[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Gaining by Loss

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Fisher <f.fisher.obl.osb at comcast.net>
To: midrash <midrash at joinhands.com>; PRCL-L <PRCL-L at LISTSERV.LOUISVILLE.EDU>; propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>; SBA <SBA at SBAbbey.com>
Sent: Fri, Sep 30, 2011 11:36 am
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Gaining by Loss


Here's my second draft for World Communion Sunday using the Philippians
ericope. A blessed World Communion Sunday to you all!
PAX,

__
Frank R. Fisher, Obl OSB
ww.ffisher.net
nterim Pastor
irst Presbyterian Church of Gibson City, IL
ttp://www.firstpresbygc.org
aka
Brother Oscar Romero
blate of St. Benedict's Abbey
artonville, IL
ww.SBAbbey.com

I pray not that you walk in my shoes - nor I yours - but that together we
alk so close to Rabbi Jesus that we are covered with dust from his
andals." - Neal Rylaarsdam
_____________________
Wow!
 found the right place!
o one
n all the known territories 
f the world
ould tell me
how to get 
o Gibson City!
ost people thought
ou were somewhere 
n Macedonia.
ut despite all my trials 
n the way,
 knew our Lord
ould lead me to you.
Peace to you
my sisters and brothers.
reetings 
rom the church in Philippi;
he place 
here I'm now held in prison.
Sorry,
 forgot to introduce myself.
sually everyone
knows who I am
efore I open my mouth,
nd I forget myself
hen our Lord leads me
o another country.
y name's Paul;
y the grace of God
n Apostle 
f our Lord Jesus Christ.
Unfortunately
I can only stay with you
 short while.
he Philippian jailor
et me out to visit you.
ut I had to promise
'd come right back after . . .
hat was the phrase . . 
h;
offee hour.
either I
or the jailor 
new
what coffee hour meant.
ut he said he'd let me out
f I brought him back 
ome coffee
nd something else
called a doughnut.
'm not real sure 
hat a doughnut is
either.
y pass out of jail says
ny other jailer 
r policeman
an tell me
here to find one.
Well
nough of that.
 came to you today
ecause I heard
you come from a proud back ground
ust like me.
Your pastor gave you my credentials
n my letter
o my dear friends in Christ 
t Philippi.
 was born
into a wealthy family
n the city of Tarsus.
s my father 
as a Roman citizen,
 am a citizen too.
nd as my parents are Jews
heir heritage 
s members of the tribe of Benjamin
asses from my mother to me.
When I was still young,
y family 
oved to Jerusalem 
rom Tarsus.
here,
 studied 
ith the great Rabbi Gamaliel;
 Pharisee
and member of the Sanhedrin.
Because of his influence,
 too became a Pharisee.
 became absolutely perfect
in obeying the law.
n fact
I was so perfect,
nd so proud of my perfection,
 persecuted Christians
ecause I believed
hat they taught
etracted
from the law's wonder.
 can say 
ithout a shadow of doubt
o one
is better than me
hen it comes to obeying 
he letter of God's law.
Now I heard in Philippi
ou were from great stock 
ike me.
ou were one 
f the very first 
ongregations
o form in this area.
f course
ou're Presbyterians;
hristians who like me
re proud of your education
nd devoted 
o your way of the faith.
ou've also been proud
f your congregation's 
mportance in the community
or many years
his was the place
here people of power
ame to worship.
But something's happened
o your days of glory.
ewer people
ome to you
to worship.
our days of wealth and power 
re past.
ometimes
it seems
he community 
arely acknowledges 
our existence.
nd there are times
hen you wonder 
hy you go on.
erhaps
ou even wonder
f you should go on.
Being a Christian's 
ost me a lot too.
 have no connection 
ith my family.
ther Pharisee's 
onsider me an outcast.
n fact
hey usually try 
o have me killed
henever they have a chance.
 travel from place to place
ith no permanent home
nd no family 
ho'll care for me
hen I grow old.
nd as for the empire
hose citizenship I treasured;
ell let's just say
t caused  my Lord's death.
o it will likely
e the cause of mine.
Now you may think
 should give up in despair
ut in fact
y losses 
ake me leap for joy.
or all my heritage,
ll my accomplishments,
verything that I am
s of no importance.
Some translations you read
ay
I called all these things rubbish.
hat's not quite right
s the translators 
ere tying to be polite.
hat I really said,
o my friends at Philippi,
as  everything I held dear
as so much dung.
nd I didn't use 
o polite a word.
Yes!
verything about me
hat I lost;
ll those things
that were so great
re like dung
hen compared to the wonder
f following 
esus Christ.
All my losses
re now my gains.
've lost my family.
ut I've gained the family 
f my sisters and brothers 
n Christ.
I lost my pride
f adherence 
o the law.
or I learned
I couldn't truly keep it.
ut while I lost
my own righteousness
 gained 
od's righteousness
hich comes by faith.
I'm in danger 
f losing my life.
et when I do
t will be my gain
or then I'll follow my Lord
o the joy of resurrection.
Soon you'll be making some decisions
bout your future.
hen you make them
ou'll be tempted
to look back 
t your days of glory
nd try to find ways 
o recreate them.
You'll be tempted 
o hold on
o what was precious
nd to let your heritage 
uide your decisions.
nd if you yield 
o these temptations
ou'll find
nly the way of death.
or we as Christians
an't find the way to life
y following
our own paths.
So as you look
toward the future,
et go of the past.
et your proud heritage 
e a loss.
ou'll gain instead 
he incredible joy 
f life in Christ.
Let go of a history 
f earthly power 
nd wealth.
ou'll find
he peace 
nly possible 
hrough the life
f those 
ho serve others.
Let go 
f a desperate clutch
hat above everything 
alues 
our congregation's life.
ou'll gain the life
hat need not ever 
onsider death.
Forget
what lies behind.
eap forward 
o embrace
hat lies ahead.
Join with all those 
round the world
ho gather 
round our Lord's table 
oday.
nd join them
s we press ahead 
oward the prize
f the heavenly call of God
n Jesus Christ.
I see its almost time 
or me to leave you.
he Philippian jailer's
aiting for his doughnut.
ut know that as I go
 don't leave you alone.
or if you 
bandon the past
nd step out in faith 
oward the future, 
ou'll find 
ou're traveling onward
ith the only One
ho can lead you 
o your goal.
Save a place for me
hen you come to the table,
'll be there with you
long with all the saints
ho lost all 
hat was important to them;
he one's who've found
hat in their loss
hey've gained 
verything.
To God alone be glory.
men.


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