The Spirit Vs. The Flesh

Barry and Hannah, an old married couple, are sitting on the couch watching TV. Hannah had wanted to go out with friends, but Barry like always wanted to sit at home, watch tv and drink his beer. “You know hun,” Barry told her, “I’d love to go out with your friends, really. But I am tired and the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Frustrated, Hannah called her friends and told them that Barry was being an old stick in the mud again. So that night they were watching an old movie from the 70s, called “Love Story” Do you remember that one? About a man loving a dying woman. So eventually they were speaking about what they wanted in case one of them died and how to prepare in case of death. “Honey,” says Barry, turning to his wife with a serious expression, “I want you to promise me, that if there ever comes a time that I am dependent on just machines and bottled fluid, that you will make sure to  put an end to it.” “No problem hun,” said Hannah, and she promptly got up, turned off the TV, and poured his beer down the drain.

How many times have you had the same feeling as Barry, that the Spirit was willing but the flesh was weak? That saying comes from Scripture, Matthew 26:41 “"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." It was one of the scriptures that we have looked at in our Friday night Bible studies recently. The Disciples were to watch and pray with Jesus right after the Last Supper, but they all had fallen asleep while Jesus prayed. Really, who could blame them, it was right after a big meal! But you would think that at such an important time the disciples would have some well…discipline and pray with the Lord. But the flesh is weak.

How many of us have succumbed to the weakness of the flesh? Easter is coming and of course it is a time where candy is everywhere. Have you ever had a time where you pass a candy bowl and gave into temptation vowing to have just one piece and suddenly you find that one was not enough? It is human nature, we like things that make us feel good and with comfort foods it is hard to have discipline. That is why Lays used to have the ad phrase “You can’t eat just one” in their commercials.

Our New Testament reading for today talks about this very issue, the battle for our will that goes on in our mind. The battle between the mind and our emotions. Lets read it in the New International Version,

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

As Christians we have God’s Holy Spirit residing in us. It is a companion to our conscience, gently nudging us to do what is right. But as humans we all have our human nature. That part of us passed on biologically, our animal nature. That self-centered part of us that wants more. More money, more power, more fame, more possessions. And sometimes it is a battle.

A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn't find a space with a meter. So he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: "I have circled the block 100 times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS."

When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note. "I've circled this block for 10 years. If I don't give you a ticket, I'll lose my job. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION." 

Most of the time, the easy way out is to give into our temptations. But the problem is that when we give into our temptations we often find that our decisions have consequences. The person who cheats on their diet gains weight. The alcoholic who gives into temptation finds themselves off the wagon and back in the hole they just dug themselves out of. The married man who gives into temptation and commits adultery risks the destruction of their marriage and lives a life of guilt. When we give into temptation we find out that the easy road, isn’t all that easy.

But God has given us His Holy Spirit to give us strength, His Holy Spirit whispers to our hearts and warns us. And when we do not give in, we win, we gain something. We become closer to God. God gives us peace and the confidence to be stronger next time. It is simple psychological principles, the principles of behavior modification and positive reinforcement. Our behavior often depends upon rewards and punishments. When our behavior gives us positive results, we tend to do that behavior more, hoping for the same positive result. If a behavior gives us negative results, we tend to shy away from that  behavior.

Often times when we give into temptation and sin, we get a positive result in that it feels good. It is only when the impact of our decisions come to fruit and we face the consequences do we feel the negative result of giving into the flesh. That is why its so easy to sin, the positive feelings are immediate and the negative consequences often take time to affect us. So its easy to give in for instant gratification, but we are only fooling ourselves because sooner or later the negative impact of our decisions will come back to haunt us.

But if we live in the Spirit, obeying God, when we resist temptation God reinforces our behavior by strengthening us. Our instant gratification is deeper and broader. God’s Spirit touches our own and lets us know that we did the right thing, we do not  face the negative repercussions that we would have by giving in and in the end we are stronger, we are at peace and we have control of our lives. While giving into temptation might give us an initial rush of emotions in the end it leaves us empty and wanting for more and stronger stimulation. And in the end we will never be satisfied. But exercising discipline strengthens us and in the long run gives us peace and true satisfaction. It strengthens our will and develops character. We will  still have the flesh nagging us to give into temptation, but we have a reserve of strength upon which to draw on for this fight against Spirit and flesh.

So how about you today? Is there something that tempts you strongly, that you keep giving into? No matter what it is, if you constantly give in, soon it will become your master. But God has given us a way out. A way to build up our inner person with character and strength. By bucking up and giving into God instead of giving into our baser animal nature we find that true peace and wholeness that we really desire. So today as we come to the Lord’s table, lets lay these temptations at His feet and ask for the strength to have victory in Christ over the things that would weigh us down and add strife to our lives.

Angels Among Us

Sermon from 7/21/2013

Where is the first baseball game in the Bible? 

In the big innings, Eve stole first, Adam stole second.  Cain struck out Abel, and the Prodigal Son walked home.  The Giants and the Angels were rained out.

(Pastor's Note: There are audible groans from the congregation! Hehe)

Angels.

We have pictures and statues of them, and most of the time they look like a little baby. But what do angels really look like?

There are some odd things happening in our New Testament reading for today. Did you catch it? Lets look at it again,

“The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. ² Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

³ He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,^[a] do not pass your servant by. ⁴ Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. ⁵ Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”

“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”

⁶ So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”

⁷ Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. ⁸ He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

⁹ “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.

“There, in the tent,” he said.

¹⁰ Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. ¹¹ Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. ¹² So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

¹³ Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ ¹⁴ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

¹⁵ Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

In the beginning of the passage the writer tells us that the Lord appeared to Abraham. But who interacts with Abraham in Sarah in this passage?? Three men.

Scholars have debated what this is. To most it is called a Theophany. God appearing in human form. 

Notice though, there are three men total. 

So does this point to the trinity? Many think so. 

So is it the Father Son and Holy Spirit?

It is interesting that sometimes they speak together and in verse 10 one speaks for the group. And after this there is one voice for the group and the writer tells us it is the Lord.

Now this leads us to believe that God approached Abraham and with Him He brought two angels. It is revealed that as Abraham talked with God about the fate of Sodom, the other two depart to Sodom, and when they get there they are called angels in Genesis 19:1. They are angels, or messengers from God as the word literally means.

This is the first time in the Bible that scripture hints at the nature of angels. Angels can take human form. They can look just like you or me. But the book of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 1:14, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”

So angels are spiritual beings and our New Testament reading today says they are of a higher order of being than we are. 

They have the ability to access the throne of God and yet they can blend in with the lot of us.

We don’t think of that usually do we? 

It is a little unnerving to think that there are people around us who are not what they appear to be. 

But they are here to help and serve mankind and assist in God’s plan for our lives.

Usually though, we tend to think of angels as some ethereal unseen force, like our guardian angel who is always with us but never in sight.

Walking down the street, a man hears a voice: "Stop! If you take one more step, a brick will fall down and kill you."
The man stopped; a big brick fell in front of him. The astonished man continued walking to the cross walk.
The voice shouted, "Stop! If you take one more step, a car will run over you and you will die."
The man stood still; a car came careening around the corner, barely missing him.
"Where are you?" the man asked. "Who are you?"
"I am your guardian angel," the voice answered.
"Oh yeah?" the man asked. "Where were you when I got married last week?"

While we do tend to think of angels in a spiritual sense, we neglect the scriptures that hint that they might be all around us.

Hebrews 13:2 tells us that, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

Angels can look like you or me. They sometimes appear out of nowhere, a stranger who helps in the nick of time. The magazine Guideposts usually features stories of angels doing just that. From the multitude of stories it appears that at this time in history angels are most active helping people in trouble or preventing them from disaster.

Sharon Thompson, of  Salisbury, North Carolina  gives the following encounter on the Guideposts website: “Swinging on my family’s old metal swing set was one of my favorite things to do. I loved the feeling of soaring over the earth with the cool wind in my hair. One afternoon, my sister and I were so busy swinging we didn’t notice the sky had darkened.

“Girls, come inside!” my mother yelled from the front porch. We jump off the swing set and dashed toward safety.

Kay was faster.

I followed her underneath the 15-foot long wire that connected our TV antenna to the house. The antenna sat on top of an old tree trunk.

Just as I crossed under the wire, lightening struck the tree. Electricity ran through the wire above me, and through the tree into the ground. There was a jolt, and then warm arms wrapped around me. Someone shielded me until the lightning passed.

“There was a man with you!” Kay said when we were all safe on the porch.

My mother looked me over to see if I was okay. She found two large hand-prints on either side of my head! They reached from my ears to the bottom of my neck, and lasted for several hours. But I had never felt any pain—only the gentle touch of a guardian angel who had swooped in to shelter me from the storm.”

Stories like this have been told since the beginning of time. People being warned, helped and even saved from death by strangers who simply vanish.

Angels.

Angels are among us. Just as they were in the time of the Old and New Testament.

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Your Treasure

Mark 12:38-44
New International Version (NIV)

38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

One Sunday a pastor told the congregation that the church needed some extra money and asked the people to prayerfully consider giving a little extra in the offering plate. He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out three hymns. After the offering plates were passed, the pastor glanced down and noticed that someone had placed a $1,000 bill in the offering. He was so excited that he immediately shared his joy with his congregation and said he'd like to personally thank the person who placed the money in the plate. A very quiet, elderly, saintly lady all the way in the back shyly raised her hand. The pastor asked her to come to the front. Slowly she made her way to the pastor. He told her how wonderful it was that she gave so much and in thanksgiving asked her to pick out three hymns. Her eyes brightened as she looked over the congregation, pointed to the three handsomest men in the building and said, "I'll take him and him and him!"

We are in our Stewardship month and today’s New Testament scripture has been used by preachers for thousands of years in order to have their congregation give more to the church. Sometimes preachers abuse this scripture and tell their congregation to give everything.

I once knew a girl who literally gave everything to the church. Her pastor had used this verse in his sermon and she had her weekly paycheck with her and signed it over to the church. Except she had no savings or any funds to draw upon and so she had no food for the rest of the week and was late on her phone bill. She mentioned it to the pastor and all he said was that God would reward her for her sacrifice.

Now in this scripture, Jesus was not telling us to give everything that we have to the church, but was showing the disciples one of the key aspects of giving. When you give, it should mean something to you.

There are three other key aspects of giving that God gave us in the New Testament:

1) In Matthew 6: 2-3 Jesus tells us to give quietly and humbly:

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,” Some people love to get recognition for a gift. In the TV show “The Big Bang theory” The character Sheldon Cooper has to get recognition for a gift. When one is given he has to get an equally valued gift to give back.  And when he gives a more expensive gift, he makes sure to make a spectacle about it. Have you ever met people like that? But God wants us to humbly and quietly give. To give as He leads you, which leads to the next key aspect of giving

2) give cheerfully; Saint Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:7

 that, “let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” God wants you to think about what you give and what He is calling you to. He wants you to be a cheerful giver. You have often heard the phrase, it is better to give than to receive?  Sometimes when you give, you feel good. It feels good to give. In a recent research study, UCLA life scientists find that giving support offers health benefits -- to the giver.

"Giving to others has benefits," said UCLA psychology graduate student Tristen Inagaki, the lead author of the study, who has been awarded National Science Foundation and Jacob K. Javits fellowships. "We even saw substantially more activity in these reward brain regions when the women were giving support. It reduces stress levels and promotes good health. So it actually feels good to give.

Finally, 3) Ephesians 5:9 and 20 tells us, “ Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” We are to be thankful in everything we do, and when we give it should be with a thankful spirit. God has given us so much, giving is a way of saying thanks to God. Throughout the Old Testament the saints worshipped God by giving to Him the first fruits of the ground and cattle. Thanksgiving is giving thanks to God for another year of life with family and friends, thanking him for the year of answered prayer, of comfort when afflicted by illness or grief.

But through it all giving thanks to God for His Providence. He knows everything and sometimes we get upset at life or how things are going, we know that all things work out for good to those who love God. God knows our footprints both behind and before us and He goes with us in the valleys and leads us to the mountaintops of life.

Two men were shipwrecked near an island. When they landed ashore, one of them began screaming and yelling, “We’re going to die! We’re going to die! There’s no food! No water! We’re going to die!” The second man leaned calmly against a palm tree. When the first man saw how calm his friend was, he went crazy and shouted, “Don’t you understand?! We’re going to die!!” Undisturbed, the second man replied, “You don’t understand, I make $100,000 a week.” Dumbfounded, the first man looked at him and asked, “What difference does that make?!? We’re on an island with no food and no water! We’re going to DIE!!!” The second man answered, “You just don’t get it. I make $100,000 a week and I tithe ten percent on that $100,000 a week. Wherever I am, my pastor will be sure to find me!”

That man was thankful for giving!

And as we celebrate Thanksgiving here in our Fellowship today, Let us give thanks. Thanks to God for the big things, the small things and the everyday in between. 

Of Men and Angels

Hebrews 1:1-4

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

Hebrews 2:5-12

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a littlelower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
8 and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.12 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

Nobody knows who wrote the book of Hebrew, from where we get our New Testament reading today. Some say it was Paul, because, well the wording and theology sounds very much like Paul. Others say it was Appollus one of Paul’s followers who was very knowledgeable. But the true writer is lost to history. So it might be the only letter given to us that is included in the New Testament that was not written by an Apostle. But like all the letters written by the Apostles it addresses issues that have arose in the churches at the time of its writing and I think the reason why this letter is included even though it was possibly not written by an apostle is that the issues faced by these churches and individuals 2 thousand years ago are the same issues faced by us today.

One of the main themes in the beginning of the book of Hebrews is angels.

I heard that a few weeks ago of an odd circumstance. It seems that God was looking down at Earth and saw all of the evil that was going on.  He decided to send an angel down to Earth to check it out.  So he called one of His best angels and sent the angel to Earth for a time.  When she returned she told God, yes it is bad on Earth, 95% is bad and 5% is good.

Well, he thought for a moment and said, maybe I had better send down a second angel to get another point of view.  So God called another angel and sent her to Earth for a time too. When the angel returned she went to God and told him yes, the Earth was in decline, 95% was bad and 5% was good.

God said this was not good. So He decided to email the 5% that were good and He wanted to encourage them, give them a little something to help them keep going.

Do you know what that email said?

Ah, so you didn't get one either?

What are angels? There is a lot of confusion on just what they are. Literally the word angel means messenger. An angel is a messenger of God. Also Hebrews 1;14 tells us “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”,  and in the Old and New Testament we see taking on bodily form as humans. Hebrews 13:2 tells us “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” . So angels are messengers of God that are spirits in essence that can take bodily form. For the purpose of delivering God’s message or doing God’s work in the lives of His children. Well it seems that during the writing of Hebrews people were confused about Angels. They saw them as many do today as superior and powerful beings. And some people began to worship angels. We even see that today, angels are very popular and there are many people who pray to angels.

The author of Hebrews wanted to emphasis that angels are created beings, not to be worshipped. Our New Testament reading today tells us:

“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.  This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names… And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. ⁶ For in one place the Scriptures say,

“What are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    or a son of man that you should care for him?
Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
 You gave them authority over all things.”

Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. For he said to God,

“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
    I will praise you among your assembled people.””

Angels are powerful beings. They are heavenly beings that manifest themselves to guide and protect the people of God. But they are creatures. God is to be worshiped, and Jesus as God is to be worshiped  Angels are created beings. They are more powerful than man, and although Jesus was made a man He still is God manifest in the flesh. Angels help the Lord, but they are just His messengers.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that we are to worship and pray to God alone. Part of the result of Jesus’ death for us is that we now have direct access to the throne of God. We do not need someone to go before God for us. As again the writer of Hebrews in chapter 4 verse 16 tells us, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Today and through the week, remember that God loves you and He wants to hear directly from you. You can go directly to Him with all your problems, all your worries and cares. Because He truly cares about you and what you are going through, and He wants to help. He want to help rescue you or help give you purpose to the trials of life.

Big Man on Campus

Scripture of the day: Mark 9:30-37

30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

When General David Petraeus was The head of all international forces in Afghanistan he was involved in a 2010 think tank in the UK over the he did a question and answer session.  He was given a slightly over the top introduction from the director of the agency and in response General Peraeus gave the press a story on importance.

He said, “This was about 20 years ago when I was the aide to the Army Chief of Staff in the Pentagon and Colin Powell was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

One of my fellow aides overheard the joint chiefs killing time before they were waiting for the arrival of a foreign dignitary. And the topic of conversation turned to examples of true importance. And what it really meant to be truly important.

And after a bit of banter, one of the chiefs offered what seemed to be quite a good opinion on this.

In my view, he said, true importance is a meeting with the President of the United States in the Oval Office, during which the President asks all of the other attendees to leave so that he can do a 'one on one' just with you.
"All the chiefs nodded at that.

But then another chief chimed in. 'Actually chiefs, he asserted, 'true importance is a 'one on one' meeting with the President in the Oval Office during which the President is so intent on what you are saying that he doesn't even answer the hotline when it rings'.

Well that had all the heads nodding in agreement. Until General Powell , a man who had, of course, as the National Security Adviser,  spent quite a bit of time in the Oval Office, settled the question once and for all.

"Chiefs," he said authoritatively, "true importance is a personal meeting with the President in the Oval Office, during which when the hotline rings, the President answers the phone, holds it out and says - Here Colin, it's for you".

Today in our new testament Scripture lesson, we see that the disciples had an argument with each other as to who was the most important disciple.  Our scripture says,

“They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

You know we sometimes have a slightly glorified view of the disciples of Jesus, and it is times like this when they show their human flaws that I find encouraging. They were real people just like us with real concerns, real emotions, real lives and real flaws.

When a large group of people come together, often some people try to stand out. They try to show dominance, they try to take on themselves the role of the leader of the group. If you have been in any large group of people trying to do anything you know what I mean. Some people just love being the king of the hill.  For some it is a craving of power, or a need to find approval from others so they take the reigns. Some do it out of the need to get things done or to bring order out of chaos. But more than not many seek to be the big man on campus out of pride and power seeking. People like that often think highly of themselves.

A young preacher had just delivered in his own estimation, the best sermon of his young life. At the conclusion of the sermon, the worshipers filed out of the sanctuary to greet the minister. As one of them left, he shook the minister's hand, thanked him for the sermon and said, "Thanks for the message, Reverend. You know, you must be smarter than Einstein." Beaming with pride, the minister said, "Why, thank you, brother!"

As the week went by, the minister began to think about the man's compliment. The more he thought, the more he became baffled as to why anyone would deem him smarter than Einstein. So he decided to ask the man the following Sunday.

The next Sunday he asked the parishioner if he remembered the previous Sunday's comment about the sermon. The parishioner replied that he did. The minister asked: "Exactly what did you mean that I must be smarter than Einstein?"

The man replied, "Well, Reverend, they say that Einstein was so smart that only ten people in the entire world could understand him. But Reverend, no one can understand you."

Jesus in our reading today tells us about what it takes to be a real Christian leader. He tells us that if anyone in the kingdom wants to be first , he must be last, the servant of all.  Like always Jesus throws our preconceived notions upside down. Instead of pride, a Christian leader is to be humble. Instead of puffing himself up and being the center of attention, you should put the spotlight on others. Instead of seeking compliments, you should be giving them.  As a Christian we are not to be concerned about our rank, our status, our pride. We are called to serve. To serve Christ is to serve others. There is no seeking of status or glory in the kingdom.

And that brings us to Jesus and the children. Some people wonder about this passage, by bringing in the children and taking them in his arms, does it mean that we are to be like children? Some people question this, it seems a bit out of place in this context.  Jesus made a dramatic gesture by embracing a child to show his disciples who really is the greatest in the kingdom of God.  What can a little child possibly teach us about greatness? Children in the ancient world had no rights, position, or privileges of their own.  They were socially at the "bottom of the rung" and at the service of their parents, much like the household staff and domestic servants. What is the significance of Jesus' gesture?  Jesus elevated a little child in the presence of his disciples by placing the child in a privileged position of honor.  It is customary, even today, to seat the guest of honor at the right side of the host. Who is the greatest in God's kingdom?  The one who is humble and lowly of heart — who instead of asserting their rights willingly empty themselves of pride and self-seeking glory by taking the lowly position of a servant or child.

As children of God and believers in Christ, we are called to servanthood. What does that mean for us today?

We can be a servant today by:

By accepting others differences and opinions in love and acceptance…no matter what they are…instead of judging others and condemning them.

By looking beyond the things that separate us as people in the 21^st century and look instead for our commonality. Be it politics, social class, upbringing or race.

And lastly by cherishing people over things, or words, or ideas.

Simply put, it is putting others first, and trying to humbly help whenever you can.

We are called to serve God and to serve God we must be servants to one another.

Today you are called to serve.  Let us be servants then, one to another.

Words of Hope, Words of Hate

James 3:1-12

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

I have a riddle for you:

This has been one of the most powerful forces in this world in which we live it can either bring life or death.

It can either bring harmony or chaos into relationships.

It can either bring peace or war.

It is one of the most feared and praised forces in the world. 

What is it?

The Tongue

The tongue produces words and words can inspire, they can lift the lowly soul to believe in oneself and believe in God. It can raise self esteem, give hope and assurance. Words can be filled with love and assurance, peace and wisdom.

But it can also bring harm, hurt or disgrace.  It can be filled with hate and foolishness, pride and evil.

One of the worst thing about the tongue is that sometimes it can be unintentionally loose. We all are guilty at one time or another of speaking before we think things through.

Two pastors died at the same time and met Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter said, "I'd like to get you guys in now, but our computer is down. You'll have to go back to Earth for about a week, but you can't go back as priests. So what else would you like to be?"

The first pastor says, "I've always wanted to be an eagle, soaring above the Rocky Mountains."

"So be it," says St. Peter, and off flies the first pastor.

The second pastor mulls this over for a moment and asks, "Will any of this week 'count', St. Peter?"

"No, I told you the computer's down. There's no way we can keep track of what you're doing."

"In that case," says the second pastor, "I've always wanted to be a stud."

"So be it," says St. Peter, and the second pastor disappears.

A week goes by, the computer is fixed, and the Lord tells St. Peter to recall the two pastors. "Will you have any trouble locating them?" He asks.

"The first one should be easy," says St. Peter. "He's somewhere over the Rockies, flying with the eagles. But the second one could prove to be more difficult."

"Why?" asked the Lord.

"He's on a snow tire, somewhere in North Dakota."

The truth is everyone of your words matter, they influence someone either negatively or positively. How many times have you heard someone say, “I wish I would never have said that!”

 Our text in James today addresses the issue of the uncontrolled words of the tongue.

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,  but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.  Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

James addresses the issue of the uncontrolled words of the tongue.

We see this dilemma of words everyday in our lives. We hear people say things throughout our days and our responses and perceptions are formed. We listen to the radio and the power of words influence us, we listen to CD’s or tapes and the power of words are at work, we watch TV and the power of words are trying to influence us.

Just think of all the political ads we have had to endure over the last few months because of the election. We know that words influence others or the political campaigns would not spend millions of dollars to put them on the air. We had to endure candidates ripping on the others so they could influence you to vote for them. 

Words have power. Words affect lives, hearts and influence others.

James is telling us we should be careful how we use our tongue. Basically he is telling us to think before we speak. This is a major Biblical teaching.

The book of Proverbs has numerous sayings telling us to think before we speak.

   In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.  Proverbs 10:19

The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.   Proverbs 15:28

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace.  Proverbs 17:28

A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.  Proverbs 29:11

Jesus also warns us in Matthew 12:36-37

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they

   will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your

   words you will be justified, and by your words you will be

   condemned.”

Today as we leave this sanctuary, remember you wield a weapon as powerful as any weapon in our 21^st century arsenal.  When speaking to and about others your words mean something. Not just what they are saying, but what they are meaning and what effect they have on others.

Words can break apart a decade’s long relationship, and words can mend them again. Words can cut deeper than any sharp edged knife. Bullets can pierce the hear, but words can pierce the soul.

Remember, we all have opinions and ideas, but some if spoken can hurt. Let us take time to be wise by taking time to think before we speak.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

Audrey Hepburn put it best, though: “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” 

God's Favorites?

James 2:1-17 NIV

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. ¹⁰ For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. ¹¹ For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”also said, “You shall not murder.”If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

¹² Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, ¹³ because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

     Farmer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company (responsible for the accident) to court. In court, the trucking company's fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. 

    "Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine?," questioned the lawyer.
     
      Farmer Joe responded, "Well I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favorite mule Bessie into the......."
     
      "I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine!'"
     
      Farmer Joe said, "Well I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..."
     
      The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question."
     
      By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favorite mule Bessie."
     
      Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favorite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans.
     
      Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, "Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?"

Well Farmer Joe’s favorite Mule didn’t fare so good.

 It’s funny, we all tend to play favorites at times don’t we?

Although some would deny it, most parents with multiple children always have a favorite. It may be the first, or the baby of the family, or one of your children with special talents. And while the parents deny it, boy the siblings know what is going on. It is like Tommy Smothers of the Smothers brother’s old standard line, “Mom always liked you best”.

And sometimes we as humans play favorites when it comes to other people. Studies have shown that people react differently to people depending upon how they look. Whether they are beautiful or handsome; have nice teeth or hair, dressed well or not. Recently a television show even did a man on the street test about the color of a girls dress. The same girl would wear a multicolored dress or a red dress and ask for help. When she wore the red dress, most men were more friendly and forthcoming with help.  People play favorites when it comes to appearances. And not only that, people with power or fame often get favoritism too, don’t they. Sometimes they get chances at the best seats in restraints without reservations, or free stuff. All because of power, money or fame.

Today’s New Testament Scripture talks about this type of preferential treatment and God’s view on favoritism. James 2:1-10 says in the New International Version,

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”  have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?  But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”

You see in many churches during the time of James writing of this letter gave preference to the rich over the poor. And James writes the churches to correct this mistake. James tells us that playing favorites with the rich over the poor is a sin.

It is human nature to show preferential treatment. But it is not God’s nature.  When you meet someone who is obviously poor, do you treat them any differently? Or do you feel uncomfortable?

What would you do if this morning as you came to church you saw Johnny Depp sitting on the steps waiting for the church doors to open? Or your other favorite movie star. Stop a moment and think. What would you say? How would you act? How would you treat him? Would you be careful to welcome him and show him to a seat?

Now What would you do if this morning as you came to church you saw a disheveled homeless person who hasn’t changed his clothes in days sitting on the steps waiting for the church doors to open? Stop a moment and think. What would you say? How would you act? How would you treat this person?

It is human nature to judge people by their looks, or fame or power.

And to be honest, we all do it one time or another.

It is human nature to judge people by their looks, or fame or power.

But it isn’t God’s nature

God doesn’t show favoritism.

God impartially loves everyone the same. No matter who or what they are.

Today and throughout this week, let’s try to do the same.

Because God loves you, no matter who you are, what you have done in the past, or what you are going through now.

We who have received such great love, should we not likewise share it without partiality?