<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body><font face="sans-serif">Forwarded:</font><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: 7/7/18 8:39 PM (GMT-06:00) </div><div>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> </div><div>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 9B: “Troublesome People” or “Like Water Off a Duck’s Back!” </div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr">
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Dear
Friends,</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Troublesome People” or “Like Water Off a Duck’s
Back!” and deals with all the lessons.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here
it is: <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Since last Wednesday was the 4</font><sup>th</sup><font size="3"> of July and Bay
City is still celebrating, I’ll bet you encountered some troublesome people,
and you may still be encountering them.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>If you’ve been trying to sleep between the heat and celebrating, I’ll
bet you heard some troublesome people with 3 AM firecrackers and 4 AM gun
shots!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This morning we heard of one of
the more painful times in Jesus’ life.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He went back to his hometown, Nazareth, probably to see his family and
close friends- especially those he’d grown up with.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He had preached, healed, and done other
wonderful works for strangers; and for quite a while he’d probably longed to go
home and reach out and touch those he had loved since childhood, but it wasn’t
to be.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instead of welcoming him home,
their response was- “Who does he think he is?!”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Isn’t he just Mary’s son” (not naming his father- thus signifying his
was an illegitimate birth)?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Isn’t he
just a carpenter?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Who is he that we
should listen to him?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In fact, the
Gospel of Luke tells how they got so mad when he preached that they tried to
throw him over the cliff and kill him.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>What a disappointing, sad reception!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Jesus had his share of dealing with difficult people, and so do we.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s what I’d like us to think through this
morning.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If we are going to be true to
our Lord, how does Jesus want US to deal with the difficult people in our
lives?</font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Did you hear the story of Old Fred, who was in the hospital and
desperately ill?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All his family and
friends were gathered around his bedside.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Realizing how serious the situation was, they sent for his pastor.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As his pastor said the prayers for the dying,
Fred suddenly started to motion for something to write on and with, so his wife
handed him a piece of paper and a pencil.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He wrote quickly, handed the pastor his note, laid back with a loud
sigh, and died.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>At the funeral, Fred’s pastor
realized he was wearing the same jacket he had worn in the hospital, so the
pastor put his hand in his jacket pocket and retrieved the note, written by his
dying friend.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He told the congregation
what had happened, and then what a great Christian man Fred had been.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“I know,” said the pastor, “whatever brother Fred
wrote will enlighten and strengthen us.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Opening the note, he read aloud, “Help! You're standing on my oxygen hose!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Talk about troublesome people!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So who are the troublesome people in your
life, and how do you deal with them?</font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Our Old Testament lesson was about David, who became
Israel’s mightiest king.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You can bet
David had troublesome people in his life!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Before David became king, he was hired by King Saul to play music on his
harp to soothe Saul’s nerves.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do you
recall how, one day as David was playing- doing the king a favor yet- Saul
threw his spear at David, barely missing him?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Maybe the troublesome people in your life are those you originally tried
to help, as David tried to help King Saul.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Or perhaps they are people who have power over you, like a boss or a
social worker, who use their power to misuse you- again as King Saul did to
David.</font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">The epistle is part of a very painful letter St. Paul wrote
to his Corinthian church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Some members
of this church considered themselves such “super-Christians” that they thought
they knew everything.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They even
questioned Paul’s authority as a bishop.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Maybe the troublesome people in your life are “know-it-all Christians”
who lecture you and tell you that you’re going to hell if you don’t believe
exactly as they say you should.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Remember, the Episcopal Church is a thinking person’s church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus died to take away your sins, not your
mind.</font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">We mentioned the gospel earlier- when Jesus’ own family and
close friends refused to accept him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In
fact, as you recall- a bit earlier in Mark’s gospel we hear how Jesus’ mother
Mary and his brothers had come while he was preaching to take him home, because
they thought he was crazy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Perhaps the
troublesome people in your life are people in your own household or some of
your most trusted friends.</font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">So how should we handle such people?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Take Jesus’ advice.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>His culture said, “Shake the dust off your
feet.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our culture means the same thing,
but puts it this way:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Let their insults
be like water off a duck’s back.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Give
them to God, love them, keep praying for them, and keep your own life on track.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></font></font></font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Evil temptations to avoid:</font></p>
<ol type="1" style="margin-top:0in" start="1">
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">REVENGE: you’ve heard, “I don’t get mad; I
get even.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s for the devil’s
folks, not us- because we’re on God’s side.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No revenge.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">BITTERNESS: exactly whom are you trying to
hurt.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A poisoned spirit only hurts YOU!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Don’t dwell on the evil that people have
done to you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instead, focus on how
you have remained a free-spirit in the Lord.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">MOODINESS: You know how Bill+ and I frequently
used to go out to lunch together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I
remember us having a new but rather nice young waitress.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we commented on how pleasant she had
been, she responded, “You’re lucky I didn’t wait on you yesterday!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I was in a terrible mood!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Don’t be like that!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A bad mood is not an excuse; but it is
the devil’s playground.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Control
your moodiness, and see the doctor if you can’t.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Stay positive.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">QUITTING: Jesus didn’t quit, he tried again
in the next town...and the next town...and the next...and the next- until
he finally ended up on the cross.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Don’t quit.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">SELF-DOUBT: Again- Jesus could have believed
them and started to doubt himself.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>You are made in the image of God.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Error-analyze what you’re doing, and then keep on keeping on.</li>
</ol>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 0px;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000"><font size="3">And how do you have the power to do these things?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Some of our members have had absolutely
terrible things happen to them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Reginald
and Narval lost a cousin to homicide, and we have 2 families struggling with
the possible false imprisonment of loved ones!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>How do you not let this destroy your life?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did you hear the prayer someone prayed?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Dear God, so far today I've done all
right.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I haven't gossiped. I haven't lost
my temper. I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or over-indulgent. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I'm very thankful for that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But in a few minutes, God, I'm going to get
out of bed, and from then on, I'm probably going to need a lot of help. Amen.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How can you possibly give the troublesome
people in your life to God, love them, keep praying for them, and keep your own
life on track?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Paul has the answer in
our epistle today.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We heard him quote
God’s promise (as true for us as it was for Paul): “My grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2</font><sup>nd</sup></font><font color="#000000" size="3"> Corinthians 12:
9a).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We can’t control how troublesome
people treat us, but we most surely can control how we respond.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did you notice the thought for the week: “Be
fishers of men (and women and children).<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>You catch ‘em; God will clean them.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Don’t worry how much cleaning some of these troublesome people will
require.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just give them to God- they ARE
his business.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Amen.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><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 href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><u><font color="#0000ff">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</font></u></a></font><font color="#000000" size="3">
.</font></font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Blessed
preaching,</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Judy
Boli</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">St.
Paul's Episcopal Church</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Saginaw,
Michigan</font></p>
</div>
<p></p>
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