I’m curious to know how many of you wiggled and squirmed in your seats as Pastor Jason and I read these uncomfortable passages. I did. Having sat in my fair share of fire and brimstone sermons, I don’t like hearing words like this in my Sunday worship.
 
I want Good News, my Buddy Jesus that I can have a beer with…not the guy who comes down on a cloud of fire with an army of angels. And I certainly don’t want to hear that, “God hates our worship” and doesn’t listen to our prayers.
 
I’ll admit these passages are not for the faint of heart. But it might do the church a world of good to wrestle with the tension that these verses offer. “Communities need tension, if they are going to grow and deepen…for it’s only when tensions come to a head like a boil that we can treat the infection at its roots.”   (Vanier 2016)
 
The tension in Isaiah is obvious. God is not happy with the way we do church. The reason is simple: There is injustice in the world, and within the church. Social and political justice is the main theme of Isaiah and perhaps God’s greatest concern, then as it is today.   
 
So it ought not surprise us that Isaiah goes after those who’ve been called to be the change makers. He harshly compares the religious leaders, (and perhaps religion itself) to the evils of Sodom and Gomorrah. Contrary to popular assumptions, the guilt of these two places rest on their practices of greed and injustice.

​As it’s written in Ezekiel, “This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.”
 
Jesus also had harsh words to the powers that be. He too proclaimed with great fervor that the way to the Kingdom is not found in saying many prayers or offering many sacrifices but in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and the prisoners.
 
The way I see it, God longs for a just world, and wants us to live with the same hunger and thirst.  To be a meaningful church means to be a church committed to God in the world. And we show that commitment through each other, and with one another.
 
Our perpetual problem however, is the disconnection between what happens inside the sanctuary and what happens outside. To put it another way, who we are as Christians and what we’ve been called to do in our community are often at odds. So too is our worship. How can we love the grace-filled God of the New Testament, and yet ignore the God of the Old?  Have we forgotten that the God of mercy and justice is also the God of judgment?
 
The same God who sent his Son… is the same God who said, “Who ever gave you the idea that it’s okay to act like this, running here and there, doing this and that—all this sheer commotion in the place I have provided for worship?”
 
This is the Divine who says flat out, “I can’t stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings. I hate them! You’ve worn me out!”   
 
And yes, this is the same God who cries, “I’m sick of your religion, your pageants means nothing as long as you go on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I will not be listening.” And do you know why?” asks God, “Because you’ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.”  Ouch!
 
These are difficult words to hear. I can only imagine how God must have felt to say them. These are emotionally charged words, spoken by a God who loves us deeply, and wants the best for all his children. These are the words of a broken heart, spoken with passion and purpose. Why? Because God wants us to know that worship without justice is not only meaningless, but obscene to God’s divine righteousness.  What does this say about us, and the importance we put on our rituals?  Where do our real treasures and purpose lie?
 
A poster in a homeless shelter asks “How can you worship a homeless man on Sunday, but completely ignore one on Monday?” We cannot lift up our hands to God in prayer if we refuse to extend our hands out to the most vulnerable as well.   
 
Now, I don’t want you to leave here today believing God thinks religion is worthless or that our worship is bad. In fact, both are essential to making our relationship with God grow.  Through communal worship we hear the Word together; through communal confession we are free to do what this Word sends us out to do; and our communal praise strengthens us for our obedience to the Word.
 
But as you leave here, take time this week to imagine a world where your everyday life perfectly aligns with the right worship of God. Maybe the world wouldn’t be in the political or social mess that is today.  
 
So what is the right worship of God? For me, it’s following the ways of Jesus, who stood up to the powers and principalities that crippled God’s people. It means to turn the world upside-down, by loving the loveless and caring for the weak, the widow and the orphan. It’s about giving up selfish ambitions to do what is right for the whole.
 
Jesus not only preached the words of Israel’s past, but he lived them out as well. In doing so, he ushered in the Kingdom of God. Well, guess what? God has invited us to be a part of that kingdom. And has even given us nine ways to jump start our ministry: “Wash yourself,” says God, “Clean up your act, toss out your evildoings. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.”
 
These powerful commands tells me that God does not want to reject us, but instead desires to make this relationship work.  “Come. Sit down,” says the Lord. “Let’s talk about it, and argue this out. Let’s turn your blood-red sins, snow white.”
 
These are not the words of a God who wants to ignore us, but of one who deeply desires to save us, cleanse us, and empower us to do the Kingdom work. And...“If you willingly obey,” God promises, “you’ll feast like kings.”
This is the good news, the true prophecy of Isaiah and the great promise of Jesus Christ. If you seek justice and peace, show compassion and mercy to others, then God’s divine and righteous judgment will show you the same, and more!
 
“Every time we forgive our neighbor, every time we make a child smile, every time we show compassion to a suffering person, every time we arrange a bouquet of flowers, offer care to animals, create beauty in our homes and gardens, and work for peace and justice among peoples and nations we eat of the good of the land, and make the vision of the Kingdom of God a reality.”  (Nouwen 2009)
 
It’s imperative we keep our eyes on Jesus, whose divine authority is expressed in justice and compassion. These two actions embrace in the very being of God. Likewise, they allow us the freedom to be fully human, fully accountable and fully trusting.  And more importantly, they offer us true freedom to worship God fearlessly, faithfully, and flawlessly, not just on Sunday…but every day.

Works CitedBartlett, David L., Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word: Year C, Vol. 3. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010.
Bible. Isaiah 1:10-20; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12.
Nouwen, Henri. Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith. New York: Harper Collins. Kindle Edition, 2009.
Vanier, Jean. Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants For His People. Edited by Charles E. Moore. Walden, NY: Plough Publishing House, 2016.

I’m curious to know how many of you wiggled and squirmed in your seats as Pastor Jason and I read these uncomfortable passages. I did. Having sat in my fair share of fire and brimstone sermons, I don’t like hearing words like this in my Sunday worship.
 
I want Good News, my Buddy Jesus that I can have a beer with…not the guy who comes down on a cloud of fire with an army of angels. And I certainly don’t want to hear that, “God hates our worship” and doesn’t listen to our prayers.
 
I’ll admit these passages are not for the faint of heart. But it might do the church a world of good to wrestle with the tension that these verses offer. “Communities need tension, if they are going to grow and deepen…for it’s only when tensions come to a head like a boil that we can treat the infection at its roots.”   (Vanier 2016)
 
The tension in Isaiah is obvious. God is not happy with the way we do church. The reason is simple: There is injustice in the world, and within the church. Social and political justice is the main theme of Isaiah and perhaps God’s greatest concern, then as it is today.   
 
So it ought not surprise us that Isaiah goes after those who’ve been called to be the change makers. He harshly compares the religious leaders, (and perhaps religion itself) to the evils of Sodom and Gomorrah. Contrary to popular assumptions, the guilt of these two places rest on their practices of greed and injustice.

​As it’s written in Ezekiel, “This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.”
 
Jesus also had harsh words to the powers that be. He too proclaimed with great fervor that the way to the Kingdom is not found in saying many prayers or offering many sacrifices but in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and the prisoners.
 
The way I see it, God longs for a just world, and wants us to live with the same hunger and thirst.  To be a meaningful church means to be a church committed to God in the world. And we show that commitment through each other, and with one another.
 
Our perpetual problem however, is the disconnection between what happens inside the sanctuary and what happens outside. To put it another way, who we are as Christians and what we’ve been called to do in our community are often at odds. So too is our worship. How can we love the grace-filled God of the New Testament, and yet ignore the God of the Old?  Have we forgotten that the God of mercy and justice is also the God of judgment?
 
The same God who sent his Son… is the same God who said, “Who ever gave you the idea that it’s okay to act like this, running here and there, doing this and that—all this sheer commotion in the place I have provided for worship?”
 
This is the Divine who says flat out, “I can’t stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings. I hate them! You’ve worn me out!”   
 
And yes, this is the same God who cries, “I’m sick of your religion, your pageants means nothing as long as you go on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I will not be listening.” And do you know why?” asks God, “Because you’ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.”  Ouch!
 
These are difficult words to hear. I can only imagine how God must have felt to say them. These are emotionally charged words, spoken by a God who loves us deeply, and wants the best for all his children. These are the words of a broken heart, spoken with passion and purpose. Why? Because God wants us to know that worship without justice is not only meaningless, but obscene to God’s divine righteousness.  What does this say about us, and the importance we put on our rituals?  Where do our real treasures and purpose lie?
 
A poster in a homeless shelter asks “How can you worship a homeless man on Sunday, but completely ignore one on Monday?” We cannot lift up our hands to God in prayer if we refuse to extend our hands out to the most vulnerable as well.   
 
Now, I don’t want you to leave here today believing God thinks religion is worthless or that our worship is bad. In fact, both are essential to making our relationship with God grow.  Through communal worship we hear the Word together; through communal confession we are free to do what this Word sends us out to do; and our communal praise strengthens us for our obedience to the Word.
 
But as you leave here, take time this week to imagine a world where your everyday life perfectly aligns with the right worship of God. Maybe the world wouldn’t be in the political or social mess that is today.  
 
So what is the right worship of God? For me, it’s following the ways of Jesus, who stood up to the powers and principalities that crippled God’s people. It means to turn the world upside-down, by loving the loveless and caring for the weak, the widow and the orphan. It’s about giving up selfish ambitions to do what is right for the whole.
 
Jesus not only preached the words of Israel’s past, but he lived them out as well. In doing so, he ushered in the Kingdom of God. Well, guess what? God has invited us to be a part of that kingdom. And has even given us nine ways to jump start our ministry: “Wash yourself,” says God, “Clean up your act, toss out your evildoings. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.”
 
These powerful commands tells me that God does not want to reject us, but instead desires to make this relationship work.  “Come. Sit down,” says the Lord. “Let’s talk about it, and argue this out. Let’s turn your blood-red sins, snow white.”
 
These are not the words of a God who wants to ignore us, but of one who deeply desires to save us, cleanse us, and empower us to do the Kingdom work. And...“If you willingly obey,” God promises, “you’ll feast like kings.”
This is the good news, the true prophecy of Isaiah and the great promise of Jesus Christ. If you seek justice and peace, show compassion and mercy to others, then God’s divine and righteous judgment will show you the same, and more!
 
“Every time we forgive our neighbor, every time we make a child smile, every time we show compassion to a suffering person, every time we arrange a bouquet of flowers, offer care to animals, create beauty in our homes and gardens, and work for peace and justice among peoples and nations we eat of the good of the land, and make the vision of the Kingdom of God a reality.”  (Nouwen 2009)
 
It’s imperative we keep our eyes on Jesus, whose divine authority is expressed in justice and compassion. These two actions embrace in the very being of God. Likewise, they allow us the freedom to be fully human, fully accountable and fully trusting.  And more importantly, they offer us true freedom to worship God fearlessly, faithfully, and flawlessly, not just on Sunday…but every day.

​
Works Cited
Bartlett, David L., Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word: Year C, Vol. 3. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010.
Bible. Isaiah 1:10-20; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12.
Nouwen, Henri. Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith. New York: Harper Collins. Kindle Edition, 2009.
Vanier, Jean. Called to Community: The Life Jesus Wants For His People. Edited by Charles E. Moore. Walden, NY: Plough Publishing House, 2016.

First of all, I’d like to thank everyone who gave of their time and talents this weekend to make the 175th Annual Meeting of the Michigan Conference a huge success.  I am also indebted to our church boards, and all who participated. You all certainly raised the bar for the years to come.
 
The theme for this historic gathering was “Story and Song.” As we listened to one another’s stories, I couldn’t help but think where we’d be, as people or as a church, if it weren’t for the greatest story ever told. The Mother Lode of all messages. The Hope Diamond of truth. That amazing story of God’s immeasurable heart and incomparable love for you and me.  This is the good news: No matter who you are, or how you got here today, there’s room in God’s heart for you, and for everyone else. 
 
The not so good news is that there are people who believe they are not good enough to receive the wondrous gift of grace. And sadder still, there are some churches that believe “they,” as in “those people,” aren’t “good enough” to receive what God has freely given to us all. Such separation is not compatible with Christ.  

​
 “Nobody is more dangerous than he who imagines himself pure in heart, for his purity by definition, is unassailable.” 
              -James Baldwin
 

One of the ministers at the conference recalled the story of her childhood, growing up in Michigan in the 1950’s. One Sunday evening, as her family gathered around the supper table, her grandfather, a well-respected deacon in the church, boasted how he welcomed a young black couple into the service that morning; he even took the liberty to personally usher them to their seats. After worship asked them if they had enjoyed their time. But before they could answer, he quietly told them “I think you might be more comfortable at the church down the street.”   
 
Some people clothe themselves in religious elitism to separate themselves from everyone else. Sometimes it’s obvious. Other times not so much. I think Jesus makes this point clearly in Luke’s gospel.
 
Standing before a crowd intoxicated by their own spiritual self-righteousness, Jesus tells a story about two men who go into the temple to pray. One is a Pharisee who society would have deemed holy. The other is a tax collector who, by his own account, is an enemy to Israel.  

As the Pharisee prays, he acknowledges God as the source of his righteousness. But then he goes on to remind God how fortunate God is to have such a wonderful guy like himself on his team. He reads his resume and lists all his achievements, to show God what the other guy is not.

But the tax collector knows exactly who he is, and what he’s done. By definition he works for a corrupt system that gouges the poor and enriches the wealthy. He too acknowledges God’s righteousness, but avoids narrating a long list of his own vices and virtues to God.  Instead he humbly names his condition: he’s a sinner. And as such, he throws himself on God’s mercy.   
 
Ask yourself, which one are you? Pharisee or tax collector?  
​
I see myself as a little of both. On one hand, as people have told me lately, I have done some wonderful things here to further the kingdom of God. Yet on the other hand, I know it is not I who has done those things. I have to constantly live in the tension between ego and humility. And it’s not always that easy.
 
It can be hard to read Luke’s gospel without placing yourself in one role or the other, or both. Which of us has not secretly felt some kind of moral pride before? Imagine driving to church and seeing a drunk stumble and fall on his face. Do you secretly think, “Thank you God, that I am not like that person?”
 
Or perhaps you’ve been the drunk, you know what it’s like to struggle to get to your hands and knees. Your face wet with tears, you dare not to look up. Instead you drop your head into the dark shadow of a filthy sidewalk and silently weeps, “God, have mercy. For I am nothing but a sinner!”
 
Perhaps what causes you to elevate yourself is a friend who choses to go fishing, or to a craft show, instead of going to church to listen to one of my boring sermons. Or maybe it’s someone here that you look down your nose and think, “Where were you when there was work to be done, or a seat on a board that needed to be filled?”
 
It’s typical of Jesus to force us to take a hard look at ourselves.  His stories are a bit like fishing lures: full of attractive features –bright colors, feathers, interesting shapes –but inside each one, a sharp little barb is hidden.  This is one such story. In it, Jesus gives us a vivid example of the dangers of religiosity that separates “us from them.” Like the Pharisee there are times when we’re enticed by the flashiness of our own faith that we forget about that darn hook.
 
Despite our scars of disobedience, markers of mistakes, and wounds of worry, our faith in Jesus makes one thing very clear: God desires redemption, not perfection. If God only accepted the perfect, then heaven would be a lonely place.  Nothing can separate those who seek mercy from receiving God’s grace.   
 
This was a hard lesson learned by the legendary preacher and theologian Dwight L. Moody. Who, while visiting churches in England, met a young preacher named Henry Moorhouse. In a polite but insincere gesture, Moody invited Moorhouse to visit him in Chicago, and extended a glib invitation to the young Brit to come and preach at his church, knowing he’d never surrender his pulpit.
 
A month after Moody returned home, he got a telegram from Moorhouse that read, “Have just arrived in New York. Will be in Chicago on Sunday.” Moody was dumbfounded and embarrassed. And, to make matters worse, he was scheduled to be elsewhere that same Sunday. Yet, he had made the promise.
 
So reluctantly, Moody instructed the church leaders to allow Moorhouse to preach once, “But,” he said, “if the people enjoyed him, then put him on again.” A week later, Moody returned from his trip. He asked his wife how the young preacher had fared. “He was wonderful!” she replied. Then added, “He’s even better than you are. He is telling sinners that God loves them.” Moody complained,  “But that’s wrong! God does not love sinners.”  “Then you better go tell him yourself,” she said, “because he is convinced that God does.” 
 
Moody was shocked to learn that Moorhouse was still there. For six consecutive nights he had been preaching from the same text, “For God so loved the world…” and the people were packing into the famed Chicago church to learn about the unconditional love of God. Upon hearing this message with his own ears, Rev. Moody was spellbound. For the first time he had been confronted with the enormity of God’s grace and the openness of God’s love. He was transformed and his ministry would never be the same again.
 
Love is compatible with Christ’s work on the cross. Through our own faith in Christ we discover how big and transformational God’s love really is. From the lowliest of sinners to the most pious of preachers, God’s faithful heart screams out, “I’ve never quit loving you… and I never will. Expect love, love, and more love!”
 
This is the greatest story ever told. That though Christ Jesus, God pours out his abundant grace upon an underserving and resistant people; without strings, without burdens, and without division. It’s there for anyone who humbly desires to be with God. Luke will go on to write in the Acts of the Apostles, “For God, who knows the human heart, has given them the Holy Spirit, just as he gave to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us” (Acts 15:8-9).
​
May we never forget, God’s story is this church’s story. In order to move forward, and to be compatible to Christ, you must resist the desire to separate yourselves from those either outside and inside the church. Instead you must stand united; welcoming and affirming all people with an open heart, being full of mercy and forgiveness.
 
With that said, I will close with the words of the Apostle Paul who said, “For in Christ Jesus we are all children of God. There is no longer Jew or Greek. There is no longer slave or free. There is no longer male or female. For all are one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:27-28).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Works Cited
Bible (NRSV). Jeremiah 31:1-3; Luke 18:9-14.
Bartlett, David L., Barbara Brown Taylor, ed. Feasting on the Word: Year C, Volume 4. Louisville: Westminser John Knox Press, 2010.
Bible. Jeremaih 31:1-3; Luke 18:9-14.
Francois, Willie Dwayne. "Living by the Word." Christian Century, 2016: 20.
Walters, Ron. Letters To Pastors. Santa Barbara: xulon press, 2008.

I tell you, these last few days have certainly flown by. It felt like ten minutes…under water! However, the week finally ended on two distinctly different notes; wonderful celebration for the life of K.C., and then off to Grand Ledge to officiate C.S.’s amazing wedding.   
 
As you can imagine, these were two completely different events, each with its own set of emotions. Along with the expected outpouring of love, there was also a sense of hope and promise; the very undertones of assurance that we find in Jeremiah 29:11,
 
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” 
 
This popular bible verse is often used to provide comforting words of promise. Whatever circumstances we face today, we know God has a plan to change our tomorrow. And that’s gotta make you feel good, right? To know God isn’t going to leave you out to dry… like a sheep among wolves.  

​But what happens when your plans and God’s plans don’t match up?
 
Let’s face it, no one plans for a child or spouse to pass away at such a young age. Instead we plan vacations, graduations, open houses, and holiday festivities.

Some brides plan weddings months, if not years, in advance. They might even go so far as to have a backup plan in case the weather changes. But nowhere in that plan is there a trip to the emergency room. I mean, come on, what bride would book the ICU to mark the most important day of her life? As we all know, things can radically change, for better or for worse.
 
Whenever I hear myself say to someone grieving,  “Well, I’m sure it’s part of God’s plan,” I shake my head wondering, “How I could believe such a thing?”
 
It seems so out of character for a loving God to have a “plan” that involves wiping out thousands in earthquakes and tsunamis, giving people cancer, parents losing children, car accidents, trauma, abuse, and all manner of pain and suffering. I don’t get it. To quote Benjamin Cory, “If every life event is being directed and controlled by God, then God is really bad at making plans.” (Cory 2016)
 
I’m not convinced God has a giant master calendar where everything that happens in life is divinely mapped out like a school schedule or a weekly dinner menu. In a world of such brokenness, this simply cannot be true. Because then it would seem like God is just passing the time by making bad stuff happen. Why would God do that?
I’m not saying God isn’t in control of all life, or that God hasn’t known me since I was knitted in my mother’s womb; the scriptures give us that assurance. But I find it hard to believe God’s plan is as sugary and sweet as we often make it out to be.
 
Jeremiah’s words do promise hope, but there is no promise that it’ll be easy. The promise is for your welfare, and no harm, but nowhere does it say you will be comfortable all the time. Real hope, as we learned last week, often comes through a tremendous amount of pain and suffering; the hardest part of faith. It’s cruel irony that our greatest strengths are mostly birthed from our darkest days.
 
But it’s in these tough times we rely more on God, and discover who we’re called to be. Whenever we casually comfort someone by saying, “It’s God’s plan,” we should also add, “So buckle up- it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
 
Too often we throw around Jeremiah’s words with false hope, expecting quick results. We do so because we often take his words out of context. Had we read the chapter before, we’d get a better sense of God’s promise to his people, and what it means to us today.
 
So here’s what you need to know. The Jewish people disobeyed God in every possible way, and as a direct result of that disobedience, God sent them into Babylonian exile. In chapter 28, there’s a theological throw-down between the prophet Jeremiah and another prophet named Hananiah, who claims God is going to restore Israel within two years.
 
This is about as realistic as any politician who promises to rebuild the economy or secure our country all by himself.  To the Jews, this certainly sounded good. And in the short term would make Hananiah very popular with the people who are suffering in captivity. But it wasn’t true. God told Jeremiah he had no plans to make everything better in two years.  Instead, it would be 70 years before relief would eventually come.
 
In chapter 29, Jeremiah writes a letter to the exiles, encouraging them to settle in, marry and bury, to plant vineyards, and to seek the prosperity of their current place. God had spoken. Restoration will come. Buckle up and have faith, it’s going to be a long and bumpy ride.
 
Chris Blumhofer argues that it’s not so much “a plan” that God makes, but a desire and will for us. In other words, whatever God wills, and whatever God desires to bring into reality, is always beautiful whether we know it or not. It gives our life, and the events within it, purpose and meaning. “It’s not that we would escape our lot, but that we would learn to thrive in the midst of whatever it is we are going through.” (DeMuth 2015)
 
I do not know why suffering is essential to who we are as people. But the word of God gives us promise and hope that God does not abandon us. God is with us through it all; not masterminding the events, but experiencing them with us. God’s relationship with us is personal and intimate. He cares for every intricate detail of our lives. Jesus said, “even the hairs on your head are numbered…” in my case, all six of them. 
 
Think about this in terms of where our church is today.  There is hope on the horizon; we just cannot plan on when it will come.  Instead we have to settle into our situation, and do the hard work of faith.  Too often, however, we want freedom, but we don’t want our exile to create it. We want to be strong in Jesus, but we don’t want to carry the cross he carried. We want healing without pain. 
 
But as we walk out our lives through this crazy earth, let us not forget that our most fruitful growth comes through persevering through trials, not escaping them entirely. As Jesus demonstrated on Calvary, before the wondrous beauty of the resurrection came the horrific brutality of the cross. 
 
Our faith in God through Jesus Christ offers us the hope-filled promise that something better is on the horizon. In spite of all the darkness in our lives, we must never lose sight of that light of hope and bright future that shines far beyond the parameters of this life. 
 
If “all scripture is divinely inspired by God,” as the Apostle writes in his letter to Timothy, then we have this assurance: that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day we reign with Christ Jesus forever and ever.
 
This is the good news! Life will be restored fully and completely, the way God intended since the beginning of creation. The resurrection was not an after thought. It was intentionally created for us, so that we could remain with God throughout eternity.  
 
God’s will was well-planned ahead, well in advance, to give us what we need to get us through the struggles we are bound to experience. Jeremiah’s letter tells us that in both sweet and difficult times, we are to search God with our whole hearts, and he will redeem and restore our fortunes, bringing us back to where we first came; his divine love.
 
As Henri Nouwen so prophetically claimed, “If we believe love comes from God, then love will return to God.  When we die, we will lose everything that life gave us except for that gift of love.” 
 
As you leave here today, remember the words that I gave to both the grieving family and the celebratory newlyweds, love is what binds us to God. Love is what binds us to one another. Love is the beginning and the end of life’s greatest plan.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Works CitedBible  Jeremiah 29:10-14; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.
Blumhofer, Chris. relevantmagazine.com. December 10, 2010.  (accessed October 13, 2016).
Cory, Benjamin. patheos.com. May 24, 2016.  (accessed October 13, 2016).
DeMuth, Mary. www.marydemuth.com . Sept 10, 2015.  (accessed Oct 13, 2016).

Okay, so now what? Is it safe to say this is the $65,000 question? “What are we going to do now?” If you know me well enough, and I think many of you do, then you know what my answer will be: Go to God.
 
Whenever I need an answer or have a problem that needs fixing, God is my go to guy. There’s no guilt in calling God in the middle of the night, or putting private information upon God’s shoulders. God is good at taking on that kind of stuff; faithful, loving, always ready to help.  
 
On NPR this week, there was a news story about combat veterans struggling to make the transition into civilian life. Their story begins on the Appalachian Trail, where many vets have gone to literally “walk the war” out of their system.

With the time and the space in nature to process everything they have gone through, these Warrior Hikers, as they call themselves, can safely shed the weight of war and stress of multiple deployments that can make them feel isolated and alone. I imagine this 2,100 mile journey is their spiritual wilderness, the very land between who they are… and who they wish to become. 

After enduring 450 years of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites go on a little walkabout themselves. While wandering around the Sinai desert, they too are in a period of transition. Caught between their past and their future, they too feel isolated, and alone. They struggle not only with fear, but also to find their own identity.  Like the Warrior Hikers, the Israelites had to take this rigorous physical and spiritual journey, in order to develop the strength they would need to move from slavery into becoming a mighty nation in the new Promised Land.
 
In his book, “The Land Between,” Jeff Manion writes about this historic trek and the transition they faced leaving Egypt. He argues that transitions provide our greatest opportunity for spiritual growth and that “God’s desire to meet you is most present in these times of chaos and emotional upheaval.”  And so, we go to God.
 
Moses and the Israelites knew going backwards was no longer an option. And yet they did not know how to go forwards. I’m sure Moses doesn’t have a clue what to do either, but he knew enough to tell his people not to worry, “The LORD will clear away these nations before you, little by little.” And God did just that. God is good in that way; faithful, loving and always ready to help. Little by little, God clears a way for us, too. Just as He moved his people through the land between, God continues to move us through these times when we feel directionless, and hopeless, isolated, trapped or alone.
 
The story of Israel teaches us, true growth rarely comes easy. There are always obstacles and oppositions to overcome. What we discover is, it’s moving through this process that makes us stronger, better prepared to receive God’s promised salvation.
 
Jesus’ own struggles give us strength and assurance that not even death can overcome us. And through these obstacles, Paul tells us to rejoice, and do not fear. God is in our midst, giving us his peace. By God’s grace and mercy given to us through Jesus Christ, we shed our past and walk towards our new future; little by little we become more complete, more at peace, and better equip to do God’s will.
 
Some of you might recall my first sermon, in which I spoke of the growth chart that is notched into the doorjamb of our kitchen back home. Each of our kid’s birthdays is mark with these little dashes that track their physical growth.  I remember thinking how much those little dashes looked like rungs on a ladder…each leading upward toward something greater.
When we moved to Greenville, we were given an oversized wooden ruler to continue this tradition. Well, today is Fiona’s 15th birthday. And yes, she got measured. Despite her best efforts, she’s barely grown a half of an inch since moving here two years ago.
 
Little by little however, she has become a giant in her own right. God has been hard at work, clearing the way for Fiona to overcome many difficult situations. These struggles, which I can identify with, have helped her better understand herself; who she was, and is today, and who she is destined to become.
 
Little by little God helped Fiona make the transition from an insecure, angry teenager to a caring and responsible young lady. I sense the same will be true here as this church faces a period of transition ahead. Thus I encourage you to go to God, give Him your fears, worries, and pain. God is good at taking care of stuff like this.
 
Whether we like or not, life is full of unwanted transitions; divorce, retirement, the loss of health and physical dependency, unemployment, foreclosure, and death; each one puts us in a place of uncertainty, often increasing our insecurity. We are all facing a truly challenging time. And the way this church responds to God’s purpose and plan, can and will result in deep, lasting growth. 

There are two things that are imperative for this church to do if it desires to grow in such a way. The first is to remain united, not divided.  Let God be the judge. Your job is to be the church, which means to remain one body in Christ’s love and peace. 
 
The second thing is this. Call an interim minister who is trained to help you take the necessary steps that will prepare this church for the Promised Land. This person can help you do the hard work necessary to discover who you really are, and who God has destined this church to be in this community.  
 
Little by little, God has put a vision and desire in your heart. But be mindful, because God will not eliminate all the opposition at once. Nor will God set you in your land of promise without taking you through the important experiences necessary to avoid this pain again.
 
These obstacles and oppositions you might experience could be people. But you might be surprised to discover they could also attitudes, mind-sets, circumstances, and relationships. God wants to build you up, strengthen you to be victorious in all situations. And this will take time and patience. Little by little, slow and steady as one might say.

As you leave here this morning, remember, “God’s desire to meet you is most present in these times of chaos and emotional upheaval.”  So go to God. And as you do, look to Jesus as your guide who takes you to him; walking you through the land between life and death and resurrection. And lastly, never forget the encouraging words of the Apostle Paul who tells us to celebrate God all day, and everyday, to rejoice in our hearts and in our faith, through all trials and tribulations.
 
Go to God in prayer.  And allow God to plant the peace of Christ Jesus into your hearts so that you can plant it in others. Little by little God’s love will take shape within you, and transform you to be truly faithful people of God…the very body of  Christ…the church that  does not worry,… but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made know to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Works Cited
Bible. Deuteronomy 7:22-26; Philippians 4:1-7.
Dowdy, Naomi. 4 Keys to How God Brings Transition. Sept 16, 2013. http://www.charismamag.com/life/women/10173-4-keys-to-how-god-brings-transition (accessed Oct 6, 2016).
Lawrence, Quil. On The Appalachian Trail, Combat Veterans Learn To Let Things Go. Oct 6, 2016. http://www.npr.org/2016/10/06/496826293 (accessed Oct 8, 2016).
Manion, Jeff. The Land Between: finding God in difficult transitions. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010.

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13; John 21:9-17

In Monday’s edition of the Daily News, the comic strip Pearls Before Swine ran a lampoon of our Presidential debates.  One of its characters, Rat (or in this particular case, Mr. Rat) has decided to run for president. The comic strip begins with Mr. Rat standing behind the podium, between the other two candidates.
 
The moderator asks him, “What do you hope that people will learn about you in the course of tonight’s debate?” Pointing to either side, he answers, “That I can lie as well as these two.” The moderator follows up with “So lying is now a virtue?” To which Rat replies, “Who said anything about lying?”  
 
Distorting the facts, or simply making them up for your advantage, seems to be the norm these days.  Now more than ever people, and especially politicians, are almost cavalier about it. It’s as if it doesn’t matter. And, in the case of politics, does it?
 
This November we can pretty much guess 48% of our country will vote Democrat, and 48% will vote Republican. If my math is correct, the fate of our country rests in the hands of roughly 4% of the population. To think that a small minority can have such an enormous impact on our lives.
 
If you find this information alarming, consider the entire mission of the church was entrusted to only a few, unqualified people. I believe that when Jesus handed his disciples the keys to the Kingdom, he did so knowing God would be doing all the heavy lifting. All they had to do was trust and remain faithful to God’s faithful Word.
 
God continues to put his faith in us, with all our brokenness and sin. And God still entrusts us to care for the fate of his church. The Good News, we don’t do it alone. God comes to us in his incarnate Word, Christ Jesus, and empowers us with the Holy Spirit to get the job done. God is in control, but still calls us out to do our part.
 
John’s gospel paints a beautiful picture of  such a calling. Lets return to chapter 21. The story really begins in verse four.  At daybreak on the beach, Jesus gathers around a fire with his disciples to eat breakfast for the last time.
 
Having grown up on a beach, I imagine Jesus looking out over the sea. The water is glassy and still, and the morning mist gives it an eerie calm. A light chill sneaks around in the silent breeze. Along the shoreline you can almost hear a slow, melodic heartbeat; the rhythm of small waves lapping upon the rocks and shells.
 
I like to imagine Jesus standing there barefoot. With the damp sand squishing between his toes, the resurrected Christ calls out to his disciples fishing about 100 yards offshore. In verse seven, (and children cover your ears) it is a very naked Simon Peter who first notices it is Jesus. Without hesitation, he immediately jumps overboard and rushes towards his friend. The others are quick follow.
 
By verse nine, where our reading began this morning, there are some subtleties we might overlook as we hurry to get to the moral of the story at the end. But with a close and careful read, we might see some amazing symbolism that gives us insight to the ways God works in our lives today.
 
First, lets step back and recall what Jesus is doing. He is waiting for his disciples to come home from work, which by the way isn’t going so well. Seeing this, Jesus intervenes. He helps them out by nudging them in the right direction. What does this say to you about how Jesus works in your life?
 
Here’s what I see.  Jesus is waiting for me by the celestial seaside. But while he waits, he’s guiding me and helping me to navigate the treacherous waters and the hard work he has called me to do. And so the first thing we learn is God is intentionally present in our lives; working and caring for our success.
 
But Jesus is doing more. He is not only helping but also preparing a charcoal fire for his friends’ breakfast. This mundane task is actually very interesting, and one of the keys to understanding the final scene where Jesus forgives Peter. In scripture, fire is the symbol of the Holy Spirit. You might recall it was a pillar of fire that led the children of Israel through the wilderness, and tongues of fire that leapt from the mouths of the disciple on the day of Pentecost.
 
But this is a particular kind of fire. It was not made with pieces of driftwood found along the beach. Jesus had to provide the materials himself. He had to carry the dirty, bulky charcoal with his own hands.  Now here’s an interesting fact I did not make up. There are only two places in the New Testament where we find a charcoal fire. Both are in John’s gospel.
 
The first time is in the courtyard of the high priest where Peter denies Jesus three times. The second is on the beach here, where Jesus redeems Peter three times for his betrayal, commissioning him to “feed my sheep.”  So we see that God is intentionally present in our lives, and his Spirit is always ready to redeem those who seek forgiveness.
 
The next clues might seem obvious. They are the fish and bread being prepared by the fire. Where have you seen these two before? When Jesus feeds the multitudes, right? Remember when ten’s of thousands of people gathered to hear Jesus speak and no one brought anything to snack on?
 
Jesus sends the disciples out to the people to gather what little food they had, a few fish and a couple loaves of bread. That’s barely enough for one family muchless 5,000 families. What happens next?
 
Jesus does the impossible, a miracle that, as far as I know, has never been replicated. The disciples witness first hand how God takes care of us, feeding our hunger with such great abundance that there’s enough left overs to feed the entire world their daily bread.  
 
Another interesting thing about this beach breakfast is Jesus doesn’t feed them his fish. Instead he instructs his disciples to bring theirs to him. Why is that? Did he not prepare enough? No. Does Jesus wants to see the results of their labor? Perhaps.  After all, he has called them to be fishers of people.   
Again, Peter is quick to respond. He runs to the net and hauls the bounty across the sand by himself. And although there were so many, 153 to be exact, the net did not break. What does this mean to us? That we too are called to be fishers of people? And one day we too will be accountable to Jesus?
 
I don’t know about you, but I have never brought 153 people to church. It’s hard enough to get my family here on time. But just as intimidating as our call might seem, we are given this assurance; the net of God is unbreakable.  God is intentionally present in our lives, always redeeming us and faithfully equipping us so that we can do the work he has called us to do.
 
Lastly, there is the beautiful symbolism of the bread.  Bread has a rich history in Israel’s past. From their exodus out of Egypt to Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness to the Last Supper, bread always symbolizes something greater than physical food. It represents God’s Word. The Bible states, “People do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” The Word of God is the Bread of Life.
 
In the beginning of John’s gospel, Jesus is described as the perfect embodiment of God’s Word.  And so when we see Jesus and bread together, we know we are being called to a heavenly feast were God’s words nourishes us and instructs us to love and serve God and one another.  
 
As the world gathers to partake in this holy feast, we are reminded that Jesus is the bread that is broken for all who seek to feast on God’s abundant life and salvation. Through Jesus, God is intentionally present in our life, always ready to redeem us, equip us, and feed us along the way.
 
Whatever your need is — relational, spiritual, physical, or emotional, — God is waiting for you, ready to take care of you.  God’s redeeming love transcends all our human brokenness and sin. It frees us from all our burdens, and fills us with all life.  God calls you and frees you for a purpose, which is to carry the bread of life out into the world where love is so desperately needed.
 
Recall the words Jesus says to Peter in the final verses, “If you love me, feed my lambs and tend to my sheep.” This is the most honest and honorable political act that still rings true today. Care for others. Do not be a wolf in sheep clothing, deceiving them for your advantage. For “Love is patient; love is kind; it is not envious, boastful, arrogant, or rude. It does not insist on its own way or rejoice in wrongdoing. Love rejoices in the truth.” The Word of God is love.
 
Today, we are called to God’s table to remember and receive the sacrifice that was made for us, and for our salvation. It is here we feast on God’s incarnate love and saving grace. As we celebrate Worldwide Communion Sunday, we do so with Christians from around the globe, and across a wide spectrum of denominations, political alliances, and socioeconomic levels. Today, at this table, we stand united, as one people; speaking one truth with one universal language, God’s love.
 
We are diverse and different, but together we share the same bread and cup, a meal prepared for us by Jesus Christ our Lord. This is his body broken and his blood spilt; the symbolic reminder of God’s abundant love that is calling out to you.  Come to this feast, not because you have to, but because you want to.  This is God’s table. There is enough for everybody, no one will be sent away hungry.