Christ The King --- I was made for this

John 18:33-37    (NRSV)

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

A number of years ago, USA today put together a panel of sports experts to name the 10 most difficult things to do in sports.

I don't think it was a very scientific list --- but one that a group of wannabe athletes made based on what they know --- or at least on what they thought they knew.

10.   Downhill skiing

9.    Saving a penalty kick in soccer

8.    Competing in the Tour De France

7.    Running a Marathon

6.    Landing A Quad jump in Ice Skating

5.    Returning A Serve in Tennis

4.    Hitting A Tee Shot Long and Straight

3.    Pole Vaulting

2.    Race Car Driving

1.    Hitting a Baseball

What do you think?  

What would you change to the list?

I was surprised that golf was considered the 4th most difficult.

While that list is kind of fun --- at the end of the day -- it really isn't all that important.

But what if you were to make a list of the 10 most difficult things to do in life --- what would you put down?

If you were to search on the internet --- you would come up with all kinds of lists that all seemed based on where somebody was in life at that particular moment.

But if we were to try and create just a list, what would you include?

Here is my list --- but i want to admit I used other people's lists for ideas.

10.     Be-loving God in the midst of the challenges of life (keeping faith)

9.       Being a servant --- truly doing humanitarian deeds for no reward

8.       Raising children

7.       Forgiveness (accepting and giving)

6.       Regaining trust that had been lost

5.       Loving those you don't like

4.       Quitting an addiction ---- drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pornography

3.       Removing life support from a loved one

2.       Burying a child

The life list is a tough list --- and I changed it pretty much every time I went over it --- because they are all so difficult and important, --- but those last two — having to make decisions about life or death --- or losing a child or really any loved one — are really difficult!

If you have ever been in the position where you had to decide to allow someone to go into hospice care, or to remove life support --- even when your head knows what the right thing to do is--- it is a terrible choice.

Top world athletes, even on their hardest days, never make that kind of choice.

Those kinds of decisions are not what we expect life to be about!

Does anybody remember Tom Laughlin?

He was famous in the 70's as the writer, actor and director of the Billy Jack movies.

Later in life he began working with cancer patients, lecturing and treating the psychology of cancer.

Steven Pressfield, in his classic work: The War of Art spends quite a bit of time focusing on Tom Laughlin.

And the point that Laughlin makes is that:

The moment a person learns that they have a terminal cancer a profound shift takes place in their psyche.  At one stroke they becomes aware of what really matters

A simple tragic diagnosis is sometimes what it takes to help us understand what is of ultimate importance.

·         it's usually not another meeting

·         or a bigger car

·         or larger house

·         it's not even a bigger paycheck

Those things that were an irritation only days before the diagnosis seen no longer important

What matters most in our lives is . . . RELATIONSHIPS

Go back and look at my suggest list of the 9 hardest things to do (I haven’t given you my #1 yet)

---- Everyone of them is about relationships

Laughlin went on and posed an interesting question:

Is it possible that cancer is the result of our failure to live our lives the way that they were intended to be lived?

Could cancer be the result of our un-lived lives extracting their vengeance upon us?

You have to wonder . . .

Laughlin even suggested, that when people with cancer began to live their lives fully --- that sometimes the cancer would go into remission

While Laughlin suggests that --- I can find no scientific evidence proving his claims

But there may be some truth to it

What I do know is that for most of us --- the most difficult thing in the world is to live the life the way that they were intended to be lived the way that God intended for us.

And that would be the number one --- most difficult thing to do

1.    Live the life God intended for us

It is easier to fill it with other things

          Worldly pursuits

                   Chasing the Almighty dollar

It is easier to fill it with other things --- than to risk it all for what our insides (our spirit) keeps telling us to be.

At the end of the day ---- what holds us back more than anything else is FEAR

And as crazy as this sounds; what I think we are most fearful of is becoming what we are truly supposed to be.

Have you ever witnessed a baptism?

What takes place during a baptism?

If I were to try to explain what happens (and words can’t really do it), I would suggest that what happens at baptism is that we place a sign-post --- a marker on that person or child's life

A sign-post that says --- I acknowledge that I am a child of God

What will become of that child's life?

          Do any of us really know?

The one thing we do know is God has blessed that child with a calling

Our job, and that child's job --- is to help them figure out what that is --- and then to help them not to be afraid to pursue it.

Our scripture this morning is that key moment, when Jesus claims his calling.

          Jesus says that he is to be king of our lives

                   Lord of our lives

Today is Christ the King Sunday.

It is one of those days that doesn't seem to get celebrated in many Protestant Churches, but I understand it is always celebrated here at Meridian Street.

So I probably don't have to explain the significance

But I hate to assume, so maybe I should.

Quoting the Companion to the Book of Common Worship (PCUSA, 2003)

The festival of Christ the King (or Reign of Christ) ends our marking of Ordinary Time after the Day of Pentecost, and moves us to the threshold of Advent, the season of hope for Christ’s coming again at the end of time.

The day centers on the crucified and risen Christ, whom God exalted to rule over the whole universe. The celebration of the lordship of Christ thus looks back to Ascension, Easter, and Transfiguration, and points ahead to the appearing in glory of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Christ reigns supreme. Christ’s truth judges falsehood. As the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, Christ is the center of the universe, the ruler of all history, the judge of all people. In Christ all things began, and in Christ all things will be fulfilled. In the end, Christ will triumph over the forces of evil.

Such concepts as these cluster around the affirmation that Christ is King or Christ reigns! As sovereign ruler, Christ calls us to a loyalty that transcends every earthly claim on the human heart. To Christ alone belongs the supreme allegiance in our lives. Christ calls us to stand with those who in every age confessed, “Jesus Christ is Lord!” In every generation, demagogues emerge to claim an allegiance that belongs only to God. But Christ alone has the right to claim our highest loyalty. The blood of martyrs, past and present, witnesses to this truth.

Behold the glory of the eternal Christ! From the beginning of time to its ending, Christ rules above all earthly powers!

This is from the United Methodist Church:

Christ the King Sunday is a relative newcomer to the liturgical calendar, arriving only in the early twentieth century. At that time, many Christians in Mexico were suffering religious persecution from their anti-religious government, and secularism was rapidly gaining the upper hand in Europe. In 1925, the Roman Catholic Church declared this day as a worldwide celebration of the kingship of Christ over every earthly power.

Kingship is a problematic concept for democracies, and perhaps for none more than the United States. This nation’s founding and continuing political philosophy rejects kingship as a failure to understand what government is to be at its most basic level—governance with the consent of the governed. These Scriptures make clear, as does the ministry of Jesus, that God’s politics are not identifiable with those of democracies or typical kings.

So today we celebrate that Jesus is our King

Our primary allegiance is to God and God's Kingdom

And that is a scary thing.

Scary because it requires us to set aside our personal agendas, and even our corporate ones --- and instead seek God's

Isn't that what we pray every time we pray the Lord's Prayer?

“Thy Kingdom come”

“Thy will be done”

Jesus is our King

And our job is to be obedient to him

And what does that mean?

          Read the Gospels

          But in a nutshell

"what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God"

The hardest task in life is not hitting a baseball --- it is accepting the calling that God has given us, and being obedient to it.

It was the challenge that Jesus faced in our scripture, when Pilate asked him: "Are you King of the Jews?"

What was Jesus answer?

That his Kingdom was not of this world --- it is the Kingdom of the creator of the universe

Was Jesus afraid to accept and pursue the calling that God gave him?

          I don't know

But Jesus announces and accepts this calling in the face of the reality that by doing so will cost him his life

If Jesus truly is King

If Jesus truly is Lord

What is it that God is wanting you to pursue?

What are you hesitating in being obedient too?

What have you been afraid of becoming?

If you are not familiar with Bob Goff, you need to get to know him.  He is a lawyer and teacher in California, but is also one who has learned obedience to his king

He has a great little book called LOVE DOES --- I highly recommend it.

I have had the privilege to meet Bob a couple of times

And one of Bob Goff's favorite phrases is one that has become very important to me:

          God sees who we are becoming, not who we were!

Let Jesus be King in your life.

And become obedient to the calling he has for you.

          doing justice

          loving kindness

          and walking humbly

Prayer for healing

Here is the prayer that I prayed on Sunday.  Some people heard it very differently so I thought it was important to share.  I hope it is/was a prayer calling for us to come together as followers of Jesus and help bring healing to our nation.  I would love to know your thoughts.  I almost never write out a prayer but I was lead to, knowing how important this past Sunday was in our country.  I also felt very led by the Spirit to pray this prayer.  I have had numerous people share with me how they feel threatened and/or afraid, and I felt that I had to address that.

I hope and pray that we, as followers of Jesus can indeed rise up and proclaim the values that he teaches us.  I also believe that this would have been my prayer regardless of which candidate won --- it speaks more about where we are as a nation than where we are as an electorate.

----------------

Gracious God, we thank you that YOU are still God.

We gather today, still dealing with the election in our country.

We acknowledge that this is a hard time for many

And we pray that those who’s candidates won can show grace to those who are struggling

And those whose candidate’s lost can recommit themselves to the values that they hold dear.

But for both side, we pray that we can find common ground.

The only way America can be great is when we recognize that this is a nation for ALL of us and not just some --- and that together is what makes us strong and great.

So we pray today for President elect Trump --- we pray that he will listen to your spirit and be guided by your gracious love.

We pray for our brothers and sisters who feel like the country has let them down.

Who wonder if there is a place for them because they are:

            A legal emigrant

            Or maybe even illegal

            LGBT

            Hispanic

            Black

            Other minority

Using the words of Rev Dr Martin Luther King

"Hate is too big a burden to bear.  I have decided to love."

Heal our land, O Lord.

Help us to Rise Up and carry forward your message of Grace and Love

Remind us of the powerful message of Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops.

Weakened by my soulful cries.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I'll rise.

Up from a past that's rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

It is in Jesus name we pray.  Amen

Celebrating The Past by Moving Forward

Hebrews 12:1-2    (NRSV)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Sometime in the early 60's my father took me my first Major League Baseball game --- any guesses what team we went and saw? 

We went with another dad and his sons, and it is probably the only reason we went because my dad is not a sports guy. 

          Never has been. 

But from that first experience at Wrigley Field, I was hooked! 

When I was a kid, every gas station in suburban Chicago gave away White Sox tickets when you filled up your tank, and I went to a few Sox games, but it was the Cubs that stole my heart.

By the time I was a teenager, my friends and I had figured out ways to get to Wrigley Field on our own. 

·         All we had to do was manage to somehow get to the Skokie Swift station, and then we could then take that to the Howard Street El and then on to Addison and Sheffield. 

·         I spent many a summer afternoon sitting in the bleachers at Wrigley Field.  Glenn Beckert was my first hero --- to be replaced as a young adult with Ryan Sandburg. 

·         I even once got into a fender bender right in front of Ron Santo's house. 

Wednesday night, as the Cub's recorded the final out, tears streamed down my face. 

·         Tears, for all those missed opportunities.

·         Tears for the fear of goats, and black cats and Steve Bartman.

·         Tears, for Jeff Aten -- my compatriot who went with me to all those summer games and would wear the floppy hats and crazy glasses that they always seemed to be giving away --- Jeff died just a little over a year ago and I shed tears that he never got to see this.

As I shared in my email on Friday --- it seems somewhat profound that we celebrate the Cubs victory during this season of All Saints.

November 1 is the traditional date for All-Saints day, but most protestant churches have taken the first Sunday in November as the day that it is celebrated --- since we don't typically have daily services.

We don’t talk about saints much in Protestant Christianity.

We leave that to our Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters.

They name their churches things like, “St. Mary’s, St. Patrick’s, St. Francis’,” while most of the time we choose names that tell you more about where we are located --- Like Meridian Street.

It is almost as if we have a certain suspicion about the saints.

It seems like we are afraid of making idols out of them, and so we acknowledge their place in ancient church history, but we leave them there.

Have you ever wondered --- just what is it that makes somebody a saint?

We, of course, have seen and watched the process as the Roman Catholic Church has moved to make both Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul "saints".

According to Roman Catholic sources there are four steps to being declared a "Saint"

Before a person can be considered for sainthood, he/she must have been dead for at least 5 years.

First Step: When the subject arises that a person should be considered for Sainthood, a Bishop is placed in charge of the initial investigation of the person's life. If it is determined that the candidate is deemed worthy of further consideration, the Vatican names the candidate as a "Servant of God."

Second Step: The Church Official, who coordinates the process and serves as an advocate, must prove that the candidate lived a heroically virtuous life. When a candidate is approved, he/she earns the title of "Venerable."

Third Step: To be beatified and recognized as a "Blessed," one miracle acquired through the candidate’s intercession is required in addition to recognition of heroic virtue (or martyrdom).

Fourth Step: Canonization requires a second miracle after beatification.  Once this second miracle has been received through the candidate's intercession, the Pope declares the person a "Saint."

I am not sure that is what we mean, in the protestant church – or specifically in the United Methodist Church, when we talk about saints.

We don't have a system in the UMC that elects people to sainthood.

We don't pray to saints or believe that they are mediators for us to God.

We believe, as we are told in 1 Timothy 2:5-6

"... there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human who gave himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:5-6a). 

We call people "saints" because they exemplified the Christian life.

That is why we take the time every year, on All-Saints Sunday to read a long list of names of people who were saints to us. 

The “witnesses”, that the author of Hebrews talks about.

We pause and remember the ways that they touched our lives, the ways they made us better people.

Think about it ----

We gather here every week, because of the commitment and dedication of the Saints who have gone before us.

·         Our sisters and brothers who had a vision for making a kingdom difference in Indianapolis.

If you have never read Daniel Evans book: At Home in Indiana for One Hundred and Seventy-five Years, you need to pick it up and reflect on the saints that have made Meridian Street United Methodist possible.

But, I think it is a mistake to believe that only dead people are saints.

As I prepared for this morning, I read and listened to a number of sermons on All-Saints.  And they all ask a similar question --- who is going to one day remember us as Saints?

I think it is the wrong question.

As I understand the concept of being a saint --- in the United Methodist tradition one thing seems apparent.

          Sainthood isn't about the past --- it is about the present

As United Methodists we believe that every Christian can be considered a saint.

So while it is important for us to pause and reflect on the saints who have gone home to be with God --- today must also be a day in which we recommit ourselves to living a saintly life every day.

That doesn't mean we are going to be perfect --- it means that we are forgiven and have the opportunity not to let our failures define us, but to let our successes define us.

So the question becomes --- who sees the saintliness in your life?

Every day since arriving in Indianapolis I have had the opportunity to witness saints in action.

All you have to do is open your eyes and you see saints running all around Meridian Street Church

Yesterday, I witnessed two groups of saints.

One group met here at Meridian Street.  They were a part of IndyCAN (which stands for Indianapolis Congregation Action Network) of which Meridian Street is involved.  Seven members of Meridian Street were here hosting and reaching out to voters who had expressed interest in supporting the Transit Initiative encouraging them to get out the vote.

The second was a group of people, including two Meridian Street members, who decided to run a marathon pushing Robert, a retired United Methodist Pastor, who is battling Huntington's disease and help raise awareness and support for Joy's House.  Although, the truth be told, I think it was really to help Mr. Robert achieve a life-long dream of completing a marathon. 

Why do I call these people Saints --- because they were willing to give of themselves supporting others.

None of those callers will probably ever use the IndyGo Transit system, but they know the people who desperately need it are the under-served, and without changes to the system they will continue to be left behind.

The runners ran 26.2 miles not for their own glory --- but for Mr. Robert.

They were, using the phrase from the Roman Catholic Church, modeling a heroically virtuous life.

Look around you.

This room is filled with Saints.

Repairing The World

Revelation 21:1-6    (NRSV)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

There is a town in Southwest, Ohio --- it is a pretty small town ---- named for Jeremiah Morrow, one of Ohio’s early governors.

I imagine most of the town's residents probably wish his name had been something like Jeremiah Smith.

As you can imagine, the town's name can provide for some confusion ---- especially when someone wanted to get to Morrow tomorrow

Bob Gibson, realized the possibilities and a funny song was born. 

It was recorded by Gibson and a number of other people --- including The Kingston Trio and my favorite by far is the version by the Muppets --- you need to go find it on youtube!          (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEilPR1PXko)

The song goes like this:

To Morrow

I started on a journey, about a year ago

To a little town called Morrow in the state of Ohio

I've never been much of a traveller, so I really didn't know

That Morrow was the hardest place I'd ever try to go!

I went down to the station for my ticket and applied

For tips regarding Morrow not expecting to be guyed

Said I," I'd like to go to Morrow and return

No later than tomorrow, for I haven't time to burn."

Said he to me, "now let me see if I have heard you right--

You'd like to go to Morrow and return tomorrow night"

"You should have gone to Morrow yesterday and back today

For the train today to Morrow is a mile upon its way....

"If you had gone to Morrow yesterday now don't you see

You could have gone to Morrow and returned today at three.

For the train today to Morrow, if the schedule is right

Today it goes to Morrow and returns tomorrow night.

As the song points out ---- getting to tomorrow can sometimes be a difficult proposition!

That's always been true!

Especially when we turn tomorrow into a day, when all of the problems of today are going to be solved.

I bet you all remember that it is Annie who reminds us --- Tomorrow is ALWAYS a day away!

When we look at "tomorrow" in the Bible, tomorrow --- the future ---- the time that has not yet arrived --- tomorrow is the assurance that the present is never the end of the story.

It reminds us that the darkness of today will not survive into tomorrow.

One of the prophet Jeremiah's favorite phrases was "the days are surely coming . . ."

Jeremiah was proclaiming this during the dark and dismal days of Israel's history.

For the Israelites at that time --- the future (along with the present) looked pretty bleak!

But by reminding the people that there would be a  TOMORROW --- Jeremiah and the prophets were able to encourage Israel to keep their faith alive.

The future --- tomorrow is also very important for us as Christians.

For us it means something like this:

When you embrace the way of Christ, you enter the kingdom of God, which is already here in some ways.

But you also inherit the hope of the kingdom to come, where God’s love and power will have full sway, where all wrongs will be righted and where there will be neither sorrow nor suffering anymore.

If you listened closely to our reading today from Revelation --- you heard this same idea

The author says: (Revelation 21:1-4 The Message)

I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea.

I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband.

I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”

I can't tell you how many times I have said to people:

          "Don't lose hope --- tomorrow will be a better day"

or we say things like

Quoting Paul in Romans

"Nothing can separate us from the love of God"

or

“Tomorrow — some distant tomorrow — you will see your loved one again.”

“Tomorrow there will be war no more.”

“Tomorrow all violence will cease, and people will live peaceably with their neighbors.”

And so on.

But that tomorrow is shrouded in mystery

And when we offer consolation or encouragement with words like those --- even though it is the basis of our confidence --- it seems so far off that it often seems like wishful thinking.

I am fascinated with the history of World War II

During the early dark days of the war, England was unprepared to defend itself against the German onslaught.

Night after night German planes bombed London.

          Parents sent their children into the countryside hoping to keep them safe

          London was under constant threat and fear

The British air force --- which was no match to the German Luftwaffe, in personal or equipment --- did their best to defend their island nation.  But the reality is, many did not survive.

One of the most popular songs in England during that time was “The White Cliffs of Dover,” which proclaimed,

“There’ll be joy and laughter

And peace ever after,

Tomorrow

when the world is free ... Tomorrow

Just you wait and see.”

The mood of that song sounds a great deal like our reading from Revelation.

The tomorrow that they proclaimed was not an eternal one

It was a tomorrow within the lifetime of that generation.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is not about "Heaven" but is best understood as envisioning a this-world someday.

At the beginning of the 20th century it was a time of great hope and optimism.

Many believed that our world was making progress toward becoming a more just society.

They believed that being a disciple of Jesus was more than just saving souls but being a Christian also required that they had to tackle the social problems of their day

·         poverty

·         warfare

·         human injustice

They saw themselves establishing a new social order

          A social order build on peace, justice and well-being

They took very seriously the call of Micah as he proclaimed:

"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)

Unfortunately, two World Wars, The Great Depression and the Holocaust put a damper on the optimism and hope of so many!

Christians began to realize that WHEN the Kingdom of God arrives it will because GOD has acted to make it so and not the result of our own doing.

And while they did not usher in the Kingdom of God as they had anticipated --- the Social Gospel Movement created some important and significant changes in our world.

Many of their ideals wound up in the New Deal legislation of the 1930's and I imagine most people who are getting a Social Security check is pretty thankful for that.

But it also helped us to recognize that we (as Christians) have a responsibility not only for one's soul but also for each other's and their own whole being.

While we cannot expect to establish the Kingdom of God (that has to be God's doing).

We must recognize that we have a responsibly to care for God's world and people --- even if it is only temporary.

After Hurricane Katrina, work teams from all over the United States of America (I believe Meridian Street was one of those churches) traveled to New Orleans to help rebuild the homes of people who didn’t have enough insurance or other income to rebuild on their own.

It has been slow work, and volunteers are still at it 11 years after the hurricane.

But wait! Aren’t at least some of those homes being rebuilt in areas that are likely to flood again in a major storm?

What’s the point of rebuilding there?

The point, of course, is that that is where people live.

Some have little option but to stay on property they already own.

We certainly can’t predict their future, but in the meantime, they have to have a place to live, so the church moves to help them where they are.

Even if a storm takes their restored homes next year, the work of God’s people hasn’t been for naught.

In Judaism there is a wonderful phrase for this concept --- it is called tikkun olam and it literally means "repairing the world".

The expression tikkun olam is used in the Mishnah to indicate that a practice should be followed not because it is required by Biblical law, but because it helps avoid social disharmony.

Tikkun olam isn't just about good works, it is closer to the concept of advocacy.

Tikkun olam isn't acts of mercy --- even though acts of mercy are important.

It's about engaging in social justice while also meeting people’s spiritual and physical needs.

The truth is while we strive to repair the world --- by securing economic well-being and equal rights for everyone --- we also need to assist people in helping them get shelter, food, and clothing, and also help them in finding God.

The kingdom of God is the ultimate tomorrow.

It’s the goal of history and the reward of the faithful.

The Kingdom's coming --- is up to God.

But between today and that tomorrow are the nearer tomorrows.

We who follow Jesus have the duty to make sure that the doors of justice and society’s benefits are open for all for those tomorrows and that the Discipleship Path to spiritual fulfillment is well marked.

And we shouldn’t wait for tomorrow to get started.

Because we can get there from here.

What Are You Investing In?

Luke 19:11-27  (NRSV)

As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. So he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’ When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.’ He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’ Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ He said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ (And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) ‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’”

This story comes in an interesting place in the Gospel according to Luke, this is the final story before Jesus makes his triumphant entry into the Holy City of Jerusalem

And, I believe, Luke placed it here for a very important reason

As Jesus prepared to enter into Jerusalem --- Luke is asking us

          Which king are you going to follow?

                   The king of our parable --- or Jesus?

This parable sounds familiar because there is the related parable of the talents that is found in Mathew 25 (the parable of the talents)

But this parable is very different

Matthew's parable is all about Stewardship

Which, of course, is very important

·         especially this time of year as we get ready to begin our annual stewardship campaign

·         This year's theme is taking our theme from these past few years of “Through These Doors” and expanding it --- THE DOORS TO OUR HEARTS

·         You will be hearing more about this in the next couple of weeks, and we will ask for commitment cards to be turned in on our Thanksgiving celebration Sunday November 12th

·         But the truth is every Sunday is an opportunity for us to be good stewards

But, this parable really isn't about financial stewardship --- This parable is really about a contrast between the Kingdom of God and a political kingdom

The story in Luke's gospel right before this one is the story of Zacchaeus

Zacchaeus, that wee little man who was stealing from all of his neighbors.  But in that story, Jesus goes to the home of the tax collector Zacchaeus and while there, Jesus declared to Zacchaeus that "today, salvation has come"

In our parable today, Jesus seems to want to make sure that we understand, that --- while the kingdom of God is near --- just because Jesus is getting ready to enter Jerusalem doesn't mean that it is coming immediately

Our parable starts with a noble man traveling to a distant land . . .

William Barclay writes that everyone, in 1st century Judea would know that this was referring to Herod Archelaus.

Archelaus --- when his father Herod the Great died --- was forced to go to Rome to ask Caesar Augustus to grant him his inheritance and the title of king of Judea

Augustus ultimately grants him the right to rule Judea but not the title king

We know from the parable of the prodigal son --- that when Luke tells us that somebody goes off to a "distant land" that nothing good can come of it

Allan Culpepper in his commentary on Luke writes:

This parable cannot have the same meaning as the Matthean parable of the talents.  It features not a lesson on responsibility and stewardship but a portrait of greed and vengeance.  The king is acquisitive.  He seeks a royal title and expects others to multiply his property five and tenfold. 

Culpepper goes on to suggest that we have a hard time understanding this parable because of the social codes invoked by this parable. 

We function with an economics of unlimited goods --- we believe that anyone can rise up starting from nothing and become fabulously wealthy.

If we are just cleaver enough

Ambitious enough

Lucky enough

But in first century Palestine --- nothing could be farther from reality

It was an economy of limited goods.

There was only so much wealth and property to go around

So if one person acquired more --- somebody had to lose it.

In this month’s Biblical Archeology Review, Richard L. Rohrbaugh examines the parable and it’s first century setting:

[G]iven the “limited good” outlook of ancient Mediterranean cultures, seeking “more” was considered morally wrong. Because the pie was “limited” and already all distributed, anyone getting “more” meant someone else got less. Thus honorable people did not try to get more, and those who did were automatically considered thieves: To have gained, to have accumulated more than one started with, is to have taken the share of someone else.

The king in our story is greedy --- seeking power --- and taking whatever property he could.

The Palestinian peasant who would have heard this story would have identified with the fear that the third servant in the story possessed --- and with the bystanders protest of this redistribution of wealth.

But this king believed that the rich should get richer and the poor poorer.

If Zacchaeus, as the chief tax collector, was despised and hated --- think how much more this greedy and vicious king would have been hated

Luke seems to place this story right before the entry into Jerusalem so that we (and the hearer in the 1st century) could clearly understand the distinction between the kingship of Jesus and that of the common or typical king of the day.

The kings of the day Lord over their subjects

They were corrupt, greedy and violent

Jesus seeks justice for his followers

His kingdom is diametrically opposed to that of the kingdom in this parable

This parable invites us to reflect on what it means to call Jesus king and Lord.

God's kingdom isn't going to appear immediately --- even though it is breaking in with the advent of Jesus.

This parable calls for us to have faithful allegiance to a king whose kingdom is in conflict with the world who seek profit at expense of the poor.

The protest by the bystanders in verse 25 is a call for justice --- and an invitation to us to join them in that quest for justice.

When we --- who have access to medical care protest against the expense of providing it for those that don't --- Jesus is calling out to us and challenging us

When we --- who have access to food and shelter protest against the expense of providing it for those that don't --- Jesus is calling out to us and challenging us

What should we say when regressive taxes are proposed that protect the assets of the wealthy at the expense of the poor?

Luke ends Jesus journey to Jerusalem right here

The rest of the story is of Jesus entrance into Jerusalem, his arrest, trial, crucifixion --- and of course --- his victory through the resurrection.

As we end this journey --- we need to decide where we stand.

          Will we be hailing Jesus as king?

                   or

          Shouting for his crucifixion?

It all depends on what kind of king you want?

A while ago, someone posted on Facebook about their daughter not being welcome at a church --- not here.

I think one of the reasons that the church is losing its way is we have turned Jesus into the king in this parable.

As I explained why I felt like the church was struggling --- another friend replied with this:

I'll offer a different reason -- the rise of big government. Hundreds of years of history have now taught us that the bigger government gets in people's lives, the more secular society gets and the less people think they need religion and God. Europe was the cradle of Christianity, and now church attendance is at dismal lows in countries where government is now here to take care of everybody's needs. After all, why tithe 10% of your income to a church when 10% of your income is already taken from you in taxes for social programs? In the most extreme cases of big government -- socialism and communism -- religion is all but expunged from culture. This is why I scratch my head at religious leaders in this country who keep preaching for more and more social programs and government sponsored income redistribution. Liberalism at its very core is about replacing faith in God (and faith in family and community) with faith in government

There may be a kernel of truth to what he writes --- but if we think that the government was not intrusive in Jesus day they we don't understand history.

Jesus wasn't calling for government to solve society's problems. 

But he also wasn't telling the rulers that they could ignore the problems either.

He is calling for us all --- those who rule and those who don't to seek a better, more just world

It is up to us --- you and I to choose

          Which kind of king will you follow?

What kind of world are we investing in?

          Are we the focal point of that world and how we invest?

          Or are we investing in God’s kingdom

Working to break down the systemic injustices that exist

Jesus calls us to follow the Prince of peace that Isaiah speaks of

Not the Prince of Machiavelli

Having Fun Along The Way

(Habakkuk 1:1-2,2:2-3)  The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw. {2} O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save?  2:2  Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. {3} For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.

Last week I stated that the point of becoming a Christian is not to reach some ultimate destination --- ie, perfection, or heaven,

but the point of being a Christian is to be on a lifelong

          Eternally lifelong

                   Journey with Jesus Christ

And the point of the journey is not reaching some goal (although, those things are great) the point is THE JOURNEY.

          Being a fellow traveler with Jesus and with each other.

When we pay attention to our journey in the present, we encounter the living Christ, and ultimately experience the power of Jesus in what we might call those "unexpected Holy moments" along the way.

But, on the other hand, when we see our Christian faith as a means to an end,

·         as a way of getting from A to B,

·         a way of getting from this life to eternal life,

·         and we pay no attention to life in between,

·         life tends to become miserable

the journey becomes long and arduous

and we cut ourselves off from the many ways that Jesus is waiting and wanting to touch our lives!

As we constantly seek to keep before us the notion that Christianity is a never ending journey

and when we realize that the point of the journey IS THE JOURNEY

then there are some "RULES OF THE ROAD" that can help make the journey more profitable and more fun!

I want to thank the Monday morning Bible Study for their help in coming up with some of these ideas,

Some of them are pretty simple and self evident

RULE # 1   We are in this together, so wear your name tag!

It is a lot more fun to know who you are traveling with

If you don't have a name tag --- then now is a good time to get one!

RULE #2.    If you are not sure just where you are going --- GO SOMEWHERE!

Too many Christians never get off the starting blocks in their walk with Jesus because they are not sure exactly where they are supposed to go, or how they will get there.

A young person once said to me:

"I know that God is calling me to do something, but I don't want to just try anything.  I want to make sure that I do the right thing --- rather than just trying something and finding out that isn't what God wants of me."

How many of us have said almost the exact same thing?

I know God wants me to DO something, but what that is, I am not sure

so I had better not do anything until I figure out exactly what that is.

I will wait for God to bop me on the head --- then I will get started.

If you are not sure just where you are going ---- PLEASE, just go somewhere.

Jesus tells the disciples to GO --- he doesn't tell them where to go — JUST GO, he says

Remember the stories I shared last week about my journey --- the biblical story of God calling ABRAHAM, telling him to "Go to the place I will show you"

There is an old Chinese proverb that states:

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Samuel Johnson once said:

"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome."

There will always be temptations and rationalizations that tell us to seek the safety of doing nothing --- BUT God calls all of us to GO!

And if we believe the Gospel we also believe that God will lead us!

That leads me to my third rule: CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION, MAPS REALLY ARE OK!

As you move along on your Christian journey --- do you consult your map?

And since the point of our journey is the journey we find ourselves on every day ---- do you consult your map daily'?

WHAT IS OUR MAP? THE BIBLE!

We have in our possession, the greatest collection of maps in the world.

Within that book are maps that will help us along the way on our journey

BUT, how often do we really consult it?

And do we really know how to read it?

I believe one of the problems today is many of us have lost the ability to read God's map.

How often do we go through life, assuming we know the Way.

Never consulting our maps --- only to find ourselves desperately lost and confused.

Take time to understand this "map" --- the Bible --- that God has given us.

The fourth rule is: just when you think everything is going smooth and you want to shift into fifth gear --- there is always a car doing forty in the passing lane!

To say it another way: LEARN PATIENCE.

It is hard to be patient.

Interruptions are a part of life!

The question we must ask ourselves is:

On our Christian journey are we angered by having to slow down'?

Or are we willing to seek the Holy moments that can be found in the detours of life.

Our scripture reading from Habakkuk reminds us that we must slow down.

O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save'? Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.

Paul writes in the book of Colossians: (Col 3:12)

"As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."

But, boy --- is it hard!

If indeed, interruptions are a normal part of life, then we must learn the lesson from Paul and the author of Habakkuk.

We must learn patience — because in learning patience we can experience a fifth rule of the road. ENJOY THE DETOURS; YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU WILL FIND!

I hate detours ---- when I am on a long journey, the last thing I want to deal with is a detour

But, our Christian journey is filled with detours!

Unplanned interruptions, circumstances that make us alter our course and take a different route --- things that cause us to change our plans.

When we hit the detours we face a choice

·         we can be miserable and angry about how life is unfair, God is unfair, our friends our unfair, everything is unfair

·         or find some joy in the detour.

A train was filled with tired people. Most of them had spent the day traveling through the hot dusty plains and at last evening had come and they all tried to settle down to a sound sleep. However, at one end of the car a man was holding a tiny baby and as night came on the baby became restless and cried more and more. Unable to take it any longer, a big brawny man spoke for the rest of the group. 'Why don't you take that baby to its mother?" There was a moment's pause and then came the reply. "I'm sorry. I'm doin' my best. The baby's mother is in her casket in the baggage car ahead." Again there was an awful silence for a moment. Then the big man who asked the cruel question was out of his seat and moved toward the man with the motherless child. He apologized for his impatience and unkind remark. He took the tiny baby in his own arms and told the tired father to get some sleep. Then in loving patience he cared for the little child all through the night.

That man wanted to sleep, he wanted that baby to shut up --- but in the end, instead of allowing the detour to destroy him --- he allowed the detour to change him.

Detours are a fact of life.

They are a part of the Christian journey.

Sometimes we make a wrong turn --- sometimes the road gets blocked.

At times I feel overwhelmed with the interruptions that happen in the day I have planned out, but at other times I find precious God given moments in them.

How we handle the detours, the interruptions of life says a lot about how we view and experience our Christian journey.

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.

He convinced my two brothers and me that it would be a wonderful experience if we went canoeing in Quetico Provincial Park in Canada.

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!

For a couple of months, we practiced carrying the canoes and our 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, I was convinced that half of what we brought was worthless.

From that trip I learned our 6th rule of the road (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."

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.

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, and fellow travelers!!!

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 in Romans: "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 deep 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

This morning 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.

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!

Let me close with this story:

A college class was graduating on a hot and humid day. As the graduates walked across the platform to receive their diplomas from the president of the University, he smiled, shook their hands, and said loudly, "CONGRATULATIONS!" Then, in a much lower voice, one that was firm and could only be heard by the graduates, he would say, "Keep moving."

He was only trying to keep the line moving across the stage, but his words are good advice for a lifetime -- "Keep Moving."

After every achievement --- growing up, graduation, marriage, job promotion, even retirement --- the best advice is: "Keep moving. Don't stop. Don't stagnate. There is more to life than you have found thus far."

Even once we have made the decision to become a Christian, God says the same thing to us:

"This is not the end of the journey, only the beginning. Keep moving!"