<font color='black' size='4' face='Times New Roman, Times, serif'>Forwarded:<br>
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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.topic <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, Sep 27, 2014 5:38 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 21A<br>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Dear Friends,</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">This Sunday’s sermon is
entitled “Two Sons” or “It’s Not Enough to Talk the Talk; We’ve Got to Walk the
Walk” and deals with the gospel (Matthew 21: 23-32).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">Here it is:</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">Did you hear the story
of the rich young man who had been taken to the hospital, critically ill. His
condition worsened, and he was confined there for quite a few weeks. His doctor
even had told him that he wasn’t sure if he’d recover, but that they would continue
to do all they could. The man was obviously scared to death, and said to the
doctor, “Please, doctor, do everything you can! I don’t want to die! I have so
much to do yet in life, and if you can help me get better, I’ll even donate $100,000
to the fund for the new hospital.” Would you believe- right after that, he
began to recover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">Several months later,
while he was out in the town, he saw the doctor on the street, and the doctor
asked him how he felt. The young man said, “Doc, I haven’t felt better any time
in my life.” The doctor said, “That’s great, because I wanted to ask you about
the money you said you intended to donate to the new hospital fund. You
remember you said if you got well, you’d like to donate $100,000, and we could
really use that now.” The young man said, “Man, if I said that, I must have
been really sick!” (Anonymous)</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">That young man sounds a
lot like the son in the parable Jesus told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">As you recall, a father asked his two sons to work in the field.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">The first son did exactly what the rich young
man in the story did to the doctor.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">The
son told his father he’d be glad, delighted even, to work in the field.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">However, as soon as the father turned his back,
that son was out of there!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">The second
son said he would not work in the field, but then felt sorry for what he had
said and actually did the work.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Jesus
asked, “Who really loved the father more?”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">The obvious answer- “The son who helped his father.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">That’s the message for us.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">We can’t simply talk the talk.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">If we really love God, we’ve got to walk the
walk.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">Our Bible lessons
suggest two times we need to be especially careful to walk the walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">Did you notice how quickly the Israelites
were ready to blame God and kill Moses when they were suffering with thirst?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Times of suffering are serious times of
temptation.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">It’s so very easy to ask,
“God, how could you!” instead of “God, what do you want me to do?” </font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">Our epistle suggests
another situation when we need to be especially careful to walk the walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">Paul reminded his church at Philippi
(Philippians 2:2b-4a) “Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be
united in what you think, as if you were only one person.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and
consider others more important than yourselves.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3">
</font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Care about them as much as you care about yourselves.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">I don’t have to tell you- that’s hard to do;
and you know where it’s hardest?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">At home
with those we love.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">When we’re with
strangers or acquaintances, we do our best to be polite; but with our families-
if we’re not careful, we simply “let it all hang out.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">We can trick our friends and acquaintances,
but our families know the real person- who we really are.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Yet, if we really love God, we’ll do what he
says and love our neighbors (even our families) as much as we love ourselves.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><font color="#000000">I’m going to close with
a poem you’ve heard a number of times that speaks to walking the walk- not just
once in a while, but daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3">It’s called “If
Jesus Came to Your House,” by By Blanchard Eades</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">“Would you hide your
worldly music and put some hymn books out?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Could you let Jesus
walk right in, or would you rush about?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">And I wonder, if the
Savior spent a day or two with you,</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Would you go right on
doing the things you always do?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Would you go right on
saying the things you always say?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Would life for you
continue as it does from day to day?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Would your family
conversation keep up its usual pace?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">And would you find it
hard each meal to say a table grace?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Would you sing the
songs you always sing, and read the books you read?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">And let him know the things
on which your mind and spirit feed?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Would you take Jesus
with you everywhere you'd planned to go?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Or would you, maybe,
change your plans for just a day or so?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">If Jesus came to your
house to spend a day or two,</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">If He came
unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do.</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Oh, I know you'd give
your nicest room to such an honored guest,</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">And all the foods you'd
serve to him would be the very best.</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">And you would keep
assuring Him you're glad to have Him there;</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">That serving Him in
your own home is joy beyond compare.</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">But, when you saw Him
coming, would you meet Him at the door</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">With arms outstretched
in welcome to your heavenly Visitor?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Or would you have to
change your clothes before you let Him in?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Or hide some magazines,
and put the Bible where they'd been?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Would you turn off the
radio, and hope He hadn't heard?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">And wish you hadn't
uttered that last, loud, hasty word?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Would you be glad to
have Him meet your very closest friends?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Or would you hope
they'd stay away until His visit ends?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Would you be glad to
have Him stay forever on and on?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Or would you sigh with
great relief when He at last was gone?</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">It might be interesting
to know the things that you would do</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">If Jesus Christ in
person came to spend some time with you.”</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">May God bless us as we
endeavor to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; tab-stops: .25in;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">For
anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements
are posted on our parish’s NEW WEB SITE under “Sermons & Stuff”. The
address is: </font><a target="_blank" href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman" size="3">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</font></u></a><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
.</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Blessed preaching,</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Judy Boli</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">St. Paul's Episcopal
Church</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Saginaw, Michigan</font></div>
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