A Different Perspective

Psalm Sunday April 5, 2020

A Different Perspective

Our lives have been turned upside down. 

This is not the Lenten season we began on February 26^th.

This will not be the Holy Week that you and I are used to having and

          Easter Sunday will be a unique celebration from all other years.

Today is Palm Sunday.

You and I wish we could be together,

waving palms, singing Hosanna, and rejoicing by sharing communion.

This Palm Sunday is different.

I know many of you will listen to online sermons,

read the Bible together and be in prayer in your homes.

The Gospel lesson for today comes from Matthew 21:1-11.

It is the familiar story of Jesus entry into Jerusalem.

21 When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” ⁴ This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,

⁵ “Tell the daughter of Zion,
Look, your king is coming to you,
    humble, and mounted on a donkey,
        and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; ⁷ they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David!
    Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

¹⁰ When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” ¹¹ The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

I would like to share with you a different perspective of this scripture.

A view from the donkey, what she may have experienced on that day.

“It has been a very unusual day.  Nothing special about how it began, waking up to see my owner ready to feed us -me and my colt.  And the day continued as usual.  Until, until 2 men came and began untying us.  I was worried.  Were we being stolen or had my owner sold us; would I be separated from my colt?

My owner approached them and questioned them…’what are you doing?’.  The men answered him, ‘The Lord needs them’.  My owner nodded and sent us on our way with the 2 men.  I was so confused.  Who are these men?  Who is this Lord who needs me and my colt?  What will be done with us?

My questions, doubts, and fears were soon alleviated.  My colt and I were taken to a group of men, one seemed especially interested in me.  He petted me, spoke gently to me, and a calm I had never felt before came over me; my colt also experienced this.  We were no longer worried.

The men began putting their cloaks on us, this too gave me sense of comfort.  The kind man sat atop me.  He did not speak harshly or push me beyond my speed, only a pat or two and some gentle guidance as we approached the city.  Who was this man?  A Lord or King would not be riding me, they would be on a great steed with robes of purple, gold braids, and guards protecting him. 

This man had a few followers, not noble or royal but simple folks who saw something special within him.  He was humble, kind, and righteous. As we entered the city, people began putting their cloaks on the road.  Others cut branches and laid the palms before us.  I had never seen anything like this.

I heard the people shout ‘Hosanna to the Son of David.  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’  Others were asking ‘Who is this?’  They were told ‘the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee’.

Jesus, I finally have a name for the kind man!  There is something special about this man.  I am not sure what it is, I sometimes cannot understand the ways of the humans.  I do know love; love for my colt, love from my owner who takes care of us, and now a greater love, a love this man spreads with his words and actions.

It has been an unusual day.  A day that blessed me and brought me joy.  The day ends with me and my colt ready for rest and when we wake tomorrow to face our usual tasks, our burdens will seem lighter.  Even the least among the animals, the humble donkey can have hope.”

Amen!

Psalm Sunday Donkey painted 4/4/19

Spiritual Growth 101

The scriptures include 1 Corinthians 3:1-9.  It was preached on February 16, 2020 at Morton Presbyterian Church, Hartsville, SC and at Presbyterian Communities, Florence SC vespers service that afternoon..

Spiritual Growth 101

Some of you may know I am a candidate for ministry,

not yet ordained,

however, looking for my first call to a church.

I will not bore you with the call process and requirements

that have brought me to this point,

yet, I do want to tell you something

I have learned while discerning my first call.

Spiritual growth is an important component

of what congregations are wanting.

Spiritual growth.

How do different churches put this into words?

Here are a few phrases from several MIFs,

Ministry Information Forms:

…many in our community are seeking spiritual guidance

…ministering to the spiritual and emotional needs

…who we as a congregation can turn to for spiritual growth

…spiritual growth developed through education,

Bible study, and prayer

…to grow spiritually through worship, education,

and outreach

…shepherd the spiritual growth of all members.

Spiritual Growth.

It is an important part of our Christianity.

You and I have a desire to keep learning,

to find new ways to understand ourselves and God,

to discover another path along our journey.

Sometimes it takes place in familiar surroundings:

in Bible study or worship;

Sometimes it is outside of the church

through mission, outreach, and evangelism.

It happens through prayer, both individual and corporate.

And on occasion in unexpected ways:

-being in God’s creation,

whether hiking in the mountains or staring at the ocean;

-during an activity with a group,

either in play or work;

-or simply talking with others

in theological or daily life discussions.

There is another part of a MIF that lists

what leadership competencies a congregation

is searching for in their new pastor;

almost all churches list Spiritual Maturity

as one of these qualities.

Spiritual Maturity refers to a faithfulness of purpose.

For me, this is a way of understanding call;

through wisdom and experience

and the individual’s relationship to God.

So, churches,

congregations,

individuals

are looking for their ongoing path of spiritual growth and

someone to walk with them on that journey.

This is what you and I desire today.

What did the Corinthians desire in Paul’s time?

The same thing!

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he is addressing this issue,

first, by referring to them as infants in Christ.

“I gave you milk, not solid food,

for you were not yet ready for it.

Indeed, you are still not ready.”

Why does Paul refer to them as infants?

They are acting like children:

with petty disagreements,

not getting along with each other,

arguments and jealousy.

Paul began his letter addressing part of this issue,

with encouraging them to unite as one in fellowship,

the fellowship they share in Christ.

The Corinthians are focused on the ones who taught them

or baptized them, not on Christ.

Paul explains its not about the leaders,

it is about being one in Christ.

“What, after all, is Apollos?

And what is Paul?

Only servants, through whom you came to believe

—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.”

Paul and others are caretakers, farmers of the field.

When I read this scripture,

something I heard years ago came to my mind;

do you remember Paul Harvey and his

Rest of the Story broadcasts?

One thoughtful contemplation he spoke of was about the farmer.

It begins with…

And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned

paradise and said,

"I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer.

Mr. Harvey goes on to describe the qualities needed and the

responsibilities that God has entrusted to the farmer…

God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn,

milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again,

eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight

at a meeting of the school board."

God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with

a newborn colt. And watch it die.

Then dry his eyes and say, 'Maybe next year.'

God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees

and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and

wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets,

who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken

leg of a meadow lark.

So God made a farmer.¹

That is how the Apostle Paul sees his role, he is the caretaker.

He planted the church in Corinth,

Apollos followed, watering,

both servant of God.

Paul and Apollos and many other leaders

are not the source of grace, life, or growth;

they tend the field, plant and water,

however, it is God that gives the growth!

Pause and think on this a moment,

when you or I decide to plant a garden,

we prepare the soil, plant the seeds or bulbs,

water it, pull weeds,

but you and I do not make the plant or flower grow.

That is life; that is a gift of God.

God is the source of life!

We are in so many ways helpless children,

yearning to learn and grow,

wanting to have and know it all right now.

So, we talk about spiritual growth,

you and I strive for it through so many methods:

devotionals, study groups, fellowship, outreach,

and all are helpful in their own way.

Yet, it is not something we can achieve immediately

or on our own.

God gives the growth!

The high school I attended had a motto:

as we grow in age, may we grow in grace.

I do not think I understood it as a teenager,

but with time and experience,

it makes more sense to me now.

Maturity comes as we grow older

and certain qualities are associated with that aging.

Wisdom is usually what first comes to mind,

learning good and hard lessons of life gives each of us

a unique way of looking at situations.

Growing in grace, also deals with the wisdom of experience.

By grace, we grow to know more about ourselves as individuals

and about our relationship to God.

There is spiritual growth, a journey of spiritual maturity.

One thing I believe to be very true is you and I are always

on the path of spiritual growth;

it is something we will always yearn for more.

You and I have an inner desire, like the Corinthians,

to receive more than milk, we want the solid food.

Paul says the Corinthians are not ready because of

the strife within their community.

Are you and I ready for it?

Are there things that get in the way,

things that shift out focus away from God?

We all have busy lives,

we get distracted,

we worry about little things.

We are human, flawed, and sinners.

Yet, there is grace, God reaches out to us.

God the source of life,

the light in the dark corners,

the love, mercy, and forgiveness that gives us hope.

The hope we find through Christ Jesus,

the unity,

the fellowship we are called into through Christ.

A fellowship that can erase the petty disagreements,

that bring us from strife to life,

that allows us to grow together and individually.

Our relationship to God is always evolving.

The way we pray, understand, and approach God

is different in our youth

from when we are in our 40s or 70s.

There is spiritual growth,

aided by those who plant the seeds,

those who water,

those who tend the garden.

it all comes together because of the one

who gives the growth.

As we grow in age, we do grow in grace.

Thanks be to God.

1 Paul Harvey 1978 ‘So God Made a Farmer.’

Called into Fellowship

The scriptures include 1 Corinthians 1:1-9.  It was preached on January 19, 2020 at Presbyterian Communities in Florence, SC.

Called into Fellowship

Fellowship.

What comes to your mind when you here that word?

A gathering time?

The fellowship hall as part of a church,

which has a variety of uses…

sometimes for bible study or lectures…

or for a community meeting…

or for a reception…

or a small worship service…

or a meal.

All of these events are a gathering together of people

with something in common.

Paul is not telling the Corinthians

they are called into fellowship so

they will meet Wednesday night for a potluck.

Paul is emphasizing to the Corinthians

what they have in common.

Jesus Christ.

Our scripture for today is only the first 9 verses

of the first chapter;

the start of Paul’s letters begins with a greeting

and thanksgiving before he addresses the needs

of the church and its immediate concerns.

In these first 9 verses, Paul establishes a basis of trust

by expressing confidence in the Corinthians;

he knows not every community or church is perfect,

yet he gives thanks for them anyway.

What are the issues in the Corinth church?

There is division, some aspects of a power play,

and the focus not being on Christ and the gospel,

but on individuals.

Paul wants the Corinthians to recognize

their fellowship in Christ.

That is what they have in common; what unites them.

Paul, throughout his letters uses many different words

and phrases to promote unity:

kinship language including brothers and sisters;

describing believers as the body of Christ;

and the word fellowship.

Paul is talking about fellowship as

a relationship and a partnership.

A relationship with Christ and with each other;

the individuals becoming partners in the ministry

of the gospel:

have you seen in some church bulletins

the pastor is listed and then there is minister

and it says all members;

there is also the partnership with the Lord

-sharing of his life and calling with us:

Jesus calls us brother and sister.

When looking up the definition of fellowship,

it is simply defined as being part of a group;

also as having or sharing with others

certain things in common;

more deeply defined as a partnership that involves

working together and caring for one another

as a company of people, a family;

a family of faith.

How might we today relate to the church in Corinth?

As in Paul’s time, in today’s world there are divisions:

we choose sides,

we sometimes speak without listening,

we find it hard to see our commonality,

only our differences,

you and I set ourselves apart.

This is not what we are called to be.

Fellowship is the opposite of isolation and loneliness

and our present-day independent way of the individual.

Stop and think about that for a moment:

fellowship is the opposite of isolation and loneliness.

Our world is full of loneliness.

One can be in a crowded room and feel alone,

or feel more comfortable ‘staying out of the way’,

isolating oneself as to protect oneself

from being hurt emotionally or spiritually.

That is a dark path,

and we as believers in Christ are called to the light.

God is light.

First John speaks about love and fellowship and light.:

“…if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light,

we have fellowship with one another…”

We need each other,

you and I have a need to be together, to be in unity,

to embrace what we have in common, what we share.

Earlier I mentioned fellowship halls and meals

and some basic definitions of fellowship.

When I went to look up the definition of fellowship

in the New Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, it said:

see communion.

Communion?

When you and I hear the word communion,

we think of the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist,

the bread and the cup.

When I looked up communion; its definition: sharing.

Sharing.

You and I as believers share things in common;

we come together for worship to glorify God,

we learn together about God’s Word and Jesus’ teachings,

we share our faith as disciples of Christ,

we are led by the Holy Spirit in our actions,

we care for one another.

You and I gather around table for the Lord’s Supper,

to share the bread and the cup; communion:

it is to not only remember the sacrifice, death,

and resurrection of Jesus,

but also, his love and continuing presence

as we are commissioned to serve God and neighbor.

To serve God and neighbor.

Not to be isolated from one another,

yet, to be in fellowship.

Which brings us back to those fellowship halls and meals:

Yes, you and I gather around tables for meals,

potlucks or otherwise,

to share friendship,

communicate with each other,

learn about each other,

to practice hospitality,

build community,

to deter isolation and loneliness,

by having fun, sharing our faith, and

to be called into fellowship.

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

As I was preparing for today,

I looked up to see what Dr. King had to say about fellowship.

The quote I found comes from a sermon preached in April 1967,

focusing on an urgency of that time.

Yes, that subject was Vietnam.

Looking at this in perspective,

Paul was addressing the immediate needs

of the Corinthians,

Dr. King was addressing the concerns of the country.

Dr. King’s quote…

“This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one’s tribe, race, class and nation is in reality a call for an all embracing and unconditional love for all men.”¹

For King, so many things come back to love.

Love drives out hate.

It shines in the dark places.

Being called into fellowship is a call to love.

Love of God and neighbor.

From First John chapter 4:

“Beloved, since God loved us so much,

we also ought to love one another.

No one has ever seen God;

if we love one another,

God lives in us, and his love is perfect in us.”

Fellowship, sharing, love,

being one in unity because of what we have in common…

you and I are:

members of the body of Christ,

disciples together as ministers of the gospel,

brothers and sisters, a family of faith.

Praise God,

love your neighbor as Christ loves us,

embrace the Holy Spirit as one in unity…

Remember the words of Paul,

that are as meaningful today

as they were when written to the Corinthians:

“God is faithful;

by him you were called into the fellowship

of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

1 Sermon: “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” by Martin Luther King Jr. April 1967.