Grace Lutheran Church - A Family of Faith

Sermon June 29, 2008 - A Cup of Water

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:29:37 -0600

Sermon June 29, 2008 - A Cup of Water
Pastor Wesley Howell

It’s graduation time. I’ve mentioned my “grief” with the content of Graduation ceremony speeches. “Now it’s our turn to go out and change the world!” Well, that’s fine. But it’s SO big – too big. People want to change the world but not their own part of it. People want to change others but not themselves.

Jesus has been “nailing” us over the past few weeks. Really hard stuff like “Who ever loves father, mother, sister, brother, more than me is not worthy of me.” He’s not fooling around. He wants to make sure our priorities are straight and that God is NOT just an addendum to the many clubs/tribes we want to sign up for. Who’s the number one priority? Jesus. And then we can go from there…but don’t slip off. So the priority is hard…but what does he ask us to do?

Healing. The healing God began in Genesis. It doesn’t have to be huge; and it begins with healing…you.
A little prayer offered on our behalf, to drive away the darkness, to destroy the isolation? I was talking with one of our members in a health center and he said, “You know…just to know people are praying for me…they care.”

Doesn’t a part of us hunger for that?

Of course, we do. This is God pouring grace into our fragmented lives, which is all well and good; if only God's grace weren't so scary; if only it didn't come with so much risk!

Extending the circle to another involves the risk of rejection, the risk of laughter, the risk of tears, and the risk of love.

I've heard it said that the problem with others is that they are just so “other.” They’re not LIKE us. They might not like us. They might refuse our kindness. They might wound us. They might persecute us. Others might crucify us.

And worst of all, others might change us, so much for small acts. There’s no such thing as a small act. Because even offering a glass of water means we have to step outside our self made walls of protection. It is a risk…but it’s also rich life.

But this is Jesus. He's always trying to change us. He never leaves us alone.

He wants us to be good. He wants us to be faithful. He loves us and expects us to love others.

Jesus knows we were not created to live alone. God’s heart is so big and full of love it cannot help but offer grace and redemption and call us back. And it grows. It grows when we offer kindness, gentleness, and mercy, when other lonely lives become wrapped up in our own. God's love that was first opened to us is extended to someone else.

And before you know it the cup of water we are offering to another becomes our salvation, as barriers fall, hands touch, and lives become entwined.
Getting involved with this kind of God, even when it seems small and harmless, is always risky. Whether we are casting out demons, preaching in the streets, being persecuted for our faith, or simply offering meager acts of hospitality to others, we always risk finding salvation. This is the great irony of the gospel. We reach out…we risk. Sometimes we get stepped on; but it’s a risk he was willing to take.
Jesus has high expectations. He’s been nailing us over the past few weeks. He EXPECTS us to do it…to live it out.

But…the funny thing is that WHAT he expects us to do is simply to reach out. That’s the start. You want the world to be peaceful? Then YOU be peaceful. Want your family to be caring? Then YOU be caring. Want the congregation to be friendly…spiritual? Then it starts with you. You BE what you want. Don’t just fuss about everyone else and try to make THEM what you want. Simple as a cup of cold water given because of who and whose you are. We don’t have to save the world…but he does expect us to heal our little corner of it.

Sermon June 22, 2008 - Jesus Disrupts Our World

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:36:42 -0600

Sermon June 22, 2008 - Jesus Disrupts Our World
Pastor Wesley Howell

It’s that time of year again–graduations-speeches. Most of them you’ve heard before…”I remember when we were just little freshmen.” “Now it’s time for us to go change the world.” Reminds me of, I think it was Mark Twain, who said, “Everyone wants to change the world, but they don’t want to change themselves.” This year at Kirsten’s graduation the speaker had a great image. “Hold onto life like you would a wet bar of soap…too tightly and you’ll loose, too loosely and you’ll drop it. It’s a balancing act. Use a light touch and be ready to go with the flow.” It sounded like there were echoes with Jesus in today’s gospel. Holding on…loosing life, preserving…

Sometimes, in my experience, Jesus brings peace. Sometimes he brings a sword. Sometimes Jesus unites, and sometimes he divides and disrupts; we have to make choices.

Have we found a way to follow Jesus without having to give up anything? Being a Christian is roughly the same as being a sensitive, compassionate, and caring American. Jesus is the one who keeps families together, who confirms our highest and best values and institutions.

Then comes Jesus in today's Gospel and even the most complacent and contented among us realizes that here we have a confrontation with a very different way of looking at things.

There’s a church not too far from us. 10-15 miles to the east…a church that has experienced severe conflict, especially about 10 years ago. Many of the older members were very unhappy with the direction of the church and are threatening to take their money and leave. Younger members had joined over the years…and they were thrilled with the growth…but then...shock of shocks…things started changing - guitars and drums and new hymns. What was their rallying cry? “This isn’t Lutheran.”

So they called in the Bishop in a last-ditch effort to preserve the peace and unity of the church. The Bishop….Bishop Maier listening to both sides carefully and called them back together. Were they surprised! The Bishop said, "I've never seen a church grow without conflict. Has anybody here ever learned anything or grown significantly without conflict? Sometimes Jesus seems to kill one congregation in order to give birth to a new one."

Wow!

Are our priorities straight? “Not Lutheran.” That’s what gets thrown at us. Luther heard that people were starting to call the reforming congregations “Lutheran” and he pitched a fit. Refused! “Who am I, this bag of worms, that Christ’s church should be called after me!” It wasn’t until after he died…then.

Lutheran. In High School I had a medal I wore all the time. It was a Luther’s rose on one side and on the other it said, “I am a Lutheran”. My catholic friends had medals too. They were different.

A couple years ago I was praying and wrestling. I could see the changes coming down the pike and I said, “But Lord, I love the church. I love being Lutheran. I grew up in the church. It was my family.”

The message came back loud and clear. “I know you love the church; but do you love me more?” If you think the answer is easy you’re not hearing him.

A life of faith means keeping our priorities straight. Is Jesus Christ and proclaiming him…living that proclamation the center of everything we do? Or have we hitched our life to the adiaphora. The peripheral…What are we trying to hold onto. What is winding us up, what are we spending our time and energy talking about? If it’s not Christ at its center…then we’re not worthy of him.

God is Real.

Enter into a relationship with God as known in Jesus

That relationship can-and will-change your life.

Sermon June 1, 2008 - Hear These Words and DO Them

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 18:42:27 -0600

Sermon June 1, 2008 - Hear These Words and DO Them
Pastor Wesley Howell

Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel, “the one who Hears these words…and Acts on them…that person is like a person who built on rock.” The solid building is the acting on them.

Do you know what the “official” name of our church is? Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church -- we are EVANGELICAL and LUTHERAN. Those are good words…but what do they mean? For years we've been saying that "institutional loyalty" is a thing of the past. How does that unpack? Well, institutional loyalty means you go to a store or restaurant, partly because you’ve had a good history with them; Fredrick and Nelson…huge loyalty base. But…sad isn’t it. They’re no longer around. Loyalty wasn’t enough.

In the church it meant you seek out Lutheran first and then find one that fits. It meant Lutherans being imported from Europe or being born into it… first/second generation. But that isn’t the world we find ourselves in anymore…it just isn’t.

So the question is: Can WE as a church actually make the shift and modify our practice/thinking to recognize that change? I've found that words like sin/sinner, justification, even Grace, need to unpacked for the person on the street. We take those words for granted. I think it means we need to be passionate and clear about what we believe, then able to translate that, touching people who have not had a long history in the Church where insider language and ideas are used. What does it mean to be Lutheran? Is there anything about that which people out there would value? Or does it drive us deeper. That we’re Christian first and Lutheran is our flavor.

Let me use an example: Sunday afternoon a while back Linda called as I was heading out of the church and asked me to stop at QFC and pick up some tomatoes. So there I was in Produce… I looked up and there was a young man there, 20 something… staring at me across the tomatoes. Actually he was staring at…this (collar), "You Catholic?" "Nope," I responded, "Lutheran" "Oh," said he "What do they believe?" Now I just wasn’t ready for that. I’d been up since 5 a.m., Worship, preaching, teaching confirmation, Sunday meetings…."Well", I said" at our core we believe in a God of Grace." Blank stare from him. I floundered on..."We believe in a God who loves us. Loves ALL of us. And yearns to be a part of our lives. Loves us so much he won't let our "stuff" get in the way." "Oh...cool" said he. Maybe my answer wasn’t the most eloquent…But he got it.

Why are we here? Are you contented or compelled? Each one of us, individually, as congregations, as church… need to continually make an honest assessment and then let it drive you to the core of what you believe.

It’s one thing to say we’re evangelical, Evangelical means we have good news…it’s another to live it out. I believe we want to be, to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed. When we peel back the layers what you find is that we have a beautiful and wonderful gift…Jesus!

We have to care enough about other people to want to share. We have to be ready to REALLY listen to them so we can convey the message in a language...in words they’ll understand.

Everyone who hears these words AND DOES THEM. That’s what Jesus says.

Sermon April 27, 2008 - Togetherness

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:12:46 -0600

April 27, 2008 Togetherness
Pastor Wesly Howell

Last week we took a little walk in the Garden of Eden, and you know it does us good. It’s not just because reading the Bible will make you “Holy” or religious. God’s Word…God’s message…for you sits in the words. Luther: “Cradle to hold Christ”. Buechner: “Window to look through to see God’s world.” So let’s get back to the Garden of Eden. We talked about God making hippos and giraffes and bringing them before the Adam to see what he’d call them. But I think it’s so amazing that even before the apple thing God recognizes that there is trouble in paradise. That it’s not QUITE right. “It is not good.” Up to now everything’s been good…good…good: sun…good, moon…good, trees…good. Now…whoa...not good… “It is NOT good that the man is alone.”

God creates animals…it’s like Adam says…nice try Papa…but…well. So God creates Eve. “At last! Bone of my bone…flesh of my flesh.”

It’s all about relationships
 God to human….friendly…caring…intimate…walked and talked
 Human to human….supportive…caring…stand next to
 Human to creation…creation takes care of the humans and the humans take care of creation
 Creation to God…joy…delight.

Freedom got us in the mess. So what is freedom -- the ability to choose? Or is it getting what I want, when I want it…which usually means NOW. And I want it ALL. See…it’s not just freedom…that’s pretty neutral. But when it’s all about me, individualism; there’s the mess. “When they saw the fruit was good to eat…and that they would be LIKE God.”

There is a message for you here too, just as there was for the disciples. When Jesus calls you to follow him he doesn't expect you to be some kind of spiritual super-hero. He just wants you to be obedient to him, to follow him.

I think this is a message that goes against our ingrained cultural predispositions. Why do students go to college? Rarely, in my experience, do they say, "to get a good education," or "to gain wisdom." They say, "So I can be out on my own, so I can live my own life… free!" But what’s the number one problem? Loneliness

What do older people fear about getting older? Not the loss of a spouse or even death. They say, "I’m afraid of becoming dependent upon my family."

What is a big reason that I hear for why a young couple is delaying marriage? "We just don't want to become dependent on one another. We like our freedom." Or do we want kids? “Well that means we won’t be free: to do what I want, where I want, when I want…now!

We say that we want to be free, that we want to be independent. Yet it is one of the ironies of contemporary life that, in trying so hard to free ourselves of any dependencies and attachments, we end up enslaving ourselves to a host of masters.
 Who are you enslaved too? What did you do when the power went out a year ago? Did you find out just how dependant you were…are?
 I can name people whom I know who worked all their lives to, "one day retire and be free." Yet when they finally finished their life work and got to their long-awaited retirement they found out that they didn't know how to do anything but work.
 How many people did you know who have died right after retirement because now they had complete "freedom" but had nothing interesting to do with that freedom.

"Retirement ain't all it's cracked up to be," said a man from church "When I worked all I could think about was having the freedom to play golf, now I can play 24 hours a day and seven days a week…, it's hell. I used to yearn for it; dream of it. Now…I’m bored stiff."

Saint Augustine said most of the world's "freedom" is merely the rattling of the chains of the happily enslaved.

I can't think of anybody in my church that was killed because he or she was too obedient to Christ. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind….and your neighbor as yourself. How many would say, “Oh man! That’s just killing me!” Maybe it does feel like it. Just kills you to be kind. But that’s the old Adam dying.

What is church? It’s not just the place where you come to have YOUR needs met. I get my spiritual tank filled. That may happen. GREAT! But you see…it would still be about ME.

It’s a place where we can continue to learn how to play well with the others here and new others who come along, to get along and simply to love and care for one another, to learn again that we are interdependent, to get saved…not just for heaven…but for now.

“I will not leave you alone. Orphaned… desolate.” And He hasn’t.

April 20, 2008 Sermon - Show Us

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:59:57 -0600

Sermon April 20, 2008 - Show Us
Pastor Wesley Howell

Think about what happened. In the Garden of Eden God walked and talked with Adam. God was worried about Adam being lonely so he starts molding clay again and comes up with the ANIMALS. You can almost hear the excitement as God brings each one to Adam…”What are you going to call his one? ‘Platypus’…OK well, I asked.”

When we chose individualism…when we chose not to trust, it was like an invisible wall, a gulf, a rift, a valley. That’s SIN. Not so much the stuff we do but the condition afterward. You know how it feels. We make choices, we hurt someone and….space…distance.

But God wasn’t going to leave it at that. He kept coming at people, trying to reconnect. Abraham was blessed to be a blessing; Moses with a gift of freedom from slavery and then the Ten Commandments, a framework to live well together. David, Isaiah…until…

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was made flesh, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It sounds very beautiful and poetic.

But then when that Word-made-flesh got to talking, began moving about in the world, reaching out to the untouchables, healing the sick, rebuking the rich and the powerful, raising the dead, upsetting the authorities, …well, then many people thought they could see God just a little too well! God got so close to us in Jesus that we got a good look at God and we didn't like what we saw!

So we crucified him. We wanted to keep our "religion" vague, indefinable, soft, and spiritual only some vague…airy kind of way. That way we can make it fit what WE want. Even if we had to crucify Jesus to do it!

And we did. But then we learned on Easter that he was not only Word-made-flesh but also eternal life; he was the God who would not be defeated by our sin and death.

In Jesus, we got a good look at God.

That's what Jesus told Philip when he said, "Show us God." Jesus said, "Philip, take a good look at the one who is beside you, talking to you, walking with you. When you've seen me, you've seen the Father."

And if you think it’s over…guess again.

We chose to mess it up….we have to choose to make it right. That’s the way love is…

I think it’s wild that only the Gospel of Luke has ascension. Matthew ends with…”Lo I am with you always, even to the end of time.” Mark’s says to the ladies at the tomb, “He is going on ahead of you, just like he said, He’ll meet you back in Galilee. He’s going ahead.” In John Jesus keeps popping up where you’d least expect him, at the tomb/gardener, entering locked doors, with Thomas, back in Galilee when they went back to fishing. Then he shows up to Paul in the road to Damascus…

Take it as both/and in heaven (ascension) and here with us; but where? Show us! In that parable of the Sheep and Goats I mentioned last week. The scary one where both the sheep and goats call him “Lord”. They say, “Lord! When did we see you?” “Ah, when you did it to the least of these you did it to me.”

From Genesis to now… He’s still trying to fix it…and he has a plan.

Once upon a time there was a monastery…it all started out well, but after a while people started getting cranky, picking on each other, jumping on every fault, chipping away. The Abbot was beside himself…what to do. One night he had a dream…not just any dream; this was a full fledged vision. “What am I to do?” he cried. “I cannot tell you,” said God, “but know this…one of you is the Messiah.” When he woke up he told the rest of the monks. Who is it? Could it be John? Or the baker Francis? He couldn’t be that young novice who just came in. But maybe? As time went by they kept looking and they started treating one another better…after all... it might be. Soon they were known far and wide for their love and faith. And the Abbot’s plea was answered.

“Show us and we’ll be satisfied.” If you have ears to hear, eyes to see…and hearts willing to be softened.

Sermon April 13, 2008 - Good Shepherd

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:34:05 -0600

Sermon April 13, 2008 - Good Shepherd
Pastor Wesley Howell

I’ve gone through the Bible and I just can’t find a place where Jesus said to his disciples, “Believe the following five things about me.” He doesn’t say “Now to really get it right believe: a. b. c. d….

He says things like “I am a door”,”I am the gate”,” I am bread”,” I am a shepherd.” But somehow I think he’s driving for a different point.

No. What Jesus said was, “Follow me.”

In today’s epistle, it is not said that Christians ought to know about love; we are to love. And then, amazed by God’s love they ACT on it. Sell everything they have and live in community.

In today’s gospel, Christ does not say that we are to think about him, to believe in him. Rather, he says that we are to listen for his voice, live in him, with him, and follow. We are to follow, to do what he did, to live in the world as he lived.

The faith is in the following.

So don’t be too befuddled of the simple question, “Are you a Christian?” It’s a freebie. Easy.

The answer is not a matter of having your head straight about the meaning of the atonement. You don’t have to understand the intricacies of the Doctrine of the Trinity. The answer is simply to say, “Yes, I’m trying my best to follow Jesus. I’m his apprentice, his disciple.” The faith is in the following.

How often in all the gospels, you hear Jesus criticizing his disciples. He often seems at his wits end that they don’t get the point.

Jesus criticism of them doesn’t mean that they are not real disciples; it means that they are still on the journey. They are on the way.

Faith does not mean they have arrived, it means that they are on the way.

That’s why Jesus’ parables are stories about real life and his teaching is about matters like anger, forgiveness, ordinary injustice, disappointment, the stuff of real life because he meant us to follow him now, in this life, not just some other, future time.

I have to tell you…It’s amazing what you can learn when you’re getting your hair cut. A few weeks ago I told you about an encounter over tomatoes in Top Foods. Just a couple weeks ago it happened at my barbers. I was sitting there waiting and the guy in the chair, guy about my age, asked the barber what he did for fun on the weekends. My barber said “You know, I’ve started going out to retirement and nursing homes and cutting hair for free. I love cutting hair and it makes me really happy that people feel good about themselves. It makes THEM happy. Just love it.” The guy sitting in the chair said, “You’ve got to be kidding! That’s what you DO for FUN? Man, what a waste. I spend my weekends picking up chicks. This whole relationship thing is for the birds. It’s hard and messy and complicated. Life is short and I’m just going to have as much fun as I can. Pick up chicks and one night stands. That’s where it’s at.” I have to tell you, I was SO happy I wasn’t wearing my collar that time.

Now…I want you to think about it. Both men, the barber and “Mr. Pick Up Chicks Guy”, are followers, people who live out some vision of what life is about, why we were put here. One is catching his vision from Jesus; the other is attached to selfish pleasure seeking. So the abstract question “What do you believe in?” is really silly…their lives proclaim it.

I want you hear this as a parable about following Jesus, about being a Christian, about being a disciple. Who you are is BOTH choice and grace. Saying What or Who you believe is only part of the story. God has his arms outstretched and open…that’s Grace. But we have to respond…that’s Choice.

Later… in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 25) Jesus tells another story about sheep…sheep and goats. It’s a story that hits hard. Both say “Lord!” So they have the words right. They are both SAYING “Lord”…. but their lives proclaim what they REALLY believe. And the results are tragic.

The faith is in the following. Your faith isn’t just in your brain, or in your mouth. It’s also in your feet. Maybe we should spend a lot less time fussing about WHAT we believe. Spend our energies on Following.

Sermon April 6, 2008 - Road to Emmaus

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:19:07 -0600

Sermon April 6, 2008 - Road to Emmaus
Pastor Wesley Howell

The Gospel is the dramatic account of the walk to Emmaus and Christ being revealed to his disheartened followers. You can easily imagine walking along with them. Walking with Jesus but we didn’t know it. They DON’T know it while he’s with them….only afterward.

Paul says that we see "in a mirror dimly," "through a glass darkly" (I Cor 13:12, NRSV). One day we shall see, we shall be "face-to-face," we shall know and be known. One day. But not yet…groaning….yearning…wishing.

And the whole creation groans "with eager longing" (Rom 8:19) for freedom from our "bondage to decay" (8:21). Let’s think about that "eager longing" that Paul speaks about in Romans. But right now…we’re here. In between time.

We're after Easter. On the first Easter evening, two disciples journeyed toward a little village alone. Unknown disciples to an unknown place. They figured it must be the end of the journey with Jesus - Jesus had been dead and buried for three days. Then, to their surprise, they look up and Christ walks with them. BUT let’s not hurry it. We like to think that they see Jesus and recognize him…but they don’t. What Jesus gives them is…HOPE. It’s what we often get.

Our God is persistent, and determined to have us. Even in our lostness, when we’re running away, running to “who knows where.”

Last week we heard about Thomas. We miss a little something in this text that I want to go back to…because it connects.

Somehow we’ve worked ourselves into thinking it’s an all or nothing thing, this belief. We’re so wigged out about the two opposites. Either you believe or you don’t. One way or the other. We set up the story that way…the disciples believe…Thomas doubts. Blessed are those…a beatitude here.

Blessed are those who COME TO BELIEVE is how it’s translated. In Greek it’s the same word as the name for the first book of the Bible. Genesis: A beginning: A birthing: A growing. I believe even now, even in this sermon, in this service, here at this church, as you go forth in your daily life, he’s walking through the door, picking the lock…he’ll find a way to get you … faith is growing…it’s being born.

It’s in the Grace of the growing that we can help out. Like any relationship it’s a two way street and we can help it.

Why do you think we’ve been doing NCD? It’s NOT just a program, a recipe, add a cup of this, two tablespoons of this a presto…great church.

Everything we’ve been doing is to help you, each one of you …to have your hearts burn within you as you walk with God. Like any relationship we can slip, get complacent. The word is intentional.

 Prayer, in whatever form it takes, at its core is an intentional move by you to open your heart and your life up to God. “When I pray I can feel it. I feel warm…I feel loved.”

 Bible reading, not as facts and figures, dates and rules, but that as you read the words you hear and feel God speaking to you. Letting his word change your life, even in small ways, it’s with you. Changes how you see…how you act.

 In our community, when two or three are gathered. Going to visit someone, giving someone a call, just to say “Hi! Thinking of you”. To care…to know there’s someone who’s there. Who cares? It’s the same feeling isn’t it? The feeling of God.

When we connect it’s like a slow burning fire. We want CEDAR…light a match and whoop. Glorious! Bright! Exciting! For some people it works like that…great! But isn’t it beautiful that God thought of others in here. But more like a peat fire. Deep. Glowing…lasting a long time.

But it’s all about stepping outside the locked doors… walk with Christ, have your vision slowly clear. Grow in faith. Feel your heart burn within you. Even if it’s just a warm glowing…and stepping into life.

March 23, 2008 - Easter Sermon

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:33:56 -0600

Easter Sermon 2008
Pastor Wesley Howell

Remember where we were when I saw you last. We were here…in the sanctuary…but it was very different. We were gathered at the foot of the cross. It was dark…really dark…both here…and here in the heart.

Think of how it was for the disciples of Jesus. For about three years they have trooped along behind him on the Galilean highways and byways. They have tried to understand his teaching… which hasn't been easy! Those who would loose their lives will gain them…sell everything you have and follow me…blessed are Peacemakers.

But all of that seems distant to them now - only a dream after the horrible nightmare of the past week.

Now Jesus has been sealed in the tomb for three days. Pilate has shut the door on Jesus once and for all.

Now the disciples hid.

John says that the doors were shut and locked "from fear." And they had much for which to be fearful. But some of them may have been also filled with grief. And well they should grieve, for in the death of Jesus they had suffered a great loss - shut the doors.

God knows exactly where we are and what motivates us. We are hiding from God, from our family members and friends, even from ourselves by trying to push it down...for reasons of fear, judgment, shame, consequences, etc.

That's what the disciples had done. They had closed the doors on their past with Jesus, and they were adjusting to the facts. It's over. It was good while it lasted. Close the door.

And then can you feel how Jesus arms enfold us, with hands that are pierced from what we have just done to him and as our head rests on his bloodied, sweaty chest he whispers in our ears: I love you and I will always love you.

Somehow we beat ourselves up for not getting it. But nobody did! If you knew Jesus was going to rise from the dead on the third day where would you be?! Front row seats!

But listen to the story and find yourself.

Mary came…and other women, with spices to finish the funeral. Mary looks in and the tomb is empty. They (some grand unknown THEY) have stolen the body. When she runs to the others is it to proclaim he had risen or that his body was gone? The disciples Peter and another guy (doesn’t give him a name) come running. They look in and it says they believe…believe what? It doesn’t say! But I think we can get a clue by what they do. They look in and see the tomb is empty but then they …GO HOME. What?

Mary hangs around crying. Through her tears she sees shadowy figures. Where have they taken him? Please tell me where you’ve taken the body. It’s not until Jesus says her name…Mary…then she understands.

Christ came through their locked doors. The dark tomb could not hold him, nor could the dark despair and resignation of his followers. He came back to them, even through their locked doors.

The very first thing that the Risen Christ does is return to the same cowardly and misunderstanding disciples who had so disappointed and forsaken him. He came through their locked doors.

Luther said that when we’re faced with the resurrection we are like cows looking at a new gate. I don’t know how many of you grew up on or near a farm BUT HE SO GOT IT RIGHT! Like the California Happy cows commercial. “What is it Bessy?” “I don’t know…wasn’t there yesterday.” “Fence yesterday…fence today.” We’d try to herd them through and they’d run the other way. I’d put a halter on one and lead her toward the gate and as we got closer her heals would dig in. “Mooooo!” “No way! Fence!” A two-thousand pound cow versus a 180 pound high school kid. Guess who won. Until finally pushing and shoving you’d get one to go through. As her head went through the space it was like “Wow! It’s a gate! New pasture!” Then they’d all go bounding through. 2,000 pound cows bouncing through the pasture like calves.

Now you may not like to think of yourself as a cow -- or a sheep. But put your pride aside for a minute and you’ll get it.

You don't know what tomorrow holds for you, and that scares you.

The Risen Christ can come through locked doors. There is no security system that's been devised that can keep you safe from his incursions. He came to his first disciples and he promises to keep coming back to us, keep intruding among us, keep pressing in upon us, and keep opening the door that we don't know how to unlock. Offering new life.

What’s it look like? I don’t know. I get glimpses now and again. But I’m a cow just like you…looking.

But those glimpses Jesus gives shows a life without fear. A life of possibility not limitations. A life of joy and love and deep relationship. A life of no more hiding. A life of God saying YES not no. But you’ll have to walk through it yourself.

Your faith isn’t based on shouting it louder and the louder you yell it the easier it is to believe. The Risen Christ comes to you, moved through whatever locked door you were hiding behind, breathed his life-giving breath upon you, and says. “Don’t be afraid.”

Good Friday Sermon

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:22:48 -0600

Good Friday Sermon
Pastor Wesley Howell

Well…this is the way it usually turns out, isn’t it. It’s what we’ve come to expect. A young man steps out of the crowd and speaks a word of hope, love, shows us a God who wants to reach out and touch…to walk with his children again, to surround us and fill us. But a man like that is a threat…and so here we are. It’s what we’ve come to expect.

But in the midst of this horror something strange is going on. He could have walked a different path. Lord knows there were a thousand opportunities to go a different route. But he called them temptations, pulling him away…

This is LOVE. No matter how dark, mysterious, and difficult life gets, Christ is there. He descended into Hell, we say in our Creed. I always wondered what that meant.

Here he is. Don’t you see….No matter what you do to remove yourself from the loving reach of God, you can’t do it. Even in hell, even there, there is God's loving reach. Because Jesus is there, even in hell, so is the love of God.

On the cross Jesus shows that there are absolutely no limits that he will not go to in order to get us, to grab us and find us and save us, to bring us home. That Jesus would descend even to hell to reach out to us is an affirmation that there is no place to which you can descend that Jesus will not descend to reach to you.

On Christmas, God found us by becoming born in a stable. On Good Friday, God finds us by descending to hell:

We had a favorite game when I was a kid. Late and long summer evenings, we played in a big yard, deep dark woods to one side, we played, "hide and go seek" There was always one kid who spoiled the whole game by being too good at hiding. Every kid ought to know that in lost and found, you want to hide well, but not too well. Eventually, you have to be found. But this kid, his name was Sam, was great at hiding. He went way out beyond the bounds, out into the dark woods. Or he would slither down into the crawlspace, where nobody would go to look for him.
Spiders…cobwebs…horrible stuff. But he didn’t care, because he was SO good at hiding. “Is Sam under there?” “I don’t know.” ”Go find him…” “NO WAY! I’m not going under there.” This kid would never be found.

And so we would go on…start playing another game.

He would come back, furious. "The game is hide and seek" he would lecture us, "Not hide and give up."

Do you know somebody who, even though not a kid, is really good at hiding? There are some people who are so good at hiding, so good at camouflaging themselves, so good at tucking themselves away where nobody would dare look, but they just ruin the game. Do you know somebody like that?

Well, tonight, you have been found.

On one sunny day Jesus' disciples said to him, "Teach us to pray." In response, he taught them, "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . . " You know that prayer. Today, this dark, bloody Friday that we call "Good," Jesus teaches us another, more difficult, but perhaps even more consoling prayer: "Our Father who is with us even in hell, hallowed be thy name . . . "

On this somber day that we call "good," we see what lengths You will go to in order to save us. You reached toward us, suffered for and with us, stood beside us, shared our lives, died with us. While it would have been amazing for you to teach us, be patient with us, walk with us, and suffer for us; most remarkable of all, you died for us.

This is LOVE.

Sermon, March 9, 2008 - A young man named Eutychus

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 11:57:25 -0600

Sermon, March 9, 2008 - A young man named Eutychus
Pastor Wesley Howell

"A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead" (Acts 20:7-12).

Paul was preaching and he's on a roll. Paul has come a long way to be at First Church Troas and so he gives them everything he's got, the whole ball of wax. The sermon begins about 11:20 a.m. and continues "until midnight." (And you have the nerve
to criticize the length of my sermons!)

Well, Paul is going on and on…who knows when he’ll be back so he’s going to feed them the whole bale of hay here… and "a young man named Eutychus" is mentioned. Ever heard of him?

This is where you come in if you are a 15 or 16-year-old who has trouble staying awake during the sermon. His name Eutychus means in the Greek, "Lucky."
Young Lucky is seated on a sill at an open window, maybe trying to get some fresh air. As Paul drones on, Lucky falls asleep just before midnight, topples out of the open window, falling to his death three stories below where a couple of ushers "picked Lucky up dead." (I guess his Mama goofed when she called him "Lucky.")

Well, Paul stops just long enough to go downstairs, resuscitate Lucky and announce to the others, "Do not be alarmed, his life is in him. Now, as I was saying . . ."

That's it? Paul's not going to let a little thing like death stop him. Paul's on a roll, it's only 1:00 a.m., so he continues with the sermon. As one biblical commentator says, Paul's resurrection of this dead boy "appears as a mere hiccup" during the middle of his lecture!

Lucky is brushed off, his breathing resumes, and church continues. Next day Lucky is back at school with a bad headache but raised from the dead and no worse for wear.

In this little story we could have missed we are told that Paul has paused just long enough in his sermon to raise a young man from the dead and then church goes on as if nothing happened and young Eutychus, Lucky, was named patron saint of all of you who have trouble staying awake…maybe even alive, during church.

Which brings us back to the Gospel for today. So much going on here. Lazarus is Bound by Death, and he’s Wrapped up like a mummy. What does Jesus say? Unbind him!” But all the way through it you have people bound by expectations. The mourners. Let’s cry, he’s dead. The disciples, bound by expectations,”Odd that Jesus is waiting around. We thought he loved this guy and yet when he hears he’s sick he doodles around.” Mary….Martha… ”Lord, If you had been here. You can do mighty things. You can heal the sick…but now it’s too late. If you’d been earlier…but now.”
The others…you can understand their disbelief…but his closest friends?

Wrapped up in expectations. Luther said that when we look at resurrection we’re like a Cow looking at a new gate. Can’t REALLY believe it’s there.
We didn't know that we were all wrapped up when we kept our faith safely hidden away within ourselves, when our religion became something that we practice only in the safety, behind the closed doors of the church, instead of out in the world where we work and spend so much of our lives.

We didn’t know we were locking him out when we were afraid…afraid our world was changing around us and we didn’t like the way it looks so we do everything in our power to make sure THIS PLACE stays the same.
We didn’t know we were locking him out when we opted to set up safe rules that replaced him. Rules that we thought would lock away anything that could harm us, harm our kids…We thought we were wrapped in security…We didn’t know we were locking him out… But we did. We don’t expect miracles anymore. Or maybe we don’t see the miracles around us. Is it because we’re bound up? That OUR expectations have cut us off from God? That they are stifling us?

So ponder this one…this could be a call for you to throw wide the portals of your heart, to let Jesus into your life.

What have we gotten used to? Just accepted as “The way things are”. Lazarus! Lucky! Tom! Edith! Vern! Insert name here! Come out! Unbind...you’re all wrapped up. Wake up, break free… And live again!

Sermon, January 20, 2008 Saint John and Baptism

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:49:35 -0700

Sermon, January 20, 2008, Saint John and Baptism
Pastor Wesley Howell

Does it strike you as a bit odd? Last Sunday we had the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan, dove, words, “Behold my Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Now we shift over to the gospel of John. For those who think the Gospels are all the same, see how easy it is to have your mind fill in the blanks where the words are not actually there.

Same setting: John the Baptist, wilderness, all the people coming out, Jesus showing up. There is even the dove of the Holy Spirit...but NO Baptism of Jesus. Just as later, at the end of John’s gospel there’s NO Last Supper, NO institution of Communion. Jesus washes feet instead.

Now instead of trying to blend them all together can we take a deep breath and let our needs for everyone and everything to agree in lockstep. It may give us a feeling of security but that’s not what’s happening if we truly take the Bible as it comes.

John has a different take–a different agenda–a different vision. Already in the early church, right from the beginning baptism was entry, a new birth, a new identity. You were being born and embraced by a new family. You belonged. You became part of the body as Paul calls it. And that’s fine. But is it enough? Are there dangers?

John thinks so. He’s the one that talks about being born again. Not just new identity, but new life, transformed life, changed life.

Believe not just to belong. Love is not just a fond feeling that holds the group together. Love is action for John.

This is my commandment, just one; Love one another, as I have loved you. If there is one word which shows up the most often in the New Testament, God is the most frequent, but a close second is love. But what do we mean by that?

Language and translation is a sticky subject. Words trying to convey how we feel. It’s the same with Love. We use that word to convey a thousand different meanings. The Greeks were wiser; they had three words:
Eros: Romantic, passionate love
Philia: The love of friends and family
Agape: Caring for someone, looking to their needs. Thinking of them and jumping in on their behalf. Doing what is necessary, often putting you own agenda aside.

We are not called to “love” God with an “eros” kind of love, an erotic love that doesn’t get too far away from my needs. It may branch out to one other person but it doesn’t reach out too far. I HOPE!

We are not just called to “love” God with a “philios” kind of love, with the kind of brotherly love that seeks to have fun with God. It’s not that it’s not there, but we’re called to go deeper. Instead, we are called to “love” God with an “agape” kind of love, with a love that is self-giving, self-sacrificing, and disinterested in gaining any kind of return.

Agape love is a choice, a decision, to make every decision in the best interest of the other. With this kind of love, we are called to invest our entire selves.

John again, “This is how they (others) will know that you are my disciples–because you love one another.” Now it makes sense. We may feel for those around us; they may be friends or family and we’re fond of them but Jesus says, Agape. Reach outside yourself and take care of those around you–who ever they are. Love is action.

Christianity isn’t a private only a “me and Jesus” thing. It’s a team sport, it is a communal movement, and it is a relationship that restores life to the way life is intended to be lived. We reduce “love” to an emotion or impulse (eros) or a warm fuzzy feeling at best (philios) but seldom consciously think of love as a decision, a choice, an act of self-giving (agape.) God tells us love is action and it’s a team sport.

Now take all those spinning ideas and bring them back into today’s story. John’s evangelism is not “I have and idea, a set of principles and I’m going to argue with you until you agree. And then when you agree you can belong–if you believe correctly.

Here’s John’s way. Behold. Look! See! Here is the Lamb of God, who…LOVES…acts by talking away the sin of the word. Are you the one? Come and see. And when the disciples go to tell others they’re met by skepticism. “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” “Whatever, I’m not going to fight with you, just come and see.”

Come and see. I’m not going to argue with you or have some debate. See what a difference God has made in my life. Open the Bible and read and as you read, can you see? See a God who cares; who finds lost sheep and lost people; who reaches out with healing to everyone, especially to those on the fringes.

Come and see a community of agape. John again says, “This is how they (others) will know that you are my disciples because you love one another.” Now it makes sense. We may feel for those around us…they may be friends or family and we’re fond of them…but Jesus says, Agape. Reach outside yourself and take care of those around you, whoever they are. And not just those of the inside group, then we’re back to the club.

But the hard work…the spiritual battle…is to do everything in our power to live it. What will they see?

Love is action. It’s caring; truly caring. Not just agreeing to calm the waters but struggling to wrestle with honesty. I can’t say I care if I just let you walk off a cliff, for fear of saying something you might not want to hear. A community is not driven by fear though we are that–sometimes. We can always be more if we take the risk to be born again–as people–as a congregation.

Amen

Sermon December 9, 2007 "Snakes"

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:08:05 -0700

Sermon December 9, 2007
Pastor Wesley Howell

"Snakes"

John the Baptist wouldn't have lasted a day in the church I grew up in. Maybe he could've been the preacher down at the Pentecostal Church down the road but not at Salem Lutheran, Mount Vernon.

It's not that we were some big, downtown “with it” church. We weren't. We were a small, farm town church. Good Lutherans; good citizens.

Well, ok, maybe we weren't all totally good, but we weren't all that bad either - law-abiding, tax paying, comfortably middle-class.

We were perfectly happy for God never to say anything to us other than what we expected to hear, and what we expected to hear was "I'm okay. You're okay." "God is nice; therefore, we should be nice to each other."

So, if John had pulled up on moving day looking like "captain caveman" with his wild hair and scraggly beard, moved his wardrobe of one camel's hair outfit into the parsonage closet, and put his box of locusts and jar of wild honey into the church kitchen, “Oops, don’t want to open that jar…they have a way of hopping out.” Eyebrows definitely would have been raised. We've seen eccentric preachers before (one guy broke into trumpet playing in the middle of a sermon); but John would have taken the cake.

I can hear the people talking now: "Is that our new preacher?"

"Couldn't be."

But remember, we’re nice. So someone would have said, "Well now, let's not judge a book by its cover. As long as he loves the people, visits Aunt Betty in the nursing home, and takes care of our shut-ins, then we can deal with odd clothing and a rough appearance."

But the first time John stepped into the pulpit and unleashed one of his fire-breathing, spit-flying sermons that would have been the end of him.

His message: "You bunch of snakes!" (What a way to start a sermon!) "What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think that a little water on your snake skins is going to make any difference? It's your life that's got to change, not your skin! If your life is changed, people will be able to tell. You'll bear fruit. And don't think you can pull rank because you are a descendant of Abraham. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can take these rocks and make them into descendants of Abraham. What matters is your life. Is your life green? Is it bearing fruit? If it is deadwood, then it goes into the fire. Repent! The kingdom of heaven is near."

Tough message…scathing…people were being baptized, lives were being turned around…transformed.

I remember going to a funeral for my uncle Mid in a small little Assembly of God church in Arlington. Time came for the service, the family processed in, the preacher started to preach.

The preacher really got worked up and started to shout, "It's too late for Mid. He might have wanted to do something different with his life, but it's too late for him now. It's all over for him. He doesn't get another chance. But it ain't too late for you. People drop dead every day. Why wait? Today is the day. Repent! Make your life count for something. Give your life to Jesus! You never know what tomorrow may hold. Repent!"

After the funeral I was all worked up. I went over to Grandma Larson, good sweet…Lutheran to the core, Grandma Larson. She’ll understand… “Grandma, can you believe that? That was awful… terrible. I’d never do that to a grieving family. It was so manipulative, inappropriate, where was the grace? And worst of all… it was tacky."

"Yes Wesley, you’re right. But the worst part is: It was true."

As it turns out, that's good news.

Can we admit we need to repent…it means to change the way you think…then the way you see changes…and then your whole body follows suit? Are we ready to do that?

Man…this isn’t just a speed bump…this John…this guy is a brick wall in the middle of the freeway!

We are in a culture where we are taught, through advertising, years of schooling, and all the rest that we are able to save ourselves by ourselves, and how? What does saving mean? Saved from what? What’s the problem? From the moment we can walk we’re pumped with the understanding that we are made whole, we are healed, we feel better and we’re given value… you know… when I walk down the street I feel like I AM somebody and others will respect me…how?

Mostly through our stuff. We think that we will find meaning through what we buy or think we want to buy. A recent Church of England report puts it this way: "Where previous generations found their identity in what they produced, we now find our identity in what we consume." People were known by what they made…so we have people named Carpenter, Miller, Smith…

It used to be a major fashion faux pas to have your tag sticking up…right? Man…now it’s not just a tag…our whole bodies are walking billboards. Your car declares it. The purse you so want has the name of the company, Doonie and Burke, Dolce Gebbanna… plastered all over it. T-shirts, sweat shirts all say GAP, Abercrombie…or whatever’s in style right now. Your disposable coffee cup tells everyone if you’re cool. Why the copyright battles? Partly, because NAME means everything.

Is this an inconvenient truth? I know we don’t all play the game totally, but in our own ways we all play along. Maybe it’s where we live…or the letters behind our name but know this…WE FIND A WAY.

“You bunch of snakes!" (What a way to start a sermon!) "What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think that a little water on your snake skins is going to make any difference? It's your life that's got to change, not your skin! If your life is changed, people will be able to tell. You'll bear fruit. And don't think you can pull rank because you are a descendant of Abraham. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can take these rocks and make them into descendants of Abraham. What matters is your life. Is your life green? Is it bearing fruit? If it is deadwood, then it goes into the fire. Repent! The kingdom of heaven is near."

Whoa…John wasn’t playing around. He dared to speak the truth. He IS a speed bump on the way to our sweet baby Jesus. But something tells me Jesus isn’t playing around either. Better hold on…

Sermon November 25, 2007 "Powers Inc."

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:18:07 -0700

Sermon November 25, 2007 - Pastor Wesley Howell

"Powers Inc."

I thought I’d shift style this morning and preach from the Epistle. Read through it and the rest of the book of Colossians; and you’ll see him write of “Powers and Principalities, Kingdom of Darkness”. What’s that about? Sometimes things take on BIG personae. Our ancestors called them "gods" and named them Mars, Jupiter, and Venus and told wonderful stories about them. We call them "politics," or "economics," or "hormones," and have theories about how they may be manipulated and managed, but…

People in Government. Presidents…congress. We think of them as powerful people; but they say that they are victims of "forces beyond our control."

When we complain about the fix we're in, we're told "The economy" is to blame. What is that? Have you ever seen "the economy?" It is the power that determines our well being, pulls our strings, and gives us happiness or misery, even though you can't see it. That's the language we use.

We can't touch and see the "economy" or "capital trends," we can't touch "terrorism" or the "global market" but these "powers" call the shots.

The world seems twisted…So how did we mess up?

Paul’s clear…what went wrong was that human beings let go of their God-given responsibility for God's world and gave that responsibility over to The Powers.

If you refuse to practice sexuality under God, then Venus is all too willing to take charge. When business is done just for money and not as a gift from God, then mammon takes charge and all “you know what” breaks loose.

That’s the adult world, or at least it’s another world, that happens about three blocks west of here. (the mall)…maybe to connect we need to go deeper. What about the dark. THE DARK. Remember when you were a kid? When I was a kid and Mom turned out the light I freaked. The pile of clothes under my bed shifted and moved…it grew eyes. The closet…what really lived there? What was under my bed? I’d jump three feet out from my bed so “whatever” was under there couldn’t grab me. All because of The Dark. Why? Unknown. Can’t see. What’s out there? I always did fine with scary movies…until I had to get into the car…in the dark…all by myself. Or when you get home afterward. Fess up…who hasn’t gone through the house and turned on all the lights, checked the closets.

Jesus came to take on the principalities and powers. Weirdly enough he enters right into the heart of darkness. Even our own darkness starts changing from the inside out.

How can we live in the light of that victory that was worked on the cross? How can we best exercise our citizenship in this new reign, under a new King?

I'll tell you.
We just had Thanksgiving. Who did you thank? “Oh thank you Wall Street that we can partake of this meal? NO! Every time you bow your head and say a blessing at a meal, you are making a political statement, saying that the food that you partake is a gift of God, not something you did all by your lonesome, or through your savvy mastery of the economic system. Saying, “Thank you God.” is a huge statement.

A few weeks ago Marilee and the kids and I stood around Orv’s bed at the hospital. We said Psalm 23, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…I will fear no evil.” And then communion and the prayer, ”Thy will be done, thy kingdom come.” It wasn’t ear candy. It wasn’t just trying to feel better. It was a calm, quiet...yet defiant NO! We held hands and said no… to everything around us. Sickness, fear, death …darkness in all its forms…you are not in charge!

Trust, believe, and then live like it. Face your own darkness, name it, and then step beyond it. For heaven sakes don’t give in. But at the same time don’t pretend it’s not there. Closing your eyes won’t make it go away. But give it over to someone who CAN do something about it. Then do everything in your power to not fall back into it.

Awareness then choices.

So go back home, go out into our town, and live as those who now know who sits on the throne and how the world ends and who is in charge. The principalities and powers…the darkness is all too eager to bombard people with their illusions.

Trust…believe and live like you do, children of the light. People are waiting to hear…and if you don’t tell them…who will?

Sermon October 28, 2007 " Pharisee and Tax Collector

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:39:22 -0600

Sermon October 28, 2007 Pharisee and Tax Collector
Pastor Wesley Howell

Here is a parable of grace for those who feel they haven't made the grade, say that they don't know how to pray, or what to say, or how to act before the altar of God. Here is a story about God's amazing grace even for people who don't know how to pray.

Besides, have you ever tried to be humble? You can't. When it comes to humility, you either are or you aren't. Like the Country Western Song, I cant’ remember for the life of me who it was, but my Dad was really into country, Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, Hee Haw on Tuesday. Anyway…the song is still with me. “Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way. Oh Lord. It’s hard to be humble but I’m getting much better each day.”

We’re not talking false, faux, pseudo humility here. You know…the kind of humility that just begs for someone to say, “Oh NO! You’re really quite good!”

The word humility comes from the word humus - earth, earthy. To be humble is to be close to the ground.

The tax collector wasn't trying to be humble. He was humble. He wasn't acting like he didn’t know what to pray. He didn't know how to pray. He was down. He had sold out and was willing to steal from his neighbors on behalf of the occupying force - Rome. He had a lot to be humble about.

He wasn't trying to act like he didn't know what to do in church; he didn't know what to do in church.

Two people went to the temple to pray. One, a pious, devout religious person, a Pharisee, prayed, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income".

The tax collector could hardly even pray. He beat upon his chest crying, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

Two people were in church on Sunday. One, a lifetime member of the church, frequent teacher of Sunday School, member of the board, prayed, "God, I thank you that my parents brought me to church, taught me the Bible as a youth, planted in my heart a love of and a strong commitment to your will. I give 10 percent off the top, volunteer each month with Habitat for Humanity, tutor underprivileged children at an inner-city school, and never drink to excess."

Another man seated near the rear of the church, only muttered, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

That's all he could say. You see, when his combination liquor store/porn shop went broke, after his marriage dissolved, just before that scrape with the law, he had begun coming to church. So far, he had not joined the church; nobody had asked him. He was lousy at prayer; didn't know which words to say.

These two persons then went to their homes after church. To be honest the Bible-believing Christian, member of the board didn't get much out of the service. Something was missing. Nothing in the service touched his heart. He already knew the Scripture for the day. Old hat. The music was a repeat of last week. The preacher was OK. Oh, well, maybe next Sunday.

The other man stayed seated in his pew long after the benediction, crying, overcome with joy or grief, he didn’t know which one it was. He couldn’t explain what had happened to him during the service. All he could say to anyone who would listen was, "God loves me Can you believe it? God loves me."

What a great text for Reformation Sunday. Reform is just not going to happen unless it starts here - in your own heart. Altar calls aren’t part of our tradition. I don’t know why - sad really. Sure they can be showy…you can do it just to show off to your neighbor just how Holy you are. But at the same time, it makes you think. Makes you put your life on the line. Causes you to move up out of your pew and make a physical walk to follow Christ. I think we’ve missed out. Now we’re content. Easy to sit back…

We’ve accepted Jesus as our savior. That’s not so hard. Forgiven. Healed. New life. In Lutheran lingo that’s baptized and confirmed. But there’s a part two. Have you accepted him as your Lord? That’s the step to becoming a disciple. I talked last week about it being hard. Not hard like its technically difficult. It’s not. It’s really simple. What’s hard is letting go of our own stuff.

There’s a cost to NOT being a disciple. Following means Peace…deep down solid peace. Faith that sees everything through God’s eyes. Hope that knows that in spite of everything and anything going on…that God is in charge. The power to do what is right.

Maybe we don’t do altar calls. Maybe we will. We can always reform. But I want you to bow your head and open your heart to God.

Silence...... Two men went to the temple to pray. Amen

Sermon September 16, 2007 "Lost"

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 15:10:59 -0600

Sermon September 16, 2007
Pastor Wesley Howell

LOST

Sometimes Jesus told stories, parables, in order to give us better insight into the nature of God. At other times, Jesus not only told us parables, but he also became a parable, a revelation of the nature of God. In today's gospel, Jesus is both. He is both the parable and the one who tells parables.

The trouble begins when Jesus' critics charge, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Their accusation is well documented. Over and over in the Gospel of Luke that is exactly what Jesus did. He welcomes sinners, and not only that; he eats with them, sharing their table. In response to their criticism, Jesus tells this wonderful parable of the shepherd who wouldn't rest until he found the one lost sheep. God is like that, Jesus says.

Of course, the irony is that Jesus' critics don't think they are lost. They are religious, righteous people who are resentful of the sort of company Jesus keeps. So they grumble, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Think about the parable and your reaction. Did it crop up in your mind…”Hey, WAIT. This is rather foolish! Leave the 99 in the wilderness to go after the one. What about the 99?” We would think that wouldn’t we. (Sheep voice) “Hey wait! What about us! Don’t you care about us? Aren’t you there for me? What about MY needs. How dare you leave me to go off after a worthless sheep that gets himself lost. Lord…don’t you love me more?” I can just see Jesus, the Shepherd. “Will you guys just chill. Take care of yourselves for a while. YOU CAN DO IT. You ALL count, do you get it. ALL count. I’m off after the one.”

Maybe the worst sort of "lost" is to not know that you also need being found by God!

So the parable is a message for both kind of sinners, those sinners who presume that we have been found, that we are safe in the fold, best friends with God, and those sinners who are still lost, who have yet to hear the saving words of the gospel in such a way that they know that they have been found. They think they’re just fine and dandy, thank you, until the wolves of disease , family crisis, financial ruin, then suddenly they see just how lost they are.

Who are you? There's a message for both groups of sinners here. As Paul put it in today's epistle, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Jesus came, taught, lived, died and rose, only for one group of people - sinners.

Which is all of us? When will we get this straight? Christianity is not about a set of better rules to follow, a higher standard of righteousness. It is not about striving hard to have the right attitudes, proper behavior.

It is about being found, about God seeking you out and embracing you, running all the way back home shouting to any who will hear, "Come rejoice with me, my sheep that was lost, has been found."

As a child, have you ever been lost? When I was in Kindergarten my family lived in Pullman. Dad was finishing school. One day, late summer, just after lunch I met up with some neighborhood kids. Hey, said one, found a cool fort. Off in a field about a half mile from our house. Let’s GO!

Did we tell anyone? Why?! We were fine. We were having a great time. Played and played…then it started to get dark, storm clouds on the horizon, so we bundled up our stuff and started back. We’d gone a few blocks and we could hear voices calling, “Sally! Johnny, Wes!” There were all our folks standing in the parking lot at the school. Screaming our names. “Hi…here we are!” I don’t think I’ve ever seen both my parents so freaked, relieved and furious all at the same time! “Do you have any idea!?” By now lightening from pitch black clouds was flashing. Dad? Can you throw my trike in the car? “NO, you’re going to ride it home. Gosh…I can still close my eyes and I’m there, riding my tricycle as fast as I could. Lightening zishhhh, thunder kaboom! I was screaming...total terror, heart pounding so fast. “I’m going to DIE and then you’ll be sorry!

Do you remember? Do you recall what it meant to be found, when at last you were discovered, and embraced?

Something like that has happened to each of us. God in Jesus Christ beat a path to our door. God went out looking for us and didn't stop until we were found. What is more, God sent each of us, having been found, to go out and to seek and to save the lost with Christ.

"This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them. Do you have ANY idea what good news that is?