<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: 5/13/17 5:48 PM (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> </div><div>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Easter 5A- “The Origin of Mothers’ Day” or “Enough Is Enough!” </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><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 “The Origin of Mothers’ Day” or “Enough Is Enough!”
and deals with various Bible selections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here it is: </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Happy Mothers’
Day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you hear Jesus say that he is
the way, the truth, and the life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
that last promise, fullness of life that I’d like us to think about this
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have fullness of life
right now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you accessing all that
life has to offer, or are you sidetracked?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If we’re old hands at walking with Christ, or if we’re newcomers, or if
perhaps we haven’t really started yet, let’s invest some time this morning
examining our lives to see if there are any possibilities we’re missing.</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">The best example I could
think of to illustrate accessing Jesus’ Way, Truth, and Life is an old nursery
rhyme. Do you remember the strange song we chanted as children- “Ring Around
the Roses?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>”Yes- you did hear me right-
Ring Around the Roses.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I used it as an
example a couple of years ago, but I’m going to refresh your memory about where
it comes from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either I never knew or I
had forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It comes from the 1600’s
when a terrible disease, the Black Death, was sweeping through Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason it was called the Black Death was
that huge black splotches covered the bodies of the sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently this disease started in England
with just a few deaths, but within a few years it was killing huge numbers of
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doctors were convinced it was
caused by bad air, so when someone got sick, the sick person would join hands
with other sick people and circle around and around a bed of roses or other
flowers with beautiful scents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
someone was too sick to walk, the doctor would stuff rose petals into his or
her pocket, bring the petals into the sickroom, and then place the flowers
under the patient’s nose so the smell from the flowers would purify the bad air
that the sick person had in his or her lungs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If someone was on their deathbed, the doctor would burn some rose petals
and then place the ashes under the nose of the dying person, hoping that the
patient would sneeze, thus forcing all the bad air out of their lungs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of that, every day someone was hired
to push the body cart through the streets collecting all the dead bodies from
people who had succumbed to the illness the previous night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he pushed, he sang, “Ring around the
roses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A pocket full of posies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, hardly anyone got better from
this treatment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because they had the wrong cause- the Black
Death wasn’t caused by bad air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
caused by germs that were on the fleas that were on the rats that were all over
the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t cure a disease
caused by germs if you have people breathe nice-smelling air.</font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">Now the people in that
century can be excused for making that mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They didn’t know anything about germs, didn’t have microscopes, and were
doing the best they could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless of
how well-meaning they were, however, people died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know we make the same mistake?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many people make the wrong diagnoses
about how to make decisions that are life-empowering?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They rely on everything and everybody for
decision-making except for God- in spite of the fact that Jesus promised; “I am
LIFE.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They live by their own
preconceived ideas of truth instead of living the TRUTH as Jesus proclaimed it
to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because we sit in a pew
every Sunday doesn’t make us immune from being brainwashed by our culture to
follow its set of so-called truths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Let me tell you about
one of the biggest, most incorrect diagnoses, successful brainwashing our
culture has accomplished- the meaning of Mothers’ Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know how Mothers’ Day started?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Happy Mothers’ Day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know how Mothers’ Day started?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen to how amazingly their long-ago
situation matches ours today!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first known
suggestion that the USA should observe a Mothers’ Day came in 1872.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was proposed by Mrs. Julia Ward Howe in
response to the human destruction of the Civil War.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her purpose for suggesting Mothers’ Day was
to stop wars; as women- protect our husbands and families and children from
war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and her husband wrote an
anti-slavery newspaper and she wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic (“Mine
eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: He is trampling out the
vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful
lightning of His terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on. (Chorus) Glory,
glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! Glory, glory, hallelujah! His
truth is marching on.”)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Martin
Luther King often quoted from this hymn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He ended his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech with part of it:
“Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead.
But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop…Mine
eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” </font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">So you see- the real
meaning of Mothers’ Day wasn’t about beautiful cards (although I love them),
taking Mom out to dinner at a wonderful restaurant (although it sounds good to
me), or buying a lovely gift to show her how much you care (although I’m surely
not one to turn down presents).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ladies-
it was about sticking together to find a way to protect our husbands and
families and children from war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Has it
occurred to you- we’re living in multiple war zones now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Families fight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neighbors squabble!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gangs kill!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our beloved country is engaged in war after war after war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today’s sermon is really not about war, but
about the opposite of war- peace and love.</font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Let’s find a way and
start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said- “I am the way, the
truth, and the LIFE.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All those killings
in Flint, a shooting Friday in Saginaw- that’s not the life Jesus has for us.
Let’s use these Bible teachings and INSIST our families live by them while they
are under our roofs, eating our food, and wearing the clothes we buy for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some Bible directives:</font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></p><ul style="list-style-type: disc; 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; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“But if
we say we love God and don't love each other, we are liars. How can we love God
(whom we can’t see), if we don't love our neighbors (whom we can see)?”</b>
(1st John 4: 20)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; 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; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Dear friends,
don’t try to get even. Let God take revenge.”</b> (Rome 12: 19a) Someone talked
to me the other day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was suffering unbelievable
with grief, because her son had been murdered a few months ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a serious Christian lady, and she was
not going to get revenge- although she had the opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What she figured- why would she give the
murderer the easy way out?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s revenge
is a whole lot more effective than ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s worth waiting on God, </p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; 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; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“The
anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (</b>James 1:20)</p></li><li style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; 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; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“Stop all
your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what
you say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop being bitter and angry and
mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive
others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.”</b> (Ephesians 4:
selections from 23-32)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </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;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">And what about our own behavior and example?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></p></li></ul><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-list: l2 level1 lfo2; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">Do
you swear at your children or loved ones?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Never again!</li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">Are
you argumentative?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t try to
win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone wins, everyone
loses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solve and resolve the
problem.</li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><li style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">Do
you say things like “I brought you into this world- I can take you out of
this world!</li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></ol><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Final question: Are you passing on your family values to your beloved
children?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you have a process to do
that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some thoughts:</font></b></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-list: l1 level1 lfo3; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">Bring
dinner around the dining room table back- NO TV, CELL PHONES, EAR BUDS.</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 lfo3; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">Pray
with your children before bedtime and in the morning before they go out of
the door.</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 lfo3; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">Don’t
stick up for your children when they are wrong, just because an outside
adult is criticizing them.</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 lfo3; punctuation-wrap: simple; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto;">Talk
and listen! Talk and listen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk
and listen!</li><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></ol><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; line-height: normal;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Happy Mothers’ Day.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May we
ladies enjoy the goodies, but may all of us remember it’s Jesus roots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May God bless us all.</font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font></div>
<p></p>
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