<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body ><div>Forwarded: </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div style="font-size:8px;color:#575757">From my Android phone on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network.</div></div><br><br>-------- Original message --------<br>From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org> <br>Date:10/10/2015 10:19 PM (GMT-05:00) <br>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> <br>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 23B <br><br><div dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Dear
Friends,</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Eye of a Needle” or “A $15 Porsche?!!” and deals
with the Gospel (Mark 10:17-31).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here it
is:</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Is there anyone in our congregation this morning who wants
to inherit eternal life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, listen
up- the wisdom from this Bible lesson is for you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning in the continuing story of
Jesus’ life, we heard the episode from Mark (10:17-31) about the rich (Matthew,
Mark, and Luke), young (Matthew), ruler (Luke).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In it, Jesus says something very strange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says it is easier for a camel to get
through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of
heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To help you see what he’s probably
talking about, let me tell you something that happened while I was still
teaching at Longstreet School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost
every morning, my teacher friends and I gathered in a friend’s classroom to
prepare for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On this particular
morning as we were talking, through the open door ran a small animal that
looked like a large mouse or a small rat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well- you know how many of we women are- afraid of mice and rats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of my teacher friends screamed and jumped
up on tables, chairs, whatever was available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As you probably know, I’m not afraid of such animals (although I am
afraid of insects), so I yelled at the little creature, chased it out of the
classroom, and then firmly closed the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My friends got down and relaxed, then someone called the office to
inform them that a rat-type animal (actually it turned out to be a ferret) was
in the building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next thing we knew
the ferret was back- he had scrunched down and re-entered the classroom through
the crack at the bottom of the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
friends- that was a lot of scrunching, because that was a mighty small crack
between the door and the floor!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why am I
telling you this story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the
camel Jesus was talking about had to do the same thing that ferret chose to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you recall how Jerusalem had a
wall around it to protect it from enemy attack?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well, many archeologists think there was a very small, short gate into
Jerusalem called the “eye of the needle” gate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It seems this gate was always open, because it was small enough to be
protected by two watchmen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
remember how merchants loaded their camels with expensive spices, cloth, and
other goods to bring across the desert to sell?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If they arrived after all the other gates to the city were closed and if
they wanted entrance, they could do one of two things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either they could wait until morning, or else
they could take every last thing off their camels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, one by one, the camels had to kneel
down, (actually scrunch down like that ferret) to get through the very short
gate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">It’s not just olden-time camels who had to be rid of
everything weighing them down; that’s what we’ve got to do too if we intend to
inherit eternal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before we go any
further, I want to clear one thing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We heard Jesus say to sell everything and give the money to the
poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who was he talking to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So who was he talking to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure- the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did Jesus tell him that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Jesus was giving him the chance of a
lifetime to become one of the disciples and he couldn’t take all that “stuff”
with him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus doesn’t tell us to sell
everything that we have and give the money to people poorer than we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason he doesn’t is because we aren’t
called to walk the Palestine roads with him in the first century, so it’s not a
necessity for our call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus was,
however, saying something even more drastic with this example.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was teaching that those of us who want to
inherit eternal life must get down on our knees before our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was saying that we must rid ourselves of
everything that gets in the way of putting God first in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was informing us that we must rid
ourselves of everything that interferes with loving our Lord with our whole
heart and soul and mind; everything that interferes with loving our neighbor as
much as we love ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the camel
was unburdened from the riches piled on his back- so the obvious questions that
almost scream from the Bible to us are- “What do you need to get rid of in your
life?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What do I need to get rid of in
my life?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What gets in the way between
us and God?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s a list to get us
thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Our first job?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
need to get rid of our greedy attitudes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are you greedy with your money, your food, your love?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever is the object of your greed is also
your first love, your god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of us do
fine with our friends but are greedy with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When that collection plate comes by, do we put as much as we possibly
can into it, or do we put just enough so we don’t feel funny?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, as much as is possible, God expects
ten percent of everything we own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Greed
is definitely one of those things we’ve got to get rid of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The Bible lessons add to our list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the Old Testament- do you take advantage
of people who are vulnerable right now in their lives?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also- are you totally honest in thought, word,
and deed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still on honesty- do you buy
items on the black market (and which have therefore probably been stolen from
someone else)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you were not satisfied
with your answers about honesty, what gets in the way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with the camel- get rid of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">We heard Jesus using the commandments in today’s gospel, so
let’s consider the Ten Commandments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do
you obey the four commandments about loving God (God FIRST, nothing else
elbowing God out of the way in your life, never using God’s name lightly,
church every Sunday)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not- what gets
in the way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with the camel- get rid
of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you obey the six commandments
about loving your neighbor (honor your parents; no murder, no adultery, no
stealing, no telling lies about other people, no coveting)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not- what gets in the way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with the camel- get rid of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">Then, from other recent Bible lessons- what about your
tongue- do you watch it or do you tear people apart with it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not- what gets in the way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, as with the camel- get rid of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What addictions do you have- alcohol, drugs,
people, food, TV, sports, something I didn’t think of yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not- what gets in the way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with the camel- get rid of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you only think of yourself- number one, or
do you reach out and help other people? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not- what gets in the way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with the camel- get rid of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">I’m going to close with a story to remind us to be like that
camel and get rid of those things that hold us back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems that one day a fifteen year-old boy
came home with a Porsche and his parents began to scream, “Where did you get
that car???!!!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He calmly told them, “I
bought it today.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“With what money?”
demanded his parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We know what a
Porsche costs!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well,” said the boy,
“this one cost me fifteen dollars.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
the parents began to yell even louder. “Who would sell a car like that for
fifteen dollars?” they said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It was the
lady up the street,” said the boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
don't know her name—she just moved in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She saw me ride past on my bike and asked me if I wanted to buy a Porsche
for fifteen dollars.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh no!”’ moaned
the mother. “She must be a child abuser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who knows what she will do next?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>John, you go right up there and see what's going on.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the boy's father walked up the street to
the house where the lady lived and found her out in the yard calmly planting
petunias!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He introduced himself as the
father of the boy to whom she had sold a Porsche for fifteen dollars and
demanded to know why she did it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well,”
she said, “this morning I got a phone call from my husband. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought he was on a business trip; but it
seems he has run off to Hawaii with his secretary and doesn't intend to come
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked me to sell his new
Porsche and send him the money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I
did.”*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look brothers and sisters, as
that angry wife got rid of that fancy car as fast as she could- you do the
same- not with your car, but with the things that block you from God- get rid
of them as fast as you can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May God
bless us with wisdom as we examine our lives, courage to get rid of those
things that block us from God, and endurance to stick with our decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">*JokesWareHouse.com</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p 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 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></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Blessed
preaching,</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Judy
Boli</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p 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></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Saginaw,
Michigan</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div>
<p></p>
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