The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

Last night I finished reading one of the best books I ever recall reading. The Shack by William Paul Young is a fiction story based somewhat on his own life. The story is about "Mack" as he goes through some very difficult times in his family's life. He ends up meeting the Trinity ("Papa", Jesus, and "Sarayu" the Holy Spirit) and spending a most incredible weekend with them.

The Shack wrestles with unconditional love, loss, grief, and reconciliation. It tackles the idea of "when bad things happen to good people" (theodocy).

It's a quick read and left me wanting to keep reading. I kept finding ways to read another chapter. Yet I also can't wait to read it again because there is so much there I need to take in and process again.

If you are looking for a good book to read, I highly recommend The Shack. If you've read it, or read it now, I'd love to hear what you think! Happy Reading!

Betty's Diner by Carrie Newcomer

We have Communion (Eucharist/Lord's Supper) this coming Sunday for the First Sunday in Epiphany (1/11/09). I've been thinking about Communion all week, and one song has been running through my head constantly. It's on a CD I heard of years ago from my Preaching/Worship professor at Moravian Seminary, Rev. Dr. Glen Stoudt, and I received the CD for Christmas. The singer/songwriter is Carrie Newcomer. The album is "Betty's Diner: The Best of Carrie Newcomer." [click the link to visit the site and hear the song] It's the second song on this album and can be heard on her website . I highly recommend the whole album.

As a note: Another blogger has created a devotion around the song, complete with lyrics and questions in case you would like to read the lyrics or see the questions: http://songdevotions.blogspot.com/2004/12/bettys-diner-by-carrie-newcomer.html

The thing I really like about this song is the feminine image of Jesus as the Diner waitress who serves the food in the midst of the "stuff" of life. "Miranda" is the "waitress" in the diner where folks come in from the cold to find a hot meal, unwind, and go about their lives.
For some people, this might be a disturbing image of Jesus Christ, but I find much comfort in it. I like the idea because I see that as what we are doing when we are serving the bread and cup in Communion--it's being served and received in the midst of the "stuff" of life. I know when I receive Communion, it is a pause in the midst of whatever "stuff" is going on for me, and gives me strength to proceed, as well as a moments to pause and reflect on the true meaning and purpose of my life in Christ.

It also makes me think about those communion moments in my life (the little "c" kind) where breaking of bread and drink occur in daily life that are holy, but not Communion (the big "c" kind like during worship in church) in the formal sense. Jesus tells us "every time we eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death, until He comes." Where are other communion moments in our lives? Discussions over food are often very holy moments among family and friends. Where might we see Christ dining with us at the counter or the booth in Betty's Diner this week?

"A Christmas Frame Of Mind" (1/4/09, Christmas 2B)

"A Christmas Frame of Mind"
Christmas 2B
Sermon from 1/4/2009
John 1:1-18; Ephesians 1:3-14

Christmas Day has come and gone again this year. The candy, cards, and gifts are 50 or 75% off. The 24-7 Christmas Music on the radio is over--the Christmas CD's and movies are packed away until next year. The returns have been returned, the decorations are likely down or will be coming down this afternoon. We're already though New Years Day as well, and Valentine's candy is already on the shelves in the local grocery store. The shepherds have visited the stable and returned home. The Magi arrive this Tuesday for Epiphany, and they will then return home as well. Christmas has come and gone for another year. Or has it?

As I opened my stocking on Christmas Day with my in-laws and family in Pennsylvania, I took out a magnet that said, "Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind." A frame of mind... I like that. It's a great phrase. A Christmas frame of mind. Christmas in the church is a season in fact--12 days long that begins on Christmas Day and carries us through to Epiphany on January 6th. These are the true 12 Days of Christmas, but somehow it seems we have forgotten to tell the rest of the world about them. Christmas is over according to our culture. Is it over this year for us too? Christmas as a frame of mind--what if it was actually true? What would it look like in our daily lives?

As I have spent the past week or so preparing for today's message, I must confess I have been confronted with more questions than answers. As a pastor knowing I get to stand up and dialog with you on Sunday morning, more questions than answers has led to little comfort and much frustration in my preparation process. I have thought back often to what my college thesis adviser told me when I got to the end of my paper and had multiple pages of questions for further study--I was frustrated that it wasn't going to end with neatly answered questions, but in fact my topic of research led to more questions. She said that more questions were a good thing because it meant I was thinking and engaging the topic.

I also have had to wrestle with the fact that as a trained pastor, I feel like I should somehow KNOW the answers... but I confess that just as I think I have an answer, more wrestling with the questions and answers is required. These questions are not easily or neatly wrapped up in a box and placed under our Christmas trees. So I would like to invite you all to journey with me through some of the big questions of Christmas that I have found myself mulling over this week. Maybe some of these are also your questions? Maybe some of my questions raise new questions within you? I am excited about the possibility of wrestling with these together, because I believe these are questions that can likely best be answered in community.

For starters, what does Christmas mean? There is the easy answer--the word is from "Christ's Mass" celebrating the birth of the Christ child, the promised savior or Messiah--Jesus of Nazareth. The story is told in Luke 2 and Matthew 2, which many of us can quote at least in part. It's a cozy story that takes place in a stable in Bethlehem with shepherds, angels, magi, and a young couple who have an unexpected baby. But is it also so much more than this?

As I have wrestled, I have keep thinking about how we are often so busy and hurried in December and everything is focused on Christmas' arrival and being ready for the BIG DAY. In fact, shoppers take note--there are only 355 shopping days till next year's Big Day! Our preparation time is a blur of shopping, activities, parties, food, and craziness. Then it's here and over in a flash. Lovefeast buns have been consumed, our coffee's cold, and the smell of smoke fills this room as the candles are all blown out. It's all over and yet, how is life different? Yes, there is the stack of new DVDs to watch and clothes to wear, but how is life truly different? Or is it different at all? Why is Christmas even important to begin with? I kept coming back to the question of "So what does Christmas mean?" How does Christmas really affect our lives the other 364 days of the year? And if it doesn't, how might it be different this year to extend Christmas to make it a frame of mind or a way we view our world?

When we hear the story of Christmas, it is often from Luke or Matthew's story about the baby Jesus. But today, we are looking at John's telling of the Christmas Story. There are no shepherds; no angels; no Mary and Joseph; no overcrowded inn; no magi mentioned anywhere. Jesus isn't even named until 17 verses into the story. The writer in John takes us back to the beginning--literally-- by opening the Gospel's Prologue with the phrase "In the beginning." This phrase likely took your mind back to the beginning. We heard these passages paralleled in the reflective reading that opened worship this morning.

One phrase truly sums up the story of Christmas, I believe, but might need some unpacking to make more sense is in John 1:14. "And the Word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory, the glory of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." The WORD, from the phrase “And the Word became flesh,” is a translation of logos in Greek, and is a term the Greek Philosophers used for logic or wisdom, and is even where our word logic comes from. The ideas of logos along with light and life were common terms used at that time by philosophers. But here the writer of John is taking these words and using them to show the world is forever changed. For the writer of John and for us, these words are not just philosophical ideas anymore; they live and breathe in the person of Jesus Christ. The God of the universe has become flesh and blood in human form--both fully God and fully human. Not only did this God-person exist, but lived in and among them. Because of Christmas, God now lives or tents or tabernacles or dwells among us. The tent and tabernacle images in John recall the Israelite image of the mobile tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant from the time of the desert wanderings in Exodus. As the Message translation explains, "The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood." This is the point... this is what Christmas is all about--the Incarnation where God becomes human and moves into our neighborhood.

So why did God become human (incarnate) and move into our neighborhood? John writes that it is to show us God's glory in grace and truth. The ideas of grace and truth also hearken back to the Exodus and Moses when God created a covenant with the Israelites. This phrase “grace and truth” can also be translated as mercy and truth, or love. Jesus came to earth, moved into our neighborhood and showed us what LOVE looked like, smelled like, tasted like, felt like, and acted like. Jesus modeled love with his every breath so we could do the same--maybe that is a Christmas frame of mind? As one of my favorite authors, Shane Claiborne, puts it, "In the baby refugee Jesus, God becomes Emmanuel ("God with us"), crashing in the manger. And it is in the life of Jesus that God puts skin on to show us what love looks like." [Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006) 324]

This understanding of Christmas leads me to reflect on the other magnet I found in my stocking on Christmas Day--"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." A conspiracy of love--maybe that is what Christmas is all about. Christmas is God's cosmic conspiracy of love, and we've been invited to join in on the love-fest. Poet Ann Weems wrote a very short poem that I think brings these two magnet's saying together. She writes:

"When the Holy Child is born into our hearts
there is a rain of stars
a rush of angels
a blaze of candles
this God burst into our lives.
Love is running through the streets."
[Ann Weems, "Godburst" from Kneeling in Bethlehem (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1987) 27]

God has moved into the neighborhood, and, now, Love is running through the streets. Have you seen God's RV or Motor home parked in your front yard or at the next desk over from your cubicle? Was God standing next to you in the check-out lane at REI or Target as you made returns? Has God served you coffee and bagels or wine and bread recently? One writer I encountered this week asks, "Where then do we confront the divine, where do we touch the eternal living God, where do we experience the inner light?" Ahh--More great questions with no easy answers.

The Prologue tells us that John the Baptizer came to testify that Emmanuel, "God with us," was coming into the world, giving power to people to become children of God. So then, how do we TESTIFY to the presence of love running through the streets of our neighborhoods? Mother Teresa was quoted as saying, "We can do no great things, only small things with great love. It's not how much you do but how much love you put into doing it." Maybe that is a Christmas frame of mind. What small things can we do this year that will show God's great love to those around us--our families, our friends, our co-workers, and schoolmates? How can we love the stranger on the street corner or beside us in the check out line? Maybe its spending time with an elderly neighbor who needs to be reassured that someone really does care about them or holding a patient's hand as he or she awaits test results or treatment. Maybe we can demonstrate God's love running down the soccer field in Costa Rica as we help build a youth center and school. Maybe we participate in the conspiracy of love as we volunteer or take more time to show love to our family members who might be difficult at times to love. Hopefully we keep wrestling together with how we can see God's moving van in our neighborhood and join in with the conspiracy of love that Jesus modeled. Hopefully we can share the love of God with one another--those we love and those we have trouble loving.

I invite you to spend a few moments now quietly thinking about how you might enact a Christmas frame of mind throughout this year. Jot down ideas you have or questions that have been raised--maybe on the back of your watchword card or bulletin, and let's keep wrestling with our questions together. Email me, join me for coffee, pull aside a friend to chat as we all keep looking for God in our neighborhood and testify to the conspiracy of love... after all, Jesus came into the community to show us how to love, and here is probably the best place to practice our questioning, wrestling, and loving one another, so we can live the Christmas frame of mind in our world throughout 2009. Take a few moments now to reflect, and I will close us in prayer at the end.


God who's bigger than our questions,
thank you for moving into our neighborhood to give us Jesus as the model example of how to love and live. Give us the strength and insight needed as we wrestle with tough questions of faith and understand what it means that you took on flesh and blood. Empower us to testify to where we see you in our daily lives and show us where we can participate in your conspiracy of love. In Jesus' holy name, we pray. Amen.

"It is Blessed to Give AND Receive" (Christmas Eve Congregational Lovefeast Message 2008)

"It is Blessed to Give AND Receive"
Christmas Eve Congregational Lovefeast
Sermon from December 21, 2008 7:00pm
Year B Luke 2:1-20

It's better to give THAN to receive. This phrase is often heard a lot during this time of year:
--Stores use it to entice us to spend money and remember the ones we love with gifts.
--Charities use it to remind us that there are people around us that have less and need more than we do.
--Agencies, charities, and groups use it to propel us to give to their causes and organizations.
--Churches use it to prompt us to participate in God's mission and ministry in the world.
And it is true that giving is important--no doubt. Many of these places would not exist without our giving and their receiving.

Giving is important---God GAVE us Jesus on that long ago Christmas night as a bewildered mom and baffled dad welcomed a most unexpected baby into the world. God GIVES us Jesus again each year as we celebrate his birth anew as a reminder of this most beautiful gift to the world. The magi GAVE gold, frankincense, and mirth to the tiny baby they sought in love. We GIVE gifts to our family, friends, and even sometimes strangers that we seek to love.

But with this gift from God of Emmanuel--God with us--coming into the world, is it still true that it is BETTER to GIVE THAN to RECEIVE? When we GIVE, there has to be a receiver or it's not a gift. Maybe this phrases "It's better to give than to receive" is heard so often, is because it is more difficult to receive. I personally enjoy giving gifts more than receiving. Giving gifts is one of the best ways I find to love people--it's my love language. It's much harder for me to receive gifts, especially without the feelings of guilt or the need to return the favor. Maybe some of you can relate.

I was reading my advent devotional the other day and something really struck me that I would like to share that has affected the way I understand this whole idea of giving and receiving. Bishop Will Willimon, the former Dean of Duke Chapel, said, "The Christmas story--the one according to Luke not Dickens--is not about how blessed it is to be givers but about how essential it is for us to see ourselves as receivers." [William Willimon, "The God We Hardly Knew" in Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2004) 144] Willimon goes on to say, "The Christmas story implies that what God wants to do for us is so strange, so beyond the bounds of human effort and striving, that God must resort to utterly unnatural, supernatural means. It tells of an unimaginable gift from a stranger, a God whom we hardly even knew. This strange story tells us how to be receivers. The first words of the church, a people born out of so odd a nativity, is that we are receivers before we are givers. Discipleship teaches us the art of seeing our lives as gifts." [Willimon, "The God We Hardly Knew," 146-147]

Maybe the phrase "It's BETTER to GIVE THAN to RECEIVE" should be stated a bit differently. Maybe hearing the Christmas Story and living into the Christmas story compels us to stop and say, "It's blessed to give AND receive." Receive God's gift to us in a baby--Emmanuel--God with us. Receive God's love and grace. Receive the Light of the World. --Without guilt--Without the NEED to give something in return--Just RECEIVE.

As we are receiving our candles this evening and --in a minute -- as we receive the light of Christ that is passed among us from the Advent wreath, may we be reminded this Christmas season that it is blessed to give AND receive. As we sing our closing hymn "Christ the Lord" in a bit, I invite you to raise your candle in the air on the last verse as a sign and symbol of the gift we are all given this night--Jesus, the Light of the World. I also invite you to take your candles home and place it somewhere to let it DAILY remind you of the gift we receive this day and everyday--the gift of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior--Emmanuel--God with us. It is blessed to give and receive. Receive God's gift to us this day and every day. Amen.

"Waiting" from Meredith College Moravian Lovefeast, 12/2/08

"Waiting"
Meredith College Moravian Lovefeast
December 2, 2008
Luke 1:26-56;
Luke 2:1-20

Thank you for inviting me to share with you tonight. I'm excited to be back on Campus sharing in this annual tradition. Being an Angel, A Meredith Angel, myself, I thought it might be interesting tonight to briefly look at the passage that takes place just before the likely familiar Christmas Story we heard this evening. It is sometimes called the Annunciation, and is where Mary encounters the angel. These are excerpts from the story found in the first chapter of Luke:

"26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

They talk and then we hear the angel say:
"36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

39In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

56And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home."

Mary, upon hearing this god-news, this good news from the angel, has a lot of waiting to do for it to fully come to fruition in the birth of Jesus, so she takes off to see her relative Elizabeth. These two pregnant ladies spend their time waiting for the births together. They are actively waiting--in the present moment and fully tuned in to what is going on. [Henri Nouwen in "Waiting for God" from Watch for the Light: Reading for Advent and Christmas (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2001) 31]

One of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen, describes this scene we heard when he says, "I find the meeting of these two women very moving because Elizabeth and Mary came together and enabled each other to wait.... they created space for each other to wait. They affirmed for each other that something was happening that was worth waiting for." [Nouwen in "Waiting for God" from Watch for the Light, 35.]

Isn't that what we are doing here tonight? We are here in community, sharing a meal and singing, listening together and waiting. Waiting for the candles to be brought out. Waiting for Christmas to arrive. Waiting for Christ Jesus to be born again like last year. Waiting for news of where God is going to act next in our world and how we can be a part of it. Elizabeth and Mary were in community together helping each other prepare for something unexpected and wonderful. They lifted one another up and reminded each other that waiting is worth the effort. Patience is important. Hope and the promises of God are easier to wait for when we do it together.

The early Moravians gathered together in hope and promise in the first lovefeasts as they waited to see where God was acting in their world and how they could be a part of it. They were so excited by their being filled with the Holy Spirit that they could not help but stay together and share the excitement in that present moment. I can image them saying, "Bring in the food, cause there's something big going on and we're waiting together." The young children who received the first candles at a Christmas Eve lovefeast years later saw their patience and hope come to fruition in the valuable gift of their own candle. Candles in the 1700s were valuable and important gifts. Now they too could see in the dark and have the light to carry to their homes on Christmas Eve reminding them of the light of Christ that enters the world on Christmas again and again.

We gather here tonight waiting. Waiting for Exams to be over and have time to rest. Waiting for the chance to see family and friends that we are separated from during the semester. Waiting for food and laughter shared over the table and around fireplaces on Christmas Eve. Waiting for a baby to be born anew. Waiting for God to burst forth into our world--Emmanuel--"God with us" to teach us how to love one another.
Are we hopeful?
Are we patient?
Are we holding on to God's promise that Jesus is on his way?
Are we ready?

Let us wait together, be attentive, and live expectantly. Amen.

"Risky Business" (11/16/08, Proper 28A/Pentecost +27)

"Risky Business"
Proper 28A (Pentecost +27A)
Sermon from 11-16-08
Matthew 25:14-30; Psalm 90:1-8, 12


Please join me in praying the prayer Jesus taught us to pray: The Lord's Prayer (found on page 4 in the Blue Book of Worship if you need to read along).

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hollowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, power and glory forever and ever. Amen."


This week sitting in my office was risky as I was tempted, oh SO tempted by the smells wafting through the hallway-it was RISKY being in the building with hundreds of pans of fresh-baked sugar cake. It was sugar-cake-baking-week here and BOY DID IT SMELL GOOD. All those ooey, gooey pans of dough, cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter--what's not to LOVE! I walked through the fellowship hall once or twice and it was all I could do to resist snatching a fresh baked, still-hot-from-the-oven sugar cake square.

Our scripture passage this morning from Matthew's Gospel is often referred to as the Parable of the Talents. I would guess it is difficult passage to understand for most of us, and there are so many different parts to examine and look at to try to interpret what Jesus is saying here. I often find it helpful to look at other translations to gain insight and would like to share another version of this story with you from The Message. Eugene Peterson, the translator, entitles it "A Story about Investment". We pick up the story when the master meets back with the third servant in verse 24.

24-25"The servant given one said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'

26-27"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

28-30"'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'

Strong words for sure--Living safe, cautious lives is a "terrible way to live." There are so many different angles we can take with this story--this parable--this fable to teach us a lesson that is important for us to learn. These statements about not living cautiously are what really jumped out at me this week. To follow Jesus means not living cautiously--Christianity is risky business.

The three servants were given talents from the master. Then the master left. A talent in those days was an amount of money. One talent was equal to the money a day laborer would earn after working 15-20 years. ONE TALENT took 15-20 years to earn--that's a huge amount of money--about a half million dollars or more in today's terms. And it's interesting that our contemporary word talent as a gift or ability comes from this parable. As I looked at this story over, I kept wondering what was the difference in the master's reaction to the first two servants and the third servant. In order for the two servants to double their money, they must have done something where that money was used and thus its value doubled. This gain could not have come without risk. The servants likely doubled their money with wise investments, not foolish wagering.

Steve and I were watching TV the other evening when the silly game show "Cash Cab" came on the Discovery Channel. The contestants answered trivia questions while riding in a cab through New York City, and at the end of their trip they had a video bonus question where they risked their whole winnings in order to have a chance to answer the final question. IF they got it right, their money doubled. If they got it wrong, they lost everything. I'm not sure how Jesus would feel about comparing the parable to a TV game show, but the contestants did remind me of the servants. Two of the groups risked everything and ended up doubling their money. One group decided that what they had won was enough and did not risk what they had been given. Double or nothing is high stakes, but the winners felt that risky business was worth it. I'll leave it up to you to decide whether you think game show investing is really a good risk or not.

This Parable of the Talents is sometimes referred to as a "kingdom parable" because it is dealing with the way we are to live in this world in order to help bring about God's kingdom here on earth. Christians, I believe, are called to be kingdom-workers in our world. We are to be agents of change to make our world a better place for everyone--"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done." Jesus empowers his disciples in the church to do his work here, and His work often involves risk. I might even venture to say it always involves risk. How many of you thought it was risky to show up here this morning? Who thinks it is risky to be a Christian or walk through the doors of the church? In some parts of the world, showing up for church and being Christian is more risky, literally, than it is here today because of persecutions of Christians, burning of church buildings, or having to worship underground to survive.

But there is risk here too. We are called to be in relationship with one another. Relationships are tough sometimes--friendships are tough sometimes--families sometimes DO NOT make life easier. When we open ourselves up to be vulnerable with one another in community, there is always the risk of being hurt or rejected. We are called to care, share, and love... befriend the friend-less, lift-up the hope-less, and love the unlovable. None of these activities is easy, and none comes without risk: risking ourselves, our talents, our gifts, and our money to make the world more like a little piece of heaven here on earth.

Even from our earliest days, we must risk to survive. We watch children striving to walk, knowing that they will learn some day, and watch them risk one step then the next, finally letting go of our hands and seeing their risk pay off. Risks are part of life, and are certainly part of life in the church. Ralph Winter, a researcher, said, "Risks are not to be evaluated by the probability of success, but by the value of the goal." ["Risk" in McHenry's Quips, Quotes, & Other Notes, compiled by Raymond McHenry (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishing, 1998) 215.] Our goal, as I see it, is to create a culture of stewardship where everyone is willing to risk whatever it takes to accomplish the mission and ministry that God has called Raleigh Moravian to do.

It may be very hard to hear about risks right now for most of us. Having just come through a fierce election season with much fear-based advertising, many of us are probably still weary. Turning on the news is almost sure to cause some anxiety. With the state of the economy where it is right now and knowing that so many have lost so much in the stock market, or wherever else, risk might be the farthest thing on your mind. You would rather play it safe, because risk seems too risky. We know from the parable that the fear of failure or loss was the thing that caused the third servant to bury his money in the ground. He was paralyzed with fear. The risk was too great, he thought, and wasn't worth it. Sometimes the risk isn't worth it. I believe many of us would agree that there are good risks and not-so-good risks and our lists might differ. It is important in any situation like we are in today to evaluate what is worth the risk while looking at the greater picture of God's kingdom.

What is worth taking a risk? What is the goal? Why do we put ourselves out on a limb? Is it because Jesus promises that the reward is great--to hear "Well done, Good and trustworthy servant." To know that there will be reward thought we might not see it in this life--to risk is tough, but it is the only thing we can do. The call of Jesus to risk it all was followed by his example of his own life. He suffered death on the cross for the risks he took, and he knew that going in. His reward was eternal, and our reward is the same.

As a child on Thursday evenings I was allowed to watch The Cosby Show. Cliff Huxtable, aka Bill Cosby, was notorious for sneaking frosting, slices of cake, potato chips, or whatever he could while the family wasn't watching. I almost felt like Cliff this past week with all the sugar cakes sitting on the counters. In a very small way, Cliff Huxtable risked when he took a piece of cake from whatever goodie was on the counter. The Cosby show was good and won numerous awards over the 8 seasons it ran from 1984-1992. Looking back on the successful show today, I doubt any of us would understand the risk that was involved in NBC deciding to air the show back in 1984. The network ABC rejected The Cosby Show before NBC finally decided to air it. In a bigger way, NBC took a risk and reaped much benefit from airing the show that had been previously rejected. They went out on a limb, so to speak, and were glad they did. How can we go out on a limb for God?

It is my hope that we can all support one another to be risk-takers. It is not always the easy road. There can be difficulties along the way. But I believe we can start small and take the baby steps together to learn to walk without holding on to the furniture.
So what are you willing to do?
Which type of servant are you?
Are we willing to be risk-takers together?
What might that look like here at Raleigh Moravian?

The risks differ for everyone, just as our comfort zones differ. They can involve our time, talents, and treasures.

For some people, risk might mean joining the band or choir or singing a solo of Morning Star for Christmas Eve lovefeast.

Risk might be joining the youth at the homeless shelter one Sunday morning to hand out clothing and sing with them.

Or risk might mean going on a mission trip for the first time this spring or summer. For those who have gone to Mississippi or Laurel Ridge, risk might mean taking another trip this year to serve in a different capacity.

For others risk might mean inviting a visitor to lunch after church or a church member you barely know over to dinner one evening.

Risk might include inviting a friend from school to come to MYF one week or asking that neighbor you see across the fence to the Candle Tea on December 6th or congregational lovefeast on December 21st as an introduction to Raleigh Moravian.

Still others might see a risk as increasing their pledge to the church this year despite the looming economy, or pledging for the first time to help out the ministry and mission of the church in the world.

And still others might think about risk in terms of participating in a small bible study or prayer group as we look to forming those in the near future.

As one of my favorite authors, Shane Claiborne, writes in The Irresistible Revolution, quoting his college professor, "'Being a Christian is about choosing Jesus and deciding to do something incredibly daring with your life.' [Shane says,] I decided to take him up on that challenge." (The Irresistible Revolution, page 18) Are you up to the challenge? After all, it's Risky Business. Let's go do something daring together! Amen.

Please pray with me:
Lord, help us to daily choose You and risk wisely to help bring about your kingdom here on earth. Amen. So be it.

"Being Holy" (10/26/08, Proper 25A)

"Being Holy"
Proper 25A/24th Sunday after Pentecost
Sermon from October 26, 2008
Leviticus 19:1-3, 15-18; Matthew 22:34-46


What word or phrase do you think of when you hear the word Holy? Holy, hummmm... as I thought about that word this week, many different phrases or ideas came to mind. For me, holy might involve having a heavenly choir singing backup to my singing, wearing a halo and angel wings, or remind me of the Holy Grail from Monty Python or Indiana Jones fame.

Or maybe the:
Holy Roman Empire;
a Holy Alliance from 19th century Europe;
the Holy War Crusades.

What about:
Holy Communion or Last Supper;
the Holy Family from Christmas;
the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit;
the Holy Father or Holy See--aka the Pope;
the Holy Trinity-Father, Son and HOLY Spirit.

How about:
the Holy of Holies in the temple in Jerusalem;
Holy Water to be sprinkled on folks;
Holy Week-the week between Palm Sunday and Easter;
or Holy Saturday, the day before Easter.

Then there is our culture's use of Holy:
Holy Cow;
Holy Hell;
Holy Terror;
Holy Mackerel;
Holy Smokes;
and being Holier-than-thou. Just to name a few...

We hear this word a lot. But what in the world does it mean? And how do we apply it to ourselves? Or can we?

Our Scripture reading this morning from Leviticus 19 provides much guidance for us along the ideas of what it means to be holy. The writer of Leviticus recorded the command from God to the gathered community to "Be holy, for I the Lord you God am holy." That is NO SMALL TASK. When we go to the dictionary, or dictionary.com in today's world, and look up the word HOLY, we get lots of different meanings. "To be specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated; as in holy ground." Another definition said: "living according to a strict or highly moral religious or spiritual system; saintly; a holy person." I think this is often what we think of, but I would like to challenge that idea this morning. I think of it in more simple terms--holy means being "set apart", "different", or "not like the rest".

Our Gospel lesson this morning from Matthew 22 is probably a very familiar passage for many of us. The lawyers are asking questions AGAIN, and Jesus answers them, but His answer is probably not how the lawyers and Pharisees expect. Growing up, I remember hearing these words and thinking to myself, "Wow, Jesus was this great thinker who just came up with these thoughtful and tough answers out of thin air all the time." Well, Jesus was a great thinker and did have great answers, but what I've come to realize is that Jesus was often reminding the Pharisees and his other listeners about things that were already written in Scripture. He was able to reinterpret the sayings and laws that were recorded in the Scrolls of the Torah--the law--to make them easier for us to understand and follow. He was able to basically summarize the teachings of the whole Torah--Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy-- into two commands: "Love God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength" and "love your neighbor in the same way you love yourself."

The first commandment is Jesus' restatement of Deuteronomy 6, and we spent some time a few weeks back looking at this passage. [See "What's on your Doorpost? Sermon from 9/14/08 posted below.] The second commandment is from the passage we heard this morning from the 19th chapter of Leviticus. The Jews and followers of Jesus during His day would have heard these commandments from Jesus and automatically associated them with these two passages in the Torah. They often had the Torah memorized. They knew the Scriptures inside and out. All it would take is a reminder of these phrases or chapters for the followers of Jesus to associate the two commands with the greater ideas they encapsulate. These two commands served as Memory Triggers for the hearers. Hearing a snip-it of Leviticus 19 would remind them of the whole 19th chapter. Hearing Leviticus 19 would remind them of all of the Torah. A Rabbi who lived a few years before Jesus was challenged to teach the whole Torah while standing on one foot. He quickly responded: "What is hateful to you do not do to others. The rest is commentary. Go learn." Sounds vaguely familiar--like The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you…Love your neighbor as yourself and thus live a holy life.

If Jesus was using the “Love your neighbor as yourself” part of verse 18 from Leviticus 19 to help us remember the whole chapter, and thus the whole Torah law, then maybe Jesus was reminding us to "Be Holy because God is Holy." One big part of being holy is loving our neighbors as ourselves. I believe these two ideas “being holy” and “loving our neighbor as ourselves” are integrally related and apply to today as much as they did in Jesus' time. Being holy--being set apart--being different than the world around us. As Christians we are called to be set apart. We are to live in the world but not of the world as we sometimes hear. We are to be kind and generous to those around us. We are to show compassion, treat each other fairly, vote wisely, and act justly. We are to play fair on the soccer or football field, drive without road-rage, and share our lunches in the school cafeteria with those who don’t have enough to eat. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors and also love ourselves, while we ultimately love God with our hearts, minds and spirits. That is the small yet big idea of being holy.

There has been a lot in the news lately about plumbers. I must say I missed that debate, but all I hear on TV involves plumbers. Plumbers, especially Plumber Joe, have received a lot of publicity. So I will not pick on plumbers and use an electrician instead, but this can apply to most any daily situation. Say you have a light switch that is not working properly and need to call Joe's Electrical Services to come work on the switch in your house. Joe arrives, finds the short circuit, and fixes the problem. You then go to pay Joe for his hard work and give him a fair wage for his time and service. You're grateful that someone has the know-how to fix the problem and thank Joe for his work. Was that a holy moment?

Jewish thinking for this situation, as I understand it, would say this was a holy moment. Jesus, I believe, would say this was a holy moment. Thus we can also say this was a holy moment, whether we were aware of it at the time or not. The person receiving the services of the electrician paid fair wages for fair work. Joe was treated as the person would like to have been treated. If much grumbling about the price took place, or Joe charged a huge, unfair price, then the situation would have been very different, but that wasn't the case. Being holy, according to Leviticus 19, doesn't have to involve heavenly angels singing in the background or feeling extremely spiritual. It means being set apart and unlike the rest of society--treating others as you would like to be treated--loving your neighbor as yourself. And as we pay attention to our lives and actions more, we will likely begin to see even more regular moments in our lives in holy and set-apart ways.

So where does it leave us? How do we live out these ideas of being a good neighbor to those around us? How might we understand Jesus' words today and find them helpful in our 21st century world?

We spent time this morning in the Inquirer's Class discussing two documents from our Moravian tradition that help articulate what we believe and how we are called to live in the world. As I've thought more about the “Ground of the Unity,” which describes what we believe very succinctly, and the “Moravian Covenant for Christian Living,” which helps us see how we can live in this world, it struck me how closely the Covenant for Christian Living reflects this whole idea of how to be holy and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Both Leviticus 19 and The Covenant for Christian Living were written for a community to help the members to both live together and live in the world. I am even willing to go as far as saying we could rename the "Covenant for Christian Living" to be the "Covenant for how to live Holy, set-apart lives in community", but I guess that doesn't have as nice of a ring to it.

As I've re-read the Covenant again, one paragraph stuck out to me in light of Leviticus 19's command to “be holy” and “love our neighbor as ourselves.” Paragraph 29 reads: "We will not hate, despise, slander, or otherwise injure anyone. We will ever strive to manifest love towards all people, to treat them in a kind and friendly manner, and in our dealings with them to approve ourselves upright, honest, and conscientious, as becomes children o God. Together with the universal Christian Church, we have a concern for this world, opening our heart and hand to our neighbors with the message of the love of God, and being ever ready to minister of our substance to their necessities."

If you haven't read the whole Moravian Covenant for Christian Living, or haven't read it lately, there are copies available here up front for you to take home today. Spend some time this week looking over the Covenant for Christian Living and Leviticus 19. I hope sometime in the near future we can continue conversations about how we can encourage one another to live holy lives in this community and world, as I believe we can always be challenged to keep growing and learning as Children of God. And next time you need to call a plumber, shop in a store, or go vote, think about where those holy moments are in your daily life. You just might be surprised where you find opportunities and experiences to be holy-set apart as followers of Jesus. "Love God with all you have" and "love your neighbor as yourself." Words to live by... Words to encourage us to “be holy because The Lord our God is holy.”

Please pray with me:
Holy God,
We ask you today to help us be aware of the holy moments in our lives. We strive to do you work in our world and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Give us the strength and courage to live lives that are set apart and holy. Help us to help each other see the holy moments, name them, and use them as encouragement to keep being holy, set-apart followers of Jesus Christ. In Christ’s name, Amen.

'What's On Your Doorpost?" (9/14/08, [Proper 14A/Ordinary 24] Christian Education Sunday)

"What's on your doorpost?"
Christian Education Sunday
(Proper 14A/Ordinary +24)
Sermon from 9-14-08
Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (main text), Psalm 103:15-18, Matthew 2:34-40


"Shema yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai echad." "Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone." This opening phrase of Deuteronomy 6:4 is one of the most sacred prayers in all of Judaism. It's called the "Shema" after the opening word of the phrase and means, "Hear" or "Listen" or "Act on" or "Obey". This passage from Deuteronomy that we read this morning is spoken each morning and evening as part of Jewish prayers and is at the center of their remembering who they are as people of God-the one God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--the God who led these slaves from Egypt and has brought them to just outside the Promised Land. The beginning of Deuteronomy finds Moses, on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. They've finally found their way out of the desert where they wandered for 40 years.

Speaking of wandering, I saw a comic a few years ago that asked, "Why did Moses wander in the desert for 40 years?" You probably guessed it… "Because he refused to stop and ask for directions." I wasn't there so I can't commit on the validity of that statement, but I would suggest he check the batteries on his Garmin GPS next time he heads out on another trip across the desert or across the street for that matter.

All joking aside, these Israelites are ready to enter the land of their ancestors. Moses sets out here in Deuteronomy to recount their history and help the younger generation remember WHO they are and WHOSE (W-H-O-S-E) they are. Knowing WHO and WHOSE they are will help them to re-member—re-orient—themselves in the Promised Land. Moses recounts the 10 Commandments again for them in Chapter 5 and then reminds them about God--their one God. As the Message translation recounts Moses' words, it reads: "Attention, Israel! God, our God! God the one and only! Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got! Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates."

When we hear this passage, I hope that we hear the actions associated with the command from Moses. This is not a passive faith where reciting these verses is all that is required. Instead, Moses is calling the Israelites to an active faith of re-membering their lives—re-orienting their lifestyle—claiming WHO and WHOSE they are—being marked as followers of God Almighty. And it was not just for those listening. It was for the generations to come. The adults are to get these commands inside of them first and then to pass them along to their children as they grow. They are to teach the children to remember WHO God is and re-member their lives to know WHOSE they are. This teaching and re-membering is to go on forever..."to infinity and beyond."

Speaking of "To Infinity and beyond", we were watching the movie Toy Story the other night. For many of you, it's probably a familiar story, but in case you've not seen it, it was Pixar Studio's 1995 first full-length animated movie about the toys that live in Andy's playroom. Andy, the boy in the story, has no idea what happens inside his room when the door closes and he leaves the room. That is when the toys come alive. Woody, the cowboy doll is the leader of the pack, which includes Mr. Potato Head, Bo Peep the shepardess, Rex the dinosaur, Hamm the piggy bank, and of course, Buzz Lightyear, the space ranger who is the newest addition to the pack. Woody is Andy's favorite toy until Buzz arrives, and this creates lots of problems in the story. When Woody and Buzz get separated from the rest of the toys and it seems like everything is lost, Buzz looks down at his shoe and sees "Andy" written on the bottom. It is at that moment that he suddenly remembers WHOSE he is, and this brings a turning point in the story. Woody and Buzz work to try and find their way back to Andy because Andy needs them--they are his favorites and they belong to him--they are marked—Andy’s name is on each one’s shoe. I won't spoil the movie in case you haven't seen it, but I do recommend watching it.

Marked with the name of the one WHOSE you are. Moses reminded the Israelites of WHOSE they were--they were God Almighty’s. They were marked by the covenant with God and where to show this by living their faith in their daily lives. The Israelites were being taught to pass along their faith in the mundane activities of daily life--not just remember God on the special days only.

Even today in orthodox Jewish communities, you will often see men marked with their faith by wearing small boxes on their foreheads--called phylacteries--which hold scrolls with the Shema verse from Deuteronomy 6 inside. Also many Jews today often have a small box called a Mezuzah attached to their front door, which also contains this same verse from Deuteronomy. When the Mezuzah is attached in a house blessing ceremony, they pray a prayer, “We affix the Mezuzah to the doorposts of this house with the hope that it will always remind us of our duties to God and to one another. May the divine spirit fill this house – the spirit of love and kindness and consideration for all people…Fortify our resolve to make it now and always, a Temple dedicated to You. Let it be filled with the beauty of holiness and the warmth of love. May the guest and the stranger find within it welcome and friendship….” This mark cannot be missed as one walks through the door of the house--whether bringing in the groceries or taking out the trash.

What is on our doorpost? How do we remember WHO we belong to--WHOSE we are? Do we have a cross on the door? Do we have Andy's name written on our foot? One of my friends in seminary grew up thinking that Andy was God's name. She learned it through a song they often sang in church... "Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me. Andy tells me I am his own." Maybe Andy really is God's name?! Buzz and Woody certainly were marked with Andy's name because they belonged to him.

So I ask again, literally and figuratively, what's on your doorpost? What is around your forehead or neck or wrist? What is displayed on the back of your car or on your office door? How are you marked to remind yourself, and those who see it, that you are God's? What has set us apart as Christians to know WHOSE we are as God's beloved children.

Today as we look at Christian Education, welcome our 2nd graders into "Big Church," and kick off another Sunday school year, it is good for us to look at WHOSE we are and how we know this in our daily lives? Deuteronomy tells the parents and adults to get these words inside of them first and then inside their children. We echo this in our Moravian beliefs that parents and the congregation are to raise up our children in faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as well. If we have been baptized, we are marked by God as part of God’s covenant promise.

Take out the hymnals and turn with me to page 165 in the Book of Worship. This liturgy for Baptism should be familiar to you. As Moravians, we call upon the parents to profess their own faith during our baptisms to be sure they have this belief inside them first, which follows Moses’ instructions in Deuteronomy 6. Many of you probably remember the baptisms of the 2nd graders sitting up here right now, and I'm sure their families remember them. At the bottom of page 165 we read, "As you present yourselves before God and this congregation, we call upon you to profess your faith. Do you believe in God as your Creator and loving heavenly father, in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and in the Holy Spirit as your Comforter and Sustainer, according to the Holy Scriptures?”

Then turn to the next page, page 166. In the middle of page 166, we ask parents: "Do you intend to participate actively in Christ's church, serving God all the days of your life?" At the bottom of the page, the questions turn to the congregation, "Do you receive and affirm these children of God as members of this congregation and accept your obligation to love and nurture them in Christ?" We, the parents and congregation of Raleigh Moravian Church, have made these promises to raise these children and get this faith inside their hearts. Baptism marks US as God's--it is through Baptism that we know WHO we are and WHOSE we are. It's like taking a sharpie marker and putting "God" on our shoe to always remind us though every step we take along our life's journey, we belong to God.

As we see though both Deuteronomy and our Baptism liturgy, we are called to "Hear", "Listen," "Obey" and "Act"--SHEMA, O Congregation: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. As the adults, parents, grandparents, friends, leaders and role models, get them inside of you and then get them inside your children, for all the children here are your children to love and teach. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home in Sunday School or walking in the street, driving in a car or sitting in a coffee shop; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night, as you buy groceries and take out the recycling. Every moment is sacred and holy, and presents a teaching opportunity. God is present with you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. If you wear a cross, bracelet, or ring to show your faith, let it also remind you WHOSE you are; inscribe them on your shoes, the doorposts of your homes, and on your city gate. The way you live shows WHO you are. People should know WHOSE you are.

So I ask each of us this day, what’s on your doorpost? What is written on your shoe? What are you writing inside your heart and the hearts of those around you? Let us help one another to “Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got!" To infinity and beyond, let us live it together. Amen, let it be so.

"If You Want To Walk On Water..." (8/10/08, Proper 14A/Ordinary 19A/Pentecost +13)

“If you want to walk on water…”
Proper 14A/Ordinary 19A/Pentecost +13
Matthew 14:22-33
Sermon from 8/10/08
RMC Installation Sunday


Do you remember watching Saturday morning cartoons or seeing cartoon clips at the movie theater? Since the 1940s Looney Tunes have been making people laugh on screen and Television. My personal favorites of the Looney Tunes were the Roadrunner clips where the Roadrunner seemed to always be able to escape whatever crazy plot Wile E. Coyote was able to cook up. With his kits from the ACME Corporation, the coyote would try to trap the Roadrunner for his dinner, but somehow it never seemed to go as planned. It always seemed to happen that the Roadrunner would somehow escape and then Wile E. Coyote would end up with the swirlies going around his head dizzy from whatever befell him. The best part, I thought, was when Wile E. Coyote would take off running, come to the edge of a cliff of some sort, keep running, and then, in mid air, realize there was no longer ground below him. It wasn’t until he realized he was in mid-air that he would go crashing to the ground.

These Roadrunner cartoons remind me of today’s Gospel reading, or should I say, the Gospel lesson reminds me of the cartoons. In today’s passage from Matthew’s Gospel that tells about Jesus’ life, we heard about a particular boat trip that occurs immediately after the 5000 men (and don’t forget the women and children that were there too) were fed by Jesus and the disciples. They finish the meal, and Jesus sent them off to the boat to cross the Sea of Galilee.

When I picture this scene in my head, I often envision calm seas, a nice evening’s boat ride across crystal seas with winds enough to keep them moving. But this was not a night of calm seas and a cool, light breeze. No, this night, the seas were rough. The text mentions they were battered by the wind. Battered is one word… another way to see it might be to say they were in a storm of all storms—hurricane-force in nature. Many of these disciples were fishermen by trade, so spending time on the water was a normal part of life. They had experience on the sea. But that night, it might be something like taking fisherman from Jordan Lake near here and placing them on a fishing vessel hunting King Crab in Alaska like is feature on the Discovery Channel’s “The Deadliest Catch.” If you haven’t seen the show, it chronicles a number of different captains, their ships, and crews as they head out to the Bering Sea to bring back crab---lots of crab. But, as the show’s website notes, they are often dealing with 40 foot waves, freezing temperatures, and a nearly 100% injury rate for the crew. Not exactly an easy, calm boat cruise. We’re talking life or death here.

Given these conditions, it is understandable that the disciples in that boat might be scared. The text does not mention them being scared, though, UNTIL they see what they think is a ghost walking toward them in these conditions. Who in his or her right mind would be out at that time of night –somewhere between three and six in the morning—coming toward them on the water? Some readings of this passage note they were very far out, around three miles from land. The fear has set in for the disciples. Who or what is that coming toward us? Is it a Ghost? It can’t be a person.

That’s when they hear the comforting words from Jesus, “Take heart, it is I. Don’t be afraid.” He’s saying, “Have courage. I am. Don’t be scared.” Jesus is reassuring them of who he is. He is God with us. The “I AM” would have reminded the disciples and listeners of when Moses received the Sacred name of God at the Burning Bush recorded in Exodus 3 “I am who I am” (Yahweh). God is present. Jesus is God incarnate—God in the flesh—a God who comes to them on the water to give them courage to face their fears and move beyond the fear to grow.

If that wasn’t enough of an exciting story, Peter, the disciple we often hear about it for his episodes of faith and doubt, asks this Jesus this water-walking-God-with –us to command him to walk on the water with him. Peter steps out in faith from the security of the safe, sturdy boat to walk on the 40-foot “Deadliest Catch” seas that Jesus has just crossed to reach the boat.

John Ortberg writes about this passage in his book, “If You Want To Walk On Water, You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat.” And it’s true. Peter could not be a water-walker and stay in his seat with the security of the boat around him. In order to walk on the water, you must get out of the boat. Ortberg describes two types of people—Water-Walkers—those who take the risk and step out to follow Jesus on the adventure of faith—and Boat Potatoes—those who’s fear keeps them seated in the safety of the boat (or on the couch at home) and watch what is going on but often doubt they can do it themselves. These folks are content as eyewitnesses to God’s work, but do not want to be involved for whatever reason. They stay in the boat with their life jackets fastened, big orange floaties on their arms, and don’t dare stick their toe in the water until the boat is safely on the shore.

I remember back three years ago when I wanted to be a Boat Potato and stay put in Raleigh. I was content here, happy in the area, had friends and family near by, and was in school— following God’s call at Duke’s Divinity School. I had taken a step of faith and started Seminary. I thought I knew what was best and was content with where God had me. But then I started to feel an unsettled feeling prodding from God pushing me to take the step out of my comfortable boat and become a Water-walker. I remember arguing with God over a couple of weeks that I did not want to go to Pennsylvania to finish school and things were great in the Raleigh/Durham boat. The winters are cold in Pennsylvania, and it’s so far away. I had spent a semester in Heidelberg, Germany in college, but some how Bethlehem, PA seemed so much farther away for so much longer of a time.

But, against my better judgment, I took a step out of the Raleigh/Durham boat, packed up the Uhaul, and headed to Pennsylvania. I heard Jesus’ call to come, but still didn’t know how it was all going to work out. Would I sink? Would I swim? Would I walk on water? Would I take one step and sink in, like Peter, or fall off the cliff like Wile E. Coyote is so famous for?

Hind-sight is 20/20 they say, and I believe it is true for my water-walking in Pennsylvania. I had a wonderful three years in Bethlehem and Emmaus, served two great churches there, made lots of friends and even gained a whole new family to add to my family here. I certainly did not plan on meeting Steve and getting married while in PA, but looking back I see how God’s hand was involved in my whole experience. I would not trade the time for anything, and even found myself sad to have to say goodbye and see you later to my family and friends there—which I would never have predicted three years earlier. I have seen myself grow in ways I could not have ever expected, and God taught me many things when I took a step outside the boat. You may be asking if I had a sinking experience like Peter did when he took the step out. Yes, there were times when I saw the wind and the storm and wasn’t sure how to stay afloat, but each time I eventually was able to reach for the Savior’s hand and be pulled to safety.

But what about all of us? How do we relate to this story? Are we sitting in the boat watching it all take place, amazed at all going on and declaring, “Truly Jesus is the Son of God” like those in the boat at the end of the passage. Though the disciples inside the boat might be called Boat Potatoes, they too were integral in the story as eyewitnesses and their worship of Jesus was enthusiastically noted in the Gospel. Maybe things in life have been crazy lately, and you need a break to just sit and worship and be in awe of God’s work in the world, and you are sitting in the boat taking it all in. You need to be built up in this community of faith to gain strength and courage to make the next life-move. Perhaps you are listening for Jesus’ command, “Come” to take your first steps on the water, but just haven’t heard the words or felt the nudges yet.

Or maybe you are tired of being in the boat of life and are tired of being an only eyewitness to the big events. Maybe it’s your time to step out and be a Water-Walker. You’ve made up your mind and the nudges from God must be followed. So you take the step out in faith and are keeping your eyes on Jesus. Maybe it’s time to make the career change you have been waiting for. Perhaps the new school year is going to be the opportunity you need to live your faith in the classroom and you’re ready to take that step.

Or maybe, like Peter, you have taken the step and now find yourself “seeing the wind and the storm” and doubts have crept into your mind. You feel your feet sinking down into the water and are in the midst of calling out to Jesus for help and safety. Or maybe doubts flood your mind and you can’t even call out to God yet. Life has gotten so hard that the step of faith you made seems so long ago. Don’t worry. Peter knew that feeling. Many of us know that scary feeling. Not that it makes it any easier now, but Jesus’ hand of safety is within reach.

One of the beautiful things I find is how Peter is in all three of these categories in the story. He is comfortable in the safe boat and asks for a COMMAND to get out, not just a typical request—there is force in the COMMAND that he needs to leave his Boat Potato world to become a Water-Walker. Then He doubts, sinks, and needs Jesus to save him. For most folks, these three situations are all part of the faith journey. I know I can relate to all three aspects of the disciples’ journey here.

It is my hope that we can all help each other listen for Jesus’ command of “Come Raleigh Moravian, Step out of the boat, we’ve got some water-walking to do.” We have the wonderful opportunity to take where we have been, listen and work together, and figure out when and where Jesus is leading us as we enter this new phase of Raleigh Moravian’s history. It’s a journey, and the water may not always be as smooth as glass, but our boat is here. Are you ready to have a seat, put on your life-jackets, and take the boat trip of a lifetime to become Water-Walkers together? If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat. Come on, We’ve got some water-walking to do. I am excited to be here to join in the ride with you. ALL ABOARD!!

Please pray with me:
God who walks on the water to be with us,
We thank you for the assurance that even in the midst of the storms of life, you seek us out and call us to you. Help us to have the courage to get in the boat ride of faith, and push us to grow to be water-walkers with you. We come from so many different backgrounds and life experiences, and we ask you to help us love and support one another in this journey as we discern your voice and seek your will. Be with us, guide us, and help us to feel your amazing love as we head out from this place to show your love to this community and world.
In the name of the one Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

"Whatever You Do, Don't TIPTOE!" (6/15/08, Proper 6A/Ordinary 11A/Pentecost +5)

“Whatever you do, don’t TIPTOE!”
Proper 6A/Ordinary 11A/Pentecost +5
Sermon from 6/15/08
Matthew 9:35-10:8
Holly Springs Moravian Church


I was checking out the Holly Springs website the other day, as I do periodically, to keep up with what’s going on back here, and I was taken down memory road as I looked at Eric Terry’s photos that are posted on there, especially the ones from the Easter Sunrise service this past year. I remember a few years ago driving down Holly Springs Road with NO cars in sight, at some too-early-to-be-counted hour, in complete darkness, arriving in that field ready to see the sun shine. I have great memories of standing there, with my Holly Springs family, as we waited together for the Sun to PEAK out over the horizon and celebrate Easter!

We are a resurrection people. We believe in life after death and Jesus being raised from the tomb. (show DARKNESS EASTER PHOTO on screen) We are the ones who pilgrimage to a graveyard (or field) on Easter morning, before dawn in the cold darkness of death that lingers from Good Friday, (EASTER PHOTO 1-People) to watch and wait for the sun to rise as we proclaim to the whole world, “The Lord is risen. The Lord is risen, INDEED!” (EASTER PHOTO 2-Cross) We believe that God has power over death and that new beginnings are possible.

And yet, we live in a world that needs to hear that hope is here and love arrived in a manger over 2000 years ago, and through the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus, God has shown that God does indeed care for us and love us.

I spent this past week at a church conference at Princeton University in New Jersey and was fortunate to hear one of my favorite authors and speakers, Shane Claiborne. In his book, The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical, he takes a look at Scripture and life and has managed to totally change my understanding of how I can live out God’s love in the world today. (If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it, but buckle your seatbelt, hang on, and get ready for an awesome journey!) He writes, “For even if the whole world believes in resurrection, little would change until we began to practice it. We can believe in CPR, but people will remain dead until someone breathes new life into them. And we can tell there world that there is life after death, but the world really seems to be wondering if there is life before death.” (Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution {Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2006} 150).

Life before death. An interesting idea and all. But what does that look like? Shane quotes his college professor as saying, “All around you, people will be tiptoeing through life, just to arrive at death safely. But dear children, do not tiptoe. Run, hop, skip, or dance, just don’t tiptoe.” (The Irresistible Revolution, page 225). We hear Matthew’s words today to the disciples in Jesus’ time and they remind me of this same idea. Jesus has gathered a few of his students together to teach them and then send them out to show the world there is life before death. To me this passage in Matthew’s Gospel sounds strikingly similar to the professor’s words. We hear Jesus’ command: “Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons.” (Mt. 10:7-8, the Message). Show life to those in need, share love, and whatever you do, don’t TIPTOE!

The disciples were given the power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. The power from Christ Jesus was passed to His disciples, and we are continuing that work as Christ’s hands and feet in our world today to do the same work here as His student’s today.

So what does it look like today, if we are following in Jesus’ footsteps by bringing life before death into our own neighborhoods? I believe it looks like relationships that we build with the folks around us that don’t stay on the surface but get into each other’s “stuff” and help work together to make life better.

A lady I know has been struggling to make ends meet for months, and at this point is so far in over her head that she can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. The mortgage crisis has hit hard, and for this single working mother of a 10-year-old son, homelessness is knocking on the doorstep. She has been so depressed that she often can’t get out of bed in the morning, which makes working to keep the house that much more difficult. Recently, a couple of business men from our community came over, sat down with her, and helped to create a plan of action to tackle the problems and work together to make it happen. They used their gifts for understanding finances and business to help her see light in her situation. Her son said afterwards, “Mom, I know that God really does love us.” She now knows that God’s love is real, because these disciples came into the neighborhood and raised her from the dead. There is life before death.

One translation of the Scripture we read this morning says, “cleanse the leapers,” but I haven’t seen anyone with leprosy around here, so does that lessen the tasks we are called to? Bono, one of today’s great prophets and the lead singer for the Irish band U2, asks, “Is AIDS the new leprosy?” (quoted in multiple source) I don’t know about you, but I believe so. Who are the ones in our neighborhoods that society has deemed, “Unclean” or “Untouchable” who need to know of God’s loving touch? Folks with HIV/AIDS, additions, and debt? Folks without houses, jobs, or food? By forming relationships with folks, we get to show love through hugs, handshakes, and high-fives. We also get to walk alongside each other on the journey of life, using our gifts and skills to help where we can when their lives seem diseased or dis-eased.

We might hear the Gospel text speaking to us: “As we go, today, following Jesus on our journey, openly proclaim with your actions the good news, “Christ’s kingdom is near!” Have compassion and show grace and love as you work to bring balance and wholeness. Bring hope back to life for those who are beaten down and in despair. Remove the stains and dirt from those who are dis-eased around you. Drive away the breaths of greed, superiority, and consumerism that pervade our society. You all have been given to in abundance. Share that abundance.” And whatever you do, don’t TIPTOE—but show that there really is such thing as life before death.

New Blog and Introduction

So I have decided to work on blogging as it relates to my faith and journey as a pastor and follower of Jesus. I hope to share sermons, insights, and God-moments that I see. I hope this will be a way I can testify to what God is doing in, around, and through me to help me live a "Christmas frame of mind" throughout the year. Thanks for checking in! I look forward to your comments!

As a start to my new blog, I thought it would be fun to go back and post some of my older sermons and messages from this past year since Graduation on May 10, 2008. As you read through, you will see my comments to myself included in parentheses and also quote references where available. I have tried to provide http:// links where they fit for different books, quotes, and other references I make. If you have questions about sources, quotes, books, etc. please let me know. Also, If I have inadvertently missed a reference or referenced something incorrectly, please let me know and I will gladly update the blog.