[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Christmas 1C

[joeparrish]

Forwarded:


From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.

-------- Original message --------
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org> 
Date:12/26/2015  10:19 PM  (GMT-05:00) 
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org> 
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Christmas 1C 

Dear Friends,

 

This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Happy New Year!” and deals with the opportunities of the new year.  Here it is:

 

Happy New Year!  It’s almost that time, isn’t it!  Are you going to a party?  Are you just going to have a quiet evening at home and watch the ball drop?  Have you had it, and are you just going to bed?  Whatever, today’s Bible lessons offer wonderful wisdom for 2015.

First of all, did you notice when Jesus’ parents asked him why he stayed behind in the temple, we hear him say, “Didn't you know that I would be in my Father's house?’ (Luke 2:49).  Some translations say, “Didn’t you know I must be about my Father’s business?”  That’s not just an imperative for Jesus; it’s what God wants from us as well.  And before we worry about doing things and get busy, busy, busy--- we need to be sure we are in process of becoming who God created us to be.  One of the best portions of scripture to advise us how to do this is today’s epistle (Colossians 3: 12-17).  Let’s look at it together: Paul wrote: 12 “God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people.  So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient.  13 Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.  14 Love is more important than anything else.  It is what ties everything completely together.  15 Each one 2015Christ control your thoughts.  And be grateful.  16 Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other.  With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.  17 Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.”  Easier said than done, but a wonderful vision of who we are becoming for the new year.

The most important thing to remember about our new year 2015 (or whenever) is that God is in charge.  What’s going to happen to me in 2015?  Will I live or die?  Will wonderful or terrible things happen to me this year?  Will I win the lottery? (I doubt it since I don’t buy tickets.)  The truth is, we really don’t know what life will throw at us this coming year.  Does anyone remember “David, the Bubble Boy?”  He was born with a terrible birth defect- no immune system.  The least significant germ could kill him.  To allow David to survive, he lived his life in a plastic bubble- with no human touch.  I think the bubble had built-in gloves so someone could reach into his bubble for the basic necessities.  I have no idea how all this worked- how he got food or a bath or whatever.  What I do know is that many Christians think that’s how God does with Christians- keeps evil away from us as if we are in a bubble.  That’s not how life is.  God doesn’t spare his children, but he strengthens and supports us.  You’ve heard the saying, “People are like tea bags-you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are.”  With God, we can take anything this new year dishes out!

Unfortunately, sometimes it’s not by chance that the new year dishes out troubles.  We do it to ourselves.  You know I’m an animal lover, so when our children were little, we frequently went to the Detroit Zoo.  It always amazed me how those mighty elephants could be chained by just a peg in the ground.  I knew those huge elephants could easily pull out that peg.  What happened?  When they were little, they were tied to a huge stake that they could not pull out.  I’m sure those little elephants pulled and tugged, but to no avail.  They were conditioned to think breaking free was impossible, so now they don’t even try.  With the Lord’s help, you’re mighty like those huge elephants.  Don’t let Satan convince you you’re helpless against those habits you’d like to break.  Claim God’s power in 2015 to break free. 

The trick to overcoming, whether we’re talking about what life throws at us or what we’ve done to ourselves is putting God first in 2015.  You know the usual advice- don’t miss church, receive Holy Communion weekly, start and close every day with God, bless every single bite of food you put in your mouth, do spiritual reading consistently.  I can hear you now---Rev. Judy, I don’t have time.  We get so busy, busy, busy- that we end up squeezing God out of our lives.  How is it possible to get it all done?  I’ll tell you how- give God his time first.  Do you remember the story of the father who was discussing the time problem with his teen-age son?  The teen’s problem was not God time, but homework time.  The father got a gallon jar and filled it with large rocks, then asked his son if it was full.  “Sure is!” said the son- that’s how my life is before I have my homework done.  So the father took some medium sized rocks and added them.  “Full now?” asked the father?  “Now it’s full,” answered his son.  You know what happened next, the father added small rocks, then gravel, and finally water.  “That’s how you organize your life, son,” said the father.  You put the big important things in first.  Good advice!  Take care of your responsibilities to God first: church, Bible reading, prayer, and let the other things fit as they may.  Your life will have power like you wouldn’t believe possible.  It was Martin Luther who said that the busier his day, the more important it was that he start it with prayer- true. 

Did you hear about the man, I’ll call him “George,” who decided to make some changes in his life?  He was bragging to a friend: “There's nothing like getting up at six in the morning, going for a run around the park, and taking a brisk shower before breakfast.”   His friend replied, “How long have you been doing this?”  George answered: “I start tomorrow.”  Tomorrow won’t work.  Start today, now, at God’s altar.  By God’s grace, you will overcome.

 

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .

 

Blessed preaching,

Judy Boli

St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Saginaw, Michigan

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