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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org><br>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, Mar 10, 2018 7:41 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Lent 4B: “Don’t Lose Your ‘Attitude of Gratitude!”<br>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Dear Friends,</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Don’t Lose Your
‘Attitude of Gratitude!” and deals with the Old Testament lesson (Numbers 21:
4-9).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here it is: </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">So far this Lent, we’ve looked at what the Bible says to us about
temptation- how vulnerable we are to wanting anything we’re not supposed to
have or to doing anything we’re not supposed to do.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As you know, one of our offertory hymns for
this Lent is “Yield Not to Temptation for Yielding is Sin.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We’ve considered one of our chief
temptations- to avoid the cross that Jesus expects us to carry.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Remember, he said, “Take up your cross and
follow me”- and he wasn’t talking about jewelry on a gold chain; he was talking
about a chosen sacrifice for him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Last
week we examined where yielding to temptation leads us- SIN, and we saw that
the middle letter of sin is “I”!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Actually, self-centeredness (i.e. original sin) is like a beautiful
apple with a rotten core.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Today I’d like
us to think through one of the dangerous symptoms of sin- a poisoned
spirit.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did you hear of the mother who
called the poison control center, seriously worried that her two-year-old
daughter had poisoned herself by eating ants?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The nurse who answered the phone calmly reassured the anxious mother
that, although eating ants sounds nasty and you hate the thought of your
precious child eating them- they’re not poisonous.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Oh, I’m so relieved!” said the mother.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“If I had known that ants weren’t poisonous,
I wouldn’t have made her eat all that ant poison!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“You made her eat ant poison?” asked the
nurse.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Absolutely”, answered the
mother.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“I wanted to be sure all the
ants in her stomach were killed.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Look
lady,” shouted the nurse.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Bring the
child in RIGHT AWAY!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We know what’s
poisoning that precious two-year-old, but I’d like us to look at the snakes
that were poisoning the Israelites and then think about if anything is
poisoning you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></font></font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">The Israelites were in the desert- picture their situation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God had worked a mighty miracle delivering
them from slavery in Egypt and then topped it off with their miraculous escape
through the Red Sea.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They saw God’s
mighty hand when Moses encountered the living God on the mountaintop and came
back down with the Ten Commandments.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God
led them through the desert in the fire by night and the cloud by day- on their
way to the Promised Land.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When they
began to hunger, God began sending manna.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Every morning when they woke up, there was this bread-like substance on
the ground- enough for one day’s food for everyone (two days before the Sabbath
so they wouldn’t break the fourth commandment).<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Manna, plus the occasional quail that foolishly landed where they could
be caught, made an amazingly nutritious diet. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Their feet did not blister and their sandals
did not wear out throughout the entire trip.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>What wonderful provisions from God!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>How truly blessed they were!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Wouldn’t you think that would have been enough for any human being?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yet all we heard in today’s Old Testament
reading was complaining!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Why?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Because they were bored with the same old
“same-old.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sounds like when I was a
little girl.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We were very poor, but my
mother always saw that I had all my necessities met.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Occasionally she would find me in front of
the refrigerator with the door open.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>When she would ask what I was doing, I would complain- “I’m hungry, but
there’s nothing to eat!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She would tell
me to close the door and remind me that I must not really be very hungry.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You know why?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Because the refrigerator was full of food- just nothing special, nothing
fancy- just the same old “same-old.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You
see, I was truly blessed- but instead of an attitude of gratitude, I had a
complaining spirit- just like the Israelites did.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You heard what happened to them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God allowed them to stumble into a bed of
snakes with burning, poisonous venom.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Whether God actually made this happen or whether they took a wrong turn
due to their negative attitude and then blamed the problem on God- who
knows.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whichever- the problem did what
problems frequently do- it shaped up their bitter attitude and got them down on
their knees in a hurry!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They went
running to Moses who prayed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We heard
how God told Moses to erect a bronze snake on a pole.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God said that anyone who looked at the snake
would be healed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s what
happened.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now- what’s in it for us?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What Bible wisdom can we extract from this
ancient story to help us in our lives today?</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">FIRST, THEY WERE IN A SPIRITUALLY VULNERABLE POSITION.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They had repeatedly experienced great
victories won for them by the Lord.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What
frequently happens after a woman has gloriously experienced the amazing miracle
of giving birth to a longed-for child?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Sure- depression hits.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What
happened after the prophet Elijah won his mighty victory over the prophets of
Baal?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Same thing- depression.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What other factors predisposed them to being
vulnerable?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Exhaustion- mentally and physically;
the “sameness” of their lives that must have had them thinking- “Is this all
there is to life- walking, work, boring food and water- over and over
again?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you want to avoid their
mistake?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Watch out after a marvelous
event.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Watch yourself when you are
exhausted, mentally or physically.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Take
care of your physical health.</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">SECOND, THEY LOST THEIR ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instead of focusing on their blessings, they
found themselves focusing more and more on the negatives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just as I should have been thankful for all
the food in our home refrigerator, I focused not on what WAS there but on what
WASN’T there.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Before you go to bed every
evening, count your blessings and thank God for every last one of them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Thanking God for at least one blessing daily
is a wonderful spiritual discipline!</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">THIRD, DON’T BLAME GOD IF YOU MAKE A WRONG TURN IN LIFE.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Simply do as Moses did.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Pray and ask for guidance.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did you notice that God didn’t make the
snakes go away?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He simply told his
beloved people what to do if they got bitten by one.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He’ll do the same for you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Your problems won’t necessarily go away, but
you will be given the wisdom to handle them in a way that turns them into a
blessing for you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’ve got a question
for you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Have you ever wondered why the
person had to look at the snake to be healed?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>In other words, why didn’t God automatically heal anyone who was bitten?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Think about it- because God never forces us
to come to him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The person who was
bitten had to choose to look.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Healing
was then and is now a choice.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When have
you ever had the experience that God MADE you come to church on Sunday
morning?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And yet, it is God’s will that
you worship Him and receive Holy Communion every Sunday morning unless you are
sick, working, or engaged in some other pressing ministry.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Don’t presume on God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ask God for help.</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">FINALLY- THE SNAKE ON THE POLE:<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>remember the snake that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Can’t you just picture the lovely belt or
shoes or handbag he would make? Yet- when that snake is all curled up, what’s
at the very center?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’ll tell you what-
a head, complete with a venomous mouth, almost camouflaged from view.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s how sin is, which is why we’re so
vulnerable to temptation, especially at weak points in our lives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It often looks so inviting, so beautiful, so
harmless.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But watch out- the poison is
right there.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Please look at the thought
for the week: “It is unlikely there’ll be a reduction in the wages of sin” (Anonymous).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Does anyone remember what Paul says the wages
of sin are?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(“The wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord”- Romans
6:23.)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>John 3: 16-17 reminds us that
when Jesus was lifted up on the cross for our sins, it wasn’t to condemn us but
to save us and gift us with eternal life- fullness of life that will last
forever and begins at our baptisms.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So,
what’s poisoning your life?</font></span></div>
<ul type="square" style="margin-top:0in">
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;">Do you have a
health problem?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Enjoy what you can
do and the life you have.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Don’t
waste the life God has given you worried about what might happen.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;">Are your
children becoming a frustrating heartache?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>They’re God’s kids, not yours.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Give them to God, do the best you possibly can with them, and enjoy
them whenever you can.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Have an
attitude of gratitude, not a complaining pity-party.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;">Do you have a
relationship problem?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Is there
someone in your life who is really hard to deal with, perhaps even hard to
live with?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Once again- remember the
happy times you had with this person, forgive them, and don’t let them
impose their negatives on your attitude.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;">Are addictive
substances wrecking your life?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Look
to Jesus, claim his power, get into a program if necessary, and get
yourself healed.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;">Do you have
money problems, housing problems, car problems, job problems?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Put God first in your life, consult with
someone you trust, pray about it, and give them to God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Don’t let them wreck your present life.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">In closing, let’s bow our heads and sing our prayer: “Thank you, Lord.”</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">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 target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><u><font color="#0000ff"></font></u></a><u><font color="#0000ff"><a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</a></font></u><font color="#000000"> .</font></font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Blessed preaching,</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Judy Boli</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</font></span></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px; font-size: 11pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman">Saginaw, Michigan</font></span></div>
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