<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body ><div>Forwarded: </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:08/06/2016 8:32 PM (GMT-05:00) <br>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> <br>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 14C <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 color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Actions Speak Louder
than Words” or “Is Your Faith a Verb?” and deals with the epistle (Hebrews 11:
1-16).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here it is: </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: 0in 0in 6pt; line-height: normal;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Almost all our Bible readings
for today center on faith, so we’re going to focus on it this morning- what it
is; how you know you have it; what gets in the way of having faith; and how you
can help it grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all- what is
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our Hebrews lesson, we get a
definition in the very first verse: “Faith makes us sure of what we hope for
and gives us proof of what we cannot see.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In other words, faith means we obey God even when the reality of the
situation makes obedience impractical or even risky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next the Hebrews lesson point out how faith
made our ancestors pleasing to God.<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; 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: 0in 0in 6pt; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">If we examine the pattern of
the people of faith listed in this 11</font><sup><font size="2">th</font></sup><font size="3"> chapter of Hebrews, we
quickly notice that God knew they had faith, not by what they said, but by what
they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is not simply a thought
process- it is an action word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>James
says, “Anyone who doesn’t breathe is dead, and faith that doesn’t do anything
is just as dead (<st1:time w:st="on" hour="14" minute="26">2:26</st1:time>).”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve heard the old saying- “actions speak
louder than words.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In two of our Bible
lessons, Genesis and Hebrews, God made two seemingly impossible promises to
Abraham and Sarah. They believed God’s promises of descendants and land, in
spite of the fact that they were too old to have children and therefore any
land they might claim couldn’t continue in the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you tell Abraham and Sarah had
faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not by their words, but by their
actions- Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, his only son with Sarah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God spared Isaac only after Abraham’s actions
proved his faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abraham was also
willing to take his family and follow God’s leading to the land of
promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His actions- walking to the
place of sacrifice and walking to the Promised Land.</font></font></font></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">Then there was Noah- he
believed when told that God would destroy the world by flood, and it was up to
Noah to preserve life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you know
he believed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not by what he said, but by
what he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is an action word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember the very short summary of the
Bible in which every other word is a verb (action word)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It goes: “God made; Adam bit; Noah arked;
Abraham split; Jacob fooled; Joseph ruled; Bush talked; Moses balked; Pharaoh
plagued; people walked; sea divided; tablets guided; promise landed; Saul
freaked; David peeked; prophets warned; Jesus born; God walked; LOVE talked;
anger crucified; hope died; LOVE rose; Spirit flamed; Word spread; GOD
remained.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So- faith- how do you know if
you have it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Test yourself by the same
criteria we use to judge our Bible ancestors- not our words, but our actions.</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">We mean well, but I know
three traps we fall into unless we’re careful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First trap- we sell ourselves and our Lord short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know we and our children are gifted beyond
measure and that we are created in God’s image, yet we see the evils of our
society (racism, sexism, classism, ageism, etc.) and “fate” as overpowering our
lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fate and evil are not in charge,
GOD IS IN CHARGE, but we must put this belief into action, or it is
useless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TAKE CHARGE- you are not
destined to get lung cancer- stop smoking!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Parents- TAKE CHARGE - don’t trust your doctor’s office to keep up with
your child’s shots or medications.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
stay informed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Young people- TAKE
CHARGE- don’t listen to your friends- you are not fated to be killed by
violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t hang out with people who
don’t have your values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have nothing to
do with violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, be
proactive with things that are important to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plan ahead and then use self-discipline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Money is a tool that can help you live a good
life or destroy you, depending on if you run it or it runs you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Live within your means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch your charge cards- don’t charge desires
and wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you drive a car- don’t
park in an illegal spot and then blame someone when you get a ticket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t have unprotected sex and then blame someone if you get pregnant or
AIDS or have huge life-destroying child support payments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Choose carefully whom you marry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God intends marriage to be life-long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do everything you can to preserve your
marriage, regardless of how easy and accepted divorce is these days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>TAKE CHARGE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If everybody’s doing it and you know it’s wrong, that simply tells you
that you need other friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you
remember hearing of dolphins and other sea mammals beaching themselves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seems to happen a couple of times a
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dolphins or whales almost
always either die or have to be euthanized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What causes these wonderful sea mammals to beach themselves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dolphins and whales have an extremely strong
social bond, so scientists theorize that they just follow their leader, even
though he or she is self destructive or has lost his or her way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have courage and TAKE CHARGE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No friends are better than the wrong friends.</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">Second trap- we’re like the
impala (a deer-like African animal).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
impala can jump to a height of over <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" productid="10 feet">10 feet</st1:metricconverter> and cover a distance of greater than <st1:metricconverter w:st="on" productid="30 feet">30 feet</st1:metricconverter>. Yet these
magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot
wall. How is this possible?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Impalas will
not jump if they cannot see where their feet will land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we’re like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know Jesus says to love our neighbor, pray
for our enemies, not put our security or peace of mind in material things, and
yet it just seems so impractical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
we’re kind to our enemies, won’t they take advantage of us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we live by our values, won’t we have to
get by with no friends or else be labeled as somehow “strange”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we really intend to obey our marriage
vows, won’t they stand in our way?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we
reach out and help somebody, won’t we have less for ourselves?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forget about practicalities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Follow Jesus’ way.</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"><font face="Times New Roman">Faith- how do you help it
grow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That gets us to the third trap- we
mean well, but then we lose our temper, or the money runs out, or another
crisis hits and we lose our focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’ve heard the saying- good intentions pave the way to hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, my friends, I’m here to tell you that
good intentions work if they’re backed up by God’s power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Latch on to that power and keep your focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once again, be proactive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NEVER start the day off without prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NEVER miss some kind of spiritual reading,
even if it’s simply “Forward Day by Day.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>NEVER miss getting your weekly spiritual redirection and Holy Communion
power, unless you are sick or working.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your friends will tell you that you don’t have to come to church every
Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True, but how do you expect to
maintain your positive focus and spiritual power unless you do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why the fourth commandment says,
“Remember the Sabbath day (for Christians- Sunday- the day of the Lord’s
Resurrection) and keep it holy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
why the Bible warns us not to forget our gatherings for prayer and the
“breaking of the bread” (i.e. Holy Communion).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></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;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So how’s your faith?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t tell me what you think about faith or
God or the Bible; show me by what you do in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are your action words?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you prayed up, worshipped up, Holy
Communioned up, loved up, listened up, forgiven up, studied up, confessed up,
thanked up, helped up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you like the
impala, can’t see it- won’t try it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
are you like the little boy I’m going to tell you about in closing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was this little boy who was watching a
group of scientists and botanists as they explored a remote region of the Alps in search of new species of flowers. One day they
noticed through binoculars a flower of such rarity and beauty that its value to
science was incalculable. The problem was- it lay deep in a ravine with cliffs
on both sides. To get the flower, someone had to be lowered over the cliff on a
rope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They noticed the curious young boy
who’d been watching them for days, and the scientists told him they would pay
him well if he would agree to be lowered over the cliff to retrieve the flower
below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boy took one long look down
the steep, dizzy depths and said, “I'll be back in a minute.” A short time
later he returned, followed by a gray-haired man. Approaching the botanist, the
boy said, “I'll go over that cliff and get that flower for you if this man
holds the rope. He's my dad.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So be
proactive; take charge of your life; be courageous to go against the crowd and
risk failure- just let your Dad, your heavenly Father, hold the rope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know he won’t let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have faith and trust him.</span><font size="3"> </font></font></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;"><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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