[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon used for Facebook live-video for Lent 5A: "Unbind Him and Let Him Go Free" and "Unbind Us from COVID-19 Anziety, Boredom/Selfishness, and Fear"

[joeparrish at compuserve.com]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sun, Mar 29, 2020 10:31 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon used for Facebook live-video for Lent 5A: "Unbind Him and Let Him Go Free" and "Unbind Us from COVID-19 Anziety, Boredom/Selfishness, and Fear"

Iabsolutely love the story we just read- it sometimes brings tears to my eyes,because there’s so very much wisdom in it and it lets us see, just a littlebit, into the amazing mind of God.  Thefirst half of the episode points out what we believe- that our God is in chargeand that he is an on-time God.  Mary,Martha, and Lazarus were good friends of Jesus, so when Lazarus got deathlyill, they simply assumed they could send for their good friend Jesus to healtheir brother.  After all, Jesus wasknown for his healing powers, and if he could heal complete strangers, he couldcertainly extend himself to heal a good friend. Problem- they sent for Jesus, but he didn’t come for four days.  It probably took one day for the messengerfrom Mary and Martha to arrive.  ThenJesus waited two days.  He had to decideif he would risk his ministry on this dangerous trip, because the last time hewas in Jerusalem he was almost stoned to death. Then it probably took a day’s travel to get there- long walk!  What’s so special about four days?  There was a Jewish tradition that that thesoul hovered around the body for three days after death and then left.  So, by the fourth day- this was a hopelesscause.  Other cultures had the sameunderstanding- for good reason.  We havewakes.  You know how the custom of a wakestarted?  In England, lead cups were oftenused when people drank alcoholic beverages. The lead combined with lots of alcohol could really knock the drinkerout.  To keep from burying a live person,the “body” was laid out on the kitchen table and the family and friends wouldsit around eating, drinking, and waiting for a couple of days to see if theperson would “wake” up.  But after fourdays- no way!  Dead is dead, and in fact-in that heat- dead is very smelly.  Younoticed, when the sisters saw Jesus- the first thing they said was anaccusation: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died!”  But Jesus wasn’t late- he was right on time,because God’s amazing power was about to be proclaimed; and when Jesus said, “Iam the way, the truth, and the life”- all anyone had to do was open their eyesand see it. Thelast half of the story is where the rubber hits the road- it’s about livingwhat we believe.  It’s about this- do wereally believe God is in charge?  Wellthen, prove it by our lives.  Take risksfor God.  Don’t panic when things aren’tgoing the way you want.  Stay faithfuland trust God.  All of these elements arein the rest of the story- watch.  Whathad to happen if God was going to work a miracle and restore Lazarus tolife?  Mary and Martha had to take therisk of their lives.  They had to obeyJesus when he told them to roll the stone away. Under ordinary circumstances, what would have met them as soon as thatstone produced even a small gap into the tomb? Smell!  The ghastly smell ofrotting human flesh!  Have you eversmelled a pack of ground beef when it’s been in the refrigerator too long?  Now look- ground beef is bad enough; but ifthe smell is coming from your beloved brother’s decomposing body- that’s toomuch to bear!  What’s that song- “Trustand obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey”-easier said than done. There’sone more significant part of this episode. After Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out,” what is the next thing Jesussaid to do?  “Untie him and let himgo.”  Some translations say, “Unbind himand let him go free.”  Just as Lazarushad to be released from those restrictive burial wrappings, so must we.  One of our most important jobs for thisCOVID-19 crisis is to become unbound from coronavirus difficulties.  I’ve been in contact with our members andfrequent attenders, and I’ve found that we suffer from 3 negatives: anxiety,boredom, and fear.U  ANXIETY:one of our members was so very anxious that she was staying in bed and crying.  Other symptoms are too much tv, short temper,slipping back to negative habits that were in remission.  I have a “take-it-or-leave-it” suggestion-music.  When my husband was so very sickand then died, I played “My Life Is in Your Hands” over and over.  Another good song is “Be Still My Soul, forGod Is in Charge.” To help anxiety: sing, move, dance, wash the dishes, vacuumthe floor, play with the kids, and get some counseling- over the phone ifnecessary.  Please don’t waste yourlife.  Meet God halfway in allowing Jesusto unbind you from anxiety.U  BOREDOM:actually this is a form of selfishness. We Christians sacrifice so others (as well as ourselves) can remainvirus free.  One of the huge problemswith this virus is that it is “crazy-contagious!”  We infect people, and they infect us, beforewe know we have the virus, i.e. WHEN WE STILL HAVE NOL SYMPTOMS.”  We (or they) can continue spreading thisdeadly disease for 2- 14 days innocently before the first symptom.  LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND STAY HOME.  The song for boredom/selfishness: “BreakEvery Chain.”  Break the “you-link” ofthe virus and prevent it from spreading from/to you.U  FEAR:mostly the fear of death of ourselves or a loved one.  This might be a good time to prepare todie.  Remember, dying is not an “if,” it’sa when.  We could practice each day ofthis crisis to live our lives to the fullest. We can also daily give our loved ones to God.  They are his anyway.  We might find “Amazing Grace” helpful.MayGod bless us as we lean on Jesus through this crisis.  May we emerge on the other side of theCOVID-19 pandemic stronger, wiser, and walking closer to Jesus.-- 
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