Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Seventh Sunday after Pentecost - 07/03/16 Sermon - “The Justice of Freedom"

Sunday 07/03/16 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “The Justice of Freedom”

                            

Old Testament Scripture: 2 Kings 5:1-14

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Galatians 6:1-16

Gospel Lesson: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

          My friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, welcome again on this the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. Seven Sundays after the Holy Spirit moved so long ago in that Upper Room in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Seven Sundays after those first disciples of Jesus Christ were filled with the Holy Spirit, and then went forth loving, healing, forgiving, and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

          Since that first Pentecost a lot has happened in nearly two-thousand years. During these nearly two-thousand years Christianity grew into what is now the world’s largest faith. During this nearly two-thousand years, countries and empires rose and fell. Wars were fought. Violence occurred. Today, nearly two-thousand years later, we still have wars, we still have incredible violence, and even mass shootings. We still have the governments of some nations that seem to be hostile to the governments of other nations. We still have alliances like NATO, the European Union, NAFTA, the OAS, OPEC, and etc., and etc.

          Tomorrow, or for some of us also tonight, we will go somewhere to watch fireworks. Perhaps we will watch these fireworks alone, or with our families. Whether we decide to go and see fireworks or not, tomorrow is a federal holiday in these United States of America. As we all know, tomorrow is the Fourth of July. Many of us love this holiday. How many of us love the 4^th of July? Many people get a day off of work tomorrow, and many people get together with friends and family. Some people host barbeques, and hang up American flags.

          I think that so often though, when we have major holidays that many people never stop to consider the deeper meanings and the deeper roots of the holidays. Holidays like Memorial Day, or Veterans Day, and tomorrow July 4^th.

So just what are we celebrating tomorrow on July 4^th? Some would say that we are celebrating the United Sates becoming a new country. Yet our Declaration of Independence that was signed on July 4, 1776 was not the end of this story of independence. Tomorrow, July 4^th, 1776, our founders, like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, declared to the massive power that controlled us, the British Empire, that we were now an independent nation.

          The response of the King of England at the time, George III was to send over massive amounts of soldiers and armaments to crush us and our rebellion. To force us back into a state where King George III and the British Empire would control us, oppress us, tax us, and exploit us.

          Now as I said just a minute ago, since the Day of Pentecost, which is the birthday of the Christian Church, and before and after, we have continued to have wars, violence, alliances, oppression, and etc. While many of us will celebrate our July 4^th holiday tomorrow, the question that I want to look at this morning is this, are there “just wars”? What I mean by this, is while war is awful, and while I hope that once day wars will cease to exist, is war ever necessary? More specifically, as Christians, do we think that war is ever something that sometimes needs to happen?

          In our gospel reading this morning from the gospel of Luke, Jesus commissions 72 people to go out and to spread the good news of God’s kingdom (Lk. 10:1, CEB). Jesus tells these 72 people that “the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers” (Lk. 10:2a, CEB). Jesus orders that these 72 people be beholden to the hospitality of the people they encounter, knowing that some of the people that these 72 people will encounter will be unfriendly and unhospitable. Jesus tells these 72 people, “Go! Be warned, though, that I’m sending you out as lambs among wolves” (Lk. 10:3, CEB). It would seem that Jesus is telling these 72 converts that there are “wolves” in the world (Lk. 10:3b, CEB). That there are people who might not love you, and might even try to hurt you. In this case Jesus tells them to dust there sandals off and move on (Lk. 10:11, CEB).

          Many of know that Jesus told us to beat our swords into plowshares, and our spears into pruning hooks. Jesus also told the Apostle Peter after he had cut of a guard’s ear in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:52 “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Mt. 26:52, CEB). For some Christians they are opposed to war under all circumstances. Some Christian groups like the Quakers, the Amish, the Mennonites, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and etc., as religious communities, have historically been pacifists. By pacifists, I mean they oppose violence and war, no matter what. They will not enlist in the military and will not fight under any circumstances.

          Even with all of the wars and the violence, and all of the other things we have had before and after the day of Pentecost, my question this morning is, is it ever “just” to have a war? This is why my sermon title this morning is called the “Justice of Freedom”. When if ever, is it ok to take up arms and fight? Some Christians would say never, and not under any circumstances.

          Well as many of you know my Step-Father Mike Therio retired as a Master Sargent from the United States Air Force. After 26-years of active and National Guard duty, my Step-Father retired as a chaplain’s assistant. This means that he assisted the on base chaplain with ministering to all the soldiers and their families. In my family then, we have a strong and proud military tradition. Our theology is one of protection and defense. We do not seek to harm others, we do not like wars, but believe in protecting the innocent, in defending the helpless. My family, generally speaking, believes in what is called the “Just War” theory. The “Just War” theory, is a theory that was supported by great saints of the Christian Church, such as Saint Augustine, and Saint Thomas Aquinas. These supporters, which also included John and Charles Wesley, argued that sometimes people are being so oppressed, so abused, so exploited, and so disrespected, that war is the only way to freedom and peace. That wars must be fought swiftly and powerfully, so that peace can prevail. Now again, we have some Christians that say never ever war. These same Christians would also say, we will not fight in a war, and we will not serve in the military. My guess is in the American Revolutionary War that formally starts with our Declaration of Independence tomorrow on July 4, 1776, that some Americans refused to fight. Some of these Americans likely said it was against their religious and or moral beliefs.

          Many of us also remember learning about the Declaration of Independence in school. How we had “taxation without representation”. How we had to quarter and care for British soldiers in our own homes, and how had to put up with countless abuses. Our founders who signed the Declaration of Independence that we celebrate tomorrow, argued in the Declaration that the British Government under King George III was oppressing and harming us. In the Declaration of Independence our founders claimed that they had petitioned King George III with grievances and requested over and over. They claim that they tried just about everything, and to no avail. Due to this, our founders created the document that celebrate tomorrow, the Declaration of Independence.

          After we signed this document and then sent it across the ocean to the British King George III, George III responded with sending thousands of soldiers here. We then were engaged in a bloody and a ruthless war, for about five years. In 1781, the British surrendered to us, and then they formally recognized us a sovereign country, after five years of bloody fighting. I wonder if we could have achieved this new country without war? As Christians we are supposed to avoid violence and war, yet our founders, some of whom were Christians, said that war with the British was the only way. Where they right or were they wrong? I ask these questions, because I want us to consider these things when we celebrate our July 4^th holiday today and or tomorrow. As we “count the costs” if you will, of how we became this country, the United States of America.

          When this country was founded, we also still had slavery, all white men could not vote, and women could not vote. We didn’t have many of the freedoms, laws, and protections that we have today. About 85-years after the Declaration of Independence that we celebrate tomorrow, we then went to war with the Southern half of the United States in the American Civil War. The Southern half of our country declared that they were leaving the United States and forming their own country, which would continue to have the institution of slavery. Our President Abraham Lincoln then waged war on the Southern States in the Civil War, to bring them back into the United States, and to end slavery. Was the Civil War a “Just War”? Was it just to have this massive war against the Southern half of the United States, in order to preserve the Union, and to end slavery? I myself, believe that it was a “Just War”.

          Now sisters and brothers, some of you might be pacifists, and that means that maybe you are against war and violence under any all circumstances. Perhaps some of you though come from a military family like I do. Perhaps you see the need to serve and to protect the innocent, the weak, and the helpless, as I do. For example, if I was in a village in Syria and ISIS came in with the intention of raping, pillaging, and murdering, I would defend those people. I don’t want to kill a bunch of people, but I want to protect the innocent. Some Christians though, say no war never ever, under any circumstances. What do you say? Are there “Just Wars”?

          When we rid the world of Nazi tyranny in World War II, was that a “Just War”? To me, Adolph Hitler had to be stopped. Mohandas Gandhi however, was able to free India from the same British Empire that we fought against during the American Revolution using non-violent resistance or civil disobedience. This is the same methods that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s. Some of us remember the marches, the sit-ins at lunch counters, and the peaceful push for civil rights. While they were attacked, and sometimes harmed, they never attacked or harmed others. Could the American Revolution have been resolved that way? Could the Civil War or World War II again Adolph Hitler have been resolved with using non-violent resistance or civil disobedience?

          It seems that sometimes we have this great divide in our country between diplomacy and negotiation and fighting. As many of you know, our President continues to order air strikes against ISIS and their affiliates. Would it be possible to just sit down with ISIS and talk it out? I don’t think that it would, but maybe I am wrong.

          War friends, is a terrible, and an awful thing. Tomorrow on the 4^th of July we declare our Independence as a new nation. Yet after the excitement of tomorrow ends, we then fight for five brutal years to achieve that independence. Again, what I am hoping for with this sermon, is that we can consider today, and tomorrow, the “Justice of Freedom”. How far are willing to go for justice and freedom? Are we willing to fight? Are we willing to go to war?

          This morning, Jesus Christ, the son of the living God sends forth 72 new converts, and then tells them, “Go! Be warned, though, that I’m sending you out as lambs among wolves” (Lk. 10:3, CEB). Again, Jesus says, Jesus tells these 72 people, “Go! Be warned, though, that I’m sending you out as lambs among wolves” (Lk. 10:3, CEB). It would seem that we will always have evil and sin in the world, until the Lord returns in glory.  How do we as followers of Jesus Christ respond to these “Wolves” though (Lk. 10:3, CEB)? Do we try to love them, and negotiate? If necessary do we ever need to fight? To go to war?

          Friends, I hope and pray that we will one day very soon have a world with no more war and no more suffering. I also hope and pray that you all have a safe and happy 4^th of July. As you celebrating today and tomorrow, consider the “Justice of Freedom”. Consider the cost of becoming this nation, the United States of America. May the gospel of Jesus Christ work in us and through us, so that we may continue to create a world of peace, love, mercy, justice, and prosperity. I bring you this message in the name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. Amen.

         

         

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Sixth Sunday after Pentecost - 06/26/16 Sermon - “Go and spread the news of God's Kingdom"

Sunday 06/26/16 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Go and spread the news of God’s Kingdom”

                            

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Gospel Lesson: Luke 9:51-62

          Friends, brothers and sisters, welcome again on this the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. Six Sundays after the Holy Spirit moved on and in the first disciples, and the Christian Church was born. On the day of Pentecost nearly two-thousand years ago, the disciples and the early church went forth with Jesus’ commandment of “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom” (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). Go forth and tell all people of God’s great love, of the redemption of Jesus Christ, and of the power of the Holy Spirit. Go forth and spread the seeds of faith, and go forth to build the kingdom of God.

          This directive from Jesus Christ to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom” is why we are here in church this morning (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). As many of you have heard me say so many times, the mission of the United Methodist Church is “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”. This means that we are to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom” everywhere (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). Everywhere means Freeville, Cortland, New Jersey, Africa, Asia, South America, Australia, Europe, North America, the Middle East, and everywhere else. This worldwide faith we call Christianity, is a mighty family indeed, but it is also a greatly diverse family. Our mighty Christian family is made up of people from all different cultural contexts, and of people with different understandings of life and the world. Yet I would argue that we all need the grace of God, the love of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. We all have that “God shaped hole” in us, as a contemporary Christian song put it.

          When our United Methodist Church gathered recently in May for our ever four year General Conference, we had people representing the church from all over the world. These people came from virtually every continent, and of these people, there were many different languages spoken, different customs displayed, different forms dress, some different beliefs, and some different ideas. Yet Jesus’ directive to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom,” which began on Pentecost is how we have all gotten to where we are here today (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). From the day of Pentecost the church grew, and here we sit nearly two-thousand years later as a result of what God has done, and is continuing to do in us and through us.

On the day of Pentecost the Apostle Peter gave the first Christian sermon ever preached by someone other than Jesus. That day the Book of Acts tells us that first Christian sermon that was preached by the Apostle Peter resulted in, “that day about three thousand persons were added” to the Christian faith (Acts 2:41, NRSV). Yet on the day of Pentecost, the first disciples spoke in various tongues, as there people in Jerusalem from various countries. There were people in Jerusalem from all over the Roman Empire, who spoke different languages, had different customs, beliefs, and ideas. Yet on the day of Pentecost an incredibly diverse group of human beings became some of the earliest converts to the Christian faith.

          While I was recently commissioned as a Provisional Elder in our United Methodist Church Conference, as many of you know, I was given a list of things to work on and to grow into for my eventual ordination. One of these things was to have a better sense of our global church. Now when we look at creedal statements of faith, like the Apostle’s Creed or the Nicene Creed, the majority of Christian Churches around the world agree with these statements as the theological truths and bedrock of what Christians believe theologically. Even though this is true though, the church, while mostly believing the same theological beliefs, have different customs, different ideas, and people live in different cultures.

          The point I am trying to make with Jesus’ directive of to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom,” is that the majority of Christian agree on a majority of core beliefs, but the faith will manifest a little differently everywhere (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). The great Saint Augustine realized this diversity in the worldwide Christian faith. As a result he has a great quote. This quote was plastered on the wall of the Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan campus in Rochester, where I attended seminary for my first 2-years. This quote from Saint Augustine is, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity” (http://www.goodreads.com). Again that quote from Saint Augustine is, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity” (http://www.goodreads.com). What did the great Saint Augustine mean with this quote? Well as I sat in the classroom on my first night of seminary in 2010, I quickly realized that we had 20 or more Christian dominations represented. We had Baptists, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Pentecostals, a Mennonite, an Episcopalian, and etc. Do we have some differences with our Christian brothers and sisters from other Christian traditions? Yes we do, but imagine if the Christian faith is like a dart board. We have the bullseye in the middle, and then the surrounding rings. I believe that Saint Francis was saying let us agree on the bullseye, on most important things, as he said, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity” (http://www.goodreads.com).

          In following Jesus’ directive to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom,” if we can agree on the essentials, then the Christian faith will manifest a little differently everywhere (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). I wonder for example if you went to a typical Sunday morning United Methodist Church worship service in Haiti, New York, Russia, Sierra Leone Africa, or in Germany, if those worship service would all look the same? Would all the hymns be the same? Would all the people look the same?

          I had the pleasure of attending seminary with four great and loving pastors from the West African Country of Sierra Leone. It would seem from the interactions that I had with these pastors that some of their cultural and life realities are different from many of us here in the United States. These four pastors led a worship service one day at the seminary, and they had a slew of rhythmic instruments, and other things that I had never seen before. Yet we agree on the core elements of the Christian faith.

          This morning Jesus gives the directive to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom” (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). Jesus also intentionally called twelve disciples who were very different. I wonder what the worship looks like this morning in West Africa? I wonder what the United Methodist Church does for worship in Russia? My friends from Sierra Leone told me that church on Sunday morning goes for a good portion of the day. Anyone want to try that out?

          In looking at the gospel reading from this morning from the Gospel of Luke, the gospel discusses Jesus soon to be ascension into heaven. The gospel says, “As the time approached when Jesus was to be taken up into heaven, he determined to go to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead of him.” (Lk. 9:51-52a, CEB). The gospel then says, “Along the way, they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival, but the Samaritan villagers refused to welcome him because he was determined to go to Jerusalem” (Lk. 9:52b-53, CEB). Interestingly enough the gospel then says, “When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heave to consume them?” But Jesus turned and spoke sternly to them, and they went on to another village” (Lk. 9:54-56, CEB). I would seem that Jesus, wanted the Samaritans to ultimately know the truth of who he was. While the Samaritans were not Jews, Jesus Christ wanted them to know him, and to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom.” (Lk. 9:60b, CEB).

          The gospel continues saying, “As Jesus and his disciples traveled along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nest, but the Son of Man had no place to lay his head” Then Jesus said to someone else, “Follow me” (Lk. 9:57-59a, CEB).

          What I am learning as a young person, and as a young pastor, is just how big God is, and how big the gospel of Jesus Christ is. I saw some of this global church when I was in Israel and Palestine a couple of years ago. Christians from all over the world. They had different customs, spoke different languages, but believed in who Jesus Christ was and is. In the gospels Jesus calls all people to come and follow him, to repent from our sins, to be baptized, and to be filled by the Holy Spirit. This calling is not just here, it is worldwide, and it is massive.

          When Melissa and I were involved in the young adult service at our recent Annual Conference we had young people involved of different ages, and from different places in our conference. We had some different ideas and perspectives, but we all love Jesus Christ.

          The verse that I modeled this sermon around comes next in the gospel. After Jesus had asked a man to follow him, the gospel says, “He replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and spread the news of God’s kingdom” (Lk. 9:59b, CEB). Some might think that Jesus was being unfair with the man he asked to follow him. I think the point that Jesus was trying to make her, is that the man’s father had already died his earthly death. That man’s father had already gone from this earth to eternity, and that the urgency was bring people to Jesus Christ in here and the now. That Jesus calls us all to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom” (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). In a world that is very diverse and has many different cultures and perspectives, we are all called by Jesus Christ to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom,” (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). We also have to be comfortable with some of our differences.

          I remember when I was in seminary, I read about a certain African culture that largely converted to Christianity many years ago. This tribe celebrates the sacrament of Holy Communion regularly, but when they do, they use yams and honey, instead of juice and bread. Well when I read this, I wasn’t having this! I said to my professor, “why would they do that!” The professor remarked that in their culture that yams was their bread and in their culture the juice from heaven was honey. Different I know, but to this certain African culture, they felt that this was the best way that they could serve Holy Communion.

          The gospel lesson from the gospel of Luke ends this morning with, “Someone else said, to Jesus, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say good-bye to those in my house”. Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand on the plow and looks back is fit for God’s kingdom” (Lk. 9:61-62, CEB). Jesus again is displaying what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called the “fierce urgency of now”. Jesus was saying we need to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom,” and it can’t wait! (Lk. 9:60b, CEB).  

          This morning my sisters and brothers, Jesus tells us to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom,” (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). Jesus also tells us to spread this news everywhere, and not tomorrow, but today. For scripture tells us that tomorrow is promised to no one, as we only are promised today. In being commanded to “go and spread the news of God’s kingdom,” we will continue to build a global church that is massive, diverse, and that will manifest differently everywhere (Lk. 9:60b, CEB). If we follow Saint Augustine’s wise advice, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity,” I believe that we will have a diverse church, but one that is rooted in scripture, in the Gospel, in the hope of Jesus Christ. (http://www.goodreads.com). May it be so! I bring you this message in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

         

         

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Fifth Sunday after Pentecost - 06/19/16 Sermon - “Do our demons recognize Jesus?"

Sunday 06/19/16 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Do our demons recognize Jesus?”

                            

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 42

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Galatians 3:23-29

Gospel Lesson: Luke 8:26-39

          My brothers and sisters, my friends, I want to welcome you again on this Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. Five Sundays after the Holy Spirit moved, the church was born, and the first disciples went forth preaching, healing, loving, and building the church that Jesus Christ called them to build.

          Today we also celebrate Father’s Day, as we thank all those men who have said yes to being loving and good dads. We also thank all of those men who have mentored young people, or acted in fathering roles. The men that take time to mentor and raise our children, are the men that we honor today.

          It might seem odd then that on this Father’s Day I am speaking about a homeless, naked, and demon possessed man. It might also seem odd that the title of my sermon is, “Do our demons recognize Jesus?” I mean on Father’s Day my sermon title is “Do our demons recognize Jesus?” Really Pastor Paul?

          In our gospel reading this morning, there is man who is tormented, demon possessed, homeless, and naked. Yet when he saw Jesus, the gospel says that, “he shrieked and fell down before him. Then he shouted, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” (Lk. 8:28-29, CEB). This man who was tormented, who was homeless, naked, and demon possessed, saw Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, and his demons immediately recognized Jesus.

          All of us have our own “demons”. Now these are probably not literal demons, but our own sins, hurts, and struggles. Whether we be graduating from high school, college, or whether we have achieved some sort of other success, it does not mean that our “demons,” or sins, or our struggles just go away. I remember back when President Bill Clinton was going through a presidential scandal, that had do with him and a woman who was not his wife. He remarked in one interview that “his old demons had come back to haunt him”.

          All of us then, have our sins, have our hurts, have our demons. We also all don’t agree on everything. We all don’t like the same kind of ice cream, the same sports teams, necessarily belong to the same political parties, and all believe some of the same things. Yet all of us, in this church, and outside of this church have our “demons” don’t we? We all have our “stuff” as I heard one person say it once.

          When we are open to God, open to Jesus Christ, then God can better show us our own brokenness, our own sin, and our own hurts. In this way, if Jesus were to walk in here today, would he be able to see our demons? Further, would our demons recognize Jesus? When we fail to recognize our demons, or allow God to show us and help us with our demons, we get shootings like the one we had recently in Orlando. We get horrific acts of violence, and other terrible things.

          I can imagine that the demon possessed man in the gospel this morning was not a pleasant person to be around, until he turned to Jesus, and his demons were revealed. Once his demons were revealed, Jesus healed him of his hurts, his pain, and his torment. I can only imagine the anger, and the hatred that the shooter in Orlando had. Yet this morning, through the power of Jesus Christ, this demon possessed man was changed and restored.

          So what does this have to do with Father’s Day? Well, for some of us, we can say that our fathers were or are people that were or are people in our lives that sometimes helped us shake off some of our demons. For some of us, our fathers or male role models helped us to see certain things in a better and a more wholesome way. Maybe for some of us we can remember fathers or male role models that were strict, but taught us morals, values, how to treat people, and how live better.

          In having grown up with a father, and then a step-father, they have taught me to treat all persons with love and respect. There have be times in my young life that I got off the “beaten path,” as the term goes, and my father, my step-father, and other male role models saw my demons, and confronted me about them.

          Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, has taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves. We don’t have to agree with our neighbors about everything, but we are called to love everyone, without exception. The father, step-father, and male role models that I grew up with, would never, ever, ever, encourage me to take innocent people’s lives, under any circumstances.

          The role of Fathers and male role models are significant, in that men get to help shape and sculpt young men and women. These young men and women, like all of us, will have their demons, their sins, and there short comings, but through God, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, we can teach our children the way of love. We can teach our children that sin is real, and that we must come to God, the way the demon possessed man did this morning. In doing so, we give up our anger, our torment, our sin. Sin separates from God, and sin can cause us to do horrific and terrible things. The recent shooter in Orlando seemed to be consumed with anger, hatred, and fear. It would seem that he did not address his demons, that he did not show them to God.

          Now don’t get me wrong the Bible calls us to turn from sin, but Jesus also teaches us to love people into the Kingdom of God. Killing innocent people is not the way of Jesus Christ. If we were or are lucky enough to have or had fathers that taught us love, peace, grace, mercy, and caring, let us be thankful that our fathers recognized our demons. Let us be thankful that our fathers challenged our demons, exposed them, and pushed us to be all that God calls us to be.

          Friends, sisters and brothers, in looking more closely at the gospel reading this morning, we read that, “Jesus and his disciples sailed to the Gerasenes’ land, which is across the lake from Galilee. As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a certain man met him. The man was from the city and was possessed by demons. For a long time, he had lived among the tombs, naked and homeless” (Lk. 8:26-27, CEB).

          We see in this gospel reading that Jesus sees the demon possessed man, and recognizes his demons. How many of our fathers, or father figures ever helped us out of a bind, went to bat for us, or were there when we were are our lowest points?

          The gospel then says of the demon possessed man, “When he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down before him. Then he shouted, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” He said this because Jesus had already commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had taken possession of him, so he would be bound with leg irons and chains and placed under guard. But he would break his restraints, and the demon would force him into the wilderness” (Lk. 8:28-29, CEB).  

          Then Jesus asks the demon in the man, what its name is (Lk. 8:30, CEB). The many demons then pleaded with Jesus to let them possess a large nearby herd of pigs, instead of being sent back to abyss (Lk. 8:31, CEB). Jesus agrees, and all of these possessed pigs then run down from a cliff and are drowned in the lake (Lk. 8:32-33, CEB). All that bacon, gone. Yet Jesus allowed the demons to enter the pigs, as devout Jews don’t eat pigs. Pigs in the traditional Jewish faith are seen as unclean animals. Yet, all that bacon, gone.

          The gospel then tells us that the people were frightened by the exorcism that Jesus performed from the demon possessed man, and then the demons entering the pigs (Lk. 8:34-35, CEB).

          So how does this story end? What happened to the demon possessed man in this story? The man who Jesus recognized his demons?

          The gospel says of the formally demon possessed man, “He was sitting at Jesus’s feet, fully dressed and completely sane” and the onlookers “were filled with awe” (Lk. 8:35b, CEB). In fact, the people were so overwhelmed by what Jesus had done the gospel says they, “asked Jesus to leave their area because they were overcome with fear” (Lk. 37b, CEB). Well wouldn’t you know it, the now healed, and formally demon possessed man, “begged to come along with Jesus as one of his disciples” (Lk. 8:38b, CEB). Jesus however, send him away.

          The gospel says, “Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell the story of what God has done for you.” So he went throughout the city proclaiming what Jesus had done for him” (Lk. 8:38b-39, CEB). My guess is, is that man never committed mas murder after this, nor did he likely do great harm to anyone.

          Friends, brothers and sisters, when we allow God to see our demons, when we allow Jesus to see our brokenness, our sins, our hurts, and where we need to change in our lives, we can be reshaped by the hands of God. This change, this reshaping occurs between us and Jesus, one on one, but it also can occur within the Christian Community. For many of us, we can say that our fathers, or father figures also helped in showing us our own demons, sins, and shortcomings.

          For those who are graduates, you are not entering or continuing to prepare to enter a world that has much suffering, pain, and injustice. Will you allow the living God to fill you, to guide you, and to be with you, so that we can work to build a world were evil, injustice, and killing the innocent is something we will tell our grandkids used to happen years ago? Graduates, we have work to do, so that we continue to build a world that looks like what Jesus Christ commanded us to build so long ago. A world of love, peace, prosperity, and justice.

          While will struggle with sin, brokenness, and hurts the rest of our lives, God’s love, through Jesus Christ, and the power of Holy Spirit, can change us all. When we are honest with God about our own demons, we turn to love, not to hate. We turn to Christ, not to evil.

          I would like to share a quote that head of the Northeastern Seminary, Dr. Doug Cullum, at Robert’s Wesleyan campus, shared this past week on Facebook. I attended Northeastern Seminary from 2010-2012, and consider Dr. Cullum a friend and brother in Christ. Dr. Cullum wrote: “Dear friends, It is time to lament our global brokenness and dis-ease. It is time to implore the help of God. A world in which hatred and violence are seen as appropriate means to an end is not the world God desires or created it to be. Rather, it is an unholy undoing of the goodness of God's creation. It is not part of the visions and dreams of the world's great religions, and especially not of those in the Abrahamic tradition. In the name of God and in the name of humanity, let us lament together and find a better way--a way forward out of our cloistered, self-focused narrowness.”

          So as we go forth this day, this week, and always, let us be thankful for the good men that have mentored us, and have been active in our lives. Let us celebrate our graduates. Let us also remember when we chose the path of light, evil loses and love wins. May we seek to love, heal, and forgive. I bring this message to you in the name of the prince of peace and the savior of the world, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - 06/12/16 Sermon - “Radical Hospitality"

Sunday 06/12/16 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Radical Hospitality”

                            

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 5:1-8

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Galatians 2:15-21

Gospel Lesson: Luke 7:36-8:3

          Friends, sisters and brothers, I want to welcome you again on this the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit moved on and through the first disciples of Jesus Christ, and for the first time they went forth preaching and living the gospel of Jesus Christ. The day of Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian Church, and the day that the work of Jesus Christ formally began.

          In doing this work, the Christian Church has so often been asked to explain to people why the gospel of Jesus Christ is worth investing in. This is to say, a non-believer can easily say, “Why should I follow Jesus Christ?” When presented with that question, what is our response to such a person? We could say that Bible reveals Jesus Christ as the savior of the world, and the way to salvation. Yet, if someone has never heard the gospel before, and if they don’t know who we are, is it possible that our words might just fall on deaf ears? If we as Christians seem unfriendly, unloving, and uncaring, perhaps our presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ comes across as an infomercial for a juicer, or a cleaning product, or perhaps we sound like a telemarketer. We are called to grow the church, but I don’t believe that the church is a business. I believe that Jesus Christ can and does forgive us of our sins, and that when we come to him, we can be changed through the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe that church has the power from God to change the world. Yet, we need to convey this people in way that they feel loved, appreciated, and cared for.

          One of the things that Jesus Christ, and then his disciples and the early church often practiced so well, was the practice of “radical hospitality”. This morning, I want to talk about how the Christian Church has grown over the years, and how this growth was often connected to “radical hospitality”. I also want to talk about how I believe that the Christian Church can continue to grow and be strong through the practice of “radical hospitality”. 

I want to read to you now from the United Methodist Church Communications website what is meant by the term “radical hospitality”. This is written by a person named Poonam Patodia. This is what they wrote: “Radical hospitality” requires intentional invitation and welcome. It goes beyond greeters at the door and handshakes during worship to welcome every person as an honored guest.”

“Certainly, being a “friendly” church is good. But being in ministry in a confused and hurting world calls for “radical hospitality,” which breathes our core value: people are important to God and to this church. You already have the building blocks.”

This morning in our gospel of Luke reading, we have a story about “radical hospitality”. In this story we have a woman, whom the gospel identifies as “a sinner,” who shows Jesus radical love and hospitality (Lk. 7:36-8:3, CEB). Before getting into this gospel reading though, I want to talk for a few minutes about the future of this church, and all churches, around the practice of “radical hospitality”.

To begin, I have a question for everyone here. How many of you would say that when you grew up, that there was a strong sense of community? By community, I mean, you knew your neighbors, and they knew you. You and your friends probably had Sundays off, or at least Sunday mornings. Many of you went to church, as the majority of the community did so. While we had differences, many of us can say that we grew up in communities that had a lot cohesion, or togetherness. Communities where we knew each other, and maybe even communities where we lived and worked with people for years.

There certainly was lot wrong with the years that some of you grew up, in the way of injustices, and other social inequalities, but many people that I talk to, would say that when they grew up, there was more of a sense of community.

In the world we live in 2016, how many of us barely know our neighbors? I know that I can be guilty of that. How many of us know all the families around us well? How many of us get together with each other often, like we used to? We also have a situation where many of the businesses and jobs that we once had are no longer here. Some of our young people when they graduate from high school of college venture off to other towns, cities, states, or even countries.

The country that we live in, and the world itself is changing. Due to all of this, and due to the fact that Sunday is now a busy day for many, it has affected our churches. Sure we have a lot people near the church, and some of them have small kids, but a lot of church folks say, “I wonder why they don’t come to church”.  

Many of these new families are not from Freeville, and they have moved in in recent years, or even months. Yet the mission of our church is, “to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world”. Our culture, our sense of community, has and is changing rapidly. How many of you feel that in 2016 we have greatly lost our sense of community?

I was talking to a friend of mine who is pastor in Cortland, and he reflected on a pastor that he knows. This pastor began pastoring a Church in 1970’s in relatively urban area. The church grew rapidly. When the pastor was asked his secret for growing the church, he said, “I opened the doors”. What I want to propose this morning, is that we are in era of the Christian Church, at least in this country, where opening the doors is no longer enough.

In having been a social studies teacher out of college, I remember teaching my students that at the center of just about every town in New England was a church. The church would have a tall steeple, and it was the center of the community. Yet when community was strong, the church was strong, because community was invested in the church.

My brothers and sisters, if we feel that our sense of community has deteriorated, and if the Christian Church has largely been the center of many communities, then we have to do church differently. I believe that we are no longer in era of “open the doors” and the church will explode in size. If we feel that our sense of community has deteriorated, then we as the church must find ways to go out into the community, to rebuild our sense of community. We must implement love and “Radical hospitality”.

If the Christian Church was once the center of our communities, and if our community structure has weakened, then we as the church have to literally go out into the community, for relationships, to show “radical hospitality,” and bring the community together, through the church, for Jesus Christ.

Some folks have said to me, “But pastor, when we grew up, the church was always full, and all we had to do was open the doors”. There are plenty of days in ministry that I am tired, and that wish that this was still the case, but it isn’t.

If we feel that our sense of community has faltered, what can God’s church do reach out, to re-build our sense of community? You see many of our churches were strong as a result of a strong community. It is certainly a challenging place to be as a church, but I believe that a big part of building community, and subsequently the church, is through “radical hospitality”. Letting people know and showing people that they are loved by you, and by God. Showing this community who we are in Jesus Christ. Showing this community why are church is such a gem, and rebuilding this church with the new people we have and are yet to have.

Sisters and brothers, I need to do better with this, and I intend to. How many of us here though, love this church and love Jesus Christ? What can we do this week to show the people around here, and where we live, the “radical hospitality” of Jesus Christ? Maybe someone from this church can get us connected to the community garden that is down the street? How can we better partner with them?

This morning in our gospel of Luke reading, the gospel begins by saying, “One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him” (Lk. 7:36a, CEB). I am guess that this Pharisee did not invited Jesus over to dinner just to be kind, but likely so that he could fault with Jesus. This Pharisee will do just this as the gospel reading continues.

Gospel then says, speaking of Jesus, “After he entered the Pharisee’s home, he took his place at the table. Meanwhile a woman from the city, a sinner, discovered that Jesus was dining in the Pharisee’s house. She brought perfumed oil in a vase made of alabaster” (Lk. 7:36b-37, CEB). So this woman has come to Jesus.

The gospel then says, “Standing behind him at his feet and crying, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured the oil on them” (Lk. 7:38, CEB). Now I don’t about you, but I would consider this to be a great example of “radical hospitality” on the part of the women.

This is what the gospel says next, “When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw what was happening, he said to himself, if this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. He would know that she is a sinner” (Lk. 7:39, CEB). Friends, are we not all sinners? Do we not all need God’s grace though?

Jesus responds to the Pharisee who invited him over to dinner by saying, “Simon, I have something to say to you. “Teacher, speak,” he said. “A certain lender had two debtors. One who owed enough money to pay five hundred people for a day’s work. The other owed enough money for fifty. When they couldn’t pay, the lender forgave the debts of them both. Which of them will love him more?” (Lk. 7:40-42, CEB). Then “Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the largest debt canceled.” Jesus said, “You have judged correctly.” Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your home, you didn’t give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with tears and wipe them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing my feet since I came in. You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has poured perfumed oil on my feet” (Lk. 7:43-46, CEB).

Then Jesus says this to Simon, “This is why I tell you that her many sins have been forgiven; so she has grown great love. The one who is forgiven little loves little” (Lk. 7:47, CEB).

The gospel continues by saying, “Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other table guests began to say among themselves, who is this person that forgives sins?” (Lk. 7:48-49, CEB). The gospel continues on to say, Then “Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (Lk. 7:50, CEB).

The “radical hospitality in this morning’s gospel reading doesn’t end here either. The first few verse we are given from Luke 8 say, “Soon afterward, Jesus traveled through the cities and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom. The Twelve were with him, along with some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sickness. Among them were Mary Magdalene (from whom seven demons have been thrown out), Joanna (the wife of Herod’s servant Chuza), Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources” (Lk. 8:1-3, CEB). My brothers and sisters, “radical hospitality”.

          Historically speaking, whenever the Christian Church has loved people like this, whenever the Christian Church has been effective at showing, displaying, and conveying “radical hospitality”. If we feel our communities have weakened, and are not as strong as they used to be, what can we as the church do about it? If the church is called to be the center of communities like this, we must then go out to the people, loving, healing, caring, and showing “radical hospitality”.

          Our task for this week ahead then, is this. I ask that you step out of our comfort zone and do at least one loving and radical thing for someone else, near where you live. Make someone some cookies, send them a card, be for them the living gospel of Jesus Christ. My sisters and brothers, this is the solution to the church, this is how we grow, and this is how can become all that Jesus Christ wants us to be. God bless us all. Amen.

         

Freeville UMC - Third Sunday after Pentecost - 06/05/16 Sermon - “Do miracles still happen?"

Sunday 06/05/16 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Do miracles still happen?”

                            

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 146

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Galatians 1:11-24

Gospel Lesson: Luke 7:11-17

          My friends, my sisters and brothers, welcome again on this the Third Sunday after Pentecost. Three Sundays after the Holy Spirit moved almost two-thousand years ago, like a mighty fire, like a mighty wind, and the disciples of Jesus Christ were filled with God’s love and hope. On the day of Pentecost, the Christian Church was born, and the first disciples of Jesus Christ went forth sharing the good news of Jesus. The day of Pentecost, was truly a miracle.

          As I mentioned last week, we as a church find ourselves now in “Common Time” or “Ordinary Time”, as we will not have any major Christian holidays, until All Saints Sunday in November. While the schedule has slowed, God’s love and grace hasn’t slowed. Further, our ability to connect to God hasn’t slowed either. I pray that these coming months will be a time of faith renewal and revitalization for us all.

          With this said, this morning I want to talked about the concept of miracles. We likely have heard stories of miracles, or have read about stories of miracle. Perhaps we have seen stories about miracles on television, or perhaps we ourselves have witnessed a miracle.

In looking at the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, the word “Miracle” is defined as:

1. An unusual or wonderful event that is believed to be caused by the power of God.

2. A very amazing or unusual event, thing, or achievement.

In the Bible in the Old Testament, or the Hebrew Bible, as well as the New Testament, we have many recorded miracles. These miracles are things such as Daniel standing in the Lion’s Den in the Old Testament and not being killed, or Moses talking to a burning bush. We also have countless miracles performed by Jesus, or God working through others in the New Testament. Jesus healed many, multiplied food, raised the dead, and etc. It is pretty undeniable therefore, to say that the Bible isn’t filled with many stories of miracles. These miracles, as I said, could be healings, surviving hard circumstances, overcoming great adversity, and or even bringing the dead back to life.

The question that I would ask us to think about this morning, which is my sermon title, is “Do miracles still happen?” Specifically, do we have a God that can and does intervene in our daily lives, or do we believe that miracles don’t happen?

Some theologians that I have read believe that miracles occurred in Biblical times, but not anymore, and some argue that miracles have never occurred. Some argue that anything that appears to be a miracle is merely a coincidence.

For me though, not only do I believe in the miracles that are contained in both the Old Testament and the New Testament of the Bible, I believe that miracles still happen every day, all around us. Now a miracle could be something small, or it could be something great. Perhaps some of us can think of small or great miracles that we have witnessed in the past week, month, year, and or etc., for example.

When we are suffering, and when we pray to God to ease our pain, do we believe that God can do that? Or, are we just praying to make ourselves feel better? I realize that I am asking some very hard questions this morning, but I believe that miracles still happen every day. I don’t believe that God created the universe, this planet, and us, just to have no involvement in our lives. I believe in a personal God that is intimately involved in our daily lives. I believe more specifically in a God that is revealed in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and I believe this God is actively in our lives. I believe that God created everything, and is active in his creation, which includes us. I believe that God took on flesh in the form of Jesus Christ, and was very much in our lives when he walked the earth and even now. I believe that the Holy Spirit continues to come to us, when we call upon the Spirit.

          Even though I believe all of that, I can’t say that I always understand what God’s plan is. For example, in this very church, we have prayed to God passionately and whole-heartily for healing over many people. We have asked to God to intervene, to heal, to restore, and to renew. In our many prayers, some people were miraculous made better in a short time, yet some got worse. Some were healed, and some were not.

I believe my brothers and sisters, that “miracles still happen,” but I don’t always understand why God choses to intervene here, but not there. I also believe that one day when we are with God we will understand this better, and we will have the answers that we seek.

To me, when I see the flowers budding in the spring, when I see the grass and foliage growing around me, this is a miracle. When I see a new born baby, to me that is a miracle. I try to live my life with seeing God’s greatness in everything, as to see the countless miracles that God is doing every day.

This morning in our gospel of Luke reading, we have in the narrative, Jesus performing a miracle. The gospel this morning begins with this verse: “A little later Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a great crowd traveled with him. As he approached the city gate, a dead man was being carried out” (Lk. 7:11-12a, CEB). So Jesus’ disciples, and a great crowd has followed him into the city of Nain, so that might hear, see, and learn from this great healer, this messiah.

The gospel then says of the dead man, “He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When he saw her, the Lord had compassion for her and said, “Don’t cry” (Luke 7:12b-13, CEB).

The gospel continues with, “He stepped forward and touched the stretcher on which the dead man was being carried. Those carrying him stood still. Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up.” The dead man sat up and began to speak, as Jesus gave him to his mother” (Lk. 7:14-15, CEB).

This is certainly a powerful miracle that we are reading about this morning in the gospel of Luke. This gospel reading then concludes by saying, “Awestruck, everyone praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding region” (Lk. 7:16-17, CEB).

Now again sisters in brothers, I believe that Jesus did really and truly raise this young man from the dead in this story, and I also believe that God still works miracles all around us every day. Do you?

I have a story about miracles that I want to share with you. This story is taken from www.ainglkiss.com, and is called “We Should Have Died”. The author’s name was not listed. Here is how the story goes:

“I had had my license for about 6 months (I was 17, I’m 20 now) and my friends and I decided to go shopping. I thought it was perfect my parents were going out of town and they were leaving me the van. Kimi and Evan and I hopped in the car when Evan remembered that he had forgotten his wallet. He lives far out of town and I said no worries lets go get it. Well we drove 30 mins and got to his house, he ran inside got his wallet, and we left. We were approaching the intersection on the highway. Something told me that Evan wasn’t wearing his seatbelt so I told him to put it on. He was in the back seat, Kimi was in the front changing the CD. I looked both ways getting ready to turn left and as I did, I suddenly heard metal on metal, crunching and we started to spin, I hit the curb flipped and rolled my mother’s van down an embankment. We missed the light pole by 2 feet and landed 2 feet away from the power line pole in the ditch. We landed on two wheels, (like Herbie does). Kimi was hanging in her seat belt and Evan and I were leaning against the hole where the windows used to be. We crawled out and got Kimi out”.

“The moment we got out the car landed fully on its side. As we were crawling out someone pulled up and saw us and called for help. Soon many people started to show up and help us. When we got to the top I noticed what I hit. I had hit a loaded logging truck and its trailer. Many people were hovering around me and I looked up and saw my old cabin leader from bible camp. I haven’t been to bible camp in 2-3 years. When I saw BJ I was so happy and totally felt a calming come over me. Someone I recognized made me feel calm and know that we were all going to be fine. I sat up and gave her a long hug, and said thank you and she smiled at me, never saying anything. Help arrived and as the police officer was asked me what happened and I told him. When Evan and I were getting ready to go into the ambulance I look all around at all the people there to help us, trying to find BJ and she was gone, the guy that looked like he was with her was still there. She just disappeared”.

“4 hours later, as I was waiting in my gurney and neck brace for my x-rays I suddenly realized what had happened. God had sent an angel or many of them to save us. We hit a speeding loaded logging truck and missed 2 poles by 2 feet. As my mom and I were talking about what happened she and I noticed that none of the airbags deployed and mine and Evans seatbelt came undone sometime during our flips and rolls. We all walked away with no injuries. Just a few scratches that you can’t even see now”.

“We should have died. Looking at the pics we took of my mother’s van is incredible. All the windows were broken except for the back window, the inside panel on the passenger sliding door was ripped off and flew out of the car, the vents were ripped out. We figure that when we rolled my side hit first because they is a huge dent on the top of the roof, where my head was. Kimi’s side was the side that was hit by the truck and the truck hit the back of the van and slid right up to the front, leaving a huge scratch. The police officer and the paramedics don’t understand how we could have possible lived. We should not have lived”.

“All I know is that someone up there loves me and us and knew that it wasn’t mine or my friends time to go to our home in the sky. So we got to stay in our rental home… earth”.

Friends, sisters and brothers, as Christians, believing in and calling upon the power of God has long been a part of our tradition. We ask God for healing, we pray for peace, and we pray for blessing. Let us believe in what our God can do, not just in this moment, not just today, but always. May we witness and may God use to be miracle workers today and always. Amen.