Smith (1860-1947) was a British evangelist. He preached for over 70 years. In his book, The Bible Friend, tells the story of an experience he had in South Africa. According to the story, a Dutchman came to one of his services and was convicted of his sin. The next morning that same Dutchman got up and went to the home of an acquaintance, carrying an old watch. When the two met, he handed the old watch over and asked, “Do you recognize this?” “Why, yes,” answered the other. “Those are my initials; that is my watch. I lost it eight years ago. How did you get it, and how long have you had it?” “I stole it,” was the reply. “What made you bring it back now?” “I was converted last night,” was the answer, “and I had to bring it back.” There is nothing easy about true repentance. It is extremely difficult. Consider these three statements with me:

It is easy to see the sins in others! Her name is Sarah. She is not a member here. She has never worshipped here. However, she has both visited and called the church countless times. She is not the most attractive woman. She could lose a few pounds. She could wash her hair and her body. She smells like a cigarette, which explains why her breathing is labored. Her stories are always different, yet her story is the same. I have heard countless versions of her hardship stories through the years. She wants one thing, HELP! In other words, she wants money. The first time she came, she told me she did not have any money because she had just gotten out of the hospital. She had not eaten in several days. I was really touched by her story. No one should be hungry. I gave her some time. I gave her a gift certificate. I prayed with her and walked her to the door. I treated her with dignity and respect. Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. As we stood at the door, she thanked me one more time with a tear in her eyes. She was hungry. From the door I watched her walk toward her ancient SUV. I felt good I had helped someone. Then I looked inside of her vehicle. I was surprised to see other people. Maybe I should have given her a larger certificate? Maybe they were hungry too? However, do you know what surprised me the most? One of the people inside the van threw a bag out of the window from a fast-food restaurant. As Sarah drove off with my gift certificate, I went out to pick up the trash. They had run for the border. They were not hungry. There were half eaten tacos spread though out the parking lot. There is no other way to say it. Sarah had lied to me. They had been eating! One of them had order a volcano taco. I felt like a fool and I labeled her a sinner. I will never help her again because I feel like I am part of her problem. Sarah reminds me that it is easy to identify the sins of others. That leads us to statement number two.

It is hard to identify yourself as a sinner! John Lennon (1940-1980) died forty years ago this Tuesday. He was shot by Mark David Chapman (born 1955) on December 8, 1980. He was entering his apartment building, The Dakota, in New York City. When the news was announced a crowd of people assembled on that spot to remember him. Lennon was dead and Chapman was sent to Attica. He is still in prison today at the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York. Though the years journalists have interviewed him. One of them asked Chapman what he regrets most about the whole event. He responded, “I am saddened that people seem to misunderstand me. I am not a bad person. I only killed one person.” How difficult it is to identify yourself as a sinner. Never forget, Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” That means you are a sinner. That leads us to statement number three. Here is the good news.

God solved our sin problem!  Romans 6:23 begins, “For the wages of sin is death.” That means the sin in your life is damaging your relationship with God. In other words, you are dying spiritually. However, that is only the first half of that verse. Romans 6:23 ends, “But the gift of God is eternal life through in Jesus Christ our Lord.” In other words, the only way to have a relationship with God is through Jesus. And it all begins with repentance. In Biblical repentance everything changes, because your heart is changed. Billy Graham (1918-2018) once said, “The wonderful news is that Lord is a God of mercy, and he responds to repentance.”

When I was in school, I lived in a community near the seminary in Nicholasville, Kentucky. It is a good place to be from. I lived in an apartment that was not the best. I was always spraying for roaches and cleaning out the mouse traps. I only lived there for one reason. It was cheap. I was not the only student in that complex; there were others. I made some wonderful friends during that year. One of the blessings of that year was getting to know the apartment manager, Duke. He and his wife, Diana, were wonderful Christian people. Every Sunday night, they hosted us poor students for dinner. It was nothing exciting, just pizza, hot dogs, or hamburgers. The best part was listening to Duke’s wild stories from his days as a shrimper in Florida. He was not afraid to share his faith. Duke loved to share his wild past with us innocent seminary students. Every story ended with a big laugh and Duke would say, “Forgive me, Jesus!”

One night, we asked Duke how he came to know Jesus? His story began like all his stories. It was late at night and he had been drinking too much. He and Diana had gotten into a big fight and he left mad. He jumped in his truck and started driving. He had his foot to the floor and almost fell asleep. Duke said out of nowhere, he heard a voice. He was alone, so he checked his radio. It was off, and he heard a voice again. He looked over to the passenger seat and there was Jesus, himself. The Master looked at him and said, “Duke, you are going to kill yourself. You have a good heart. Pull over and do something with your life.” Duke said, “What else could I do? I pulled over. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. And slept it off in the weeds.” When he got home the next morning, he expected another ugly scene with Diana. Instead, she told him, Jesus had come to her too. The Master said, “You have a good heart. Do something with your life.” She had accepted Jesus too! Duke ended the story with a big laugh and said, “Thank-you, Jesus!”

Why did Duke and Diana keep inviting seminary students every Sunday night? It was one way, of many ways, they thanked Jesus for saving their souls. What is your way? Do you remember the quote from Billy Graham? The great evangelist once said, “The wonderful news is that Lord is a God of mercy, and he responds to repentance.”

Are You Prepared?

At the height of World War II Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was imprisoned for taking a stand against Adolph Hitler (1934-1945). Yet, he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, “Why do you expose yourself to all this danger? Jesus will return any day, and all your work and suffering will be for nothing.” Bonhoeffer replied, “If Jesus returns tomorrow, then tomorrow I’ll rest from my labor. But today, I have work to do. I must continue the struggle until it’s finished.” If you can understand that simple story, then you can understand this message. Let us look at our scripture reading together.

 We find ourselves today in the thirteenth chapter of Mark. Since there are only sixteen chapters in Mark, let me state the obvious. It is near the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The fourteenth chapter of Mark tells us the Passover was only two days away. That would be Jesus’s final Passover. In other words, this is the beginning of the end. While Jesus could have spoken on any topic, love, forgiveness, or mercy. Jesus speaks of his return. That means the Second Coming was an important topic to Jesus. The verses prior to our reading are prophetic in nature. They are not the only ones in the Bible. The Bible is filled with signs of the end of time. Based on those signs many have tried to expose the great secret. History tells us more than 47 different groups or individuals, not all Christian, have announced dates when Christ will return. In that list is the founder of Methodism, John Wesley (1703-1791). Six others say Christ will return in some futuristic date. For example, American self-proclaimed psychic and astrologer Jean Dixon (1904-1997) said Christ will return this year, 2020. Why not! 2020 has offered us so many surprises. Did you know the Christian, Islamic, Bahai’, and Messianic Jewish worlds are all waiting for the return of Jesus? In my life, I have known people who are convinced they have the key to unlock the great secret.

 Years ago, I received a phone call from a man. His name was John and he drove a truck for a living. He traveled from coast to coast. I thought he was calling me about his daughter’s failed marriage. Her story was not pretty. We set up a time to get together. When the hour and day came, he did not want to talk about his daughter’s unhappiness. He was calling me about the Second Coming. He said, “Russ, I was driving through the Midwest. The crops should have been in full growth, but they were not. They were stunted by the drought.” I thought about those withering plants and wondered if it was a sign that Christ is returning soon. What do you think? Do you think Christ is returning soon?” I said, “He may, but I do not know. The Bible says not even Jesus knew when he would return. I doubt if God is going to tell me ahead of time.” He is not the only one.

 When I was young, they started putting bar codes on the side of products for inventory purposes. The rumor was spread that the bar codes were a sign of the beast. Some believed people would be required to get that bar code. People have always been looking for signs of the Second Coming of Christ. When I was in high school, a Christian group reserved the auditorium of the school to show a movie. It was called A Thief in the Night. It showed what would happen on the day that Christ returned. The believers would suddenly be taken, and the none-believers would be left behind. The movie had a certain shock value. When the movie ended, a boy stood up and gave his testimony. Then he prayed and gave an alter call, reminding everyone the end was near. Many believe the end will come with a nuclear war. My wife wonders why Christ did not return during the Second World War. Things were so bad and so many were suffering. Have you ever wondered when Christ will return? People still ask me on a regular basis if Christ is returning soon. I give them the same answer I gave John. “He may, but I do not know. The Bible says not even Jesus knew when he would return. I doubt if God is going to tell me ahead of time.” Billy Graham (1918-2008) once said, “The Second Coming is the only beam of hope that shines in an ever-darkening world.” Yet, the scripture lesson for today is not about when Christ will return.

 The scripture lesson for today is not just about the Second Coming of Jesus. The scripture lesson for today is about what we should be doing until Christ returns. These are Jesus’s own words. The Master says it clearly. The exact time of his return are unknown. Not even the angels know. Not even Jesus, himself, knew what he would return. The only one who knows is God and we know two things about God. First, God can keep a secret. Second, God does things in His own time. So, you better get comfortable while you wait. The only thing we are to do is live every day like it is the last day. Verse 33 says, “Be on guard. Be alert.” He is like a homeowner who leaves his in servants in charge, not knowing when he will return. He could return in the morning. He could return in the evening. He could return mid-week, or he could return on a weekend. Any day could be the day, so they must always be ready. The same is the return of Christ. We do not know when, so we must always be prepared. So, let me ask you the question of the day: are you prepared?

Are you prepared socially for Christ’s Second Coming? One of the great Bible stories comes from the fourth chapter of Genesis. How well do you remember your family history? Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. They came from the same biological parents but they, personally, were completely different. Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd. In time, both men sacrificed to God. Cain brought fruit; Abel brought meat. You can call it favoritism, but God preferred Abel’s offering, the meat. (Can you really blame him?) Cain gets his feelings hurt and positions himself to do something ugly. The story ends when Cain kills Abel. This story can teach us a variety of things. One of those things is the value of human relationships. How are all the relationships in your life? Albert Einstein once said, “physics is easy relationships are complex.”

How many broken relationships do you have in your life? Does everyone in your life respect you? How many people in your life just tolerate you? I am not just talking about your siblings. I am talking about everyone, your parents, children, neighbors, and co-workers. Are there words you would like to say to someone, but you have not had the courage? Let me give you some pastoral advice. Do not wait to mend those broken relationships. If Jesus returns today, would you be prepared socially?

Are you prepared personally for the Second Coming of Christ? In other words, what do you still want to do? The girl who led me to Christ was named Susan. I have told that story many times. I was a senior in high school. Susan had a sister by the name of Vicki. She was a strong Christian too. One evening we gathered in her parent’s basement and talked about the faith. I was hungry for the Gospel in any form. Each one of us agreed that someday Christ was going to return. Vicki said, “I know Christ is going to return, but I hope he waits a while. I still want get married and I still want to have children.” She laughed, but she made a good point. Is there anyone here today who hopes Christ does not return too soon?

What do you still want to do with your life? Is there some place you would still like to go? Is there some place you would like to go to again? Is there someone you would still like to meet? Is there some book you would still like to read? Is there some language you would still like to study? When Thomas Jefferson died, he was studying German. Let me give you some pastoral advice. Do not stop living! It is a great big world. Are you prepared personally for the Second Coming of Jesus?

Are you prepared spiritually for the Second Coming of Christ? You do not have to be a Civil War expert to know the name Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. He was respected by both friend and foe for his courage during battle. He was once asked about the source of that courage. This was his response.

 My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God (knows the) time for my death. I do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter where it may overtake me. That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.

It is interesting to note that Jackson died eight days after he uttered those words. He was shot by one of his own pickets. That shot caused him to lose his arm which lead to pneumonia. Are you prepared spiritually for the Second Coming of Christ? If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior say, “Amen!”

 Several years ago, retired NASA engineer Edgar C. Whisenant wrote a book called 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988. The book, which he self-published, placed the expected date of the Rapture between September 11 and September 13 of 1988, and became a massive bestseller. By the time the end of the year was reached, more than 4.5 million copies had been sold. Whisenant was certain he had the date right. He said, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong; and I say that to every preacher in town. I would stake my life on Rosh Hashanah 1988.” Obviously, he was wrong.

Whisenant’s later books predicting the Rapture in 1989, 1993, and 1994 did not sell nearly as well as the first one—but he kept right on making those predictions despite the clear teaching of Scripture that we are not meant to know the date and time of Christ’s return. However, we are called to live every day as if that were the day Christ would return. Do you remember the quote from Billy Graham? The great evangelist said, Billy Graham once said, “The Second Coming is the only beam of hope that shines in an ever-darkening world.”  

What Are You Looking At?

The Thanksgiving we know happened in 1621. Do you remember the story? The Pilgrims left Southampton, England in 1620. They wanted religious freedom. There was trouble from the start. As they sailed around the south tip of the British Isles one of the ships, the Speedway, was ruled not seaworthy. The two ships docked and some of the Pilgrims went home. However, some of the Speedway’s passengers boarded the second ship, the Mayflower. Due to the extra weight, the trip took longer than the estimated 66 days. They had navigation problems too. They wanted to go to Virginia, but they arrived in New England in December. Like today, the weather was harsh. There was no time to build permanent shelters, so they survived that first winter in the new world in crude temporary housing. In time, disease came, and the death toll began to rise. Only 51 of the original 102 saw the spring. The dead were buried in unmarked graves so the local natives would not know how small their numbers had grown. When the spring came, they were forced to make a painful choice. The Mayflower was a rented ship and had to return to England. Would they stay in America or return to England? They decided to stay, and their luck began to change. Friendly Native Americans helped them plant 30 acres of wheat and build permanent shelters. By autumn of 1621 their homes were built, and their crops were harvested. They decided to observe a day of thanksgiving to thank God for his blessings. This time, there was a meal, and they invited their new friends.

Does that story sound familiar? It should because I tell it to you annually. It is easy to imagine. However, this time do not imagine it like a Norman Rockwell painting, where everyone is happy and content. Think about the story historically. Thanksgiving was not born out of contentment. Thanksgiving was born out of hardship. Half of the original Pilgrims had died. That means everyone family lost a loved one. That means everybody knew someone who had died. I read this week that the Pilgrims dug seven times more graves than they built shelters. The Pilgrims were grieving. However, they decided to look at what they had, not what they had lost or wanted. History tells us the Pilgrims did not go to the cemetery and curse God. History tells us they went to church and thanked God for what they had. The Pilgrims were thankful to be alive. So, let me ask you the question again. What are you looking at? With that in mind let us look at our Old Testament lesson.

Many years ago, before man walked on the moon, before a civil war threatened to divide America, or before Columbus discovered a New World, there was a man who spoke for God. His name meant “Embrace,” but we just call him Habakkuk. He lived in the year 605 BC.  He was well rooted in the traditions of Israel, so many have concluded he lived in Jerusalem. His book does not contain any proclamation to Israel. His book, only three chapters long, is a dialogue between himself and God. Habakkuk is complaining to the Almighty because the lives of the Chosen People are hard, and it is only going to get worse. Babylon will soon be their conquerors.

In our reading for today, Habakkuk 3:17-19, the prophet is praying to God. Once again, he is complaining to the Almighty. He is tired of the hardship. Then, in the middle of his prayer the tone changes. Habakkuk has learned the lesson of faith – trust God regardless of the circumstance. He says, even if things get worse, he will rejoice in God his Savior. (verse 18) It is not an easy lesson to learn. Can the same things be said about us? Are we willing to trust God regardless of the situation?

Let us be completely honest 2020 has been a hard year. The pandemic has changed everything. To date, according to world meter, nearly 59 million have gotten the coronavirus and over 1.3 million have died. I am happy to report, I am one of the over 40 million who have survived. COVID-19 has made everything difficult. The last time we gathered as a church inside was March 8. We did not return as a church until last week, November 15. That is 252 days later. On March 8, we welcomed 213 worshippers. Last week, we welcomed 30 indoor worshippers, plus parking lot and virtual worshippers. At first, we hoped to be inside by Easter. Some hoped, we would be inside by Pentecost. The Fourth of July, without a picnic, came and went, and we did not return inside. Labor Day came and went, without a fair, and we did not return inside. We observed the dark holiday, Halloween, but we did not return inside. We passed out more candy than ever. We held a national election election in a new way. Now it is time for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we are going to celebrate them in a new way. Some fear the old ways may never return.

I should not complain it has been hard on everyone. The simplest things have become difficult. It is a hard time to celebrate a birthday. Drive by and honking is not the same. It is a hard time to have surgery. There is so much more pre-testing because of the virus. It is a hard time to have a baby. Your family can not even come to the hospital and celebrate new life. It is a hard time to die. Very few are permitted to gather to remember lives that were well live. It is a hard time to get married. I have a patient bride in my family. For years, she dreamed of their big day. Now they are forced to decide if they want to wait longer or go with a smaller crowd. You know it is true. Everything is difficult. We were told recently, all family dinners in Ohio should be canceled. However, life has always been hard.

One of the great names in American history is Helen Keller (1880-1968). She was born both deaf and blind. Yet, with help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan (1866-1936), she became to first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. You may know the story from the movie, The Miracle Worker. Various adaptions have come out through the years. She earned that degree from Radcliffe. She went on to become an author, political activist, and lecturer. Helen Keller once said, “So much has been given to me I have no time to ponder what has been denied.” Think about it for a moment. Born deaf and blind, Keller chose to ignore the hardship and only see her blessings. It is not just the story of Helen Keller. It is our story as well.

Each one of us on Thanksgiving must choose. Are you going to look at what you want or are you going to look at what you have? It is easy to see what we want. We find those things in our disappointments. We are disappointed we cannot travel to be with family and friends. We are disappointed family and friends cannot travel to be with us. We are disappointed the big Thanksgiving crowd has been whittled down to a few. We are disappointed we are stuck at home. It is not so easy to see what we have.

Learn from the Pilgrims. Be thankful for the basics. However, I must say this, everyone I know has a good life still. Are you thankful for the home in which you live? It is getting cold outside. Are you thankful for your car? Everything is a long walk. Are you thankful for your family pet? They love you unconditionally 365 days a year. Are you thankful for the food you eat? No one has starved in the congregation lately. Are you thankful for your good health? I am. Are you thankful for the people who love you and have sacrificed for you? Are you thankful for the people who pray for you? We are a blessed people and God has been faithful to us. It all comes down to a simple choice. Are you going to see what we want or are you going to see what you have? The Pilgrims choose to see what they had. They had survived. Habakkuk, in the end, decided to see what he had. He had God and God is always good. God has been good to us. So, let me ask you one more time. What are you looking at? Are you looking at what you want? Are you looking at what you have?

What is your first Thanksgiving memory? My first memory is when I was about five years old. My family, the five of us, traveled to Cleveland and spent the day with my father’s Aunt Nelma, and her lifelong companion, Ruth. Years later, I wondered about their relationship, but those were more innocent times. It does not really matter. They lived in a small apartment near Shaker Heights. I can still see their apartment in my mind’s eye. The living room was small. The bedroom with twin beds was small, and the kitchen was tiny. When it was time to eat, the seven of us sat around a small table in a smaller alcove. I am confident we ate turkey with all the extras. Once consumed, we were dismissed to the living room, so the dishes could be washed. We sat and talked for a while, then my father announced we were going for a ride to look at Christmas lights. I do not know how it happened because we had such a small car, but the seven of us got in. We drove around the city and looked for decorations. We drove down East Ninth Street. We drove around Public Square and I studied the Soldiers and Sailor Memorial. I remember my dad drove by NELA Park, The National Electric Lamp Association. It was owned by GE, so their lights were bright. I was excited when dad drove by old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, the home of the Browns and Indians. I strained to see Chief Wahoo hanging on the outside. Then, we stopped driving and walked around Shaker Square. We looked in the store windows. We walked by a restaurant and my mother told me that is where the rich people eat. When we returned to the apartment, pie was served. Then, my aunt and uncle came for a quick visit. That is where my memory ends. It was a great day!

I think about Thanksgiving annually. It is one of my favorite childhood memories. Through the years, I have many great Thanksgivings. I have hosted a few at my house. But, that Thanksgiving in Cleveland holds a special place in my heart. It was not special because the food was outstanding. It was not special because I did not have responsibility. It was not special because I received a surprise Thanksgiving gift. It was special because I was living in the moment, without any expectations. Can I give you some pastoral advice? Forget your disappointments and frustrations on Thanksgiving. Live in the moment. Never forget it. You have a great life because God loves you. Look at all God has given you. Do you remember the quote from Helen Keller? She once said. “So much has been given to me I have no time to ponder what has been denied.” May that be our story as well.

The Power of Kindness

Twenty-two miles outside of Lynchburg, Virginia is Appomattox Court House. Still undeveloped, it is one of the great spots in American history. For it was at that place on April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) surrendered to Commanding General of the United States Army Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), effectively ending the American Civil War. History tells us when the day began, Lee expected to be arrested and charged with treason. However, instead of experiencing incarceration, Lee, and his remaining army, experienced kindness. The terms of the surrender revealed Grant’s kindness. The Confederate Army was permitted to return home. The officers, cavalrymen, artillerymen were permitted to keep their swords and horses, and their men were asked to lay down their weapons and swore an alliance to the federal government. Food was shared generously. Lee never forgot that kindness. History also tells us he refused at hear a negative word about Grant after the war. On several occasions, he defended Grant. Can I ask a question? How many people defend you because of your kindness? Never underestimate the power of kindness. That leads us to today’s scripture lesson.

We find ourselves today in the Paul’s letter to the Galatians. In our time, we call Galatia north central Asia Minor. For our use, let me say it was written about the year 50 AD. The issue is Old Testament traditions and laws. Should new converts observe Old Testament ways? The Galatians believed they should still be practiced. Men should be circumcised, and Old Testament laws should be enforced. Paul believed differently. He said we were new people born again in Christ, so the Old Testament ways had passed. All believers were liberated from Old Testament ways. The entire fifth chapter has been called Freedom in Christ.

Our reading for today has been called Life in the Spirit. As a believer in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit should be making a difference in your life. How much of a difference is the Holy Spirit making in your life? Paul says there is a sharp contrast between those who are living without the Holy Spirit’s influence and those living with the Holy Spirit’s influence. Let us look at them both briefly. Those who are living without the Holy Spirit are living sinful lives, sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, and the rest. The Holy Spirit, within believers, produces certain Christian virtues. What are those virtues?

          Love

          Joy

          Peace

          Forbearance or patience

          Kindness

          Goodness

          Faithfulness

          Gentleness

          Self-Control

Let me say it again. It is the Holy Spirit which produces those virtues within us. They are not produced by obeying Old Testament law. That is an impressive list. If I had more time, then I would turn that list into a sermon series. Unfortunately, I do not have time, so I am going to only focus in on one, kindness. The reason is obvious, during my time away I experienced the kindness of this congregation and I will never forget what it meant to me.

This is not the only place in the Bible where kindness mentioned. The theme of kindness is peppered throughout the scriptures. In the Old Testament:

Proverbs 11: 17 says, “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a man who is cruel hurts himself.

Proverbs 21:21 says, “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life.

Proverbs 31:26 says, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teachings of kindness are on her tongue.”

In the New Testament:

          Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted.”

          Colossians 3:12 says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”

          1 Corinthians 13:4 says, “Love is patient and kind.”

You cannot debate the fact that Jesus was not kind. Jesus was kind to the leper. Do you remember? Jesus came down from the mountainside and the crowd met him. In the crowd as a rule breaker, a leper. He was supposed to stay at a safe distance. Instead, he kneels before Jesus and asks to be healed. Then, Jesus broke the rules when he reached out and touched the man. It is a great healing story. It is a great story of kindness. (Matthew 8:1-4) Jesus was kind to the tax collector, Zacchaeus. Do you remember the story? Short, Zacchaeus is sitting in a tree so he can see Jesus. He is also in the tree for protection. The general population hated him. He sold his own people out for profit. In the end, everyone is happy. The people are reimbursed for the tax collector’s misdeeds and Zacchaeus is happy because Jesus dines with him. It was an act acceptance. It is a story of great kindness. (Luke 19:1-10.) Jesus was kind to the woman at the well. Do you remember the story? Jesus is traveling and stops at a well to rest. He encounters a Samaritan woman, a half-bred. She is a sinner, married five times and now living with a man who was not her husband. Jesus did not condemn her. Jesus showed her kindness and offered her salvation. It is a story about evangelism, but it is also a story about kindness. (John 4:1-26) Jesus was always kind to common people, like us, who had been forgotten by society. This is the point. As a disciple of Jesus Christ you are expected to kind. So, be kind. Aesop (624 BCE-564 BCE) once said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

There is an old preaching story about a woman by the name of Mamie Adams. She is not remembered for anything special in history. She was just an ordinary person, like me. One the things she enjoyed doing was going to the post office. She went there to buy stamps just before Christmas one year and the lines were particularly long. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby. “I know,” said Mamie, ‘but the machine won’t ask me about my arthritis.” Never underestimate the power of kindness.

We are always hearing that America is changing. That is not debatable. America is changing in many ways. I am not just talking about science, technology, and medicine. I am talking in the heart of the average American. Is America as kind today as it was decades ago. It is a fair question. I have my personal doubts. I feel like every other person I know is taking a stand or telling you the way it is. They are more interested in being heard than anything else. They are more interested in being heard, then they are how their harsh words affect you.

Sociologists tell us the issue is more an old-fashioned selfishness. They say our national problems are weighing us down, smothering our national kindness. They may be right. Consider these facts with me. According the U.S. Census Bureau in 2016, 43% of Americans are living in poverty. How would your life change if you were forced to live on minimum wage? Americans are taking on more debt, and they are saving less. Wages have been at the same level since 1999. Student debt is exploding. Did you know as a country we owe $1.6 trillion in student loans? As a country we owe $1.03 trillion in credit card debt. Household savings are non-existent. Medical expenses are out of control. Add in the national election, racism and the pandemic and we are in quite a mess. The amount of national stress is at pandemic levels. Our national stress is eroding away at our national kindness. That is why when we experience kindness it affects us profoundly.

Kindness is important for several reasons.

  1. Kindness makes us happy.
  2. Kindness lowers our stress.
  3. Kindness improves ourself-esteem.
  4. Kindness lowers our depression.

This is my pastoral advice for you. Keep being kind. Keep sending those cards. Keep sending those texts. Keep baking those meals. Keep praying. Keep caring. Do not ever underestimate the power of kindness. Each act of kindness is a small light who is living through a dark day.

It must has been three weeks ago as of tomorrow. I was home from the hospital, but I had a long way to go. I felt like a broken person. The highlight of that day was a phone call from my doctor. My family and I have gone to him for years. He has seen us through various illnesses. We trust him because he cares about us. At some level, I like to think of him as a friend. However, I would never call him by his first name, Bill. I respect him too much. When the phone rang at 2:45, I mustered all the strength I could gather. At first, we reviewed my recent past. I told him about my trip to the hospital and my trip to the emergency room. At some point he asked me about how I was doing on that day. I told him I was exhausted and a felt like I had let everyone in my life down. I let my wife, who was also recovering, down by being a burden. I worried my children. I let my church down. I let God down because I just could not function. This was the first time being in need. Do you know what I did next? I cried. I do not mean a few tears. I mean, I cried like a baby. Ok, I wailed. I had told others that, but they just dismissed emotions. The theme was, “Don’t be silly, you haven’t let anyone down. You just got sick. It is a worldwide pandemic.” As I wailed with my doctor, he said something new.” He said, “I understand.” He said, “Russ, do you know what I fear? I do not fear getting the virus and dying. I fear getting the virus and not being able to work. People are dependent on me and people are dependent on you too. You are overwhelmed with responsibility. It is hard to be a giving person when you cannot give.” Those kind compassionate words were like pouring salve on my open wounds. I felt like there was one person in the world who understood. I cannot do this job at 30%. And, I have no clue how to do this job in isolation. Then, he said, “Russ, give it time. Everything is going to be fine. Just give it time.”

When I got off the phone, I thought about is kind words. We did not talk about my oxygen level. We did not talk about my drugs. We did not talk about my heart rate or my blood pressure. I know those things are important, but we are more than a science project. All I did was talk and all he did was listen. He gave me time and and compassion when I needed it. He showed me kindness when I needed kindness. He gave me a small light on a dark day. Never underestimate the power of kindness. Perhaps, it was a coincidence, perhaps not. A few hours later I turned the corner, and I began to heal. Never underestimate the power of kindness.

Do the people in your life consider you kind? I believe they do because you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. It it the Holy Spirit who creates that virtue within you. Aesop was not wrong. He said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

The Bible Is…

Before I begin today, let me say this clearly. Historically, Americans have always had an appreciation of the Bible. It is not just limited to one place or generation. Consider these quotes with me:

          George Washington (1732-1799) once said, “It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.”

Patrick Henry (1736-1799) once said, “The Bible is worth all the other books that have ever been printed.”

U.S. Grant (1822-1885) once said, “Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet-anchor of your liberties. Write its precepts in your hearts and practice them in your lives.”

Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) once said, “In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.” 

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) once said, “A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”

Those are some powerful quotes about the Bible. Do you believe America still holds the Bible in such esteem? After all, America has changed in many ways through the years. We have advanced in the areas of transportation, communication, and medicine. No one is traveling today by stagecoach. Very few do not have an email address, regardless of age. I have never had a parishioner, who requested heart surgery using 1860’s medical practices. America has advanced in many ways, but that is not true when it comes to the Bible. The Bible was once viewed as the word of God! Now the Bible is viewed as a curious piece of historical literature, which has truly little to offer our modern world. Our Biblical ignorance is at an all-time high.

For twenty-two years Jay Leno (born 1950) hosted The Tonight Show. Personally, I found Jay Leno to be entertaining. He had a routine of the show called Jay Walking. He would walk through the streets and ask people simple questions. Sometimes, he would ask people about current events. Sometimes, it was a about politics. One night he asked simple questions about the Bible. He asked the first person to name one of the Ten Commandments. A young man answered, “Freedom of Speech.” He then asked the person to finish the quote. Ye who is without sin _________. A middle-aged woman answered, “Has the most fun!” He then asked who in the Bible was swallowed by a great fish. An elderly gentleman answered Pinocchio. The correct answers are Honor your father and mother; cast the first stone and Jonah. If you did not know those answers than you have a problem.

The other day a friend told me, he and his wife were watching the game show Jeopardy. The final question of the show, Final Jeopardy, was a Biblical question. HE TELLS HIS SON NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE LAMB FOR THE BURNT OFFERING – GOD WILL PROVIDE. One of the contestants answered JOB. Another answered Jacob. The third contestant answered, “This has been so much fun! Thank You! If you do not know the answer is Abraham, then you have a problem. Our Biblical ignorance is shocking, but you are not alone. I will admit I am guilty too.

When I was in seminary, a friend of mine came up to me with a book he had found in the library. It was a Bible trivia book. He asked he a few questions and I got half correct. I felt good about myself, until he showed me the title of the book, Bible Trivia for Children Ten Years Old and Younger. The copyright was in the 1870s. My friend laughed at me. Our Biblical ignorance makes us more like the man in our scripture lesson than we care to admit. If you are ready to look at the scripture reading for today say, “Amen!”

We are at the very end of the eighth chapter of Acts. We are told an angel of the Lord instructs Philip to go south to the road that runs between Jerusalem and Gaza. That angel is mentioned four times in the Book of Acts. Stephen mentioned the angel at his trial in chapter seven. The angel is mentioned twice in chapter twelve. The angel liberates Peter and strikes down Herod. This time, the angel instructs Philip to go to the desert road that runs between Gaza and Jerusalem. The distance between those two locations is fifty miles. Somewhere on that road he finds a unique traveler, an Ethiopian eunuch.

We know two things about him. First, we know his nationality. He was Ethiopian. In those days, Ethiopia was the upper Nile region. Second, we know his occupation. He was the treasurer in charge of the treasury of the queen of Ethiopians, Candace. He is a eunuch because he works with the queen and fornication will not be tolerated. Gentlemen can I ask you a question. Would you trade places with him? He has a wonderful job, but his personal life was lacking. In other words, his life is complex. No wonder he is on the side of the road studying the ancient text. His life is filled with questions. This is where the text begins to speak to us. When Philip finds the Ethiopian, he is reading the scriptures, but he does not understand the scriptures. It is one thing to read the words. It is another thing to understand the words. When was the last time you played the part of the Ethiopian? When was the last time you read the Bible but, you didn’t completely understand the words? The good news is the Ethiopian had Philip to help him. The bad news is you are stuck with me.

Today, I want to make three quick statements about the Bible. Each one of these statements is obvious. The originally came from James W. Moore (1938-2019). Each one of these statements is designed to make you think. My goal is simple. I want you to have a greater appreciation of the Bible. Reading the Bible is not optional to your faith. Reading the Bible is vital. I do not want you to be a spiritual weakling. I want you to be a spiritually-mature-Christian. So, if you are ready to begin say, “Amen!”

The Bible is Complex

This is statement number one. The Bible is complex. Only a fool would think the Bible is easy. There is nothing easy about the Bible. Sometimes, it is hard to understand the divine truth found in the Bible. There are sixty-six books in the Bible, thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament. Have you ever read the Bible cover to cover? Have you ever stopped to consider how many kinds of literature are found in the Bible? Have you ever stopped to consider the age of each word found in the Bible? Have you ever studied the original languages of the Bible, Hebrew, and Greek, to expose some hidden meaning? The Bible is complex but what your mother told you is true. Anything worth having is worth working for. How hard are you working on your Bible skills? Spiritual weaklings do not even try to understand the Bible. If you have some work to do say, “Amen!”

The Bible is Practical

This is statement number two. The Bible is practical. Ronald Reagan once said, “Within the covers of the Bible are all the answers for all the problems man faces.” The Bible addresses a wide variety of practical topics. How would your life improve if you applied these Biblical models to your daily life? How many problems are you facing today would not exist if you would have followed the Biblical model from the very beginning? Are all your relationships healthy? Are your finances strong? Are you still worried about your salvation? The Bible covers these things because the Bible is practical. The Bible can help you with the biggest problem you are facing today! If that makes you think say, “Amen!”

The Bible is Eternal

This is statement number three. The Bible is eternal. The piece of scripture the Ethiopian is trying to understand is found in Isaiah 53, the suffering servant passage. Approximately 700 years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah was talking about Jesus. Martin Luther once said, “The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid.” The great reformer understood the real meaning of the Bible. The Bible is all about Jesus, our only hope of salvation. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

In 1989, I was appointed to the Hathaway United Methodist Church in Garfield Heights. I have nothing negative to say about that congregation. They were good to me and we grew together. When I first arrived, I did my best to get to know everyone. I did my best to discover what kind of activities they would support. In the first few months, I took a survey to learn more about them. On the survey were a wide range of questions. One of the questions was: do you think this church should hold a regular Bible study? Ninety-eight per cent of the people said, “Yes!” So, I planned a weekly Bible study and decided to use the biggest room in the church. After all, 98% of the people said the church should hold a weekly Bible study. On the night I held the first Bible study I learned two things. First, I did not need the biggest room in the church. Second, I found out that evening I asked the wrong question. I should have asked would you attend a weekly Bible study. The survey told me 98% of the people said there should be a weekly Bible but less than 2% of the congregation came.

It has been a long time since my unsuccessful weekly Bible study. Do you know what happened to the Hathaway United Methodist Church? It pains me to say it. The church is now closed. They say it merged with other congregations, but a merger is really a closing. Hathaway did not close because the people were bad. Hathaway did not close because the people were lazy. Hathaway did not close because the people were not devoted to their church. Hathaway closed for spiritual reasons. Hathaway closed because the church was a spiritual weakling. Why would God lead people to a church that was spiritually compromised? If you want to find out if this church is a spiritual weakling, then just find out how many people attend our weekly Bible study. If it can happen there, then it can happen here. How important is the Bible to you?

How Content Are You?

Our scripture reading for today is Luke 15:11-32. Do you remember the material we recovered last week? A man had two sons. The younger son went to his father and asked for his share of the inheritance. It was an unusual request. Still today, the inheritance is not given until after death. The individual needs his or her estate to cover his or her own expenses. Yet, in the story, the father grants his son’s request. With cash in hand, he leaves home and for a short time lives life in the fast lane. He has a great time until the money runs out. So, basically, with his tail between his legs, he returns home, where his loving father celebrates his return. However, the elder son is not so welcoming.

While his younger brother was out there making memories, he was a at home working. Two-thousand years later, it does not seem fair. Anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by responsibility can relate. Occasionally, I have uttered those words, “The next time I am going to be the irresponsible one.” Perhaps, it was the fatted calf that pushed him over the edge. Sometimes, you must take a stand. The older brother refuses to go to his younger brother’s welcome home party. Looking for family harmony, the father goes to his elder son and begs him to attend. After all, they are brothers. The elder son retaliates with a weapon I understand, sarcasm. He reminds his father of his faithfulness. He has been enslaved to him for years and has nothing to show for his loyalty. Then, he digs deeper and turns the knife. Verse 30 says, “But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!” The words seem to fall on deaf ears. There is no other way to say it.

The older son is mad. He is mad at his little brother for leaving him to do all the work. He is also mad at his father because he feels underappreciated. However, he is also mad at himself. There is part of him who is envious of his brother. While his brother is out there making memories that will last a lifetime, he was working. While his brother is out there doing what he wanted to do, he was doing what other people expected him to do. There is a world of difference. There is something about his little brother he respects. Envy is defined as, a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck. In the end, he is mad at himself. That leads me to the question of the day: How content are you? Envy has the potential of robbing us of today’s joy and blinding us to today’s blessings.

If you ask the internet highway, how envy or jealousy is harmful, you will get these answers.

  1. Envy gives you a bad attitude. Envy is a negative emotion. Envy will lead you into crippling negativity.
  • Envy threatens your financial stability. Trying to live at someone else’s lifestyle is the beginning of the end, financially.
  • Envy will prevent you from being a good employee. Envy does not make you a team player at work and in the end will ruin your career.
  • Envy can lead to substance abuse. Envy produces anxiety and we cope with anxiety in negative ways, alcohol, over shopping, over-eating, etc.
  • Envy promotes self-doubt. Life is unfair. Some are born with more gifts and resources than others. Envy makes us feel like failures.
  • Envy frustrates progress. If you believe in the power of positive thinking, then the opposite is true. Negative thinking produces negative results.

Earlier this week, I had my annual one on one DS consultation with our District Superintendent, Abby Auman. We did it virtually by Zoom. I sat in my office in the church, and she sat in her home office. She had a colorful rainbow mural behind her. She asked me how I was doing. I am fine. She asked me about my plans. I really do not have any. Every day is a new adventure. I am living my dream. When my consultation was over, I found myself reviewing my time in the ministry. I have had a great ride!

I have been in the ministry nearly thirty-seven years; thirty-three years working within the United Methodist Church. I started off as a Youth Director in Frankfort, Indiana. That was when I was a student at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. I was not much of a Youth Director. When I transferred to Asbury Theological Seminary near Lexington, Kentucky, I became the pastor of the Pleasant Grove Christian Church near Lancaster, Kentucky. They were very patient with me. I transferred to the United Methodist Church when I was nearing graduation and served three small-membership churches: the Morristown Charge, including Morristown, Lloydsville and Bannock, in the old Saint Clairsville District. They were truly kind to me. When Kathryn and I got married, I served the Waltz United Methodist Church for a single year, in the old Wooster District. I felt guilty for leaving them so soon. In 1989, I was appointed the pastor of the Hathaway United Methodist Church, in Garfield Heights. I stayed there five years. During my time that church did well. That church is now closed. In 1994, I was appointed here and started my twenty-sixth year of service here in June. Of my thirty-seven years in the ministry, twenty-six have been spent here. That means, I have spent 70% of my time in the ministry here with you. Do you remember the question of the day?

How content are you with your life? In May, I turned sixty-three years old. That is a good sample size, so I feel qualified to answer the question. I am content with my life to this point. There was a time in my life when I was more ambitious. There was a time in my life when I dreamed of winning the world for Jesus Christ, the bigger the better, but no more. Now, I am just trying to survive. Yes, I have turned down opportunities to advance my career. I have said it a million times. I came here for my parents, who were aging. I stayed here for my children because this was a good place to grow up. I did not want them to become Methodist nomads. I stay here for me because I consider this place home. Each one of you is important to me. We have an odd relationship. I am not your friend and I am not your superior. I am your pastor. My only regret is that I lost years in the ministry worrying about moving, and I refuse to lose any more years worrying about retiring. Someone once told me I committed professional suicide by staying here, but that never bothered me. Why? Because, the ministry is not a career, it is a calling. In my heart of hearts, I know that God wants me here, and I trust God will tell me when it is time to go. God has been good to me. I am a blessed man because I have a contented life. The question is not if I have a contented life, the question is, do you have a contented life? How do you answer the question?

Years ago, this church had an employee by the name of Carl. He was not just the custodian; he was the most important person in the church. He had held that position for twenty-five years and everything went through Carl. Every meeting in those days ended the same way. Someone would say, “I will check with Carl.” It was Carl who gave the thumbs up or the thumbs down. Do not get me wrong, Carl was a gifted man in many ways, but he was not the ultimate authority. By the time I arrived, Carl’s performance was on the way down, but few complained, because it was Carl. No one complained until Carl never came to work, and we still paid him. (This is a good place to work.) He had his church friends doing his job. When the end finally came, it was awkward. The board voted to send him a registered letter. It was sent, and Carl was gone. However, Carl was not really gone.

A staff appreciation day was organized and everyone on staff, including Carl, was invited. Some wanted to thank Carl for his years of service. That was a nice thing to do. Everyone on staff was there. The long-time organist was there. The long-time secretary was there. The short-term choir director was invited. I was invited. Carl was invited, and Carl came. At the right moment, kind words were expressed, a prayer was uttered, and small gifts were distributed. When it was all over, I walked up to Carl and shook his hand. I said, “Carl, twenty-five years is a long time; you should be proud.” I still think about his response to that statement. He said, “I would be proud, if I was proud of what I had done.” What I heard Carl say was, he did not live up to his own expectations. He did not have a contented life, because he longed to do more. His body language told me, he felt like a failure. I felt bad for Carl because contentment was a million miles away. Can you relate to that story?

How content are you with your life? Like Carl, the elder son was not content with his life. In a certain way he felt like a failure because he did not do what he wanted to do. This is the truth. Envy must be balanced. Unchecked envy has the potential of blinding us to our daily blessings, but controlled envy has a way of calling us to do more. What do you still want to do? Do you remember the definition of envy? It is a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck. How content are you?

Harry Truman’s Demise

Volcano Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980. It was not a surprise. For two months prior to the massive blast occurred the most deadly and destructive in American history; earthquakes and volcanic activity signaled a major event was underway. Authorities had plenty of time to sound the alarm and warn those living nearby of the looming danger. Yet despite the seriousness of the threat, some people chose to disregard the warnings.

Probably the best known of those who refused to evacuate was Harry Truman. No, not Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) the 33rd president of the United States, the former president. Harry R. Truman (1896-1980) owner and caretaker at the Mount St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake. He had survived the sinking of his troop ship by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland during World War I, and he was not about to leave just because scientists thought there was danger. Truman told reporters, “I don’t have any idea whether it will blow. But I don’t believe it to the point that I’m going to pack up.” On May 18, 1980, Truman and his lodge were buried beneath 150 feet of mud and debris from the volcanic eruption. His body was never found. So, with that story in mind let me ask you a question.

What killed Harry Truman? Was it the eruption of Mount St. Helens? Was it Harry Truman’s arrogance who ignored the warning? To me, the answer is obvious. History will remember him not as a maverick. History will remember him as a fool. Only a fool ignores warnings. With this in mind, let us look at our primary scripture lesson.

We find ourselves today in the Gospel of Luke. It and the sequel of this Gospel, Acts, were written by Luke, a companion of Paul about the year 70. Both Luke and Acts are written to Theophilus, a lover of God. It may have been an individual named Theophilus or a group of individuals who loved God. For our use it does not really matter. The recipients of this letter were originally Gentiles, non-Jews, like us. Personally, I like Luke for one reason. I like telling stories and Luke is a master storyteller. You would not want to change a single word. Today’s story is no exception.

The story begins by introducing the main characters. “There was a man with two sons.” Then, he exposes the storyline. “The younger son came to his father and said, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’” This was a highly unusual request. Even today, the estate is not divided until after the owner’s death. The owner needs his estate to cover his own expenses. Yet, the father grants his son, taking money out of his own pocket. According to Old Testament law, Deuteronomy 21:17, the younger son received half of the amount his elder brother would receive in the future. It has been said, “A fool and his money are soon parted.” That is the story of the young son. With his cash in hand, he goes out and lives the wildlife. I will let you fill in the blanks. It is safe to say the young man had a good time, but then then good time ran out. A famine in the land and the young man had no funds. He looks for employment, but he has few options. He hits rock bottom on the day he found himself longing for the pods the pigs were eating. That is truly rock bottom for a Jew. Then, he has an idea that changes his life. He will swallow his pride and go home to ask his father for a job. His employees are eating. He does just that, but he does not just get a job. He gets a reception. Some call the parable The Parable of the Loving Father, because the father welcomes home his wayward son. The father is remembered for his love. The younger son is remembered for his sins of the flesh. We call sins of the flesh sins of commission.

So why is the story of the younger son important to you and to me? The reason is we are like the younger son in one way and unlike the younger son in another way. We are like the younger son because each one of us is a sinner. That is not not my opinion. It is Biblical. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” That means you and I are sinners and have not lived up to God’s high standards. We are unlike the younger son because we have not confessed our sins. Many are in denial about their sinful state.

Several months ago, I was talking to a small group of people. We were talking about nothing important. I tried to spice up a boring day, so I gave everyone a hard time. In the end, I called them all sinners, and everyone laughed. Then, one woman in the group said something I have not forgotten. She said, “Russ, what is the big deal about sin? You just go to confession and keep living.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), the great German theologian, called that cheap grace. In other words, it is receiving grace without repentance. Please do not take that as an anti-Catholic statement. I believe, she spoke for many in our time. It does not matter if you are Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox. It does not matter if you are a believer or a non-believe, an atheist or an agnostic. It is safe to say our generation does not take sin seriously. The question is, why? There are two reasons we do not take sin seriously. Maybe it is not one or the other. Maybe it is a combination of the two. Consider these two options with me.

This is option number one. Maybe we do not take sin seriously because of the news? We are overexposed to the harshness of this world. For years, Kathryn and I watched the news to know what was happening in the world. Several months ago, we broke that habit. I got tired of the biased reporting and the political agenda. Our national news has stopped being news. It has become an editorial. However, I also stopped watching the news because it has become so harsh. The list of nightly reports is not pleasant. There always a story about some violent crime. There is always a report about a sexual offender. There is another murderer, who was going to prison for decades. (Our country seems to have money to put people in prison, but no money to send people to college.) The list goes on, so we turned the news off. You know the truth. In comparison to that list of bad characters, we look good. How easy it is to see the sins in others. How hard it is to identify our own sins. Maybe the news is the problem. That is option number one. I believe there is some truth in that statement. Or maybe, the problem is more.

This is option number two. Maybe we do not take sin seriously because we do not take the church, itself, seriously? You can blame the church’s self-inflicted wounds. Why listen to the church about sin if the church is filled with the biggest sinners? You can blame the church, or you can blame society. If you do not believe me than look about how church in portrayed in the media. We are portrayed as weird and out of touch. To them we are comical. So, why listen to the church about sin if the church is not seen as a creditable source? Maybe that is why we hear so much about volunteerism? This is the unspoken. In those community service hours, we are earning our salvation. That is simply wrong. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. After all, we are all sinners. Do you believe our society does not take sin seriously because of option one or option two? Or do you believe our society does not take sin serious because of a combination of the two? Regardless, it clear to me our society does not take sin seriously. Yet, this is equally true.

God does take sin seriously. The Greek word sin means “to miss the mark.” That means every time we sin; we miss the mark. We often miss the mark because God has set the standard high. God is just and God deserves our obedience. The problem is we are all sinners, so Jesus died on the cross sacrificially for our sins. However, that does not mean we should take our sins lightly. Our sins do damage in five different ways.

  1. Sins cause separation from God. Sin, itself, is an offense to God, and God cannot be in the presence of sin. Every time you sin you put distance between you and God.
  • Sins are harmful to you. God expects us to live life at his standard. The sins we commit, in the end, do damage to ourselves.
  • Sins is harmful to the people in your life. The people you love the most are forced to live with the consequences of your sins.
  • Sin are a catalyst for more sin. The word is compromise. One small sin will lead to greater sins.
  • Sin is a death sentence to unbelievers. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” Believers have their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus. Non-believers go to hell because of the sins they have committed.

Those five points came from Christian blogger Derek Hill. Through the eyes of God, sinning is not a small matter. Take this warning seriously. Be like the younger brother, confess your sins and accept your father’s love.

If you have not heard there is a presidential election coming, so I am going to end with a story from another presidential election from the past. It has never been pretty. In 1884, Grover Cleveland (1837-1908) was running against James G. Blaine (1830-1893) for the presidency of the U.S. Blaine supporters discovered that Cleveland, who was a bachelor at the time, had fathered a son by Mrs. Maria Crofts Halpin, an attractive widow who had been on friendly terms with several politicians. Subsequently, Republicans tried to pin an immorality tag on Democrat Cleveland. The move, however, backfired badly. Rather than deny the story, Cleveland decided to confess and admitted he was the father. The population respected Cleveland for confessing and elected him the twenty-second president of the United States. The story reminds us confession is a good thing.

You have been warned. Only a fool does not accept a warning. Confess your sins! Are you going to be like Harry Randall Truman in Mount St. Helens or are you going to be like the younger brother who confessed and received his father’s love? What do you have to confess?

God’s Misunderstood Commandment

We find ourselves today in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. It is impossible to summarize the story in any detail. It will have to suffice to say, God made a promise to Abram that his people would become a great nation. God kept his word and generations later his descendants found themselves enslaved in Egypt. They cried for a liberator and God sends them Moses. Does any of this sound familiar? Have you seen the movie? It was a great day when God’s Chosen people left Egypt and faced the harshness of the wilderness. God watched over his people and protected them from the Egyptians. Once safe, God summons Moses to Mount Sinai. It is on Mount Sinai God gives Moses the Ten Commandments. They are written on stone tablets.

The Ten Commandments will not save you soul. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. Jesus is your only hope of salvation. However, that does not mean the Ten Commandments are worthless. We consider them guidelines for holy living. They may sound familiar. As they say, in the day they were posted in schools.

  1. You shall have no other “Gods” before me.
  2. You shall not make yourself an idol.
  3. You shall not take the name of God in vain.
  4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.
  5. Honor your father and mother.
  6. Do not murder.
  7. Do not commit adultery.
  8. Do not steal.
  9. Do not lie.
  10. Do not covet.

You can categorize the ten. The first four deal with our relationship with God. The last six deal with our relationship with other people. It is number four that grabs our attention today. It is God’s misunderstood commandment.

Number four says, remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. Listen to what I am about to say. God gave us the fourth commandment because he loves us. He knew we have limitations. Two things should happen on the Sabbath. They are equally important. First, on the Sabbath, we should rest physically. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) once said, “Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work, your judgment will be surer…Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller.” We need to rest physically. Second, on the Sabbath, we should recharge ourselves spiritually. Evangelical preacher and radio host Woodrow Kroll (born 1944) said, “The God who made us can also remake us.”  We need to be recharged spiritually. God knew we needed to take one day each week to rest physically and recharge ourselves spiritually. The fourth commandment is easy. It is people who have made it overly complex.

Do you know of anyone who has tried to restrict the Sabbath? That is what you find in this morning’s Gospel lesson. According to the story, Jesus and the disciples are walking through a wheat field. The text says it clearly. It is the Sabbath. As they walked, they picked some heads of grain. It is easy to visualize because nothing really happens. No one really cares, except the legal beagles. They cried, “Foul!” The disciples are not really doing anything wrong. However, the orthodox leaders of the day are right. Technically speaking, the disciples were harvesting on the Sabbath. Technically speaking, they broke the fourth commandment, remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. The leaders knew the law, but they had lost the Spirit of the law. The fourth commandment does not exist to limit our fun. It exists so we can rest physically and recharge ourselves spiritually.

The orthodox leaders of Jesus’s generation were experts at restricting the Sabbath. Did you know there were 1,521 manmade laws protecting the Sabbath during Jesus’s generation? Some, quite frankly, were impossible to keep. Some sound ridiculous to our generation. According to their manmade law, one could not cook a meal, light a fire, look in a mirror, pick up a needle or lift a baby on the Sabbath. According to the manmade law, you could not save a drowning man, shave your face, or take a bath on the Sabbath. According to the manmade law, you could not ride a horse, move a lamp, or take your medicine on the Sabbath. On the Sabbath you could save your ox that had fallen into a hole, but you could not get yourself out of the hole. I could go on, but I will not. The orthodox leaders of the faith restricted the life out of the Sabbath. The fourth commandment exists so you can physically rest and be spiritually recharged. Do you know of anyone who has restricted the Sabbath? We saw that a great deal in the past.

Years ago, I had a friend by the name of Suzanne. She was raised in a missionary family in Africa. They returned to the United States during her high school years. She would tell us how her parents were famous for restricting the Sabbath. Outside of worship, reading the Bible and prayer, the only thing she was permitted to do on Sunday was listen to the Salvation Army band. You know it is true. Generations ago, many in our land restricted the Sabbath. You could not dance on the Sabbath. You could not play cards on the Sabbath. Many were not permitted to visit friends on the Sabbath. Can I be honest with you? I am glad those days are over! The manmade rules made the Sabbath too much work. The fourth commandment exists so you can physically rest and be spiritually recharged.

Do you know of anyone who has redefined the Sabbath? The word “Sabbath” means ‘seventh day’. The seventh day of the week is Saturday. The Jewish world still observes their Sabbath on Saturday. We observe our Sabbath on Sunday because Jesus was resurrected on Sunday. We worship on Sunday morning because Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday morning. Every Sunday is designed to be a little Easter. For the Christian world, Sunday is a time for Jesus. How much time are you spending with Jesus?

Several years ago, I read an article about a company that was having a horrible problem with drugs. The problem became so great, the company began random drug testing. The CEO of the company said they would test their employees on Monday because people party on the weekend. If you are Jewish, then your Sabbath is Saturday. If you are Christian, then your Sabbath is Sunday. Think about it for just a second. It is incredibly sad. Those days were designed to be the Lord’s days, but they have become party days.

Do you know of anyone who has redefined the Sabbath? What pops into your mind when I say the word SUNDAY? If you answer church, worship, or God, then you are in the minority. Many people in our land equate Sunday with a day off. You know what I mean. It is a day to get some extra sleep. It is a day to slow down. It is a day to watch football and do what you want. There was a day when church attendance was expected. Now, church attendance is optional. Observe your neighbors next Sunday. How many of them have decided not to go to church? They deserve a day off! You really cannot blame them.

To a certain degree you cannot argue with them. They make two very good points. First, we believe in an omnipresent God. In other words, we believe you can experience God anywhere. You can experience God on the beach. You can experience God on the golf course. You can experience God walking in the woods. You can experience God in your bed. God is everywhere. If God is everywhere, then why go to church? Second, we have a surplus of ugly church stories. You have heard the stories. Some professional clergy have done some ugly things. Some lay people have done some ugly things. Every church seems to have their share of ugly politics. There is too much drama within the life of the church. One of the reasons I exist in the ministry is I try to stay away from the drama. When I am really frustrated, it seems like every church has become blind to the primary mission of the church: making disciples for Jesus Christ. However, this is equally true.

Even with all our imperfections, your best opportunity to experience God is at church. Has anyone here experienced God at the beach, at the golf course, in the woods or in your bed? I guess you could, but I do not think so. His name maybe mentioned but no one is really experiencing God. I am convinced only one kind of church will survive in the future. They are not churches that have fine-tuned their fundraising skills. They are the churches where people experience God regularly. When was the last time you experienced God? The fourth commandment exists so you can physically rest and be spiritually recharged.

Years ago, Kathryn and I sold our cottage at Lakeside on Marblehead peninsula. There was a time when the cottage was the focal point of my family life; however, the time came to sell it. Our lives had gone in different directions. I would like to say I miss it, but I do not. I am not going to break commandment number nine, do not lie. I never caught the magic of Lakeside. I miss absolutely nothing about it. I always felt like an outsider. I do not miss the gate fee. (It is now over $25 to get into Lakeside, plus your car pass. I am confident the dog pass is coming.) I do not miss my neighbors (they were odd, not cool like me.) I do not miss the annual repairs. (It was built in 1883 and I am not a handy man.)

The only thing I miss about Lakeside is my annual trip to the cottage to close it up for the winter. I do miss those trips. It was like a twenty-four-hour retreat. I was alone and all my neighbors were gone. The place was empty. There is nothing better than Ohio in October. It is simply beautiful, full of color. For once, I did what I wanted to do. After the work was done, I would walk through those historic streets, walk along the lake front, take a nap and work on my next sermon. In the evening, I drove to the Confederate Cemetery on Johnson Island, ate at my favorite restaurant, where I ate my favorite meal. It was great being ignored. At dusk, I would drive to the Marblehead lighthouse and watch the sun go down. If I close my eyes, I can remember everything. The air was cool, and the water was a steel gray and calm. There were boats in every direction. The sun was brilliant. As it drew closer to the horizon, it generated a million shades of red, orange and gold. I would sit on the rocks in silence until that luminous ball disappeared.

Have you ever thought about a sunset? No two are the same. Every time, I thought about the timelessness of that sunset. It has been setting long before I was born. It will set long past my death. That made me feel small. I felt even smaller when I thought about God, who placed that sun in the sky. I felt humbled when I thought about the vastness of God. Why would he care so much for me? Why would he call me, with all my imperfections, into the ministry? Every time I made that trip to the lighthouse and experienced one more sunset, I was completely at peace with God. I hope I did not break the rules. I had my Sabbath in the middle of the week. I miss those trips. I physically rested and I experienced God. When was the last time you observed a Sabbath? Exodus 20:8 says, “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”