February 21, 2010

Where is Your Wilderness?

February 21, 2010 First Sunday in Lent

Scripture Psalm 91and Luke 4:1-13

Preached by Linda Jo Peters

Korean Church at Central Presbyterian

Terre Haute, Indiana

Introduction to Scripture
Psalm 91
Here is a psalm that assures us of God’s protection. It challenges the fear that can stifle our ability to live with confidence. It is our fears that can keep us from serving God and obeying His word. Hearing the assurance of the psalmist can give us confidence even in the midst of real danger.

1.He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, 2.will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." 3.For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; 4.he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5.You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6. nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7.A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. 8.You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9.Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your habitation, 10.no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11.For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. 12.On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.  13.You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. 14.Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15.When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. 16.With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

Luke 4:1-13
Today is the first Sunday of Lent when we remember Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. It is a whole season of soul-searching and repentance; a time for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a way to prepare for Easter.

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Sermon
There are two important aspects to Lent and the model Jesus has given us. One is withdrawal for a time with God and the other is facing our temptations. So I ask you, if God wanted time alone with you, where is your wilderness? Wilderness is about being alone with limited resources – no phone, no computer, no TV, no books, and then little food. Not even good company! Satan is just not good company. I would imagine living in a strange land is a bit of a wilderness experience, but with the demands of school that you often face, when is there time to withdraw and seek to know God? As the snow keeps piling up throughout the US, I wonder is God creating a wilderness so we will take time to be with him.

There is a movie called Babel which is a few years old. The title is misleading, because it clearly demonstrates in graphic images that language is not what keeps us apart from one another but rather our unwillingness to walk even a step in another’s shoes. The story begins in Morocco where two young shepherds have been given a rifle by their father to keep the jackals away from the goats. After a bit of target practice they decided to see how far they can shoot. They shoot at a passing tourist bus never once considering the consequences. Sure enough their lack of concern for others results in the wounding of a young American mother far from her children. Her frantic husband badgers everyone he encounters to get her help but it is the tour guide’s gentle presence of mind that crosses the barrier of language, religion and culture to get her the medical help she so desperately needs, a doctor who turns out to be a veterinarian. Here this couple had chosen to go into the wilderness of another culture, imaging they would be insulated by their wealth and power. But are we ever truly insulated from the Spirit leading us into the wilderness where we are confronted with our failings, our bad choices and ultimately our sinful nature? The psalmist asks:

Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend to heaven, thou art there! If I make my bed in Sheol, thou art there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Let only darkness cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to thee, the night is bright as the day; for darkness is as light with thee. (139:7-12)

The wilderness is a place where we become keenly aware that nothing can insulate us from the Spirit of God. Once we realize how vulnerable we are we can lean the discipline of reliance on God’s grace. This discipline is born of the Lenten journey of Jesus as he goes empty handed from his baptism into the wilderness of hunger, despair and temptation.

If I could choose my wilderness, it would look like a beautiful garden. But I know that my wilderness is the place where I confront my addictions and face the realization that I am not in control. Lent is a time to shed everything that stands between us and God. To stand naked before the one who created us. Then we can begin the purpose of this Lenten discipline of learning not the discipline of self-reliance but the discipline of God-reliance. Jesus told Satan, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Such service is not about comfort or safety or even beauty. It is about risk taking to bring peace where there is fear and hate; to bring freedom to the enslaved; to love those that seem unlovable. The power to make such a difference in the world comes from being stripped of all that stands between us and our Creator.

Remember the word of Psalm 91:
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

To live free of fear is only possible when our only sustaining grace is found in our relationship with God. Then we can follow our Lord Jesus all the way to the cross. We can walk the wilderness that is right outside our doors into a world often filed with careless violence in words, actions and even economics. We can become instruments of God’s grace,. St. Francis said it best:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen!

Feburary 14, 2010

How Do you See Jesus?

Scripture Psalm 99 read responsively and Luke 9:28-36

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ February 14, 2010

TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Psalm 99 read responsively

Today we remember Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain top. This is a song of praise filed with mountain top images of God which also affirms God’s intimate relationship with people. God is indeed awesome. God is also loving and forgiving. Join me in reading responsively this great hymn of praise.

1The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
3Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!
4Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!
6Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.
7He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.
8O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy.

Luke 9:28-36
Much of the imagery of Moses’ encounter on Mt Sinai is repeated here in the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. On Mt. Sinai Moses sees the back of God and his face shines. On this mountain the disciples see Jesus as the son of God and his face and garments glow. The purpose of the climb is a time of prayer. Prayer can open our eyes to see this transfigured God.

28Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” 36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

SERMON
Recently we re-watched the movie “Sixth Sense.” Over and over when the ghosts got Cole into trouble he would ask his mother, “Are you angry with me?” or “Are you disappointed in me?” His mother would reply, “Look at my face.” There in her face he could see she still loved him and was concerned for him. It was an assurance. The transfiguration of Jesus is an assurance for the disciples that Jesus really is the Messiah. Just eight days before Peter had confessed this to Jesus, that he believed him to be the Messiah. Now he sees Jesus transfigured and he wants to make three abodes for worshipping Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Oops! Peter gets it and then he doesn’t get it. Such is true for many believers. We see Jesus in a powerful moment of revelation and time seems to stand still. Then life kicks back in, and we are left wondering “Where is Jesus?” It is sort of like those puzzles where is Waldo. It helps to know what Waldo looks like but still it is hard to find him. Is Jesus just another puzzle we have to figure out.

I belong to a small group of Presbyterian clergy who meet for breakfast once a month. We have a question we ask each other, “How have you seen Jesus/God since we last met?” This question makes us attentive to God’s activity in our lives. The cover of the bulletin is how I most often see Jesus –laughing with children around him. Perhaps you see him in prayer or healing or on he cross or on the throne of heaven. But where do you see him in your everyday life? As we head into lent this might be a question you could ask yourself. Have I seen Jesus today? Have I felt the hand on God on me? Pay attention to how God is moving in your life.

Rick Kohr sent me this email about on a cold January morning in 2007 at a Washington, DC Metro Station a man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about an hour. During that time it is estimated that approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. Very few people stopped to listen. Children were more interested than adults. Several put money in his hat. In an hour he had $32 dollars in his hat. Then he stopped and still no one noticed. No one applauded.

• The violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world,
• He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written,
• With a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
• Two days before Joshua Bell sold out in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each.

The email wonders: If we do not take a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... How many other things are we missing?

What would you pay to see and touch Jesus? He’s always there, giving his very best. We just need to practice looking for him. Amen.

February 7, 2010

You Need a Bigger Boat!

Psalm 138 sung as a Psalter

“I Will Give thanks with My Whole Heart” #247

And Luke 5: 1-11

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ February 7, 2010

Celebration of Our Lord’s Supper

and Souper Bowl of Caring

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Luke 5: 1-11
Gennesaret (genna-ser-et) is more often called The Sea of Galilee or Lake Tiberias. We know several of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen. The Sea of Galilee has been renowned for its fish from ancient times. There are 18 different species that are indigenous to the lake. They are classified locally into three main groups: sardines, biny and musht. Musht are tropical fish, which congregate when the lake is cold in shoals in warm water from springs in the northern part of the lake.

Net fishing is very ancient and the type that Peter was using is called a trammel net, which was actually composed of three nets, two large mesh walls about five feet high with a finer net in between. The boat went out into deep waters where there are no rocks so that the nets would not be torn. It was usually done by night. One end of the net was let down into the sea, then the boat made a circle creating a sort of tub in the water. The net gathered in every kind of fish, as they were unable to escape through the three layers of netting. When the fish were brought to shore, they had to be extricated from the nets and this took time and skill. The nets were spread out on the rocks to dry and be mended. After an unsuccessful night the disciples return to shore and encounter a crowd following Jesus.

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” 11When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

SERMON
It has always been my favorite line in the original movie Jaws. “You need a bigger boat.” The sheriff of the town says this because he has just gotten a glimpse of the shark they are trying to catch. It is way bigger than anything they had expected. What would happen if we, as a church, took seriously our goal to increase participation in the life of the church by 25 people? We might get them! Then we would need a bigger boat/church/staff/mission. You name it. More people would change the way we work together. Every change brings anxiety and fear, but God calls us into a mission of transformation and reconciliation. God calls into change: changed perspectives on people; changed goals; and most of all changed hearts.

Why was there a crowd at the lake? Was there a big fish sale? Luke tells us they were there “… to hear the word of God.” There is always a deep hunger in people to hear God’s word for them. Our job is to make sure they don’t go away still hungry. Jesus’ word is all about abundance.

Katey Huey writes: Jesus urges the seasoned but tired fishermen to strike back out into the deep rather than head safely home after a long day. The yield that day is more than enough to convince them that something really big is happening here, and in their encounter with Jesus they become keenly aware that life holds much more possibility than simply fishing for fish. What does it look like to "strike out into the deep," when we're tired and convinced that there are no more people interested in the good news we offer, especially when our popular culture offers such enticing invitations in other directions? "The deep" might represent those places we would rather not go, the places of discomfort and danger and unfamiliarity, where we might get in over our heads.

The good news is that we are promised not only abundance but Christ’s eternal presence and support. How that is lived out is new and changing in each community of faith.

The churches of the Presbytery of Shenango (shāy nan’ go)in Western Pennsylvania with other denominations have created “the Table Project.” It is a community effort that gathers woodworkers and school students of varying skill levels to create handcrafted dining tables for survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The goal is to help ease the pain of displaced families as they start over — by welcoming them home with a table of their own. Director Jim Moose says, “A table offers a center to a home, a place for meals, playing cards, doing homework. In short, it’s a place for a family to be a family.” Jesus puts a table in the center of our worship. The church also has a need to gather around the family table in which we encounter the risen Christ. Diretor Moose explains. “It was humbling to realize that a group from Western Pennsylvania could reach across 1,100 miles and make a difference in the lives of complete strangers.” Jim adds, “I’m in my fifties, and this is the first time in my life that I’ve been involved in something where I felt I was making a difference. This project encourages people to become part of something bigger than themselves.” To date, over 500 tables have been built and sent to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, and several hundred more are projected to be sent over the coming months.

The Katrina disaster happened nearly five years ago and still many are in recovery. There are still homes sitting empty on Harlan/Trueblood Rd from the flood of ’08 right here in Terre Haute. Recovery from any disaster is never an overnight success or failure. So now begins the long journey toward recovery for Haiti. Servants of Jesus Christ will need a bigger boat than ever before for the work of healing a nation.

Where is God asking Unity to go back out into the deep. Will we need a bigger boat for that mission?

Where is God asking YOU to go back out into the deep. Will you need a bigger heart for that mission?

We might say, “We have too few people or financial resources to do more than we already have done.” Sometimes we could even say, I have no more to give! It is called “compassion fatigue.” It is especially evident among servants of Christ when we think we have to do it alone. But God is about abundance. God will supply our needs, but we must be willing to go out into the deep water and glory of glories our nets will be filled to over flowing. Amen.

January 31, 2010

Prophetic Witness is Costly

Scripture Psalm 71:1-6 and Jeremiah 1:4-19

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ January 31, 2010

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Psalm 71: 1-6

We have all faced times of trouble. Over a long life, believers develop a confidence in God’s saving activity. The psalmist puts into words our hope and trust that God will carry us through such times.

1In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.
2In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me.
3Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
4Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
5For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother’s womb. My praise is continually of you.

Jeremiah 1: 4-19
You can hear a bit of the word of the psalmist in Jeremiah’s encounter with God’s call to serve as a prophet. God "touches" Jeremiah's mouth. Perhaps it sounds intimate, but we should not imagine that it was a gentle or a comforting touch. The same verb, ng', can also mean "strike." We might do better to imagine a shock. We would be justified in asking whether it hurt, or left a mark. Having God's words placed in his mouth changed Jeremiah forever. What happens when we let God speak through us?

4Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.” 7But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” 9Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth. 10See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

11The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” 12Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” 13The word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a boiling pot, tilted away from the north.” 14Then the Lord said to me: Out of the north disaster shall break out on all the inhabitants of the land. 15For now I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, says the Lord; and they shall come and all of them shall set their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its surrounding walls and against all the cities of Judah. 16And I will utter my judgments against them, for all their wickedness in forsaking me; they have made offerings to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. 17But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them. 18And I for my part have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall, against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land. 19They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.

SERMON

God's prophets speak to and for the nations because God is God of all creation and all people and because no nation lives in isolation. The economic practices and well-being, wars and peace of one nation spill over into other nations bringing prosperity or poverty, destruction or formation, bondage or freedom. No prophet can ignore these relationships. No prophet speaks into a world so narrow that he/she does not also speak to and for the nations.

The international political dimension of Jeremiah's charge is a sign of the scope of what God is asking him to do. God's words in Jeremiah's mouth are powerful, dangerous, and life-giving. They destroy what must be destroyed, dealing death to death. They plant the seeds and build up the structures of life.

Jeremiah was called by the Lord to serve as a prophet to the nations, to declare God's word to Israel and its enemies, a word of judgment that could be a blessing. Like the people of Nineveh, the people of Judah could of turned from their evil ways and repented. There was no promise that this task would be easy, especially for a young and untrained communicator like Jeremiah, but since God's power operates in weakness, he could rely on divine aid. The question for us is, does Jeremiah's experience give us an insight into how the divine call might work for us today? Like Jeremiah, we are personally known to the Lord, set apart and appointed to communicate the gospel to the ends of the earth. We must carry a good-news message to seekers which becomes bad-news to those who turn away form Jesus. All believers are called to this end and we fulfill it in a myriad of ways: personal witness when asked to give an account of our faith; praying and giving to mission work; teaching the Bible; and supporting the ministry of Unity. We are all called to gospel proclamation and we can be sure that the Lord will support us as we seek to make his Word known.

In seminary we used to talk about prophetic ministry and priestly ministry, as if they were different calls. But the prophet who does not suffer with the people is no priest either. The priest who never challenges hurtful behavior and choices is no prophet and neither serves the will of God. Jeremiah was both and it cost him dearly to see his people suffer as they continually made bad choices that led away from God’s will for them. Out of his mouth poured God’s judgment and it was harsh. Like a doctor prescribing a strict regiment of changed behavior, the purpose of God’s judgment is to give life and to kill what is destroying our lives.

As believers we are called by God to share the good news of Jesus the Christ. Some will receive our message with joy like those who quench their thirst with cool water. Some will run from the burning it brings to their hearts and minds. The choice is theirs, our role is to love them in whatever choice they make and continually offer the gift of life. It cost Jeremiah everything to serve his Lord: he was forbidden to marry and so had no children (because any children born at that time would more than likely be killed by the invading armies); he was persecuted by the political and religious leaders, placed under house arrest and exiled to Egypt. Isaiah wrote about a servant of God, in which we, as Christians, hear the suffering of our Lord Jesus, but Jeremiah also “was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3) His call to serve was very costly. He wrote songs of lament and poured out his grief, but he is also a “Prophet of Hope.” Because in the midst of the political disaster and immense human and personal suffering, he still speaks words of assurance.

"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD.  But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD:
I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

In Jeremiah’s message we can hear our own call to love, to have hope, to give joy, to keep the faith and to be an instruments that give life and that life in abundance. Such as call is costly for us as well. We give of our time, our treasure, our comfort, and our abilities and talents. When we would rather stay under the covers and wait for the crisis to pass, God calls us out into the world to be the living WORD, speaking truth in our work for justice and mercy. Our call is to empty ourselves, but then we are filled with the Word of Life. Amen.