St. John’s Church on Morgan Hill

Blake Heffner July 30th, 2006

Over and Under, Around and Through
Bulletin Insert: Promises of God’s Presence and Providence

1. Over

“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” Isaiah 55:8-9

See also: Psalm 145:3 Job 5:9 Romans 11:33-36

2. Under

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” Isaiah 54:10

See also: Psalms 27 and 46 Hebrews 12:28

3. Around

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good… The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry… The lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34

See also: Psalm 145 Isaiah 43:1-5

4. Through

“Who then can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! Fro I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death, nor life, …neither the present nor the future – there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8

See also: Jeremiah 29:11-13 Ephesians 1:3-14

“Over and Under, Around and Through”

Sermon by Pastor Blake Heffner - July 30, 2006

Texts: Psalm 145 Romans 8

INTRO Question: How easy is it for you to talk about God? You see a co-worker who is hurting; you know neighbor is going through a rough time – you want to reach out to them… But, how many of us have the facility to talk to them about the Lord? My guess is precious few of us. I know I feel inadequate.

So, this message is geared for me and anyone else who may like me – who want to share God’s love with others but find it dreadfully intimidating. Somewhere in our childhood we all learned how to tie our shoes. At least most of us. Kids today, with all the Velcro can possibly survive without the skill. But anyway, most of us were taught a little jingle: “over and under, around and through.” If you can remember that jingle, and connect it to Psalm 145, you’ve got a handle for talking about some of the most precious nuggets of God’s Word.
1. Over

How often is someone around us – at work or even at home – downcast, discouraged and maybe even depressed. That person may tell you; “I can’t make any sense of God! I try to read the Bible and just can’t seem to understand it.”

What can you say to that person? Well, you might want to begin by affirming them right where they are: “Yeh, God is really over our heads, we can never fully understand his thoughts or ways.” That’s biblical. The psalmist, wrote in awe: “God, no one can fathom your greatness!” Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, God says: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways! As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8)

If someone is completely confused about God, that may be a good starting point. It is much harder for the Lord to get through to someone who thinks she’s got all the answers! We often can’t explain how or why God acts as God does. The psalmist suggests that we simply focus on “what God has done” – just recount real experiences (145:4-5): “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your might acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”

You and I can tell that person who is downcast about what God has done in the past with people who were in the pits – like Joseph who was literally thrown into one by his brothers. It’s good to tell bible stories, but it is even better to share something in the first person: how the Lord responded when you were in a pit and cried out to him! We need to put the good news into real, concrete terms!

2. Under

The mudslides in California offer a vivid picture of how one’s whole life can come apart in just moments. Perhaps you know someone for whom the earth has been shaken beneath their feet - someone who has been rocked by a severe diagnosis, or a pink slip, or a relationship problem. They are anxious and afraid. Maybe they can’t sleep or eat.

What can we say or do in such a situation? Definitely do not try to give glib answers to complicated questions. What we can and should to do is offer words of faith and hope. The Bible is full of such words, like these from Isaiah: “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.” Even when our world is rattled, God offers a firm foundation.

We are familiar with Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” It is based on Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” The question is – when we discover a friend who’s been rattled, can we tell them about that mighty fortress in our own lives? Can we relate how, when we were in a time of great anguish, the Lord gave us peace and serenity and strength? Although the Lord is over us, he is also a solid rock under our feet, a refuge in Whom we can find safe shelter during life’s storms.

3. Around

Have you ever fallen completely flat on your face – made total mess of things? It is in such times that we discover the Lord is also around us. Psalm 34 paints a marvelous picture of this: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the person who takes refuge in him… The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears area attentive to their cry… The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Actually, there is an advantage in being completely broken, so far down that there is no other way but up. When we have used up all our own strength and ingenuity, then we are in a position to hear the good news, turn to the Lord and put our hope in him. And that’s precisely when we discover the angel of the Lord has been camping around us all along, and the Lord is close to the brokenhearted. Moreover, “[he] is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love… The Lord picks up all those who fall; he lifts up those who are bowed down” in humility and shame.

When we encounter someone who is broken, are we willing and able to tell them how gracious and merciful the Lord has been to us? How when we failed, the Lord heard our cry for help. He forgave our sins and took away our sense of guilt and shame. As disciples of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us to express his amazing grace and forgiveness to each other. Our lives should be the clearest illustrations that the Lord is truly around us and among us.

4. Through

Some of us are just plain worn out. We can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. The daily grind is burning us out – so much so that even weekends away from it all do not restore our enthusiasm and energy for living. We are running on empty, we aren’t sure whether we will ever find a sense of fulfillment or satisfaction. This often leads to despair and self-destructive behavior.

Maybe you came here this morning feeling that Jesus Christ might as well be on some other galaxy; because he doesn’t seem very real to you. Maybe, despite his promise to be with us always, you feel very much alone and adrift. If that’s so, listen! The Lord, has made a remarkable promise to you and me through the prophet Jeremiah (29:11-13): “I have plans for you – plans to prosper you and give you a future and a hope. When you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Friends, God is not only over us, under us, and around us. God has plans for us that transcend this world. These plans include an abundant and fulfilling life here and now, and a glorious eternal life with God and the communion o saints in heaven. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and trust him as our Lord, we are guaranteed this inheritance. God has promised to carry us through our present trials and beyond them.

The Apostle Paul was so convinced of this truth that he willingly endured persecution, punishment and imprisonment for the sake of the gospel. While a prisoner, he declared that nothing can separate us from the love of God, absolutely nothing at all. When God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we are able to conquer every and any obstacle. And we can share this victorious perspective with others who live without hope.

Let’s close our reflection this morning by reading this remarkable proclamation together…

The funny thing is that I never quite got that over and under, around and through stuff. As a boy of 3 or 4, I heard the jingle, saw the illustration, and went away and to practice. And, I came up with a knot that is just a little different. But it worked and I never really learned “the usual method.”

That’s what I want to say about God-talk too. You may not remember any of this by tomorrow morning. You don’t need a formula to talk about God. Just be genuine and caring. If you are willing to talk about God in your own words, using your own experiences whenever possible, the Lord will bless your conversation. Remember, wherever two or three are gathered in his name, Jesus is there! That is what someone right around you may need to hear. And if you feel you don’t have enough experience with the living God, then you’ve come to the right place. Get to know the Lord better by reading his Word – begin with the psalms as we did today. Just meditate on them and pray them back to God. You’ll be surprised how quickly the Lord speaks to you and begins to shape your life. Let us pray…

Prayer

Heavenly Father, kindle a flame within us as the psalmist had who wrote: “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name… You are great and most worthy of praise. Indeed, no one can fathom your greatness! And yet, we can tell of your mighty acts, your wonderful, awesome works among us.

Lord you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. Have mercy on us, forgive us for falling away from you and getting so involved in our own agendas. Wake us up. Fill us with your Spirit of love and joy and peace. Help us to share the great gifts of faith with those around us – so that others may know you are near to all who call.

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Blake Heffner July 9th, 2006

“Meaning Business with God”

July 9, 2006

Texts: Luke 14:25-33 Matthew 21:28-32 & 22:34-40

James 4:8 reads: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” Someone has translated it to say: “Mean business with God and he will mean business with you!” Now that’s something for us to ponder today. Do you and I mean business with God?

1. It’s not what we say – but what we do – that counts

Jesus told that story about the two sons because the people of his day tended to go through the motion with their religious duties, but they did not follow through in their daily lives. They were like the son who says, “Yeh, sure, Dad, I’ll wash the car! But when his buddy calls and invites him to go skateboarding, off he goes.” The other son, comes right out and says, “No thanks, Dad, I’m busy today.” but later he has a change of heart and actually washes the car. Even our smallest children understand which son pleases the Father, which one is serious about serving.

In virtually the same conversation, Jesus gave a sobering critique of the religious people of his day by quoting the prophet Isaiah: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain.” Our first point to ponder this morning is: it’s not what we say to God or one another – but what we do – that really counts. Are we paying lip service – or truly speaking from our hearts? Is, God forbid, our worship in vain – or does it bear fruit in obedient lives?

We all have many opportunities to stand before God and make promises. We pledge our faithfulness to another person if we get married. We also make public vows of faithfulness to God when we are confirmed or bring our children for baptism - like Kenny and Joyelle and Tom and Amy have today. We make similar promises if and when we join the church as new members or become installed as deacons or elders or Sunday School teachers. On all such occasions, we are asked to declare our intention to be disciples devoted to serving Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Lord.. We may express such things in our private prayers frequently. The important question is: Do we mean business with God? Are we serious about such promises? Do we intend to back up our words with actions?

2. It’s not about commitments – but priorities

It’s easy to come up with reasons why we fall short of our promises. After all, we are committed to so many things. We constantly face competing allegiances. Do I choose my job responsibilities over my family concerns? I often hear the one about Sunday being “our only day to sleep in!” I am sure that God just smiles – and utters quietly if I just slept in one day, how different your lives would be!

I won’t sugarcoat this. Jesus certainly didn’t. His story in our first scripture lesson is about counting the cost of discipleship. “If you plan to build a house - before you even speak to a contractor or a banker - you better figure out how much you can afford to spend.” Right? It’s plain and simple economics. Down in Princeton, right on the main street, there stands a shell of a building that is about 2/3 complete. I heard that the people building it ran into some red tape with the city and just decided to walk away – purposely leaving a public eyesore. Jesus said, if we start to build and don’t finish people will ridicule us. It’s the same if we plan to go to war as a nation. We need to count the cost. The Iraq War is being subjected to daily scrutiny on these lines.

The point Jesus was making concerns discipleship. He wasn’t low-balling or giving us the soft sell. He raised the bar about as high as it could be. Do you want a realistic cost assessment for being my disciple? All right: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. And (if that weren’t enough) anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Wow! Taken at face value – who would want to pay such a steep price? Who is ready to “hate” his parents or spouse or children – much less your own life? That is not your basic “Uncle Sam wants you!” pitch. It is sobering. And it needs some interpretation.

Someone has said that the word for “hate” in Greek literally means to “love less.” That’s why Eugene Peterson translated this verse: “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple.” It seems a whole lot more acceptable and reasonable to say we need to love our dearest relatives less than Jesus, than to hate them. Hating just makes no sense in the context of all that Jesus says about loving one another. That translation helps us visualize the cost of discipleship. It’s still not easy – or something to be taken lightly. Jesus, aware of our deep concern for those who are close to us, insists, nevertheless, that we must put him first, if we want to would be his disciple. That is what the question about Lordship means.

3. The bottom line: It’s all about love

Let me try to turn this rather frightening proposition into an “Uncle Sam wants You!” kind of invitation. It’s tall order – but one I think has everything to do with the gospel being good news. When Jesus was asked, in our third gospel lesson, what is the greatest commandment, he said it’s all about love – loving the Lord your God will all your heart and all your soul and all your mind [Marks’ version adds] and all your strength. But think about that: the irony is that love cannot be commanded. I can’t command my daughters to love each other. I can show them how to love each other. I can encourage them to use kind words to each other and even serve each other. I can pray that their hearts will be inclined to love each other. But, the essence of love is that it is a freely given gift.

The whole idea of our loving the Lord and serving him is predicated upon our discovering how much we have already been – and still are - loved by Him. That is why the picture of the Good Shepherd we looked at earlier is so striking. We have been known and loved intimately from before our birth by the living God. My prayer is that every child who is brought here to be baptized discovers – almost inherently – what it means to be loved through the soothing words and tender touch of their parents and extended family. Then, when we teach them to sing, “Jesus loves me, this I know” they will really understand what it’s all about. They will know it’s about being accepted and cared for, being protected and provided for, being praised as a precious gift.

This is the very love that captivated the psalmist who wrote: “O God, because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you!” That wasn’t mere lip service! He goes on to declare: “God, my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, as in a desert where there is no water.” That is the kind of craving that the love of God inspires in human hearts, when we have tasted and seen how good God is. My friends, have you tasted God’s goodness and mercy toward you? On the other hand, have you somehow taken his love lightly – or even for granted? If so, let me close with a few practical ways to “mean business with God.”

4. Some practical ways to mean business with God

If I tell Sharon I love her, how will she know if I mean business? I have to back up that language with deeds of love – spending time with her, especially in communication - telling her what is in my heart and (maybe more importantly) listening to what is in hers. That’s what prayer and Bible reading is about. If we love the Lord, we will spend time every day talking and listening to him. How many of us have Daytimers to help us manage our many commitments? Why not intentionally plan for time to talk to God? Write it in there!! That’ll show you mean business.

Intimacy is important in a loving marriage. Sharon needs to know that I want to be with her, and my words of appreciation come from a sincere heart. I better not be putting on an act to make her feel good. That’s what worship is all about. The psalmist proclaims: “My lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live. I think of you all the time. Even in the middle of the night, if I can’t sleep, I reflect upon you. My soul clings to you.”

Even in the way I give my time and energy, Sharon can tell whether I am loving her or just going through the motions. It’s the same way with God: our giving of time and money should be tangible evidence of our love for God. If we offer superficial gifts – gifts that aren’t significant to us, God takes that personally. Let us show we mean business by the way we give our time and treasure.

Friends, when it comes right down to it, Jesus wasn’t trying to intimidate us into slavishly serving God, he was trying to woo us into loving our heavenly Father as he is worth loving – in fact as He has already loved us! That is the way to experience the greatest riches of life: contentment and peace, joy and gladness, confidence and encouragement. It is a sure and certain promise: If you and I mean business with God, God will mean business with us. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Gracious heavenly Father, draw near to us –as we seek to draw nearer to you. Grant us the desire to know you and to love you more and more each day – craving intimacy as intensely as anyone in a desert craves water.
We bless you that you have already provided the means to quench our thirst. You have poured out the Holy Spirit to give us your love and joy, your peace and contentment, the hope and guarantee of eternal life.
So fill us this day, that we may share these wonderful gifts with others – and seeing our good works – they may give you glory and honor and praise – in and through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord we pray. Amen

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Blake Heffner July 2nd, 2006

“Dimensions of Freedom” July 2, 2006

I Corinthians 6:12, 10:23-4 Galatians 5:1,13-15

1. Political Freedom

You want to know something interesting? If John Adams had his way, we would be celebrating today as the birthday of our country. Yes, it was on the second of July that the Continental Congress actually agreed on the wording of our Declaration of Independence, which we all know was signed on the fourth of July. On the third, John Adams sat down and wrote to his wife, Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America, to be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival, commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows and games, guns and bells and bonfires… from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever.

Well, history chose the fourth of July. But, the great anniversary festival Adams envisioned is still celebrated with pomp – “from one end of the continent to the other”! Freedom is our greatest legacy to the world: the conviction that all people are created equal and endowed by their Creator with the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That legacy has come at a very high price. In fact, the signers of the Declaration themselves paid dearly: of the 56 signers, 5 were arrested by the British as traitors, 12 had their homes looted and burned by the enemy, 17 lost their fortunes, 2 lost sons in the continental Army and 9 fought and died during the Revolutionary War. We are still paying a high price for this precious heritage. Friends, may our celebration of Independence Day leave us truly grateful for all those who have risked their lives to sustain and protect our liberty and way of life. And let us resolve to live lives that our worthy of their sacrifices – lives dedicated to the principles of liberty and justice for all people.

2. Moral Freedom

We are still struggling to determine what freedom means. Two issues in the news this week were directly related to this. The New York Times and other news agencies have been criticized for publishing a story about our government’s methods of gathering intelligence about potential terrorists. The question is whether freedom of the press might compromise the actual security of our people. A good question. The second story involves the movement calling for a Constitutional amendment against burning the American flag. Burning the flag, say some, is a basic expression of free speech.

Both issues seem to resonate with Paul’s assertions to the Corinthians: “All things are permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial or constructive.” That is a mouthful. When it comes to moral issues, we discover this over and over again. It may not be illegal to spread gossip about someone, but – as juicy as it seems – it’s seldom very helpful, and almost always hurtful.

Freedom to do what we please has limitations. I am free to swing my fist in the air – until it comes in contact with another person’s face. I am free to practice my religion – but not free to prevent someone else’s practice. For instance, the Bible teaches that palm readers and mediums are serving the Evil One. That doesn’t give us the right to vandalize or destroy their place of business. You get the point.

Dr. Tony Evans, on his daily radio program gave a brilliant picture of the way that rules and freedom are interconnected. He said think about how a kite works. The string holds onto the kite and restricts it; yet, the same string enables the kite to soar in the sky. Without the string, the kite will either not get airborne, or [if it gets aloft] it will just be carried away by the wind and destroyed. It’s the same way with us. When we obey God’s basic rules for living, our lives are tethered but enabled to fly.

For instance, consider resentment and bitterness. The Bible says: “Make every effort to live in peace with all people… See to it that no root of bitterness grow sup to cause trouble and defile many” (Heb. 12:14f.). Of course, we are allowed to be offended toward someone who has hurt us. We have every right to be angry. But if we let that anger stew and become resentment. If we let bitterness get a hold of us – we will eventually get sick. It may manifest itself as acid reflux or migraines, high blood pressure or gall stones – maybe we will just become chronically “testy.” In one way or another, bitterness will eventually rob us of our peace of mind, our joy, and our ability to love. That’s why Jesus insist that we be quick in seeking to be reconciled with other people. It’s got to be on the front burner - not for their sake, but for our sake. Forgiveness has to do with our own healing and peace of mind. It is one of those strings that keeps us in the air.

Last fall, when we had our disruptive experience, many of us were so fired up that we couldn’t sleep. We were so deeply troubled it affected our physical well-being. About then, it was suggested that I shouldn’t preach about forgiveness, because we weren’t ready for it. Maybe the timing wasn’t perfect – but the urgency was needed. There is no other remedy for what ailed us. Forgiveness is therapy for the wounded heart, the broken fellowship. Reconciliation is the only cure for alienation. If we just walk away from each other mad – we haven’t dealt with the issue. And Jesus clearly said, unless we deal with the issues between us, we cannot begin to deal with God. If we cannot love one another, we cannot possibly love and serve God. The only way to peace, in the midst of turmoil, is to let go – let go of our claims, our grudges, our sense of injustice – to open our fists, unclench our teeth, and forgive. There is nothing like the freedom that comes when people agree to bury the hatchet, accept each other, and try to rebuild a relationship.

3. Spiritual Freedom

Let’s follow the kite analogy to its biblical core. Look at Adam and Eve in the garden. The string to their kite was a simple rule: don’t eat from that tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They were free to eat from any other tree. But, nooo! They entertained the serpent who questioned why there should be any string at all. The fruit looked delicious, and tasted good. And boom! They were out of paradise. The value of obedience is freedom and joy; the price of disobedience is bondage and suffering.

Ever since that beginning, every human person’s wiring has been messed up. We want to have it our way. Right? Let’s be honest. We don’t want any strings, we don’t want to bow to any higher authority, we don’t want to hear about rules. That’s what we call original sin. We’re all in the same boat – every single one of us. And, the Bible says the boat is a slave ship. That means, as we indulge in our natural desires and appetites, we become enslaved by them.

It doesn’t matter what floats your boat. It doesn’t have to be addictive drugs or alcohol. Repeated self-indulgence – in anything – leads us into bondage. In the beginning it seems like an innocent little dabbling. But eventually we cannot walk away on our own power. It’s the same whether we’re eating the wrong foods, or getting into debt, or looking at pornographic images. The kite string soon breaks and we are lost. The Bible says that everyone who sins becomes a slave to sin. There is no other way about it. You and I cannot dabble with self-indulgence and still enjoy the freedom that we were created to enjoy: peace of mind, genuine joy, unconditional love.

Fortunately, there is a real remedy for our disease. It may seem at first – like a lot of medicine – worse than the disease itself. But it is truly medicinal. Jesus Christ is the answer. He said: “If you hold to my teaching [that’s the kite string] you are my disciples. Then, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free… If the Son sets you free you will be free indeed!”

There is no other way to enjoy spiritual freedom and joy. So long as we insist on being “in control” – we’re not really free, but in bondage. But when we take hold of the Lord’s teaching, our spiritual kite string, we experience genuine liberation. Jesus Christ died for us, so that we might live in Him. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!” (II Cor. 3:17).

So, I invite you to make today - July 2nd - your real Independence Day. If you haven’t already, accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Sign onto his Declaration of Dependence. If you already have, then surrender to him anew. He alone offers what we all really crave: freedom from the tangled web we weave, unconditional love, irrepressible joy and a peace that passes understanding. Let us pray…

Prayer

O Lord, move us by your Holy Spirit to sign a Declaration of Dependence today –

dependence upon your love and mercy to accept us just the way we are

dependence on your precious blood to forgive all our sins and wash away our guilt and shame

dependence upon the power of your Spirit to fill us with new life and new appetites – the desire to walk your ways and serve others in your name

dependence upon your promise to make our hearts truly glad and our minds filled with the light of your truth

O Lord, our Lord, let the fireworks begin! Fill our lips with your praise – hallelujah! Amen.

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