<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body ><div>Forwarded: Part 1 of 2</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:03/05/2016 9:04 PM (GMT-05:00) <br>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> <br>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Lent 4C <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 “The TWO Sons” or “My
Father’s Heart” and deals with the Gospel (Luke 15: 11- 32).<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">“Sons, both of them?” you’re
thinking!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">I thought there was just one-
the prodigal son, the sinful adventurer.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">Just wait- we’re getting ahead of ourselves.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">This parable has many life lessons for
us.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">You just heard the story:</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">The younger son was sick and tired of the
same boring routine and all the work that went along with farming.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He wanted some excitement big time, so he
went to his father and asked for his inheritance now, instead of waiting until
his dad was dead.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">As you probably
remember, in that society, the oldest son got a double portion of the family
inheritance, so the younger son got one-third of the father’s belongings.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Since the father wasn’t dead yet, we would
have been talking about livestock and the tools for making a living.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">This means that the father made a great sacrifice
in his own standard of living, because some of those livestock would have gone
on to reproduce.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">In our time it would be
like giving your child investments from your 401 k- the source from which your
retirement comes.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Not only was it a real
sacrifice, it was extremely disrespectful.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">In that culture, as in ours, you just didn’t do that!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">It was almost like telling his father to
“drop dead!”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Well, in spite of the rude
request, the father gives the youngest son what would be his share of the
father’s belongings, and off the son goes.</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 face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">You know what happens
next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">The younger son parties away all
his money; then the economy goes bad, and the only kind of work he can get is
caring for pigs- animals considered by Jewish people of that day to be filthy,
unclean, and not to be even touched.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He
was starving- even willing to eat pig food (probably carob leaves- used these
days by health food lovers as fake chocolate) - but no one would give him
anything.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He comes to his senses and
makes a plan for how to go home.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He
knows his father treats his hired servants fairly, so he figures he can go back
as one of the workers, save his wages, pay his father back, and then be
accepted once again as a son.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">His father
must have been watching for him, because he sees his younger son coming a long
way off.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He runs to him; embraces him;
welcomes him home, won’t listen to any of his “hired servant” scheme; and
throws a gigantic welcome-home party.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">You notice- there is nothing said about the son getting more
inheritance.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">This is where we usually
end the story, but we have so far only met one lost son.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Here comes the other, because the elder son
is furious when he finds out what happened!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">He won’t go in the house to join in the celebrating, so the father comes
out and entreats him.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">We never do find
out what happened.</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 face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">That’s the story Jesus
told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font><font color="#000000">Each character speaks to our lives
today.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Let’s look at the younger son
first.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Did you hear about the man who
lost his gas cap at the gas station when he filled his tank?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Instead of going back to the gas station and
meticulously retracing his path, he figured that other people had done the same
thing, and their caps would be along this very road, so he looked in the ditch
and found a gas cap that would fit.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">“In
fact,” he figured, “this one’s even better than the one I lost- it locks.”</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Considering himself very lucky, he put it on
his car.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">MISTAKE!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">That gas cap worked really well- until he
needed gas again, and then…….He got what he wanted, but the trouble was, he
didn’t know what to do with it when he got it.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">That’s just what happened to that younger son.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He must have considered himself very lucky
when his father fell for his request.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">He
got just the freedom he wanted, but he really didn’t know what to do with it
after he got it!</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Dr. Tony Evans reminds
us that sin is like that- slavery that looks like freedom for a while.</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000"> </font></span><font color="#000000">Have you ever been like that younger son-
done something REALLY wrong or stupid or both?</font><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><font color="#000000">
</font></span><font color="#000000">Here are the temptations that go with being a “younger son” type:</font></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><ol style="list-style-type: decimal; direction: ltr;"><li style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Did you notice he went to a
far country where he could be anonymous?</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t fall
for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scripture is right when it
says, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe no one else knows, but you and God both
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unconfessed sin will poison your
spirit.</span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thinking, “My sin is so
terrible that it can’t be forgiven</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hogwash!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blood of Jesus
Christ is stronger than any sin!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Confess
it; if possible make restitution for it; and you and God turn your life
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you fail, continue the
process until you succeed and also do number three (next item).</span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Thinking, “My sin is a
habit- I can’t change.”</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again- hogwash!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If necessary, make a formal confession to
your priest; get professional help; don’t miss one Sunday of the input of the
Word, your Holy Communion, and the support of your Christian friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The power of God is stronger than anything
the devil can throw at you.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The other lost son was the
older one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you notice how his
jealousy and self-righteousness separated him from his father?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever looked at someone and thought-
“How could he or she do that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now
they want MY forgiveness?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are four
thoughts about forgiveness that will reduce our tendency to become like the
lost older son: </span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">(Continued in Part 2)</span></p></li></ol><ul style="list-style-type: disc; direction: ltr;"><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; "><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span style="font-size: 11pt;">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: <a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><u><font color="#0000ff">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</font></u></a> .</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Blessed preaching,</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Judy Boli</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span style="font-size: 11pt;">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; "><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Saginaw, Michigan</span></p></li></ul><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div>
<p></p>
-- <br>
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Propertalk" group.<br>
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to <a href="mailto:propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org">propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org</a>.<br>
</body>