According To Luke: It's Up To You

Luke 9:12-17    (NRSV)

The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

The story of the feeding of the 5,000 is the only one of Jesus' miracles that is recorded in all four Gospels.

An interesting note: Mark and Matthew have a second feeding story --- the feeding of the 4,000

And Luke seems to have set his version of the story very differently from the other Gospels.

·         Luke changes the location of the story and locates the story in Bethsaida

As we hear the story --- if we listen carefully --- we can hear echoes of some other Biblical feeding stories

·         The feeding of the Israelites in the wilderness

·         Elisha's feeding of a hundred people with 20 loaves

·         and of course the Eucharist (Holy Communion --- The Lord's Supper)

I think that this is one of the most important, and most revealing passages in the Bible about Jesus.

And the funny thing about this passage is that we have spent the last 2,000 years trying to find ways to explain away Jesus’ message to us.

But it is a great story.

Right before this story Jesus sends the disciples out and they begin to perform amazing deeds.

Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

Then we are told that King Herod is frustrated by all that Jesus has been doing wondering if John hadn't somehow come back from the dead

And that gets us to our story.

Jesus seems to be a little burned out by all that is going on and he invites his disciples to leave with him and head off privately to Bethsaida.

They try to get away for a little while, to give Jesus a breather --- but then Luke tells us:

When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured.

Jesus spent the day teaching them, because we are told that it was getting late and the people were getting hungry

          The disciples were hearing the grumbling of the people and said to Jesus:

“Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.” 

The disciples became concerned and had only one solution

          Send them away

It seems to me, that there are a couple of solutions to the problem.

·         Let the people fend for themselves

·         Let Jesus take care of them

But Jesus has other ideas

“You give them something to eat.”

And I love the Disciples answer, because it is often the answer I hear from so many people.

Jesus, I would love to help BUT . . .

“We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.”

How many times have we responded to the invitation that way?

·         I would love to help with the feeding ministry but . . .

·         I would love to teach at VBS but . . .

·         I would love to sing in the choir (tsunami) but . . .

·         I would love to help at Children of Abraham but . . .

·         I would love to go on a mission trip but . . .

And we can all add many other things can’t we.

But Jesus answer is insightful:

What do you have?

Jesus asks them ----- How much do you have ---- what can you do.

And of course, the miracle of the story is ---- it is enough!

“Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled.

When we use what God has given us to transform the world through Jesus --- it is always enough.

Jesus is inviting us to join him in the transformation of the world.

Think of the ways we see this happening in the world around us

·         Every Sunday we bring in $100’s of dollars of food that feed hungry parents and children in our communities

·         Children of Abraham gathers together medical equipment that is headed for the garbage pile and instead sends it to needy hospitals around the world so that lives can be saved

There is another way we sometimes try to deal with problems that Jesus is illustrating.

We think we can --- or should do it all ourselves

I know that this is my problem sometimes ---

          I don't want to put you out so I try to fix it

Gail Osgerby heard at the Finance/Trustee meeting last week that we want to upgrade the TV's in the sanctuary so that we have one that the Choir (and I) can see.

Gail volunteered to go and search out the best deal --- so Wednesday he and Carol did just that.

They found a great deal down at Wal-Mart, and offered to buy them, but I said,

"NO, I have to go that way on Thursday, and I have the credit card from the church, so just let me do it."

What was I thinking?  Somebody volunteered to solve the problem and I would not let them.

Well, my afternoon got screwed up Thursday, and while I was down that way, I did not have time to stop, so I made Nancy go with me Thursday evening to buy the TV's.

And guess what --- THEY WERE SOLD OUT

Friday, I told Gail what I should have said in the first place ---

it would be wonderful if you would just take care of this --- I will get the heck outta the way!

Jesus doesn't want us to solve all the problems of the world INDIVIDUALLY --- Jesus wants us to work together.

Remember he said to the disciples --- not A disciple

          You guys give them something to eat

As I ponder this passage --- and reflect on what Jesus is inviting us to do --- it causes me to harken back to one of my heroes

John F. Kennedy died when I was only 3 years old, so my memory of him is created by the images and histories that have been left behind.

I have watched --- and listened to JFK's inaugural speech many times in my life.  It is one of those speeches ---- Much like Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech that have impacted my life.

The night before the inauguration heavy snow blanketed Washington DC

The snow was so heavy there were thoughts of actually cancelling the inaugural ceremony.

If you remember --- the election in 1960 had been close and hard fought between Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon.

          Kennedy won 49.7%

          Nixon won 49.6%

          A difference of a little over 110,000 votes

Kennedy was anxious to get started on his political agenda and try and build the support he needed to make it happen

Kennedy started the day by attended Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown before joining President Eisenhower to travel to the Capitol.

Robert Frost read one of his poems at the ceremony. 

          It was called The Gift Outright

The land was ours before we were the land's.
She was our land more than a hundred years
Before we were her people. She was ours
In Massachusetts, in Virginia,
But we were England's, still colonials,
Possessing what we still were unpossessed by,
Possessed by what we now no more possessed.
Something we were withholding made us weak
Until we found out that it was ourselves
We were withholding from our land of living,
And forthwith found salvation in surrender.
Such as we were we gave ourselves outright
(The deed of gift was many deeds of war)
To the land vaguely realizing westward,
But still unstoried, artless, unenhanced,
Such as she was, such as she would become.   

Then, in a rather short speech, Kennedy laid out his dream for the future, not only for the United States but also for the world. 

It was a dream that sought to end poverty

To seek peaceful solutions to the problems in the world

So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms—and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.

Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah—to "undo the heavy burdens ... and to let the oppressed go free."

And then he challenged us:

All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course.

And what may be the most famous words from an inaugural address outside of Abraham Lincoln’s malice toward none, second inaugural, Kennedy said to us:

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

Can you imagine a candidate saying something like that today?

Today our candidates wouldn’t dare suggest that we should sacrifice

          Today our candidates seem to be calling out for:

                    Less sacrifice

                   Less expectation

                   Leave me alone!

What kind of world do you want to live in?

What is the world that Jesus calling us to?

What does the Kingdom look like?

Is the Kingdom of God a place in which we ask ourselves when we do something or vote for someone:

          What is in it for me?

Or is the Kingdom a place where you and I are invited to join with Jesus and our brothers and sisters throughout the world --- giving them something to eat?

I dream of the world that Jesus envisioned

The world Jesus invites us to be a part of.

--- a world in which we share

--- a world in which we give the hungry something to eat

--- a world in which we cloth the naked

--- and care for the imprisoned

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God?

(Micah 6:8)

According To Luke: What Are You Sowing?

Luke 8:4-18  (NRSV)

When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”

Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that

‘looking they may not perceive,
    and listening they may not understand.’

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.

“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.”

Once again we have a familiar parable from the Gospels, but when we look at it closely, we see that Luke's version has some subtle differences.

One of the greatest gifts that God has given to us is the ability to listen.

Listening is not only the key to surviving relationships; learning to listen well is the key to success and happiness.

I have no doubt, but that every year marriages fail because two people --- even though they are lovers --- do not know how to communicate with each other.

According to a survey a couple of years ago excluding time asleep, the average couple now spends just three hours and 45 minutes together in the week, of which 51 minutes is spent in silence in front of the TV and 37 minutes carrying out chores.

Another study said that over an hour long dinner, most couples only actually talk about 3 minutes.

A University of Nebraska research project suggests that the loneliest group of people in our society are not the unmarried, or the recently bereaved --- but teenagers.

Jesus says: LISTEN --- "A sower went out to sow".  We know we are not very good at listening to each other, but do we hear Jesus?

Learning to listen to our friends, families and partners is essential to a good relationship --- but so too is listening to God.

Our scripture this morning ends with a simple admonition --- (Luke 8:18)

"pay attention to how you listen"

or as the NIV has it:

" consider carefully how you listen"

I can easily "see" in my mind's eye the Sower out in the field.

 “A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up (v. 5).

Notice that the Sower is just tossing seed, not digging holes and then covering the seeds with dirt. When some seeds hit the path and are gobbled up by birds, he just keeps sowing.

"Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture." (v. 6).

The Sower does not seem to care where the seed goes, throwing it on completely inhospitable rocky ground.

Not surprisingly, these seeds scorch and die.

But the Sower keeps moving along, and Jesus says that

"Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.  Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!" (vv. 7-8).

Finally, a few of the seeds hit good soil and voila -- they bring forth grain in enormous quantities!

What strikes you immediately about the Sower?

He seems a bit careless, doesn't he?

The late Donald Juel, former professor of New Testament at Princeton wrote:

"The farmer in our story is not overly cautious, He throws seed everywhere, apparently confident there will be a harvest in spite of the losses."

The Sower simply keeps sowing his seed, trusting that growth will come.

Too me, it sounds a lot like Jesus.

Jesus "is not cautious about where he preaches and on whom he invests his time," insists Juel.

Jesus simply keeps sowing the word of the kingdom of God, even though it lands on religious people who wonder if he is possessed, on disciples who struggle to understand him and on at least one young rich man who cannot part with his possessions in order to follow Jesus.

The Sower keeps sowing and Jesus keeps spreading the word.

Unlike the farmer in this story:

A farmer, ragged and barefooted, was standing on the steps of his raggedy shack. A stranger stopped for a drink of water and he asked: "How is your cotton coming along?"

Farmer: "Ain't got any."

Stranger: "Did you plant any?"

Farmer: "Nope, afraid of boll weevils."

Stranger: "Well, how is your corn?"

Farmer: "Didn't plant any, afraid there would be no rain."

Stranger: "Well, how are your potatoes?"

Farmer: "Ain't got any, scared of the potato bugs."

Stranger: "Really, what did you plant?"

Farmer: "Nothing, I just played it safe."

Jesus seems more like Atticus Finch --- you remember him don't you.  The Hero of Harper Lee's must read novel To Kill A Mockingbird.

In the opening pages of the book, Scout, Atticus' daughter offers this assessment of Atticus.  her dad by her and her brother Jem.  She says that she and her brother Jem "found our father satisfactory."

Satisfactory?

Atticus was so much more than satisfactory.

When I think of him a number of words come to mind: wise, patient, forgiving and brave.

Last year Time Magazine did a piece of the most influential fictional characters and this is what they wrote:

Atticus "is the man who will do what's right when the world is saying he's wrong."

In case you don't know the story.  Atticus is a white lawyer who defends a black man in a racist Southern town.

As a character in the novel says to Scout and Jem,

"There are some men in this world who were born to do our unpleasant jobs for us. Your father's one of them."

Atticus stands up for justice when it would be much easier to let the standards of the community prevail, and yet somehow he isn't alienated from his neighbors.

Time wrote that Atticus: "loves his backward, racist, fearful community even as his heart breaks over its shortcomings."

Wise, patient, forgiving and brave.

A man born to do our unpleasant jobs for us, and who loves us completely -- even as his heart breaks over our shortcomings.

That sounds to me like Jesus!

The Parable of the Sower teaches us that Jesus throws good seed everywhere, knowing that most of it is going to be destroyed.

And as followers of Jesus, we should be doing ministry and mission in the very same way.

Perhaps "the same careless abandon should characterize the church's ministry," suggests Donald Juel; "speaking gracious words without carefully calculating the potential for success."

This means welcoming others as Jesus has welcomed us, and preaching a message of unconditional love and unlimited grace. After all, Jesus calls us to be faithful to him and to the kingdom of God, not to be successful in a worldly sense.

But there's more to this parable.

Jesus then goes on to explain the meaning of the story to his disciples, and the focus suddenly shifts from the Sower to the Soil.

When we focus on this part of the parable it is clear that the message is that we should all be good soil -- people who hear the word of the kingdom of God and understand it.

Don't be like the path which is susceptible to the evil one who "comes and takes away the word from their hearts" (v. 12).

Don't be the rocky ground in which a plant "has no root, but endures only for a while" (v. 13).

And don't be like the thorny soil, in which "the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature." (v. 14).

There is a problem here.

Soil is completely passive,

It just sits and waits to receive the seed.

Soil does not choose to be good or even choose to be bad --- it just is what it is.

So what does Jesus tell us to do about this?

          LISTEN!

Listen to the story of the Sower, and learn that Jesus is incredibly generous in the way that he shares the word of the kingdom with all the people of the world.

Listen and learn that God's Word is incredibly fruitful, and that a great harvest is guaranteed.

Listen and learn that the coming of the kingdom of God isn't something that we can control.

Instead, says, Donald Juel, "everything depends on what God will do."

The Sower reminds us once again that Jesus is in charge, spreading the word of God's kingdom.

Our job is to trust what Jesus is doing, and share his message with joy and generosity.

According To Luke: What Kind of Prophet

Luke 7:36-50    (NRSV)

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Let's say that you are invited to dinner at my house and as we are sitting around making small talk the doorbell rings and it is the biggest crook in Lake County --- they are notorious for flaunting their sins.

·         How do you react when they walk into the room?

·         Do you wish to confront them or to leave them to somebody else?

Think about this for a second ----

Is their sinfulness so much an issue that you cannot even see the person?

In an account that is somewhat unique to Luke, a sinful woman visits Jesus while at the gathering she anoints Jesus.

She is not recorded saying anything ---- but her actions speak a thousand words.

Everyone at the dinner seemed to be bothered by what the woman does.

Luke tells us that during a meal at the home of a Pharisee, a well-known sinful woman enters and seeks out Jesus to anoint his feet.

          Nowhere are we told what her sin was.

Traditionally she has been called a prostitute, but the text is not so specific.

Unfortunately for Mary Magdalene --- Pope Gregory in a sermon in the sixth century, decided to link the sinner (and assumed prostitute) with Mary --- a reputation she has had a hard time overcoming.

But it is not likely to be Mary Magdalene, who is introduced as a new figure in the following story in 8:1-3.

Luke 8:1-3    (NRSV)

Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Whatever this woman's sin, her reputation precedes her.

For us reading the story today it seems odd that she was able to "crash the party" and find Jesus.

But in the Judea in the First Century it was common to allow people to come and stand quietly and listen when a respected teaching or other important person was present.

Nobody is surprised that she is there.

What surprises them is that she had the temerity to go to Jesus and maybe even more significantly --- that Jesus has allowed it.

As long as the riff - raff stayed back and out of the way --- it was not a breach of etiquette.

But when she approaches Jesus --- all kinds of alarms would have gone off.

Jesus, since he was at a meal, would have been reclining in the Roman style.

Lying with their heads at the low tables and their feet out --- the guests would have formed a pattern like a big star.

Luke tells us some interesting things that most of us would not recognize.

Luke tells us that she went to great sacrifice to perform this act on Jesus.

She brought with her costly perfume in an alabaster jar. 

He doesn't tell us what kind of perfume it was ---

(but if it was nard --- a pound of nard cost the average persons' annual wage)

This kind of perfume was used to purify priest or prepare someone for burial

Approaching a reclining Jesus, she anoints his feet as tears of joy and appreciation pour out upon him.

Luke makes mention that she uses her hair to dry Jesus feet.

The undoing of her hair is culturally shocking.

Her kissing of Jesus' feet also expresses an intimacy shunned in this culture.

Everything about her action is offensive.

Imagine the nerve of the woman, who surely realizes how others are viewing her.

The strength of her love has caused her to be bold in expressing appreciation to Jesus.

But Jesus does not appear to be offended.

The Pharisee --- the host of this party --- reacts first, and what does he do?? 

          He quickly blames Jesus.

The woman's contact with Jesus is outrageous and intolerable.

He seems to be thinking to himself:

If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.

It is clear in the way the Greek is written that the Pharisee does not believe that Jesus is a prophet.

The Pharisee is operating with the cultural view of his time that pious people (like a prophet) would never have anything to do with a sinner.

If a prophet wanted to keep pure --- they kept away from dirty, sinful people.

Jesus, as he often did, when he wanted to rebuke somebody and make a point told a story.

The story he tells is pretty simple ----

There are these two guys who owe quite a bit of money. One has a debt ten times that of the other.

Using the analogy Jesus used ----

          One man owed about two months worth of salary

          The other owed about 20 months or 2 1/2 years worth of salary

The person who was owed the money decided to forgive BOTH people.

Jesus asks: Which one is going to love him more?

The emotion of the story is crucial.

Jesus is saying, in effect --- Imagine the appreciation and love that flow from the one who has been forgiven a great debt.

Jesus is comparing the forgiveness of sins to economic forgiveness.

The implication is that these people who owe the money have no bargaining position.

The only way the debt is being forgive is by grace and grace alone

So Jesus asks: Which one is going to love him more?

You got to love the Pharisees answer since it was so obvious.

“I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.”

Jesus point is pretty obvious and is the heart of Jesus' relational ethic

          great forgiveness provides the opportunity for great love.

Unlike the Pharisee who can only dwell on the "tainted" womans sinful past --- Jesus prefers to see the potential that love and forgiveness posses for changing a persons heart.

When God forgives a notorious sinner for much sin, the realization of such bountiful forgiveness means the potential for great love.

To understand Jesus' point --- the story he told and the comments he made need to be looked at together.

According to the parable --- the basis of love is a previously extended forgiveness that produces a response of love.

Jesus indicates that the woman's actions are a reflection of his forgiveness of her.

But there is also a warning to the Pharisee (and us?) when we see ourselves as "little sinners".

Jesus seems to be saying:

Your love may not be great because you have not appreciated the depth of forgiveness that God has made available to you.

Simon seemed to know everything about religion

          liturgy

          theology

          ethics

          temple worship

          the torah (the law)

He knew all about the things of God but somehow he seemed to miss the essence of it --- which our sinful woman in the story seemed to understand completely.

She knew how sinful she was!

Simon's problem was that he thought he was better than he was and he misunderstood the nature of a God who is the giver of unconditional love!

That is the essence --- that is the heart --- that is the core of the Gospel.

Agape --- the Greek word for the unconditional --- undeserved --- complete love of God.

Our love is always to some extent conditional.

God goes first and loves us first --- and God's love is not dependent on our response --- it is unconditional for us.

Through Jesus, God is saying that he loves us just the way we are RIGHT NOW. 

There is NOTHING you can do that will make God love you more that God does right now!

What God offers, is if we accept God's love --- then God will work with us to transform us from the inside out to become what God dreamed for us to be.

But, IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO ACCEPT GOD'S LOVE --- God still won't leave us. 

God will keep the door open and the light on and God's love will NEVER END.

Tony Campolo, professor of sociology at Eastern College, tells the story of his visit to Honolulu for a Christian Conference.

On his first night there, he awoke sometime after three (a six hour time difference had confused his sleep pattern) and left the hotel in search of a place to get something to eat. Eventually he found a tiny coffee shop.

He walked in and sat down. Here is his description of the events:

The fat guy behind the counter came over and asked me, "What do you want?"

I told him I wanted a cup of coffee and a donut. As I sat there munching on my donut and sipping my coffee at 3:30 in the morning, the door suddenly opened, swung wide and to my discomfort in marched 8 or 9 provocative and rather boisterous prostitutes. It was a small place and they sat on either side of me.

Their talk was garrulous, loud and crude. I felt completely out of place. I was just about to make my getaway when I heard the woman sitting next to me say,

"You know, tomorrow is my birthday. I'm going to be 39."

Her friend responded in a rather nasty tone, "So what do you want from me? A birthday party? What do you want?

Do you want me to get a cake, and sing happy birthday to you?"

Come on," the women sitting next to me said, "why do you have to be so mean? I'm just telling you that's all.

Why do you have to put me down? I was just telling you that it is my birthday. I don't want anything from you. I mean, why should I have a birthday party? I've never had a birthday party in my whole life. Why should I have one now?"

Tony Campolo goes on; "When I heard that," he said, "I made a decision. I sat and waited until the woman left and then I called over to the counter to the fat guy and asked him, "Do they come in here every night?"

"Yeah," he answered.

"The one right next to me", I asked, "does she come in here every night?"

"Yeah," he said, "that's Agnes. Yeah, she comes in here every night. Why do you want to know?"

"Because," I replied, "I heard her say that tomorrow is her birthday. What do you say we do something special for her? What do you think about throwing a birthday party for her, right here in the diner?"

A cute kind of smile crept over that fat man's chubby cheeks. He answered with measured delight,

"That's a great idea. I like it. That's great. Agnes is one of those people who is really nice and kind. I don't think anybody has ever done anything nice and kind for her."

"Well, look" I told him, "if it is OK with you, I'll be back here tomorrow morning at 2:30. I'll decorate the place. I'll even get a birthday cake for her."

"No way," he retorted, "the birthday cake, that's my thing. I'll bake the birthday cake."

Two-thirty the next morning, Tony Campolo reports, I was back at that diner. I picked up some crepe paper and other decorations at the store, and made a sign of big pieces of cardboard that read, "Happy Birthday, Agnes!"

I decorated that diner from one end to the other. I had that diner really looking great. The word must have gotten out on the street because by 3:15 that next morning every prostitute in Honolulu was in that place.

There was wall-to-wall prostitutes - and me.

At 3:30 on the dot the door of the diner swung open and in came Agnes and her friend. I had everybody ready; after all, I was sort of the informal master of ceremonies of this whole affair. It was my idea, so when they came in we all jumped up and screamed and we sang, "Happy birthday, Agnes!"

And you know, I've never seen a person so flabbergasted, so stunned, so shaken. Her mouth fell open, her knees started to buckle, her friend had to offer her arm to steady her, and I noticed she had started to cry.

When the birthday cake with all the candles was carried out, that's when she just lost it. She started sobbing.

Harry, the fat guy, behind the counter he gruffly mumbled, "Blow out the candles, Agnes, blow out the candles."

Then he handed her a knife, and he ordered, "Cut the cake, Agnes, cut the cake."

Agnes looked down at that cake, and then without taking her eyes off it, she slowly and softly said,

"Look, Harry, is it all right with you if I, I mean, if I don't, what I want to ask, is it OK if I keep the cake a little while? Is it all right if we don't eat it right away?"

Harry shrugged and answered, "Sure, Agnes, that's fine, you want to keep the cake, keep the cake, take it home if you want."

"Oh, could I?" she asked.

Looking at me she said, "I live just down the street a couple doors; I want to take the cake home, is that OK? I'll be right back, honest."

She got off her stool, she picked up that cake, and she carried it out of that diner like it was the Holy Grail. She walked slowly toward the door, and we all stood there just speechless.

When the door closed behind her, there was stunned silence in the place. Not knowing what else to do, I broke the silence by saying,

"What do you say we pray together?"

Looking back on it now, it seems more than a little strange that a sociologist from eastern PA would be leading a prayer meeting with a bunch of prostitutes in a diner in Honolulu at 3:30 in the morning. But I prayed. I prayed for Agnes. I prayed for her salvation. I prayed that her life would be changed, and that God would be good to her.

And when I finished, Harry leaned over, and with a trace of hostility in his voice he said,

"Hey, you never told me you were a preacher. What kind of preacher are you anyway? What church do you belong to?"

In one of those moments when just the right words came, I answered him quietly, "I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning."

Harry thought a moment, and then almost sneered as he answered, "No you don't; there is no church like that.

In fact," he concluded, "if there was, I'd join it."

Our story ends this morning with Simon the Pharisee perplexed --- he cannot imagine a God who forgives unconditionally --- can you?

One Year Evaluation of Fruitful Congregations Journey

Summer is upon us, and as we catch our breath and prepare for the fall.  For me, it is a time to dream and plan --- but maybe most importantly --- to take stock on where we are as a church, and try to come to some conclusions about what needs to be done.

It was just a little over a year ago that we met with the Conference Fruitful Team.  While I believe they provided for us some excellent insights into some of the challenges here at Ridge Church, most of their remedies were too cookie cutter for us.

So one year later, where do things stand.  They highlighted five areas of concern, and we have had varying levels of success within those areas. 

Develop a clear shared Mission and Vision.  For the last three years, over the first couple of weeks of January I have preached a multi-part sermon on our Vision and Mission.  Every Sunday, I try to work into my sermon or a prayer our vision.  My fantasy is that everybody knows what our Mission is: (Ridge Church exists to make Disciple for Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World), and what our vision (how we accomplish the mission) is: (We of Ridge United Methodist Church are united with Jesus Christ in His ministry of compassion for all people by offering HOPE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE and MEANING FOR LIFE.)  The reality is we have much more work to do.  As we move forward, every ministry is going to be asked to report on how they are fulfilling our Mission and Vision.

Improve Communication.  This had a number of different aspects to it.  One of the facets was we needed to improve our website, and last month we launched a wonderful new site.  I wish I could say that it is 100% operational, but even at its current state it is much better than our previous site.  We still need to improve how we communicate to non-church members through social media and traditional media sources.

A second area of communication we sought to improve was signage.  This issue has not been seriously looked at yet.

A third area was how we communicate to you, the congregation.  Holly has done a great job with improving the newsletter and making it relevant in style and substance.  We added the rolling announcements at the start of the worship service and we send out regular emails about what is taking place.  We need to tie our communication to our mission and vision better and will work on that this fall.

The biggest area we struggle with communication is as a staff.  The notion that this is a problem is crazy since we meet together every week, but we have not done a good job at sharing and seeing beyond our area of expertise.  This is going to be a top priority.

Stewardship.  I was surprised that this was identified as a concern.  The people of Ridge Church are extremely generous.  You not only support our local church, but you reach out and support ministries throughout the region and the world.  If there is any area of concern it is to get our debt taken care of.  We need to get the Fellowship Hall paid for and do some major remodeling to the original building (Education wing).  We are planning a Capital Campaign for this fall.

Are last two areas are the ones we are just now starting to get a handle on.  And I have to be honest and say that I have dropped the ball on keeping them as a priority.  Without a doubt they are the ones that will be the most challenging to implement, but are critical to the future of Ridge Church.

Develop an Intentional Discipleship Path.  Kathy O’Brien and I are working on a model that we are going to use for confirmation this fall and adopt church-wide at some point.  Beyond Disciple Bible Study, this will be the most comprehensive and intentional path that we have created.  We also are looking at ways of identifying the ministries that everyone participates in, so that we ensure that nobody falls through the cracks.  Keep this in your prayers along with our final prescription.

Create and Intentional Plan to Develop, Train and Deploy Staff and Leaders.  Last fall, Keith Howard and I began working on a whole new way to lead the church.  With Keith’s move to Denver, the hard work of creating this system ground to a halt.  For the last few weeks I have been trying to put the framework we had discussed onto paper so that I can share it with a small group of leaders.  My hope is that we will roll out this new framework in January,

I also am taking quite seriously the need to audit the staffs roles and responsibilities to make sure that they will be aligned with Mission and Vision of Ridge Church.  This will be presented to the SPRC no later than the September meeting.

There is a great deal of exciting things going on at Ridge Church, but at the same time it is scary because we are having to honestly assess what we are doing and what we should be doing.  Please keep this in your prayers!

Enough Rain Already!

We had quite the storms Monday Night, which made the rain total for the month of June twice what is normal.  We were fortunate in that we did not lose power, but I know that was not the case for many people.  We did get a little water in the basement that came in through our basement door, hopefully I will get the drain cleaned out and fixed today!

For those who lost power, the Purdue Extension Service has a good article about preserving your food.  You can find the article here.  Hope everyone is safe, cool and dry.

According to Luke: How To Live

Luke 6:37-42   (NRSV)

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

This week saw two very controversial issues be adopted by Annual General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) the largest Presbyterian denomination in North America.

The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) General Assembly is the largest annual gathering of the denomination. Church leaders from across the country gather to discuss matters important to the life of the church, make decisions that affect the whole denomination and the progress of the gospel.

We in the United Methodist Church do a very similar thing, but on a global scale every four years.  2016, will mark the General Conference of the United Methodist Church which will be held in Portland Oregon.

In the United Methodist Church, the General Conference is the top policy-making body. The conference can revise church law, as well as adopt resolutions on current moral, social, public policy and economic issues. It also approves plans and budgets for church-wide programs. 

The General Conference is an international body of close to 1,000 delegates.

The delegates are elected by annual conferences (we will elect our delegates at next may/June annual conference session).

          They represent all annual conferences around the world.

          Half of the delegates are laity (non-clergy members), half are clergy.

There is no doubt in my mind but that both of these issues will be topics of discussion at our General Conference in two years.

Does anybody know what the Presbyterians did?

First, They voted to divest from three companies that they argued do business with the Israeli Defense Force --- the Israeli military.

From the New York Times:

After passionate debate over how best to help break the deadlock between Israel and the Palestinians, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted on Friday at its general convention to divest from three companies that it says supply Israel with equipment used in the occupation of Palestinian territory.

The vote, by a count of 310 to 303, was watched closely in Washington and Jerusalem and by Palestinians as a sign of momentum for a movement to pressure Israel to stop building settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and to end the occupation, with a campaign known as B.D.S., for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions.

The measure that was passed not only called for divestment but also reaffirmed Israel’s right to exist, endorsed a two-state solution, encouraged interfaith dialogue and travel to the Holy Land, and instructed the church to undertake “positive investment” in endeavors that advance peace and improve the lives of Israelis and Palestinians.

The companies the church has targeted for divestment are Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions. The church has about $21 million invested in them, a spokeswoman said. The church says it has tried for many years to convey its concerns that the companies are profiting from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories by selling it bulldozers, surveillance technology and other equipment.

As you can image --- there has been much reaction to this news.

The American Jewish Committee said that the vote was "driven by hatred of Israel."

And I am sure that much more rhetoric will follow in the coming weeks.

And while that issue is seen as very controversial, the second, for some, will be seen as even more controversial.

Again from the New York Times:

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted at its General Assembly on Thursday to change its constitution’s definition of marriage from “a man and a woman” to “two people,” and to allow its ministers to perform same-sex marriages where it is legal.

Both measures, passed by large majorities

The Presbyterians follow other religious groups that have taken similar steps, including the United Church of Christ, which affirmed “equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender” in 2005; Quakers; the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations; and the Reform and Conservative movements in Judaism.

The vote giving discretion to ministers to marry gay couples takes effect on Sunday, at the close of the General Assembly.

That means, as of today, in 19 states and the District of Columbia --- Presbyterian Pastors can officiate at same sex weddings.  Indiana is not one of those states, but Illinois is.

Now I just want to stop for a minute and let you ponder how you react to either one of those issues.

Does it make you angry?

Are you screaming on the inside

·         it is about time?

·         how dare they?

·         ???

I have to admit, I am conflicted about both issues. 

And I could discuss either issue for hours.

          I think I could lay out both sides pretty well.

I have seen firsthand the failure of the peace process in Israel.

·         I have seen the devastation done by a suicide bomber

·         And I have seen the ghetto's that have been created to keep the Palestinian people in check.

Neither side is innocent --- and there are no easy solutions.

But what about the more pressing issue in our social context.

I think that there is only one other issue that is even close to being as divisive today in our society as human sexuality --- and that has to do with gun restrictions --- but that is for another day . . .

If I am honest, for as long as I can remember, I have done my best to sit on the fence on both the issue of Israel/Palestine and Human sexuality.

I hate to say this: The Israelite --- Palestinian issue would probably not be much more than a blip on my radar screen if I hadn't been to Israel and Palestine so many times. 

Even then, I was shielded from seeing the real issues for the most part.

But visiting Yad Vashem, (the Holocaust Museum) and walking out of an exhibit on the Warsaw Ghetto and seeing the (then) newly constructed security wall, was a life altering moment.

          A light bulb really lite in my head.

The issue surrounding sexuality is totally different to me --- but at the same time, I have done my best to sit on the fence.

What first brought the issue to my conscience was at Christmas time of my freshman year of college. 

The girl who I dated off and on in high school shared with me that she was gay.

I was caught totally off guard.

We were not an "item" but we were pretty close friends and I wasn't sure initially how to react.

I was forced to begin to examine the whole issue of human sexuality

Later that year, I met a professor at Northern Illinois who probably never knew what an influence he was on me.  He became a mentor and a friend as I began wrestling with my call to ministry.

          But there was NO DOUBT, but that he was gay.

          And, it never bothered me or made me question his value or advice. 

And I am standing before you today because of his encouragement

Three years ago today, my mother's brother died. 

          Roger never married

And, to be honest, I always suspected --- but we never talked about it, it was just "one of those things"

One day I decided to look up what Jesus had to say about homosexuality.

Does anybody remember what he said?

NOTHING

Jesus says nothing.

Two weeks ago I preached about Kingdom Values.

Jesus, according to Luke offers three values of God's kingdom.

1.    Justice

Jesus tells us clearly an attitude that was found in the Hebrew Scriptures --- and attitude that God is prejudicially cares for the poor

Blessed are you who are poor

Blessed are you who are hungry now

Blessed are you who weep now

Jesus tells us this, but his actions also demonstrate it

We find Jesus constantly associating with the outcasts of his day and chastising those who were not peasants

2.    Love your enemies

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

What does that mean?

How are we to feel toward          Vladimir Putin and Russia?

                                                The Taliban?

                                                Al Qaeda?

3.    Love everybody

We are to love, not only those who are like us and who like us --- but all of God's children.

Jesus continues this theme this morning us by showing us even more clearly how we are to live in community with one another.

He tells us to quit judging each other.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; . . . for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

I don't know about you, but it is much easier for me to judge other people's behavior than it is my own.

Sometimes when I read the bible I really get the sense that it was written for a people who saw and understood the world very differently than you and I do.

They believed that weather, and disease were caused by God

          I don't think many of you believe that

But Jesus seems to understand and remind us of timeless principles

One of the reasons that the church has lost relevance in our culture is we have forgotten what Jesus said;

Do not judge, and you will not be judged;

Forgive, and you will be forgiven;

We (the church) have judged people and told them they are not welcome if:

·         they don't dress properly

·         they don't come from the "correct" social class

·         if they are not of our own race

·         if their sexuality is different than ours

We are reaping exactly what Jesus told us:

for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

And then Jesus decides he needs to move beyond just telling us about judging and illustrate it for us with a visual story.

Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

I love how Peterson has translated this passage into modern English:

“It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

I don't have easy or trite answers to the difficult issues of peace in Israel/Palestine or human sexuality.

But as I have gotten older, I have TRIED (sometimes successfully and sometimes not so successfully) to quit judging others.

This spring I was given a book that has had a huge impact on me.  I assigned it to the staff to read and study and will probably use it this fall in a study group.

It is a short book of stories, written by Bob Goff, a Washington DC lawyer.  The book is simply titled LOVE DOES.

The premise of the book is quite simple --- as Christians, we need to be a people who are recognized because we love.

And I think my favorite phrase from the book and one that I am TRYING to live by is love goes first

If we want to claim the title follower of Jesus we need to quit judging and simply LOVE FIRST

Whatever the hot topic button in your life --- how would you approach it if you took that attitude and loved first?

Jesus shows us what the kingdom is like and how we are to live.

To put it quiet simply ---- It is a kingdom in which everyone tries to out-love each other!

May that kingdom reign in our hearts and lives!