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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, Jul 4, 2015 3:03 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 9B<br>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><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; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Troublesome People” or “Like Water off a Duck’s Back!” and deals with all the lessons.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><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 color="#000000" size="3">Happy 4</font><sup><font color="#000000" size="2">th</font></sup><font color="#000000" size="3"> of July week-end!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">If you went to the fireworks last night or had people at your house, I’ll bet you encountered some troublesome people either coming or going.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">If you tried to sleep last night, I’ll bet you heard some terrible people with 3 AM firecrackers and 4 AM gun shots!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">This morning we heard of one of the more painful times in Jesus’ life.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">He went back to his hometown, Nazareth, probably to see his family and close friends- especially those he’d grown up with.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">He had preached, healed, and done other wonderful works for strangers; and for quite a while he’d probably longed to go home and reach out and touch those he had loved since childhood, but it wasn’t to be.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Instead of welcoming him home, their response was- “Who does he think he is?!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Isn’t he just Mary’s son” (not naming his father- thus signifying his was an illegitimate birth)?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">“Isn’t he just a carpenter?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Who is he that we should listen to him?”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">In fact, the Gospel of Luke tells how they got so mad when he preached that they tried to throw him over the cliff and kill him.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">What a disappointing, sad reception!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Jesus had his share of dealing with difficult people, and so do we.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">That’s what I’d like us to think through this morning.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">If we are going to be true to our Lord, how does Jesus want US to deal with the difficult people in our lives?</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Did you hear the story of Old Fred, who was in the hospital and desperately ill?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">All his family and friends were gathered around his bedside.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Realizing how serious the situation was, they sent for his pastor.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">As his pastor said the prayers for the dying, Fred suddenly started to motion for something to write on and with, so his wife handed him a piece of paper and a pencil.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">He wrote quickly, handed the pastor his note, laid back with a loud sigh, and died.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">At the funeral, Fred’s pastor realized he was wearing the same jacket he had worn in the hospital, so the pastor put his hand in his jacket pocket and retrieved the note, written by his dying friend.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">He told the congregation what had happened, and then what a great Christian man Fred had been.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">“I know,” said the pastor, “whatever brother Fred wrote will enlighten and strengthen us.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Opening the note, he read aloud, “Help! You're standing on my oxygen hose!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Talk about troublesome people!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">So who are the troublesome people in your life, and how do you deal with them?</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">Our Old Testament lesson was about David, who became Israel’s mightiest king.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">You can bet David had troublesome people in his life!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Before David became king, he was hired by King Saul to play music on his harp to soothe Saul’s nerves.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Do you recall how, one day as David was playing- doing the king a favor yet- Saul threw his spear at David, barely missing him?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Maybe the troublesome people in your life are those you originally tried to help, as David tried to help King Saul.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Or perhaps they are people who have power over you, like a boss or a social worker, who use their power to misuse you- again as King Saul did to David.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">The epistle is part of a very painful letter St. Paul wrote to his Corinthian church.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Some members of this church considered themselves such “super-Christians” that they thought they knew everything.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">They even questioned Paul’s authority as a bishop.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Maybe the troublesome people in your life are “know-it-all Christians” who lecture you and tell you that you’re going to hell if you don’t believe exactly as they say you should.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Remember, the Episcopal Church is a thinking person’s church.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Jesus died to take away your sins, not your mind.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">We mentioned the gospel earlier- when Jesus’ own family and close friends refused to accept him.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">In fact, as you recall- a bit earlier in Mark’s gospel we hear how Jesus’ mother Mary and his brothers had come while he was preaching to take him home, because they thought he was crazy.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Perhaps the troublesome people in your life are people in your own household or some of your most trusted friends.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">So how should we handle such people?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Take Jesus’ advice.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">His culture said, “Shake the dust off your feet.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Our culture means the same thing, but puts it this way:</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Let their insults be like water off a duck’s back.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Give them to God, love them, keep praying for them, and keep your own life on track.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Evil temptations to avoid:</font></div>
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<li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">REVENGE: you’ve heard, “I don’t get mad; I get even.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s for the devil’s folks, not us- because we’re on God’s side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No revenge.</li>
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<li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">BITTERNESS: exactly whom are you trying to hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A poisoned spirit only hurts YOU!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t dwell on the evil that people have done to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, focus on how you have remained a free-spirit in the Lord.</li>
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<li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">MOODINESS: You know how Bill+ and I frequently used to go out to lunch together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember us having a new but rather nice young waitress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we commented on how pleasant she had been, she responded, “You’re lucky I didn’t wait on you yesterday!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in a terrible mood!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be like that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bad mood is not an excuse; but it is the devil’s playground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Control your moodiness, and see the doctor if you can’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay positive.</li>
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<li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">QUITTING: Jesus didn’t quit, he tried again in the next town...and the next town...and the next...and the next- until he finally ended up on the cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t quit.</li>
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<li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">SELF-DOUBT: Again- Jesus could have believed them and started to doubt himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are made in the image of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Error-analyze what you’re doing, and then keep on keeping on.</li>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000" size="3">And how do you have the power to do these things?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Some of our members have had absolutely terrible things happen to them.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Two members have lost nephews and one member lost a brother to homicide!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">How do you not let this destroy your life?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Did you hear the prayer someone prayed?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">“Dear God, so far today I've done all right. </font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">I haven't gossiped. I haven't lost my temper. I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent. </font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">I'm very thankful for that.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">But in a few minutes, God, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot of help. Amen.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">How can you possibly give the troublesome people in your life to God, love them, keep praying for them, and keep your own life on track?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Paul has the answer in our epistle today.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">We heard him quote God’s promise (as true for us as it was for Paul): “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2</font><sup><font color="#000000" size="2">nd</font></sup><font color="#000000" size="3"> Corinthians 12: 9a).</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">We can’t control how troublesome people treat us, but we most surely can control how we respond.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Did you notice the thought for the week: “Be fishers of men (and women and children).</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">You catch ‘em; God will clean them.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Don’t worry how much cleaning some of these troublesome people will require.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Just give them to God- they ARE his business.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000" size="3"> </font></span><font color="#000000" size="3">Amen.</font></font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes; 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 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"></font></u></a><u><font color="#0000ff" face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a></font></u><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> .</font></div>
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<div style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><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; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><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; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><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; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Saginaw, Michigan</font></div>
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