The View from the Pulpit – 2/20/12
February 20, 2012 by Gary Carter
Filed under View From The Pulpit
Dear Church Family:
It’s Presidents Day! It’s Presidents Day! Quick; break out the traditional ????! Put the ???? on to cook! Get ready to open the ????! It’s Presidents Day!
What traditions do you have around this day set aside to honor those who decided they wanted to be an American President an actually got elected? I have to admit that I’ve never really developed any good ways of celebrating this day. I don’t remember much of what we did before someone thought it would be nice to rearrange most U.S. Holidays so they happened on a Monday; thus normalizing the concept of a three-day weekend celebration. Three of the first eight weekends of 2012 have been celebrated as three-day-weekends. That won’t happen again for quite a while.
The only reason I say anything is that Sunday Morning Worship has begun to reveal a pattern in relation to three day weekends. Patterns aren’t inherently good or bad, they just are. What I think I see is that there are an awful lot of us who want (or need) to get out of town whenever we smash three days with no school together. Please know my purpose is not to condemn. But I would like to try to understand why. What are we trying to get away from?
First, please know that the one thing we do as Christians that’s different continues every Sunday morning. People gather to worship God through Jesus Christ. They set aside the first fruits of the gift we call “time” to sing praise, pray together and study God’s Word so we’ll know what God intended when the first breath of creation changed chaos into garden. We are blessed by many who are willing to offer their God-given talents to help us each week; musicians, ushers, pastors, and people who joyously reflect God’s presence upon all they meet. Worship is always good and (hopefully) challenging to way we live.
Having said all that I still wonder why we take every advantage to get away. For me it’s a need for a change of scenery and some relief from “the schedule”. We need “fun” time with family and friends and it’s often easier to find that kind of time somewhere else.
Perhaps at a deeper level, we need that time away to reclaim ourselves or to find ourselves. We live in a world that wants to categorize us. The Bible is filled with moments of that kind of get-a-way. We will soon be entering just such a time.
It’s called “Lent” which simply means “Spring” (from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten) and begins this Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) and ends on the Thursday before Easter (Maundy Thursday). You might be surprised that this season is designed as a time to “get away”. It mimics Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness after his baptism as he talked with God about the meaning of his life. It was where he discovered who he was and what difference God made for him. It also copies Noah’s experience of a 40 day storm that changed his world and Israel’s 40 year 200 mile journey from Egyptian slavery to God’s Promised Land. (Imagine – 40 years to get from Kennett to St. Louis) There are other times when “40” was the amount of time required to move from one way of life to another. And remember, the punishment imposed upon Jesus by Rome for not being the person they thought he should be was 40 lashes.
That’s why we do small things to make these 40 days different from the rest. We do things to put ourselves in God’s way. Things like changing the way we eat and act. We give up desserts or volunteer at food pantries. We might reduce the number of hours we watch T.V. or play on the computer. We choose a good book that helps us look at life through God’s eyes. (suggestion = Wednesday nights / 6:30pm / Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman)
You are invited to a getaway this Spring. The purpose of this getaway is to know God as revealed by the life of Jesus Christ. Are you up to the challenge? Are you willing to follow Jesus through the world you’ve created in order to enter the world that God created? Are you ready to try Putting Christ First…Every Day and discovering the change that might make?
Come and See. You’ll be among friends.
In Christ’s Love….Gary
Not A Fan: Becoming A Completely Committed Follower of Jesus:
Are you a follower or a fan of Jesus Christ? According to Kyle Idleman, “Jesus was never interested in having admirers. It’s not fans he is looking for.” The back cover of the book quotes Craig Groeschell, senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, “Jesus never asked us to sit on the sidelines and cheer for his cause.”
After reading the first chapter a member of 1st UMC Kennett reported that she’d never thought about what the bible reports happens on the day after the 5000 were fed. Do you think you’re called to be a fan or a follower of Jesus Christ? Come and See Wednesdays beginning February 29th; 6:30pm in the CLC Meeting Room. Book costs $10.00 (Kindle or Nook = $9.99 from their websites)
It’s true! UMC members are eligible for 50% off tuition:
Save thousands each year through Central Methodist University’s United Methodist Half-Tuition Scholarship program! It’s simple. You must be an active UMC member in good standing with your local church for at least one year (verified by your pastor), meet or exceed our admissions standards, attend full time, and must have a 2.5 GPA both in high school and while at CMU. This program applies to undergraduate students attending the Fayette campus only.
Questions? Contact Michael Pope, UMC Liaison in the Admissions Office, at 660-248-6390 or mpope@centralmethodist.edu.
Bring Your “Undies” to Church:
It’s time again for another “Undie Sunday” here at 1st UMC-Kennett. Support our local schools by bringing underwear, socks, sweatpants, and shoes in children and youth sizes. These are distributed by our local elementary schools in response to those “accidents” that are sometimes part of life as a small child and in other situations when the need is evident. Remembering others when shopping is one way of “Putting Christ First…Every Day.”
Spiritual Gifts and Talents Discovery Sunday – March 11 during Sunday School
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. (1 Corinthians 12:1)
The Apostle Paul clearly states the importance of the subject of spiritual gifts to Christians. Spiritual gifts and gifts-based ministry are the foundations for understanding how the church is meant to operate and for understanding our individual roles with the church. In order to understand spiritual gifts, we must understand the context in which they were first given, which begins with the promise Christ’s promise to send the Holy Spirit. This Spirit would provide all that was needed to continue Jesus’ ministry after the resurrection. In order for the church to be Christ’s Church, all Christians use their gifts and share the work of the church with the Bible as their guide.
What Spiritual Gifts are defined in scripture?
Apostleship Discernment of Spirits Exhortation (Encourage)
Evangelism Faith Generosity
Healing Assistance / Helps Utterance of Knowledge
Teaching Leadership with Diligence Mercy / Compassion
Pastor-Teacher Prophecy Utterance of Wisdom
Administration / Leadership
Spiritual Gifts are given to every Christian. We receive them through the grace of God and they are used to serve and strengthen one another and to glorify God.
You will be drawn to use your Spiritual Gifts and others will recognize (perhaps even be for you do) what those gifts are and the difference they make in other’s lives. You will be comfortable when you exercise these gifts even though their use will take practice. You will be effective when you exercise that gift and God will get the glory.
Come and See….in the CLC at 9:30am on Sunday, March 11, 2012; A whole other way of serving God.
Other Ways to Get in God’s Way This Lenten Season
This Wednesday, Feb. 22nd – Ash Wednesday Worship in the Sanctuary at 6:30pm.
Every Sunday beginning Feb. 26th – United Methodist Bootheel Cluster Lenten Services. Area UM Churches will host worship at 4:00pm followed by a time of food and fellowship. 1st UMC Kennett hosts the first gathering and Rev. Jan Dillard from Steele/Cooter will preach.
Every Tuesday beginning Feb. 28th – Lenten Lunches at 1st UMC-Kennett. Come join us for a light meal and time with God’s Word, Jesus Christ. Noon to 12:45pm each week. Bring a friend or co-worker.
Every Wednesday beginning March 7th – MidWeek Bible Study / “Not a Fan” CLC Meeting room at 6:30pm each week.
From 1st UMC’s Library – Barney’s Recommendations
Barney Greenway currently serves God as Librarian for 1st UMC-Kennett. Each week he chooses several books to highlight on the library table in the first floor Elevator Lobby.
This week’s suggestions include:
Storyteller’s Companion: The Parables of Jesus edited by Dennis E. Smith & Michael E. Williams
The Jesus Story by William A. Emerson Jr.
I Love the Word “Impossible” by Ann Kiemel
Jesus as They Saw Him by William Barclay
1st UMC has a very good selection of books that would be would be good reading for your trip through the wilderness of Lent. It’s located on the north side of the Sanctuary at the elevator. There’s also children’s books, some videos and several Bible Studies. Come and See.
The Transfiguration
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 / Mark 9:2-9
“What Was That?”
The Gospel lesson today begins, “Six days later….” What’s with that? It’s a terrible way to begin a story but all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) do it. It makes me want to know what happened six days ago. Perhaps that’s the idea. What happened six days ago is central to everything we are as people who claim the name “Christian”. So what was it?
Six days ago Jesus and his disciples were walking on the road that leads to Caesarea Philippi. I won’t fill in all the details concerning the why of the destination. Today they are not important. What is important is the question Jesus asks us…uhh the disciples as they walked along.
“Who do they say I am?” Jesus asked. The twelve mumbled together for a bit then one said that some thought Jesus was a prophet. Others were saying that he was John the Baptist or maybe Elijah returned from death. But maybe they misheard the question. Either that or they wanted to deflect it so they could answer the way they wanted to answer (like today’s politicians).
I believe the second time they heard it right. “Who do you say I am?” Hearing the “you” rather than a “they” makes all the difference. And it is an important difference. Because we are the ones who need to hear the question; we are the ones who need to decide on an answer before we can even begin this Lenten journey toward Easter. Who do you believe Jesus is?
It was Peter who was finally brave enough to show us the correct answer. Mark reports his answer, “You are the Messiah (Christ).” Luke clarifies by adding, “You are the Messiah (Christ) of God”. Matthew sharpens the answer even more, “You are the Messiah (Christ), the Son of the Living God.”
From that point on Jesus began to teach his Disciples what it would mean for them if he really was the Messiah of God. He talked about his crucifixion and when Peter rebuked him Jesus recognized Satan’s work and told him to get behind him. He told them all that if they wanted to keep their life they’d first have to loose it. Jesus said that there were some there on the road with him who would see the kingdom of God come with power.
It was six days after that….
Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus. 5-6Peter interrupted, “Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials— one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing. 7Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.” 8The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.
9-10Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t tell a soul what you saw. After the Son of Man rises from the dead, you’re free to talk.” They puzzled over that, wondering what on earth “rising from the dead” meant. (Mark 9:2-9 MSG)
My first instinct is to wonder what Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were talking about. (my second was that they were probably talking about me but that’s another story) Luke says they were discussing all the things that Jesus was about to accomplish. But Mark either doesn’t know or doesn’t think it’s important (see…it was about me) But it was important that Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were all on the mountain top together.
Moses is the one God called to lead his chosen people out of slavery in Egypt to the threshold of a Land flowing with milk and honey. It was such a wonderful place that we’ve come to know it as “The Promised Land.” My computer spell-checker won’t let me write it with anything but capital letters. It is the place promised to us by God that would be everything we ever wanted in a land; plenty of everything to provide for our physical and spiritual well-being. God used Moses in response to our cry for justice and peace.
Elijah is the one called by God to tell us what God meant by “Promised Land” after they’d moved in to the Promised Land. He pointed out all the things God’s people were doing that didn’t match with God’s idea of what a great land would be. He pointed to God’s power by asking God to ignite a soaking wet offering on Mt. Carmel when Baal’s prophets couldn’t coax even a small spark from their god (Elijah asked if perhaps Baal was visiting the little boys room at the time?) Elijah represents all God’s prophets who helped us learn how to live the life God created. They confronted those who sold the poor for a pair of shoes, mistreated orphans, widows, and people who were not exactly like them. The Prophets were the ones who told us that if we didn’t follow God’s rules we had little hope of staying in God’s Kingdom.
God’s Law and God’s Prophets were represented by these two great people. And I believe Jesus spoke with them in the same way we speak with family we grew up with but rarely see. It was a comfortable place to be that Peter, James and John witnessed and in that setting they were able to see Jesus for who he really was, God’s Messiah sent to restore humanities relationship the only way possible. And Jesus shined. His face shined. His smile shined. His clothes shined. And Peter didn’t want the moment to end. So he offered to build them all booths to stay in. I can understand that.
There have been few times when I just knew I was on holy ground. I didn’t want to leave. Most likely you have too. Funny thing is, those moment usually surprise us. They happen in the midst of ordinary things; sometimes things we would call good and sometimes when life if particularly tough. God is revealed and the moment shines with God Power.
But the Good News is not really found up there on the mountain. But it is where we hear what we need to hear. In the midst of the brightness the Disciples heard a voice, “This is My Son, The Beloved.” We’d heard that before. Mark told us about it when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John the baptizer. But this time was a little different. This time a command was issued. “This is My Son, The Beloved; Listen to Him.” I don’t know what punctuation mark to place at the end of that sentence; definitely not a question mark. Maybe it should have been an exclamation point! Or perhaps it was for God just a statement of fact. In any case the next time Peter, James and John noticed anything they noticed that they were alone with Jesus.
The Good News was that they came down off the mountain into the middle of a problem; a son who the disciples left behind couldn’t heal because they’d forgotten about prayer.
Good News for us because it affirms that Peter had made the right choice. Good News for us because it said that God’s Messiah had come off the Holy Mountain where nothing competed with God’s Glory and into a world still incomplete, still dulled by Sin, still forgetting the source from which we can draw true power; find true peace.
We gather this Sunday on the edge of a vast wilderness. Before us lies the possibility of 40 days made different by a single choice to get in God’s Way for a time; challenged to change something as small as a grain of sugar or as large as a day spent mixing with people we wouldn’t normally even acknowledge, at least not in a positive way. We need to know that we’re making the right choice. We need to see Jesus mixing with Moses and Elijah, those who successfully lead others through other wilderness wanderings toward The Promised Land.
And I’m here to tell you that you can trust this journey. That Jesus will lead you through this Spring to an Easter filled with an empty tomb and the promise of the Holy Spirit that comes upon all who follow God’s Messiah. Jesus showed us that we are those people. You are that one whom God has claimed and who is worth the effort of life off The Mountain.
Lent is the season set aside for us to practice living Putting Christ First Every Day. The invitation has been sent. You will not travel alone. Come and see.
Next Week
Read and Study Mark 11:1-11. We’ll celebrate Palm Sunday and ask, “What Kind of King is Jesus?” For more information and help on the journey, read The Last Week, by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan.
