Celebrating the Baptsim of Our Lord

I remember packing to come home from Iraq after my long deployment.  We each had identical olive drab flight bags and duffel bags to pack our belongings in.  Although each bag was tagged with our name, I wondered how I could easily identify my bags when so many looked similar.  I looked around the base and found some bright yellow duct tape and some red ribbon.  I marked each bag with the tape in the shape of a cross (the chaplain's insignia) and then tied red ribbon on the grip handles of each bag.  That way when the bags came down the luggage line at BWI airport I could grab my bags quickly because they were marked as mine.

This Sunday Christians around the world will be celebrating the Baptism of our Lord and it is a time to remember our baptism and be thankful.  It's difficult for many of us to remember our baptism because so many of us were baptized as children.  I have some faint memories because I was baptized as a toddler.  My grandma bought me an itchy wool suit to wear.  I was baptized by pouring and water got in my eyes and I cried in front of the whole congregation.  My parents were new the church and probably had little understanding of what was happening.  I had little understanding of the event.  Yet, it was the most important day of my life because I was marked that day as a child of God.

There are so many forces and so many people that tell us in so many places that we don't belong, we're not part of their group, we're not worthy of their attention.  Yet our baptism is special because it marks us as God's very own.  This Sunday let's remember our baptism and be thankful because each of us is marked as God's beloved Child.  The lets live a life of hope letting others know they too are special children of God with whom God is well please when we live into the purpose that God intends for us.

On the Closing of Cokesbury Bookstore

This week I was saddened to learn that all Cokesbury Book retail stores will be closed.  For many years they have served our area well as both a church supply and Christian bookstore.  It was always great to be able to roam the aisle, peruse the books and other goodies.  They always had free coffee and often cookies or other snacks.  What I will miss most is the personal service.

I remember when I was ordained deacon some 28 years ago how proud my parents were to go there and purchase for me my first clergy robe as a gift.  Likewise a few years later when I earned my doctorate they went back to purchase the stripes that went on the sleeves.  The clerk there even know a seamstress who could sew them on for us.  It's a wonderful memory.

That personal service has helped me make disciples.  Traditionally, our church presented Bibles to those being baptized.  In my present appointment I find myself sometimes baptizing adults who come to the faith for the first time.  I purchased a supply of "Wesley Study Bibles" when they were on sale a few years back.  When someone is being baptized, I would take them back to the store to have the leather cover engraved with their name.  It's amazing to me how many people became more serious about studying and reading the Bible by that simple personal touch made possible by having a local Cokesbury store who remembered you when you came in and knew you by name.

I know that the world is changing and online/ phone ordering may be the wave of the future, but the little personal touches made possible by a local store was a witness to Christ and the love of His Church.  I will surely miss them.

Reflections on the Day after an Election

The First Epistle to Timothy 2:1-8 admonishes us to be in prayer for those in authority.  I know that many have deep emotional feelings about last nights election.  For some it was a time of triumph and hope; yet, for others there was deep disappointment.  This morning I was met by people who had deep heartfelt emotional feelings on both sides.  Now that the election is over and we are faced with many challenges, I believe the proper Christian response is one of prayer for all those in authority and thanksgiving for those who lost the election but had the courage to offer their gifts for public service.  How then should we pray?  I've found it helpful to return to the classical prayers of our faith for guidance in these times.  Below I have included several prayers from the Episcopal Church's Book of Common Prayer that can serve as guidance for our prayers in these times.

18. For our Country
See also Various Occasions no. 17.
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

19. For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority
O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of this State (or Commonwealth), and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people inthy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

20. For Congress or a State Legislature
O God, the fountain of wisdom, whose will is good and gracious, and whose law is truth: We beseech thee so to guide and bless our Senators and Representatives in Congress assembled (or in the Legislature of this State, or Commonwealth), that they may enact such laws as shall please thee, to the glory of thy Name and the welfare of this people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

21. For Courts of Justice Almighty God, who sittest in the throne judging right: We humbly beseech thee to bless the courts of justice and the magistrates in all this land; and giveunto them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that they may discern the truth, and impartially administer the law in the fear of thee alone; through him who shall come to be our Judge, thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Laboring for the Word - a Labor Day Sermon on Being a Doer of the Word.

"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves"

               -- James 1:22 (New America Standard Bible)

Note: Last Sunday I began a sermon series on the Book of James.  Some asked if they could have copies of my sermons in case they were unable to attend.  I will blog an abbreviated form of each sermon here so those who wish to will be able to follow the series.

As a wedding present my wife and I received a cookbook from the Junior League of Northern Virginia -- "The Southern Hospitality Cookbook."  Leafing through the pages I discovered a dish a really wanted to try - Cheddar Cheese Cake.  My wife took a look at the ingredients and directions and said to me, "if you'd like this, I'll buy you a spring form pan and the ingredients and you can make it."  I learned a lot from that experience.  How hard it is to whip cream cheese.  How you really do need to follow the recipe when it says to add the egg yolks and egg whites at separate times.  I scraped my finger trying to grate the lemon peel and orange rind.  I made a total mess of the kitchen, but in the end it actually turned out pretty nice.  And now, 24 years later, I've become pretty good at making it.  But I learned a lesson.  It's not enough just to read the cook book and admire the pictures.  To truly enjoy the treat you need to follow directions, experience making it a few times and go through the struggle of learning new things.

Today our scripture from First James -- prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers -- teaches a similar lesson.  It's not enough to just read about living a life committed to Christ.  If we truly want to experience the precious promises God gives to all believers, we must live according to the book.  That means we may have to learn some new ways of living, experience a deeper spirituality and not make excuses or take short cuts when God's word asks us to take a difficult path.

The book of James has been a controversial book.  The great reformer, Martin Luther, called it "an epistle of straw," because it emphasized works rather than grace as Paul's epistles do.  I disagree with Luther, James is really just telling another side of the story.  The Apostle Paul was speaking to newly converted Gentile Christians who were hungry to hear about forgiveness and grace.  James, a leader of the Church in Jerusalem, was speaking to folks who had been raised in the Jewish faith before they came to know Christ as their Savior.  In this context he was instructing them on the importance of making their belief more than just an intellectual understanding.  He reminds them that their faith is of no use unless it is put into practice.

Many of us hear and read of God's precious promises for the joy and success we can find in our commitment to Christ.  We accept him as Savior expecting those promises to be fulfilled immediately.  We don't like the reminder that comes in the book of James that these promises come not simply by saying we believe but by living out our belief.  And in the living our expectations of what God's promises are and our vision of success might just be transformed.

What does it mean to be a doer of the word and not simply a hearer?

First, it means that we live a life where we love God.  That means we become faithful in worship.  Worship is the place we gather we fellow believers and express our love for God.  But it is also something deeper.  When we are in love with someone we need to be in communication with him.  How do we communicate with God? -- Through prayer.  We need to lead a life of prayer and devotion where we do something more than simply give God our orders for what we need him to do.  We need to express our feelings and emotions to God and listen for God's still small voice speaking to us how we might become the answers to our own prayers.  How do we listen for God's voice?  One key way is to study God's word and let the scriptures speak to the desires of our heart.  The first step to being a doer of the word that experiences the precious promises of scripture is to be a lover of God who is faithful in worship, constant in prayer and diligent in the study of the word.

Second, it means living a life where we love people.  This is challenging because God's word calls us to love our neighbor as our self the in the story of the Good Samaritan reminds us that our neighbors are not just the people we like.  We love others when we live a life as gracious to others as God has been gracious to us.  We learn to refrain from words that hurt and learn the words that bring healing.  We forgive as we have been forgiven.  We understand that our faith is not a solitary thing.  We gather with other believers so we can be encouraged and so we can encourage them.  The second step to being a doer of the word it to be one who loves people by leading a gracious and forgiving life that seeks the encouragement that comes in fellowship and is eager to offer encouragement to others.

Third, it means that we become a blessing as we have been blessed.  When God called Abraham he promised him many things, a special land, divine protection, numerous descendants, but it was not simply because he was faithful.  Genesis teaches us that God blessed Abraham so that through him and his descendants the world would be blessed.  We are reminded that when God blesses us, it's because of our deserving but to fulfill God's purposes of blessing.

What does that mean for us in concrete ways?  If we have been blessed with talents, gifts, skills, ability, wealth, security -- anything at all, it is so we can become a blessing to others.  When we lead a life in this ways the offerings we once offered grudgingly become tithes we offer with joy.  We aren't afraid to step forward and use our skills to help another person.  When someone is in need before it we don't resent it, but welcome it as an opportunity to be a blessing.  We lead a life where we find joy, not in what we receive but in what we can give.

When we live a life to be a blessing it changes our expectations of success.  Most define success in earthly terms - a high salary or title, a beautiful home, a luxury car, or comfortable lifestyle.  But when we live to be a blessing we find success not in monetary terms, not in titles or honors, not in cars or homes - but we see our success in the lives we've helped to change and in the way we have helped others discover the joy of becoming a blessing.

Jesus said, ""Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19 NASB), but build treasure in heaven.  We build treasure in heaven when we touch the life of another, when we care for the least, the last and the lost as if they were Christ himself (see Matthew 25).  We build up treasure in heaven when we become a blessing as we've been blessed.

This summer has been an incredible time at our church that many of you don't know about.  Three times this summer, someone has sat in my office and prayed with me to change their life, grow closer to Christ and accept him as their savior.  Some were folks we met at a cookout; some have come to our church for years, another someone who comes to our food pantry.  This was not something that happened by one person’s efforts alone.  Any of you who helped at our cookout or donated food, any who work at our food pantry, any who offered hospitality to visitors and welcomed them in our midst were a blessing to them.  And the fruit is the joy of knowing that we helped someone become a part of God's family.

When we lead a life focused on loving God, loving people and being a blessing. We embark on a life of joy and inherit the precious promises of God.  When one becomes a doer of the word, our vision of success changes.  We no longer focus on what we get for ourselves; our vision of joy is transformed as we take joy in the way we have blessed others.  One day we will all stand before the Lord and be transformed from this life to the next.  In that moment it won't matter what the size of our bank account was, the honors or awards posted on our wall, the size of the home we lived in, or what kind of car we drove. But what will matter is that we built up treasure in heaven -- being a blessing to others offering food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, visiting the sick and the prisoner, caring for the least, the last and the lost as if they were Christ himself.(Matthew 25)  Then we receive God's greatest blessing and experience the greatest success -- an eternity with the Lord we love and fellowship with all those who have served Christ on earth and continue to serve Christ in heaven.

Be a doer of the word and not a hearer only.  Then we will experience the precious promises of scripture.  They may not be the promises we expect right now. For when we live a life that loves God, loves people and becomes a blessing our vision of success changes to God's measure of success:  how well we've used the gifts God has given us to be a blessing to others.

Reflections on Healing, Miracles and Faith

This week I've been planning ahead a sermon series on the Book of James.  Martin Luther called it an "epistle of straw" because unlike Paul's letters he felt it emphasized works over faith.  I see James' book differently. He simply has another emphasis - how those who have a friendship with Christ and a walk with God can live faithfully.  In James 5 he speaks of a special tradition of the Church -- anointing with oil for healing.

Sometimes Christians get busy in everyday life and our prayer life falters.  When crisis comes we turn to God  in prayer.  At other times, the gift of prayer is one of the ways we can show our concern for a friend in crisis.  The service of Christian Healing is an outward sign of the ultimate sovereignty of God where in faith we turn our brokenness over to the Lord and trust in his gracious care and providential will.  Sometimes miraculous things happen and the hoped for changes occur immediately.  Sometimes, God is asking us to be patient in bearing our burdens.  At other times, the healing may be God's spirit teaching us how we can accept our weakness and persevere in faith.  Whether the healing is immediate, over time, or of spirit rather than body -- each is a miracle of God's grace in its own way.

Likewise, physical brokenness is not the only concern we can bring to the Lord for healing.  Sometimes our spirit is flagging, our mental state in turmoil.  At other times we might seek help from God for the healing of a broken relationship.  But when we humbly come before God in prayer we admit our weakness and trust that when we are weak, God can remain strong.

Why not just prayer -- why the symbol of anointing with oil.  Certainly God can heal whatever God wishes without this symbol but from ancient times holy oil was a powerful symbol of faith.  Remember how the prophets anointed the Kings of Israel an outward sign of God's favor and presence.  To receive the anointing however, the King was admitting his weakness that the strength he relied on was not his own physical prowess or force of arms, but God's wisdom, grace and guidance.

So too when we kneel and receive the anointing we admit that when we are weak, God's strength can still be shown in our life.  Too often we like to think that we can handle things but in reality whatever wisdom or skills we developed to deal with our problems -- they are gifts from God.  We trust physicians for our physical issues, but in reality whatever knowledge they have is a gift from God as well.  Receiving the anointing does not replace the help of physicians, counselors, pastors, or even our own abilities.  But when we receive the anointing it is an outward sign of the spiritual grace that the healing of any brokenness has it's basis in God's grace.  Whatever else we use to help, it is just an instrument God uses to make his grace felt in the world.

Are there still miracles today?  A biblical scholar once said that miracles were really mighty acts of God that show signs of God's rule and reign.  Whether the healing is in an instant, as the result of a long series of treatments, or an inner healing of peace in spite of infirmity, they are all mighty acts of God showing God's rule and reign.  So yes many miracles happen, but we may not always have the eyes to see them -- or may only realize it in long hind sight.  The tradition mentioned in James 5 of anointing with oil for healing is important because in it we demonstrate our faith to trust in God's gracious care and providential will.

In my parish once again on September 30 we will be having a special service of Christian healing as we study  James 5 in our Sunday sermon.  I hope my congregation can have the eyes of faith to see the many miracles that can happen when we admit our weakness, trust in God's strength and give ourselves over to God's grace and providential will.

On the Proper Use of Scripture

Christians are fond of saying that the scripture is our rule of faith and practice.  However, we often differ on the correct interpretation.  A popular bumper sticker reads, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it."  Such simplistic understandings often lead to misunderstandings.

The Bible is less a book than a library.  It is a collection of books and letters.  Some are historical reflections on the history of Israel and Judah, some are letters.  Parts of scripture contain poetry, other parts creative writing not unlike today's novels.  The truth in scripture is not always in the literal history, but in the spiritual truth the story is point toward.

When we read scripture carefully we discover that there are a variety of opinions expressed.  Some are peculiar to the culture in which they were originally written, sometimes the Bible shows two different views on an issue so we can gain guidance to find the the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

One of the greatest errors in the way we use the Bible is that we come to the Bible with a notion we think the Bible should support.  We get out a concordance and look up a verse or two that we think supports our idea.  The we say -- see the Bible said it, I believe it, that settles it.  We really haven't come to the Bible seeking guidance -- we used the Bible incorrectly to support our preconceived ideas and prejudices.  As Shakespeare warned us in the Merchant of Venice, "the devil can site scripture for his own purpose! An evil soul producing holy witness is like a villain with a smiling cheek."

How then can we use Scripture?  We need to grow beyond finding a text to prove a point we already think is true.  First, we need to study Scripture in its entirety.  Become familiar with its basic themes and the consistent teachings which God gave to His people throughout the centuries.  Second, we need to understand the history, background and culture of each book and discover what the author was trying to say in the context of the author's own time and place.  Finally when we discover the major teaching, we need to interpret it in way that is relevant to our own time and place.  For example, St. Paul's teaching about women keeping their hair long may be more about showing respect in a place of worship than what is the proper hair style.   Many of the laws in Leviticus were not meant to dictate what we should eat or how we should keep our animals.  They were intended to be public health regulations for a people camping out on a long journey from Egypt to Palestine.  Once we understand the original intention, we can interpret it's meaning to our own time and place.

When we focus on literal interpretations we ignore the intent of the original authors and try to twist scripture to fit our preconceived ideas.  If our study of scripture challenges us and causes us to think deeply and change our ideas and our lives -- well we probably are understanding its meaning more accurately.

Biblical interpretation is never easy.  It is more an art than a science.  We also rely on others in translations and commentaries.  We also rely on a larger Christian tradition of understanding and belief.  However, many of opinions we cite scripture to support -- abortion, birth control, homosexuality, family structure etc. were really trivial matters the scripture seldom speaks clearly about.  By understanding the larger themes of grace and blessing found in scripture we hear God's call that God's people throughout the ages are to be a blessing to others as God has blessed them.  We learn that sin generally occurs when we just focus on selfishly counting our blessings and become deaf to God's call to be a blessing.  Sin is not so much a prohibited behavior, as it is a break in our relationship with God that causes us to focus on selfishness rather than graciousness and generosity.

So how is the Bible God's word?  The words in print, neatly bound are not in and of themselves God's word.  The Bible becomes God's word when read under the influence of the Holy Spirit and it speaks to our heart convicting us of our selfishness and calling us to not just be blessed but to be a blessing.  If you read scripture and find it confirms what you already think -- you are probably not studying the Bible carefully.  God's word, when it touches our heart, almost always calls us to change, grow and take the focus of ourselves and put it on being a blessing to others.

Reflections on the Return of Christ -- or Celebrating the Presence of Christ

I remember when I was in Eighth Grade in Mrs. Starner's Geometry Class.  One afternoon someone had predicted that Christ would return at noon and the world would be destroyed.  A few Sunday's before this our youth leader showed a movie "A Thief in the Night" four our evening youth fellowship.  We were all afraid.  One of my friends said this would be the day we'd discover if the Bible was true or not.

Well it was noon on that special day that we were sitting in Geometry Class.  The old Simpson Street School in Mechanicsburg, PA had an interesting central clock system.  If you listened closely you could hear a loud click as each clock in the school in sync would switch from one minute to the next.  At 11:59 AM we all started staring at the clock waiting for the loud click.  The room became silent.

Similarly at noon the Mechanicsburg Fire Companies would test their fire sirens.  One was outside in the school's playground.

My heart pounded with anticipation for that moment.  We heard the click of the clock turn to Noon.  Then there was a moment of silence -- the fire sirens sounded and our hearts raced even faster.  After a minute the sirens stopped.  Class continued and 20 minutes later the class bell rang and we all went off to lunch and the rest of our day.  That was the first time I remember being affected by an end of the world scare.

Christians often in difficult times look for the return of Christ to take us out of the mess of this world.  But as I grew older and studies scripture more closely I discovered that most of the popular "prophetic" stories about the end of the world had little basis in scripture.  St. Paul looked for the coming of Christ in his own age.  Indeed the prayer of the early church was the Christ would come quickly.

I've often wondered if in our rush through life we miss seeing Christ's return among us.  St. Paul taught us that the Church is the body of Christ.  Each of us using our spiritual gifts to minister and care for hurting world, each of us using our talents to share reconciliation and grace makes Christ present in the world.  Maybe what we missed was that Christ HAS ALREADY returned.  Christ is presence in the work of the Church.

As we care for the poor, give comfort to the hurting, help those alienated from God find grace and share God's love we show the face of Christ to others.  Our eyes should be Jesus' eyes seeing the needs of the world.  Our ears should be Jesus' ears hearing the cries of the oppressed.  Our hands should be Jesus' hands offering healing and wholeness. Our feet should be Jesus' feet carrying us to places of need.  Our voice should be Jesus voice offering God's amazing grace and infinite love.  Perhaps rather perusing scripture trying to predict a date for Jesus' return, we should get about the business of being Christ for others.  If we put the effort into trying to predict Christ's return into making Christ present in our life, community and world -- we might just be instruments of making God's commonwealth a felt reality.

The truth of scripture is that just saying you understand the right doctrines so your name can be on the right list so that you can avoid hell is an empty and meaningless faith.  Our faith is not best .lived not by talking about empty doctrines but living out Christ's love.