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March 23, 2008
Easter Sunday
“It Is Not Over!”
Mark 16:1-8
WOW! Today is Easter and billions of men, women and
children all over the world gathering to proclaim
one thing, “Jesus is alive!”
HE IS RISEN!!! The people said, "He is risen
indeed!!!
WOW! The music said it, the scripture proclaims it,
and your presence is the exclamation point on it
all.
HE IS RISEN!!! The people said, "He is risen
indeed!!!"
We truly want to believe that don't we? My friends,
I am here to tell you that it is true. Jesus is
alive and life goes on and it is not over. That is
the message of Easter. Easter is about life. The
Gospel of Luke asks us a most significant question,
“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
Easter is the promise that tomorrow can be different
than today if we let go of yesterday. Let me say
this again.
Easter is the promise that tomorrow can be different
than today, if we let go of yesterday.
Why is that important for us to understand?
God has always been about tomorrow. Isaiah tells us
God said, “Behold I am doing a new thing.” Jesus
wasn’t about yesterday or he would have told the
people and us to hang on to all that was. He didn’t
come and say hang on to the old ways, he came and
said, “He is the way!” I miss the wisdom of Charles
Schulz as found in Peanuts but in a cartoon of old
Lucy apologized to Charlie Brown, "Sorry, I missed
that fly ball, I thought I had it, but suddenly I
remembered all the others I've missed. The past got
in my eyes!"
To hang on to the past as a means of living is to
seek the living among the dead and it can't be
done. There is a line from a song in the musical
CHORUS LINE, it says, "Kiss today good-bye and point
me toward tomorrow.
That line embodies the message of Easter. Life
points us to tomorrow; death points us to
yesterday. We all know that tomorrow will come; the
question is are we pointed in that direction? Even
the death of Jesus points us to yesterday, but the
empty tomb turns us around and points us to
tomorrow.
Every year thousands of people climb a mountain in
the Italian Alps, passing the "stations of the
cross" to stand at an outdoor crucifix. One tourist
noticed a little trail that led beyond the cross.
He fought through the rough thicket and, to his
surprise, came upon another shrine, a shrine that
symbolized the empty tomb. It was neglected. The
brush had grown up around it. Almost everyone had
gotten as far as the cross, but there they stopped.
If we are going to understand the meaning of Easter
we must go beyond the cross to the tomb. We must
understand it is not an end; it is the beginning.
In the movie Jesus of Nazareth, there is a very
gripping scene that takes place in the tomb of
Jesus. Caiaphas the High Priest, enters the empty
tomb of Jesus, and knows in his heart Jesus has
risen from the dead, he is afraid for himself and
for the others in his group, and looking at the
empty grave cloth he says, "NOW IT BEGINS."
What did Caiaphas know that the others didn’t?
History was going to change and will continue to
change if we adopt the reality of life as opposed to
death. What is there to fear if life continues and
death is but a portal by which we pass through for
the abundant life Jesus promised us? Easter is the
assurance that it’s not over.
“NOW IT BEGINS!”
The words in Marks Gospel in verse 7 point us to
this truth as the angel says to the women, "Go, tell
his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of
you to Galilee; there you will see him just as he
told you." The angel tells the women Jesus is
not going backwards but forwards, not yesterday but
tomorrow. In his resurrection, his triumph
over death, he was pointing the disciples and us in
the right direction.
The famous conductor Reichel was conducting a
practice of Handel's "Messiah." The soprano soloist
had just finished singing "I know that my redeemer
liveth." She had done a beautiful job, and everyone
expected her to receive heaps of praise from Reichel.
Instead, he scrutinized her a moment, then said, “My
daughter, you do not really know that your Redeemer
lives, do you?"
The woman squirmed a little, then said, "Why yes, I
believe I do." "Then sing it!" Reichel commanded.
"Tell it to me so that I'll know you have
experienced the joy and power of it." The soloist
sang it again, this time with all the joy and
passion that the song deserves. She brought tears
to the eyes of everyone in the room. When she
finished, Reichel wiped his own eyes and said, "You
do know, for this time you have told me."
Norman G. Wilson "The
Salvation of Jesus the Messiah," The Wesleyan
Advocate, Dec. 1992 p.23.
She just needed to be pointed in the right
direction.
What direction are you and I headed? Is it the way
of life or the way of death? You see death is final,
over, complete but life goes on, and on, and on. We
can live our lives pointed in the right direction,
going somewhere, or we can live our lives going
nowhere and that is death. What direction we are
going is a good thing to ask of us as a nation, as a
church, as a family, or as an individual. Easter is
the promise that tomorrow can be different than
today if we let go of yesterday. Easter is the
promise that if we choose life we will find him
there waiting for us.
God has always been asking His people to let go of
yesterday. It began with Abraham when God told
Abraham how he wanted to build a great nation
through him but not where he was. Abraham was
called by God to let go of yesterday and trust God
for tomorrow. Abraham was called to live not to
die. Easter is the embodiment of this truth for all
time.
It is good to know the story and meaning of Easter.
By knowing the story we come to know the Christ who
rose on that day. To know Jesus is to bring life
into a marriage. To know Jesus is to bring life
into a relationship. To know Jesus is to bring
life into your family, your church, your world. To
know Jesus is to know life. Are you pointed in
the right direction?
A pastor reflects on one of the first Easters in his
training to become a pastor. It all began with a
blizzard. He writes: I was still a student
pastor, and we had arranged to have an ordained
minister come to serve communion. There was a
question if he would be able to make it through the
storm.
To add to the misery, shortly after breakfast, we
received word of the death of a woman, one of the
twelve brothers and sisters who were members of the
congregation. Between the storm, the probable
absence of the minister, and the death, I began to
anticipate my wife and I having a worship service by
ourselves.
I stumbled from the parsonage to the church to be
sure it would be warm in case anyone should come,
then fought my way back for another cup of coffee.
This was a blizzard--I could not see the road from
the parsonage.
At church-time, I entered the back room, and there
were all the teenagers who composed the choir. The
minister had made it through the storm. He and I
consoled ourselves that perhaps at least a few
people had come to the service. Then the organ
volume lifted and we began to march in.
There in the front row sat the husband and children
of the deceased woman; they had driven thirty miles.
Around them were aunts, uncles, and cousins and they
were so packed in the sanctuary that some of them
had to stand. Never before had there been so many
people in worship.
The organist moved into the first hymn, "Jesus
Christ Is Risen Today, Alleluia!" In the front row,
singing as loudly as any, with tears streaming down
their faces, were the husband and children of the
deceased woman.
This congregation was part of the old Evangelical
Church of North America, so as was the custom, the
people came forward to receive communion. We bent
the rules so that I could help serve.
The last man I reached with the wine was the new
widower, whose children ranged from elementary to
high school in age. My eyes must have been asking a
question, for as he replaced the communion glass, he
quietly took hold of my arm and whispered, "She has
gone home, and we thought we should come home today,
too, especially today."
Life goes on and this family was pointed in the
right direction.
Let us pray!
M arch
30, 2008
“What Now?”
John 20:19-31
Last Sunday was a great day
for many reasons. The church was full, the children
looked like angels in their Easter clothes, the
music was powerful, there was a feeling of triumph
and it was for us a beautiful day. It was of course
Easter! So what now, what do we do now? Do we wait
for Christmas to recapture that spiritual glow, some
will?
Today we are like the
disciples after the resurrection of Jesus. We are
gathered together, huddled together, remembering,
even afraid and the only thing missing might be the
chair propped against the door to keep out what we
are afraid of.
John tells us the disciples
were behind locked doors because they were afraid of
the Jewish leaders. They were afraid they might
come and do to them what they had done to Jesus.
Their hearts were still focused on the past, focused
on the cross, the death, the pain and the sorrow. I
can only imagine what they would be talking about.
We know they were afraid and fear does not motivate
us to celebrate life. The doors were locked but
locked doors couldn’t keep Jesus out. It says when
they saw him they rejoiced.
Last week I shared with you
how the empty tomb is what points us in the right
direction. For those of you that were here do you
recall what direction that was? The answer is
simple, since the tomb was empty it points us
forward, it directs us to look at tomorrow. The
disciples still didn’t get it, as it is with some
people today. In that room on that Sunday the
disciples were focused on death, on yesterday. Like
Lucy of Peanuts cartoon said last week, “The past
got in their eyes.” When Jesus entered that room he
pointed the disciples in the direction of life.
The tragedy of life is not
that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to
begin it.
Richard L. Evans, Bits &
Pieces, March 4, 1993, p. 2.
There is so much for us to
learn from this encounter of the risen Christ and
those in that upper room. Each of them is in deep
grief and each is grieving in his or her own way.
One disciple, Judas is missing because his grief
over his betrayal was too much to bear. Another
disciple, Thomas is present but cannot accept the
idea that Jesus is alive unless he puts his finger
into the wounds of Jesus. His grief requires
proof. Fear is present so they are huddled together
for some kind of encouragement. Hope is present
because Mary Magdalene has seen Jesus. Finally, in
spite of the disciples and the skeptics, Jesus is
there.
What I have just described for
you is the church at work. We are a body of
believers at different places in our faith, each
coping with life and death in our way. I have
learned that while we may all believe in the same
God, when tragedy comes to us we will each grieve in
our own way. Some of us today are just as afraid of
tomorrow as the disciples were. When we live in
fear, we live in locked rooms but no lock can keep
Jesus out. We all know people who have been so
remorseful or angry with God that they have removed
themselves from the church. In the church we have
the skeptics and doubters with us all the time. We
also have, Praise God, the faithful remnant that
know Jesus lives. Finally, in spite of our wide
range of faith and skepticism, Jesus comes to us not
because he is dead but because he lives.
This fragmented, confused and
fearful group has gathered together and are asking
what now, what of us, how are we going to go on.
Then it happens; Jesus appears! Does Jesus
chastise, reprimand, and belittle them for not
understanding what has taken place? No, instead he
offers peace. “Peace be with you.” As if to say,
“Take a deep breath friends and pull yourselves
together.”
When our lives are out of
control, when we as a church are lost, pointed in
the wrong direction, the first thing Jesus does is
bring peace. He doesn’t come in that moment with a
plan. He comes as a calming presence. Before we
can even begin to fix it, we need assurance and
understanding. Jesus said, “Peace be with you.”
I find it interesting that even Hospice care is not
about dying as much as it is about living; living
life to the end with dignity and faith and peace.
Jesus goes on to do an amazing
thing after he greets them with his blessing of
peace.
22When
he had said this, he breathed on them and said to
them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If
you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;
if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
He gives the disciples
and us the church the gift of his Spirit. This is
most important. He gave the disciples and us the
power to forgive. Forgiveness lets go of
yesterday so we might look forward to tomorrow.
Is there a lesson in this for
the church today? We have a choice. We can live
our lives in fear, confusion and doubt pointed at
yesterday or we can accept his gift to us. If we
are pointed at yesterday it takes us nowhere. If we
are pointed at yesterday there is only judgment and
condemnation. How do we move ahead as a church
looking at yesterday?
When I look at yesterday and
remember the saints who have gone before me they
teach to look at tomorrow. The people who built
this church building came to the edge of town at
that time. They kept their eyes on what could be as
they stretched their resources to the limit. They
were excited about their vision and the Lord was
with them, all the way.
Our other choice in life is to
accept his gift to us. We can receive the Holy
Spirit, meaning we live in the power of Christ.
Jesus gave us the freedom, the power to forgive the
sins of others and even ourselves. Forgiveness
points us to tomorrow. Perhaps we as the church
have experience a sense of powerless lives because
we have rejected this gift.
One disciple, Thomas, holds
back. He is still not sure about what he is seeing.
Because Jesus knows his questions and needs, Jesus
goes to him as he does to each of us. He says,
“Thomas, put your finger here and see my hands. Do
not doubt but believe.” Thomas replies, “My Lord
and my God!”
In that brief moment in time
Thomas goes from being a skeptic to making the most
profound proclamation of all the disciples. Jesus
was no longer simply his friend, his Lord; he was
now his God. Thomas went from being the greatest
skeptic among them to making the greatest
proclamation of faith. There is nothing wrong with
being a skeptic as long as you are open to the
truth. There is nothing noble about not asking
questions regarding things you don’t understand.
Thomas was an honest man, with an honest faith and
he gave his life for his God.
So now what? What about us?
If we the church are going to be the church it will
be because we believe in tomorrow, all the way to
eternity. Our video clip is a combination of all
the resurrection accounts and therefore is not word
for word as was read in John. The video is accurate
as it is dramatized. When Jesus told them he would
be with them always they huddled together again this
time not as a confused and frightened church but as
a church with a purpose, power and a hope.
May it be so for us today!
Let us pray!
April 6, 2008
Who Do You Trust?
John 10:1-10
One day, while a father and son were out in the
country, climbing around in some cliffs, he heard a
voice from above yell, "Hey Dad! Catch me!" He
turned around to see Zac joyfully jumping off a rock
straight at him. Zac had jumped and then
yelled "Hey Dad!" Dad became an instant circus act,
catching him. They both fell to the ground. For a
moment after he caught him Dad could hardly talk.
When he found his voice again he gasped in
exasperation: "Zac! Can you give me one good reason
why you did that???" Zac responded with remarkable
calmness: "Sure...because you're my Dad." His whole
assurance was based in the fact that his father was
trustworthy. He could live life to the hilt
because Dad could be trusted.
Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 1987, Word Books
Publisher, pp. 46-47.
Who do you trust absolutely? I can’t answer that
question for you but who might that person or
persons be in your life? What are the qualities of
a person worthy of being trusted? Are you such a
person? The last question is rhetorical but I do
hope to help us understand what it takes to be
worthy of someone’s trust.
Trust is synonymous with faith and hope. Trust is
an honor given to us by others. Trust is fragile in
that it can easily be destroyed. Trust is difficult
to regain or repair once it has been lost or broken.
I came across a story told by a mother of a
confrontation she had with her son. The son had
lied to her and in so doing had violated the trust
she had placed in him. In the confrontation she
accidentally smashed a fine teacup on the floor.
She said, “Restoring my trust would be like gluing
that cup back together.” The son said, "I don't
know if I can do that." She replied, "Well, that's
how hard it is to build confidence and trust again."
The outcome was that the son spent literally weeks
carefully gluing the pieces together until he
finished. It was his choice and he learned a very
important lesson.
Throughout Biblical history there is one person who
characterizes what it is to be a trustworthy
person. It wasn’t a king, a politician, a doctor, a
lawyer or any other great profession. That person
was a shepherd. Even God was pictured as a shepherd
and the people as his flock. In Psalm 23 we read,
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Jesus
goes on in chapter 10 of John to say he is the Good
Shepherd.
Jesus uses this metaphor of shepherd to speak of
himself as he related to the disciples. Scriptures
tells us they didn’t understand. Is Jesus worthy of
our trust? This morning I am suggesting to you that
the qualities of being a shepherd are also the
qualities of what it is to be a person worthy of
trust. I don’t know anyone present today who tends
a flock of sheep but that doesn’t mean we aren’t
shepherds. Therefore, do not take the metaphor of
the shepherd literally because we will miss the
power of the story. Wherever or whenever we have
others who count on us we are shepherds. I
can’t begin to list all the opportunities for us to
be shepherds. Wherever or whenever we have
others who count on us we are shepherds. Are we
worthy of their trust?
A shepherd was on duty 24/7; he was never off duty.
Trust never takes a break. There is never a time
when trust says, “No one is watching so now I can be
untrustworthy.” The shepherd was always watching
the sheep and the sheep trusted the shepherd for
their security. Remember the story of Zac jumping
into his father’s arms? He trusted his father for
his personal security because his dad was always his
dad, always on duty.
Whenever the sheep heard the shepherd’s voice they
came to him. Verse 3 tells us, “the sheep hear his
voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by
name and leads them out.” When those who count on
you get confused and lost for whatever reason do
they trust you enough to come to them when you
call? Verse 4 reads, “After he has gathered his own
flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him
because they recognize his voice.” Have we
earned the trust of those who count on us that they
would come because they heard and recognized your
voice?
Several years ago when we were in Washington DC we
were taking the tram ride around the mall. We
stopped at one place and the girls went to buy
something and as you might expect they took longer
than needed to return. Like sheep they had gone
astray.
The tram was going to leave in a few minutes and
either we had to get off or they had to get to us.
I could see them off in the distance and there was
no use in calling their names because there were too
many people. So I whistled, a familiar whistle
since early childhood, their heads cocked to where
the sound came from and I waved for them to come.
And they did. Have we earned the trust of those who
count on us? The sheep knew the shepherds voice and
would come when he called.
The shepherd’s job was not only 24/7 but often times
dangerous. There were wolves that looked to kill
the sheep and thieves that looked to steal them and
when that happened the shepherd would risk his own
life to save even one sheep. Those who count on us
trust us to keep them from harm, even when they have
put themselves in harms way.
You all know about my basic fear of dogs. I will
never forget an event many years ago. Sarah went to
visit a schoolmate. At the appointed time I went to
pick her up. The driveway was a long driveway and
the door was about 100 feet from my car. Sarah
comes running out of the house and about half way a
big Chow dog comes running after her. The race is
on. She is frightened and so am I but I got out of
my car and went running at the Chow. Much to my
surprise and relief the Chow turned around.
Sometimes trust requires you to act courageously
even when you are afraid.
A shepherd was also patient with his flock. He
understood that they would wander off, get lost,
because they were sheep. The shepherd knew each
sheep by name and when one was missing went looking
for that sheep. To the shepherd, the flock was
the most important thing in his life. What might be
different if we earned the trust of those who count
on us by making them more important than ourselves?
A shepherd understood the meaning of a sacrificial
heart. A sacrificial heart is willing to put those
who count on you ahead of yourself. Jesus said, “If
you wish to follow me you must deny yourself and
pick up your cross and follow.” The shepherd’s life
was taking care of his sheep, his flock. A person
worthy of being trusted gives his or her life for
the benefit of those who count on you, your flock.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and he is worthy of being
trusted. We are called to be shepherds to a world
that is lost. We cannot be the Good Shepherd that
brings us salvation and eternal life but we called
follow him. In following Him we become shepherds.
Are you following the one worthy of your trust?
Let us pray!
April 20, 2008
“From the Heart”
Matthew 7:12
I was ordained into the ministry of Jesus Christ in
1977. When I graduated from seminary earlier that
same year I thought I was ready to set the world on
fire for the Lord. I had read the great theologians
of our time; I had studied different theologies and
I was ready. My area of expertise was “youth
ministry” and the Lord blessed me in that ministry
in spite of myself. I always had with me my
faithful partner in ministry who was actually a
better counselor than I was. To this day Shannon
and Sarah still talk with me about concerns and than
say let me talk to Mom for some comfort.
Jill and I were in ministry for 10 years before my
graduation from seminary. We have been in ministry
for over 40 years and the time is approaching when
Jill will step down from this role. It has caused
me to reflect and ask myself what I have learned.
What I share with you today is straight from my
heart. Karl Barth a great 20th Century
theologian, near the end of his life was asked what
he might say to the people in just a few words.
Barth said, “Jesus love this I know, for the Bible
tells me so.” That was it, nothing complicated,
just the truth simply stated. I am not near the end
of my life and I am not retiring but what I share
comes from my heart.
Like Karl Barth I could tell you my answer in just a
few words but unless you read Barth and understand a
bit of his journey you will miss the wisdom of his
words. Many years ago God planted in my heart a
love for people and a love for His church. I think
God in his infinite grace has granted me some wisdom
in my journey. In order to teach you what I
have learned and tried to apply in my life I am
going to tell you a story and ask you to watch a
video.
I do not know the author and it is not important to
know but listen to the lesson she presents. I am a
mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently
completed my college degree. The last class I had
to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely
inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human
being had been graced with. Her last project of the
term was called "Smile". The class was asked to go
out and smile at three people and document their
reaction. I am a very friendly person and always
smile at everyone and say hello anyway.....so, I
thought, this would be a piece of cake (literally).
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband,
youngest son, and I went out to McDonalds, one crisp
March morning. It was just our way of sharing
special playtime with our son. We were standing in
line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden
everyone around us began to back away, and then even
my husband did. I did not move an inch...an
overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me
as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body"
smell...and there standing behind me were two poor
homeless men. As I looked down at the short
gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling"...his
beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as
he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as
he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The
second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind
his friend. I realized the second man was mentally
deficient and the blue-eyed gentle man was his
salvation. I held my tears......as I stood there
with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they
wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that
was all they could afford (to sit in the restaurant
and warm up they had to buy something...they just
wanted to be warm).
Then I really felt it...the compulsion was so great
I almost reached out and embraced the little man
with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes
in the restaurant were set on me...judging my every
action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind
the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a
separate tray. I then walked around the corner to
the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot.
I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the
blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at
me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you".
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said,
"I did not do this for you...God is here working
through me to give you hope". I started to cry
as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I
sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is
why God gave you to me honey....to give me hope".
We held hands for a moment and at that time we knew
that only because of the Grace of God were we able
to give.
We are not churchgoers but we are believers. That
day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.
I returned to college, on the last evening of class,
with this story in hand. I turned in "my project"
and the instructor read it....then she looked up at
me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as
she got the attention of the class. She began to
read and that is when I knew that we as human
beings; as children of God, share this need to heal.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonalds,
my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that
shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a
college student. I Graduated with one of the
biggest lessons I would ever learn....unconditional
acceptance......after all....we are here to learn!
Author Unknown
The story reminds us that the world is watching.
The story tells us that God is at work through
un-churched people as well as churched people. Now
watch the video of a churched family out for dinner
at a very busy restaurant.
Part 2
In this video we see the family praying together and
thanking God for their food. They are not afraid to
let others see them praying. What we also see is
their unchristian behavior to the waitress. In both
scenarios the world is watching.
I have learned the world doesn’t need more
condemnation. I have learned it doesn’t do any good
to throw stones or cast judgments on people simply
because we can. I have learned the church is not a
building but people and the world is not a globe but
people. I have learned that people enjoy being
treated with compassion and understanding both in
the church and in the world. I have learned we are
on this earth for a purpose and that purpose is
fulfilled when we, “Do for others what you would
like them to do for you.”
I have learned I can only do for others out of the
resources that God has given me. I cannot give what
I don’t have. Sometimes what I can give is what I
also need. If I need understanding I can give
understanding.
If I need forgiveness I can give forgiveness.
I have learned practicing the principle we call the
Golden Rule is not about the other person, it is
about me. I have learned practicing the principle
isn’t about justice or overlooking a wrong. I have
learned it is not a conditional proposition to gain
some kind of response from the other person. I have
learned it is just the opposite; it is unconditional
love. I have learned it is about hope.
Do you recall what the woman said to the blue-eyed
homeless man? "I did not do this for you...God
is here working through me to give you hope". God
working through us to bring hope is what the Golden
Rule is all about.
In order to practice this life principle it requires
a willingness of me to put myself into that persons
sandals and ask what would I want in that
situation. Remember the story of the woman who was
caught in the act of adultery? You can find it in
John 8. The woman was brought to a public area
where she was to be put to death in a public
humiliating way by the men throwing stones at her
until she was dead. Jesus intervened. He asked for
the person without sin in his life to cast the first
stone. The woman must have been trembling with
fear. When she opened her eyes, Jesus asked her
where her accusers were and she said they had all
gone. He said, “I don’t accuse you either but don’t
do this anymore.”
What was it the woman needed? Was it more
condemnation, more judgment, more hatred? The men
were in there legal rights to destroy this woman.
As a sinner what would you want most when you have
been caught guilty of the wrong? Could it be
compassion, understanding, forgiveness, hope? When
God works through us to bring hope people change
even if it is for a short time. I have learned what
the person does with your act of grace is up to the
person; it is not a condition of your giving it.
This morning you see me as a preacher, a public
speaker, but most of my 40 years in ministry have
been spent listening to others. I have learned in
my 40-year journey of ministry when people are sick;
hurt, frustrated emotionally, physically or
spiritually what they are seeking is grace. Grace
does not always remove the consequence of the
situation but it brings hope. Grace doesn’t remove
the cancer but allows the person to feel your
support, love and hope. Grace doesn’t fix the past
but it brings hope for tomorrow. Grace can’t put
the toothpaste back in the tube but lets us forgive
and have hope. At this point in my 40-year journey,
I give you my understanding as a follower of Christ.
“Do for others what you would have them do for you.
This is a summary of all that is taught in the law
and the prophets.” Matthew 7:13-14
Let us pray!
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Gage
Park Baptist Church
3601
SW 10th Ave.
Topeka,
KS 66604-1905
Ph:
785-272-7771 Fax: 785-272-8232
Robert
Roesler, Pastor
Ed
O'Rear, Assoc. Pastor
office@gageparkbaptist.org
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