Archive for the Preaching Category

Misguided Muscle Memory

2. August 2010 by Rose Southwell.

Ilumin us O God, Bring your sprit into this place that we might see hear and feel your presence with us. Great creator, be with the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts. May they be pleasing and acceptable in your sight. Amen

Misguided muscle memory.

Mussels are a fascinating part of our bodies,and since there are doctors in the room, I will not clam to know to much about them. But I have always been interested in muscle memory. Apparently no one really know what part of the brain that forms muscle memory and its not actually “memory”, its something else,but we do believe that it comes from repetitive motions.Doing the same activity over and over again, eventually trains the muscles to “memorize” The activity until it becomes second nature. It moves from a conscious action to a subconscious action. For instance,  as infants we did not  know how to walk but I would bet that by now, most people in this room don’t put much thought into walking we just do it. But it is a complex action that take a lot of focuse. In the beging… This happens with all kind of things in our life. Typing on a computer, driving a car, dancing, swimming, riding a bike. The list goes on and on…

In our Colossians passages the writer asks us to take a good look at ourselves. It says that: If you have been raised with Christ you should look at the things which are above and not below. Because you have died and your life is hidden with Christ. It tells us to put to death. Things like: anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive language, fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire and Greed which it says Greed is Idolatry.

 

Interestingly enough, our Hosea passage talks about these things.  Despite the fact that God called the people (whom God refers to as my child.)  God calls them out of Egypt. But the more God call them the more they turn away. They keep sacrificing to other Gods, and sacrificing to idols.  SO somewhere between 8th Century BC with the profit Hosea, and about 60 AD and the apostle Paul, we Humans  still doing the same thing. Offering to idols, or as Idolatry named in Paul’s letter Greed.

 

WHOOO!! I’m so glad we don’t need to worry about that anymore, ………Thinking about Greed, and false idols….

 But greed is not the only things listed. We also find Anger, Malice, Abusive language, Impurity and Evil Desires. Paul gives you a list, But Hosea through the words of God Names it simply as My people are BENT on turning away from me. Its sad… Its hard to see,

 

When we were in Honduras Greed, and idolatry were exposed to me in a whole new way. It hurt, and I felt guilty. But It is not just Greed, We come in Every Sunday, and confess.(LONG BEAT)  The ways that we are bent.

But in thinking about our passages this week I started wondering about spiritual muscle memory. Dose that exist? Is it something we can do? Can we train ourselves spiritually to do something as second nature? Or are some things NOT second nature, but human nature?

Part of the reason we come in and confess every week is so that we Acknowledge, week after week that we are sinners. From the beginning… 

 Brothers and sisters if we say we have no sin we only deceive ourselves… But who is in a position to condemn, Not me, not these guys, not  any other religious authority, not the person sitting next to you, Not even yourself. You cannot condemn yourself. Only Christ is in that position.  And Christ didn’t condemn you, Christ died for you.

Even though we come in ever week we sometimes forget, that it doesn’t matter, what we do, it doesn’t matter how hard we try, or how good our intentions, we sin… 

 

Do you know the story of the scorpion and the frog? A scorpion wants to cross a river, but it can’t swim. It asks a frog to help. The frog is weary, but the scorpion promises «I won’t sting you, because if I did we would both drown». Seeing the lodgic the frog agrees. In mid river the scorpion stings the frog. The dying and sinking the frog asks «why?» and the drowning scorpion answers «that’s my nature».

 

But what that story doesn’t have is a hand that scoops up the frog and the scorpion and places them on the other side. But we do, We are redeemed people, who it is our nature to fall. It is Hard, It is not easy.  But we have the desire… The revelation that has changed us into something new.

Our Colossians passage says that we are new creations because we have died with Christ. Almost every Sunday at this church we baptize someone, We bring them into the family of brothers and sisters in Christ.  But we also clam that as there death. Did you know that? Baptism is the death of the old, and the birth of the new. You become a new creation. But it is hard to believe it’s that simple? Alright your new! Put off the old! (fold arms, beat beat beat) are you new yet? (beat) what about now? Its kind of silly right?! We act like this passage is some kind of magic. But its not easy ya’ll. If it was that easy we would need to come in every Sunday and  confess our sins. And sometimes we feel guilty about that.

 

*Ya know, the interesting things about this muscle memory stuff is that its starts when were infants.* When were new …to this world.* No one expects an infant to be able to dance.  And God certainly doesn’t expect you to have perfect form either.

Our Colossians passage dose not say that you become new when your baptized.

It says you become new when Christ is reviled to you. So think about it… when was Christ reviled to you? when was that moment? Was it in confirmation? Was it when you were an angry teen? Were you a lost soul in your twenties? Can you even pin point it? When was Gods greatness relived to you? (Smile) That is when you become new… Something changed….

The rest of it is Theology, and humans trying to grapple with the vastness of god.  But what changes it the Desire… the desire to want to serve this great God. The desire to put off the old. And live into being New.

 If muscle memory starts at infancy, How then do we begin to form spiritual muscle memory?? DO we pick up a practice? And do it over and over and over again, until it becomes second nature. Do we decide that every morning your gona get up and say the same prayer. “God Lead me today” Or we decide that every night before you go to bed your gona read one verse in the bible.  Your gona go and work at a food bank one day of the week for a year. Disciplined practice.  Then it builds on itself. Because we do it over and over and over again. Then you can take the next step.

 *As babies.

Once we learn to roll over,

 we can learn to crawl,

once we learn to crawl we can learn to stand,

once we learn to stand we can learn to walk,

after walking we learn to run,

after running we learn we learn to dance.

But No one expects the crawling baby to be able to dance!

when he’s trying to learn to walk,

it’s not the baby’s fault when he falls,

the baby doesn’t feel guilty that he didn’t do it.

The parent doesn’t angry yell at the child for not getting it right.

The parent chuckles, makes sure there are no burses, and lets the baby try again.

But why dose a baby try and learn to walk. Crawling would suffice. Maybe as babies we don’t want to get stuck crawling, maybe we have the desire to do more. But how many times have we seen a parent stand a baby up, take a step away, and open there arms.

And the babies DESIER,to be with the parent… That helps them to take a step forward. To be in the loving arms of their care giver.

How beautiful faith is…

That we can learn. And relearn… how to walk.

But just as we are learning, and creating new spiritual muscles we are Bent on turning away from God.

A friend of mine said to me recently that as soon as a baby learns to walk. The child starts to walk away. It gets distracted by shinny things, The playground, or a toy on the other side of the room.

“Once a baby learns to walk the parent starts to half to do a lot more chasing.” I thought. Sometimes I feel like God feels that way about us.

But there is optimism in this, concerning God’s love for what God has made. It is in God’s ability to accomplish the ultimate good which is intended for creation. Everything that is good Comes from God.That is where we find salvation. Because we are bent on turning away from God, God redeemed us. That is Grace!! But as we mature, we are not to become more independent… But dependent. We are created with a need for God, because we are flawed, were not created to grow out of God.  The new creation is one of GREAT Dependence on God.

But we have the desire to be closer to our parent…

The revelation that has changed us into something new.

Now we try and build new muscles memory. .

And practice and partice and practice.

In closing, I want to leave us with scripture. 

This passage is God speaking, and it comes fallowing several chapter about how wicked Israel is, and how they will be destroyed. Then Gods tone changes in this chapter. We find a God of compassion and of TURE TRUE Grace. 

 But I want you to hear this as response from God as if Someone has just asked God WHY.  “WHY?!?! Why do you continue to care? Give up on them.”

Then God says: 

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2The more I called them, the more they went from me 3Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. 4I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love.* I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.

*Then, frustrated and heartbroken God says: (almost in tears)

They shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me. 6The sword rages in their cities, it consumes their oracle-priests, and devours because of their schemes. 7My people are bent on turning away from me.

But then God says:

How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel?  My heart recoils within me (at the thought); my compassion grows warm and tender. 9I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.

Friends this is Gods word to the church..

Gods Grace abounds.

And like a loving Parent calls us back to try again. 

Amen.

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Strength is not only for Popeye and spinach

6. July 2010 by Rose Southwell.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a wonderful gift to the church. Yet this section of chapter four is threatened by  hallmark. We find common mantras in this section, and we find ourselves smiling and nodding as we hear this passage, possibly thinking. Yes yes, all these things I’ve heard and I have known. Perhaps someone has quoted one of these verses unfairly to you, to get you to stop complain or to tough it out… Either way I hope that today we can take a look together at these common and familiar passages and find something extraordinary and life giving in the text.

   This letter is written when Paul is in Jail, and facing death. Despite his imprisonment he is joyous and overwhelmingly positive. (ugh like that person who gets up every morning and takes a happy pill) This particular letter is nicknamed the Paul’s letter of Joy. The words joy and rejoicing appear more here in this letter than in the entire corpus of Paul’s writing. But he is in prison. He is facing death. He even argues in this letter that he wonders if death by the Romans is a better option for his life, because then he could now be with Christ. Yet he remains in joy, for the betterment of sharing Christ in the world.  He offers advice for living a life of faith, what and who to watch out for, what to seek, and finding peace.  A very important letter in 4 small chapters.

Our passage today comes from the latter part of the letter, as Paul brings his writing to a close. He offers advice to two woman and leaders in the church who are in disagreement or some kind of squabble. *Which clearly a modern church would know nothing about ;)

            Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone, the lord is near.  Let your gentleness be known, let your reasonableness be known some translations say. Your gentleness, Share it, let it be known to those around you. For Christ is near.

 He goes on to say, Do not worry about anything, but in everything. Wait wait wait What?!? Do not worry about anything? Has Paul met the church? Worry is like an American pastime. What about my bills, what about my children, what about school, what about parking, what about … fill in the blank. And Paul’s advice is “don’t worry” obviously the man didn’t have a mortgage.

But maybe he knows us better than we give him credit for. Maybe worry is something that people have fought since Paul’s time. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.  Let your request be made known to God. Through prayer and supplication. Share your gentleness with others and share your requests with God.

And the peace which surpasses all understanding will GUARD your hearts and minds. It is not a peace that makes you sing kombiya, or overcomes you where you love everyone. This is a peace that Guards your heart and your mind. It protects you. It sets up a barrier. Because you prayed, and you made your request known to God. And then that peace protects you from worry. This is a peace that surpasses all understanding. That guards us.

            But it does not say that if you pray then God will give you what you want, or exactly what you ask for, or make you stop worrying, or fit it. When you make your requests known, you give them to the universe, to God, then peace guards you. Peace beyond understanding.

            Paul says, Finally beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise, Think on these things. Not on the worry. Not on the distractions.  Think about these things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me Paul Says, and the God of peace will be with you.

            Because when you pray, the peace which surpasses understanding guards you. But when you think. When you think about what is True, Hournorabul, Just, Pure, Pleasing, Commendable, Exalant, and worthy of Praise. God will be with you. Present with you.

Now Paul moves from this point in his letter to thank the Philippians for the ways they supported him, financially and otherwise. He thanks them for their concern, and wishes he could have let them know. He says, not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned you be content with whatever that I have. That’s a hard statement. He says,  I know what it is to have little, and I know what is it to have plenty in any circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I CAN DO ALL THING THOURGH THE ONE WHO STRENTHENS ME.

 This is familiar to us. Right? But I want to remind you that Paul is talking about need, when he uses it. Paul secret to having plenty, or not enough, going hungry or being fed. His secret of being content in that is “I can do all things though the one who strengthens me.” That’s what he’s talking about being content and satisfied.

But I think there is a reason this passage is so familiar to us: it is because it has other implication in our world. I can do all things through the one who strengthens me. That is huge.

But I think this verse gets misused, and trivialized. I can do all things… that’s egoistical. It is that mindset that was used in building the tower of Babel, it’s that mindset that pharaoh used to run his kingdom, it’s that mindset that gets us into trouble. It’s that mindset where we get to big for out britches.

When I was in college I switched my major and I struggled. I have dyslexia and disgraphc. And I had chosen political science. Lots and lots of reading. It took me hours to do my reading. And after four hours or so I would still have to do my other homework. My cohorts in the department would take maybe two hours, and during that time they would have done all of their reading all of their homework, and written a paper. And they were off to play. And here I was, nose in a book and angry. When the test came around, even though I had worked harder, even though I had worked longer, I wouldn’t get a better grade. It made me so mad. One day I was on the phone with my mom, complaining about this exact plight.

And my mom says “Honey, do you know you will never be a professional basketball player?!”

“what” I said.

“do you know that? That you will never play professional basketball?”

“umm I guess so,…”

She says to me “honey you’re 5’2 and you don’t have much athletic skill… So you will never be a personal basketball player. God didn’t make you that way”

And she was right, ZERO Athletic skill, just ask Elizabeth Grantham. I’m 5’2, I am dyslexic, I am disgraphic, I was not made to be a super star reader or student. But I was made with a heart that perseveres, a freakish ability to concentrate for long periods of time. I was made with courage to step up to a challenge that I may not get first place at, but I could do.

            Friends I share this story in hopes that we can begin to think about our limits, and accept them. And know that God does not expect us to do things we are not cabibul of. But don’t let being realistic, blind you from the way your being strengthened

 I think another way we are misguided when we read this verse. We hear, “I can do all things”, and we think that means because we believe in Jesus we can be superman or wonder woman. Or we hear “all things”, and we think we alone, are supposed to do ALL things.  

We do don’t we? Load up our schedules, burn the candle at both ends. Take it all on by ourselves. This passage does not call us to do all things, it does not ask us to do everything. But it does challenge us to focus on what is before us. Is this a time of need? Or is this a time of plenty? What is currently before you one thing at a time?  And we can do those things though the one who strengthens us.

            But What if that “all things” is something that you really don’t think you can do.

What if you don’t think you can carry on?

What if you don’t think you can leave an abusive relationship?

What is you don’t think you can speak out? 

What if you don’t think you can get off drugs or quit dinking?

What if you don’t think you can really help someone in need?

 You don’t think you can change the status quo?

 Or you don’t know if you have the ability to love, the way your asked to?

Or what if its smaller than that…

Let’s say, you don’t think you can sit through one more news broadcast, about the gulf?

You don’t know if you can be kind anymore, to someone who has never been kind to you?

 You don’t know if you can pray anymore? Or pray about that thing you have been prying about for a long time?

Or if you have the strength to smile, because you hurt, or your annoyed?

What then preacher lady?!?!? And don’t give me this cheep answer, I can do all things though the one who strengthens me!

But my question to you is what is strength? What does it mean to be strengthened? Is strong the ability to lift a house? To eat a can of spinach and punch a guy out? Is it force?

Or Is is strength, Humility?

IS strength perseverance?  

Is strength the ability to do something that’s not necessarily comfortable?

Dose strength empowers us, to live better, to turn the other cheek and to walk away, to ask for help?

Dose strength help us lift heavy burdens?

 Dose strength free us from our fears?

Is strength the ability to name… Name the world you live in? Name the things that imprison your life, and faith?  The ability to name where it hurts? And where the world hurts?

Is strength the ability to hand your worries over?

 Is strength knowing that you cannot do it on your own?

And then using that strength however you define it. And then to continue working in the kingdom. With Prayer, peace, and God By our sides. (beat)

It’s like Popeye. Ok, Ok bear with me.

Paul is in prison when he writes this letter, facing death. He has reached a point where he doesn’t half to worry about the others things. He simply has to face his days, and possibly the end of his life with his head held high. Because of this he has found peace. As well as strength, knowing that he God is with him. The world cannot beat down on him anymore. Because he has found joy. He has strength to overcome his prison, and death.

 He encourages these women in the church who are fighting. To have peace and strength to overcome their differences. Much like how we can do so also.

Popeye, (and I know this seems silly) in every episode Popeye gets beat down. I mean he gets whooped up on.  Completely beat up by the guy that is bigger than him. There is often other stuff in his world that is getting him down. Then he reaches in his pocket, eats the spinach and suddenly he can do anything. He can take on the things that are beating him down; he suddenly is able to overcome everything that is challenging him.

The same thing happened to Israel. It’s the same thing they talk about in that psalm.  They got beat down and beat down, and then they changed their perspective and focused to God. And they were suddenly ok. With their prayers heard.

That’s what I’m asking you to do… change your perspective. Keep this passage in you pocket… But mean it. Shift your focus. So that you pray, and peace can graded you. And you do half to worry. You can things on the things that are good, true, pure, so that God is with you. And then you can find your strength.

Because friends, this life is not a hallmark card. WE need this. It’s just like how Paul is talking about need.

 I think the need, is that we need… a God that strengthens us, to do the things that are set before us. SO that we can breathe, and have joy, and know that we are not alone. Amen.

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Dependable Deity

15. June 2010 by Rose Southwell.

Preached June 6th 2010, Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church. Text: Psalm 146

Psalm 146 is the first of five Halleluiah psalms that bring the Psalter to its conclusion. This Psalm is one of Rejoicing in God’s greatness, It celebrates God’s creation, It acknowledges the unique relationship of God’s Power and human choices.This  psalm is one that names God as the God of Justice. This psalm has some very beautiful descriptions’ of God and God’s actions in it. In short, this psalm Rocks! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord O my soul! 

This is not a simple introduction to a psalm, this is an cry from the psalmist soul. Their depth, their very essence. The psalmist is praising God from the core of their being (snap) right of the bat.  

The English Standard Version says in Verse two “I will sing praises the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being”…  Suggesting: While there is still breathe in my body, while I have being, I sing praises to the Lord.

This is a powerful statement. While I have being. On Good days and bad days the psalmist will sing praises. No matter one’s position in life, I will sing praises. No matter the trouble in the news, I will sing praises.  No matter the bill that passes, I will sing praises to my God All my life long. .. That Alone, is a challenge to us from this psalm. 

Two verses in and we have a big challenge on our hands. I know that it is not easy to sing praises all the time. I know that it can seem superficial. I know that it can seem impossible at times. The psalms are riled with prayers that cry out. Poetry of true pain. But they end in praise. They end in praise because we know, know where to put our hope. Even when we are in the depths. One place. To put our hope. God.

The Psalmist warns in v.3 “Put not your trust in princes, in morals, in whom there is no help.” Some translations say, in whom there is no SALVATION. What prince is over our lives? What person in power, can save us?

…. Humans, they are humans….. 

We know that we are flawed, as mortals,  we know that we too often put our trust in others… or if your like me, ourselves. Isn’t that what our society teaches us? To put trust in ourselves, for our salvation, for our survival,  for our help.

What about these princes? Who are they? This morning we are installing elders and deacons, leaders and ministers for the church. Who alone, are mortals. But with God, they can be tools. Instruments, for ministry. For God’s ministry.

But in Princes, In Presidents, and CEO’s, in Mortals, in whom there is no salvation The psalm tells us Put NOT your trust there.

It goes on to say.When their breath departs, they return to the earth…They return to creation to what is already God’s.  on that very day their plains perish. Their plans… human plans perish. Whatever plan we have to hold on toWhen we try and save ourselves or the world. Those plans Perish. 

Happy are those… the psalm says, whose help is in the God of Jacob. Help. Who’s assistance, is in God. Someone who realizes not on their own abilities, But on God’s ability to HELP.Who’s hope is in the Lord their God. Hope,Someone who can know and have faith that God is with them. Who prays, know that God hears. Who desires for the world to be rescued from its own plans. Whose Hope is in God!!

That is where salvation is. That is where there is help. That is where to put your trust. In God.

God Who in v 6 made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; The creator God that made all things . that is where to put your trust. Our psalm says God, who keeps faith forever….

let me say that again. God KEEPS faith forever… (BEAT. BEAT. BEAT)

Sometimes we have trouble keeping faith. And that’s ok. Because God keeps faith, forever. That is a God of grace. Faith, allegiance, dependability. Faithfull, God is faithful and dependable. We find this understanding elsewhere in scripture. God makes a covenant with the people. God delivers the people from Egypt God brings the people back from exile. God sends the Holy spirit to keep the church alive. God sent God’s only son to redeem the world.Faithful.  

There is a discussion in scholrship of how to translate a perticular phrase in the Greek. the phrase  psisis xristou  The discussion of wheather it is  ’Faith in Christ’ or ‘Faith of Christ’. Both are techincaly correct, but the meaning is very differnt.  I’m in the faith OF Christ camp.  I do not think that is our faith in God, but God’s faith in us.

Which makes Galatians 2:16 read in this way. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,” …. Going on to say, “that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”  We mortals can’t do it on our own. We need a faithful God.

We find in  Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Friends, God keeps faith. So that we can continue to hope.

Psalm 146  shows us some of the ways that God keeps faith. God  who v 7,  executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; 8the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.9The Lord watches over the strangers or sojourners; he upholds the fatherless and the widow, A laundry list of Justice.

As Gary stated last week the nine words associated with justice are listed here in this psalm as ways in which God keeps faith. Ways in which God intervenes on behave of the beloved creation.

I’m going to list them again, and I want you to think about how God Intervenes on behave of creation in these ways.

executes justice for the oppressed; 

gives food to the hungry.

sets the prisoners free;

opens the eyes of the blind.  

lifts up those who are bowed down;

 loves the righteous.

9watches over the sojourners;

he upholds the fatherless

 and the widow,

Here you go! If you have been looking for a mission here’s you a list Straight out of scripture. Here are nine things that you know you can put your trust in. We as humans cannot do them all, as individuals we cannot do them completely. But God does all these, and more.

This psalm helps us to discover that apart from God we have no power, *But with God we can transform the world. *

So remember brothers and sisters, God keeps faith FOVERVER. You have a dependable deity. And as our psalm concludes: 10The Lord will reign forever, your God, (O Church), for all generations. Praise the Lord!   Amen!  Ascription at the end of the Service:My friends, this life is not a rehearsal. Every day and each week is precious.Here and now is blessed reality; each day can be claimedand know that God’s Faith goes with you! To the God that is far more capable than we are, All praise and Glory be given, this day and ever more!

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Finding Aaron

20. May 2010 by Rose Southwell.

Preached in Theater in The Text: Exodus. 11 The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”  13 But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.”  14 Then the LORD’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.”

The Story of the burning Bush is one of the most recognized in the bible.  The story of runaway Moses walking along minding his business and then being told by God out of an inflamed but not consumed bush to GO and Free the Hebrews from there enslavement in Egypt. Moses complains and worries and God sends Aaron and Moses to Pharaoh to do sighs, eventually bring Plagues and delivers the Hebrews from enslavement.   And our passage to day comes from Smack in the middle of all that, Moses’ fear and questions at the moments at the bush. Moses’ question of God about is Call Moses’ attempts to plead with God.  

Oh Moses, I do sympathies him. I think that his big scary calling at the bush is one that we might have thought about somewhere along out path. But Why…  Why is a calling so scary? Is calling scary because is it fear of the unknown? Post graduation, Summer internships, CPE?  Blind faith is a hard pill to swallow. Is it not feeling worthy? A “no man or words am  I” thing? Is it that other people might think you’re crazy? Did that guy really think that God talked to him out of a bush? Or is it the idea of failing,… what if I can’t get the people out? What if Pharaoh kills me? What if the people are so broken they can’t hear the words that God is trying to tell them? What if I am one of those ministers that drive people away from the church, What if I fail them… what if I fail God…and loses sight of what I’m doing?

 I think at some point we have all be able to relate to this burning bush moment with God and Moses. He’s terrified. And why wouldn’t he be? He is standing in a place that is holy ground being told to go and face the empire. The man who is thought to be a god here on earth? And say to that man, “Sorry dude, I know all of these people look up to you. But really my God is bigger, my God is badder, and my God is gona whoop up all over you, if you don’t let us go and worship our God.  And by the way, let me just stroll up into your house, and make a mockery of what you think is divine, with serpent and water turned to blood. And then demand that you let your economic foundation of people go with me. Would that be alright?” 

Maybe that’s not what our calling looks like, and maybe we have memorized the words of God the words of I will-be-there.. and who is it that puts a mouth in human beings? Is it not I the creator? … maybe we try and remember just to have faith and Know that God is with us. In a commentary I found the author harshly criticism Moses saying “Moses pitiful excuses disregards is own status as creature” he goes on to say that Moses is “not autonomous or abandoned in his difficult calling”  Although I agree that Moses is not Autonomous or abandoned, I do think pitiful is a little harsh.  

From day one this class has focused on two things, what is the way out? And these are the names? What are the names in this passage? … God, Moshe, and Aaron.  

 Have you ever noticed that Aaron gets kind of shafted in this exchange. The story dose not tell us that God appears to Aaron in a bush, that God Asks Aaron if he wouldn’t mind being a spokesmen, God doesn’t let Aaron wine and complain and ask for someone else to go. God just tells Aaron later in our story to go, meet his brother. Then Moses has the burden of dropping that bomb on him. BTW… I need you to run a few errands with me. Really? Not cool!

Maybe God was done listing to the complaining. But I think it’s interesting. What God says to Moses about Aaron, the timing of it all. Is there not Aaron your brother, the Levite. Is God making a point here? See Moses, I can make people who are good speakers, and example A: Aaron. OR Is God making a suggestion? Is there not your brother? I know can speak. Take him with you. I know a lot of translations make this statement a question or suggestion from God.

But Fox translates it as statement not a question. Dose that matter? What if Aaron was a part of the plan all along? Is that so hard to believe? I think that Aaron was part of the plan to begin with. I think that God Knew… God Knew that once out of Egypt, the people were going to need a priest, he was in the plan to be involved. The Levite, the Priest or the one who gives a word and makes sacrifices in the desert. God spoke to Aaron and told him to go meet Moses. Couldn’t that have been the plan all along; God obviously Knew that Aaron was going to come out to meet Moses. God says at the bush, “and here, he is even coming out to meet you; when he sees you, he will rejoice in his heart.”

Why is it that we sometimes feel that Aaron was a second thought?   And doesn’t Aaron have a key role? Mouthpiece….I think that although at first Aaron is asked to be a mouthpiece, I don’t know that that’s all that Aaron is asked to do. But I truly feel that Aaron had another job, I think Aaron’s job was show Moses.

Show Moses how to speak. We are told that one of the best ways to become a better preacher is to watch other preachers. Could it be that Moses could be doing that as well? Watching Aaron, learning from Aaron. Maybe Moses just needs to see what public speaking looks like?

 And I bet it goes both ways, I bet Aaron need to learn from Moshe how to be a leader, how to perform the signs that God show Moses. SO that Aaron can later become the priest, the chef priest in the desert. Not but two chapters after this when our story is in Egypt; Moshe is speaking to the people and not doing signs, and Aaron is doing signs but not speaking to the people. ..Fascinating…Don’t get me wrong, It’s not they aren’t doing their assigned jobs. I think they each have specific roles in freeing the Hebrews I think they are called to teach each other, Much like how we have friends in the ministry that teach and who we teach. Moshe and Aaron are doing that as well but, still do what God has asked them to do.

Gods response to Moses demand “ God! Please send someone else” is “ is there not Aaron your brother” ……God doesn’t let Moses off the hook, and Aaron is not let off the hook either. But isn’t it interesting that God’s response to Please God send someone else. The response is I’m not sending you alone.  

Maybe that was the fear that drove all of Moses questions. God was speaking to the fear that was real and just under the surface. Don’t make me do this on my own. I can’t do this…I…don’t have the words… they won’t believe ME… singular language cloaks this passage… and God responds with NOT JUST YOU.

 A friend of mine told me once “the calling is Great… but the Great thing is that you’re not the only one called” I think that maybe that’s what we should do with this passage.       

Step out of out singular language; make it not about me and God. Or what God wants from me, instead what God wants for the people..Maybe it’s not about you… Maybe it’s not about Moses…God uses Moses to do great things, but Moses had to get out of his own head. He needed to see what someone else was doing this too. Moses is not the only one called in this story. God has his hands all over what’s happing.

The call is not about Moses, it’s not about whether he can speak, it’s not about performing signs, it’s not about WHO is being called. It’s about WHO needs to be saved. It’s NOT about who is safe and need to go back in, It is about who has not been safe all along.

SO God sends Aaron to Moses. So that Moses can learn to speak, to learn to lead, to learn to work together with someone to  Free the people from bondage…..

May you find someone to tech you, may you find someone along your path that is called to this work as well. May you find an Aaron, to speak for you when you are to afraid. May you be a blessing to them and show them something new about God. May they keep you from being blinded by your own fear, so that you can help others find the freedom that God desires for Gods people. Amen.

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Awake, Buring, Love

6. May 2010 by Rose Southwell.

Luke 12” 32-40Fear not, little flock, for it is you Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourself with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your heart is, there your treasure will be also. Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for there master to come home from the wedding feast. So that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, if the master of the house had know at what hour the thief would come, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

The word of the lord.

Holy God, we thank you for your word and we ask that you send your sprit to be with my mouth and the meditations of our hearts as you seek to lead us closer to your kingdom. Amen

Stay Awake, Keep your Lamps Burning, Love Gods Treasure

I’d like to take a  dyslexic digraphic,  Look at our passage today. I want to go backwards. Or upside down. Vv 39-40 But know this, if the master of the house had know at what hour the thief would come, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

 Quick everyone look busy Jesus is coming! ….  why is it that we chuckle when people say this? Is it that we don’t really know, or think that Jesus will return? Is it that we think that “looking busy” is mentality of most people? …well is that our mentality? When I hear the words of our passage  they hit me hard, I wonder how often we think about Christ return. Do we believe that Christ will return? 

We are an apocalyptic people, an escetoligicoal people, people of the resurrection, as believers’ in the word and the word made flesh we hold on the understanding that there is something greater than us and something that we are anxiously are awaiting. The return of the kingdom the return of the Messiah. The time in which we will have an age of peace and a new heaven and new earth. But we don’t know. The Son of Man is coming at an hour we do not expect.

What an exciting challenge …

Do you think we are ready?*

Recently I heard a story of the Latino Pentecostals urgency and expectation of Christ return… the scenario in my class was set up like this. I call up my friend who is a Latino Pentecostal who we will call anna, and I say. “ hey why don’t you go to the braves game with me, I have an extra ticket and I haven’t see you lately” and Anna  pauses and says “ I need to pray and think about it, and I’ll call you back.” Then Anna would go an think to herself… “what if, Christ came back today? If I went to the braves game how am I bettering the kingdom? Do I want to be at the braves game, if Jesus returns today?” Then after praying Anna would most likely call me back and say “I am so grateful that you invited me but I think that I am going to go to the shelter and feed the poor today”

When this scenario was given the room erupted in questions. What about the people at the Braves game? What if they needed to hear the message of God? Could that not be an evangelism tool? I was right on board with this question? I like that kind of evangelism. I like to go to the games, or go to the bar, and wait for that inevitable question “ so what do you do?…” and sometimes I get blown off, but sometimes I have some really enriching conversations. What if the people at the Braves game need us? The question in response by the professor was “ok, but then who will feed the hungry? Espshally if we all go to the braves game?”…Anna’s thought process is an interesting one, and truly forgiven to some of us. And I think the important part, which ever you chose.. the hungry or braves Game…,that it is a prayerful choice.

If Jesus comes back today… what am I doing? What have I done today, to better the kingdom? Am I ready to stand before God?

 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.  IS it today???? If he comes in the second watch or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!

Awake. You know, when I think about how many years removed, how many centuries removed we are from the resurrection, I can help but wonder if we are in the second watch, or the third. Is our church tired of waiting? When?!? –When is the bride going to see the bridegroom?? When is the master coming home from the wedding feast?!? Is our church tired? Have we gone to sleep? Are we.

Snoozing, catching some zzz’s, crashed, dormant, dozing, dreaming, flaked out, hibernating, in repose, inactive, inert, lifeless, napping, out of it, resting,  slumbering, snoozing, snoring, … stiff… unanimated… wasted….

Have we gone to sleep??? Even if it is the second or the third watch, can we keep ourselves awake? Can we be :

alive, attentive, aware cognizant, dynamic, excited, enliven, functioning. heedful, knowing, observant, stimulating, roused,revive, stir, vigilant… and watchful? —–

–be like men who are waiting for there master to come home from the wedding feast. So that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes.

I think that we can keep awake. I know that we can. Its not easy to stay awake. but I know that this group of people, opens the door when the master knocks.  You’ve done it, you did it, you’re still doing it. When the Christ brings his bride home from their wedding feast. I know that we are a group of pastors, ministers, teachers, and friends that will welcome them home. To the house that God built, with the simple words of “let there be…”

Stay awake.

But our passage says Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,

…Dressed for action! Weather that is the armor of god in Ephesians or clothed in love in out of Colossians. Whatever you need to where for your ministry put it on! And keep your lamps burning, friends, I have never seen a group of people like this school has. It’s wonderful. I have never met a group of people who gave me hope for the church. Until I came here. We may not all get along; we may see some things in others that remind us, too much of who we really are. We may have spats, and theological differences.   But I have seen… I have seen the sprit inside every person; I have met on this campus. And I can name at least one moment where you all were lit. Lit with the sprit, lit with love, lit with passions, lit with laughter, lit with tears for the pains of this world. … Stay dressed, keep going, keep your lamps burning. because you have proven that you can do it. Because the sprit is moving us.

Stay awake, keep your lamps burning

Contueing upward in our passage. We find For where your heart is, there your treasure will be also. Treasure is a funny thing, it looks different to each of us. I like jewelry, I like diamonds. What if we saw treasure the way God sees treasure. The way Christ sees treasure. What if our treasure, our gift entrusted to us is our brothers and sisters... That’s a big challenge…

 For you to see every person, in this room, in this building, in this city, every person in this state, every person in this country,  every person in the Americas, every person in this hemisphere, every person in this world…

…as a gem…

That is the treasure that God sees that is the treasure that God gave us. You could no longer ignore the diamond hiding in the rough, because just under that rough sooty little rock, is a diamond hiding in the center, inside that rock that got overlooked is the most precious gem of them all.

Then it will be easy to Sell your possessions, and give to the needy.  And replace it with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.Because you will have your treasureYou will have your teaser with you and then you can dispense out of the moneybags filled with the treasures of heaven, the gifs of grace, the clothing of love, the shoulder to cry on, and injustice to trample, the word of hope and the gift of relationship with a good God.

Love God’s treseure.

So Fear not, little flock, for it is you Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

And to share it…. There will be room at the table for you and treasure at the table, when the master returns.SO Please my friends, where ever this path leads you… to feed the hungry(William), to teach students(matt), to fight injustices(Arlo), to smile at the broken (Jason), to make the music(teK), to love deeply (Claudia), to listen closely (cj), lead strongly (Joshua) to write poetically (Kristen),  to speak pastsionaly (Sheldon), to drum fervently(trip), or preach fearfully. …even if that path change’s… know that the sprit is moving you.

SOOOO I challenge you my teasers

Stay awake, with your lamps burning and love Gods teaser

then fear not.  AMEN!

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Sermon: A Real Friendship God

18. April 2010 by Rose Southwell.

This was my second sermon preached in the begianing preaching class on Psalm 25 on march 25, 2010.

A Real friendship God.          Wow, that psalm has a lot doesn’t it? Man, I mean can you even remember any parts of what I just read? That Psalm 25 is filled with so much. I Guess I should start out by explaining a little about this Psalm. Its one of 9 acrostic psalms in the book and is given credit to David as the another, although that is debated… To me this Psalm covers almost all that one would need it to, the psalm that has it all, well. I must say I’m a little bias. I love this psalm. This is actually my favorite psalm. When I was trying to decide that I was going to preach on I thought… Rose Don’t preach on your favorite psalm… that’s a treacherous game. But if just kept coming back and coming back to it… so here we are Psalm 25. Here is the Clift notes version of this psalm. God you are the only one for me. Show me the paths of your ways. Remember me! Oh God remember me! I’m bad at this.. God… I sin and have tones of gilt… God is good with those who fear him. Ya! See these folks that don’t like me… Go get them. Help me to have your integrity and uprightness preserve me. And oh by the way redeem Israel. That’s basically it… But there is SO much in this psalm, its rich with metaphor and imagery, I couldn’t possibly talk to you about all of it. So I am going to focus on the one thing that I think is most important, at least at this time, about this psalm. Relationship. This Psalm is written as if the palmist assumes their favor. Lack of dought. Without fail, throughout this psalm the writer has no dought of God’ s presence.  The psalmist knows the character of God and list’s the qualities of God as; Mercy, steadfast love, integrity, goodness, upright, faithfulness, and friendship. Friendship? Can God be our friend? Exactly what do they mean by friendship? Verse 14 reads. The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him ,and he makes known to them his covenant. Well, that’s a bold statement. There is a lot wrapped up in that little verse. We have friendship, we have fear of the lord and we have covenant. Relationship, respect, and recognition.A friendship God. What do you think about that? Is that a pleasant thought? Is that an irreverent thought? Is that comfortable thought? Is that an uncomfortable thought? (silence) When I first came to the point where god was my friend, that was a liberating shift for me, life-giving, faithful, wonderful gift…. But I’m told this is not a new concept. I am a friend of God contemporary song that’s popular right now? … But I wonder if we really, I mean REALLY think of God as our friend, our best friend? … or is that just cute to say? ……oh yea! God and I , we’re buddies. . .Really?  In this psalm we have to come face to face with The Friendship God…. Now you may be thinking. The friendship God, rose? What are you talking about? What dose that even look like?  But I think that is exactly what is wrong. I think that why we have such a hard time! We don’t know what a friendship God looks like. We have a hard time breaking free of the parent images we have of the Lord.  Trust me, I struggle with it too. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. We know those.  Creator, Redeemer, sustainer. We know those. We have those images. But why not give friend a REAL test drive with me?? 
Friends seems to be all that I have been able to talk about lately. I started asking people out of curiosity, to tell me about their best friends. Sometimes I would ask for word definitions, sometimes I would ask for stories, asked people to describe WHY they were friends with, whoever it was, that is their closest friend. I want you to listen to these statements that people both on and off this campus have told me about their friends. But I want you to think about these fraises, not about their friend, but about their relationship with God.  Giving. Loyal. Unconditional Acceptance. Fearless, patient- I cannot believe that he put up with all my shit. She notices me. Confidential… Affectionate.. She balances out my qualities, good and bad she balances me. trustworthy.. Dependable.. Deeply Loving… She knows my pain …kindness, fun-loving. Real.. Honest.. Relentless, weather its relentlessly loving me or relentlessly telling me I’m wrong… I respect him…we have no trouble overlooking personality differences. There was always some kind of real connection that was there, even when we were young.  He will stick with you not matter what …They are always there for you when you need someone. A Good listener. “why? Because she’s  awesome!” non-judgmental. She knows my soul. We have known each other for a long time, our relationship changes and yet, stays the same. Really?!? These are beautiful and specific relationships… I saw a change in people. When we would talk about their best friend. They would first give me there usual discussion, they are a lawyer, we have know each other for 35 years… and I would say yes. But Why? What qualities do they posses that would make you want to be friends with them? And their whole demeanor would change… you could see that this relationship deeply affected them. It was beautiful. I cant help but wonder, if someone was to ask me, why I chose God to be your friend? … what qualities dose God Posses, that would make you want to be friends with him? … would my demeanor change? What qualities would I list? I feel like I should tell you the story of when God really became one of my close friends and no longer as I saw him before. … I was in a very dark time, faith left in God to fix it. These were my card I had been dealt, I had to solder on. I hated it. I was so angry, and mad, and sad, and lonely… I just need someone to listen to me complain and bitch and scream and yell , and just get it all out. I needed SOME ONE, anyone. I called my best friend, no answer, I called my, mom, no answer. My brother, my other friends from college, my classmates, my dad. NO ANCWER! I begin to call my dad every 10 mins on the dot for two hours. And finally at about 3AM I gave in. I had to call the ONE person who I did not want to talk to. GOD. I called and God picked up.  And I went off. I complained and bitched and screamed and yelled , and just get it all out. And then God let me curl up and cry on his shoulder. And just held me. ……I didn’t need an answer… I didn’t need a father.. I needed a friend. I needed God!!!  I needed god to be my friend… and he was. The friendship of the Lord, the secret council of the Lord… Its private, Its personal. It’s a deep deep friendship. It’s a friendship that comes from respect, it’s a friendship that comes from Obeisance. It’s a friendship that is two ways. The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him ,and he makes known to them his covenant.Fear of the Lord is not that shaking in your boots about to cry scared out of your mind peeing your paints ‘fear not’ thing?!? Its deeper than that. Its Loving, is respecting, Its obeying. One description of ‘fear of the lord’ is that it is both an experience of awe and the iristibul attraction to the graciousness of God… reverence and obedience. Friendship is two ways, people are your friends because you listen, you care for them, you respect them. God is AWSOME. AWSOME not like how we use the word today… How was your burger? Awesome… what! NO!! it’s that burger was awesome you would… you wouldn’t be able to eat it! But God is AWSOME. And you Fear and are Friends with God because GOD is Awesome. We are all here for a reason. We are in seminary because we had a moment. Or a “thing” were we KNEW God’s greatness. We are Obedient, and we are friends with God, we fulfill our half of the friendship so that we can have those experiences. Friends….This is a God who wants to make a covenant with us. A two way relationship. The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him ,and he makes known to them his covenant.WOW. That is Awesome. That is a God of relationship. That is a God to get passionate about. I mean right?!? God can be those other things.  A parent. A redeemer. A sustainer. A BIG God. But a friendship God….that’s a god that. (hands to heart) is here. That’s a God that Knows you. Through the Good the bad and the ugly. And still picks up the phone when you call. …… Let God Be your friend……..Amen

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Sermon: Wearing our Sunday Best

18. April 2010 by Rose Southwell.

Preached at Trinity Preasby Church, McKinney on Dec 27, 2009.

Colossians 3:12-17 and Psalm 148

  

Wearing Our Sunday Best

Colossians 3:12-17 and Psalm 148

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Well, here we are. I have one year of seminary done, and you have changed. Look at this Great Hall! Nicely Done. When we first started at this church it was one hallway and  the sanctuary and it has been a pleaser to watch this church blossom. And now we have one Christmas Season under our belts. I want everyone to just take a moment and breathe. Ahhhh we made it through the holiday madness. Congratulations! Some of you travelled (I know I did), some had the in-laws over, some went to others houses, there was the Christmas parties, then there was the kids Christmas, and the wrapping and hiding gifts, and then there was the cooking, and the singing, and the worship services and the servis projects and the giving, then the clean up. All for what?  A gift? God’s gift. On Friday we celebrated the greatest gift the world was ever given, God incarnate arriving on the earth. That’s pretty cool. What a great gift “aww thanks God, … “

            Today I want to talk a little about Christmas Gifts. You know, the tangible ones that were under the tree on Friday.  Christmas gifts come in all shapes and sizes. Some are awesome, some not so awesome. Some gifts we treasure for a long long time (jewelry or that perfect tool ), some are things that we will use every day ( a new phone, or laptop, or if you’re my friends the Xbox), some our gifts that we only will ever pull out and dust off when a certain someone is coming over for a visit (Ugh that lamp, or that statue). Some things will be used only once (maybe a toy, or a gift card). Yet all of these things are gifts, something that someone else was willing to take the time to give us, simply because they like us.

            What is it about the gift that makes us decide whether or not we like it? Is it our expectation of how the gift should work? Is the gift useable? Is the gift making us feel beautiful or empowered? Or better yet do we even know HOW to use the gift that was given to us, what if the gift didn’t have a users manual?

            I would like to tell you a little story about Xmas last year. My dad had seen this really cool little helicopter. Man he thought it was so awesome. And SO my mom and I got it for him. What a better way than to make this little boy at harts Xmas than a toy plane? When he opened it up his face just lit up, like he was five. The rest of the gifts didn’t matter, he was ready to put it together and get to flying. The second the giving was over he had the batteries in that thing and was about to set off on his fist flight mission with this new helicopter. So he called us all around and placed in on the launching pad, and Zoooom, Smack! Right into the wall. The helicopter hit the wall and came spiraling down to the floor. Not but 15 seconds into its first flight it was broken, never to go Zoooming through the air again. Despite the tragic irony of this situation, daddy not seeing the humor in it as much as we did, he promptly picked up the helicopter judged the damage and said. “Well that’s stupid! Why was it designed in this way?!?” the automatic response was to blame the design and the fact that the user manual didn’t actually explain the flight patterns very well. This gift that he was so excited about didn’t behave the way he thought it should, the expectations were all wrong.

            So what do we expect out of our gifts?

            Do we have some grand idea of how our gift should work, and don’t really take the time to try and understand the fight patterns?

            What if we don’t understand the instruction manual? That thing is confusing and dosent give me clean cut answers to my question!

            The Apostle Paul tell us in our passage today :12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.  16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom God gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.            Ok Rose, I hear you. God gave up a pretty good explanation of how to use our gift here. ‘Clothe Yourselves in Love’, I hear it, I see it, but honestly what does that mean?! Is Jesus the love we should clothe ourselves with? Is it God’s love that we should clothe ourselves with? What dose clothing yourself with love look like? Do you get dressed in the morning and say. I have pants, and have on a shirt, and now I need to put on my love and start my day?             I am not here to tell you what it looks like? Because nobody wears the same clothes as another person? But I am here to help you ask the questions.  How do you put on tenderhearted mercy? How do you wear kindness? How do you bind yourself in humility, gentleness and patience? And above all, how do you clothe yourself with love? Love which binds us all together in perfect harmony?

            Earlier in chapter three of Colossians we are told to take off the old, get rid of those old dirty, tattered clothes and put on these new ones. Take off the stuff you were wearing before. The anger, the pride, the lack of reverence, and replace it.  In verses 9-10 it says “…for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed…”  Renewed… God gave us a gift card on Christmas for a new set of clothes; the olds weren’t looking to good, so we now go the store and get ourselves new clothes. Off with the old on with the new.  In a commentary about this passage by Eric Jones entitled “Please, Clothe Yourself!” he simplify these passages in this way “So the progression is (1) take off the old rags of the world and then (2) put on the new garments of the Kingdom. To simplify it: take off - put on. To really simplify it: off /on.” The oversimplification here by Mr. Jones is humorous but effective.  The important fist step in this passage is the taking off the old part. One cannot just put on new clothes over the old, the dirt will get on the new ones and might make them smell.

            So what I really want us to look at today is how are we going to clothe ourselves with love? What is it about this gift that we have been given? How will we treat this gift? Will we treasure this gift for a long long time? Like the Jewelry or like a perfect tool the tool that can fix anything? Will we use this gift of Love every day? Like a phone, to communicate and build relationships with those around us? Will we use this gift only once? Like the toy who manual we don’t know how to use or the gift card that redeem but never take the tags off our new garments, because old ones fit better and are more comfortable. Or is this the gift that we will only pull out and dust off when a certain someone comes into town?

            How are we going to use the ultimate charismas gift? Can we decide to take off those ratty, dirty clothes? And accept that because we are God’s chose people we should clothe ourselves in mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and most of all LOVE.  Can we begin to wear our Sunday best, everyday? Always wearing our love?

God so LOVED the world that he gave you his only son… now what are you gona do with that Gift?  

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Sermon: Silence

23. March 2010 by Rose Southwell.

This Sermon was preached for class in Feb 2010. it was my first sermon for Sermanery. it was on the passages Mark 15:1-5  

Silence

Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

Silence…. What a strange answer to hard questions. What an off thing for Jesus to do in the face of the hand who will deliver him to the cross. Why? Why is Jesus doing this? Silence? …

Right before this passage we have Jesus praying in the garden of Gasimony asking God to change his fate, most likly having a break down that none of us could even began to imagine. Then after the kiss of a man who had been his friend his fate was sealed…. Or was it? In those wee hours of the day they testified against him. Our text says that the bore false witness. And that there arguments disagreed. Jesus admits to being the “son of man” … Sorry guys the Marken secret is out! And that was all the preset need to go take him to death. They bring him before Pilate, it was said to be morning then, they probably woke him. Beating down his door to hear their case and make their claims. the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole Council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. Pilate, probably not having his coffee finished yet and knowing that today was gona be one of those days. One of those days when …(sigh) And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Man! That’s if there is anything that I have learned in pastoral care, passive aggression in a stressful time is a great idea! I mean really, is Jesus trying to egg them on at this point? What is he doing? Doesn’t he realize that these men are gona kill him! 3And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? (he’s ordering Jesus to answer him) See how many charges they bring against you.” 5But Jesus made no further answer, WHAT?!?!

            Why? Is he pleading the fifth? Are the accusations so ridiculous that he they don’t even deserve an answer? Has he accepted his fate? Is he fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy? And where is the Holy Spirit??! Not but two chapters before this Jesus was telling the disciples that when they are on trial don’t worried about what to say the Sprit will give them the words in that moment!! So… where are the words? Is Jesus really going to go to the cross saying nothing but a sarcastic comment to Pilate? WHY?!?

            I thought, maybe he’s trying to make a point ya know? Like Silence can be a powerful persuasive tool.  Maybe he’s using silence to create a bond? (Hear me out.) there is something he wants Pilate to know, but he’s not saying it. What’s the bond there? (…) or maybe its disappointment. I know that for me the best way for you to show me your disappointed is to say nothing at all. Mamma was good at that one… you just walk in and (—) man… that one hurts.

            So instead of why? Maybe What is the right question for today. What is Jesus doing with Pilate in this moment? Who is playing who’s game? Dose Pilate have control over this situation? Dose the council of accusations? Dose Jesus? Dose God? Maybe that’s the point… Pilate is trying so hard to take control. Pilate needs the Authority in this situation. This is about power, who has the power? Jesus at this point knows his fate. Jesus knows where he will be sitting at the end of day. Jesus knows that God’s plain has been laid out for this moment for a long time. Jesus doesn’t have to answer Pilate! Jesus have more important people to answer to. There is no need to argue with these fools. Jesus is ultimately responcabul to God. That who has the authority, that’s who at the end of the day Jesus is accountable to. Jesus knows, what’s up.  Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5But Jesus made no further answer,…… so that Pilate was amazed. Pilate marveled, Pilate knew. At that moment Pilate changes in the story. He sees Jesus and knows that something is different about him. His efforts to save him are for not and the people set free a murder. And well you know how the rest of that goes.

            Power, the passage that we are looking at today is about Power, Authority. Whose voice has authority? What about this roaring crowd? This mob of noise, what authority do they have. What about in our own life’s? Who has authority? Is it God? Is it us? Is it mob? Someone else?

            Jesus knew the plan, or at least kind of knew. We are here for one reason or another because of a plan… that plan, calling, has been reviled to us in one way or another. Maybe it was a growing feeling, maybe it was a strange serious of events, either way at some point we knew. We knew that this is what God wants from us. We had a taste of the plan. But now there’s a mob. The mob of this world, what they saying to you? What claims to authority are they trying to make on your life? Buy this car, look this way, vote this way, love this way, act this way. There’s so much noise they sound like a mob. What about closer to home? What about our church? How much Authority do you give the church? Its run by humans? What claims is the churching about you? Dose the church get more authority than God? You CPM? Do they have authority? Dose the church have the Authority saying that you can’t be ordained? Is the church your mob? Is your mob inside your own head?… what falsetaisy are being said? You can’t do this. You can’t speak for God.  You really think anyone wants to hear that sermon? You’re not good enough? Who’s looking ugly today? Is that kid gona grow up to be like you? What are you doing?

            Do we give those voices, those mobs, the authority? … Why? We know better than that. God… God has authority. We don’t have to respond to those voices. We don’t have to give them the authority. We know who at the end of the day that we have to report to. We know that God is working toward a plain in our life’s.

SO how do we do it? I think it’s time that we give some of these voices the Silent treatment. Maybe the voice you need to silence tells you your not good enough? Maybe the voice you need to silence is the telling you to be silent. Maybe it’s a professor in your head? Maybe is your political party? Don’t give those … fools God’s authority. There is no Point to auguring with fools. Give Caesar what is Caesar’s and God what is Gods…. And when they say to you. These voices say to you “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.”  Make no further answer… so that World can marlvale at the god in you.

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New Beginings

5. July 2009 by Rose Southwell.

New Beginnings

Rose Southwell

Christmas season is the beginning and end of many things. It is the new beginning of the Christ Childs life, the time to celebrate love laughter and giving with those we love. It is a time for a new adventures, and a time for a change in season. This time of year is a time to pack your bags and go seek out new things.Some of you may remember me from my fiery red curls playing on the playground. Let me take a moment to catch you up on me and why I stand before you today. I was raised in this church from fourth grade on. In 2003 Micah, myself and these two amazing soloist and I graduated from McKinney High School. At that time we all split ways and took off on a whole new path. I eventually ended up at the University of The Ozarks a Presbyterian school in Arkansas. I worked as an intern at Mo Ranch, a camp in South Texas. It is there that I recived my call into ministry. I begin at Columbia Theological Semanary in February and will be seeking ordination. To Gain some experience Patrick suggested that I preach one Sunday. So here I am.  I chose the scripture of the kings for this reason. I soon like the wise men will take off on a long journey to seek an better opportunity to understand and worship our Lord. This is why this story seamed right for me, to examine with you today. *Our scripture verse reviles Three magi’s, Three gifts, and one long journey.  *            Let’s take a look at this Journey that our three wise men took in an abrighged version. First there was a star, a star that shown show so bright and lead them to the place where Jesus was. Then they followed the star and looked for Jesus in a kings house. He wasn’t there, but the idea of another king, got Harod angry. The wise men found the place where Jesus was and went to him with gifts. Saw an angle in their dreams and went home a different way.  Simple enough right? This is the entire story that Mathew gives us. Short and sweet.But I would like to look at a different part of the story or as Paul Harvey would say, look at the rest of the story. How would our three gentlemen ( Kings, Magi’s, or wise men) tell their story? For the perpous of story telling and to protect the innocent, we will call our three gentlemen Steve, Stan, and Stew.  I think there story might go something like this.             Steve and Stew are sitting resting at home one night when their enthusiastic friend Stan comes by all excited about his new discovery. Openly mocking his friends that he has see something they haven’t, the trio takes off to the spot where they have set up there observatory. After Stan is done gloating the three look out and observe this magnificent star, after some time the look in their writings for the meaning of this new star. The Begin searching scriptures as well and Astrological understandings of this particular star’s placement and time in the sky they realize that a great king is to be born. As kings themselves they feel that they must go, and fallow this star and meet this great king.  a new Powerful king is not something to overlook. They made up their minds, they MUST go and greet him. This would be important journey for them, it could take years, it could be deadly, and they would have to be away for a long time. These are all things their wife’s were going to bring up… How easy do you think that conversation was? “Ummm… Hunny….”   “And where have you been? “  “Well, you see. Stan, Stew and I were out looking at the stars last night”   “Oh really? Up to that again? You know how I feel about those guys!” “But Hunny there is something I need to talk to you about” “ Ya know, When are you three going to grow up and learn to focus on what’s here on earth not going on in the skies? YOU have a kingdom to run.”  “I know, but we found something, a star that shows the birth of a new king, we have decided to go and offer him gifts and welcome him into the world.”  “You’re WHAT?!?” You can imagine how the rest of that conversation went. SO I’m sure after a battle at home, and a huge leap of faith, Steve, Stan, and Stew set off on their journey.  I admire there ability to put it all behind them and follow what their hearts tell them to do. Take this in for just a moment. They traveled thousands and thousands of miles away from their homes, kingdoms, wife’s, and normal comfortable life’s, on the back of a camel to follow their Faith.  These wise men set out on a new beginning, and traveled all that way to deliver gifts to Our Lord. Talk about walking by faith not by sight. What amazing men to have done this. Men who are thought by some scholars to not even be people of Jewish faith. Then after all they had seen and done, an angle appeared to them and told them to go home a different way. Wow, and even longer trip home, where they will be able to share the good news of Christ birth.  These men who weren’t even members of the faith community understood the significant of Christ birth so well that they traveled and gave gifts to him, not even knowing who he really was. Christmas is a time that we give gifts to one another, we share laughter and Joy. Some get their fist Barbie; some get the video game they have always wanted. Mom, got those diamond earrings, and dad got a new set of golf clubs. But what did you give Jesus this year for Christmas? How much did you leave behind on a blind leap of faith just to worship our lord? I know that a pilgrimage is not possible for everyone to take, I understand that What the wise men did could be considered a merical all on its own. But this time of year has an amazing opportunity. To practice what the wise men did, and give the first gift to Christ. This Opportunity lies within New Years Day. This time of year allows us to look at our faith, and look for new beginnings in front of us, and cease it. We have a Christmas tradition that I think is fitting for this and something that I would like you to consider for your family. Ever year in honor of the gifts that the wise men brought we give gifts to Jesus. We have small boxes, and every member of the family takes there time to write down what our faith gift, or New Years Resolution for our Faith is that year. We write it down and place it in the box and leave our boxes at our manger scene.  Now it may be too late for all of that visual representation of giving a gift. If your better about packing up the Christmas decorations than we are. But it is not too late for new years. This year when the ball drops, you may have more than one thing you would like to change. Some want to lose weight, some want to quit smoking, Some want to try something New. The Joy of the New year is that it is a Fresh Start. This is the season. There is a season for everything, but why not make this the season of change, of hope, of leaps of faith, And most of all new beginnings.  This year for New Year’s Eve, take a moment to think of something that you want to do differently as a Gift to Christ. DO you want to attend church more? DO you want to volunteer at a homeless shelter? DO you want to read your bible every day? As we know, Jesus accepts gifts big and small. Our savor forgives us, loves us, and guides us every day, no matter what. SO this year give something back. Take the time think about it, and make this new beginning not only an amazing opportunity to change for the better, but a new beginning of giving.

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