St. John’s Church on Morgan Hill

Blake Heffner August 27th, 2006

“Through it All” August 27, 2006

Texts: Psalm 125 & Isaiah 54:1-10

INTRO: Change has been on mind. Maybe it’s been on yours too. If so, you’ll enjoy the message that someone sent to me via email this week: It’s titled: “To All The Kids Who Survived the 1930’s 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s!!” Perhaps you’ve already come across it. It’s a light-hearted look at how different we thought and behaved just a few decades ago.

“First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn’t get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking. As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick-up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-Aid made with sugar, but we weren’t overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING !

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. [Sports weren’t all organized like they are today: we chose different sides for every pick-up game, and there were no refs or umps!]

We did not have PlayStations, Nintendo’s, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD’s, no surround-sound or CD’s, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms…….
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes. We rode bikes or walked to a friend’s house, knocked on the door or rang the bell, or, just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn’t had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW to deal with it all! If YOU are one of them . . CONGRATULATIONS!”

Times have changed so many things, but you have to wonder what we’ve gained. Year’s ago this was a copier: carbon paper. Now we have machines that will run off 100 pages a minute. We used to have adding machines and typewriters; now we have pcs and laptops, mp3 players and ipods. The newest computers don’t even have floppy disk drives anymore – because in the future our data will be stored right on CDs and little memory sticks. Everything’s faster and smaller, but is it better? Wise old King Solomon became quite cynical: “There is nothing new under the sun!” he lamented. We find new ways of doing things, but they are not always an improvement on the older ways. So, what’s the point of all this commentary?

Lately, I’ve looked into the eyes of a student going off to a new university and I saw fear. Real fear and trepidation. I hear it in many voices about the church here – are we better off now, or are we in trouble? Honestly, I’ve seen it in the mirror. I have moments of doubt and anxiety. So, for any of us who have been feeling a little bit troubled, I offer two points:

1. Change doesn’t necessarily mean improvement or progress. Things may or may not be better; they are just different. The good old days had their own set of trials. But, years ago we knew nothing about child predators. Pornography was something you had to go out of your way to find – now it’s available at the click of a mouse. People have always abused alcohol and tobacco, but who ever dreamed of all the kinds of drugs available today? Folks had tough economic times in the past, but – up until the past twenty years - those who were employed enjoyed relative job security and company loyalty. Workers usually got medical insurance and pension benefits. And they could be fairly confident about Social Security when they retire. No longer! Today’s young adults face a future with no guarantees. Our world presents more dangers and temptations than ever, and we face them with less confidence, less security & less hope. In the fifties we believed that every day things were getting better and better; today we are sure they are not. Where can we find solid ground, a place to stand strong?

2. Get a piece of the Rock - Trust in the Lord!

Prudential Insurance used to say: “Get a piece of the Rock.” The psalmist heartily agrees:

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore.

Friends, you must have heard this before – maybe a hundred times. But the question is, when you and I find the very ground beneath our feet shaking, what do we do? Do we reach out for friends – or a bottle of pills – or do we take hold of the Rock of Ages – Who cannot be moved?

When we feel confused and bewildered – racing down the river of current events, seemingly without a paddle – to whom do we turn? Have we learned to trust in the One who surrounds us, like the mountains around Jerusalem? Have we learned to trust in Jesus Christ like Andre Crouch - who composed the beautiful song Don sang for us?

I’ve had many tears and sorrows;

I’ve had questions for tomorrow;

There’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong.

But in ev’ry situation God gave blessed consolation

That my trials come to only make me strong.

Chorus Through it all, through it all,

(Oh,) I’ve learned to trust in Jesus;

I’ve learned to trust in God.

Through it all, through it all,

I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

Friends, have you come to the point (with Andre Crouch) where you can sincerely thank God for your troubles – and see His hand at work in the storms of your life?
I thank God for the mountains

And I thank Him for the valleys;

I thank Him for the storms He brought me through;

For if I’d never had a problem,

I wouldn’t know that He could solve them;

I’d never know what faith in God could do.

It is times like these we are living in right now – challenging, trying times – when we have golden opportunities to discover “what God can do” – that God is near to the brokenhearted, that his love is not fickle but steadfast, and that his power is able to overcome any obstacle, even mountains!

At the very lowest point in Israel’s history, the Lord spoke those marvelous words of promise to Israel: “The mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed!” This is why Anne Graham Lotz says, “We have everything when we have Jesus - a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The old gospel hymn we love to sing proclaims this!

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ the solid rock I stand – All other ground is sinking sand…

In ev’ry high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil…

When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand – All other ground is sinking sand.

Friends, have you come to the place where you know that “through it all” Jesus Christ is the solid Rock on which you stand? If so, please stand and sing that great hymn as our statement of faith – No. 404!

Invitation to Prayer:

If you are not sure that you are standing on the solid rock of Christ, that you are wholly leaning on his name, then I invite you to become sure this morning. I invite you to build your hope on the One who doesn’t change with the times. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever. You can be assured of “forever” – an eternal life with Christ and all the saints, by simply offering yourself to him.

Pray with me…

Lord Jesus, I am so rattled. Some days I can’t tell which end is up, whether I am coming or going. I am confused about so many things. I am afraid too. I have had so many doubts. But you understand me and you love me – with all my doubts and sins. You gave your life for me on the cross of Calvary. You shed your blood in order that my sins might be washed away and I might inherit a brand new life – and eternal future, with you and all the saints. Lord, I offer myself to you today – with all my shortcomings, all my failings, all my tears. Have mercy on me, forgive me. Pour your Holy Spirit into me and fill me with your love, joy and peace. Raise me up with new confidence, enable me to walk in your light and serve you in the world – for it is in Jesus’ name I come and in his precious name I pray. Amen.

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Blake Heffner August 13th, 2006

“Tips for Riding the Carousel of Life”

Sermon by pastor Blake Heffner - August 13, 2006

Texts: Matthew 6:31-34; II Timothy 2:14-18; Isaiah 58:6-9

INTRO

“The circle of life” is the common idea that human life comes full circle, from birth to death. This week, it seems I was given vivid glimpses of the whole process. We welcomed a new baby into the family and said farewell to a member of our extended clan. I was blessed by a woman who is dying, and – like you - experienced a few of life’s more mundane bumps and turns. This morning, I’d like you to imagine this circle on its side: life is like a carousel. – it doesn’t just go round and round, it also goes up and down. Let’s consider a few biblical tips for riding well…

1. The wonder of life – photo of Amelia and Charlotte

Sometimes life seems to be so routine, so predictable, so mechanical. Riding on the merry-go-round is anything but that. We may be aware of the mechanisms, but when the music begins we just sit back and enjoy the ride.

When a baby is born, we can even take it in stride! As long as mother and baby are healthy, it’s no big deal. Many of us have been there before. But not two-year Amelia. When you get the chance to look at this picture close up you will enjoy Amelia’s concentration. She is studying her new sister moments after meeting her for the first time. What do you think is going through her young mind? Is this one princess – wondering what it will mean for a second princess to live in the castle? Or is she just in awe of this new person, almost the size of her doll?

Life is a marvelous mystery. The psalmist (Ps.139) writes: “It was you [Lord] who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. [Why, God,] you know everything about me. Even before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely.” We should never let daily life become purely mechanical and routine. To ride well, we need to cultivate the sense that every phase of life has its wonder-filled moments. God is worthy of our praise – at every age!

2. Living in the present moment – Joan

I had the privilege of visiting someone who has mastered this art. Joan Schaible is a member of this family of faith. She has had a rather long and pretty healthy life – up until about five years ago, that is. These last five years have been filled with dozens of hospital stays and surgical procedures. Why just about everyone who works on the fifth floor of the Payne Pavilion at St. Luke’s knows her by name. Doctors just drop in to say hello to her.

Why? It’s because Joan is one of those rare individuals who has actually learned to live one day at a time, moment by moment really, and she is truly grateful for every little thing. Now she is basically confined to her home, on oxygen. They say she’s got cancer in three places. She’s lost a lot of weight, and most of her former spunk. But you’d hardly know it. Joan still wears a smile; she appreciates the littlest gestures of kindness. When her daughter Sabina plays arpeggios on the piano, you’d think Joan was in Carnegie Hall.

Somewhere along the way, Joan has learned to live the way Jesus taught us – not to worry about what we will wear or eat, not to worry about tomorrow – because God grants us the privilege of living one day at a time. I hope that you might try to visit with Joan as see for yourself a woman of genuine serenity – despite her physical condition and her prognosis. You will be blessed. And, how blessed we will be when we simply trust God for our basic needs and make the most of every moment.

3. Controversies tend to come and go – Earl

Thursday evening we attended the viewing of my father’s cousin, Earl S. Heffner, Jr. Earl had a remarkably successful life as a lawyer and philanthropist; his obituary was nearly a whole column long. What struck me about Earl is how he graduated from Muhlenberg College and later served as Chancellor of the Northern Province of the Moravian Church.

What’s so strange about that, you ask? Nothing these days! But, two hundred and sixty years ago this dual allegiance would have been unthinkable. You see, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg was a Lutheran pastor sent to Pennsylvania to help organize the German Lutherans. Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf was a born and bred German Lutheran who became the leader of the renewed Moravian Church. Both men had strong personalities and great leadership qualities. Zinzendorf desired to abandon denominations and form a truly united church of all Christians. Muhlenberg thought that was a preposterous notion. These two powerful men never saw eye to eye, and they made it hard for German Lutherans and Moravians to get along.

The whole point is that on the carousel of life – today’s controversies may be gone by tomorrow. It is well for us to heed Paul’s advice to Timothy: “Tell the people to avoid quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.” Paul offers such a warning several times. Many controversies that are hot-button issues one day are insignificant in another. We haven’t taken that counsel to heart of late. We have forgotten that, as Christians, we have so much more in common than we have dividing us. Hopefully, years from now, the things that charge us up today will be like the Muhlenberg/Zinzendorf issue – merely a another footnote to history.

4. Care for those who ride with us

Getting back to the merry-go-round. Remember how – if you had enough tickets to keep riding – you’d begin to notice the people riding around you, maybe even strike up a conversation? On the carousel of life, the Lord commands us to pay attention to the folks who are riding along side of us. Stretch your imagination – beyond any merry-go-round you’ve ever seen. Imagine that there are literally millions of people – of all ages, colors and nationalities – riding on this same carousel. Many of them are poor and out of work. Some haven’t had enough to eat in several days. Many haven’t had the privilege of education that we take for granted.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us today our daily bread.” In the Middle Ages, one theologian taught that we cannot pray that prayer sincerely without praying it on behalf of those who do not have daily bread. Furthermore, if we pray that prayer earnestly, and have more than enough bread, we need to share of our surplus with those who are hungry.

The prophet Isaiah put it bluntly: “This is what God wants from us: to share our food with the hungry, invite the homeless poor into your homes, put clothing on those who need clothing. Then, when we do this, ‘the lights will turn on,’ and God will be quick to answer our cries for help.” Friends, we are riding the carousel of life with so much more baggage than we could possibly use. Let us constantly be aware of the others who are riding along with us – both locally and globally. Let us commit to regularly sharing a portion of our wealth with our neighbors in need.

5. When the ride is dizzying – focus on One Person

In closing, I’ll confess the one aspect of carousel riding that particularly grabbed me this week is the fact that life takes us up and down – sometimes at a feverish pace. Do you ever remember getting nauseous on a merry-go-round? I do. The first remedy for an upset stomach is not getting off the ride. No, it is to focus on one object. Traditionally, the merry-go-round has a feature perfect for this – the brass ring.

The Apostle Paul had his eye on a brass ring of sorts when he wrote: “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Our lives in the Heffner household have unusually dizzying of late. I know what I need – it’s to look away from our burdens and focus on the One person who can help: Jesus Christ. He is the One who says: “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 form me… and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Amen!

Friends, when the ride is just too much for you, look to Jesus, lean on him, trust him to carry that heavy burden. He will pick it right up and give you rest. There is no better way to spend your time on the carousel of life than in his tender loving arms. Let us turn to him in prayer…

Prayer

Jesus, precious Jesus, you are the One who has taught us about life: how wonderful it is, how we can trust our heavenly Father for all our needs, and how relatively secondary our burning issues are compared to your love and mercy.

Lord, bless us today with a fresh appreciation of your presence and providence. Open our eyes to see your face in our neighbors around us, and move us to reach out to them in effective ways.

We bless you that you are indeed our Rock and Fortress, and we need not be afraid. You are our Good Shepherd, who cares for his sheep. Grant us faith to trust you for all our needs and the serenity of knowing that even our eternal security is assured through your death and resurrection. We praise you! We bless you! We want to live for you! Help us to keep our eyes on the prize – in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Blake Heffner August 6th, 2006

“Rejoice in the Lord - Always!”

Sermon by pastor Blake Heffner - August 6, 2006

Texts: Philippians 4:4-9 John 7:37-39

INTRO No wonder a lot of folks think the Apostle Paul was crazy. He wrote some to the most incredible things. Among them, at least three times he orders his readers to be joyful. He orders this – and then adds “all the time, in all circumstances.” What do you think? Was he crazy? Is that even possible? Let’s take a look at this idea. We’ll need some help from the Holy Spirit, so let’s begin with prayer…

1. Always!

The first reason we have of questioning Paul’s sanity is that we can look around and fail to find anyone who is joyful all the time. Perhaps you can’t even imagine what that would be like. There are obvious reasons why we aren’t joyful all the time.

Someone will say: “I’m not joyful today because every night when I watch the evening news it looks like we’re closer to World War III. I’m afraid of what might happen next. Sorry, it’s hard to be happy when you’re anxious.”

Another will say: “Look, I’m angry right now!” That flooding in June was the third time in less than two years. I busted my butt [pardon the expression] to get everything restored, and all of a sudden we’re back to square one. The government hasn’t been very helpful, and our insurance company is giving us the run around! I’m fed up and not full of joy today.”

A third person might say simply: “I have been grieving the loss of my wife for months now. I can’t sleep and don’t want to eat. Every morning I wake up feeling miserable. I find myself weeping uncontrollably. My friend, “joy” is just not in vocabulary at the moment.

Fear and anger and grief are real and justifiable emotions. Emotions normally come and go. You can’t command someone to have an emotion. Yet, Paul strongly commands us to rejoice “always – in all circumstances.” He uses the imperative form of the verb. So, the joy he is referring to must be something other than an emotion. Something that we can experience independently of whether the sun is shining or not, whether we have our health or not, whether we are succeeding or failing.

2. In the Lord!

The key for Paul lies in the phrase “in the Lord.” Now you’re thinking – oh, come on, don’t give me some religious gobbledy-gook about every gray cloud having a silver lining, or the darkness is not dark to God. That’s not what this is all about. I want you to listen very carefully.

Eugene Peterson put it this way. “Joy is not a requirement of Christian discipleship, it is a consequence. It is not what we have to acquire in order to experience life in Christ; it is what comes to us when we are walking in the way of faith and obedience” (A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, p.96). That means you and I don’t have to conjure up a smile for every situation in order to be a Christian. No, but joy comes with the territory of being disciples of Jesus. We receive a joyfulness and peace that are clearly not dependent upon outward circumstances.

You know something interesting? During the process of canonizing a saint, the Roman Catholic Church demands proof of joy in the candidate’s life. Pretty neat. Their thinking is that genuine saints don’t walk around with a sour face and personality.

That’s a high standard for us. The good news is that “joy in the Lord” is a free gift of God’s grace. Jesus said: “I have told you everything so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete… [Yes,] you are sad now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will be filled with joy, the kind of joy that no one can take away from you” (John 15:11; 16:22).

“Joy in the Lord” is not merely an emotional high. It seems like an attitude – but it is more. It is a quality of life that we can have continually – no matter where we are on life’s emotional roller coaster. And, NO ONE can take it away from us! The Devil will try to steal our joy, but he can’t take it if we won’t give it to him!

“Joy in the Lord” is what our kids learned to sing about this week in Bible School:

I’m trading my sorrows; I’m trading my shame; I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord. I’m trading my sickness; I’m trading my pain; I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord. Yes, Lord, yes, Lord…

“Joy in the Lord” is the “joy of the Lord” that we receive in trade. We trade our messed up, fragile and broken ‘old’ lives for Jesus’ whole and abundant new life. We trade in our sorrows and sickness, our shame and our pain for his victorious and eternal life. This trade is not something we do only once – we have to renew the transaction everyday. That’s why the song ends with the series: “yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes Lord… Amen.”

Someone has said that “j-o-y” happens when there is “zero” between Jesus and you. That’s right!

3. Keep on rejoicing!!

Friends, Paul’s talking about an ongoing process. Writing in the present tense, he means literally: “Keep on rejoicing in the Lord – all the time. I’ll say it again for emphasis: Keep on rejoicing!”

Do we have this straight now? Joy in the Lord is not something we conjure up by thinking happy thoughts; no, it comes from Christ being present within us. It is the fruit of the Holy Spirit – which we receive when we receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord. It is what Jesus described in our gospel lesson as the stream of life-giving water that wells up from within us and overflows for those around us.

This is the only way to make sense of “rejoicing always.” We can have it “in the Lord” – no matter where we are or how awful the situation – because Jesus Christ is always with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. And he has given us a promise – which the children heard often this week: “Because I live, you will live also” (Jn.14:19).

This is it in a nutshell: Because the Spirit of Christ is the source of joy, we can rejoice also. Because the Spirit of Christ is the source of love, we can love also. Because the Spirit of Christ is the source of peace, we can experience peace in the midst of turmoil. All these things and more are ours – free gifts of grace – when we receive Jesus Christ.

Friends, I don’t know about you, but I crave more that joy in my life, more of that love, more of that peace. And we surely need more of these things in our corporate life as a congregation. So, please receive this closing exhortation with all the imperative urgency of the apostle Paul:

Be joyful when we gather for worship. Be like the psalmist who wrote, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go up to the house of the Lord.’” Why not invite someone to worship with you every Sunday – that some of this joy might rub off on them.

Be joyful when we gather for the fellowship time. Make it your purpose to seek out someone who is alone and greet them. Introduce yourself and strike up a conversation. If we only talk to our close friends, we will miss the joy of genuine Christian fellowship.

Be joyful in your prayer life this week. No matter how heavy your burdens, begin your quiet time with a little silent singing: “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” Jesus promised us his joy in all its fullness.

Finally, share your joy with others this week. There are so many folks right around us that have absolutely no joy in their lives. They are downcast, or worn out, or frightened, or brokenhearted. You may be the only ray of light that shines on them. Offer them genuine joy “in the Lord” – not a superficial smile, but a loving, caring hug in the name of Jesus with words of comfort, hope and encouragement.

Let us pray…

Prayer
Gracious God, our heavenly Father, it is embarrassing to think how easily we miss the gift of joy in the Lord. How often we find ourselves downcast or frustrated or despairing. Yet, you have promised us your very own joy – through Jesus Christ.
We turn to you, yearning to find this elusive joy today. Enable us, by your Holy Spirit, to trade in our sorrows and shame, our sickness and pain for the joy of the Lord.
Jesus, because you live, we will live also. Come into our hearts afresh today. Pour into our hearts your love and joy and peace. Let these marvelous qualities well up and overflow our lives to bless those around us.
And we pray that joy in the Lord will someday fill this whole church family. When people come for the first time, may they see our joyfulness in you.

In Jesus’ name, and for his glory. Amen.

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