all things work together for good

from my sermon on 7/31 from Romans 8:28-30

The most important thing is how you look at things, your frame of reference. Christians have unique way of looking at things. Therefore, we can say with Paul, "We know that all things work together for good with those who love God who are called according to his purpose."

Now this sounds a bit crazy.....all things? Really? I am sure that the church in Rome didn't have it easy. They were trying to move beyond being just a minor sect of Judaism and establish their own identity. They could be accused of being atheists by the other citizens who worshiped the emperor. Finally, they were trying to make community out of disparate groups, men and women, slave and free, all classes of society. All things work together for good?

It's not easy today. Something is happening here in the USA in 2 days....oh yeah, our government is going to be in default mode. You can pick up any media and pick the crisis du jour...this week, how about the famine in Somalia. We can't bear to see the images of the little children with bloated bellies. Can you see how all things work together for good?

It's not easy in your personal lives. I have a friend who is going through a divorce. How hard that is! I know someone else struggling with depression. Lest we make light of depression, at our Stephen Ministry training, I heard a story of a woman who had had cancer and then depression. When asked to pick which she would rather have had, she said the cancer was easier than the depression. How can we see that all things work together for good?

I have good news for you today. It is more than pablum. It is more than pollyanna optimism. You need more than trite phrases, "If life gives you lemons....make lemonade. Behind every cloud is a .....silver lining." As Christians, we have more than simplistic answers.

Part of the way we look at things is that we take the long view. Here I need to tell you the story of the lucky farmer from the book, Zen Shorts, by Jon J Muth.

There once was an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day, his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. Such bad luck, they said sympathetically. Maybe, said the farmer. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it 2 other wild horses. Such good luck, the neighbors exclaimed. Maybe, replied the farmer. The following day, his son tried to ride 1 of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg. Again, the neighbors came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. Such bad luck, they said. Maybe, answered the farmer. The day after that, the military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army to fight in a war. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. Such good luck, cried the neighbors. Maybe, said the farmer.

Maybe, we Christians say. Who we are, what we feel, what we are to do is not determined by the latest crisis or victory. We see that governments come and go, wars come and go, crises come and go. We take the long view. We see that the God of Creation is at work in all things, and is drawing all things to God's culmination as it says in Revelation to a point where there are n more tears or pain or crying anymore. We Christians see God as Sovereign. We may act for good or bad, but God is always acting for our good. As we said in the creed this morning, "his will is ever directed to his children's good."

I know that the NRSV says all things work together for good. But I would like to reframe the verse. It can also be better translated, We know that in all things, God works together for good with those who love him who are called according to his purpose. God is the subject, not all things. God is the actor who can make all things work together for our good.

I have an illustration. Each week our worship team gets together to plan what happens for this hour together. Frank, who leads the 9 a.m. contemporary service is a part of this team. He has 2 little children, Sophie and Jamison. This past Tuesday, Frank was late to our morning meeting, because he was trying to get them dressed and out the door. On the way over, big sister Sophie was trying to explain to Jamison where they were going. Now Frank teaches English and film at Keeling Middle School, so Sophie said, "We are going to church. We are going to see Pastor Lynn. Now remember Pastor Lynn? He's a main character."

And so I am a main character...and you are too. But really the most main character is the Lord God of the Universe. Now this leads into how we are predestined. We are not Presbyterians. by predestined, I take it to mean that God is fulfilling God's plan for us in spite of us. We are still free to pursue our little scripts, but God will ultimately bring the drama to unfold in God's own way and time. We are not pre-determined, but God is determined to invite us into his plan of redemption for all creation. That is the big picture.

The more precise picture is that God is drawing us into the image of his son; he is conforming us to his icon, literally. We are being shaped into the image of Christ. We...not a solo effort...the whole Christian community is being transformed. We are taking on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus in our community. That is God's desire, destiny for us.

Therefore, we can see God working in all things for our good. Even the debt crisis. As Christians, we are being called to take up the banner for the most vulnerable. Our solutions should not be upon the backs of the poor. As we talked last week, God has a preferential bias for the poor, the widow, the orphan, the sojourner in the land.

The famine and hunger crisis in Somalia has galvanized the world's attention. We as believers can work together across denominational lines. Hungry people don't care what denominational label is on the bag of food. We can even work across interfaith lines. It doesn't matter if it is a cross or a crescent or a Star of David on the bag of food. Even secular governments can work together for good.

God can work together for good in all things. Can you see this? Tom Bridges could. He was the District Attorney in San Patricio county where I formerly served. He served in the military, got out and got his law degree, met his wife Mary. They never had any kids...biologically. But he often served as mentor for confirmands and helped in children's Sunday School. He was a member of my church and trusted friend. When I had a problem or issue, I would go to Tom for advice. You would think he might become cold and heartless, but he was a genuine, loving man. He often was in Bible study with me. His favorite verse was this one, We know that in all things God works together for good with those who love him who are called according to his purpose. It is a good way for you to memorize and orient you life around too.

I was wondering why this passage was so important to me this week. For one, God is the great Reframer. God takes the cross which the world looks upon as a sign of persecution and makes it a symbol of empathy for our pain, takes the cross which the world looks upon as a sign of defeat and makes it a symbold of victory, and takes the cross which the world looks upon as a sign of death and makes it a symbol for life.

This passage is important to me because I see that following Jesus is better than not following Him, that being part of Christian community is better than not, and that God's purposes are for our good, not our harm. That's the good news I have today.

work for good

7/28/11 One of my favorite memory verses that I have long treasured is Romans 8:28, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Right now, our country is struggling with a debt debate. The fear in people is palpable. Those on Social Security are worried that the August check won't be there. People are afraid that their investments may plummet.

Others are struggling with the heat. Farmers and ranchers are looking at dried up crops and selling livestock. If the drought is bad here, then it is terrible in Somalia, where millions are on the brink of starvation.

We are still reeling from the shooting of the children in Norway by a man who purports to be a Christian, likening himself to a knight fighting against Islam.

I bring these things up to show how difficult it is to see how they could possibly work for good. I believe the only way we can see any good come out of them is by believing.....by believing in the God whose will is ever directed to his children's good. God is sovereign. God's will will be done. God is always on the side of healing, of hope, of wholeness. God invites us to look beyond the immediate hurt to see how we could be part of God's eternal purposes. The God revealed in Jesus Christ is always working for good.

Love,
Lynn

cured their sick

7/27/11 My breath prayer for the day comes from Matthew 14:14, "When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick." I am just back from vacation, so these last few days have found trying to get in the flow again. Part of that is catching up with people in vulnerable situations, some who have cancer, some who have experience grief, some who are wheel-chair bound, some with depression, etc. I have been making phone calls and sending emails. I want to let these people know that they are not alone and that they are being prayed for by me and by many.

I am just back from Stephen Ministry training where I was reminded that we are the care-givers, only Christ is the cure-giver. We can listen and love, but only Christ can bring the healing. I like how the passage includes Jesus' compassion for all people, especially the most vulnerable. I pray that Jesus may continue to be our Great Physician, curing the sick.

Love,
Lynn

with sighs too deep for words

from my sermon on July 24 from Romans 8:26-27

Let's do a quick opinion poll. By a show of hands, how many here consider yourselves to experts at praying?......not a single one. Okay, how many here would like to become better at praying? ....almost everyone Well, you have come to the right place. That's exactly what God wants for you, with sighs too deep for words.

The passage says that we don't know how to pray as we ought, but that the Spirit helps us in our praying, interceding for us, with sighs too deep for words. The Holy Spirit, that may be a hard concept for us to grasp, but the Holy Spirit is the presence of God in every present moment. That Spirit is here to help us learn how to pray better.

Some of us are fortunate because that Spirit was working in the family where we grew up. Praying was modeled for us. You may have been prayed for ever since you were in utero. You may have grown up with prayers at suppertime. They may have been very serious prayers. They may have been, "Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub, Yeah, God!" They may have been sung like the Johnny Appleseed song or the Doxology to the tune of "Fernando's Hideaway." You may have learned bedtime prayers....God bless mommy and daddy and the pets and brother and sister... You may have learned rote prayers like "Our Father, who art in heaven..." Then came the day when you were trusted to find your own voice and pray for yourself. Does this script ring true for some of you?

You may have been taken to worship where you learned to pray in community. Today, you find yourself in worship. It is the right place to learn how to pray with sighs too deep for words.

I long thought that this phrase, "with sighs too deep for words," meant that the sighs were ours. They were things that we couldn't put into words, couldn't express, yet the Spirit heard them better than we could say them, and carried them to the ear of God. But a theologial I admire, Walter Wink, gave me a whole new understanding. He said that it is the Spirit of God who is sighing. We are the ones called to hear and put into words and actions what God is saying. I know that this may a new concept to most of you so take some time to let this roll around your soul. It means we move beyond presenting our grocery list of prayers to God to listening for God's grace list of prayers for us that we then give voice to. The more we learn how to pray, the less it becomes about our speaking, and the more it becomes about our listening to the Spirit's sighs.

I will give you an example. Several years ago when I first became acquainted with this concept of prayer, you are not going to believe this next part, but some nations were forcing children to become soldiers. I will never forget the picture of this young boy in Africa, maybe 12 years old, squatting down, with an assault rifle in his hands, and get this, a teddy bear backpack on his back. Can you hear the Spirit sighing? I heard the Spirit sighing, "This is not right. This is not what I intend for my children. Stop doing this!"

I know that that is a very serious example. The sighs are not always so sobering and sad. I have another more positive example for you. We read the Bible to soak ourselves in the Spirit's sighing. From the very beginning of Creation, the Spirit was there, hovering over the face of the waters, bringing order out of chaos. God's Spirit filled humankind's lungs and we became living beings. God through the Spirit has declared creation good and humankind as very good. Three weeks ago, on Sunday morning, I got up to take a hike in Angel Fire, New Mexico. I left our little condo, walked down the mountain at 8500 feet, across the road, and started up the Bear trail on the other mountain. It is very early as I am still on Texas time, just at first light. Along the trail in the meadow, I spot 2 elk. I get to the top of the trail and go on the connecting trail called Coyote trail. Just where it meets the Elk trail, I heard and saw movement off to my left. Coming down off the mountain crossing some 50 yards in front of me was a black bear. Then I looked more closely and saw a small cub following close behind. I stood still...absolutely still...not a sound. You don't get between a mama bear and its cub. I listened and heard the Spirit sighing. The Spirit said, "All creation is for you to enjoy. Celebrate its goodness, your goodness. Take care of it. Don't use it up. Don't abuse it. Don't use it as your toilet, spoiling the earth, sky, or water." The mama and cub wandered on up another hill.

Another example, since you know I am just back from summer vacation. If you are in Taos, New Mexico, you must eat at Michael's Kitchen. Order the Southwestern omelette with 3 eggs and all of those spices. Get the hash browns. I know that they are not on your diet, but you walk them off later. When the waitress asks what kind of hot sauce do you want: red, green,...or Christmas...get it? red and green mixed, just smile. I heard the Spirit sighing, "It is good to rest....to still be in love with your wife...to enjoy tasty food."

We read the Bible to get perspective, to get in the flow of the Spirit's sighing. We read of all those prophets who said, "the Spirit of the Lord came upon me..." They heard the Spirit sighing over and over again that God's favor was upon "the widow, the orphan, the sojourner in the land." The Spirit sighs for the most vulnerable. The rich and the powerful will take care of themselves. God has a preferential favor for the poor. Mary Lou Batlan and I are just back from Stephen Ministry training. This ministry is so that lay persons may be equipped to listen to other persons in pain. Not to try to fix them or diagnose them, but simply to love them by listening to them. We hear the Spirit's sighs too deep for words as we hear people's pain.

Let's practice listening for the Spirit's sighing now. I am going to mention a topic. I want you to pause and be still. That's why we have come to worship: to unhook from our schedules, our screens, our ear buds, our noise....so that we can listen for the Spirit's sighs.

The budget crisis in the United States........

The massacre of innocent children in Norway.......It grieves me that this disturbed individual saw himself as a Christian trying to strike a blow against Islam. When I pray about this, I hear the Spirit sighing, "I am tired of people killing other people in my name."

Can you hear the Spirit sighing? I hope you can, so that you will not become overwhelmed. It is like what I do when I go out walking and praying in the mornings. I pick up trash. I pick up at least one piece of trash that I didn't generate, but I don't try to pick up all of the trash. I pick up only what my 2 hands can carry. Listening for the Spirit's sighs helps us keep perspective. We can do some things, but we don't have to do all things. We can do our part and then rest secure in God's providence.

Walter Wink says that social action without prayer is "do-goodism" that can lead to exhaustion, frustration. It can be soulless. And prayer without action lacks integrity.

Listening for the Spirit's intereceding with sighs too deep for words helps us to see God's possibilities and to respond with hope. Walter Wink says the future belongs to the intercessors who learn how to pray listening for the sighs too deep for words.