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<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Forwarded:<br>
<br>
</font></font><tt>Dear Friends,<br>
Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “‘You Cannot Shake Hands with a Clenched<br>
Fist.’ (Indira Gandhi)” and deals with all the lessons. Here it is:<br>
<br>
Did you hear about the Sunday school teacher who challenged her little<br>
first graders to write a letter to God? One little girl wrote: “Dear<br>
God, please put another holiday between Christmas and Easter. There<br>
is nothing good in there now. Even if you don’t do as I say, you can<br>
still be my God. Love- Amanda.”<br>
<br>
Actually there is a very important holy day- really HOLY SEASON<br>
between ChristMass and Easter, and without it, Easter really would<br>
just be bunnies, candy, and eggs. You know what I’m talking about-<br>
Lent (and it’s almost here now). I can’t believe it, but Ash<br>
Wednesday is this coming Wednesday, and with it- the beginning of<br>
Lent. As you know, Lent is our yearly reality-facing time. Lent is<br>
when we take a serious look at our lives and ask ourselves- “How’s it<br>
going?” Lent is when we remember that Jesus said he came to give us<br>
life, and we look at our lives to see how well we have accepted his<br>
gift. Jesus offers, but are we accepting? Are we actually choosing<br>
life? Test yourself out- if you found out that you had only today to<br>
live, how would you spend these precious 24 hours? What would be your<br>
regrets? What goals have you wished to achieve, but really haven’t<br>
given yourself fully to the effort? If life were the Olympics, would<br>
you be going for the gold, or just letting up when a bronze metal was<br>
in sight? Lent is “Get Real” time. This Wednesday, every single<br>
member should be in church at either noon or 7 PM (unless you’re sick<br>
or working) to get real with God, to face reality, to choose what life<br>
changes need to be made to become the real you, and then- at God’s<br>
altar- make that your 2011 Lenten covenant with God.<br>
<br>
Each one of the Bible lessons for today offers guidance in how to live<br>
this Lent- so by Easter we come to God’s altar holier, more fulfilled,<br>
and living life to its fullest. The Old Testament lesson tells about<br>
Moses getting the Ten Commandments- good guides for us to follow.<br>
Each of the commandments warns of a particular kind of sin that will<br>
separate us from God. (1) God first. (2) No idols- not even money or<br>
family. (3) Don’t treat God’s name lightly. (4) Keep the Sabbath Day<br>
holy- i.e.100% church attendance every Sunday unless you’re sick or<br>
working- and that doesn’t count cooking or entertaining relatives.<br>
(5) Honor your parents and those in authority. (6) No murder or<br>
hatred. (7) No adultery- married means off-limits. Period! (8) No<br>
stealing- not even “borrowing” because they owe it to us. (9) No<br>
lying about someone or ruining another’s reputation with gossip. (10)<br>
Don’t be jealous of something or someone your neighbor has. If you’re<br>
doing any of those things- don’t be surprised if your life is a mess.<br>
Did you hear about the grandmother who mailed the family Bible to her<br>
son in another city? When she took the package to the post office,<br>
the clerk asked, “Anything breakable in there?” “Not really,” replied<br>
the woman, just the Ten Commandments- and people don’t seem to follow<br>
them anyway these days!” Sin blocks us from God and his blessings.<br>
Follow them. Lent is a perfect time to shape up and clean up our<br>
lives.<br>
<br>
In both the epistle and the Gospel lessons, we see Peter so amazed at<br>
his experience of watching Jesus transfigured before his eyes- that he<br>
tries to hold it forever by building altars. His understandable<br>
mistake offers excellent Lenten guidance for fullness of life- don’t<br>
try to hold on to the past. Live in the present. The only things<br>
that don’t change are dead. Choose life. So check out your life:<br>
What’s holding you back? Any bad habits? Any grudges, desires for<br>
revenge, negative thought patterns? Any negative companions? Are you<br>
using your time the way you really want, or do you simply allow life<br>
to happen to you? How much time do you spend hypnotized in front of<br>
the TV set or half- aware because you’re into the alcohol or another<br>
mind-blurring substance? How much are you shortening the gift of life<br>
God gave you with those cigarettes? Get real. Claim life. This<br>
Lent, see that garbage for what it is and get rid of it.<br>
<br>
So this Wednesday is decision time. Will it be easy? No! Is it<br>
possible? YES! With God, all things are possible. Start this<br>
Wednesday, then make a firm decision to stick with it all Lent<br>
through. Every Sunday, bring your progress and defeats to the altar.<br>
<br>
In closing, here’s a poem that sums up what’s possible as we strive to<br>
be the best we can be:<br>
Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl;<br>
The one was wise, and a cheery soul.<br>
The other one took a gloomy view<br>
And bade his friend a sad adieu.<br>
Said the other frog with a merry grin,<br>
"I can't get out, but I won't give in;<br>
I'll swim around till my strength is spent,<br>
Then I will die the more content."<br>
And as he swam, though ever it seemed,<br>
His struggling began to churn the cream<br>
Until on top of pure butter he stopped,<br>
And out of the bowl he quickly hopped.<br>
The moral, you ask? Oh, it's easily found!<br>
If you can't get out, keep swimming around.<br>
<br>
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American<br>
wisdom statements are posted on our NEW PARISH WEB SITE. The address<br>
is: <a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.com/" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulsepisag.com</a> .<br>
<br>
Blessed preaching.<br>
Judy Boli<br>
St. Paul's Episcopal Church<br>
Saginaw, Michigan<br>
<br>
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