(Mark 6:6‑13
NRSV) Then he went about among the
villages teaching. {7} He called the twelve and began to send them out two by
two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. {8} He ordered them to
take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in
their belts; {9} but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. {10} He said
to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the
place. {11} If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as
you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against
them." {12} So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. {13}
They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured
them.
For
the past two weeks I have tried to emphasize to you that Christianity is a
journey!
That
we travel the road of life moving from one experience to another.
One defining moment to another.
One Holy moment to another.
Each
encounter --- each experience --- each defining moment catapults us to the
next!
Christianity
is a lifelong (eternity long) journey with Jesus Christ. And the point of the journey is THE JOURNEY!
This
journey that we are on is a never ending journey --> one that is always
changing and growing as we sometimes inch our way along.
The
point of Christianity is the continual journey that takes place along the road
of life.
And every moment of life is one of
learning.
Don't
forget what Dr. John Sylhavey said:
"I realize that I don't know
anything compared with what I really need to know. My job and your job.
tomorrow and every tomorrow is to begin to learn what it is that I really need
to know in life."
I
have shared with you five “rules of the road” already and today I want to share
three more.
When
I was a junior in High School, my father got a crazy idea.
He
thought that a trip of just the Conger men was in order.
So
he convinced my two brothers and me that it would be a wonderful experience if
we went canoeing in Quetico Provincial Park in Canada.
Somehow
he managed to talk us into going, so we began the process of getting in shape.
The
hard part about canoeing is not paddling the canoe (although that is not the
easiest task to do for four or five hours every day!)
The
worst part is when you come to the end of one lake and you have to carry all
your "Stuff' to the next lake.
One
of the things that makes Quetico so wonderful is that there are no motor boats
allowed in the Provincial Park.
There are no stores, there are no
bathrooms, there really aren't any campsites - it is primitive, especially once
you get farther into the Park and away from Boundary Waters in Minnesota.
So
everything that you are going to need for your week long jaunt into nature,
must be brought in by you and out by you!
As
we started planning for the trip, my father decided that it would be a good
idea if we began practicing carrying the canoe on our shoulders along with our
backpacks.
So
for a couple of months, we practiced carrying those packs around our
neighborhood. I am sure the neighbors all thought that we were lunatics. We
worked hard so that we would be in good shape -- BUT
The
truth is nothing can prepare you for that first portage. We thought that we had
done a good job in limiting what we were taking. After that first day, however,
I was convinced that half of what we brought was worthless. For the rest of the
trip I dreaded ever portage we had to make --- especially Prairie portage which
was basically one mile!
From
that trip I learned a basic lesson of life (I only wished I followed it better)
and that is: When traveling long distances or for a long period of time --- it
is best to pack light.
This
simple lesson is also true for our Christian journey. Too many of us try to
make headway in our Christian lives while still carting around a whole lot of baggage.
We
over pack, refusing to throw away useless weight, and we find ourselves worn
out and beaten down by our Christian journey.
Unfortunately,
when that happens a lot of people just give up, forgetting that Jesus invites
and encourages us to give up some of that weight.
As
Christians we are called to pack light. Yet, still, time and time again I hear
it. Most of us are so very good at storing away our old hurt, our past sins, so
those things become like a mill stone around our necks weighing us down. There
is the person who says: “Christianity just isn't working for me. I'm just not
loveable.”
Then
there is the person who is consumed by their job, they wake up one day to find
that their children have grown, their spouse has run off with somebody else.
They are overwhelmed with the weight of guilt and shame - burdened by the “woulda,
coulda shoulda’s” of life . . . what
could I have done differently.
To
this Jesus speaks when he says:
(Mat 11:28-30) "Come to me, all
you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For
my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
The
point of our Christian journey is the Journey --- and if we are going to
survive the journey we must learn to pack light!!
Jesus
calls to us --- NO, Jesus pleads with us to drop our burdens at his feet. There
is no need for us to journey with the extra weight, the garbage we walk through
life with - Jesus will take it — and he
promises that he will give us rest!
In
other words --- We must learn to forgive ourselves!
God
has forgiven us long before we forgive ourselves.
Why are we so insistent on clinging to
those old sins?
As
we journey, why are we so insistent on traveling with weight that is
unbearable, unnecessary, and foolish?
Why
do we find it so hard to travel light? To lay our burdens at the feet of Jesus ---
to exchange our yoke of sin and sorrow, which is so heavy, with the light yoke
of Jesus?
If
God is willing to wipe the slate clean and give us a fresh start, we too, must
be willing to accept ourselves, learn to live with the past --- learn from its
scars --- and move into the future with strength and determination.
Face
it, most of the weight that you and I carry on life’s journey is unnecessary
--- and Jesus says to us: "give it up, forgive yourself even as I have
forgiven you."
Pack
light -- Jesus wants not only our stresses and problems in life --- Jesus wants
our old shames, guilts and hurts as well.
Jesus
understands this rule of the road --- if we try to carry everything with us, we
will not get very far.
Another
rule of the road is: WHEN LOST ON UNKNOWN ROADS, IT'S NICE TO HAVE FRIENDS
ALONG!
Face
it we need each other. As much as I
don't like to admit it, I have found myself lost at times. I hate being lost ---
And I bet most of you can identify with that feeling.
There
are moments on our Christian journey that we feel utterly lost!
We
have no clue as to where we are, where we are going, or how we are going to get
there!
Listen
to what Paul has to tell us from his letter to the Romans:
(Romans 12:9‑21 NIV) Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil;
cling to what is good. {10} Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor
one another above yourselves. {11} Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your
spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. {12} Be joyful in hope, patient in
affliction, faithful in prayer. {13} Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality. {14} Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not
curse. {15} Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. {16}
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate
with people of low position. Do not be conceited. {17} Do not repay anyone evil
for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. {18} If it
is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. {19} Do
not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is
written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. {20} On
the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give
him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
{21} Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
It's
here.
It's
in this place --- in the Body of Christ --- the church --- that we can in our
times of loss, in our times of doubt, even in our times of joy --- find
friends!!!
People
who will help us find our way — people who will be supportive --- people who
will hold out lights in the darkness — people who will help us keep perspective
on our current journey.
Remember,
us who sit here this morning --- we have got to always remember: We are the
Church (I am not the church) and it is to the Church that hurting people come
in their time of lostness and need.
In
my book there is only truly one kind of hypocrisy that the church must really
be concerned about.
And
that hypocrisy is not that we are Christians and yet still sinners --- because
that is the reality of why we are here, if we were perfect we would not need to
come.
No
the hypocrisy that I am concerned about is when we turn our backs on those who
are lost, on those who need love, on those who need compassion and support.
Don't ever forget what Paul says:
"Be devoted to one another in . . . love."
My
final rule is this and it flows from the previous one: TAKE ALONG SOMEONE WHO
KNOWS THE ROAD!
A
friend of mine tells the story about a time when he and his family were white
water rafting. On this trip there were four boats. Now normally each boat has its
own guide --- someone who knows the river --- knows the best way to get down
the river --- and where all the trouble spots are that need to be avoided.
When
they got ready to go, they were told that one of the guides was sick --- and
they asked if someone would be willing to steer the boat down the river.
They said that this person's job would
be simply to follow the other guides.
Needless
to say, my friend volunteered.
And
as he would tell the story, he was a good guide (at least for most of the trip!)
While
they were heading into some pretty good white water, he was dutifully following
the other guides in front of him and shouting out the paddling orders to the
other members of his boat.
Suddenly,
there was in front of them a boulder that had to be navigated around. Proudly,
he says that is exactly what he did --- yet little did he know, but right after
that big boulder was a second smaller boulder that also had to be maneuvered
over.
He
did pretty well at that too, most of the boat missed that little rock ---
actually the only part of the boat that caught that rock was the exact spot
where he was sitting --- and the result was predictable.
Once
he fell, instinctively he grabbed the rope that encircled the boat --- he said
that the water was so cold that he could not talk, nor even scream.
It
wasn't until the others noticed that he wasn't screaming out orders that they
even realized that he had gone over.
Fortunately
they helped him get back in the boat and get it down the rest of the rapids
successfully.
The
point of the story is this: without a guide to lead us --- someone who is
experienced in the journey that we are taking --- the results can be tragic.
We need someone to help guide us along
the way.
As
Christians that guide is none other than Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God's
chosen disciples.
Have
you noticed how Jesus went about preparing people to become guides?
He didn't say: "Go do it
yourself"
No,
what Jesus always did is say: "Follow me."
And
then, once we have followed we can help others along the journey that we have firsthand
knowledge of.
Paul
always was busy trying to teach others, to show them the way first and then,
and only then to let them become guides along the way, under the direction of
God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
All too often we travel along on our
journeys and we lose sight of whom it is that is our Ultimate guide.
All too often we travel along on our
journeys and we forget to enlist the help of our guide!
All too often we travel along on our
journeys and in our bull headed nature we say --- the heck with the guide, I
know a better way --- and it never fails, but we find ourselves thrown from the
boat!
Christianity
is a never ending journey --- and you and I are on that journey!
It
is impossible to make the journey without a close and personal relationship
with Jesus Christ.
The
journey that we are on is at times long and hard, and it has far too many
obstacles for us to travel on without an experienced guide!
Jesus
Christ is the only one who fully knows the way, and is the only one who can be
the trailblazer!
PLEASE,
please take someone along with you who knows the journey.
find a prayer partner
find a study partner
find a friend in Christ
Over
the last couple of weeks I have shared eight simple, yet I believe profound
rules that will make our journey more successful and more fun.
1.
WE
ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER, SO PLEASE WEAR YOUR NAME TAG
2. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE JUST WHERE YOU ARE
GOING ---- GO SOMEWHERE!
3. MAPS REALLY ARE OK!
4.
LEARN
PATIENCE.
5. ENJOY THE DETOURS, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT
YOU WILL FIND!
6. WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES, IT IS BEST
TO PACK LIGHT!
7. WHEN LOST ON UNKNOWN ROADS, IT'S NICE TO
HAVE FRIENDS ALONG!
8. TAKE ALONG SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE ROAD!
Christianity
is a journey --- a journey through this life, experiencing God and all that God
has for us.
Let
us try to remember these rules as we go through our life.
We
are going to share in our closing song.
As it is being played, I invite you to come forward and pray at the
altar, or to pray at your seat --- to consult your guide, Jesus Christ --- for
direction, or maybe courage --- that you might continue or maybe even begin
this lifelong wonderful journey with Jesus.
Only
you know what you need at this moment on your journey
courage to start
direction
patience
lessening of the burdens that you carry
with you
friends
Only
you know.
Bring
those before our Lord and receive his blessing and guidance!
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