[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sunday's sermon

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:

Dear Friends,
I haven’t posted in the last few weeks because I was in the hospital
ith pneumonia in both lungs.  Now that I am on the road to recovery,
ere is Sunday’s sermon.  It is entitled “Be Ready” or “Exactly What
as God Promised?” and deals with the gospel (Luke 21: 5-19).  Here it
s:
We just heard Jesus warn his disciples about terrible things that were
bout to take place- false messiahs, wars, riots, earthquakes and
ther natural disasters, starvation, disease, people being arrested
nd put in jail for following him, being betrayed by loved ones- why
ould he say things like this?  Because the disciples were going to
ave to face them and remain faithful if the Gospel was going to be
pread, if the church was going to survive.  He was just telling them
he truth.  Even if it’s hard, knowing what you’re going to have to
ace at least prepares you for the struggle.  He was simply getting
hem ready for hard times.  He could have told Christians in Iraq,
ran, and Pakistan the same thing- false messiahs, wars, riots,
atural disasters, starvation, disease, people being arrested and put
n jail for their faith, being betrayed by loved ones- many Christians
hroughout the world live their lives every day facing these threats.
e tells them the same thing- be ready.  We never know what we are
oing to face in our lives.  Do you remember airplanes crashing into
he World Trade Center nine years ago and all those people killed,
ome choosing to jump to their death to avoid the flames?  He tells us
he same thing- be ready.  I want to talk to you this morning about
eing ready.
Do you remember some years ago when I used to make our own pictures
or the bulletin cover?  Do you remember the picture of the blowfish
or puffer) I used to use on the bulletin covers? That species of fish
eminds us of the world’s way.  They face stress like some of us do.
hey blow themselves up so they look big and tough so no one will mess
ith them. (Don’t we know people like that?)  They have very sharp
eeth and are poisonous.  (How many people are sharp-tongued and spew
oison if you tread on their territory?)  Yet, in spite of their
ttempts to look fierce, they really don’t handle stress well; in fact
hey sicken and frequently die under stressful conditions.
Did you hear the story about the teacher asking the students about
eorge Washington?  “TEACHER: “George Washington not only chopped down
is father's cherry tree, but also admitted doing it. Now do you know
hy his father didn't punish him?”  JOHNNY: “Because George still had
he axe in his hand.”  It’s not just George Washington who had the axe
n his hand, it seems the world does too, and it aims that axe at us
ometimes.  If the world’s way doesn’t work when facing trouble, what
ill work?  The thought for the week, “Tough times never last.  Though
eople do.” (Robert Schuller) points out a better way- God’s way.
1.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK!  Be faithful to God.- don’t just come to church
hen you feel like it.  Receive your Holy Communion every week.  Read
our Bible.  Listen to sermons and read your Forward-Day-by-Day and
ny other materials of a spiritual nature.  Sing God songs.  Put God
irst in your life.  I do not ever want to see someone I love from
his congregation in emotional agony because they misunderstand God or
is love for them as they go through trials.  When we’re extremely
ick- it’s too late to understand.  Illness, grief, pain, worry, etc.
imit our understanding.
2.  DON’T BE SELFISH- SHARE JESUS WITH THOSE YOU LOVE AND ANYONE ELSE
OU CAN.  Don’t let someone else struggle through life without Jesus.
ife without Jesus is hard; dying without Jesus can be pure hell.
3.  LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE- thank you, Thomas Hall (Ellen William’s son).
on’t do what some of the Thessalonian Christians did and sit around
aiting for Jesus.  Live your life, whether it’s one hour or 100
ears.  Every minute is a gift.
4.  SPEAKING OF EVERY MINUTE BEING A GIFT, LIVE WITH A SPIRIT OF
RATITUDE.  Stop looking at what you don’t have- whether it’s time
eft on this planet or the love of a special person or health or money
r whatever.  God doesn’t owe us anything, but he can be counted on to
eep his promises and give us what we need.
6.	LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST- DON’T HOLD BACK ON GOD.  The old poem has
reat wisdom: “Only one life- ‘twill soon be past.  Only what’s done
or God will last.”  The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther’s quotation of the old
ymn says it all: “If I can help somebody as I pass along;
f I can cheer somebody with a word or song;
f I can show somebody that they’re traveling wrong;
Then my living will not be in vain.
If I can do my duty as a Christian ought;
f I can bring salvation to a world once wrought;
f I can spread the message as the Master taught;
Then my living will not be in vain.
o what God calls you to do and don’t be too easy on yourself.  You
ILL have the courage or energy or whatever else you need at the time-
otice Jesus’ promise in the Gospel.  Remember C.S. Lewis when he
aught that God doesn’t give us grace to handle what might happen in
he future.  God gives us grace to handle what’s happening now.
6.  TRUST GOD.  He’s got the whole world in his hands, and you know
hat means you.  A friend gave me a poem some time ago, and it fits
ere perfectly.  The poem, by Annie Johnson Flint speaks to trusting
od and what we can expect from our Lord.  Here it is:
od has not promised skies always blue,
lower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
od has not promised sun without rain,
oy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God has promised strength for today,
est for the labor, light for the way,
race for the trials, help from above,
nfailing sympathy, undying love.
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
isdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address
s: http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .
Blessed preaching.
udy Boli
t. Paul's Episcopal Church
aginaw, Michigan
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