This past Thursday evening I was privileged and blessed to attend my first class with Transformation Project. I had been invited last month to speak and had put it on my calendar. I first heard about Transformation Project at a Hixson Thanksgiving Service where several churches combined in the community back about a handful of years.
A friend of mine from the Emmaus Community connected me with Transformation Project.
It was a hop, skip, and jump to the church from where my office is at the Holston GaP Parish on Thursday. I shared table fellowship and delicious lasagna, bread, and dipped strawberries with folks. After dinner, chairs were lined up close to the podium.
What I shared on Thursday was very close to what I preached the week prior because I felt so led to speak on being transformed, hope, confidence, etc. There were some things changed and some testimony added to what I shared. I also shared the words to a song I had heard for the first time the previous night going home from Ash Wednesday service.
The song is "Diamonds" by Hawk Nelson. The lyrics were powerful and touched me in relationship to Ash Wednesday, but also related to being transformed.
Check out the lyrics:
Here and now I'm in the fire,
In above my head
Oh, oh, oh oh, oh, oh
Being held under the pressure,
Don't know what'll be left
Oh, oh, oh oh, oh, oh
But it's here in the ashes
I'm finding treasure
He's making diamonds, diamonds
Making diamonds out of dust
He is refining in his timing
He's making diamonds out of us
I'll surrender to the power
Of being crushed by love
Oh, oh, oh oh, oh, oh
Till the beauty that was hidden
Isn't covered up
Oh, oh, oh oh, oh, oh
Oh it's not what I hoped for
It's something much better
He's making diamonds, diamonds
Making diamonds out of dust
He is refining in his timing
He's making diamonds out of us
Oh the joy of the lord
It will be my strength
When the pressure is on
He's making diamonds
Oh the joy of the lord
It will be my strength
When the pressure is on
He's making diamonds
Oh the joy of the lord
It will be my strength
When the pressure is on
He's making, he's making
He's making diamonds, diamonds
Making us rise up from the dust
He is refining in his timing
He's making diamonds out of dust
Making diamonds out of us
I won't be afraid to shine
I won't be afraid to shine
I won't be afraid to shine
Cause he's making diamonds out of dust
Making diamonds out of us
I wasn't sure when I walked in on Thursday evening if the message I felt led to share truly was for anyone there. But before we ate dinner, I had a brief conversation with one person and knew immediately that hope and the transformational power of Christ were a needed message that night.
It is a blessing to be a willing vessel of our Creator. It is a super special blessing to watch the Creator weave things together in the Kingdom and in the body of Christ. I saw that Thursday. I saw threads woven together as different people spoke and shared.
Why Transformation Project? Because the call came and I answered. Do I always say "yes" to calls that come? No. I pray. Is it the right time? There are some things that I want to say "yes" to, but it just isn't the right time. I have said "no" recently to a couple of speaking opportunities.
What does Transformation Project awaken in me? I'm glad you asked. It takes me back to the days when I was the first female faculty member of Bryan College that was privileged and blessed to teach inside the facility in Pikeville. Though I only taught one semester of Spanish there, it was one of those ministry opportunities to which I had been called and I knew it. It was a blessing to be able to live into it. Thursday night was similar for me. It felt right. It fit. My journey isn't the same as those with whom I ate that night and with whom I shared, yet we are all on a transformational journey. We all have things in our lives that require change and for which we need hope for the journey.
If you want to learn more about Transformation Project, click here to go to their website or http://www.transformationproject.org/.
Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite days. That may sound odd, but that's okay. Why is it one of my favorite days? That's harder to explain. I think mainly because it kicks of the Lenten Season. It's the beginning of the preparation and reflection time. I think too, that it is because there is something powerful and humbling about the imposition of ashes.
I have been blessed to participate as a helper in many Ash Wednesday services over the years during my 8 year seminary journey. This past Ash Wednesday wasn't my first in that sense to be part of a service.
It was my first as a pastor, in this particular appointment of the Holston GaP Parish, and my first to attend two Ash Wednesday services.
At Simpson UMC, it is traditional for them to host a Lenten Luncheon series. Ash Wednesday kicked it off this past week with Pastor Tommy Messer bringing the message. It was a very powerful message that was "spot-on" for the season. It was truly a blessing. Though it was a very cold day, we had a little over 20 folks come out for the service and stay for the luncheon, hosted by the UMW.
That evening, we had a 2nd Ash Wednesday service at Fort Oglethorpe UMC. I think there may have been around 20 folks attend that service too. Pastor Tommy brought the message that evening. A different message, yet moving and meaningful.
On the back of the Fort Oglethorpe bulletin there was a poem for reflection. It was new to me. But as I read it, it touched me at different levels and in different places.
Cover me with ashes,
the thick-smoke soot of the earth.
Make my breathing like the journey
from death into life -- second by second,
prayer by prayer.
Cover me with a cloak -- bring me low to the earth,
your justice whispering to me like the gleam of red rocks,
the colors dancing in the darkness.
Let me know the power of sage and cedar in my bones,
not that I may trap them there,
but bring them forth in words.
Cover me with darkness --
with the presence of my elders, their tears falling around me,
reminding me of why we are here --
sighing, groaning with our singing, longing to hear us into being,
stretching us beyond breathing and praying and weeping.
Cover me with mercy--
let the bones you have crushed rejoice,
like the woman who channeled every ounce of courage and dignity
to touch your cloak and find new life.
Breathe unto me life anew, of possibility,
of beauty,
of balance,
of grace.
Cover me with mud --
bring me to my lowest state, so that in my weaknesses
I see your strength --
the reflection of your eyes in the brokenness around me,
the fullness of your love in the depths of our hearts.
Cover me with ashes --
the ashes of my grandmother,
who in living her days knew no strangers,
worked tirelessly with worn hands
and lifted grandchildren high into the air.
Cover me with mercy --
let my cheek come to rest on the cold earth,
its faithful presence a call to walk humbly
beyond myself
beyond my fears
and ever on to the red road that leads to your love.
x̣áýəs -- Changer
Cover me.
Cover me with ashes.
Change me.
-------------------------------
Ash Wednesday's services were not only powerful for me as a pastor of the three congregations in the parish, but also as co-pastor with Tommy Messer. It is a blessing to work alongside someone on this journey of leadership in the parish. We don't always get the opportunity to serve together because we are at different locations. Ash Wednesday was a time when we did get to serve together. It was also a time for us to encourage one another as we imposed ashes upon each other, not once but twice that day.
The Lenten Season has begun. These will be days of reflection, of dying to self, of turning away from sin, of seeking to follow the One True Voice, of attempting to lead a life worthy of the calling, of brokenness, of healing, of being formed in God's image.....
What will I look like at the end of these 40 days? Will I be different than when I started? I hope so. And at the end of these 40 days, the journey will continue... there will still be the things mentioned in the above paragraph. It's just that this season there more intentionality (though these things merit intentionality all the time).
My cousin David posted all kinds of awesome Ash Wednesday postings. I didn't catch them all, but read several of them. I need to go back and sift through them. He posts thought-provoking things. One of the posts was part of a poem by Jan Richardson:
So let us be marked
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are
but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made,
and the stars that blaze
in our bones,
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.
Blessing the Dust A Blessing for Ash Wednesday
All those days
you felt like dust,
like dirt,
as if all you had to do
was turn your face
toward the wind
and be scattered
to the four corners
or swept away
by the smallest breath
as insubstantial—
Did you not know
what the Holy One
can do with dust?
This is the day
we freely say
we are scorched.
This is the hour
we are marked
by what has made it
through the burning.
This is the moment
we ask for the blessing
that lives within
the ancient ashes,
that makes its home
inside the soil of
this sacred earth.
So let us be marked
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are
but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made,
and the stars that blaze
in our bones,
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.
–Jan Richardson
- See more at: http://paintedprayerbook.com/2013/02/08/ash-wednesday-blessing-the-dust/#sthash.DKgVm6rS.dpuf
Blessing the Dust A Blessing for Ash Wednesday
All those days
you felt like dust,
like dirt,
as if all you had to do
was turn your face
toward the wind
and be scattered
to the four corners
or swept away
by the smallest breath
as insubstantial—
Did you not know
what the Holy One
can do with dust?
This is the day
we freely say
we are scorched.
This is the hour
we are marked
by what has made it
through the burning.
This is the moment
we ask for the blessing
that lives within
the ancient ashes,
that makes its home
inside the soil of
this sacred earth.
So let us be marked
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are
but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made,
and the stars that blaze
in our bones,
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.
–Jan Richardson
- See more at: http://paintedprayerbook.com/2013/02/08/ash-wednesday-blessing-the-dust/#sthash.DKgVm6rS.dpuf
All those days
you felt like dust,
like dirt,
as if all you had to do
was turn your face
toward the wind
and be scattered
to the four corners
or swept away
by the smallest breath
as insubstantial—
Did you not know
what the Holy One
can do with dust?
This is the day
we freely say
we are scorched.
This is the hour
we are marked
by what has made it
through the burning.
This is the moment
we ask for the blessing
that lives within
the ancient ashes,
that makes its home
inside the soil of
this sacred earth.
So let us be marked
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are
but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made,
and the stars that blaze
in our bones,
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.
Blessing the Dust A Blessing for Ash Wednesday
All those days
you felt like dust,
like dirt,
as if all you had to do
was turn your face
toward the wind
and be scattered
to the four corners
or swept away
by the smallest breath
as insubstantial—
Did you not know
what the Holy One
can do with dust?
This is the day
we freely say
we are scorched.
This is the hour
we are marked
by what has made it
through the burning.
This is the moment
we ask for the blessing
that lives within
the ancient ashes,
that makes its home
inside the soil of
this sacred earth.
So let us be marked
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are
but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made,
and the stars that blaze
in our bones,
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.
–Jan Richardson
- See more at: http://paintedprayerbook.com/2013/02/08/ash-wednesday-blessing-the-dust/#sthash.DKgVm6rS.dpuf
---------------------------
I don't know what your Lenten journey has in store for you. I don't know what mine has for me. But my goal is to live in to the journey of Lent, step by step....
One of the features I like about Facebook is the history feature. I like seeing what was going on in my life a year ago or more. Because I joined Facebook in its early days when it was still for university folks, I have memories that go back quite a few years. ☺
Sometimes the memories bring up things that make me smile. Most of the time this is true. Sometimes the memories are bittersweet. Other times I am simply in amazement that "that was then, this is now".
Today is one of those days.
The first memory up in the feed is from February 9, 2015. On this day last year I was starting my final required semester in seminary at Asbury Theological Seminary. It also happened to be the day that I had my interview in Alcoa, TN for the BOM. That meant going before a group of people who had read all my paperwork, seen my preaching video, and answering questions-- all for the purpose to see if I was ready or not to become a Provisional Elder.
This is what I wrote last year: "Today
is a big day for me. My final seminary semester for the M.Div. begins.
I am taking 9 credits. Today is also my interview for Provisional Elder
in the UMC with BOM in Alcoa. Thoughts and prayers are welcome and
appreciated."
Oh, yes.... for the first semester in my seminary career I finished out with a full load. And part of that load was a course in exegetical Hebrew. I went out in style. Woo hoo! (I made it by the way. I graduated in May. ☺)
I posted this picture as a reminder to myself to focus that day:
Whatever happened on that day, I was going to praise God and make a joyful noise. This picture above is taken at the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge where I like to go for hiking, walking, or just sitting on the rocks by the water. It is one of those places to connect with the Creator. A year ago today I didn't know how that interview would go nor did I know how that semester with 9 credits would go either. All I knew to do then was to take it moment by moment and step by step. That is how I attempt to live-- each next clear step that I have, I take it. If there isn't a clear step, I will stand still and wait. In fact, I've learned to stand still in the chaos. You know, when things begin to swirl so crazy around you that you can do nothing else? Stand still. I've learned that by standing still in the chaos, things will calm down eventually and then I will see the next step. It's a paradoxical way to live. It's a both/and way of living. Yet, it's how I've come to live into following Christ, the leader of paradoxical and both/and living. Today as I reflected back upon a year ago today, I wrote this: "A year ago today I began my final required semester in seminary and had
my BOM interview. It is amazing that I am 8 months into the journey of
being a pastor."
Yes, it really is amazing to me that I am 8 months into the journey of being a pastor. I think back to so many conversations along the way, so many questions, so much doubt, so many affirmations, so many confirmations. It still amazes me. God amazes me with grace shown to me, with experiences allowed me, with love showered upon me, and with healing along the journey.
It has been quite a year from this date last year and an incredible 8 months so far. I can't wait to reflect on my first full year as a pastor.
Meanwhile, I will sing to the Lord; I will make a joyful noise to the rock of my salvation.
What about you? Where do you find yourself today? Where were you a year ago today? What has transpired in your life in that year? Take it day by day, moment by moment. Just take the next visible step.
May you be able to sing to the Lord and make a joyful noise to the rock of your salvation!
Yesterday was Transfiguration Sunday. I was scheduled to preach at Flintstone UMC (the rock church) and Simpson UMC. It doesn't always happen this way, but the sermon got written on Wednesday last week. When that happens, there is rejoicing in my heart, mind, and soul! It turned out to be a great thing, too, time-wise, due to needs in others areas of life. I did some editing toward the end of the week, but nothing major.
The Calls to Worship are picked out in advance too, as the bulletins need to be printed and delivered to each church. There are several different sources I use for these, some in print, some online. I believe the ones I picked this time came from Ministry Matters. Normally I use the same Call to Worship for both churches when I preach at more than one church on a Sunday. This past week, however, there was something in my spirit that caused me to choose two different ones. So, I did.
The Calls to Worship for Sunday morning were:
Call to Worship
#1 (FLINTSTONE)
L: Lord, you
have called us to the mountaintop. P: Help us to look forward to where you would have us go.
L: Help us to listen carefully to the words of your healing love. P: Open our hearts and spirits to receive your glorious directions.
L: Place your trust in the Lord in all your ways. P: Lord, we have come here to give our lives to you. AMEN.
Call to Worship
#2 (SIMPSON)
L: It is easy to
stand here in the valley of our comfort. P: We know what to expect and what is expected of us.
L: But Christ calls us to the mountain top to receive a new vision. P: We are not sure we are ready for that.
L: Place your hope and trust in Christ, for He is your guide. P: Let us open our hearts to Christ, ready for the vision he places before
us. AMEN.
Sunday morning as I was preparing for worship, I spent some time in "listening prayer" or Centering Prayer. I use a Centering Prayer App on my phone that allows me to focus with a prayer at the beginning, a bell, count down, a prayer at the end. One can change that as desired. It's from the Contemplative Outreach group and it has been helpful in my practice. There are other such applications available too. My normal phrase in prayer is "peace, be still". But, not on Sunday. It quickly became "fill me anew". Hmmm... that is different. By the time my prayer time was over, it wasn't just "fill me anew", but "fill us anew". As I finished my time in prayer, I felt led to grab my little bottle of anointing oil to take to church with me. I felt led to offer anointing to any who desired it during communion time, whether for them or for someone else after they took communion.
All I can do is listen, trust, and obey. Following the nudgings of the Spirit doesn't always make sense to me. Sometimes they aren't as "normal" as taking anointing oil with me somewhere. But Sunday was just that. I wasn't sure how it would be accepted, though I knew that at Flintstone, during their Dreaming and Visioning session, they had expressed a desire for healing services.
When it came to communion time at Flintstone, I explained that if anyone wanted to be anointed in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit on their forehead, to let me know. I wasn't expecting the response. It confirmed that it was the Holy Spirit nudging me during my prayer time and that "fill me anew" and "fill us anew" was part of the day's journey.
At Simpson, I gave the same offer. I wasn't sure what would happen there. I haven't ever asked if folks do anointing there. However, there were many people who were anointed at the altar rail during communion. God was filling anew.
The sermon spoke about transformation, hope, boldness, and not losing heart. I think it was a message for me as much as for anyone else that heard it. I know that I need to be bold in following Christ and in following the nudgings of the Spirit. It isn't always easy. Sometimes it's downright scary. I am human, you know. But, yesterday I was blessed by hope and encouraged once again.
At Flintstone we sang "Shine, Jesus, Shine", "Spirit of the Living God", "Eat This Bread". After I left, they sang "Take Time to Be Holy" and "Sent Forth by God's Blessing".
At Simpson we sang our introit "O Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord", "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling", "Take Time to Be Holy", and "O Jesus, I Have Promised". We close at Simpson with "Go Now in Peace".
Songs minister into the places where words sometimes can't connect.
The Scriptures, the sermon, and the songs talked about being transformed into Christ's image, from glory to glory. Having been with one of our church members on Friday as he went to glory, things took on a different meaning for me. I have "walked with" folks on many different journeys in life. I have walked with on the death and dying journey for many, but Friday was my first time to be present (that I remember) in the moment when a person passes from this world to the next. To live well and to die well are tremendous markers in our lives. To be able to show ongoing transformation into Christ's image as followers of Christ... that truly gives us hope and therefore allows us to be bold and confidence in our witness. We do not need to be discouraged.
Okay, that's not the sermon. Those are thoughts and reflections leading up to the sermon. Here is yesterday's sermon. As always, more or less. I edited as I spoke, somewhat different at each location. But, it gives you an idea of the message.
"Transformed"
February 7th, 2016 (Transfiguration
Sunday)
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 (NRSV)
Flintstone UMC, Simpson
UMC
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 (NRSV)
12 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, 13 not like Moses, who put a
veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the
glory thatwas being set aside. 14 But their minds
were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old
covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. 15 Indeed,
to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; 16 but
when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the
Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And
all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though
reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one
degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. 4 Therefore,
since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose
heart. 2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides;
we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open
statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in
the sight of God"
THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
THANKS BE TO GOD.
---------------
What does the "since"
refer to in verse 12???
Anytime
you see a "since", "so", or a "therefore", that's
a clue to go back into the reading to find out what is being discussed.Today, we have to go backwards in order to
address our passage. What is
this "since"?In the preceding
verses in chapter 2, Paul is talking about his time in Troas and how he needed
to leave there and go on to Macedonia because he couldn't find Titus there in
Troas.Paul writes these words directly
before the passage we're looking at today: chapter 2, verses 14-17: "14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads
us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance
that comes from knowing him. 15 For
we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among
those who are perishing; 16 to
the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to
life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For
we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as
persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence."
Paul says that God in Christ leads
us to triumphal procession, through us spreads the fragrance that comes from
knowing him.Paul later calls that
fragrance the "aroma of Christ" and says that we are that aroma to
God and among the perishing.In Christ
we speak as persons of sincerity and we are sent from God.It is in this context, that the "since"
comes."Since, then, we have such a
hope..."All that Paul states prior
shows that we have hope.... and what do we do with that hope?"We act with great boldness."
(another word for "boldness" here could be "confidence" or
"assurance")
We are just now scratching the
surface of verse 1 today.We may not get
through all of this passage.There is
just too much to cover.
Do we really have HOPE?Do we act as though we believe we are persons
sent from God and standing in his presence?Do we give off the aroma of Christ?If we truly have this hope that Paul talks about here, then we can act
with great boldness and confidence, can we not?!?!Are we bold and confident living into our
relationship with God the Father, through Christ the Son, with the help of the
Holy Spirit? [PAUSE]
Let's continue.In verses 13-16 Paul talks about Moses and
the veil covering his face.This is a
reference to when Moses ascended Mount Sinai and his face shone brightly
because he spoke with God (Exodus 34:29-35).Moses covered his face with a veil because he was shining so brightly
after being with God.Wow.Today is Transfiguration Sunday.We are looking at the Epistle lesson (Paul's
letter) in the lectionary readings for today.Today's Gospel reading from Luke gives the account of the
Transfiguration on the mountain in detail and mentions Jesus talking with
Elijah and Moses.
What is Transfiguration Sunday?Transfiguration Sunday is now for the
majority of Protestants located on the calendar the Sunday prior to Lent and
therefore is a bridge into LentIt
identifies who Jesus is and anticipates what will happen in Jerusalem (Stookey,
Calendar, 136).
What can we learn about Moses' face
shining brightly after having spoken with God?What about this veil?Quickly, in
verses 13-15, we see that a veil is no longer needed to cover us because it was
taken away by Christ. "Paul uses "veil" as a metaphor for what
prevents us from seeing the truth about God. (Callista Isabelle, Feasting on the Word
Year C, Volume 1, 448).NOTE:As a metaphor, we are not talking about
literal veils used for identity, modesty, or faithfulness. Veils can serve a
positive role.
What does this mean for us
today?The answer is in verses 17 and
18: "17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the
glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into
the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the
Lord, the Spirit."
Because of Christ, our faces are unveiled.And in Christ, there is freedom.In this freedom, we are being transformed
into Christ's image.WOW.If that doesn't give us hope, boldness, and
confidence to live our lives as followers of Christ, then what can!?!?We are being transformed into the same image
(that is Christ's image).This is what
Transfiguration Sunday is about-- remembering that Christ leads us to freedom
and away from the bondage of sin.
Transformation takes time.Moving from bondage into freedom in all areas
of our lives takes time. I imagine we all recognize that.Like the potter with clay.Like the photographer in the studio with the
negatives and the chemicals.Like the
writer and the poem or the book.Like
the athlete getting stronger and better.Transformation takes time, degree by degree.
Even though it takes time, we ARE being transformed.God IS working in us and through us.What does Paul say to us next?Chapter 4, verse 1: "4 Therefore,
since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose
heart."Therefore.....Because we ARE being transformed and because
it IS by God's mercy, we do not lose heart.Do you hear that?We do not lose
heart.We do not become
discouraged.Oh, it can be easy to lose
heart or become discouraged if we don't see the results that WE want in
ourselves or others.BUT, it's NOT about
us, it is about God.So, let's ask
ourselves:are we truly submitting
personally and collectively to who God wants us to be and do?!?!
Let's remain faithful in prayer, in studying
Scriptures, in gathering together for worship and taking Holy
Communion.
As we encounter the risen Christ today face to face, may our vision become
clearer and may we be transformed more into Christ's image.
May 2 Corinthians 3:18 be lived out in our lives, our church, our
community: "18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though
reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one
degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit."
I have been posting some sermons lately, but not all of them. That's because it takes time to post them and there are plenty of other things for me to do weekly. I wasn't going to post this past week's sermon. But, this morning when I was at the funeral for one of our church members who recently passed, wouldn't you know that the very first passage of Scripture that was read was the same as yesterday's that I chose from the lectionary choices?!?! And, not only that, he also read from The Message, Eugene Peterson's translation. I don't often choose The Message for Sunday morning worship times, but yesterday was one of those days that I did choose it. And to have it read again today in the same version, well, for one, it made me smile. Then it caused me to think that if these Scripture verses in this version impacted me, then maybe someone else might want or need them too.
Yesterday's message at Fort Oglethorpe UMC was about love, God's love. As with every message delivered during a service, what is written below isn't necessarily exactly what was shared during our time together. It could have been added to, subtracted from, etc. But, it is a guideline as to what was shared.
Prior to the beginning of the sermon I shared a short 3 minute video of pictures that I had taken and gotten from other people from Resurrection 2016 the weekend before. I bought the song "Helicopter" by B-Shoc and put the song into the video. The purpose of the video was to give the folks at church a glimpse of what the youth and leaders heard, learned, and did at Resurrection 2016. One cannot do it justice in 3 minutes or even more than that, but my hope is that folks will take time to talk with the youth about their experience(s).
If I speak with
human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the
creaking of a rusty gate.
2 If I speak God’s Word with power,
revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have
faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m
nothing.
3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor
and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve
gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m
bankrupt without love.
Love never
gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
8-10 Love never dies. Inspired speech will
be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its
limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always
incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
11 When I was an infant at my mother’s
breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those
infant ways for good.
12 We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re
squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the
weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as
clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
13 But for right now, until that
completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation:
Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of
the three is love.
THIS IS THE
WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
THANKS BE TO
GOD.
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Today is the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany. This is "ordinary" time in the
church calendar, meaning that ordinal numbers are used to mark the time on the
calendar. We will soon enter the Lenten
season.
Today's Scriptures speak of love. We might be very familiar with them as these
verses are often used in wedding vows, but that wasn't the original setting of
these verses. That's one of the reasons
I chose a different Scripture version for us today. I wanted us to see these words fresh and anew.
When Paul wrote these words to the
church at Corinth, he was addressing the body there as they were fighting over
their spiritual gifts-- who had what gift, which gift was more important, etc. This letter to the church at Corinth was to
help them see that the most important thing for their focus was love.
It is the same for us. It
may not be spiritual gifts that divide us, but the message for us here today is
that LOVE is to be our focus.
Let's look at today's passage one more time. Let's read it together.[Put on screen again.]
What stands out to you in this passage today?
Where do you hear God speaking to you?
Remember that God has gifted each and every one of us for the good
of the whole body. We are to use our
gifts together, with and for one another so that the body not only works as it
should, but so that the kingdom of God here on earth is able to function
properly. In this passage, Paul reminds
us that love is the more important thing, above all our gifts, above all our
differences, above all.
We know that we can love only because God loved us and God's love
flows into us and through us. God is the
source of our love.Love seeks the good
of others, what's best for others.
I don't know if you've been in this situation or not, but it happens to me
frequently:Whether it's a topic I'm
teaching, preaching, or learning it just somehow happens that there is almost
always a life application in the moment. When I took bioethics two years ago, my
grandmother died right before the class and we had her memorial service days
before I went to the class and my brother with the traumatic brain injury was
going through some stuff. I honestly
didn't know if I could handle the bioethics course. It ended up being a blessing.This past Friday we buried my grandmother's
ashes. She had donated her body to Emory
University and it took a year and a half to get her ashes back. It just worked out to be two years to the date
when we had her service.
In the midst of making plans to head to Dalton Friday afternoon, my stepson
called Friday morning and started a situation that challenged me to be loving
as I prepared to speak on "extravagant love" today. There were phone calls and texts within our
family unit to figure out the truth of what he was doing and saying. He told one thing to one set of us and another
to the other. In the end, we did him a
favor and it all worked out, but there was a portion of time that due to the
frustration of the matter, "love" wasn't on my forefront of
responses. I wasn't wanting to respond
with agape love to someone who was attempting to play the family units. Oh, how God allows us opportunities to love
the unloveables in our lives. And
sometimes the unloveable is me.
How gracious is our God!! Our
God who loves us and helps us to love others when it isn't easy!
We know that God loved us enough to sacrifice Christ for us. And we know that God loves us enough to pursue
us incessantly. God does NOT give up on
us.God's love does not fail us.
You may be familiar with the contemporary Christian worship song
with the words:"Your love never
fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me". The song is entitled "One Thing Remains".It was written by Brian Johnson of Jesus
Culture:
Your love never fails, never gives up Never runs out on me
Higher than the mountains that I face Stronger than the power of the grave Constant in the trial and the change One thing remains
On and on and on and on it goes It overwhelms and satisfies my soul And I never, ever, have to be afraid One thing remains
Your love never fails, never gives up Never runs out on me
In death, in life I'm confident and covered by the power of Your great love My debt is paid There's nothing that can separate my heart from Your
great love
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There
is NOTHING that can separate us from God's great love, if we will allow God
into our lives, to take control, to flow into and through our lives. Love is the greatest thing that God has given
to us, that God has for us, and that we can share with ourselves, and others.
Love
builds up.This divine love that we read
about here in today's passage is one that will guide us as we listen together
for the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in joining God's direction for our
church and community.
As we contemplate these verses today, they become a way for us to gauge how
we are doing in our spiritual growth. Bob
Mulholland writes in his Invitation to A Journey:
"If you want a good litmus test of your spiritual growth, simply
examine the nature and quality of your relationship with others. Are you more loving, more compassionate, more
patient, more understanding, more caring, more giving, more forgiving than you
were a year ago? If you cannot answer
these kinds of questions in the affirmative and, especially, if others cannot
answer them in the affirmative about you, then you need to examine carefully
the nature of your spiritual life and growth."(Bob Mulholland, p. 42, Invitation to a
Journey)
There
are days when I can see spiritual growth in my own life and I hope others can
see it too. There are other days when I
know I struggle and it becomes important for me to reconnect with my Creator,
renew my relationship, and refocus on the greatest of these..... LOVE.
How
will you allow God's love to flow into your life, into this church's life, into
this community's life?
May
God's love permeate every aspect of our doing and being, from our worship times
to our committee and meeting times to our fun and fellowship times to our
outreach times to whatever God has for us.
May
it be so.
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Though it wasn't used in the sermon, here is a video of the song "One Thing Remains":
