Mt 13:1-9, 18-23

Get your overalls on. July 13, 2008

Imagine the scene…picturesque lake shore, clear skies, slight breeze, gentle waves. Jesus goes out for a stroll, a nice day for a walk along the beach, but why walk, why not just sit in the beauty of the surroundings.. gulls in the air calling, crabs scampering along the beach…. But it’s hard these days for Jesus to get any quite time by himself. Almost as soon as he goes out to sit on the beach crowds gather around him…such great crowds that he is compelled to address the crowd; but it’s too crowded so he has to get up on in the boat….

So he gets up on the boat, looks out and sees the ocean..and looks back and seas the ocean of people…waiting for something; hoping for something. So Jesus looks and sees a group of common folks. A group of farmers maybe. These are theologians..these are overly educated folks. These are people who live on earth and who live life day in and day out living off the land and fishing the sea. Farmers understand stories about sowing and reaping, the biggest concern is the weather…will it rain today or not. Will my crops come up.

How your crops doing this year.. Well, you know how it is...not much rain until a few weeks ago. These farmers don’t talk much…you’ve got to really get into their heads if you want to know what’s going on. It’s been tough…my kids are having a rough time in school, my wife isn’t doing well after the last kid was born. My animals have been acting up and it’s hard to find tm it’s been A sower…act this out

Who can remember what these images represent? What is happening here? We know that this means something….that Jesus interprets this some how…but how. What do these seeds represent? What does the path represent? What about the birds? Weren’t the birds what we were supposed to look at and relax, and now their snatching up seeds and I’m not sure it’s something we can not worry about. What does the rocky soil represent? What about the thorns that grow up with these fledgling plants that are just trying to catch some rays? And then there’s the good soil? The Good soil?

The good soil…that soil that is rich, and black, and full of potential for any seed that falls on it. Tell us about the good soil because we’re loosing our shirts. Tell us about this good soil, because we want to do well; we’re tired of our seed not performing like it should. If our seed doesn’t do well , we’re going to loose our farm, we’re going to loose everything. The good soil yielded 30 time, 60 times, 100 fold. 100 fold means that the cycle of poverty is broken. The real world transformed by a bumper crop. Do we remember what this story is about? Does it matter? Jesus begins the story by saying listen! He ends it by saying let the one who has ears. Listen (secret to aunt sally game).

It’s hard to remember. these stories. What’s the point of studying these stories. Listen Jesus says. I’m telling you a story and it’s going to be different from the ones you’re used to hearing. It’s different from the ones you see on TV that talks about your image and all of the things that you must buy if you want to really be someone. Listen, I’m telling a story, and it’s different from the ones you see in the news; fanatical stories told by frantic bobbing heads that bread fear and suspicion and “news” that sells, not news that is novel.
It’s a story about how to be human. It’s about following the story that Jesus tells, To turn around…to acknowledge that there is a different way to live life from the way the powers and all of the corruptive influences all around us that talk about wealth and greed and power and lust.

Listen. There are seed that are scattered everywhere….who can remember what happens next.
It was early April when I began to work the soil in my yard again. I wanted it to be ready from some seeds and seedlings that we would plant just after the last frost (may!). I would take a pick and dig down as deep as I could. I’d add some compose that I had been making since the previous year out of food scraps. I’d buy some of those colorful bags from the nursery that never really seem to be clear about what they are or what they do cotton spurs, cow patties…but they’ve got great names like Black Gold, and Ultimate food. I’d work that soil. I wanted it to be just right. I wanted it to be good.

Listen, Jesus said, The seed is “the word of the kingdom.” Ah yes, the word of the kingdom. This is the only time that we find this phrase in all of the bible. What does that mean? The word of the kingdom? Is it Jesus: in the beginning was the word and the world was with god and the word was god? Is it the message of the Torah (singing): Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Is it what Jesus came to do: bring about, preach about, shout about the kingdom of God: it is not like this kingdom, this world that we experience, but it is about justice, it is about economic systems which don’t function to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. It is about places where war is no more, the lamb lie down with the wolf. The kingdom of God, love, peace, justice, compassion, truth, joy, beauty, grace, The word of the kingdom… This seed was scattered everywhere by this sower, who seemed to not be so concerned about where the seed would fall, the seed would do what it would do.

As he pulled it out of his pockets, some would fall along the path. This word of the kingdom fell on hard hearts; the word is heard, but not understood, the seed didn’t have a chance. the bird came. The evil one and snatched it away (what happened after the seed was digested?). Is this hearer us?

Then there is the seed that falls on rocky soil with no root. It springs up, but withers… the one who hears but when trouble or persecution comes my way…forget it, I’m not into that word of the kingdom stuff anymore.

Is this hearer us? With joy we receive the good news! and grow in our faith…but how deep are our roots really. The other night I was playing in my soccer game and this guy kicked me, trying to keep me from scoring. The ref didn’t see too well, so he didn’t call that or anything really. So after this guy kicked me, I ran after him, Why did you do that man? Gerzain was there and really worried. about what could have happened. What was I thinking? Was I really going to get that upset in a soccer game that has such little meaning and is meant to be just for fun. Yeah the guy kicked me…but is this really that big a deal? Where were my roots? Was I going to react in violence that easily?

What about when people do us wrong? When we feel like somoen is trying to take advantage of us, or is treating us in a way that we don’t think we should be treated?
How do we react? Do we hate that person? Do we despise them and wish them ill?
Withering and fading away.

What about the seed that grows into a plant but around a bunch of thorns and weeds? The plant is trying to grow but is being pulled on and overshadowed by strong weeds that are all around.

These weeds and thorns: The cares of the world, the lure of wealth. The cares of the world: like what? The lure of wealth…Matthew 6: No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. This is so easy to Who do we live our lives for? Day in and day out who do we serve? What are the cares of this world: insurance, security? American Idol? I don’t now…what do you think? fame, success? popularity?

And finally we get to the good soil…this is what we’ve been waiting to hear about right? Imagine those farmers…the good soil, this ought to be my ticket out of my terrible predicament…the good soil, where my seed will produce so much!

What does the good soil look like? Where do we find this good soil? The good soil that has manure, organic waste, worms, Black Gold. It’s there…it’s ready for that seed. and that seed is sure gonna grow.

Dry farming in California…the grape plants don’t get watered, but for the rain that comes down out of the sky. Instead the roots grow…they grow deep. How deep? 30 feet sometimes, down deep to be near the water table, and this kind of plant yields the best crops. The roots can grow that far down cause it’s good soil.

So I look at this parable…and I think about that good soil. The soil where the word of the kingdom the light unto my path is received and can grow and you can find roots 30 feet deep in this soil. Is it here in my heart? Is it here in this congregation?

I was thinking about the importance of personal disciplines…spiritual practices in which we might work that soil that we have inside of us. Amend it…make it rich: Things like “Practicing gratitude: counting my blessings. If I'm starting to feel down about something I'll either write or speak out loud to a friend, or pray out loud... "I am so blessed, I am so grateful for trees, I am so grateful for colors, I am so grateful for good jokes, I am so grateful for my health, I am so blessed with community.... I've done this with friends where we go back and forth, I'm grateful for this, I'm grateful for that.

What about singing: Singing every day, especially in thanksgiving, I’m thankful for most everything…I’m thankful for most every moment. I’m so thankful for you. Lift your voice and maybe you’ll lift your spirits.

How about Daily Prayer: Thank you God, so much for bringing me into existence, I am so happy to be alive. Support me in my work, may I do a good job, my I serve others, May I support my family. May you help those in need, and help me to help others too. Thank you for all your gifts..." And there is study & meditation: Regular study of scriptures, which may come alone or in small groups. Maybe even at a church Sunday school: Learning for the Journey.

There is contemplation of God. Meditation: sitting quietly, calming the mind and intentionally opening the heart to Spirit who works and prays in us. The passage from Paul while confusing for me at least, makes clear that life in the Spirit, a spiritual life, means that the Spirit of God dwells within. Christ is in us, the spirit gives us life.

The word of the kingdom…the word the living word, dwelling within us… we create that space, that good soil for this word to grow roots deep within.

But this is not just about the individual experience. Jesus was looking out from that boat and saw a large crowd gathered and listening. These people knew one another, probably saw one another most every week. Galilee was not a big town. What kind of community was he envisioning? One in which there are snatching birds, scorching suns and rocky rocks. Are there thorns and weeds all around. He saw that…but he also envisioned a community that could be fertile ground…a place where children could grow and be cared for and nurtured, where there was peace and love that ruled every gathering. Where there was laughter and play.
The good soil…where human thriving didn’t consist in competition and outdoing, but in companionship and together doing.

We all know the importance of environment. Think about the environments where you spend most of your time: home, the office, or your place of work. Your social networks, your hang out places, your church. Where is that good soil?
I was with someone this week concerned about a loved one because he didn’t work in an environment that would encourage “kingdom” values…and she saw how it effected him.
I hear stories about guys who get out of prison and when they return to their environment where they had gotten into trouble, they ended up getting into trouble again more often than not. But if they could find a different place, a more positive environment…then they had a better chance of not going back to prison. We all know our environment plays a huge part into who we are and if we remember nothing else about this parable, can we remember this…we can have good soil here in this place, with the gift of the Holy Spirit. WE can be a place of love and joy and care and freedom, where people can come, where seeds can be planted and sown, where our children can grow in their faith…we can be this good soil. But we have to tend to the soil. We have to amend it and work it, and keep the weeds out.

And in this good soil those seeds that are doing so good may find some real support and a place to grow roots. Waldo and Sue in the hospital, knowing that they have the prayers and support of so many. Suzanne who is dealing with depression and pain, who had people praying with her on Thursday. We can be that good soil here (heart) and here.

And may those seeds that scatter everywhere in the wind, find a place where their roots can grow deep, here and in many places throughout our world. Context of the message: Jewish Christians wondering why other Jews didn’t get it Calvin looking around and wondering why some in the church got it and others were clueless.

What are some of the things we stand for that we would like for others to get. What about our faith? What if we share our faith and someone just doesn’t get it. Is this just about converting people? or is this about something else? What is the word of the kingdom?
What does that look like.

Mt11 16-19,25-30

Externals or Internals; Matt 11:16-19, 25-30 July 6, 2008

By about 11 a.m. Friday, pancake batter pourer Deborah Carr and flapjack flipper Andrew Binkley had pretty much mastered their appointed tasks at the Fourth of July Pancakes on the Plaza festival. "Pour from a high angle and let it drip" was the technique Carr had developed for maximum speed and neatness. "And you have to be kind to your flipper and your grill."

Binkley, who works at Trader Joe's, said the secret to proficient flipping was a clean grill and a certain twirl in the wrist. "It's all in the wrist," he said.¹
Friday was my first 4^th experience in the plaza; The long lines, the many people, the shops, cars, sights and sounds. I got to see: Renee and Rosalie, along with Miquela who danced so well. And unlike in this passage the children danced and the people responded appropriately.

This is a really interesting parable of Jesus. It is short; but it’s tricky to figure out. “To what shall I compare this generation?” Jesus asks. This Generation: “Talkin bout my generation.” When Jesus mentions “this generation” in Matthew—watch out--he’s usually pretty upset about something²; like in 17:17: ‘You faithless and perverse generation; how much longer must I put up with you? 1

And here he says, this generation is like Children! Like children sitting in the market-place: The Market-place: which in Jesus day was like the plaza plus; the plaza plus la rotunda, plus the courthouse: the centre of public life; This generation is like Children sitting in the market-place playing games with each other:The wedding game: We piped and you didn’t dance; The funeral game: we mourned and you didn’t wail. Now it’s hard at this point not to get lost. I’m already a little lost. It seems that this was an old game. In which the children reenact two very important days in life; the wedding day with piping, and the funeral day with mourning. (exciting game) But, it’s hard to figure out who’s who at this point. Who’s playing the games? Are Jesus (wedding) and John (funeral) the children piping and mourning? Or is this generation playing the game hoping Jesus and John will play along and they don’t play? Are you confused yet? (the bible can be confusing)

If I understand what Jesus is trying to say, that both he and John were ready to play. They wanted everyone to join in this game they were playing…John played one way living an ascetic life; in the desert, eating locusts, wearing camel’s hair, shouting, Repent! And the children sat, they didn’t play, they sat in judgment and said that John had a demon.

Then Jesus came along with his game: ready for the big party, turning water into wine, hanging out at the big fiestas; preaching the wonders of the kingdom of God: But the children just sat there, they refused to play. Said he was a lush and hung out with the wrong crowd. The children sat and didn’t play the game of John and Jesus because they wanted to play their own game. If I understand “this generation” It was those focused on externals. Those in positions of power and influence who want to play their own games by their own rules.

And who is playing the game correctly? Wisdom. The wise and the intelligent, they really don’t know what’s going on, Jesus says. Wisdom is hidden from them. They look for answers in the wrong places.

They doesn’t know what is important in life. They make the rules but are playing the wrong game…Because God has revealed these things to infants.

Jaleesa is present almost every Thursday noon for bible study in the office. She really helps us to keep things in perspective. There we sit, trying our best to understand what Scripture means, what life is about, what Jesus would have us do. And there she is wiggling around, playing with toys, my keys, opening and closing books. She was sitting on Darleenes lap with a blue pen that had a top. And she pulled the top off the pen. If you could have seen the look on her face. She was amazed. WOOOAH what just happened.

This is a confusing passage; have you heard many sermons on it? But this is how, I think Jesus keeps disciples on our toes. He changes the rules of the game everyone else is playing. How did society play the game in his day?

I think that Jesus was critical of those who focused on the externals: on people conforming to a particular way of life. There was the life of the religious leaders and the difficult rules they enforced; sacrifices, cleanliness; do this don’t do that.

It was difficult for so many to keep it all straight. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the laws, but to complete them: and he said that the greatest laws were to love God with everything, and to love neighbor as one’s self.

The wise and intelligent don’t really know God, because they rely on themselves, but look at infants, they know the game; Jaleesa is completely dependant on her parents.

It’s true that generally we don’t have as many religious laws that we’re always trying to fulfill. There were over 600 laws people were trying to keep straight. No we don’t have quite as many to worry about. But I think that this generations game that everyone is supposed to play is called: Keeping up with the Jones’ Maybe here in New Mexico it’s called keeping up with the

Garcias. We see the rules of this game on TV through the glamour of stars, the prestige of fame, the commercials that tell us how deficient we are because we don’t have certain products.

My friend was in town last week and we were reminiscing on our childhood. At some point we began talking about video games: we both grew up when Nintendos, were the popular gaming systems; they were tons better than ataris. Neither one of us had Nintendos; but Ryan did; and I would always invite myself over to his house after school to play!
Please. His mom had great snacks too. I’d play for hours …it didn’t even matter about Ryan, I had to play video games. Oh, how I wanted one of those game systems for myself. And I remember my bike as a kid. This freaky cheap old blue bike, that had a blue fake plastic sticky banana seat, and these long curvy handle bars. This was not a cool bike, and I was so embarrassed to ride it. Cliff, my friend cliff, he had an awesome BMX bike, that was so
slick, and could go tons faster than mine. And he had a go-cart, that was way out of my league. And those friends that had the cool shoes and cloths, the nice back pack…etc etc.

TO what shall I compare This generation?

We play childish games; we have to get the lastest and the greatest new product; we have to be skinny and good looking; we have to rise to the top and try to make ourselves important; we perpetuate the rules to this game we play as a society; and so often driving us crazy, because this game is hard.

It’s a stressful game to keep up with the Garcias.

IT wasn’t Jesus and John who were acting inappropriately in the game, it was the game itself that was being played. Infants know the real game…Jaleesa doesn’t worry about what she wears or what the greatest new toy is. (not yet at least). And now we get to the good part…we’re close to the end, and we hear the invitation, come to me all you who are weary and carrying heavy

burden and learn from me for I am meek and humble in heart. Come to me if your tired of playing these games of this generation.

If your worn out by all the demanding pressures this consumerist power and prestige seeking game that we play, come to me, And I will give you rest.

Where do we find true meaning? Where do we find true fulfillment? That is just what Jesus wants us to see, what Jesus hopes to reveal to us.

And so he says, put my yoke upon you. I love this image of yoke.

Take my yoke upon you: The image is that of an animal harnessed to do work. The yoke provides discipline and direction. It clashes with everything our culture would tell us, be free, do what you like. Instead we’re burdened by other things instead of Jesus yoke. The great thing about this yoke of Jesus is that: If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that we’re tired of

playing the same old game, but we’re ready for new life, a new way, and yoked with Jesus means he’s right there along side us, showing us a new way.

1. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that like paul, we do things all the time that we really don’t want to do, and the things we want to do we don’t do. This yoke Jesus talks
   about helps us to do the things Jesus would have us do.
   

2. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that so often we try to make ourselves better than others…anyone and everyone…and Jesus says take my yoke upon you and learn from
   me a meek and humble person. We don’t have to be better than anyone and we can find rest in that.
   

MLK said: Peace is not merely a goal we seek but a means by which we arrive at that goal. This can be said of rest, of humility, of meekness, of discipleship. Give me rest for my soul! Give me rest for my soul.

But how? How do we arrive at the goal? We have to learn from Jesus.

Meek and humble at heart. Full of compassion and love. So often I hear stories about people going to a poor country, like Guatemala or Mexico or some country in Africa; and learn there what meekness and humility means, what dependence on God means; and the joy that is

experienced.

Meek and humble in heart describe Joe from the Altanta Enterprise center where I worked 2 years ago. Joe wasn’t tall. Joe didn’t have a booming voice. Joe was not the boss and he didn’t seek power or prestige. He came to work day after day to work with homeless people, drug addicts, ex-offenders, and anyone in between who was looking for a job and helped to train them to get a job. He taught a class, he worked one on one, he was a guide and a mentor for

so many. Joe wanted to help someone better their life. And he did it in humility and meekness. He had this quiet smile, and shy chuckle. He knew his stuff. He was the first person I turned to when I had an issue with how to deal with a client. He didn’t seem to worry much, he certainly wasn’t looking to impress others, he just came and did his job, ate a sandwich at his desk every day. And continues to help out others who are weary.

What’s the game others are trying to get you to play? What game are you trying to play? To you hear the piping? Do you hear the wailing?

Learning from Jesus takes time..at least that’s how it’s been for me. Bearing this yoke. This thing around my neck. keeping me in check, but experiencing freedom at the same time. Maybe it’s like the pancake batter pourer and the flapjack flipper, who had pretty much mastered their tasks hours into the event. "Pour from a high angle and let it drip" Be kind to your flipper and your grill."the secret to proficient flipping was a clean grill and a certain twirl in the wrist. "It's

all in the wrist," he said.³

The secret to knowing these things of God are in the yoke, it’s all
in the yoke and who we’re yoked with. That will
put us on the right path where we may find rest and live life to it’s
fullest.

1 As Reported in the Santa Fe New Mexican, July 4, 2008.
2 (Matt 12.39-42; 16:4; 17:17; 23:36; 24:36
3 As Reported in the Santa Fe New Mexican, July 4, 2008.

Don't Worry, We're Having a Hanami Party, Part 3

Matthew 6:25-34; 1 Kings 19:9-13 WPC, June 8, 2008

Prayer: Breath in God’s mercies…Breath out God’s mercies on others (3x)¹

Week three, our final week (not counting church family camp) of examining our often worried filled lives, while contemplating Jesus’ words: Don’t worry, set your heart on God’s kingdom, and all these things will be given you as well.

And finally I get a chance to tell the joke I’d been waiting to tell since we started: What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches? A nervous wreck.

Often our lives are so full of worry because we’ve got so much going on inside our minds and all around us that we begin to sink; we get overwhelmed with all the many things to do, and because we wonder if any of it really matters.

When we look at Jesus’ life we see that he was busy: Mark 1:32-39:

The whole city was gathered around the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons….In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.

His companions hunted for him. And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in synagogues and casting out demons. Jesus was busy…we’re busy..but some of you may have noticed last week that I kind of skipped over a verse that really sticks out about Jesus daily life:
In the morning, before dawn,

he slipped out of bed, went off by himself, and there he prayed.

Which leads us to this morning’s topic: How do we get from our worry filled life to the life of the Spirit? Do we just wait for the Spirit to blow away our worries?

Is there anything we can do, right now that will help us have less worry in our lives? Just what we need, another thing to add to our to do list. If we look at Jesus life, we see that he was always listening for God’s voice; seeking to do the will of the Father. And we read in 1 Kings, the prophet Elijah did not encounter God in the mighty wind or in the earthquake or in the fire, but in the small voice (see 1 Kings 19:9-13). But how do we find space in our lives where it is quiet enough to listen for this small still voice?

Frankly, Our lives are absurd. We’re bombarded by outer noises and distractions: tv. radio, phones, computers. As well as the inner noises: our worries, fears, voices from our past, concerns about the future. Absurd! In the word absurd we find the Latin word surdus, (sordo) which means “deaf.” We’ve become deaf, even if God called to us with a mega phone we’d probably miss it: “What’d you say God? Hang on the phone’s ringing.”
Father Henry Nouwen,² who’s been our guide these past weeks, suggests that we need discipline… [obedience last week, discipline this week—wpc boot camp] …spiritual discipline, so that we can learn to listen to God. God constantly speaks, we rarely hear. When we learn to listen, our lives become obedient lives. nother Latin lesson: the word obedient comes from the Latin word audire, which means “listening.” With spiritual discipline we may move slowly from absurdity to obedience, from a life filled with noise to a life with some quiet inner space ready to listen to our God.
Jesus was obedient because he was always listening, always attentive to God’s voice. Jesus was “all ears.” That is true prayer: being all ears for God. Makes me think differently about prayer…instead of me filling empty space with bubbling words, prayer becomes quiet listening, obediently before the presence of God who prays in us.
But, I’ve got a problem, obedience and discipline are hard for me, have been since I was a kid: Always on my progress report in elementary school… you’d see decent grades…you’d see Satisfactory marks in most areas, but when it came to “Follows directions/ Listens well” there was always an N, non-satsifactory!
But if there is something I can do to have less worry in my life…I’ll consider it.
If there is something I can do to grow closer to my God…I want to do it!
Nouwen, proposes two disciplines that may help us to “set our hearts on the kingdom.” Disciplines of prayer. Solitude and Community. Today we’re just going to focus on solitude, and at church-family camp we’ll pick up on the other.
It was pretty cool. At Thursday’s bible study, we were talking about things that we could do that would draw us closer to God, that would help us to become better listeners for God’s voice, and everyone agreed that a time of quiet solitude was the key! Can we live a spiritual life without solitude? Everyone pretty much said it would be really hard. Just as it is pretty hard to practice solitude! But everyone considered it essential in our walk with God. We explored what solitude looks like. A time and place for God alone. Jesus said, “Go to your private room and, when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place.”³
How we spend this time in solitude can be as different for each of us as we are different from each other. It could be the corner of a room in our home—even a large closet—a comfortable chair outside; a quiet walk. Postures will vary: kneeling, sitting, downward dog. You may place objects in this space: a cross, a candle, a plant, flowers, or bible verses. Nouwen says, The simpler we keep it the better; simple posture that is comfortable. An uncluttered place is better; and the more consistent we are the better. A daily practice of ten minutes of solitude is probably better than a whole hour once in a while. But we have to decide how this discipline best fits us, so we can remain faithful.
Easier said than done. Alone, No one to talk with; just there, nothing to do no books to read, no TV to watch, no phone calls to make or receive. This makes me nervous, and in silence an inner chaos opens up. All that noise inside us that we don’t hear because of all the noise going on outside us…comes to the surface. A chaos so disturbing and so confusing that we can hardly wait to get busy again.
This is what happens when I lie down to take a nap. I close my eyes and my mind gets flooded by all the things I should be doing…SO I get up. This inner chaos is what Trasie’s cousin Drew experienced when he came over to our house to spend the night. He was 16 at the time, and while he thought we were pretty cool, he thought it was really weird that we didn’t have a tv. When it came time to go to bed, he and I were sitting in his room talking, and when I started to leave he got really nervous…Um Chester, you think I could watch a movie on the computer or something, I don’t want to be left in here by myself, without out something, with just my thoughts…I get freaked out by my thoughts.

Entering a quiet space with no tv or music doesn’t mean that we shut out all our inner doubts, anxieties, fears, bad memories, unresolved conflicts, angry feelings, and impulsive desires. Wonderful suggestions about how to treat these distractions were given by the Thursday noon bible study group:

Sherl said that she puts distractions on a moving picture screen and eventually they just move along out of her mind.

Joseph said that when he first moves into that quiet place, he envisions a storm that is all the distractions that would fill his mind…and in his mind he calms the storm and the distractions go away. Focusing on breath is something else that was mentioned. Breath in God’s mercies, Breath out God’s mercies on others. Maybe we recite a psalm Christel suggested Psalm 23; we can think of a parable or a favorite bible story; maybe we memorize a saying of Jesus, or a word of Paul, Peter, or Mary, (I couldn’t resist this distraction!)

“One of the early Christian writers describes the first state of solitary prayer as the experience of a man who, after years of living with open doors, suddenly decides to shut them. The visitors who used to come and enter his home start pounding on his doors, wondering why they are not allowed to enter. Only when they realized that they are not welcome do they gradually stop coming. This is the experience of anyone who decides to enter into solitude after a life without much spiritual discipline. At first, the many distractions keep presenting themselves. Later, as they receive less and less attention, they slowly withdraw.”⁴

We just have to stick to it and trust that these inner distractions will go away. All this to help us to focus our attention on God’s presence. At the end of this time of quiet dwelling with God we may, prayer for people who are part of our lives, friends as well as enemies. And why not conclude with the words that Jesus himself taught us: the Our Father?

Easier said than done? Yoga master Rodney Yee, who is on the DVD Trasie and I have says of his yoga exercises: “In the beginning the benefits of these exercises may seem small, but as you continue I believe you will find the rewards are truly great.”⁵ It’s the same way with this discipline. During the first days, weeks, or even months, it may feel like a waste of time. I’ve been attempting to practice solitude for the past several weeks, (trying to practice what I preach). It’s tough.

There are too many reasons not to be alone, so many things to do. But Nouwen assures us that when we stick to our discipline, in the conviction that God is with us even when we do not yet hear, we slowly discover that we do not want to miss our time alone with God. Although we do not experience much satisfaction in our solitude, we realize that a day without solitude is less “spiritual” than a day with it. “And eventually, our hearts become like quiet cells where God can dwell, wherever we go and whatever we do.” We can recognize God even in the midst of a busy and active life. Our hearts become set on God, our distractions and worries are transformed into something new.

Can we handle five or ten minutes a day? Maybe some are ready or already spend an hour a day, an afternoon a week, a day every month, or a week every year. Make it part of your schedule, if anyone tries to schedule something during that time…you can say, “Sorry I’ve got another appointment at that time…and then under your breath…with God.”

Solitude is one discipline Nouwen proposes. ‘Through the discipline of solitude we discover space for God in our innermost being.” I’ve also put in the insert other practices which may help to bring quiet to our lives, and give us rest.

What we’re hoping for in our lives, what we’re trying to accomplish is to allow the presence of God to become real for us in all we do, say, or think. It is then that our hearts become focused on God’s kingdom and our worries slowly are transformed into something new.

I want to conclude by saying that I’m really blown away by this idea of not worrying and setting our hearts on God’s kingdom. I do worry a lot. I worry about my actions. I worry about hurting someone by doing or saying the wrong thing. I worry about what others think of me. I worry about what God may think of me. I have a fear of failure and deep desire to be successful (whatever that means). And at times I become a nervous wreck. But as I have begun these practices and really given thought to this concept of not worrying; of looking at birds and flowers and how God cares for these things. I realize that God cares for me too. And that as I seek to set my heart on God’s kingdom, I discover that the intentions of my heart what really matter. DO I have a pure heart with pure intentions? Is it my intention to hurt someone or offend someone by what I say or do? Am I genuinely trying to seek God’s will in my life and in other’s lives? If so, do I have to fear failure or worry so much about what others may think of me.
So I think that has been the biggest thing I’ve learned during this time….and I think I am worrying less because of it, especially when I see birds in the air, and lilies in the field.
I pray that you too have come away from this time with less worry and more focus on God’s kingdom!
If you’d like, write down a commitment you’d like to make to spending time in solitude. And you can put it in the offering plate, show it to a friend or family member, or take it home with you. But give it a shot if you’re not already doing so..and my god find a dwelling place in your heart.

1 Prayer offered by Rodger Nishioka before classes began at Columbia Theological Seminary.
2 For this three unit series based on Matthew 6:25-34, I have used Henry Nouwen’s book, Making All Things New as a guide.
3 (Matthew 6:6).
4 Nouwen, Making All Things New, p.
5 Rodney Yee, Beginner’s YOGA,” DVD edition by GAIAM.

Don’t Worry, we’re having an Hanami Party! Part 2

Matthew 6:25-34 and Romans 12 (selected verses) and Job 38 (selected verses)

Today we continue our look at this radical concept of Jesus. DON”T WORRY!¹

Don’t worry about food, what you wear…

Try telling that to a two year old. My nephew Henry is entering the terrible two phase according to his grandparents. They went out to eat last night at one of those restaurants that’s in-between fast food and sit down—where you order at the counter and your food comes about 15 to 20 minutes later. Well, the food didn’t come. The food of other people who had come in after the party with nephew Henry had come, but not theirs. As Henry begins to express a little discomfort and dissatisfaction with his predicament: his concerned father goes to try figure out what’s going on. People who came in after nephew Henry and his party have finished their meals and are leaving. Henry is starting to throw things and really pitch a fit, so he has to go outside, too. His father goes to check on the situation again. Finally the food comes as does the manager to apologize and offer a meal on the house. But Henry didn’t care about the free meal, he just wanted food.

Sure would be nice to live a life without worry. But do you ever feel like it just doesn’t seem possible? Other than food and clothes, our busy lives are filled with activity: Work, school, relationships, church, television, hospitals, other people’s demands on our lives.

And even during the down time our lives are filled with worry: Bills, Health, relationships, wars, natural disasters, global warming, politics, things we’ve said, things we’ve done, yesterday’s struggles, tomorrow’s trouble.

Filled lives yet, we so often feel unfulfilled! We get bored even though we’ve got so much going on: Does what we do make a difference? Does anyone even care? This can lead to resentment, and even to depression and loneliness: Does anything really matter?

We know this road and the problems that may come with worry: but we still worry.

We can imagine singing all the time “Don’t worry, be happy,” but is it realistic?

Jesus tells those who would listen: Do not worry, set your heart on God’s Kingdom first, and all these things well be given you as well. How dare he say something like that!? No te preocupes! What does it mean? Does it mean we should cut back on all the events, activities, and people that make up our lives? Is he saying that the things we do that cause us worry are unimportant, a waste of time, even useless? Don’t worry: does this mean we’re supposed to pack up our things and move to a secluded commune in Alaska…it’s cold there.

No te preocupes: Set your heart on God’s kingdom. This is Jesus’ challenge to us today.

Can we experience newness in all the things we’ve got going in our lives? Shift our center of gravity? Shift our focus from the many things to the one necessary thing. It seems like Jesus doesn’t preach a message in which we change our activities, our contacts in our address book, or even a change of pace; but there is a change that he preaches: a change of heart! Set your hearts on God’s kingdom. And with such a change in heart we may be wonderfully surprised, or perhaps surprisingly shocked at how things change, how things become new even if from the outside things look kind of the same; you still get out of bed, eat, go about your daily tasks, interact with people, lay your head down at night and sleep.

Jesus seems to be saying: When we worry, we have our hearts all over the place and in the wrong places. Don’t worry, move your hearts to the center where all other things fall into place. So let’s see if Jesus practiced what he preached. Passage from Mark 1:32-39:

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons…. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. His companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

A day in the life. So was Jesus busy? A filled life? He’s teaching, preaching, healing, exorcising demons, confronting opposition, going from one place to another. He’s like a fanatic, so driven to engage and move and preach the good news of God anywhere and everywhere. But if we look deeper at what motivated him, at where his focus was we see things are different. He did many things but was concerned about one thing: to do the will of God.

In the gospel of Luke his first words were in the Temple: “Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?” (Luke 2:49), and his last words before the resurrection were on the cross: "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Luke 23:46). Other places in the new testament we read: “The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing” (Jn 5:19). Now how was Jesus able to live this way?

What was his motivation when he got up out of bed in the morning? What drove him day in and day out?

From what I can tell, there are two words that answer these questions: obedience and love. Jesus was obedient about do the will of the Father. Obedience can be a troubling word for many of us. Obedience suggests an asymmetrical power dynamic. I’m more powerful than you so you better do what I say. Obedience can imply potential threats of punishment. How many parents have answered protesting children with “you better do what I say or else? “But, Why?” Because I’m your mother, and I said so!” Is it safe to say Jesus’ relationship with the Father was different: his obedience was a total, fearless listening to a loving voice. Threats and secrets and power struggles did not exist. A relationship of mutual sharing; a relationship of radical love.

A love that includes yet transcends all forms of love known to us. The love between the Father and the Son is a love that includes the love of a father and mother, a husband and wife, a sister and brother, a teacher and friend. But it goes beyond the various loving relationships we’ve experienced. It is caring yet demanding. Supportive yet severe. Gentle yet strong. Life giving yet accepts death. This is the love—the Holy Spirit—the love, that eternally embraces and holds together the relationship between Jesus and the Father; it is this communion of love that is the center and source for Jesus’ spiritual life, a life of total focus on God’s love. And from this, Jesus activity in the world comes.

Can we be part of this intimate community? IS this something that we seek for ourselves? I get a little nervous about this kind of relationship. I get nervous about intimacy and sharing…It’s a wonder I’m even married.

But at the same time, I’m drawn to this kind of love. This kind of radical obedience, this focus on the one thing and from this one thing comes all of the other things.

So we have to ask ourselves: Are our lives destined to become like Jesus’ Life? This gets tricky. I mean: sometimes I think about Jesus and the way he lived his life I think, no way. I can’t be like that, it’s just kind of one of those things far out there, eyes on the prize but never getting there. Sometimes I look at the way Jesus lived his life and because I’m such a miserable sinful human being I’ve got him singing a theme song: “You can’t touch this.” Besides, things are different now than they were then, it’s not realistic to be like Jesus right?

Do we feel this way about our relationship with Jesus sometimes? Why? What was Jesus’ life for? He came to live in obedient love and to show anyone and everyone a better way, the way of love; life lived in tune with God’s Spirit. And he invites us to follow, follow him to our true home, where we can be who we really are. Follow me, is what he says, not “you can try to follow, but you probably won’t be able to keep up.”

Everything that belongs to Jesus was given to disciples (Jn15:15). All that Jesus does we can also do (Jn 14:12). In God’s kingdom, NO one is a second class citizens; no one is an illegal immigrant, we are given all rights and privileges. And Jesus wants us to be where he is: He prays in John 17: “Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you… may they be so completely one that the world will realize…that I have loved them as much as you loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am…so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.” Jesus became like us so that we might become like him. And this means a radical transformation of everything in our lives because of a total transformation of the focus of our lives.

We are converted, every day, perhaps suddenly or through a gradual transformation. It involves an inner experience of oneness. It is a life in which we are totally transformed by the Spirit of love. Yet, again, it is strangely a life in which everything seems to remain the same.

What twitches at the bottom of the ocean? A nervous wreck. When I was in high school I was a nervous wreck. I was pimple faced, my voice cracked, skinny, scared of girls, unsure of myself. I could pretend that I wasn’t this way and try to act tough, but deep down I was so self-conscious. After graduation, going off to school was a good thing,

I was able to grow-up a bit, but really, it was when I went off to school that I began to experience my relationship with God in new ways. I grew closer to God, and fell more deeply in love with God. And things began to change. I found I didn’t worry so much about the clothes I was wearing or how other’s perceived me. Well, I still worried about what girls thought of me, but even in relationships I began to trust God more. I still did what I was doing before: I studied (kind of), played soccer, hung out, volunteered and worked, but I was focused on something different and everything began to become different. I was reminded of this this weekend by a picture of me and three highschool friends our senior year. One of my friends in the picture and I were hanging out three or four years after graduation and she said to me…Topple, you seem different.

I don’t know what it is but you just seem to have more confidence. She knew me as the nervous worried wreck!

I am no great example but I have experienced this gradual transformation of a worry filled life to a less worry filled life. To live life in the Spirit means that everything is different, but it doesn’t necessarily mean everything that we start doing completely new things. A lot of people think that deepening our relationship with God means that we have to leave our families, our jobs; that we have to give up social or political activities, or abstain from literature and art because we’re too busy praying all the time. Some changes in our lives may in fact grow out of our spiritual life, and for some people radical decisions may be necessary.

But the spiritual life can be lived in as many ways as there are people. “What is new is that we have moved from the many things to the kingdom of God. What’s new is that we are set free from the compulsions of our world and have set our hearts on the only necessary thing. What’s new is that we no longer experience the many things, people, and events as endless causes for worry, but begin to experience them as the rich variety of ways in which God makes his presence known to us.”

When we shift our focus to the center: our conflicts and pains, our tasks and promises, our families and friends, our activities and projects, our hopes and aspirations, no longer appear to us as things we have to do and wear us out, but rather as affirmations and revelations of the new life of the Spirit in us. “All these other things,” which so occupied and preoccupied us, now come as gifts or challenges that strengthen and deepen the new life which we have discovered. We know things don’t get easier or that our pain suffering will end. But our attention is no longer directed to the “more or less.” What matters is to listen… Listen for the Spirit and to go obediently where we are being led, whether to a joyful or a painful place. Poverty, pain, struggle, anguish, agony, and even inner darkness may continue to be part of our experience. They may even be God’s way of purifying us. But life is no longer boring, resentful, depressing, or lonely

because we have come to know that everything that happens is part of our way to God.

But this leaves us with a difficult question: “Is there a way to move from our worry filled life to the life of the Spirit? Must we simply wait passively until the Spirit comes along and blows away our worries? Or are there ways we can prepare ourselves? Is there anything we can do? Well, let’s take a look again at this next week.

In the mean time continue the Hanami Party, and Bird watching hikes as we gain better focus on the one thing, the kingdom of God.

1 I use Henry Nouwen’s Making All Things New as a teacher and an outline for this sermon series on Matthew 6:25-34.

Don’t’ Worry, we’re having an Hanami Party! Part 1

Matthew 6:25-34; Genesis 1 – 2:4 selected verses

Did you catch that? Jesus tells his disciples, do not worry? Let’s see, does any one in this room not worry? Some of you have been Christians for a long time. Did you read this part of the bible? Jesus said do not worry? Well, worry is part of our life right? I mean what’s life without worry? How many of us worry?

What kinds of things do we worry about? We can make a long list of things we’re worried about for-sure! I wonder, what if we took Jesus at his word: can we imagine living a life without worry? No? Maybe worry is so much a part of our lives that living life without it seems impossible, not even something we would want. At the officer retreat, we studied this text, and Harold worried that if he didn’t worry he wouldn’t get anything done. Somehow a life without worries means inactivity, apathy, or even laziness. People who don’t worry, people who sings songs about not worrying…like Bobby McFarland don’t worry, be happy, they make us nervous because it sounds like anarchy or laziness.

Even Jesus? He said “do not worry” six times in this passage! Your heavenly Father knows what you need. Set your hearts on God’s kingdom first…and all these other things will be giving you as well. A life without worries? That’s radical, and as unrealistic; but it sure would be nice.

What would a life free of WORRY look like? I’m so intrigued by this possibility, that I’d like us to spend three weeks talking about it: Why does Jesus say Do not Worry?

What are the damaging effects of worry? That’s the subject of this week. Next week we will explore the alternative Jesus offers, closer relationship with God; a life in which the Spirit of God can make all things new for us. And then the third week we will explore different practices that can help our worries to slowly lose their grip on us…free us for a life in which God can do creative work in our lives. Father Henry Nouwen’s Book, Making All Things New, will be our guide. I pray that we may deepen our spiritual lives in this process may we learn to seek God’s kingdom first.¹

What’s on our hearts and minds? What consumes our thoughts day in and day out? What are we thinking about even now? Do our thoughts wander because we are worried about other things? Two Words to describe our lives: Filled and Unfulfilled. Our lives are Filled! Jam-packed schedules have us running from one place to the next. Things to do, people to meet, projects to finish, letters and emails to write, calls to make, appointments to keep. The worst is that even with all this running around I find that I’m always behind! No matter how much I do there’s something else nagging at me: someone to call back, someone to visit, a project to get done, a meeting to get ready for: incessant emails to respond to.

There’s always something I should have remembered, done, or said. There those people I haven’t visited or talked to.

Why are we so busy? Is it a status symbol? To feel important? A sense of self worth?

Carmen came to stay at our house in Chile as an exchange student and she basically sat in the house all day and did little that we had hoped. I wrestled to value her for something more than what she did, or didn’t do. Can we value someone for something other than the things they do? and how busy they are?

The teenager, or family member hanging out all the time: why don’t they do something with their life?

Even when we have some down time we are preoccupied. Thoughts fill our time and place long before we are even there. The wondering: “what if.” What if I get the sick?” “What if I lose my job? What if my child’s not home on time? What if there is not enough food tomorrow? What if I am robbed? What if a war starts?

What if the world comes to an end? What ifs lead to anxiety and fear….? They make us suspicious, greedy, and nervous. Preoccupied with all these what ifs,

we have no real inner freedom; we’re always preparing for things that might happen; we can’t fully trust the moment.

Stats:

40% of an average person's anxiety is focused on things that will never happen 30% on things about the past that can't be changed 12% on things about criticism by others, mostly untrue 10% on health, which gets worse with stress 8% on real problems that will be faced²

So how are we suppose to live in the present if we’re always living somewhere in the distant past or the unrealized future? What makes it worse is it seems we live in a world of constant emergency: Turn on the TV and you’ll find excited voices talking about gruesome accidents, cruel crimes, and perverted behavior; hour-by-hour, every day. And this harsh news that we hear is always accompanied by an avalanche of advertisements. We’re really missing out if haven’t seen some pointless movie, or bought some gas guzzling car with the right kind of rip off insurance. Woah! Jesus says, do not worry?

Living a life worrying about all things we’re supposed to do, and all the what ifs can have some pretty damaging effects: Grey hairs? Ulcers and heart burn? Heart problems? Stress? rashes? anxiety. Keeps us up at night?

As filled as our daily lives are, it can be easy to find ourselves unfulfilled. We can’t live up to these expectations others put on us. We can’t live up to the expetations we put on ourselves? Will my coworkers appreciate this work that I’d doing? Will my family like this meal I’m cooking? Will my teacher value this work I’m doing? Will I feel like I didn’t totally waste my day today because I only completed half of my to do list.

If we really look at what goes on in our lives, we’re busy about and worried about all these things, but how often do we feel truly satisfied, at peace, or at home? It’s like we’re connected but disconnected. Connected to so much stuff, but disconnected from the moment we’re living in.

The weird thing is that if your experience is anything like mine, I can be engaged in all kinds of things to do, but bored. Busy and bored at the same time!?

Yeah, all this stuff I do, does it make a difference? All this stuff I do, isn’t there something better? We can run from one thing to the next and wonder inside if anything is even happening.

We struggle to keep up with the many things to do, and then wonder what difference it would make if we just stopped and did nothing. People may push us in all kinds of different directions, but does anyone really care?

And this feeling of boredom can lead to resentment. Are we running ourselves ragged for nothing: clearly I’m not in control. Am I being used used, manipulated and exploited? Do people take me seriously? This resentment can lead to downright anger: anger about our situation and anger toward other people;

and it’s really easy for this anger to just settle in our hearts. And we grow cold.

And this can lead to depression. Murky thoughts invade our minds: What good are we? Has my life just been a waste? Time and energy poured into meaningless things and endeavors. Even many people who have been praised for great accomplishments, Sports stars or Movie stars, Corporate CEOs and Politicians, and have often felt unfulfilled. A few weeks ago, we visited the historical museum in Los Alamos. Letters questioning the value of so much time and energy and intelligence after witnessing the purpose that it served.

Now taking a step back: Obviously we are not all worried in an intense way all the time. But can we see how worry fragments our lives. All the things to think about, plan for, all the people to remember, to visit, to talk with, the many worthy causes to support or counter: all of these things pull us apart and make us lose our center. We can be all over the place, but seldom at home. We have an address but we cannot be found there. We are pushed and pulled in so many directions, all of these things demand our attention, that eventually we are led far from home and maybe we even forget our true address, the place where we can find ourselves. This may be the spiritual crisis of our time!

And how does Jesus respond: DO not worry. Do not worry, Do not worry. Do not worry. Jesus says, do not worry. Rather I think it is counsel to live a more fulfilled life! “Do not worry. Consider birds and flowers: Sounds kind of like a hippie things to say. Not practical, might lead to laziness or apathy. Consider your life and consider God. Set your hearts on God’s kingdom, discover your home within yourselves, and all these things will be given you as well. Something sounds right about it.

Well, I mentioned the officers’ retreat in February. This passage from Matthew was one of the ones we studied. As we read the passage, the phrase “look at the birds” really stuck out to me. I really enjoy bird watching, wonder if Jesus would have encouraged membership in the Autubon Society! A few weeks after the retreat I was having one of those mornings. I was in the office, I had a ton of emails to respond to, several messages had been left, I had a long list of things on my to do list, and my shoulders were starting to squish together, as my forehead began to furrow. I was getting worried and stressed.

Overwhelmed I looked out the window, and I saw a bird. And suddenly, the words of Jesus came to me look at the birds Chester, Don’t worry. My shoulders dropped, my forehead smoothed out and a smile came across my face, and I said, Okay God, I have all this stuff to do, but I’m not going to worry. I’m going to trust that you allow me to do what I can do today. and let that be sufficient.

Next week we’ll consider further how Jesus responds to our paralyzing worries as he offers us a new life, a life in which the spirit can make all things new for us.

In the mean time, our task is to leave this place today and do some bird watching.

Or maybe you can find a hamani party going on in town…this is Santa Fe. Hanami Party? Japanese tradition from the 700s.

1 Henry Nouwen, Making All Things New, is divided into three chapters which will delineate the focus of each week’s sermon.

2 http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/w/worry.htm

Our baptism and The Baptism of Jalessa van Doorn

Psalm 29; Ephesians 4; Matthew 28.

Today we celebrate Jaleesa’s birth, Sander and Christel’s adoption of her, and her baptism! This is the first baptism—“the sign and seal of incorporation into Christ,”¹ since I’ve been at this church. And we’re baptizing Jaleesa on the Sunday we observe Christ’s Ascension. Now really, Thursday was Ascension day—the day that we recognize if not celebrate Christ’s ascension into the heavens before the on looking disciples (we all knew that right?). Okay, so while it’s not a big deal for us in the US, Ascension day in Holland (where the van Doorns are from) is a national holiday, actually it’s bigger than Christmas and Easter for them (why?). Everyone—The faithful and not so faithful—gets up early in the morning and hops on bicycles and peddles from church to church for services to commemorate Jesus’ departure

(bike ride for bells May 18). Last year Christel and Sander were “shocked” we didn’t even have services on Ascension day, much less a big bike ride.

Well, how beautiful that on the day of such great significance for our Dutch friends we are fulfilling in part Christ’s command to his disciples just before he ascended: As you go, make disciples, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you (to love). And remember, I am with you always to the end of the age (Mt. 28:19). by baptizing Jaleesa, aka Baby J on this day, Ascension Sunday!

Jesus was baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist. That’s where it all started in the Christian Church and it’s still a common practice today. Today infants may get sprinkled, and adults may get “dunked”. Even with the variations in practices and interpretations of meaning,

it is important that we remember our baptism: Do we remember our baptism? Well, for those of you who—like me—were baptized as babies, that can be a challenge. I actually was baptized twice (not very Presbyterian?), once as an infant and once when I was 24.

Let me tell about my first baptism; December 21, 1975, a week before I would have been six months old. My parents, sisters, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and of course members of the church were there. My grandmother, mother and her siblings, as well as my two older sisters had been baptized in the same church before me. I was dressed in a christening gown, originally sewn by nuns in New Orleans for my great grandfather’s family.

It had been worn by my great-grandfather, his siblings, and just about every child of each subsequent generation in the family. The minister who baptized me was the Rev. J. Davidson Philips; my father, both grandfathers, and great-grandfather were elders in that church.

My parents, at my baptism, were concerned not only about me being cared for by the whole church, but also that I would not spittle on the minister’s robe. I am sure that it was a special moment for all in attendance, as all baptisms are. But I don’t remember anything about it.

I can only tell you something about it because my parents told me about it, or because I imagined how it was when I see other infants’ baptisms. But I do know it happened, and in a mysterious way it has deep meaning for me.

Can I ask us to share with each other our baptism stories, briefly? Turn to someone nearby if you’d like and tell of your own baptism story if you’ve been baptized, and if you haven’t been baptized or if you don’t remember your baptism, maybe share your thoughts about baptism.

Now that we have our brains working a bit. Let’s do another fun activity: A catechetical exercise—how fun can you! Questions and answers.

What is baptism?²

Baptism is a symbolic act. Symbols have a whole lot of meaning;

So does baptism. Maybe more than we thought. Here are just a few.

Baptism is with water.

Why are we baptized with water?

Christ was baptized with water; in a river called the Jordan.³ What does water do? Water washes, water cleanses, water is refreshing. When we are baptized, we are washed, we are cleaned, and it is refreshing. Water gives life and it is eternal.⁴ Our baptism gives new life and reassurance of eternal life!

Baptism is acceptance.⁵

What do we accept?

When we are baptized we accept that we are not perfect; we realize our sinfulness.⁶ When we are baptized we accept truth in Christ, and our need for him,⁷ his authority on earth and in heaven,⁸ and his right to be Lord of our life.⁹ Acceptance is the willing receipt of a gift.

When we are baptized we willingly receive God’s free gift of grace.

Baptism is sharing. ¹⁰

What do we share?

We can share in something; like sharing in “a celebration; or a pension plan”. When we are baptized we share in Christ’s death and resurrection; we die to our old selves, and are made alive to God.¹¹ We can share something in common with others: When we are baptized, we are share in common new life in Christ with all baptized.¹²

Baptism is announcement.

What are we announcing?

When we are baptized we announce officially and publicly that we are committing our lives to Christ [as Christ is committed to us]. When we announce something we indicate clearly; like “when we wear a button that proclaims your choice for president.”¹³ In baptism, we show clearly to all who will see our choice for leadership, Jesus Christ—Jesus for President.¹⁴

Baptism is beginning.

What are we beginning?

Our baptism mysteriously represents the beginning of our life in Christ.¹⁵ Our lives are transformed. We imitate Christ who began his work for God’s Kingdom with his own baptism.¹⁶

Baptism is celebration.

What are we celebrating?

A celebration is an observance of a day or event with ceremonies, festivities, rejoicing, like a birthday party, like fiestas. Our baptism is a celebration on earth and in heaven.¹⁷ Celebrations are parties to make something widely known. When we are baptized, it is like we are telling the whole world of our allegiance to Christ, and our community is making widely known their acceptance of us.

Baptism is belonging.

What do we belong to?

In baptism, we belong to God—we are called sons and daughters of God.¹⁸ In baptism we belong to one another—we call one another sisters and brothers and together we make up the body of Christ, each with our unique gifts.¹⁹

I could say a lot more.

The important thing for all of us is to remember our baptism. For those who have been baptized as adults, or may one day be baptized as adults—a very biblical practice—Jesus was baptized as an adult—it will be easier for you to remember than for those who were baptized as a baby just like Jaleesa. We practice adult baptism in the Presbyterian church, but the reason it is common in our church to baptize babies is because it is easier to pick babies up and hold them. (tonio). No, because it shows that God loves us and claims us even before we can say anything other than pppphhhhhhbbbbb. God’s grace is in our life before we even know it.

Also, it is a common practice because in a moment we’re all going to make promises to baby J.

We make these promises any time a child is baptized in this church. It is the only sacramental promise that we make in this church. We will promise to help guide, raise, and nurture Jaleesa and every child or adult baptized in the ways of the Church of Jesus Christ. Almost everyone here will raise their hand and say “I do.” Now do we really mean this? Do we know what this means?

Eric Ytuarte’s story.

A friend of mine from seminary told me one time that “85% of PC(USA) high school students stop going to church when they go off to college and less than 15% ever return.”²⁰ He was in business before he went to seminary and said, losing that many in our churches is terrible business. But this rate of young people leaving the church and never coming back has nothing to do with business, it has everything to do with being faithful. We raise our hands and commit to the spiritual development of the child. Do we really care if the children are raised in the faith and find a home in the church after they turn 18?

Our promise is also about stewardship. What do we do with the children God has given us?

Do we take care of one another? Jaleesa at some point will go back to the Netherlands with her parents (not at the end of this year thank goodness). And we will write her and continue to hear about how she is doing, and in a few years be her friend on facebook. But it will be harder to fulfill our promises to her. Fortunately we know her parents will find a good church with people who will help us to fulfill our promises. But Jaleesa helps to remind us of our commitment to one another…to continue to help guide, raise and nuture each other in the faith, with the love of Christ. May we fulfill our promises. May we remember our baptism.

1 BOO, W-2.3001.
2 Context: children’s sermon at WPC (older kids).
3 Mark 1:9-11 and synoptic parallels.
4 Images discussed in class.
5 All definitions, unless otherwise indicated, are found on www.dictionary.com. Direct quotes are in italics.
6 Rom 3:23.
7 Phil. 4:19.
8 Mt. 28:16-20.
9 Phil. 2:9-11.
10 1 Peter 4:13; 2 Peter 1:4.
11 Romans 6:6-11.
12 Romans 5:18; Eph. 4:17-24; 2 Cor 5:17
13 www.dictionary.com
14 Title of a Shane Claiborne book, 2008.
15 This would especially be important for those who have been baptized as invents or when very young.
16 Mark 1:9-11; and synoptic parallels.
17 Luke 15.
18 1 John 2:29-3:1; Gal. 4:7
19 Galatians 3:27-28.
20 Rodger Nishioka, associate professor of Christian Education, Columbia Theological Seminary, from John Richardson article, “College Ministries: I’m a big, fat liar,” Presbyterian Outlook, 1/28/08: http://www.pres-outlook.com/tabid/2119/Article/6773/Default.aspx