<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><br></div><div id="composer_signature"><div style="font-size:85%;color:#575757" dir="auto">Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device</div></div><div><br></div><div style="font-size:100%;color:#000000"><!-- originalMessage --><div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org> </div><div>Date: 4/15/17 6:51 PM (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> </div><div>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon- “You Can’t Have Easter Power with a Good Friday Attitude!” </div><div><br></div></div><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 “You Can’t Have Easter Power with a Good Friday
Attitude!” and deals with all the lessons.<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 6pt; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-layout-grid-align: auto;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Happy
Easter on this glorious day of our Lord’s resurrection!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lent is done and Easter is here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems like just yesterday we were getting
our Lenten ashes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you hear about the
little boy who asked his pastor what “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” meant?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ah!” said the pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means we all come from dust and we all go
to dust.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well,” said the child, “you’d
better get over to my house right away and look under my bed, because there’s
someone there who’s either coming or going!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></font></font></font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">We are all aware of how atrociously painful Jesus’
last days were, but- if you think about it, his friends had also lived in
crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you notice how the Gospel of
John tells us about the awful reality Mary Magdalene experienced as she
struggled to move from Good Friday tragedy to Easter Sunday delight?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire week had been unbelievably bad for
all of Jesus’ friends- actually going from terrible to worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’d watched everyone turn against him;
with even his disciples leaving him to face his worst times alone. They saw the
trial, the beatings, the mocking, the torture, his execution, and his
burial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worse yet, because the Sabbath
was approaching, they couldn’t even give Jesus a proper burial- he had to be
just quickly placed in the grave and locked in with a huge stone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early Sunday morning, Mary went to see the
body of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scripture didn’t say
why, maybe she went to anoint the body as the other women did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe she just couldn’t sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever- when she got there, the stone was
rolled away and the body was gone- only the grave clothes were there- carefully
folded and placed on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mary
assumed that the body had been moved, so she started to cry. Everything seemed
hopeless, but then Jesus called her name and Easter was the new reality.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">That’s what happened- Jesus is alive, but what’s it to
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s be honest with each
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really- what difference does it
make in your life as you struggle to pay your bills, help the people you love
get along, avoid trouble, and get a little joy out of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer to this question presented itself
again the day before yesterday at the very end of our Good Friday service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twenty-three of us (at one time or another
throughout the three hours) sat around the cross and kept vigil, as you would
in a hospital room while you waited for the death of a loved one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we did the Stations of the Cross and the
Good Friday prayer book liturgy, we counted down the minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At ten seconds to <st1:time w:st="on" hour="15" minute="0">three o’clock</st1:time>, we started counting: 10, 9, 8, 7,
6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0- and shouted “It is accomplished!” because that’s what
Jesus said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t say, “It’s
over.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “ACCOMPLISHED!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I ask you, what’s accomplished?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The war with evil was won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire universe was reclaimed from the
forces of chaos, destruction, and evil; heaven had been claimed, and the forces
of God and good and life had won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is
in charge.<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; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">How do you claim this regime change?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, first of all- have you accepted Jesus
as your Lord and Savior?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not- don’t
wait!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do it now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell me when you come up to the altar at Communion
time, and we can take care of that today.</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">But say you accepted Jesus years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My question to you today then is- are you
living as if God and good and life are in charge; or are you living as if evil
and death are in charge?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is your
attitude Good Friday negative or an Easter life positive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you on the winning side, or are you on
the losing side, and how can you tell?</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><ol type="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" start="1"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Good Friday
attitude- the perspective is defense; Easter attitude- the perspective is
offense!</span></li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Good Friday
attitude - I don’t get mad; I get even!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Easter attitude- drop it; don’t let hatred poison your spirit; give
the problem to God and leave it there (i.e. God says, “Vengeance is mine;
I will repay- and God does a much better job than we ever could and can
even get spiritual growth in the lives of our enemies.).</span></li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Good Friday
attitude– you only go around once in life so get all you can get (and
forget about everyone else)!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easter
attitude- everything I have is a gift from God and there’s more than
enough to go around, so share.</span></li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Good Friday
attitude- I can’t take it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got
to have something (alcohol, TV, drugs, nicotine, food, etc.) to make it
through another day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easter attitude-
God can get you through anything!</span></li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Good Friday
attitude- when you’re dead, you’re dead!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Easter attitude- Jesus is the firstfruit; so death is new birth
into heaven.</span></li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></ol><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">So, are you on the winning
side?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not, why not get there!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wishing won’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Living in the past won’t do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making a decision to live as Jesus’ Easter
people will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his book <i>Teaching the
Elephant to Dance</i>, James Belasco describes how trainers shackle young
elephants with heavy chains to deeply embedded stakes. In that way the elephant
learns to stay in its place. Older, powerful elephants never try to leave—even
though they have the strength to pull the stake and walk away. Their
conditioning has limited their movements. With only a small metal bracelet
around their foot attached to nothing, they stand in place. The stakes are
actually gone!</font></span></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Don’t let your past determine your future!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get rid of everything that works to hold you
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The future belongs to God and
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think BIG!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can conceive it, and God wants you to
do it, the sky’s the limit; and the Risen Christ can give you the power to
overcome! </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;"><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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