<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:08/20/2016 5:55 PM (GMT-05:00) <br>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> <br>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 16C <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 “Jesus Calls Us” or
“Put Your Glasses On!” and deals with the Old Testament lesson (Jeremiah 1:
4-10).<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: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">This morning, we heard the religious leaders angry at Jesus because he
broke one of their laws and healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we read a bit further in the chapter, we
hear Jesus warn them that they had better live what they believe, or they are
really going to be embarrassed when they die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They will see all those people they labeled as “no good” having a
wonderful time in God’s kingdom while they are left out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus reminds them that the door to eternal
life is narrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You realize he could be
talking to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s look at the Bible
lessons today to see what they have to say to us.</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;"><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;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Think of the day when you were born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can you imagine the excitement of that day, your birthday?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, it wasn’t simply our parents,
siblings, grandparents, and other relatives who rejoiced when we were
born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The angels in heaven
rejoiced!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God rejoiced!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here was another precious human to love and
be loved, serve and be served, make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember the old bugle call that went-
“You’re in the army now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re not
behind the plow.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well- here was another
potential foot soldier, or maybe general, to be in God’s army- an army of
peacemakers and justice seekers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How has
it gone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you answer God’s call?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you enlist, or are you waiting for a more
convenient time or until you feel like it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is God still rejoicing, or have you been a disappointment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thought for the week speaks loud and clear
at this point: “When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Live your life in such a manner that when you
die, the world cries and you rejoice” (Anonymous).<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;"><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;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">We can start by assuming that God is calling you, because the Bible
teaches this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you know what he
wants you to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know two things God is calling you to
do:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, look inside you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What needs fixing, learning, strengthening,
healing, freeing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What education or
training do you need to be your best self?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Second, look around and see what needs doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What needs fixing, healing, discovering,
making whole?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is there injustice
and cruelty, sadness, grief, pain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
needs to be made beautiful, uplifted, strengthened, and on, and on, and on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What upsets you or makes you angry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you noticed it and it touches your heart,
God is calling you to do something about it.</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;"><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;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">In the Old Testament reading about God’s call of the prophet Jeremiah,
we hear one of the most common mistakes we humans make when called by the
Divine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you notice how full of
excuses Jeremiah was- I can’t- I’m too young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Moses acted the same way, except he had two excuses- that he couldn’t
speak and even when he did, he never knew what to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much of God’s work is left undone because
someone is TOO.......too old, too young, too untrained, too something?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you remember how frustrated God got at
Moses when he started with his excuses?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>God’s basic response was, “I made you; I made your mouth; I can help you
do anything I want done!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We forget that
whom God calls, God empowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The task
ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us (The Rev. Bass
Mitchell).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to look at life through
God’s eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember when Goliath came
against the Israelites, and the soldiers all thought, “He's so big- we can
never kill him.” David looked at the same giant, but he looked at him through
God’s eyes and thought, “He's so big, I can't miss.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, NO EXCUSES!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God wants it done for the kingdom, you can
do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can do all things through
Christ, who strengthens you.</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;"><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;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Have you heard the poem that goes: </font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">My face in the mirror isn't
wrinkled or drawn.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">My house isn't dirty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cobwebs are gone.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">My garden looks lovely and
so does my lawn.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px 1em 0.5in; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">I think I may never......put
my glasses back on.</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;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Well, put your glasses on and check out your soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s start with reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s blocking you from being happy,
fulfilled, the best that you can be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What’s blocking you from serving God- hearing his call and answering
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is something in your way- an
attitude, an unconfessed sin, a spirit poisoned by anger, frustration, hatred,
jealousy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which of the devil’s lies have
you bought into, simply because “everyone’s doing it” or it’s all over the
TV?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you really love God enough, or
are you only “in like” with God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Test
yourself out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often do you find
yourself not doing the right thing, the Godly thing, the kind thing because you
just don’t feel like it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You miss church
because you don’t feel like getting up in the morning?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t share your thoughts when sharing
might help another person because “it’s not their business.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t speak up because you don’t want to
get involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two confirmed bachelors
were sitting and talking. Their conversation drifted from politics to cooking.
"I got a cookbook once," said the first, "but I could never do
anything with it." "Too much fancy cooking in it, eh?" asked the
second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"You said it. Every one of
the recipes began the same way - 'Take a clean dish and...'"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In other words, clean up your own life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put God first, get to know Him, walk with
Him, take time with Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t only
worship Him when you feel like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
pretty hard to create a wonderful life for yourself and God if you don’t start
with a clean kitchen- clean up the mess first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For cooking, start with clean dishes and for creating a life that’s the
best that you can be, start with a clean attitude.</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;"><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;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Finally, spend time with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone has said or heard the phrase, "Don't just sit there, do
something."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you ever heard
someone say, “Don’t just do something, sit there.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Because you’ve got to know Him, know His ways, listen to His voice, walk
with Him, access His power before you can serve Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In closing, here’s an old, familiar story
(just told you 6-19-16) that reminds us of the need to “be still and know that
I am God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before refrigerators, people
used ice houses to preserve their food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ice houses had thick walls, no windows, and a tightly fitted door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In winter, when streams and lakes were
frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the ice houses, and covered
with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One man lost a valuable watch while working
in an ice house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He searched diligently
for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn't find it. His fellow
workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small girl who
heard about the fruitless search slipped into the ice house during the noon
hour and soon emerged with the watch. Amazed, the men asked her how she found
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"I closed the door," the
girl replied, "lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard
the watch ticking."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(From James
Hamilton in Directions as quoted in Fresh Illustrations For Preaching &
Teaching From Leadership Journal, edited by Edward K. Rowell, Copyright © 1997
by Christianity Today, Inc., Baker Books: Grand Rapids, Mich., p. 93.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s your chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the rest of our worship, think about the
Bible readings and sermon, look through the bulletin, think, pray, and listen
for God’s voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask for direction,
check out your spiritual life for poisonous attitudes, and be still and know
that God is God.</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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