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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, Aug 18, 2018 8:13 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 15B: “Wisdom- Start with the Facts and Watch Your Mouth”<br>
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<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Dear
Friends,</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Wisdom- Start with the Facts and Watch Your Mouth”
and deals with all the lessons.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here it
is: <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></font></font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">Today we heard the
wonderful Old Testament episode from the book of 1</font><sup>st</sup><font size="3"> Kings (2:10-12,
3:3-14) that told why King David’s son, Solomon, was so dearly special to God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As you recall, when God promised him anything
(wealth, power, territory), he asked for wisdom.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts,
uncles, cousins, youth mentors- can you imagine how you would feel if you asked
your specially-loved child what they would like and (instead of a bike, a car,
clothes, a computer or iPhone) they asked for WISDOM?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I know how I’d feel- I’d think they were sick
and had lost it!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But Solomon, when he
could have had anything, really did ask for wisdom.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is good advice for us too.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did you notice Paul’s warning in Ephesians
(5:15-17): “Act like people with good sense and not like fools.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>These are evil times, so make every minute
count.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Don't be stupid. Instead, find
out what the Lord wants you to do.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Then
the Psalm (34:13-14) tells us what that is: “Then don't say cruel things and
don't tell lies.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Do good instead of evil
and try to live at peace.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Psalm 111:10a
says “Respect and obey the LORD!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is
the first step to wisdom and good sense.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></font></font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Wisdom- what is it and
how do we get it?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Random House
dictionary defines wisdom as “Knowledge of what is true or right coupled with
good judgment.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wisdom starts with the
facts.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I was a little girl, you can
guess how tired my mother was of hearing my mouth, because I was a real
chatterbox!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She finally taught me this
little poem: “A wise old owl lived in an oak.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The more he saw, the less he spoke.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The less he spoke, the more he heard.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It didn’t work- I still ran my mouth, but my
mother really did have a point.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How many
ears did God give us for collecting the facts?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>(Sure- two.)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And how many eyes
did God give us for collecting the facts?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>(Again- two.)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And how many
mouths?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Only one.)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Doesn’t that tell us something?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Remember Ephesians 5?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God expects us to have good sense, not act
like fools, and not be stupid.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>(Isn’t
that what it says?)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To be wise, we must
get our facts first.</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman">There’s a problem with
this Bible advice.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did you notice how
Paul reminded us that these are evil times?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>There was a sign on a plumber’s window that said, “We repair what your
husband (or wife) tried to fix.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Everybody’s
got to be an expert, even if they don’t have the facts.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our culture teaches us to pick a side and
treat anyone who doesn’t agree with us as the enemy because they are either
stupid or wrong, and then speak and act without listening to anyone else.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Can you even start to guess how many
marriages break up because of this anti-Biblical attitude, how many friendships
are lost, how many families have members not speaking to each other, and how
many arguments from this kind of behavior have even degenerated into abuse or
violence?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did you hear about the
minister and the rabbi who wanted to do their good deed for the day?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They stood along a well-traveled road with a
sign that said, “Turn around, the end is near!”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Along came a car speeding by.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
driver saw their sign, gave them the finger, and shouted: “Religious fanatics-
trying to tell me what to believe!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
next thing they heard was a huge splash.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>“Lost another one,” said the minister.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>“Maybe we should stop trying to be so fancy on our sign.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Maybe we should just say “Bridge out.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Maybe so, and maybe we can learn from this
driver how to listen to others.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>James (1:19-20)
says, “My dear friends, be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get
angry.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If you are angry, you cannot do
any of the good things that God wants done.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>So what’s the Bible way?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Listen,
truly listen to your opponent, even if your opponent is a child.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></font></font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Here are some Satan-traps
to avoid if we’re going to get the facts so we can truly apply Godly wisdom:</font></div>
<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; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">Don’t enter a discussion “armed for
battle.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Your purpose is not to
win.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Your purpose is to understand.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">Don’t be so busy thinking about how you’re
going to respond that you don’t hear where the other person is coming
from.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">Don’t assume the other person is evil or even
wrong.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instead, if the person is a
Christian, assume they are looking at the issue from a different point of
view.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Treat them with honor and
respect. (“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”)</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">Don’t keep trouble going- that’s a greater
sin than whatever the original problem is because you are sowing hatred
between people.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">Don’t call someone on the phone to tell them
about another person.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Instead, talk
to the person himself or herself.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>If you must talk to someone else, do it in confidence with the goal
of helping the other person.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;">Finally, remember in last week’s gospel how
Jesus told the people to stop grumbling and complaining.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Follow his advice.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Stop worrying about other people and
work on your own spiritual life.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>When is the last time you helped someone in Jesus’ name?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What bad habits do you have?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What are you struggling with
yourself?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How are you doing in your
Bible reading and prayer life?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When
is the last time you learned something new or stretched your mind and
spirit?</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">May God bless us as we
continue learning how to get the facts, to hear and appreciate other points of
view, and to grow in Godly wisdom.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>May
God bless us as we follow James’ advice: “My dear friends, be quick to listen
and slow to speak or to get angry.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And
may God help us remember his further advice: “If you are angry, you cannot do
any of the good things that God wants done.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></font></font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div 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 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><font color="#000000" size="3">
.</font></font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Blessed
preaching,</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Judy
Boli</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">St.
Paul's Episcopal Church</font></div>
<div style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Saginaw,
Michigan</font></div>
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