<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:02/13/2016 10:49 PM (GMT-05:00) <br>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> <br>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Lent 1C <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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Dear Friends,</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Yield Not to
Temptation” or “The Devil Made Me Do It!” and deals with the gospel (Luke 9: 28-
36).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">Here it is: </font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">We just heard the story of
the temptation of Jesus in the desert (Luke 4:1-13) and we know the feeling of
being tempted all too well, because temptation is a part of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">In Lent it gets even worse as we try to stick
with our Lenten commitment of giving up something that keeps us from being the
best we can be and taking on something to deepen our spiritual lives.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">You know as well as I do, even good change is
hard.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">How many diets have you gone
on?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Since we purposely take on change in
Lent, we also purposely expose ourselves to temptation.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Do you remember the story about the father
who told his three-year-old son not to go near the street while he was outside.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He could ride his tricycle.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He could dig in his sandbox.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He could sit on the steps and watch his
father work in the yard.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He could help
his father dig in the yard.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">The only
thing he could NOT do was go near the street, because it was very
dangerous.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">The father held his son’s
small face in his hands and carefully explained this to him, then asked if he
understood.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">“Yes, daddy,” said the
child.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">As soon as the father turned
away, you know exactly what the little boy did, don’t you...put his right toe
in the street and looked at his father as if to say, “I dare you!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Sounds like Adam and Eve all over again.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">We humans surely do have a disobedient streak
in us!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">So, let’s get personal.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">What did you give up for Lent?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">If it’s doughnuts, I know your car just
happens to drive by the doughnut shop.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">If it’s smoking, I know you look at those cigarettes when you pay for
your gas.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">It’s no accident that Jesus
taught us to pray: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,”
better translated: “Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from
evil.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Jesus came to give us life, allow
us to live our lives to the fullest.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">What is the opposite of “live?”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">Sure, “E-V-I-L”- what the devil wants to trick us into choosing.</font></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Here are some useful facts about temptation
and how to handle it:</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><ul type="square" style="margin-top: 0in;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When we’re under huge
assault, it’s so easy to forget that Jesus has overcome, so the power to
overcome is in our hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The devil
cannot force us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All he can do is
simply try to convince us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
trouble is- we get convinced all too easily.</span></li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One of the devil’s
tricks is to make us think overcoming temptation is simply a matter of
education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As is the case with most
of the devil’s tricks- this is partly true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Education helps, but the real problem is
one of the will, of making choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are tempted to choose short term happiness over our long term
well-being.</span></li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Temptation starts in
our minds and moves from mind to action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did you notice the thought for the week? Gandhi taught: “Keep your
thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your words positive because your words
become your behaviors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your
behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your habits positive because your
habits become your values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep
your values positive because your values become your destiny.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Rev. Dr. Anthony
Evans reminds us: “Used improperly, credit cards operate a lot like sin:
enjoy now, pay later.”</span></li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></ul><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">Question- how can you know if that still,
small voice in your head is God’s- encouraging happiness and life, or the
devil’s encouraging unhappiness and death?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font><font color="#000000">Use Jesus’ experience to help you figure it out.</font></font></span></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000"><br></font></font></span></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">(Continued in Part 2)</font></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">May God bless us as we keep a holy Lent full
of life-giving spiritual growth.</font></span></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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></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;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">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">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</font></u></a><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> .</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Blessed preaching,</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Judy Boli</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; mso-mirror-indents: yes;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Saginaw, Michigan</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div>
<p></p>
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