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<DIV>Fw: Sermon Resources for All Saints Day - Part 1 of 2</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Sermons
for All Saints Day:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> John 11:32-44 – “Tears Are Our
First Words” by Leonard Sweet<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">John 11, sermon titled "Tears Are Our First Words"
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Tears are our first words. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The beginning way we have of communicating is through
tears. Is there anything that gets a baby more attention than tears? Is there
anything that can command complete, immediate devotion more than a torrent of
tears. Is there anything that can makes adults feel more dismal, daunted,
desperate than the wailing of an infant?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Our baby’s tears can bring us to tears as well.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In earlier cultures the tears of mourners were gathered
into something called a lachrymatory, or “tear-catcher,” a specially created
container for human tears of grief or sometimes of joy. In fact, a company is
now bringing them back and selling them online. Here is the website with great
images of what some of the early ones looked like:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">http://www.tearcatcher.com/tearbottle.html<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mourning tears were believed to have extreme powers—-of
solace, of sustenance, of spiritual healing. There were beautiful, delicate
lachrymatory tear bottles for women and more masculine cigar-shaped tear bottles
for men. Traditionally all were designed with an evaporation chamber. When the
last of the gathered tears finally evaporated, the official mourning period was
over.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In Roman times women were paid to cry into tear bottles,
so that as many filled bottles as possible could accompany the extensive
mourning processions that befitted any important, powerful figure. In typical
Roman fashion, more was always better—-whether one was dead or alive.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Even the most humble burial ceremony involved the
presence of paid mourners. In Jewish culture the bare minimum required two flute
players and professional wailing woman. Anything less was an insult to the
family name. The grief industry in the first century—-like that of the
twenty-first century—-was big business.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Have you noticed that as the economy has fallen, the
number of ads for life insurance are on the rise? In the face of an uncertain
economic climate, unstable global relationships, catastrophic environmental
scenarios, and butt-headed political stalemates, there is always one thing that
remains certain . . . death. You can always bank on death showing up. The grief
industry never has a down turn.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">When Jesus finally arrived at <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Bethany</st1:City></st1:place> the first-century
grief industry was already well represented. “The Jews” who came down from
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:City></st1:place> to
“console Martha and Mary” (v.19) undoubtedly included many professional
mourners, musicians, and trained tear-producers…<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The rest of Leonard Sweet's sermon can be obtained by
joining <A href="http://www.sermons.com/">www.Sermons.com</A><FONT
color=navy><SPAN style="COLOR: navy">
</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">___________________________<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The Grief Grinch <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">We are approaching an
exciting time of the year - Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's. Times of
celebration. Times for friends and family. Times of joy. And for some, times of
incredible sadness. The holidays will be hard because someone with whom previous
special days were shared is gone. To paraphrase Tennyson's In Memoriam, "Never
Christmas wore to New Year's but some heart did break." If you have never
experienced that, I would be tempted to offer congratulations, but I will not.
They would probably simply be premature. The name of the Grinch who stole
Christmas year-in and year-out is grief.<BR><BR>Perhaps there is an ache inside
you this year that intensifies each time you think of turkeys or mistletoe or
presents under the tree. Perhaps your wish is, not so much to have HAPPY
holidays this year, but just to survive them. You hear the Psalmist say "For God
alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He is my rock, my
salvation, my fortress, my deliverance..." Hmmm.<BR><BR>[Eyes heavenward] Well,
God, deliver me from THIS! Can you arrange it so November 15 will be followed by
January 16? If not that, at least give me some SURVIVAL TIPS to help me manage
this year.<BR><BR>I have good news. You have been given some survival tips. The
lesson from John's gospel this morning provides some - resources for dealing
with grief at the holidays or any days. Follow the story and see how it works
out.<BR><BR>You remember the situation: Jesus had received word that His good
friend Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, had died. By the time Jesus and
the disciples got to the family home in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Bethany</st1:City></st1:place>, great numbers had already arrived.
After all, Lazarus had been dead for four days by now, and the normal period of
intense grief for Jews in first century <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Palestine</st1:City></st1:place> was a full week. There was plenty of
weeping and wailing going on and plenty more yet to be done, and it was to be
done by as many people as possible. It might appear to you and me as a little
contrived - all the noise, the really excessive displays of emotion...but if the
tables were turned and they had the chance to watch what WE do in the same
situation, they might consider our reserved behavior a sign of disrespect for
the dead. All the wailing was their way of doing honor to the deceased. At any
rate, there is one thing that is common to both cultures: the gathering of
friends - a marvelous resource for coping with grief in the first century or the
twenty-first.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">David E. Leininger, The Grief Grinch, <A
href="http://www.sermons.com/">www.Sermons.com</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">_____________________________________<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Let Him Go! <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">During these past twelve
years that I've been involved in the ministry, I have had the wonderful
experience of watching as Jesus called men and women out of spiritual death into
new life. I have never lost the wonder and excitement, the emotion of that kind
of resurrection, and I pray that I never will. But then I've also seen loving,
caring people reach out and embrace and welcome these strangers in their midst,
helping them to meet new friends and develop new habits (like coming to church
on a regular basis or coming to Sunday School). I've seen them provide
encouragement to find and use their unique gifts in the ministry of the church.
Whenever I've seen this happen, I have recalled Jesus' instructions to the crowd
of onlookers at the resurrection of Lazarus: "Unbind him, and let him go." When
we encourage newly resurrected Christians to become a vital part of the faith
community, that's what we're doing. We're taking off the grave clothes,
participating in the miracle of new life.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Johnny Dean, Death Stinks, <A
href="http://www.sermons.com/">www.Sermons.com</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">____________________________________<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 5.0pt"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 5.0pt"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The Greek philosophers were the ones who talked most
about the immortality of the soul, and they used a beautiful analogy to explain
it. They saw the soul like a homing pigeon taking to a far land and when it is
release, it always instinctively and unerringly returns to its true home. The
soul they say is like that bird. In this life, we’re living in a foreign land or
in a cage, death, therefore, in this view is a release – freeing the soul to
return instinctively and unerringly to its true home. Now that’s beautiful, but
it’s not Christian. It’s in much of our poetry and in much of our hymnody, you
get some hints of it in the Bible, but that’s not primarily the teaching of the
Bible. The primary teaching of scripture is not the immortality of the soul, but
the resurrection of the body and eternal life. The Bible does not affirm that
immortality is part and parcel of what it means to be human, but the Bible
rather talks about eternal life as gifts – the gift of God in Jesus Christ to
those who respond in faith to him. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P
style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 0in; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0in; mso-margin-top-alt: 5.0pt"
class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">If you’re going to live beyond death, the Bible says,
there must be a resurrection of the body. A resurrection of who we are as we are
as persons, yet made new by Christ himself, who even now sitting upon the
throne, keeps saying, behold I am making all things new. When Paul was
confronted with what people felt to be the preposterousness of this idea of the
resurrection of the body, when you consider what happens to the body in death –
he said, we will have a resurrected new body. And just as the Greeks had an
analogy to talk about the immortality of the soul, so Paul had an analogy to
talk about the resurrection of the body. He said it’s like a farmer, planting a
seed in the ground, and the shell of the husk falls away and new life appears.
So we die, to be born again into new life.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Maxie Dunnam, All This and Heaven, Too, <A
href="http://www.sermons.com/">www.Sermons.com</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">____________________________<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face="Times New Roman"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>