Job 4:1-21 thru 5:1 Job part 2 Sermon title - friendly advice
Job the series
Today - Job gets bad advice
These lines from the bible must be understood in their context
This friend’s msg is –
It’s your fault you’re suffering. - You deserve it. - Implied by
It’s for you own good. - It’ll make you a better person. - Eliphaz in 5:17ff
It’ll pass. Eventually you’ll be fine. - Eliphaz in v. 22
These responses aren’t really about Job, they are about Eliphaz and they hurt.
What is the msg of the other friends
Bildad – your children died because of their sin
You have been evil. Repent and you will be restored
Zophar -you are not as righteous as you think
Turn from evil
Job you are so arrogant that I am upset with your arguments
God will expose your wickedness
Everyone will suffer in their life
The loss of a pet
The loss of a parent
Financial problems, fear, worry, illness
God forbid, the loss of those before their time
I don’t understand life
We don’t like it- we want to understand it
No- we want it to go away
So we human beings tend to look for easy answers
Sometimes we gravitate to charismatic leaders who seem to have all the answers
We want answers
We want them easy
We are uncomfortable with not knowing
We are uncomfortable with being uncomfortable
We all hope for a Christian faith that does not have a cross
We are uncomfortable with the mystery of life. With the mystery of God
Many of us humans are “fixers”. Got a problem? No problem. We got a solution!
Good when you have a flat tire. Good when you have a leak in the roof.
When you are hurting…not so good.
Ministry of Fixing is not always helpful.
Telling can be hurtful.
Denial can be hurtful.
Advising can be hurtful.
Some typical human easy answers…………
Or what not to say
The New York Times, December 7, 1999.
• To a man whose elderly mother died: Oh, well, she was 79.
• To a 60-year-old recent widow: Don't worry. You're young and attractive; you'll find someone else.
• To a woman whose husband died of lung cancer: You have to meet this man. His wife also died of lung cancer.
• To a man whose 26-year-old daughter died of AIDS: If she hadn't been that way, God wouldn't have struck her dead with AIDS, and It was just a purification thing.
• To a woman who suffered a miscarriage: It is probably for the best.
• To a woman whose 25-year-old son was killed: At least you have four other children.
Things that I have personally heard – not helpful
I know how you feel
Don’t cry
Time heals all wounds
God doesn’t put more on us than we can take
it must have been their time/ Everything happens for a reason/It was god’s will
Having said that, here are some things that I say to you now:
DO SAY:
I am sorry
___________ was a good person and friend of mine. I will miss him or her.
We love you we care for you
Tell me how I can help; I want to be here for you
I stand with you.
Engage in The ministry of presence
Ministry of Presence is sometimes (most times) what’s needed.
Silence = just being with the person
I know you want to talk, but its ok, not to…….
Silence acknowledges there aren’t easy answers.
Validation = I love you and I stand with you
acknowledges the sufferers feelings
is not encouraging anyone to wallow in self-pity.
is accepting the sufferer’s response as their response.
Support = offering what’s needed when it’s needed
Is not fixing it -it is not providing your solution.
Support is waiting for the sufferer to ask for help.
engage in the ministry of comfort
God takes a hand whenever he can find it
• The pastor takes someone’s hand to pray for them
• the hand of a doctor to relieve the pain,
• the hand of a mother to guide a child.
• The hand of any of us to comfort to a neighbor.
They’re all hands touched by his Spirit, and his Spirit's everywhere lookin' for hands to use.
Do not doubt the value of your presence, of your touch
The comfort that we deliver – Food – kindness
Understand that your acts of comfort are very very important.
Be there
Hug them
Tell them that you love them and you stand with them
Pray for them
The end –
9-11 remembering prayer time
transition
Ten years ago the worst and best of humanity was revealed. – who do you want to be?
Trust god
Seek to be Resilient. Seek restoration with all of God’s children.
Love your neighbor
This is the message of our faith.
Lets take a few moments now as tom and lisa sing to remember our country, our heroes, those who lost their lives, and our God who comforts and sustains us.
Showing posts with label Sept 11. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sept 11. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Sermon "On 9-11" 1 Corinthians 2 9-10-06
Sermon “on 9-11” 1 Cor 2
1 Corinthians 2 1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
On September 10th 2001
We thought about families, jobs and friends. We were the only superpower in the world and we were at peace. I spent the evening with Gary Glenn, throwing darts and telling stories, talking about life and the fact that he & susan would be leading our church council dream team in the coming year….no worries mate.
The next morning we were all stunned to see the planes being crashed into the pentagon and the world trade center
Letting scott go to school before I told him about what was happening One more normal day
Calling my dad…………what he said Him being in church
The morning of Sept 11 broke up our little Pollyanna world
· People brought tv’s to work.
· People rushed to churches
· The professional football was cancelled
· We felt threatened and vulnerable
· Lots of emails about the church and sermon
· We focused on what was important
All of this waned in a short time
1020/850/700 in church during that time…….
August 19, 2001 43 66 278 171 558
August 26, 2001 42 86 312 208 648
September 2, 2001 41 79 306 214 640
September 9, 2001 80 62 300 170 612
September 16, 01 50 98 533 367 1048 your 1st Sunday was
September 23, 2001 120 80 442 206 848
September 30, 2001 40 84 332 276 732 [avg for year = 717]
One year anniversary-prayer meeting
Behavior of politicians….how all the politicians stood together and loved each other for a few weeks…………….now look at them…………
9-11-06 tomorrow the world will awaken to a deafening number of moments of silence. Thousands of internal clocks will whisper “remember” at 846 and 902am. The global calendar & our hearts are forever engraved by these events
Random thoughts for today, and tomorrow …..
1. As I look back on the sermons of 5 years ago
I was worried that I would find sermons with militant thoughts……….
But what I said to you was better than what I was thinking….
gut wrenching sermon prep……..
feeling at this anniv the same feelings of anger and resentment…..
2. pictures…..showing pictures Not opposed to looking at the pictures….I want to remember….not going to show them in church……..
3. hatred……there is a lot of hate in the world….let us not be among them
is there a difference in the christian faith?
[I have not always handled this topic well]
4. security……Security lies not in the absense of turmoil war or danger, but is found in the presence of God
5. life…Life cannot be measured by one day…..life should be measured, every day
6.time….One person wrote….Sept 11th left me with a sense of finite time…I want the people that I love to know how important they are to me……
7. tension…..This reminds me of the years of the cold war
Max Lucato……lets go back to Normal
Do We Want To Go Back To Normal?Four thousand gathered for mid-day prayer in a downtown cathedral. A New York City church, filled and emptied six times last Tuesday. The owner of a Manhattan tennis shoe store threw open his doors and gave running shoes to those fleeing the towers. People stood in lines to give blood, in hospitals to treat the sick, in sanctuaries to pray for the wounded.America was different this week. We wept for people we did not know. We sent money to families we've never seen. Talk-show hosts read Scriptures, journalists printed prayers. Our focus shifted from fashion hemlines and box scores to orphans and widows and the future of the world.We were different this week. Republicans stood next to Democrats. Catholics prayed with Jews. Skin color was covered by the ash of burning towers. This is a different country than it was a week ago.We're not as self-centered as we were. We're not as self-reliant as we were. Hands are out. Knees are bent. This is not normal. And I have to ask the question, "Do we want to go back to normal?"Are we being given a glimpse of a new way of life? Are we, as a nation, being reminded that the enemy is not each other and the power is not in ourselves and the future is not in our bank accounts?Could this unselfish prayerfulness be the way God intended for us to live all along? Maybe this, in his eyes, is the way we are called to live. And, perhaps the best response to this tragedy is to refuse to go back to normal.
There is a song
You can talk about world conditions, you can talk about all that’s gone wrong, you can state your views and positions ---But Im gonna sing me a song
So lets talk about Jesus Christ………the primacy of Christ [script here]
The church is not the answer
Mom and dad….pray, go to church, read bible, give your money….all is well
Vindictive hatefulness is not the answer
there may be a time for peace and a time for war............
that is not the business that I am in..........
I am in the business of helping people find hope in God thru jesus christ
that is more important
it is so easy to get distracted, to get “off purpose” [scripture here]
on 911 people were not calling the name of george bush or bill clinton
not harry reid or teddy kennedy or nancy pelosi...not bill frist, john mccain
not bill oreilly or alan combs or sean hannity or even Dave ramsey
but there is a name that they were callling on......……………..jesus christ
in a time of trouble I hear these words……
seek the lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
Give me Jesus…………
1 Corinthians 2 1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
On September 10th 2001
We thought about families, jobs and friends. We were the only superpower in the world and we were at peace. I spent the evening with Gary Glenn, throwing darts and telling stories, talking about life and the fact that he & susan would be leading our church council dream team in the coming year….no worries mate.
The next morning we were all stunned to see the planes being crashed into the pentagon and the world trade center
Letting scott go to school before I told him about what was happening One more normal day
Calling my dad…………what he said Him being in church
The morning of Sept 11 broke up our little Pollyanna world
· People brought tv’s to work.
· People rushed to churches
· The professional football was cancelled
· We felt threatened and vulnerable
· Lots of emails about the church and sermon
· We focused on what was important
All of this waned in a short time
1020/850/700 in church during that time…….
August 19, 2001 43 66 278 171 558
August 26, 2001 42 86 312 208 648
September 2, 2001 41 79 306 214 640
September 9, 2001 80 62 300 170 612
September 16, 01 50 98 533 367 1048 your 1st Sunday was
September 23, 2001 120 80 442 206 848
September 30, 2001 40 84 332 276 732 [avg for year = 717]
One year anniversary-prayer meeting
Behavior of politicians….how all the politicians stood together and loved each other for a few weeks…………….now look at them…………
9-11-06 tomorrow the world will awaken to a deafening number of moments of silence. Thousands of internal clocks will whisper “remember” at 846 and 902am. The global calendar & our hearts are forever engraved by these events
Random thoughts for today, and tomorrow …..
1. As I look back on the sermons of 5 years ago
I was worried that I would find sermons with militant thoughts……….
But what I said to you was better than what I was thinking….
gut wrenching sermon prep……..
feeling at this anniv the same feelings of anger and resentment…..
2. pictures…..showing pictures Not opposed to looking at the pictures….I want to remember….not going to show them in church……..
3. hatred……there is a lot of hate in the world….let us not be among them
is there a difference in the christian faith?
[I have not always handled this topic well]
4. security……Security lies not in the absense of turmoil war or danger, but is found in the presence of God
5. life…Life cannot be measured by one day…..life should be measured, every day
6.time….One person wrote….Sept 11th left me with a sense of finite time…I want the people that I love to know how important they are to me……
7. tension…..This reminds me of the years of the cold war
Max Lucato……lets go back to Normal
Do We Want To Go Back To Normal?Four thousand gathered for mid-day prayer in a downtown cathedral. A New York City church, filled and emptied six times last Tuesday. The owner of a Manhattan tennis shoe store threw open his doors and gave running shoes to those fleeing the towers. People stood in lines to give blood, in hospitals to treat the sick, in sanctuaries to pray for the wounded.America was different this week. We wept for people we did not know. We sent money to families we've never seen. Talk-show hosts read Scriptures, journalists printed prayers. Our focus shifted from fashion hemlines and box scores to orphans and widows and the future of the world.We were different this week. Republicans stood next to Democrats. Catholics prayed with Jews. Skin color was covered by the ash of burning towers. This is a different country than it was a week ago.We're not as self-centered as we were. We're not as self-reliant as we were. Hands are out. Knees are bent. This is not normal. And I have to ask the question, "Do we want to go back to normal?"Are we being given a glimpse of a new way of life? Are we, as a nation, being reminded that the enemy is not each other and the power is not in ourselves and the future is not in our bank accounts?Could this unselfish prayerfulness be the way God intended for us to live all along? Maybe this, in his eyes, is the way we are called to live. And, perhaps the best response to this tragedy is to refuse to go back to normal.
There is a song
You can talk about world conditions, you can talk about all that’s gone wrong, you can state your views and positions ---But Im gonna sing me a song
So lets talk about Jesus Christ………the primacy of Christ [script here]
The church is not the answer
Mom and dad….pray, go to church, read bible, give your money….all is well
Vindictive hatefulness is not the answer
there may be a time for peace and a time for war............
that is not the business that I am in..........
I am in the business of helping people find hope in God thru jesus christ
that is more important
it is so easy to get distracted, to get “off purpose” [scripture here]
on 911 people were not calling the name of george bush or bill clinton
not harry reid or teddy kennedy or nancy pelosi...not bill frist, john mccain
not bill oreilly or alan combs or sean hannity or even Dave ramsey
but there is a name that they were callling on......……………..jesus christ
in a time of trouble I hear these words……
seek the lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.
Give me Jesus…………
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Resentment Hebrews 12:15 9-14-03
Sermon 9-14-03 Hebrews 12:15
Pictures of resentment
Terrorists attack your country
Someone cheats you out of your business
Someone else wishes their ex would die
One person cannot get past the color of the skin of another person
a muslim hates Christians
a christian hates muslims
What is growing in you?
Roots
John cundiff….nature will fill the gaps on unimproved dirt
Plant the good stuff or the weeds will show up and take root
p-ulled weeds on labor day
tap root,///woven web of water grass mess
Scripture today….Bitter root, brings bitter fruit
For you, for others
Spreading qualities of roots…..
Needs to be extracted
soil dry roots break off
soil is wet, the root comes out
Water of the holy spirit is soothing
Forgiving does not mean that you empty the prison
It does not mean that you have them over for dinner.
It doesn’t mean that the child is not grounded
Sin of essau…..birthright for a morsel of food
Sought repentance, nothing changed
This is God’s idea not mine.
If we cannot learn to forgive others,
how sure can we be that God will forgive us when we ask him
I have enough regrets, I refuse to hold a grudge
Failing of Gods grace……
Learn to see them as God sees them
-arab Israeli story
-1941 germans in Russia story
You cant hate them and pray for them
Lamaze Try using the Lamaze technique with those who are persecuting you. Concentrate on something else so that you block the pain; work on a focal point; direct your concentration on someone who is bringing you joy in your life at that moment; allow no room in your consciousness for the pain and hurt and resentment.
Two Wolves….An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life........ He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and, it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil—he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, resentment, ego and hatred. The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, generosity, faith and forgiveness. This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.” They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
What are you focusing on?
What are you feeding?
What is growing in you?
Pictures of resentment
Terrorists attack your country
Someone cheats you out of your business
Someone else wishes their ex would die
One person cannot get past the color of the skin of another person
a muslim hates Christians
a christian hates muslims
What is growing in you?
Roots
John cundiff….nature will fill the gaps on unimproved dirt
Plant the good stuff or the weeds will show up and take root
p-ulled weeds on labor day
tap root,///woven web of water grass mess
Scripture today….Bitter root, brings bitter fruit
For you, for others
Spreading qualities of roots…..
Needs to be extracted
soil dry roots break off
soil is wet, the root comes out
Water of the holy spirit is soothing
Forgiving does not mean that you empty the prison
It does not mean that you have them over for dinner.
It doesn’t mean that the child is not grounded
Sin of essau…..birthright for a morsel of food
Sought repentance, nothing changed
This is God’s idea not mine.
If we cannot learn to forgive others,
how sure can we be that God will forgive us when we ask him
I have enough regrets, I refuse to hold a grudge
Failing of Gods grace……
Learn to see them as God sees them
-arab Israeli story
-1941 germans in Russia story
You cant hate them and pray for them
Lamaze Try using the Lamaze technique with those who are persecuting you. Concentrate on something else so that you block the pain; work on a focal point; direct your concentration on someone who is bringing you joy in your life at that moment; allow no room in your consciousness for the pain and hurt and resentment.
Two Wolves….An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life........ He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and, it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil—he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, resentment, ego and hatred. The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, generosity, faith and forgiveness. This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.” They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
What are you focusing on?
What are you feeding?
What is growing in you?
Healing 9-11-02
Sermon 9-11-02
Our national alert level was raised yesterday.
I went to bed as I have many times the last year with forboding.
The past 12 months have brought that
Fear, anger, frustration, grief
Lost landmarks, lost lives, lost security, lost innocence
It is not surprising that many would say, “where is your God?”
Those who did not know the psalmists God wondered where he was.
Many today who do not know your God wonder where he has been in the last year.
We have seen great evil
We learned that in some corners, Americans are hated
There are some in this world that would just as soon kill you as have you be at this church tonight
We have learned that challenge belongs not just to those of the depression era or to those who sacrificed during WW2, but challenge has come to our generation as well.
I have learned that in my own strength Im ill prepared to face challenge
In the face of challenge, in the face of grief, I must we must remember that we do not face these things alone.
There is an edge on life that was not here 12 months ago
I seek with impunity the rock that is higher than I
Just as the deer thirsts for water so my soul longs after the living God
In him we find hope
Did anyone see the sunrise this morning? Beautiful. I called my children to see it
For every dark night there is always a sunrise
For those who put their faith in Jesus, there is a sunrise to the darkness of sept 11
I have felt anger/resentment return
Max Lucado..taxi driver….I keep getting glost. I could always look up at the towers and get my bearings. I cant do that anymore.
How do you get your bearings? What is your life compass?
Fr. Vincent Biagi, , A catholic priest from NYC very eloquently articulated the compass of a Christian under such circumstances…..
"...We cannot let this madman who caused this tragedy...change our hearts. We cannot give them this power over us. It would make their victory all too complete, and then they will have really won.
"Jesus does not reveal to us any rational solution to the problem of evil; He does not explain why there is evil in the world, but Jesus does reveal to us that evil is not ultimate -- love is; that death does not have the final word -- life does. And so we live not dominated by fear, but filled by hope and the expectation of life. As followers of Jesus we do not deny evil nor attempt to minimize its power, but we do not despair over evil and give in to it, for we believe in the power of love which Jesus proclaimed."
We gather to remember, to think back, to recollect, to memorialize to analyze and to pledge that we will never forget. But as Christians, we do not gather to simply remember an event from the past, our approach is different. Remembrance in the Christians sense means recalling an event in a way that it effects the present and the future. Jesus said remember me.
We look back, not simply to recall, but to allow the event to help us connect with our Lord in a way that today and tomorrow are better. We love and care about one another in the name of Christ.
We heal as a community
We find hope in jesus
How has your faith grown as a result of these events…
How have you found hope in God
How has this event effected your relationship with God?
Our national alert level was raised yesterday.
I went to bed as I have many times the last year with forboding.
The past 12 months have brought that
Fear, anger, frustration, grief
Lost landmarks, lost lives, lost security, lost innocence
It is not surprising that many would say, “where is your God?”
Those who did not know the psalmists God wondered where he was.
Many today who do not know your God wonder where he has been in the last year.
We have seen great evil
We learned that in some corners, Americans are hated
There are some in this world that would just as soon kill you as have you be at this church tonight
We have learned that challenge belongs not just to those of the depression era or to those who sacrificed during WW2, but challenge has come to our generation as well.
I have learned that in my own strength Im ill prepared to face challenge
In the face of challenge, in the face of grief, I must we must remember that we do not face these things alone.
There is an edge on life that was not here 12 months ago
I seek with impunity the rock that is higher than I
Just as the deer thirsts for water so my soul longs after the living God
In him we find hope
Did anyone see the sunrise this morning? Beautiful. I called my children to see it
For every dark night there is always a sunrise
For those who put their faith in Jesus, there is a sunrise to the darkness of sept 11
I have felt anger/resentment return
Max Lucado..taxi driver….I keep getting glost. I could always look up at the towers and get my bearings. I cant do that anymore.
How do you get your bearings? What is your life compass?
Fr. Vincent Biagi, , A catholic priest from NYC very eloquently articulated the compass of a Christian under such circumstances…..
"...We cannot let this madman who caused this tragedy...change our hearts. We cannot give them this power over us. It would make their victory all too complete, and then they will have really won.
"Jesus does not reveal to us any rational solution to the problem of evil; He does not explain why there is evil in the world, but Jesus does reveal to us that evil is not ultimate -- love is; that death does not have the final word -- life does. And so we live not dominated by fear, but filled by hope and the expectation of life. As followers of Jesus we do not deny evil nor attempt to minimize its power, but we do not despair over evil and give in to it, for we believe in the power of love which Jesus proclaimed."
We gather to remember, to think back, to recollect, to memorialize to analyze and to pledge that we will never forget. But as Christians, we do not gather to simply remember an event from the past, our approach is different. Remembrance in the Christians sense means recalling an event in a way that it effects the present and the future. Jesus said remember me.
We look back, not simply to recall, but to allow the event to help us connect with our Lord in a way that today and tomorrow are better. We love and care about one another in the name of Christ.
We heal as a community
We find hope in jesus
How has your faith grown as a result of these events…
How have you found hope in God
How has this event effected your relationship with God?
A Wound That Won't Heal Mark 5 9-8-02
Sermon 9-8-02 Mark 5
Dad and pearl harbor…a wound that would not heal
I never understood
Today, I understand about wounds that won’t heal
The woman had been sick for 12 years
She had tried all the doctors, nothing had worked
We have them [wounds that wont heal]
Divorce, death, loneliness, abuse, rejection, financial ruin
For all of us, sept 11 is a wound that will not heal
We have tried the doctors…..
Ignoring it, talking to everyone, addicted to the news, get back into life
None of these heal the wound
On sept 10 I sat with a friend…..last normal day of my life
On sept 11 I woke up….watched it on tv
Let scott go to school
Took a tv to work, many tvs in the office that day
Went to the sanctuary….prayed…” “
Called my dad….
Today I want to tell you I don’t know the answers
Is it over in Afghanistan….should we go into iraq
How big is the problem
Hate is a very big problem
But I have found a place to go….
The woman pressed thru, reached out for jesus…..power went out
She was healed, her suffering ended
Frank Silechia a rescue worker at the world trade center came upon this cross….”digging at ground zero was the hardest work I’d ever done. But in front of that cross I always felt my strength renewed
Today we too can press thru the, touch Jesus…power will still go out
We can be healed
There is a balm in GileadTo make the wounded whole;There is a balm in GileadTo heal the sin sicksoul.
1.Sometimes I feel discouraged,And think my work's in vain,But then the Holy SpiritRevives my soul again.
2.Don't ever feel discouraged,for Jesus is your friend,and if you look for knowledgehe'll ne'er refuse to lend.
3.If you can't preach like Peter,If you can't pray like Paul,Just tell the love of Jesus,And say He died for all.
If ever these words are true…
Isaiah 551 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;
Matthew 11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Prayer time
Til the storm passes over
Dad and pearl harbor…a wound that would not heal
I never understood
Today, I understand about wounds that won’t heal
The woman had been sick for 12 years
She had tried all the doctors, nothing had worked
We have them [wounds that wont heal]
Divorce, death, loneliness, abuse, rejection, financial ruin
For all of us, sept 11 is a wound that will not heal
We have tried the doctors…..
Ignoring it, talking to everyone, addicted to the news, get back into life
None of these heal the wound
On sept 10 I sat with a friend…..last normal day of my life
On sept 11 I woke up….watched it on tv
Let scott go to school
Took a tv to work, many tvs in the office that day
Went to the sanctuary….prayed…” “
Called my dad….
Today I want to tell you I don’t know the answers
Is it over in Afghanistan….should we go into iraq
How big is the problem
Hate is a very big problem
But I have found a place to go….
The woman pressed thru, reached out for jesus…..power went out
She was healed, her suffering ended
Frank Silechia a rescue worker at the world trade center came upon this cross….”digging at ground zero was the hardest work I’d ever done. But in front of that cross I always felt my strength renewed
Today we too can press thru the, touch Jesus…power will still go out
We can be healed
There is a balm in GileadTo make the wounded whole;There is a balm in GileadTo heal the sin sicksoul.
1.Sometimes I feel discouraged,And think my work's in vain,But then the Holy SpiritRevives my soul again.
2.Don't ever feel discouraged,for Jesus is your friend,and if you look for knowledgehe'll ne'er refuse to lend.
3.If you can't preach like Peter,If you can't pray like Paul,Just tell the love of Jesus,And say He died for all.
If ever these words are true…
Isaiah 551 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;
Matthew 11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Prayer time
Til the storm passes over
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
After 9-11 Psalm 9-16-01
Sermon Psalm 91 9-16-01
America was founded by those who sought to worship the god of love
We learned some things this week
1. Some people hate America
Because of our freedom, love, and strength. In some cases because our faith is different than theirs
2. Faith in Christ is more impt than athletic events
3. Americans will pull together
Wal-Mart, pledge of allegiance Wednesday night [people stopped shopping to say the pledge]
We already feel a greater bonding to one another
We already feel and understand the need to put Christ first
4. We learned that it was time to grow up
Pollyanna world is gone
Our children are resilient, we will lead them
Our children will rise from this because we will rise from our lethargy as parents and we will teach character, perseverance, sacrifice and resolve
A 12 year old shared the following with me
I have taken advantage of many things in my life and we have all taken advantage of this country. Today was the worst thing that ever happened in my life that I could actually understand. It makes me mad because so many people died. I almost wanted to run away and pray for all the people. When I went to the prayer service for them [earlier tonight] I cried so hard and it felt like my heart was being ripped out. This is exactly how I felt the first time I really understood what Jesus did for us. I cried my eyes out. I wish that this had never happened, but since it did I wish that we could find out who did this and find out why. When I first found out about it at school I didn’t understand until Mr. Spaulding explained it. When everyone heard about it they started crying. In school it put a big bruise on my heart. When I got on the bus everyone was crying and praying.
I hope who ever did this knows how much it has hurt my family, my friends, my country and me, but we will not give up. United we stand, divided we fall. America is one nation. God will help us. You must believe.
Transition
Part of Growing up is taking responsibility for human evil
1. This is not the 2nd coming; columbine wasnt Pearl Harbor was not
The issue of the second coming is irrelevant. No one should come to Christ because of fear. The day and time of the second coming is irrelevant to Christians because if you are ready, it doesn’t matter when it happens.
2. Falwell/Robertson America did something wrong, God is judging us
They say we forgot God.
Did you forget God? I did not. This is not an act of God it is an act of evil men
Did we do something wrong??? No….well, I can think of one thing
We chose to be great
We chose to be a place where freedom rings, where all people are welcome, where love casts out fear. This greatness is hated by others and opened the door even to those who would harm us. But we can never leave our dream of greatness and settle for mediocrity.
God's relationship with America is this….time to recommit
I always wished that people would show more respect for their faith and for the Lord. I am sorry that it may have took this to bring it to pass.
With that in mind at the Service this Saturday
I will focus on accepting Christ, renewing your commitment to him and following him in baptism. If you are interested in this, please be present this Saturday night.
Transition
Friends, as you know, there is going to be a response
I hope that it is not massive/But I am sure it will be comprehensive
Missiles, smart, bombs, troops on the ground, bank accounts frozen, borders closed, no fly zones, naval blockades, oil cut off
I have a question…how can a Christian mix
Turn the other cheek with the response that is surely coming
1. In a civilized world we do not let murderers go free
Jesus threw out the moneychangers
We do not let charles Manson out of prision because we are forgiving
We are no less Christian if we stand for what is right
But, we would certainly be less Christian if we allowed them to take over
2. Remember that this is not about personal vengeance,
That would make us just like them
We must not allow recriminations against people who may look like the enemy
As a community of faith, wcc will not tolerate it
3. This is not and cannot be about national vengeance
But about keeping the world a place where freedom rings, where God is glorified
We did not fight Japan, Germany or Vietnam because we wanted to hurt Japanese, Germans or Vietnamese. We did not do it to get even. We did it because we perceived that there was an evil in the world that we had to push out
4. If we don’t stop this, there will be more
Unchecked evil has a way of growing. Would you stand for someone walking down the isle of the church with a gun? Would you allow them to do what ever they wanted in the name of turn the other cheek?
I don’t want to have to be afraid when I go to Pizza hut
Our children/grandchildren yet unborn deserve the right to live w/o fear
Afghans have said…it will be a holy war. Friends, It already is
Not just an attack on America, but upon civilization itself, on the Christian faith
These extremists would end our society as we know it. End our freedoms and close our churches. We cannot give the world over to those who hate.
Possible medal of freedom for the Passengers on fl 93 in Pennsylvania
1st in line of many to stand against this evil
In the coming days, at a day and time of our choosing, men and women from this nation will join with those from around the world in launching a comprehensive effort to insure that the values of our culture will be passed on to coming generations, and will be available for all mankind. We must, and we will unite. We can no longer be consumed by the petty differences of the past. We are fighting for our right to exist in this world as a free and Christian people. To give the world over to those who hate would not be glorifying to God, so in the days ahead may God bless our resolve, that we may declare with one voice that we will not let our values go quietly into the night.
Commitment- I am asking the woods chapel church to be there
Give blood, ration gas if needed, sign up to go if needed, teach Sunday school, help members and friends in the reserves, comfort those who mourn. I am placing you on alert. This community needs us to be the church as never before.
Conclusion
Some of this hurts, it sounds nasty, hard. It is nasty.
This is not a time for panic or anger, but for reason and calm
Remember, If we have god we have everything
We will continue to lift up the God who cares
We will continue to lift up the name of Jesus
Pray that those who hate will learn to love, that they will find Christ
Pray that God will comfort those who mourn
Pray that he will guide our president
Pray that we can live as responsible stewards of this world
Let us bond together in the love of Christ
Let us find guidance; let us find shelter in the shadow of his wings
America was founded by those who sought to worship the god of love
We learned some things this week
1. Some people hate America
Because of our freedom, love, and strength. In some cases because our faith is different than theirs
2. Faith in Christ is more impt than athletic events
3. Americans will pull together
Wal-Mart, pledge of allegiance Wednesday night [people stopped shopping to say the pledge]
We already feel a greater bonding to one another
We already feel and understand the need to put Christ first
4. We learned that it was time to grow up
Pollyanna world is gone
Our children are resilient, we will lead them
Our children will rise from this because we will rise from our lethargy as parents and we will teach character, perseverance, sacrifice and resolve
A 12 year old shared the following with me
I have taken advantage of many things in my life and we have all taken advantage of this country. Today was the worst thing that ever happened in my life that I could actually understand. It makes me mad because so many people died. I almost wanted to run away and pray for all the people. When I went to the prayer service for them [earlier tonight] I cried so hard and it felt like my heart was being ripped out. This is exactly how I felt the first time I really understood what Jesus did for us. I cried my eyes out. I wish that this had never happened, but since it did I wish that we could find out who did this and find out why. When I first found out about it at school I didn’t understand until Mr. Spaulding explained it. When everyone heard about it they started crying. In school it put a big bruise on my heart. When I got on the bus everyone was crying and praying.
I hope who ever did this knows how much it has hurt my family, my friends, my country and me, but we will not give up. United we stand, divided we fall. America is one nation. God will help us. You must believe.
Transition
Part of Growing up is taking responsibility for human evil
1. This is not the 2nd coming; columbine wasnt Pearl Harbor was not
The issue of the second coming is irrelevant. No one should come to Christ because of fear. The day and time of the second coming is irrelevant to Christians because if you are ready, it doesn’t matter when it happens.
2. Falwell/Robertson America did something wrong, God is judging us
They say we forgot God.
Did you forget God? I did not. This is not an act of God it is an act of evil men
Did we do something wrong??? No….well, I can think of one thing
We chose to be great
We chose to be a place where freedom rings, where all people are welcome, where love casts out fear. This greatness is hated by others and opened the door even to those who would harm us. But we can never leave our dream of greatness and settle for mediocrity.
God's relationship with America is this….time to recommit
I always wished that people would show more respect for their faith and for the Lord. I am sorry that it may have took this to bring it to pass.
With that in mind at the Service this Saturday
I will focus on accepting Christ, renewing your commitment to him and following him in baptism. If you are interested in this, please be present this Saturday night.
Transition
Friends, as you know, there is going to be a response
I hope that it is not massive/But I am sure it will be comprehensive
Missiles, smart, bombs, troops on the ground, bank accounts frozen, borders closed, no fly zones, naval blockades, oil cut off
I have a question…how can a Christian mix
Turn the other cheek with the response that is surely coming
1. In a civilized world we do not let murderers go free
Jesus threw out the moneychangers
We do not let charles Manson out of prision because we are forgiving
We are no less Christian if we stand for what is right
But, we would certainly be less Christian if we allowed them to take over
2. Remember that this is not about personal vengeance,
That would make us just like them
We must not allow recriminations against people who may look like the enemy
As a community of faith, wcc will not tolerate it
3. This is not and cannot be about national vengeance
But about keeping the world a place where freedom rings, where God is glorified
We did not fight Japan, Germany or Vietnam because we wanted to hurt Japanese, Germans or Vietnamese. We did not do it to get even. We did it because we perceived that there was an evil in the world that we had to push out
4. If we don’t stop this, there will be more
Unchecked evil has a way of growing. Would you stand for someone walking down the isle of the church with a gun? Would you allow them to do what ever they wanted in the name of turn the other cheek?
I don’t want to have to be afraid when I go to Pizza hut
Our children/grandchildren yet unborn deserve the right to live w/o fear
Afghans have said…it will be a holy war. Friends, It already is
Not just an attack on America, but upon civilization itself, on the Christian faith
These extremists would end our society as we know it. End our freedoms and close our churches. We cannot give the world over to those who hate.
Possible medal of freedom for the Passengers on fl 93 in Pennsylvania
1st in line of many to stand against this evil
In the coming days, at a day and time of our choosing, men and women from this nation will join with those from around the world in launching a comprehensive effort to insure that the values of our culture will be passed on to coming generations, and will be available for all mankind. We must, and we will unite. We can no longer be consumed by the petty differences of the past. We are fighting for our right to exist in this world as a free and Christian people. To give the world over to those who hate would not be glorifying to God, so in the days ahead may God bless our resolve, that we may declare with one voice that we will not let our values go quietly into the night.
Commitment- I am asking the woods chapel church to be there
Give blood, ration gas if needed, sign up to go if needed, teach Sunday school, help members and friends in the reserves, comfort those who mourn. I am placing you on alert. This community needs us to be the church as never before.
Conclusion
Some of this hurts, it sounds nasty, hard. It is nasty.
This is not a time for panic or anger, but for reason and calm
Remember, If we have god we have everything
We will continue to lift up the God who cares
We will continue to lift up the name of Jesus
Pray that those who hate will learn to love, that they will find Christ
Pray that God will comfort those who mourn
Pray that he will guide our president
Pray that we can live as responsible stewards of this world
Let us bond together in the love of Christ
Let us find guidance; let us find shelter in the shadow of his wings
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