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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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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Blake Heffner June 25th, 2006

“All Nature Sings” June 25, 2006

INTRODUCTION: Psalm 19

“The heavens are telling the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. ” The psalmist goes on to say that the heavens don’t have to speak with words; they don’t even make a sound – yet there is a message proclaimed all around the world! I have always been fascinated by that notion: in the stars and moon at night, and in the sun by day, the Creator of universe is speaking to us. This morning we are going to consider what this message is, particularly with regard to the sun. Listen first to Eugene Peterson’s translation of Psalm 19:

God’s glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. Their words aren’t heard, their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth: unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
God makes a huge dome for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape.
That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith.

This morning let’s ponder what the sun declares…

1. The Sun Elicits Our Praise – Psalm 19; Psalm 148

The first thing, and most obvious, is that the Bible says the heavenly bodies themselves praise God and should evoke praise within us. Our final hymn this morning will be “All Creatures of Our God and King.” St. Francis of Assisi composed the lyrics as he meditated on Psalm 148:

3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. 4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. 6 He set them in place for ever and ever!

The sun, with its brilliant light, has always been associated with God’s glory – the glow of God, as one of my theology professors put it. Remember when God decided to impress upon the disciples that Jesus shared his glory – Jesus was transfigured before their eyes and “his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.”

This summer, when the sun is high in the sky and it is very hot, think about how the sun reflects God’s glory and majesty. Inspite of the heat, give God praise.

2. The Sun Speaks of God’s Wisdom - Psalm 74; Romans 1

Psalm 74 attests: “The day is yours, and also the night; you established the sun and moon. You set all the boundaries of the earth and made both summer and winter.” The rhythms of day and night, summer and winter, bear witness to God’s wisdom in creation. This testimony prompted Paul to declare that “God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen since the creation of the world” and so, according to Paul, no one should be able to claim there is no God!

3. God’s Awesome Knowledge and Unknowability –

Psalm 139 & Job 37:21

Psalm 139 uses the absence of daylight to describe God’s intimate personal knowledge of us. “ I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans [that is a way of saying: if I could travel as far to the east or the west as possible] even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night– but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.”

Such intimacy, such presence is really beyond words, isn’t it? God is with you and me no matter where we go, no matter how off track we may get – there is always hope, because he is there to guide us and support us!

Turning this around, the sun reminds us how unfathomable God is. Elihu declares this to Job in chapter 37: “How great is God – beyond our understanding! … No one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies. [Likewise] God comes in awesome majesty. The almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power!”

We tell our children, for good reason, that they should never look directly at the sun. Its blazing light speaks to us of God’s awesome majesty and how far beyond our feeble minds the Lord really is.

Well, we’ve begun with some of the more obvious themes. Let’s dive a little deeper.

4. One Day the Sun Went Backwards – Isaiah 38:8

God’s Tremendous Authority and Amazing Grace

Do you remember the story about King Hezekiah? The King was very ill, at the point of death. The Lord sent Isaiah the prophet to tell him to put his house in order because death is coming. Hezekiah turned to the Lord in prayer, reminding him of his faithfulness and devotion as king. He wept bitterly, and his plea touched the heart of God. The Lord told him through Isaiah that he was going to add 15 years to his life. And, as proof of his promise, the Lord would make the sun’s shadow go backwards ten steps! Talk about a dramatic sign.

Friends, you may not see the sun do a u-turn in the sky – but the Lord who heard Hezekiah’s prayers still hears yours, and God is eager to respond to our pleas. In fact, the morning sunrise was for Jeremiah a sign of God’s love: “His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Every morning at sunrise, thank God for the freshness of the new day, and his steadfast love and mercy.

5. The Care and Providence of God – Psalm 121

Even in the hottest days of summer, the psalmist tells us to think of God as our source of shade and shelter. In Psalm 121 we read: “The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life, over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

This doesn’t suggest we ought to expose ourselves to those dangerous UV rays, without sunblock or proper attire. That would be very foolish. But, when we pitch our umbrella on the beach, or find a shady place to escape the sun, think about the Lord who is our spiritual sunblocker and shelter, the One who is able to keep us from all harm and guard our lives, even when things get hot, both now and forever!

6. God’s Equanimity or Impartiality – Matthew 5:5

Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that both sunshine and rain speak to us about God’s equanimity or impartiality. “Equanimity” just a big word that means God treats everyone equally. He offers the sunshine and the rain to all people, without discrimination - the good, the bad and the indifferent. As God’s people, we also need to offer our love and respect to all people – without partiality.

7. There’s Nothing New under the Sun – Eccl. 1-2

The most depressing texts about the sun are found in Ecclesiastes 1 and 2: “There’s nothing new under the sun… Everything done under the sun seems wrong to me… pointless.” Solomon has a point, of course, but we won’t go there this morning.

8. The Sun of Righteousness Brings Healing – Mal. 4:2

We will also not dwell on the fascinating image in Malachi 4:2 where the prophet promises all who revere God’s name, “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” [That’s ‘sun’!] I love that image. We’ll have to move on, though, to conclude with three profound messages involving the sun, found in both the Old and New Testaments:

9. Our Possibility of Sharing God’s Glory – Psalm 37:6; Isaiah 58; Matthew 13

First, we are expected to share God’s glory. David wrote in Psalm 37: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him [and] he will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” Along that same line, Isaiah declared: “If you will share your food with the hungry, provide the poor wanderer with shelter and clothe those who are naked… then your light will break forth like the dawn… The Lord will guide you always and you will be like a well-watered garden.”

Jesus said simply: “The righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Friends, you understand this is a subject that deserves a whole sermon and then some. But the point is clear: in so far as we reach out to others in Jesus’ name, and share what we have with those who are in need, we will share in Christ’s glory and shine like the sun!

10. The Day of Darkness –The Prophets and Jesus

Secondly, there is a day coming when the sun will cease to shine. I’m not talking about a solar eclipse, or a terribly cloudy day – like today. No! The prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel and Joel and Amos and Micah all speak about a day when the sun will grow dark. In Isaiah’s words: “See, the day of the Lord is coming - a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light” (13:9-10).

Many of the prophets foretell this day of wrath, when the sun itself will cease to shine and the earth will be shaken to its very foundations. Jesus echoed these prophecies when he taught about his final return: “The sun will be darkened, and the stars will fall from the sky [before] the Son of Man appears. And all the nations of the earth will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds, with power and great glory.” Fortunately that dark and inevitable day is not the last word!

11. The Ultimate “Day” of the New Jerusalem

No! Not at all! The Last Word is a glorious one – when the sun won’t be needed any longer; it will be superceded by the glorious presence of God. Isaiah gives us a glimpse of this: “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory” (60:19).

This theme is taken up triumphantly in the climax of the Revelation to John. It’s the picture of New Jerusalem, which Mike Moninghoff and the Choir sang about so dramatically on Music Sunday: “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp… There will be no more night. And they will reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 21:22-22:5).

Friends, this is the last word about light and glory. When everything under the sun seems to be wrong, as Solomon said, remember that even the sun will not last forever. There will be a day when the present earth and heaven pass away, and all God’s people will be gathered into the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. There everything will be bathed in the light of God’s glory. No more darkness or despair, no more troubles or tears, no more pain or suffering, no more death. When we gather by the river there, we shall see everything – our victorious Lamb and glorious Father, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, absolute justice, complete healing and reconciliation, ecstatic joy and perfect love. What more could we ask?

May the sun speak volumes to you and me this summer! Let us pray.

Lord, in the world around us, grant us glimpses of the world to come.
In the everyday realities of sunshine and moonlight, gentle rain and even thunderstorm,
speak to us of your presence and power, your love and mercy, your will and your ways.
Guard us and guide us in such a way that one day we shall all see you face to face,
and bask in the radiance of your glory.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Blake Heffner June 4th, 2006

“Choosing Our Legacy” Pentecost: June 4, 2006

I Kings 3:3-14 Acts 3:1-10

Recognition of Our Graduating Seniors… This morning we enjoyed a baccalaureate breakfast for eight of our graduating seniors and their families. It was fabulous to hear what their parents had to say about these fine young people, and to learn what their aspirations are. As they turn the page to a new chapter of life this week, it is fitting that we consider the subject of “Choosing Our Legacy.” For the most part, none of us chooses our history, but we can choose our legacy. That is, we have little say about when or where we were born, who our parents are, where we went to school. But we have a lot to say about what we leave behind us.

Back in the sixties, when I was in high school, if you didn’t have time or the desire to read the book or play you were assigned, you could buy a super-condensed version, called “cliff notes.” Do they still have such things today? I am sure that you didn’t go that route - but many do. Anyway, I mention it as a way of introducing this message. This morning we only have time for the “cliff notes” version of this topic - it’s one that we could spend much more time on. But, given what we have, we’ll look at two men who definitely “chose their legacy.” And you may be surprised what their legacies are…

1. Solomon the Boy King

Solomon had everything working for him. He was the golden boy of the kingdom. The son of David, a man after God’s own heart. He was very young when his father was old and promised to make him the next king of Israel. He would have the privilege to build the Temple of Jerusalem, which his father longed to do.

So, God appeared Solomon when he is worshiping at Gibeon. He is still a young man, still ‘wet behind the ears.’ “Ask for whatever you want me to give you!” says the Lord. What an opportunity! What would you ask for? Better than a genie appearing from a bottle, this is the Lord God - Creator of the universe - inviting Solomon to ask for anything he wants.

Don’t you wonder what went through his head? Think of all the possibilities. Wealth, Power, Fame, Women! Solomon already had the likelihood of all those things. But, he humbled himself and asked for something that would bless his people: a discerning heart to govern, the wisdom to judge between right and wrong. Solomon had chosen his legacy; he wanted to be a wise and discerning king.

You know from our scripture lesson that God was so pleased that he decided to give Solomon much, much more. Along with a discerning heart, the Lord added riches and honor - so that in his lifetime no one else would be as wealthy or famous. And, if he would walk in God’s ways - as David did - Solomon would enjoy long life. There you have it. A young man given the chance to choose his legacy!

How do you think he make out? Solomon did indeed become rich and famous. As they say, he became a legend in his own time. The stories of his wisdom were celebrated far and wide. The Queen of Sheba came just to talk to him and ask him questions. Solomon even wrote parts of at least three books of the Bible: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs (also known as the Song of Solomon).

So, what do you think was Solomon’s legacy? Up or down? If you chose down, you are right. You see Solomon was essentially a “sophomore.” Do you know what that word means? It comes from two Greek roots, meaning “wise fool.” A sophomore - or second year student usually knows just enough to sound foolish! Well, unfortunately, Solomon was the pre-eminent “sophomore.” He had some 700 wives and 300 concubines (or mistresses). Some of us would wonder how wise was that? The clue to Solomon’s fate and his legacy is found in chapter 11. “King Solomon loved many foreign women… They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, ‘You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.’ Solomon held fast to them in love and his wives led him astray. As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.”

The sad bottom-line is that by the end of his reign, there were altars all around Israel to many pagan gods and goddesses. Solomon for all his wisdom gave in to his wives on this vital issue. Toleration led him eventually to idolatry. He paid a dear price! His legacy: he is the last king of a united Israel. In the very next generation, there was a civil war resulting in a divided kingdom.

Solomon was wise, yet foolish in one critical area: he compromised his devotion and obedience to God. As a young man he chose his legacy well, but his later choices undermined that legacy. And, though he was rich and famous, he is responsible for his kingdom’s fall. Learn from this man: every choice we make is significant to our legacy. Every time we abuse our bodies or compromise our values we take steps away from the living God, and we jeopardize our future. The choices lie before us every day. Of course, God is quick to forgive for our misdoings when we turn to him in repentance. But, Solomon did not repent like his father David. He got himself so deep into paganism there was no turning back and his sorry legacy was sealed.

2. Peter the Fisherman Turned Apostle

By contrast, look at Peter - the fisherman turned apostle. He wasn’t the sharpest tack on the bulletin board. He had a knack for saying something brilliant one minute and something “crazy” the next. Peter wasn’t very wealthy either. When Jesus met him, he was a hard-working fisherman. After Pentecost, he told the crippled beggar: “Silver and gold I do not have!”

But, of course, Peter had something many others didn’t. He had never been to college, but on the day of Pentecost he preached a powerful sermon - and three thousand were converted to Christ. He was certainly no doctor, but after Pentecost, Peter told that beggar: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” And he did! Peter began with nothing, and left as his legacy a Church that is still preaching the good news and healing those who are sick and ministering to those who are hungry.

Blake, get to the point of this whole excursion into two ancient lives. OK, here it is. Pentecost is the event when ordinary folks like you and me were filled with the Spirit of the living God. It is what Jesus was referring to when he said: “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing and even greater things - because I am going to the Father” (Jn. 14:12). Now that’s a legacy.

Solomon started with a bang, but ended with a whimper. Peter started with nothing, and ended with everything. Unlike Solomon, Peter confessed his failures to the Lord and he was forgiven. So what will we choose for our legacy? Jesus promised that we can all be like Peter - a common earthen vessel who was filled with the power of God. Isn’t that an exciting prospect? And it doesn’t matter how old you are, or how rich you are, or how well educated you may be - it only takes a heart ready to receive Jesus Christ, a mind open to the possibility of doing “even greater things” than we can imagine, because the Holy Spirit is at work within us.

Friends, we can choose our legacy today - personally and corporately - right here at this Table. Come, seeking to be filled not just with bread and juice, but with the present and power of Jesus Christ himself. He is our host, and he offers his life to each of us. Come and be filled!!

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Blake Heffner May 28th, 2006

“Their Blood Still Speaks” May 28, 2006

Genesis 4:10-11 Hebrews 11:4, 32-40; 12:1-3, 22-24

1. The notion of blood having a voice, [Abel]

Genesis 4:10 contains the strange notion that Abel’s blood actually had a voice which God heard from heaven. This is a metaphorical way of speaking, but this morning we’re going to let’s take that image and run with it. Abel was slain by his brother - an innocent victim - and God says that he heard Abel’s blood crying from the ground. What was it crying for? We get a clear picture in the Letter to the Hebrews when the author takes up the same metaphor and compares the blood of Jesus with the blood of Abel - each of which still “speaks.” Clearly the author is contrasting the two:

The blood of Abel cries out for vengeance and punishment

The blood of Jesus speaks of pardon and mercy

The blood of Abel screams for guilt and condemnation

The blood of Jesus speaks of grace and acquittal of the guilty

The blood of Abel speaks of alienation and permanent separation

The blood of Jesus of reconciliation and communion

The blood of Abel rails against hatred, bigotry and violence

The blood of Jesus proclaims love and peace

The blood of Abel calls for death and destruction

The blood of Jesus promises re-creation and eternal life

The blood of Abel cries of bondage and oppression

The blood of Jesus proclaims deliverance to captives and freedom

The list could go on, but you get the message. The blood of Abel speaks of the old covenant - an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, where revenge and retribution are the order of the day. You got what you paid for in those days. The blood of Jesus, on the other hand, has inaugurated a new covenant - a new relationship with the living God, wherein:

those who are guilty receive mercy,

those who are stained by sin receive cleansing,

those who are alienated from God and people are reconciled again,

those who deserve a death sentence inherit eternal life,

and those who suffered in bondage to the old nature are set free for a totally new life.

This is what we proclaim every time we come to the font of baptism. This is what we stand for whenever we come to the Lord’s Table for Holy Communion. There really is a difference between BC and AD - that is, life before Christ, and life after we receive Christ. Too many folks in our society, even in our churches, still live in BC. The Church’s mission is to invite everyone to experience AD - life in Christ, a new life powered by his Holy Spirit! Friends, if this is not your present reality, if you are not sure what will happen to you when your days on earth are done, then I urge you to stop right now - in the middle of this message - and have a conversation with the living God. Don’t leave here this morning in BC. Don’t leave here without beginning a personal relationship with Jesus Christ…

2. The blood of those who have died for this nation still speaks

It’s curious that the word in Genesis 4 for blood is actually plural, meaning “bloods.” What could it mean that Abel’s bloods cry out? Could it be that the blood of everyone who dies as a victim of violence cries out to God?

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, when we as a nation are to remember those who have died for this country. This afternoon many people will gather in the cemetery across the road for this very thing, and to dedicate a new veterans’ memorial down by the municipal building. You are cordially invited to join us. For the moment, let’s ponder how the blood of these heroes might still be speaking to us.

A. Their blood speaks of love - love of country.

These men and women were willing to put the greater good of their nation before their own agenda. Their blood speaks of sacrifice. Jesus said: “There is no greater love [in all the world] than to put your life on the line for your friends” (Jn. 5:13). Such love is in rather short supply these days. You can see this in the world of sports. People are making a big deal about Aaron Rowand, who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He recently crashed into the centerfield wall making a great catch - and broke his nose in the process. He sacrificed his body for the team. He is being hailed as a hero - and rightfully so! By contrast, years ago, the Eagles had a running back named Ricky Watters, who was criticized for not catching a pass over the middle because he knew he would be creamed by hard-hitting defenders. “For who? For what?” he protested.

Friends, there are too many folks living by the creed “For who? For what?” these days. “Self-centeredness” is rampant in our day, and many think they’re entitled to feel that way. How appalling this would look to those who paid the ultimate price for our country. Their blood cries out to us to be willing to make sacrifices for our communities and our nation, even costly ones. Patriotism is not about waving the flag; it’s about stepping up to the plate and serving wherever we can - out of love.

B. Their blood speaks of liberty and justice for all people!

Yesterday, I had the privilege to officiate at a wedding of two second-generation Taiwanese people. I met their parents and aunts and uncles - many of whom have Ph.D.s and teach at our finest institutions of learning. The wedding participants included a variety of people from the world’s great religions: Judaism, Hinduism, Bahai, and Presbyterianism. It was a sight to behold: There was such affection and mutual respect among these young people. I think that some of our heroes died for the idea of religious freedom and toleration. Their blood still speaks to us of liberty for all, in a world of intolerance, where millions continue to be persecuted for their faith.

Think about this: every one of us is descended from an immigrant. We are here because the United States of America was founded upon the principle that all people are equally worthy of respect and economic opportunity. The Statue of Liberty welcomes newcomers from all over the world with these words:

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

I believe that the blood of our heroes cries out for us to live up to such noble hospitality. It wasn’t long ago that the Taiwanese people I just mentioned faced terrible prejudice. Today, they are more accepted, for they have excelled. Now, folks aim at others who are poor, homeless, and tempest-tossed - from places like Haiti or Cuba or Mexico. They are the current “wretched refuse,” the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. There is no simple solution to the complicated situation of illegal immigrants. But, would you not agree that the blood of our heroes compels us to stand for “liberty and justice and opportunity for all decent people?”

We, as Christians, have to bring it down to a personal level - to be open and hospitable to people who do not look like us, dress like us, or even speak like us - because we were once such people.

3. Jesus’ blood: speaks of freedom and hope, eternal life

We could go on and on considering what the blood of those who have died in serving our country is saying to us - and we should tell their stories. Surely their blood speaks of bravery and courage, loyalty and commitment, obedience to authority, perseverance and the hope that truth and goodness will ultimately triumph. Ah, that brings us back to our scripture lesson. It is a beautiful picture to imagine: those who have gone before us are still alive. They surround us like the fans in a stadium at an Olympic track meet. They are cheering for us now to run toward the goal. It is only because of that sprinkled blood of Jesus that we can be sure that they are living. His blood promises that death has no more sting; it speaks to us of eternal life, the ultimate victory of good over evil and truth over falsehood. It is the blood of Jesus that enables us to throw off everything that hinders us, even sin that entangles us. His blood liberates us to run with perseverance and hope the race God has set before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus - and we will not grow weary or lose heart. We will not fail those who have paved the way for us with their precious blood.

Silent reflection on the list of fallen heroes…

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. We bless you for the men and women who have loved this country enough to sacrifice their very lives to perpetuate our way of life. Their blood still speaks loudly of freedom of speech and religion, equality of opportunity and justice for all people. Make us worthy of their legacy. Help us to keep it alive in our own time and pass it along to our children. In the name of Jesus Christ, whose blood has opened the door to your eternal kingdom for all. Amen.

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