April 26, 2009 - "Big"

Audio Version - click HERE.

1 Corinthians 13

Christianity is a big religion … all around the world millions claim the name of Christ – in thousands of flavors and still counting … stone cathedrals in great cities and thatched-roof sheds in Haiti … high-toned sermons and street-corner preachers … charlatans fleecing the faithful and chaplains visiting the sick … Presbyterians and Quakers, Methodists and Catholics, evangelicals and liberals; progressives and conservatives … mainline, old-line and non-denominational … all rolled into an amazing conglomerate called the church of Jesus Christ.

Christianity is a big religion … with a big savior … big ideas … big dreams … and a very big love at the heart and center of it all.

For God so loved the world …

A world-sized love … and when it gets inside of us, it pushes things around, rearranges the furniture, adds a few more rooms … makes us bigger then we were yesterday.

Christianity is a big religion …

From Abraham to Anselm …
From Moses to Mother Teresa …
From Sinai to Cincinnati and all around the world …

Read the Bible – every book a voice, a voice clamoring for our attention – God is this and God is that … big ideas and big challenges …
Christ is so large it will take the rest of our life and then some to work it all out …
Time isn’t enough to serve the LORD … we’ll need eternity as well.

Christianity is big … really big.
A big Savior …
And a very big love …

Paul the Apostle writes an amazing essay on big love …
The love of God in Christ Jesus our LORD …
God’s love for us …
And our love for one another.

Please open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 13 (p.175) …

We’ll take a look at Paul’s essay in three movements … the first movement – [read vs. 1-3] …

Everything we tend to value …
Oratory …
Passion …
Faith …
Intelligence …
Sacrifice …

The great human virtues … Paul dares to suggest that all of these great and wondrous virtues can be done without love … but without love, they’re only vanity, self-serving and self-glorifying … without love, these virtues are sawdust and cobwebs.

What is love?

Here’s what love looks like … the second movement …

[read vs. 4-6] … … …

These are not easy words to read.
These verses take me to task.
They get inside of me and poke around in sensitive places.

I’d like to think I’m a loving person.
And maybe I am.
Some of the time.
But is my love big enough?

I think of the ancient Chinese practice of wrapping a little girl’s foot, deforming the foot painfully, so that it could fit into tiny little shoes … someone once said, “small feet are beautiful.” So for centuries, little girl’s feet were bound and forced to grow in upon themselves – so the woman could wear tiny shoes.
Do we do that to our soul?
Do we wrap our soul in ideas too small, too confining?
Do we totter around on small thoughts and small commitments?

I wonder about my faith … my hope … my love …
Too small?
My vision of the church?
My sense of Christ?
My willingness to go the extra mile?
Is it all too small?

Do you ever wonder about your faith, hope and love?
Are you tottering around on ideas too small?
Like J.B.Phillips asked, “Is Your God Too Small?”

Let’s read on …
Verses 8-13 …

What does it mean to love?

In my Bible study this past year, I’ve reminded my students nearly every session – love is an ethical word – not a sentiment, but a commitment … not a feeling, but a decision; an ethical word filled with action and involvement – concern and care – to do unto others as we would have them do unto us!

What does it mean to love?

We learn the ways of love from Jesus …
Love gives …
Love surrenders and serves …
Love shoulders a burden we couldn’t carry …
And when we pick up our cross, we always do it for someone else, just like Jesus did.

“God is love,” says the writer of 1 John,
“And those who abide in love
Abide in God,
And God abides in them” [1 John 4:16].

What is love?

We see it in Jesus Christ.

Jesus welcomes the children and touches the leper.
He engages people openly and honestly …
He walks away from needless conflict, but isn’t afraid of conflict when its needed.
He teaches … again and again, he teachers,
To open folks up …
A larger version of faith, hope and love.

You can be bigger than you are today.
There’s always more to faith than what you know and what you have of it today.
Don’t believe everything you think … and learn to think in new ways.
There’s no end to growing …
In this life, and for the next.

When the stone was rolled away Easter morning …
We all learned a primal truth:
Love cannot be beaten …
Nothing stands in the way of love … love bears all things, endures all things, believes all things … love never ends.
Though darkness descend and all be lost, nothing stands in the way of love.
Love always has its getting’ up morning …

We learn love in Christ …
Love rolls up it’s sleeves and goes to work …

Love collects luggage for foster children.
Love is our Board of Deacons looking after our congregation.
Love is my good friend, Ben Mathes, who goes to some of the most dangerous places in the world to bring medicine and schoolbooks and a little bit of Jesus.
Love stands behind LAX hotel workers.
Love serves tuna casserole in a soup kitchen …
Love helps hungry families at our Food Pantry …
Love fills up a cardboard fish bank for the One Great Hour of Sharing …
Love takes a neighbor to the doctor’s office …
Love reads the Bible carefully to discern the voice of Christ …
Love prays for peace in our world …
Love goes on a mission trip to Nicaragua …
Love digs water wells for thirsty people …
Love plants trees on Earth Day …
Love frees a whale trapped in fishing nets …
Love fights for clean water and clean air …

Love welcomes and affirms –
Clothed in Christ, we are one in Christ – “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female” [Galatians 3:28] …

In Christ, the usual distinctions are erased.
In Christ, there is no longer believer or non-believer, Republican or Democrat, gay or straight, rich or poor, friend or foe, legal or illegal immigrant, beautiful and not-so-beautiful.

The usual distinctions fad away in the bright light of Christ:
That’s why the world was so taken by Susan Boyle – I’m sure by now you’ve all seen her performance either on TV or on YouTube – when she stepped onto the stage, in all of her Welsh frumpiness, 47 years old and never been kissed, the judges rolled their eyes and the audience snickered … but there she was, and when she opened her mouth to sing, it was glorious … in heartbeat, the audience was overwhelmed with shame – how quickly, how easily, the book was judged by its cover – tears flowed, mouths dropped open, and when she sang the last notes of “I Dreamed a Dream,” it was a standing ovation for her.
The world learned an important lesson – those things that divide us, one from the other – the boundaries we draw, and the big deals we make of them, must be managed better … we’ve got to have better eyes and warmer hearts … and we’ve got to make sure that everyone is welcomed!

Think of our LORD's Table here … and the fuss so many churches make about who can and who can’t partake.

Why do we do that? Why a food fight at the LORD's Table, of all places?

Jesus had table fellowship with all sorts of questionable people – the down-and-outer, the irreligious and the outcast – Jesus welcomes everyone!
We are one in Christ!

Can the church of Jesus Christ be any less?

We learn love in Christ!

Now that Easter is behind us, we have some work to do.
To listen to Christ!
“This is my son with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him,” says the Father to us …
Listen to him we must, and listen to him we will.
Or might I ask, to whom else are we listening, if not listening to Christ?
What are the voices and values that shape our soul?
If not Christ, who then?
If not faith, hope and love, what then?

Now that Easter is behind us,
Is Christ ahead of us?
In the light of Easter, we have to ask probing questions.
Is Christ the heart and soul of Covenant Presbyterian Church?
Is Christ my heart?
Is Christ your heart?

Now that Easter is behind us,
What’s ahead of us?
Where are we headed?
And what’s in store for us?

This much I know:
Everyone of us in this room …
Can make a fresh start of it with Christ.
Today … here and now!

Everyone of us in this room can bow our head and start all over again with Christ our LORD.
Everyone of us in this room can let a little more of Christ into our lives.
“LORD Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, I give myself to you in faith and obedience.”

We will change.
We will grow.
That’s how love goes … a very big love, indeed!

Now … take a few moments with me please …
Bow you heads …
Quiet your thoughts …
Silence your soul …
… … … … … … receive Christ!

A very big love, indeed!

Amen and Amen!

April 5, 2009 - Journey - Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday ~ Mark 11:1-11

Audio version HERE.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth with only a few words, “Let it be” and it is … one, two, three, and it’s done; with the snap of a finger, as easy as pie …

But the great God Almighty is no absentee landlord … God is going to have a hand in things from the get-go … up close and personal.

God fashions us from the dirt of the earth … and takes this little lump of dirt in hand and gets close enough to puff air into our lungs – an image of tenderness … as a mother might hold her child close and blow gentle air into the child’s face – sweetness and delight …
But more than this, the very first breath humankind takes is the breath of God … we are not our own, nor are we merely creatures of the dirt – we are children of God, and endowed with God’s Spirit.

God, up close and personal …

I love the stories of Genesis … after things get going a bit, God decides to pay Adam and Eve a visit … in the cool of the day, it says, at the time of the evening breeze – when folks come out after a hot day to sip some tea or enjoy a mint julep.
God drops in to say Hi!
A friendly visit …

But Adam and Eve are nowhere to be found.
They’re hiding … they’re afraid … they’re ashamed.
We might have expected Adam and Eve to be sitting on the porch looking for company, but now they’re hiding in the bushes …

God knocks on the door, but no answer.
Adam and Eve shush one another!

Ever done that?
Uncle Fred comes to the door, and he’s the last person you wanna see, because he’ll talk your ears off for two hours, and you’ve got work to do, so you get real quite … Uncle Fred knocks on the door, and you put your finger to your lips and shush everyone … Uncle Fred knocks again, “Anyone home?”

Uncle Fred goes away after knocking a few times …

But God calls out, “Adam, Eve, where are you?”
And frightened as they are, they can’t resist the gracious voice of God … love is calling them, as love calls us, “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

Adam and Eve emerge from their hiding place trembling … “We were afraid,” they said.

“What happened?” asks God.

You know the rest of the story … but for me today, the heart of the story is God paying us a visit … not just an occasional visit, but many a visit …

God drops by Abraham and Sarah one day by the oaks of Mamre – a shade tree visit …
God pays Moses a visit in a burning bush in the land of Midian.
God calls the young boy Samuel in the deep of the night … it seems that God likes to stop by now and then, just like a good friend.
Not too often as to wear out a welcome.
But always at the right moment.
God is never late.

In a prayer, our heart is moved.
In a book, something awakens our spirit.
We read the Bible, and a great truth grips our soul.
God pays us a visit!

And then one day, the Angel Gabriel visits a young girl in a little town in Palestine and says to her, “Mary, God’s favor is upon you, and you will become pregnant, and the child in your womb will be Israel’s Messiah” … and so it came to pass, the child war born … the Son of God in the flesh, God with us, paying us another visit.

The child grew in wisdom and strength, and one day, about the age 30, he travels south to where the Jordan enters the Dead Sea … a harsh and unyielding wilderness, there to be baptized.

Jesus of Nazareth, this man of sorrows, and great love, walks the length and breadth of the land … pays a visit to some fishermen, Peter and Andrew, James and John … and then drops by a tax collectors’ booth to chat with a man named Matthew … and then stops beneath a tree in Jericho and invites himself to dinner with Zacchaeus …

God, up close and personal … who enjoys dropping in on us, to see how things are going.

It’s not easy for God.
I wouldn’t want to be God for all the tea in China, and you wouldn’t either.

Heaven is plagued with terrible questions:
How to love us?
How to help us?
How to entice us out of the bushes, and out of the boats and away from the tax booth … how to get us out of our tree so that God can break bread with us?

A long and difficult journey for God …
From heaven to earth …
From Galilee to Jerusalem …
From Bethlehem’s cradle to Calvary’s cross.
From life to death, and to life again.

Today … we call it Palm Sunday …
We recall the fateful events that brought Jesus to the fabled city, the Holy City of David, the city on a hill – Jerusalem the Golden.

The little story recalled in Mark is full of hints and hopes …
This man of many travels …
He’s now a pilgrim to the Holy City …
Everyone walks, but in the last mile, he rides …
On a young donkey not yet ridden … a colt for only one purpose –
Not a horse reserved for war, but a donkey, a beast of holy burden, not fast, but slow; to bring a king to the royal city.

Mark spends a lot of time detailing the arrangements … for Mark, this moment is terribly important, full of portent – meaning and hope: beneath the ebb and flow of time there is a plan … God at work in all things …
A young donkey is tethered beside a home.
The disciples are instructed where to find it, and what to say if anyone should question they’re taking it.
The simple word: “It’ll be returned soon” speaks a whole world of meaning – God never takes anything, but only asks for our help.
This is no ordinary king.
Mark would have understood the power of the Roman soldier who could press into service anyone they needed, and commandeer a beast of burden.
But this king will only borrow the donkey, and return it promptly.

Cloaks are thrown on it for a makeshift saddle …
Those with him shout for joy … the ancient cry of the pilgrim.
“Hosanna” … “Save us God.”
“Blessed are all who come to this city in the name of the LORD.”
“Blessed is the coming kingdom of David our father.”
“Hosanna in the highest” … “Save us, O God.”

Branches and leaves are waved and strewn about on the road – things green and living … this is a procession unto life.
The jubilant pilgrims are eager to enter the city … they press in upon Jesus – a boisterous crowd – some of them, his friends, have a hint of who he might be, but today, Jesus is just one of the thousands of pilgrims pushing in to the fabled city.

The crowd passes through the northern gate and quickly disperses …
Jesus and the twelve are alone.
Jesus goes to the temple …
To see his Father’s home away from home …
“A house of prayer for all nations,” said Isaiah …
A safe place for all the world.
Tomorrow, Jesus will challenge the authorities.
Tomorrow, Jesus will turn the tables.
Tomorrow, Jesus will say, “You’ve turned this house of prayer into a den of thieves.”

The hour is late.
Jesus returns to Bethany.
For the next three days, he’ll work in the city during the day, but at night, he withdraws to Bethany … he has friends there, on the east slope of the Mount of Olives … … at night, even the son of God needs a place to lay his head, some friends to cheer him, and food prepared by loving hands.

As the story unfolds, things go south in a hurry.
Jesus doesn’t play the game very well.
He says troubling things.
He breaks with convention.
He upsets the apple cart.
And turns the tables on them.

The powers that be grow resentful.
Plans are laid.
Midnight plots are hatched.
The ball begins to roll.

Judas decides to cast his lot with the powers that be.
He can see the handwriting on the wall.
This isn’t going to end well.
Like all of us, Judas wants to be on the winning side.
And money talks …
30 pieces of silver …
Not a bad wage for a mean night’s work.

And dear old Peter.
Bold and brash.
But now he’s frightened, and Peter will lose his courage.
Who hasn’t lost their courage a time or two?
Who hasn’t echoed Peter’s sentiment beside the fire on a chilly night, “I really don’t know the man.”
And I suppose, in some ironic way, Peter was absolutely right … he didn’t know Jesus very well at all … but, then, who does?

That fateful night as the weeks draws to a close,
Jesus will stand alone in the court of Pilate.

What needs to be done, only he can do.
This work belongs to God, and to God alone.
There would be work for us down the road.
“Come and follow me, and take up your own cross.”
Plenty of work,
Back-breaking work …
Blood, sweat and tears kind of work …
But not yet …

Not in Pilate’s court …
Not on Friday at Golgatha …
Nor in the tomb …
Only the Son of God can do this mighty work.

A long and bitter night it will be …
Betrayal and arrest …
Denial and trumped-up charges …
Beating and spitting …
The crown of thorns and the purple robe …
The laughter and the scorn …

This work belongs to God …
All alone …
To pay a debt he didn’t owe,
For a price I couldn’t pay.

Palm Sunday …
Did they really have any idea what was happening?

Not likely … but, then, do we?

When I think about salvation, I’m amazed …
When I ponder the story of the Great God Almighty shaping a little lump of dirt and bringing it close to his face, to blow the breath of life into us.
When I wonder what it was like for Moses to take off his shoes and talk with God, warmed by a burning bush that never burned at all …
God with us, God near to us; a gracious presence that leaves the bush untouched … a fire that doesn’t consume; a flame that doesn’t harm … a love, pure and clean!

Paul the Apostle writes to the Philippians, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more with knowledge and insight.”

Psalm 23, “my cup runneth over” – full of God’s love …

Paul’s prayer is my prayer for you.
And not a bad prayer for any of us to pray for one another.
That your love overflow …
Because there can never be enough love …

Sometimes love is a little puny …
Christians don’t have a spotless record … sometimes our love is stingy and miserly.

May our love overflow more and more with knowledge and insight.

It’s a spiritual thing … a vast mystery, to be sure.
The love of God.

Paul writes elsewhere to the Corinthians: “desire the greater gifts.”
Go for it.
Exceed the limits.
Reach high and reach far.
Pursue God with all of your might …
Pray for the greater gifts …
An overflowing love …

The great love of God …
The love that blew the breath of life into this little lump of dirt …
The love that flamed bright in a burning bush …
The love that came down, small enough to fit into Mary’s womb …
The love that journeyed from heaven to earth …
From Galilee to Jerusalem …
To pay a debt he didn’t owe,
A price you and I couldn’t pay.

Amen and Amen.