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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org><br>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, Dec 29, 2012 9:12 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for ChristMass 1C<br>
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<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt>Dear Friends,
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Happy New Year!” and deals with the
epistle (Colossians 3: 12- 17) and the gospel (Luke 2: 41- 52). Here
it is:
Happy New Year! It’s almost that time, isn’t it! Are you going to a
party? Are you just going to have a quiet evening at home and watch
the ball drop? Have you had it, and are you just going to bed?
Whatever, today’s Bible lessons offer wonderful wisdom for 2013.
First of all, did you notice when Jesus’ parents asked him why he
stayed behind in the temple, we hear him say, “Didn't you know that I
would be in my Father's house?’ (Luke 2:49). Some translations say,
“Didn’t you know I must be about my Father’s business?” That’s not
just an imperative for Jesus; it’s what God wants from us as well.
And before we worry about doing things and get busy, busy, busy--- we
need to be sure we are in process of becoming who God created us to
be. One of the best portions of scripture to advise us how to do this
is today’s epistle (Colossians 3: 12-17). Let’s look at it together:
Paul wrote: 12 “God loves you and has chosen you as his own special
people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. 13 Put up
with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ
has forgiven you. 14 Love is more important than anything else. It
is what ties everything completely together. 15 Each one of you is
part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in
peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your
thoughts. And be grateful. 16 Let the message about Christ
completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and
instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs to God. 17 Whatever you say or do should be done in
the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father
because of him.” Easier said than done, but a wonderful vision of who
we are becoming for the new year.
The most important thing to remember about our new year 2013 (or
whenever) is that God is in charge. What’s going to happen to me in
2013? Will I live or die? Will wonderful or terrible things happen
to me this year? Will I win the lottery? (I doubt it since I don’t
buy tickets.) The truth is, we really don’t know what life will throw
at us this coming year. Does anyone remember “David, the Bubble
Boy?” He was born with a terrible birth defect- no immune system.
The least significant germ could kill him. To allow David to survive,
he lived his life in a plastic bubble- with no human touch. I think
the bubble had built-in gloves so someone could reach into his bubble
for the basic necessities. I have no idea how all this worked- how he
got food or a bath or whatever. What I do know is that many
Christians think that’s how God does with Christians- keeps evil away
from us as if we are in a bubble. That’s not how life is. God
doesn’t spare his children, but he strengthens and supports us.
You’ve heard the saying, “People are like tea bags-you have to put
them in hot water before you know how strong they are.” With God, we
can take anything this new year dishes out!
Unfortunately, sometimes it’s not by chance that the new year dishes
out troubles. We do it to ourselves. You know I’m an animal lover,
so when our children were little, we frequently went to the Detroit
Zoo. It always amazed me how those mighty elephants could be chained
by just a peg in the ground. I knew those huge elephants could easily
pull out that peg. What happened? When they were little, they were
tied to a huge stake that they could not pull out. I’m sure those
little elephants pulled and tugged, but to no avail. They were
conditioned to think breaking free was impossible, so now they don’t
even try. With the Lord’s help, you’re mighty like those huge
elephants. Don’t let Satan convince you you’re helpless against those
habits you’d like to break. Claim God’s power in 2013 to break
free.
The trick to overcoming, whether we’re talking about what life throws
at us or what we’ve done to ourselves is putting God first in 2013.
You know the usual advice- don’t miss church, receive Holy Communion
weekly, start and close every day with God, bless every single bite of
food you put in your mouth, do spiritual reading consistently. I can
hear you now---Rev. Judy, I don’t have time. We get so busy, busy,
busy- that we end up squeezing God out of our lives. How is it
possible to get it all done? I’ll tell you how- give God his time
first. Do you remember the story of the father who was discussing the
time problem with his teen-age son? The teen’s problem was not God
time, but homework time. The father got a gallon jar and filled it
with large rocks, then asked his son if it was full. “Sure is!” said
the son- that’s how my life is before I have my homework done. So the
father took some medium sized rocks and added them. “Full now?” asked
the father? “Now it’s full,” answered his son. You know what
happened next, the father added small rocks, then gravel, and finally
water. “That’s how you organize your life, son,” said the father.
You put the big important things in first. Good advice! Take care of
your responsibilities to God first: church, Bible reading, prayer, and
let the other things fit as they may. Your life will have power like
you wouldn’t believe possible. It was Martin Luther who said that the
busier his day, the more important it was that he start it with
prayer- true.
Did you hear about the man, I’ll call him “George,” who decided to
make some changes in his life? He was bragging to a friend: “There's
nothing like getting up at six in the morning, going for a run around
the park, and taking a brisk shower before breakfast.” His friend
replied, “How long have you been doing this?” George answered: “I
start tomorrow.” Tomorrow won’t work. Start today, now, at God’s
altar. By God’s grace, you will overcome.
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements either is or will be posted on our parish web site.
The address is: <a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.com" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulsepisag.com</a> .
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
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