<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: 10/20/18 6:49 PM (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> </div><div>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 24B: “Why Do You Talk So Much and Know So Little?” </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 color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">This
Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Why Do You Talk So Much and Know So Little?” or </font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">“Words
Have Power, so THINK before You Speak!” and deals with the Old Testament Lesson
(Job 38:1-7).<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: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Did you hear the words
that God asked Job: “Why do you talk so much and know so little?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s the title of today’s sermon; and
that’s what I’d like us to focus on this morning- because we’ve all been guilty
of running our mouths when we didn’t have all the facts.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just to refresh your memory- Job was a
righteous man whom God had blessed with family, riches, and health.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One day as God and Satan were talking, God
pointed out how wonderful Job was- obedient, loving, and positive.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Right away, Satan challenged God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Of course Job does what you want!” exclaimed
Satan.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“You’ve blessed him
mightily.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But take away his blessings
and watch how quickly he curses you!”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>God replied that Job would be faithful- no matter what; but Satan
disagreed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“All right,” said God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“I’ll prove to you that Job doesn’t simply
worship me because of what I do for him.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I give you my permission to take away all of his blessings; but you may
not take his life.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“It’s a deal!” said
Satan.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now obviously, Job didn’t know
any of the agreement between God and Satan.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>What he did know was that one misfortune after another fell upon him and
he lost his health as well- painful sores broke out all over his body.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Friends came to visit, but they basically
told him that he must have committed some terrible sin for God to punish him so
severely.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Job never did curse God, but
he did challenge God to give him some answers- to explain why he was so
terribly afflicted.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God’s answer- what
does Job know?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He had no business
questioning God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is when we heard
God say to Job, “Why do you talk so much and know so little?”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s not only a good question for Job- but
it’s a good question for us as well.</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">A problem with running
at the mouth is that our words carry such a significant weight for good or
evil, and once out- we can’t get them back.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>One of my internet friends shared this story to show the power of
words.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“A man bought a donkey from a
preacher. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The preacher told the man that
this donkey had been trained in a very unique way (being the donkey of a
preacher). <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The only way to make the
donkey go is to say ‘Hallelujah!’<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
only way to make the donkey stop is to say, ‘Amen!’<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The man was pleased with his purchase and
immediately got on the animal to try out the preacher's instructions.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>‘Hallelujah!’ shouted the man. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The donkey began to trot.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>‘Amen!’ shouted the man. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The donkey stopped immediately.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>‘This is great!’ said the man. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>With a ‘Hallelujah’ he rode off, very proud of
his new purchase.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The man traveled for a
long time through the mountains. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As he
headed towards a cliff, he tried to remember the word to make the donkey stop.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>‘Stop!’ said the man. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>‘Halt!’ he cried. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The donkey just kept going.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>‘Oh, no...!’ he exclaimed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>‘Bible...Church!...Please! Stop!!,’ shouted
the man. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The donkey just began to trot
faster. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He was getting closer and closer
to the edge of the cliff.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Finally, in
desperation, the man said a prayer...’Please, dear Lord. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Please make this donkey stop before I go off
the end of this cliff, in Jesus name, AMEN.’<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The donkey came to an abrupt stop just one step from the edge of the
cliff.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>‘HALLELUJAH!’ shouted the man.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My friends, words have power!</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">We all realize that we
are as guilty as Job when it comes to committing the sin of talking too much
and knowing too little (and therefore hurting other people).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our Bible lessons suggest four times (three
from Job and one from the gospel) when we are especially tempted to commit this
sin and cause evil, havoc, and pain in the lives of others.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One factor that made Job especially vulnerable
to running his mouth was his sickness and pain.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>How many times have you said something like, “I don’t feel good- I’ve
got a migraine or my blood sugar is too low or too high, so watch out!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sickness, pain, misery- they make it harder
to allow Jesus to have control of our mouths, but they weren’t an excuse for
Jesus as he hung on his cross and they aren’t for us either.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The sicker we are or the more miserable we
feel; the more closely we must watch our tongues.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Have you ever felt so miserable that you
wished everyone would just go away?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Be
careful!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Watch your mouth!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My friends, words have power!</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">Job’s friends were even
worse than he was in terms of talking too much and being absolutely wrong
because of a faulty knowledge base.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We
call it “jumping to conclusions,” and that’s exactly what Job’s friends
did.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They were sure God was punishing
Job for some terrible sin he had committed, but (as we know) this wasn’t the
case at all.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The more they told Job to
repent of this supposed sin, the worse Job felt, because he knew he was
innocent.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yet they kept up at it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>James (Jesus’ brother) really knew what he
was talking about when he said that not everyone should be a teacher (James 3:1-2).<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We must be especially careful when we take it
upon ourselves to tell other people what they should do, because we run the
risk of misunderstanding them, their situation, or God’s will for their lives-
and therefore being really wrong.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Have
you ever been tempted to give advice to your friends?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Be careful!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Be sure you have all your facts.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>My friends, words have power!</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">Job was vulnerable to
letting Satan have control of his tongue for another reason: his life was
spinning out of control.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Not only was he
in terrible pain from the sores all over his body, not only were his friends
judging him wrongly and giving him hurtful advice, but one confusing,
frustrating, awful thing after another was happening to him and those he loved.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On top of all of this, he was powerless to
change a thing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Have you ever felt your
life was getting more and more out of control?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Be careful!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Watch your mouth!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My friends, words have power!</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">The final Bible example
from scripture comes from today’s gospel (Mark 10:35-45) where we hear how
James and John tried to upstage the other disciples and get special positions
of power in Jesus’ kingdom.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>They would
certainly have qualified as unpleasant and difficult people at this point- you
can imagine how the disciples felt?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Since
Jesus had just poured out his heart in terms of his impending torture and
execution, their behavior was insensitive toward him as well- to put it
mildly.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How did Jesus respond?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did he fall apart, lose his temper, call them
names, send them away?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m sure he sighed a huge sigh and tried
again to reach them.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Dealing with
difficult people really makes us vulnerable to judging our neighbor.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I want to be perfectly clear.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m not talking about risking yourself.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I am perfectly aware that some people are
dangerous or have immoral habits or are huge gossips or have unchristian
values.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We should not hang around such
people, but Jesus surely expects us to treat them with compassion.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Another story illustrates this.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s not from the Bible, but is from ancient
Hebrew tradition.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I heard it from an
internet friend, the Rev. Bass Mitchell.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>“Abraham was sitting outside his tent one evening when he saw an old
man, weary from age and journey, coming toward him. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham rushed out, greeted him, and then
invited him into his tent.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There he
washed the old man's feet and gave him food and drink.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The old man immediately began eating without
saying any prayer or blessing, so Abraham asked him, ‘Don't you worship God?’<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The old traveler replied, ‘I worship fire
only and curse all gods.’<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When Abraham
heard this, he became incensed, grabbed the old man by the shoulders, and threw
him out of his tent into the cold night air.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>When the old man had departed, God called to his friend Abraham and
asked where the stranger was. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Abraham
replied, ‘I threw him out of my tent and sent him away because he curses all
gods, even you.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God answered, ‘I have
suffered him these eighty years although he dishonors me. Could you not endure
him one night?’”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Think about it. Is
there someone who rubs you the wrong way?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Be careful!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Watch your
mouth!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My friends, words have power!</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">In closing, I leave you
with our thought for the week: “I’m always careful of the words I speak; I keep
them soft and sweet; I never know from day to day which ones I'll have to eat!”
(Anonymous)<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>May God give each one of us
the grace and power to get our facts straight before we speak, to watch our
mouths, and to always remember: words have power.</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">And, while we’re on
this topic, let’s remember to THINK before we speak:</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">“T”: is it True?</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">“H”: is it Helpful?</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">“I”: is it Important?</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">“N”: is it Necessary and is Now the best time?</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px 16px 48px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">“K”: is it Kind and loving?</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Speak if it meets ALL
of those criteria.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just being true is
not sufficient.</font></p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px; line-height: normal;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">May God bless us all.</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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