Anxiety Part III: DO AS YOU HAVE SAID

Read: Genesis 18:1-5, 9-14 

Anxiety Part III: “DO AS YOU HAVE SAID”

Today is the third and final sermon in a sermon series on anxiety. Before we get started, I want to do a little recap on what we have covered thus far just as I did last week. We will start with a short recap. 

The sermon series on anxiety explores three different facets of anxiety: the past, present, and future. The first week we explored the “Haunting Past” and how decisions we make in the past affect us in the present and future. Last week we wrestled with the Christmas weight and how we can manage the excess weight that we carry and use it to our advantage. Today we are going to talk about future anxieties, how they affect us in the present, and how to focus on the present without allowing the future to take control.  

You see, I believe one cannot escape anxiety. It’s part of the world we live in. And, the world continues to throw fuel on it when the flame ignites. However, there are ways to deal with it. There are ways to live with it. And yes friends, there are ways to make the best out of it. Last week I quoted one of my favorite writers when she said, “Anxiety is an old friend.” When I first heard this, I thought “What? An old friend? How could this terrible thing plaguing my life be a friend at all?” Valid question. But, it’s true. There are ways to make use of it. There are ways to gain strength and spiritual growth from it. There are ways to use to your advantage. It can, actually, make life easier. If controlled, it can be healthy. We are going to discuss some of those things. But, if it is not controlled, it will get out of hand. As I mentioned last week, it is much like fire. Fire is a useful tool. We use fire in a controlled environment all of the time. We have used it as a life source since the beginning of time. But, when it’s out of control, what happens? It destroys everything in its path. It doesn’t care who you are, how good you’ve got it, how healthy you are, or how much love, family, or friends you have surrounding you; it will make everything seem worthless when it takes control. That’s anxiety. It’s like fire. And, that’s just how it affects us emotionally. I didn’t mention that it affects us physically. We sometimes get rashes and breakouts on our skin, we get tired, we get moody, or much worse. And, that starts to affect the people around us. It’s taxing, not only to us, but everybody else. Yes, our anxiety hurts other people.

Into the Future!

What about the future scares you? Are there things that you think “might happen” that keep you up at night? Do you have fear of what could potentially happen? Or, do you have fear about what will inevitably happen? Do you ask questions regarding your family, children, spouse? Do you question your future finances and where funds might come from to support your status? Do you worry about the future of our country? It is typically not the questions that have definite answers that bother us. It is the questions that don’t have answers that bother us. Right? Questions such as, what will happen if I fail? What will happen when I no longer have them? What will happen if…. What will happen to them? What will happen to me? 

Wow, I don’t know about you, but I am getting worked up just talking about it. With past anxieties, we can let go. We can make use of present anxieties. But, the future is tough. Why is the future tough? It’s tough because it is unknown and it will always be there. That’s what creates a problem, right? It’s not knowing what will happen. People have made (and loss) billions of dollars from not knowing and trying to guess; it’s called gambling. 

The truth is, when you think about it, not knowing is very uncomfortable and that is why it causes us anxiety. And, this discomfort will consume a person. It is the discomfort that will spread like a fire. It will spread like a fire if it is not controlled. Wait, what? Yes, you can control discomfort. Too much discomfort can become painful and it can start to affect the way you do everything. It can completely paralyze you. But, a little bit of discomfort has some benefits. 

First, let’s talk about a story of a couple of folks that lived uncomfortably. Let’s talk about a couple that had reason to fear the future but stayed focused on a goal. There’s a story about Abraham and Sarah that demonstrates three things. 1) the unknown future and anxieties it might create. 2) Staying focused on a goal. And, 3) gaining strength from what the future will bring.    

Abraham and Sarah were already in their old age when God came to them with a covenant. This covenant is really the foundation of a lot of what we read in the bible. This covenant is like the baptism of the Jewish faith. It sets the stage for a lot of future plots as we study the rest of the bible. And, there are a lot of stories that refer to this covenant. And, Abraham was the chosen person to instate this covenant. This covenant was far different to these people than it would be to us. Even if we were chosen by God and spoken to by God in some manner, it would not be the same. The connection between God and human by this time was through tails passed down through history and told by elders. It was shared by word of mouth. The writer of Genesis expected the reader to assume the implications of this interaction between God and Abraham and what it meant for the creator to form a covenant. At this time, there were no formal documents in regard to God. There was no Torah. That didn’t come until later on. There was no establishment of a physical, earthly, temple for worship. Abraham worshiped a God that had only been talked about. However, Abraham had been listening to this God. God was leading Abraham. But, all of a sudden Abraham is chosen for a divine task and given a responsibility. God creates a covenant with Abraham. If God calls us to a task, if God speaks to us through a person, in a dream, if we have a vision, an epiphany, or a revelation we have a lot of experience with God to depend on. We have the mission of Christ to look toward. Not only that, we have a covenant with Christ that has given us a lot of room to wiggle, (maybe too much, sometimes). But, we know our God and we have thousands of years of documentation (and about 500 hundred years of printing press) telling stories about God. Abraham does not have that. 

God comes to Abraham to form a covenant with him. Now, this covenant thing is tricky. When Abraham agrees to this covenant, he is legally binding himself with God. It is like creating a partnership that cannot be broken. In the modern, western world, we have lost the since of covenant. Our covenants are more like contracts and they have stipulations. This covenant between God and Abraham was not simply bound by law, it was bound by God. There was no walking away from it and each partner, God and Abraham, had to fulfill their roles in this covenant.  

It was relayed to Abraham that he would have to fulfill this covenant and in doing this he would establish a great nation. All of his people would be the foundation of a great nation. In order for this to happen, he would have to have a child. But, as we know, the story tells us two problems. First, he and his wife Sarah are both almost 100 years old (which is very impressive.) Second, it is established by this time in their lives, Sarah cannot have a child.  

Are you feeling me when I say that Sarah and Abraham have a bit of pressure. Abraham has already agreed to this thing with God and the consequences for not upholding his end of the deal are detrimental for he and his wife.

Later, after the agreement is made, Abraham is at his regular place of worship, a place where he’s had encounters with God, and he notices that three men pass by this place. He invites them in and asks them if he can give them food, drink, and rest. He offers them refuge. And one of them responds, “Fine, do as you have said.” Let’s back up. The story says, “Sirs, if you would be so kind, don’t just pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought so you may wash your feet and refresh yourselves under the tree. Let me offer you a little bread so you will feel stronger, and after that you may leave your servant and go on your way—since you have visited your servant.” Abraham says, “Don’t just let me be; don’t overlook me. I am here to entertain your needs. I am here to fulfill your requests. Let me serve you.” And one of the men responds, “Fine. Do as you have said.” 

Do you see what the story teller has done? During a time that Abraham has made this covenant with God and put himself in an uncomfortable position that he did not know if he could fulfill. He did not know how in the world he and his wife were going to produce this child. He’s worried to death and worried about death because he has made this partnership with everything that he knows has given him life and it has the ability to take life away. He trusts in God but he’s a mess. You know the feeling, right? I believe in God, trust in God, I know God, and I want God in my life. So, why am I a mess? Abraham is a mess!

On the brink of all things falling apart and going south, Abraham has some visitors to give him assurance. In the midst of his discomfort, Abraham says, “I will serve you however I need to.” The visitor says, “Just do as you said you would do. This time next year, your wife will have a son.” Abraham fulfilled his part of the covenant with God by serving God. God fulfilled a promise by given them a son. They named him Isaac and the covenant carried on through him. God fulfilled this covenant and because of that, and them focusing on serving God, they gained strength. 

I am sure God knew of the anxiety and discomfort Abraham would have in making this promise. Discomfort can be difficult to maintain. Discomfort makes people worry and it causes stress. But, it caused Abraham to focus on what he said he would do, serve God. Abraham’s covenant was a goal and he knew he had to fulfill that goal. At a time that he might have questioned his future, God said, “Just do as you have said, serve me.”  

That leads me to a story I want to share about Waffle House. When I was eight or nine years old me and my dad stopped at a Waffle House early one morning before participating in a bass fishing tournament. We fished these tournaments for years when I was a little boy. But, we stopped at this Waffle House to eat breakfast early one morning while on our way to the event. Though, it was about 4:00AM, it was very busy with fisherman participating in the tournament. This might have been my first Waffle House experience because I can remember being enamored by the cook. There was only one cook at the stove. He was a younger guy and he was making breakfast for all of these customers. He had a line of tickets above him and he was going to town. This guy was in the zone. He didn’t miss a beat. I mean, it’s been thirty something years ago and the image has stuck with me. He had about ten tickets to make and about that many dishes going at the same time on the stove. This guy might have been under pressure, he might have been uncomfortable, he might have been under stress, but he was focused on what he had to do. He was focused on one thing, fulfilling his goal. And, he made it look easy. 

How do we keep ourselves from being consumed by future anxieties? It is simple; set goals that fulfill a purpose. Set goals that fulfill a covenant. Set goals that you can fulfill but do not allow yourself to get comfortable. Do you think God is going to let you get comfortable? No, because when you are uncomfortable you seek God. Set goals with your family, your spouse, your children, your work, or your service to God. In whatever form it might be in, when you are focused on serving God or a greater good, the other anxieties of the future fade away. It has been to my experience that if you help someone else carry their weight, your weight becomes a little lighter. Stay focused on serving God. 

Do as you have said. We all have a commitment to serve God. That is our goal. That is our focus for the future. When you look into the future, allow the flow of life to happen. Focus on the goal, let God lead you, and do as you have said. 

Anxiety Part II: The Christmas Weight

Read Luke 2:1-7

“The Christmas Weight”

Today is the second sermon in a sermon series on anxiety. Before we get started, I want to do a little recap on what we have covered thus far. 

The sermon series on anxiety explores three different facets of anxiety: the past, present, and future. Last week we explored the “Haunting Past” and how decisions we make in the past affect us in the present and future.

You see, I believe one cannot escape anxiety. It’s part of the world we live in. And, the world continues to throw fuel on it when the flame ignites. However, there are ways to deal with it. There are ways to live with it. And, dare I say, there are ways to make the best out of it. I will quote one of my favorite writers when she said, “Anxiety is an old friend.” You are thinking, “What? An old friend? How could this terrible thing that plagues my life be a friend at all?” Valid question... But, it’s true. There are ways to make use of it. There are ways to gain strength and spiritual growth from it. There are ways to use it to your advantage. It can, actually, make life easier. If controlled, it can be healthy. But, if it is not controlled, it can get out of hand. As I have mentioned, it is much like fire. Yes, fire is a useful tool. We use fire in a controlled environment all of the time. We use to cook, to heat our houses, to manipulate malleable materials, and it has been used for a life source since the beginning of time. But, when it’s out of control, what happens? It destroys everything in its path. It doesn’t care who you are, how good you’ve got it, how healthy you are, or how much love, family, or friends you have surrounding you; it will make everything seem worthless when it takes control. That’s anxiety. It’s like fire. And, that’s just how it affects us emotionally. I didn’t mention that it affects us physically. We sometimes get rashes and breakouts on our skin, acid reflux, we get tired, we get moody, and/or much worse. And, that starts to affect the people around us. It’s taxing, not only to us, but everybody else. Yes, our anxiety hurts other people.

A few years ago, a musician, that I often listen to, was waiting in line with his wife to go see a movie. All of a sudden, he recalls having a feeling of fear unlike he had experienced before. He felt off-balance as if his body was fading for brief moment. Then he felt like he was dying. He had a moment that he thought he was leaving the world. He woke up in a hospital. The doctors ran blood tests in search of the problem. As it turned out, it all happened due to anxiety. His life going great. His albums were selling a lot and his name was growing rapidly. He had a lot of shows scheduled and he had just got married. He was working on his next album when this happened. It was due to everything happening so quickly and not taking time to debrief that his body forced him to stop. That’s what will happen if a person does not allow the body and mind to stop; it will stop for you. 

Let’s talk about this title, "The Christmas Weight". I took some time thinking about what you were thinking about when you read the title of this sermon. Did you think, “On yes, I put on some weight during Christmas. And, I am trying to get rid of it.” Or did you think, “This must be in reference to the weight my bank account lost during Christmas.” I thought that I could have titled it “Christmas W-A-I-T” which, would refer to what kids are thinking about somewhere toward the end of October. Or, I thought about the title, “Christmas? Wait…I’m still recovering from last year.” Which would be what parents are thinking somewhere toward the end of October. Any of those would have worked because they all involve some degree of anxiety, right? But, none of those refer to the background of this title. The Christmas Weight is in reference to the Mary, Joseph, and Jesus story. The Christmas story as the writer, Luke, tells it. 

It was decided that Mary and Joseph would become married even after he discovered she was pregnant. We know the story well. Luke doesn’t tell that part as well as some of the other gospel writers (my opinion). But, even if we did not know of the conversation Mary had with Joseph about being pregnant, we could assume that it was awkward. And, it had to be convincing. And, even if it was very convincing, it would have caused some anxiety on Joseph’s part. 

They were not yet married and Mary was very pregnant. She would have had to hide it from friends and family. Because, it was against the Mosaic Law for her to be pregnant outside of marriage. Joseph was an upstanding Jewish man. He lived by the Law and he was in the lineage of King David. This meant he was of some importance. But, he was having to hide the fact that his fiancé was pregnant and not yet married to him. 

Outside of all of this going on, Israel is under the rule of Rome. They are experiencing a lot of problems and the governing body (Rome) is making life tough. At the time, Caesar Augustus was the ruler of Rome and he was the first Emperor to rule over Rome. He obtained the position from being the great nephew of Julius Caesar. He had a legacy that he felt obligated to maintain. When he stepped into those shoes, he cleaned some things up. First, he removed Herod the Great’s son, Archelaus, from his governing position in Judea and replaced him with Quirinius, a Roman gentile. This move was political on the part of Augustus. He had more control over Quirinius than the son of Herod the Great. This would allow Augustus to control Judea even more than he already did. 

One of the first actions of Quirinius for his Emperor was to create a census. The idea behind this was to generate more taxes for the Roman Empire and to keep a count on the people under their rule. Here’s the thing, the Jews already hated the Romans. But, it only fueled the fire to create a census. Creating a census was forbidden in Jewish Law. It was against the Law and it was against their faith practices. But, they were forced to do it. This was one of the reasons why zealot groups were formed to rebel against Rome. 

Let’s put this into perspective. Another country invades our country, a country of a different faith. They conquer our country and form a government over our government. We not only have to pay our government taxes, but we have to pay them too. And, this new ruling government forces us to do things against our faith. That’s where the people of Israel are. There are some anxieties happening. Right?  

So, not only were Mary and Joseph experiencing some personal anxieties, there were some things outside of their personal problems shaking things up a little too. With all of this happening, they were forced to travel, against their will, to Bethlehem so that Joseph can sign this census. So, they travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. That’s about a 60-mile journey through some rough areas and over some coarse terrain. All the while, Mary is very pregnant and they are still trying to hide it. When they arrive at Bethlehem and start to look for a place to stay Mary says, “It’s time.” Oh, and did I mention that they knew this baby was not going to be the typical child. There was a dream and an angel that told Mary this baby would be conceived by the Holy Spirit. You've heard it before. Yeah, so they really did not know what was going to go down. But, Mary knew it was going to happen right now! But, what happened? All of these mad people were in town for the census and there was no room in the inn. So, they ended up in what was most likely something of a cave where animals slept. And it was there in that hole in a rock wall that Jesus happened. Yes.... Jesus happened. 

Whoa. 

We don’t often see that side of the story. Yeah, that’s the reality. It was when the shit was hitting the fan, handful after handful. It was when everybody was angry at the government and at life, adversity was in the air, and people were scared. Then this couple is just trying to be normal and be part of a declining society and do their part. But, noting is going the way they saw it going when they planned it. And here they were in a cave, used to water the donkeys, pushing a baby out because nothing goes right anymore. Then... 

Jesus happened.   

That’s what I call the Christmas weight. It’s when nothing is going right, you can’t see a clear path ahead, you feel like the world is against you, and you feel like you are carrying the weight this young couple had to carry from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Then, when everything seems to be falling apart, something happens. You get this weird sense of hope. You suddenly feel the presence of Love and Peace. The Spirit happens.  

When things are not going the way you want them to, or rather, the way you planned, what happens? Anxiety? When things are not panning out at home with family (kids/wife/dog) or at work with your boss, what happens? Anxiety? When you have a list of things to do that you just can’t get done and you have a list of things you're concerned about that you just continually stress about, what happens? Anxiety? When you are worried about your health what happens? Anxiety? It really starts to feel like you are carrying a Christmas weight. 

When you have that kind of anxiety and it is just not getting any better and you feel like the weight is getting heavier, it is time to let Jesus happen. When you let Jesus happen, you will find hope. Now, I am not going to sit here and tell you to let go and let God. Because, it doesn’t always work out like that. If I am hanging from a tree limb and I decide to let go and let God, God’s going to let gravity hit me with the ground. There is a lot more to it than that. Letting Jesus happen requires proactivity. 

It requires action and this is where anxiety becomes an old friend rather than a life-long nemesis. So, when we think about the opposite of anxiety what comes to mind? I think of calmness. I think of peace. I think of stillness, quietness, relaxation, or tranquility. It reminds me of the creation story when God came to the earth it was chaotic, which could be metaphorical for anxiety. God, brought peace and stillness. Anxiety is like a classroom full of children who have all been given a Jolt Cola, a Nesli’s Crunch, and a kitten. The opposite of that is an empty room with a hammock and the sun shining with a little breeze. It’s peace and tranquility.        

Now, we know that anxiety is with us everywhere we go. It there even when we try to avoid it. It can manifest because we are trying too hard to avoid it. Because it is always there, in order to control it you have to sacrifice parts of your life to step away from it. Do you feel me? Anxiety allows us to appreciate time when it is not present. It’s like day and night. I like having a lot of daylight. But, if there were no darkness, I could not appreciate it. Nighttime allows us to appreciate daytime and vice versa. Anxiety allows to appreciate its opposite: peace, stillness, calmness, and tranquility. That’s how you control anxiety. It’s like controlling a fire; you have to keep tabs on it. 

Now, here comes the proactive part. How do we do that? How do we control this old friend that has the habit of getting out of hand? It’s quite simple. I have three steps and it requires all three. You can’t just practice one. All three. 1) You have to take a break from your surroundings. You have to take sabbath time. You might hear me say that a lot. If it’s not working, you’re not doing it right. You have to detach, unplug, rest, escape from all distractions, and give time to you. It is a gift for you from God. God is telling you to take this time of quietness and peace and God is giving it to you for a reason. Somebody might say, “Well, I took a family vacation. That was my sabbath time.” Nah, don’t give me that. That’s not you time. Make time for you. While you are taking that sabbath time, think about God and think about the blessings you have been given from God. Stop working, stop looking at the phone, and look up and look out and appreciate it. 

That reminds me of something I heard not long ago. I wish I could take credit for this because it’s awesome but I cannot. One of favorite writers said this. There is a Jewish midrash about the Exodus story. God parts the Red Sea and all of the people are walking across the bottom of the sea. Some people were complaining because they were having to walk through the mud and they were getting mud in their sandals and in between their toes. They were so focused on the mud, they missed this amazing miracle that was happening all around them. The 21^stcentury version of that is, everybody is so busy looking at their phones and complaining about what they see on social media and finding entertainment in what they see on the internet that they forget to look up and all around at creation and the miracles that happen every day. 

2) If you control it and allow it, anxiety will help you discover your gifts. What is causing your anxiety? Now, what can you gain from it and learn from it and how is it part of your personality. That’s right, we are all wired differently and we approach learning differently. So, the question to ask is how can I make use of this struggle. It’s a good prayer. Ask, “God, what would you have me gain, what would you have me learn from this struggle? What are you teaching me? Allow me to learn from this so that I can better serve you.” Seek gifts in your anxiety.

3) When you are experiencing anxiety, it is quite likely there are some things out of order. Right? Some things are chaotic due to lack of order or stability. In the creation story, God arrived and there was chaos. So, God created order and there was peace. It is order that created the book of Leviticus. The Israelites did not have laws or rules and if there are no laws or rules, what happens? Chaos. So, the Law of Moses was created for order and stability. 

I cleaned out the closet in my garage last week. If you were to open the door prior to last week you would have seen chaos and disarray. But, now it has order. (For a little while at least.) And, I have to tell you, it makes me feel good to look in that closet and see order. 

So, you are carrying the Christmas weight. There is turmoil, worry, anxiety, darkness, and God knows what else. It feels like things are busting at the seam. First, find rest and peace away from everything. Second, search for gifts. Ask, “God, what will you have me learn from this?” And third, create order. Take time to create order or reorder things in your life. Allow God to use your anxieties to make a better you. 

That’s God’s plan for you!  

Anxiety Part I: The Haunting Past

Read 1 Samuel 15:27-31, 34-35 

Greetings! 

This will be the first homily in a three-part series on a particular topic that most of us are all too familiar with. If you are an adult and not familiar with it, I need to hang around you a little and learn something from you. The topic is anxiety. It’s an ugly little word and it has chased most of us all over the place, from one point in our lives to the other. It has been a part of our lives from our early years, to the ones we are living right now. Truly, I believe we cannot escape it. It’s part of the world we live in. And, the world continues to throw fuel on it when the flame ignites. However, there are ways to deal with it. There are ways to live with it. And, dare I say, there are ways to make the best out of it. There are ways to make use of it. There are ways to gain strength and spiritual growth from it. We are going to discuss some of those things. But, if not controlled, it can get out of hand. It is much like fire. Yes, fire is a useful tool. We use fire in a controlled environment all of the time. We use to cook, to heat our houses, to manipulate malleable materials, and it has been used as a life source since the beginning of time. But, when it’s out of control, what happens? It destroys everything in its path. It doesn’t care who you are, how good you’ve got it, how healthy you are, or how much love you have surrounding you; it will make everything seem worthless when it takes control. 

That’s anxiety. 

It’s like fire. And, that’s just how it affects us emotionally. I didn’t mention that it affects us physically. We sometimes get rashes and breakouts on our skin, acid reflux, we get tired, we get moody, or much worse! And, that starts to affect the people around us. It’s taxing, not only to us but everybody else. Yes, our anxiety hurts other people.

So let’s take some time to wrestle with this devil. Our plan is to gain some insight on how to tame, control, and use anxiety as a tool to learn and grow. 

First, let me confuse you. I believe there is this constant motion moving forward in time. Things are constantly changing and it seems that there is a progression towards something better, towards something good. May it be in technology or science, humans are discovering ways to make things better. I think this is the progression of life. Things aren’t what they were 100 years ago, or 50 years ago, or 25 years ago, or 10 years ago. All things considered, things are better. There is something happening, there are progressions and movements. Have you noticed it? I think that thing has a name; it’s called God. Humans are just pieces of a really big puzzle, a big picture. This advancement is happening because of people caring for people. That’s the big picture coming together. God’s work moving into the future is rooted in love. We get better when we bring people closer. 

This movement toward advancement or improvement takes place because of each individual (people) moving with it. We play a small part in the big picture. We each have a part to play in order for good things to happen. But, in our individual movement toward improvement, advancement, love for one another, and God’s love there are times when an anchor is dropped. What happens when a boat drops its anchor? It stays in one place. It does not move. It becomes stagnant. There is no moving forward or backward; it is in one place. Then things in our lives start to lose movement and they become stagnant. Our relationships become stagnant. We can pretend there is movement, but that anchor keeps us in that one place. Our spiritual life becomes stagnant. We can even show up to church and pretend life is good, but that anchor keeps us from getting anywhere in our relationships with God or our neighbors. Work becomes stagnant. We even show up every day with a plan, but nothing gets done. There are many things that can act as that anchor. But, one of the most common is anxiety.    

During this three-part sermon, we are going to talk about three different facets of anxiety: The past, the present, and the future. Today we are going to talk about the haunting past. The anxiety of the past is like an anchor that gets thrown out of the boat and it latches on to something and keeps you from moving forward. You give it more strength but it just pulls you back. It’s a weight that won’t let you move forward with your life. It’s that voice that in your head that keeps asking, “Where would I be if I had done things differently?”

I am sure Samuel asked that question in regard to King Saul.

From the time of the Exodus until nearly 300 years later, Israel did not have a king. They were governed by Judges. There were many judges during that period in history. But, there were a lot of threats on Israel by other countries and kingdoms, particularly Philistine. Naturally, Israel wanted a king. They wanted someone that could take care of them. They wanted someone to protect them. Samuel was one of the judges and he was also a prophet. Since the people wanted a king, they took their complaints to Samuel. Samuel took those complaints to God. But, here’s the thing, God was not ready for Israel to have a king, it was not time. God knew the right time, but God’s people were too worried, anxious, eager, and they thought they knew better than God. So, they persisted. 

I think we can level with these folks. How bad have you wanted something even when you know it’s not the right time? Not only does God know, but you know. And, you still want it right now. I have been there. 

Samuel warned the people about the consequences of anointing a king when it was not time. But, they persisted. God told Samuel, “Comply with their request. Give them a king.” (1 Sam 8:22) The result of that commandment was King Saul, Israel’s first king. Saul’s reign as king was less than desirable. Samuel’s prophecies about the king were fulfilled and Israel regretted their desire for a king. If only they had listened to God through Samuel, they could have saved themselves from a lot of problems. 

So, let’s recap. God’s people, the Israelites, want a king. God wasn’t ready for them to have a king. They persist because they think they know better than God. God tells Samuel to give them a king. The king turns out to be a poor and unjust leader. God’s people regret their decision. Any of this ringing a bell from your past? It is mine. Pretty simple. I’ve seen it a hundred times. My parents would say, “Son, don’t do that.” I would say, “Trust me; I know what I am doing.” Then, I would do it anyway. Suddenly, while in the emergency room, I would regret not listening to what my parents said. It’s not rocket science. 

But, don’t we all make bad decisions knowing the potential outcome. We do. I feel like we have all done it at some point in our lives. A girl might like a guy knowing that he is a trouble maker and has a history of bad relationships. In her mind, she knows that everybody he has dated has been hurt. "But, he’s got pretty blue eyes, so we’ll be fine together". Bad decisions. Here’s the thing, when we get to that fork in the road that has two decisions, one good and one bad, do you think God only follows us down one of them? No. God follows us down either one of them. When we make that decision to go down the bad path, God will not stop us. But, God goes with us. I think the Holy Spirit grabs some tissues, and an icepack, puts on a helmet, and says, “This is gonna hurt. But, we’re gonna do it together." 

God was with Samuel, Israel, and Saul during all of their bad decisions. They all made those bad decisions and God allowed it to happen. Would you believe that, even, God makes regretful decisions? After Saul’s reign as king was over, the writer tells us this, “Samuel never saw Saul again before he died, but he grieved over Saul. However, the Lord regretted making Saul king over Israel.” I don’t think God makes bad decisions. But, I do think that God regrets when we make bad decisions. I think God regrets it because God knows that those bad decisions in our past often come back and haunt us. What is the result of the haunting past? Anxiety. 

Do you often think about bad decisions or bad choices that you’ve made in the past? Do you ever think about what would have or could have been had you made different choices? Here’s my favorite, where would I be had I not wasted my time on that? Or, where would I be if I had used my time more wisely? Where would I be had I not married that person? Worked for that company? Listen to that advice? Followed that friend? What could have been? Why did I make those mistakes? Would my life be better? Why did I take that path? 

When we ask those questions, the anchor digs in deep. The fire starts to spread to other areas in our lives. Sometimes, dwelling on those questions leads to brand new poor decisions. The next thing you know, there are a few more anchors. 

There was a reason why God did not want Israel to have a king when they wanted one. God had a king in mind and it was a great king. It was King David. But, David was not old enough to be the king. So, there was a fork in the road. One path leads to Saul becoming king and Israel struggling with Saul and that is just what happened. The other path was Israel waiting for David. There was a lot of struggle that could have come with that because of all of the threats by other kingdoms. It could have been very detrimental. But, the end of both of those paths was a blessing. King David. The great King that united God’s people. So, regardless of what decision God’s people made, there would have been consequences. But, both paths led to the same place. Regardless of the struggle, the end was glory. 

So, regardless of the decision they made, God was prepared to allow God’s people to struggle so that they would appreciate the blessing that was to come. The blessings that Israel experienced at the end of the path were so great, they were able to let go of the haunting past. 

So, here’s a question. I want you to think about it. What past anxieties are haunting you? What decisions of your past are holding you back? What past anxieties are causing a fire to spread into other areas of your life? Do they keep you up at night? Do they cause you to lose focus on your life? Are they affecting facets of your life such as work, relationships, or family? Are you following me?

Focusing on those past anxieties are causing that anchor to did in deeper and sometimes they are causing more anchors to drop. The only way to move forward is to cut the chain. Don’t just real them in and let them sink again. Cut the chain and look ahead because there are many blessings that God wants you to experience. There is glory ahead and you cannot experience it unless you move forward. And, if you continue to look at the paths behind you and the decisions you've made, you cannot see what is ahead. If you are looking back, you cannot see forward. 

My friends, there is something up there for you to see. There is something God wants to show you. And, there are many more decisions to make. 

Now, what if the fire got out of control? What if that anxiety has spread into other facets of life and done some damage? It’s ok. There are many blessings to gain from this out-of-control fire. First thing’s first, you have to put the fire out. The first step in doing that is convincing yourself that there will be blessings to come from this. Then the next step is admitting that you need help and telling the people around you that you are struggling. And, always know that God walks with you through every struggle and bad decision you make. 

We all know that fire does a lot of damage. But, have you ever noticed that after time, the grass that was once burned will grow back greener? That is a blessing ahead of you that you will experience. Allow the people that have been affected by your anxieties to walk with you and God away from the past. You will all gain strength from the journey. And, when you glance at the past, you will notice the green grass growing. 

A Sermon on Wine

Read: John 2:1-11

“A Sermon on Wine”

When you looked at the title of this sermon, you probably thought about the scripture written just above it. Even if you are not aware of the exact scripture the story came from or the details about it, you might have guessed that this message is about the miracle Jesus performed when he turned water into wine. Here’s the thing; that’s not where the title came from. The title, "A Sermon on Wine” was given to this message because the writer was drinking wine when he wrote it. That’s why it’s called, “A Sermon on Wine”. So, you will find that if you are patient, listen, and hang around for the whole experience, it gets better at the end.   

I think it’s safe to say that most of us know the story, we've heard many variations of it, we’ve heard some jokes about it, and I think I've even received a Hallmark card or two referencing the story. That’s right, Jesus turned water into wine. It’s no wonder these disciples wanted to follow this guy. You know, they were all somewhere around late teens/early twenties. They were the age of frat guys. You can imagine their enthusiasm. I am sure culture has changed a lot but I feel certain this performance still gained the attention of these guys. I mean, some of them were fishermen! We all know fishermen like to have a drank every now and then. 

Before we go any further, let’s have a little lesson on wine. Some people will argue that the beverage spoken about in the bible was not fermented and that it was simply grape juice. But the Greek word, "oinos", used in the Greek New Testament is unmistakably the fermented version of the juice. Also, juice didn’t become popular until later on because storing it requires refrigeration; wine does not. The beverage spoken about in the bible is wine. In many ancient cultures, beverages such as wine and various versions of fermented brew were consumed because it was safe to drink. Kind of ironic... Water was not safe because there were few methods to filter water unless it was taken from a flowing stream and, consumption was still a risk. Many of the cities had open sewage flowing to near water sources. Much of the water had to be boiled to remove it of bacteria. But wine, on the other hand, will keep. Bacteria cannot live or produce in wine because of the alcohol content. When people in ancient cultures traveled from city to city on long journeys, they did carry water but it was primarily used for cooking and other various purposes such as cleansing. It could be consumed but it had to be prepared and purified. But, they also carried wineskins, full of wine, to readily and safely consume on the journey. 

If you know anything about wine, you know there is a process to create it. You don’t just whip up a batch. It takes weeks, sometimes months, to make a cheap batch of wine. A good vintage requires years. It’s quite a process. I don’t know of anyone who has ever made a batch of wine in less than two weeks….except for one person during a particular event. And, we have that story right here in front of us. 

The very first miracle that Jesus performed was at a wedding party in a Galilean city called Cana. Cana was just a small village, easily accessible for travelers making the journey from the two great Roman cities in Galilee, Sepphoris and Tiberias. These two cities were two major metro centers. There was a lot of travel between them. With that said, there were many visitors stopping in Cana. So, we are at a wedding in Cana. Wedding parties in the Jewish culture are different from our Christian traditions. They are now and they were even more so then. They are huge and they draw a crowd. You wouldn’t simply attend a wedding; you would attend a wedding party. These wedding parties attract a lot of guests and they are political to some degree because they are a representation of the family. When a family hosted a wedding party, it was essential they put on a show because it proved who they were in the village. This was a shame/honor culture and that is what made it political. If people liked you, you had the people’s honor and a good way to gain it was through a good ol' shindig. 

Leading up to the wedding party the host has slaughtered the best sheep and calf, he has made the best wine, he is prepared to serve delicacies, and he has saved a lot of money to invest in this party. When the party happens, everything is going down. People are dancing, merrymaking (yes, I said merrymaking), they are having a good time, and eating and drinking. The host is observing and enjoying what he has created. But, thunder strikes. He gets word that the wine has ran out! 

Do you remember when you were in college? You are at a Saturday night, post-football game, keg party. Your team won and everybody is having a great time and enjoying the victory. You go for your next draught and notice the barrel is floating. What happens? You all leave.  

Word starts to spread around the party. This is an embarrassment for the poor host. Perhaps there were more guests than he anticipated. Perhaps they were just really thirsty. At any rate, there was a problem. This was so embarrassing. It’s like being at the grocery store with a line behind you and you can’t come up with the money to pay for your stuff. It’s humiliating. It’s almost shameful. That’s the feeling this host is having. He is sweating. People are already talking about his failure to adequately host the party. His failure was like an insult to the bride and his family. So, he starts looking for solutions before people start leaving.

In the meantime, Mary, the mother of Jesus, has observed all of this. She goes to Jesus and his disciples to inform them of the problem. “The host is out of wine.” She says. It’s in that moment that we wonder what Mary was asking for. Jesus’ reply would suggest that she knew what he could do. It was as if she knew the potential. His reply, particularly the second part of it, would suggest that she not only knew the potential, but she knew the long-term outcome. He says, “My time hasn’t come yet.” It was as if Mary asked, “Are you going to save the party?” And Jesus replies, “Oh yes, I am going to save them, but not yet.” 

“My time hasn’t come yet.” I want you to think about that. Put that away for now and I am going to come back to it. I am going to make a point with it, but before I get there, it needs to be sharpened a little.

So, Jesus tells the servants, who would be like the waiters, to go and fill these big stones jars full of water. These jars likely already had a little water in them. Why? They were large thirty-gallon jars used for Jewish cleansing ritual. That’s a very religious way of saying, they used them to wash their hands and feet. Yes, that is right; these jars were used to wash the nasty from people’s hands and feet before they ate food. They weren’t completely full because people had been using them. Dirt. Bacteria. All the bad stuff people had on their hands and feet from doing what people do, along with the water already in the jars. Jesus says, “Fill them full. Then, take some to the headwaiter.” The servant did as Jesus asked and what happened in the distance from the jar to the head waiter? Dirty water became wine. 

Let’s think about this. What did Jesus do? He made water into wine. What happens to bacteria and impurities when alcohol is present? It kills it; it cannot exist. It was cleansing water, it had bacteria and Lord knows what in it. When Jesus made it wine, he made it clean; he made it pure. He made what was once impure, pure again. Do you feel me? So, why didn’t Jesus just make clean water? Why didn’t Jesus just make grape juice? Here is why, and the writer wants us to know this. You see, if he had just made water, what would happen? It would get dirty again. After a bit of time, it would just turn into dirty water. If he had made some kind of juice, in just short time, it would start to spoil. Instead, he made something that would not spoil. He made something that, upon his miracle, would remain clean. 

After Jesus performs the miracle, the product would be unsusceptible to impurities. You feeling me? Ok, hold on to that. Put that away with “My time hasn’t yet come.” We’re going to tie them together. 

The writer tells us that the waiter took the water-turned-wine to the headwaiter. The headwaiter says to the host, “Hey, why have you withheld the good stuff, the vintage? Everybody knows you serve the good stuff in the beginning. You served the second-rate wine first and saved the best for last.” You see, people were already leaving the party. They were like the people that leave the football game when they lose hope for their team’s situation. But, when they do this, they forfeit the whole experience. Some of the party guests already lost hope for the party and the host. Little did they know; a miracle was in the cards. There was not the time to make more wine. As we know, wine takes a while to make and there were no package stores around. So, they didn’t see this event getting any better. Had they had some hope, they would not have only received a reward, but they would have received the best reward. There was a special play in the playbook that had yet been used. They did not know that Jesus was about to give new life to the party. 

The true gift came at the end, at the right time, when it was needed the most. Now, put that away with “My time has yet to come” and, making pure out of what is impure. I am about to tie them up.  

Here we have a story of Jesus’ first miracle. It wasn’t the greatest miracle in terms of miraculous things. I mean, I can make wine. He just made it faster and better than I can. He did some other miracles that cast a shadow over this one. As we now know, there are many more great things to come from Jesus. But, you see, this miracle has some poetic significance. That is because it is an image and a guide to Jesus’ last miracle. What was the last miracle? It was his own resurrection, which was the saving grace and the atonement of the sins of the world. 

Let’s go in reverse. Point three: The true gift came at the end, at the right time, when it was needed the most. The people were giving up on the future of the party. There was nothing to have hope for. The wine wasn’t that good, to begin with. The people were starting to leave. Before the last miracle (after Jesus' death), Jesus’ followers had lost hope. They had almost given up. They wanted to hang around but they were afraid of what might happen. Things were not looking good anyway. His followers were starting to scatter. Then, the good wine shows up. Jesus appears to his followers showing them that he is alive, and affirming that he has given life to the whole party.

Point two: After Jesus performs the miracle, the product would be unsusceptible to impurities. He didn’t just make clean water that might become dirty again. He didn’t make juice that would spoil in time. No, he made wine. He made something that would never again be affected by contaminations or impurities. Jesus’ atonement didn’t simply remove us of our sins. He made something that would never again be contaminated by the sin of the world. He made something that could not be susceptible to bacteria of the world. Folks, we were once dirty water; we are now good wine. 

Point one: I think this one is sharp enough now. Jesus said, “My time hasn’t come yet.” It was as if Mary said, “Jesus, save them.” And Jesus said, “It’s not time for me to save them. But, I’ll save the party.” I am convinced that Jesus could have saved the world right then. He might have been able to turn himself in for what he was going to do and they might have killed him. If he can eliminate the months or years it takes to make good wine, he can eliminate the time it takes to start a revolution. But, it wasn’t time. Why was it not time? Because, the people, his followers, the writers, they all needed to experience the whole journey. They needed to travel with him, witness the other miracles, make mistakes in his presence, question him, see him, hear him, touch him, walk with him…  In order to receive the gift, you have to accept the experience. 

Now, we have a sermon. 

As a culture, we are losing sight of journey and experience and the significance of it. Things are becoming more and more abbreviated. All things considered, experience takes time and, for many people, time is not cheap. But, with technology growing as it has been, we are finding ways to skip over the experience. The bad part of that is the loss of value for the final product. At the end of a journey or the end of an experience, there is a final product or result. If we skip the experience, the product or result is less valuable. If the disciples at the party never saw Jesus again after the party, then he turned up after his death, I am sure they would have been enamored but it wouldn’t have had the same effect. They might have been like, “Isn’t that the guy that made the wine at that party? I thought he was killed! That's weird.” No, they needed the entire experience. They needed to develop emotions, passions, loyalty, faith, and zeal to continue a legacy. That required the whole journey.   

I was reminded of this not long ago when I synced my iPhone up to a Bluetooth speaker and played the first Nirvana album, Nevermind. It came out when I was thirteen and it changed the way that I listened to music. I was blown away. It changed my feelings about music. It was the major transition between 80’s hair band rock to grunge rock. What I was thinking about when I was listening to this the other day was how different it would be if I had a smartphone when this album came out. I would have pulled it up on Apple Music or Spotify, listened to Smells Like Teen Spirit (The first song), listened to Smells Like Teen Spirit a few more times, skipped through some of the others, and moved on. But no, when I first purchased the album, it was on a cassette. I walked around with my yellow Sony Walkman on my belt and that tape playing for weeks. I didn’t dare hit fast forward and risk missing any part of that album; I just took it all in. We did that with cassettes; we listened to the whole thing. For me, with that album, I needed to take in the whole experience to appreciate what it was and what it would become. 

This is applicable with so many things in our lives. Experience and the journey are everything. That is not just with music. Books… sure, you can read the first few pages and put it down, then later read the last couple of pages. But, what good is it if you miss the whole experience. Movies… you can’t rush the experience; you have to make the journey with the characters to appreciate the outcome. What about vacation. In order for it to be beneficial, you need not rush it. What about rest or sabbath time? It’s not something that can just happen. Even though you are doing nothing, it is the experience with God that makes it beneficial. Here’s one of my favorites: food. We want it fast as soon as we can get it and eat it. But, we are losing the experience of cooking it. Sometimes it takes me over an hour to cook dinner for myself but I appreciate it so much more because I watched it happen. It was a journey. 

What about people? Ah, now we are making a little sense. You can’t just have an immediate relationship with someone. You can’t just give someone a friendship without, what? Experience. You have to take some journeys with them to build the ultimate result, a friendship. 

Here’s is another example, coming to know God. Building your faith and Spirit. It doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes experience. I don’t want people to tell me who God is, I want to have the experience from the miracle of birth to the finale miracle of life after death. From making wine to the resurrection and all of the miracles and experiences in between. Yes, I want the whole journey. “But, the Bible says…” Yes, I know what the Bible says. Knowing what the Bible says is like looking for corners in a round room; It leads to circles. All of the corners are on the outside of the room. I want to find the corners the doors and the spaces in between. What the Bible says is fascinating, but the experience happens and the journey begins when we start to dance with the blank spaces between each word. And, it is in those blank, white spaces that we find the experience with God. We take journeys with God. Not everybody takes these journeys because it takes too much time and we need immediate results. But, you cannot appreciate the results unless you have the experience and make the journey. You have to listen to the whole album, read the whole book, watch the whole movie, feel the sand in between your toes, rest in the Lord’s presence, cook the meal, laugh, cry and embrace people and you have to dance with the empty spaces. That’s the experience. That’s the journey. 

In order to have and appreciate the result, you must be patient until the end. You must take in the experience, the whole journey, from the beginning to the end. From the first miracle to the last. 

And that, my friends, is a sermon on wine. 

Cheers                                

Community Baptism

Acts 8:14-17 Common English Bible (CEB)

14 When word reached the apostles in Jerusalem that Samaria had accepted God’s word, they commissioned Peter and John to go to Samaria. 15 Peter and John went down to Samaria where they prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit. (16 This was because the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 So Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

“Community Baptism”

I lived in Memphis, TN for five years. During the last couple of years of living in Memphis, I was involved with Room in the Inn. RITI is a non-profit organization that assists individuals affected by homelessness find shelter during the winter months. The organization of Room in the Inn, Nashville, is much larger than Memphis. They have a larger budget and much larger facility. But, they too started with the same, much smaller, goal. 

Basically, RITI, Memphis, operates from October to March. Colonial CPC is the founding church for RITI Memphis. The first couple of years, RITI volunteers met people downtown and transported them to East Memphis (Colonial CPC). There, they served them a meal, let them shower, offered a change of clothes, and gave them a place to sleep. This is a great ministry for people in need, but one church can only do so much. The maximum number the church could accommodate was around fifteen. With that said, there were many being turned away to sleep outside in the elements. This was very difficult. The solution to this problem was to add more churches to the list. Finding more churches that would open their doors to homeless people, serve them a meal, offer a shower, fresh clothes, and a place to sleep was a difficult challenge. Many churches were not interested in helping. That has been about seven years ago. Now, due to many efforts by Colonial CPC and RITI, RITI Memphis has over forty churches partnered with them. During the winter months, people affected by homelessness are bused to churches all over the Memphis area. The number of churches increases yearly. 

RITI started with one small faith community and they quickly learned that it was going to take more than one church to accommodate their mission. Though, their heart was big enough to make the attempt, working as a single entity would only leave them heartbroken from having to turn people away. The solution was to join with others, to ask others to help carry the burden, to provide others with the same opportunity to serve, and most importantly, to strengthen the number of the serving community. It’s quite simple. One person can help a few; more people can help many.

There is an African proverb that has circulated for hundreds of years and it has been spoken in many languages. It was first spoken in tribes of West Africa. It says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” It basically means that the entire tribal village was responsible for looking after a child and taking part in its well-being. The child does not grow up in a single home. The community as a whole takes part in the child’s growth however it is necessary. It takes a village to make a difference. One person can help a few; more people can help many. Much of the time, community involvement is the key to success in making a difference. RITI continues to grow and find success because of community involvement. The village participates, so to speak.  

The fact that continues to irritate me is there are many churches that do not want to get involved. Why? Is it because those people smell bad? Is because some of them struggle with illnesses and it’s a liability? Is it because some of them have made bad choices to land them the position they are in? Is it the time and resources it requires to take on such a service? Or, perhaps it’s just that hard to care when people have their own problems? I don’t know? From what I have gathered by experience, a huge part of the reason why people don’t like to help the poor, homeless, addicted, ill, criminal, (I refer to them as "the least of these", as did Jesus in Mat 25:40) is because these people have made bad choices that they could have prevented. It is the idea that they put themselves in the undesirable position they are in. The idea that if they had only not made those decisions, they would not be in that position. That’s the common excuse. I have even heard people say, “They are being punished for the choices they have made.” My question for a person with that philosophy is, “Have you never made bad choices?” Of course, they have. We have all made bad choices. Some of them are more detrimental than others. 

Have you ever noticed how people like to tie a reason behind someone’s struggle? If a person has a heart attack or gets cancer, the first thing we ask is what did they do. They must have been unhealthy. Did they smoke? A person has a car accident; what do you ask? How fast were they going? Were they drinking? If I cut my finger with a knife, I must have been playing with a knife. If they are homeless it’s because they don’t want a job, which is far from the truth. If they are an addict it’s because they like doing drugs, also, far from the truth. People see through the single lens that says, if you play with fire, you’ll get burned. It’s true, but you’ll also get burned if you’re stuck in a house that’s on fire. Think about that. Sometimes there is no way out…unless someone helps. 

I know there are people just waiting on the first accident to my homeless ministry (delivering food to homeless people on bicycles.) I can hear it. “Well, that’s what you get.” 

I digress.

All is to say: we all make bad choices. Who can say they can look back on the life they lived thus far and never say, “I regret doing that.” I can’t. People make bad choices. If you know your bible stories, you know that the Holy Text is full of people making bad choices. From Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, the Hebrews, Moses, the Israelites, the Judges, King David and all of those after, the disciples, Paul, the apostles, the new churches, that’s just to name a few. And, all of the stories reflect their bad choices. But, here’s what you need to know through all of this, all of history, God was there, present with all people as they made bad choices. God loved them dearly before, during, and after their bad choices. God never loved them any less, regardless of the choices they made.   

Through the lens of the first century Jews, the Samaritans made a lot of bad choices. There were a lot of enemies for the Jews during this time but the Samaritans had been the enemy for a long time. They were separate from the Judean Jews and they all wanted to keep it that way. The Samaritans were the bad people that the people of Judea told their children not to associate with. They were considered impure and racially inferior to the other Jews even though they celebrated Jewish holidays and observed Moses’ Law. But, that did not keep the Jews from looking down on the Samaritans. In John, chapter 8, Jesus’ critics insult him by calling him a Samaritan. In Luke, chapter 9, Jesus has trouble in Samaritan villages. And, later Jesus instructs his disciples not to go to Samaria in Matthew, chapter 10. However, Jesus used Samaritans in his stories and parables. In some cases, he uses them as characters to escalate the plot a little more. The woman at the well was a Samaritan. It was culturally unacceptable for this rabbi to converse with a Samaritan woman. Of course, we know the story of the good Samaritan. This story was bizarre because to the Jews, there was no such as a “good” Samaritan. 

The reason the Samaritans were of such dislike was that of their reputation. Despite their inclination to worship the God of Israel and obey Law, they were neither Jew nor Gentile. However, they were charged with working both sides to their advantage. They take their side according to the circumstances. Basically, if the Jews were prospering, the Samaritans would call themselves Jews. But, if they noticed a decline for some reason, they would say they have nothing in common. They were somewhat hypocritical and not loyal. It’s like those football fans that only cheer for the team that’s winning. They don’t claim to be a fan when they are losing. You know those people. The Samaritans had a reputation of choosing the winning side, even if their faith was involved. 

In Acts, chapter 8, Philip is commissioned to go to Samaria to develop a group of Christ followers and to baptize them. After some time in this region, he converted many. And he baptized many. These Samaritans needed to cling on to something. They had faith but they were not accepted by the people of their faith. I believe this made their faith unstable. When a person came to town offering allegiance to a salvific deity, they were ready to listen and subscribe. That’s why people were ready to listen to Philip when he arrived. However, Philip struggled with his mission. The mission became difficult when some of these Samaritans wanted to believe and be baptized for the sake of gaining power. It was hard for them to understand the selflessness of Christ. They wanted the power of Christ for their own recognition. And, they assumed that with this power they could perform and be compensated. This suited their reputation. 

Word got back to the disciples in Jerusalem that people in Samaria were listening to Philip preach and they were accepting Christ. Knowing the difficulty and the reputation of the Samaritans and the struggle Jesus had with them, Peter and John went to aid Philip in his mission in Samaria. When Peter and John arrived, they met with Philip and the new Christ followers. The story tells us that Peter and John laid hands on them and the people received the Holy Spirit.  

Philip had a mission into the unknown. He was commissioned to travel to a place to mingle with people not similar to his own circles. He went to spread the news to people he was told many times to not associate with. Let me remind you, these folks were known as bad people. They were criminals, liars, cheaters, and they were people that made bad choices and they paid for their decisions. Despite, worshiping God, the Jews believed that God did not accept them because of their hypocritical nature. But, Philip goes to introduce them to God in a way they had never heard, a way that they could all be part of God’s kingdom just as Jews were. But, despite his efforts and loyalty to Christ, Philip was having a hard time. They were being baptized and they were hearing Philip, but they were not receiving him. The truth is, despite his zeal, faith, compassion, and determination, Philip could not fulfill the mission on his own. It required more than just Philip. When Peter and John arrived and assisted Philip, the mission was fulfilled.

Do you notice something here? It took more than just Philip to fulfill Philip’s mission. Now, let’s look at this through the lens that says, “Well, if God wanted these people to receive the Spirit, God would have made it happen with Philip alone.” But, that is not the way God wanted it to happen. God wanted it to take more people. Why? Because that means more would be involved for God’s glory. God wanted the whole village to be involved. When more of God’s servants are present, more people see God. That makes sense, doesn’t it? Sometimes it takes a village. When the whole village gets involved, more is accomplished. Have you ever seen a barn raised on an Amish farm? One person doesn’t do it. The whole community gets involved. Far more is accomplished when we do it together.         

We recently celebrated the liturgical occasion, The Baptism of our Lord. It is the day that we remember what baptism is for us. Yes, baptism is personal and it represents the personal relationship you have with God for eternity. It represents the acceptance of the Spirit that lives in you. However, it is also interpersonal. Our baptisms are a representation of being part of a community of believers. We are for each other. We support each other. We hold each other accountable. We server each other. And together, when we join together, despite our differences and biases, we make an impact. As individuals we are strong; together as a community, we are much stronger.   

How is God calling you to be part of the community, the church, a group, (religious, secular, civic, family, friends, etc.)? How can you make a difference for people that need you? Yes, God can do anything through any one person, but God had rather use many people. When more of God’s servants are present, more people see God.