<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Forwarded:</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div id="composer_signature" dir="auto"><div style="font-size:85%;color:#575757" dir="auto">Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.</div></div><div><br></div><div style="font-size:100%;color:#000000" dir="auto"><!-- originalMessage --><div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org> </div><div>Date: 16/11/2019 9:39 pm (GMT-04:00) </div><div>To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org> </div><div>Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 28C: "Tough times never last. Tough people do.” (Robert Schuller) </div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr">
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal">Dear Friends,</span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal"> </span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal">This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Tough times never
last. Tough people do.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(Robert
Schuller) and is based on the gospel (Luke 21:5-19).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here it is: <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal"> </span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">We just heard Jesus warn his
disciples about terrible things that were about to take place- false messiahs,
wars, riots, earthquakes and other natural disasters, starvation, disease,
people being arrested and put in jail for following him, being betrayed by
loved ones- why would he say things like this?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Because the disciples were going to have to face them and remain
faithful if the Gospel was going to be spread, if the church was going to survive.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was just telling them the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even if it’s hard, knowing what you’re going
to have to face at least prepares you for the struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He was simply getting them ready for hard
times.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He could have told Christians in
Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan the same thing- false messiahs, wars, riots, natural
disasters, starvation, disease, people being arrested and put in jail for their
faith, being betrayed by loved ones- many Christians throughout the world live
their lives every day facing these threats.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>He tells them the same thing- be ready.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>We never know what we are going to face in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Where will the next school shooting take
place?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Where will the next hate-crazed
gunman appear to shoot innocent people?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>What will the next racest, sexist, homophobic say and who will it
attack?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He tells us the same thing- be
ready.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I want to talk to you this
morning about being ready.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:
11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Do you remember a long time
ago when I used to make our own pictures for the bulletin cover?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do you remember the picture of the blowfish
(or puffer) I used to use on the bulletin covers? That species of fish reminds
us of the world’s way.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They face stress
like some of us do.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They blow themselves
up so they look big and tough so no one will mess with them. (Don’t we know
people like that?)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They have very sharp
teeth and are poisonous.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(How many
people are sharp-tongued and spew poison if you tread on their territory?)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yet, in spite of their attempts to look
fierce, they really don’t handle stress well; in fact they sicken and
frequently die under stressful conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span></span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Did you hear the story about
the teacher asking the students about George Washington?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>“TEACHER: “George Washington not only chopped
down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted doing it. Now do you know why
his father didn't punish him?”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>JOHNNY:
“Because George still had the axe in his hand.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>It’s not just George Washington who had the axe in his hand, it seems
the world does too, and it aims that axe at us sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If the world’s way doesn’t work when facing
trouble, what will work?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The thought for
the week, “Tough times never last.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tough
people do.” (Robert Schuller) points out a better way- God’s way.</span></p>
<p style="text-indent:.5in;line-height:normal;
text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">1.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>DO YOUR
HOMEWORK!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Be faithful to God.- don’t
just come to church when you feel like it.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Receive your Holy Communion every week.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>Read your Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Listen to
sermons and read your Forward-Day-by-Day and any other materials of a spiritual
nature.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sing God songs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Put God first in your life.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I do not ever want to see someone I love from
this congregation in emotional agony because they misunderstand God or his love
for them as they go through trials.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When
we’re extremely sick or suffering- it’s too late to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Illness, grief, pain, worry, etc. limit our
understanding.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">2.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>DON’T BE
SELFISH- SHARE JESUS WITH THOSE YOU LOVE AND ANYONE ELSE YOU CAN.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Don’t let someone else struggle through life
without Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Life without Jesus is
hard; dying without Jesus can be pure hell.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">3.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>LIVE UNTIL
YOU DIE- thank you, Thomas Hall (Ellen William’s son).<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Don’t do what some of the Thessalonian
Christians did and sit around waiting for Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Live your life, whether it’s one hour or 100
years.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Every minute is a gift.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">4.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>SPEAKING
OF EVERY MINUTE BEING A GIFT, LIVE WITH A SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Stop looking at what you don’t have- whether
it’s time left on this planet or the love of a special person or health or
money or whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>God doesn’t owe us
anything, but he can be counted on to keep his promises and give us what we
need.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">5. NEVER WASTE TROUBLE OR STRESS.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do what must be done for God. What would
happen in my knee therapy if I avoided stress?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">
</span>(My knee would not heal and get stronger.)<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That’s how we grow.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No stress, no trials, no temptations= no
spiritual growth.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Please note the
graphic on p. 16: “There are some things you can only learn in a storm. </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p align="left" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:
auto;text-align:left;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
text-autospace:none;mso-vertical-align-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">6.<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST-
DON’T HOLD BACK ON GOD.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The old poem has
great wisdom: “Only one life- ‘twill soon be past.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Only what’s done for God will last.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther’s quotation of the
old hymn says it all: “If I can help somebody as I pass along;</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">If I can cheer somebody with a word or song;</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">If I can show somebody that they’re traveling wrong;</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Then
my living will not be in vain.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">If I can do my duty as a Christian ought;</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought;</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">If I can spread the message as the Master taught;</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"><span style="mso-tab-count:1"> </span>Then
my living will not be in vain.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Do
what God calls you to do and don’t be too easy on yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>You WILL have the courage or energy or
whatever else you need at the time- notice Jesus’ promise in the Gospel.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Remember C.S. Lewis when he taught that God
doesn’t give us grace to handle what might happen in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>God gives us grace to handle what’s happening
now.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">7.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>TRUST
GOD.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>He’s got the whole world in his
hands, and you know that means you.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>A
friend gave me a poem some time ago, and it fits here perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The poem, by Annie Johnson Flint speaks to
trusting God and what we can expect from our Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Here it is: </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">God has not promised skies always blue,</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">God has not promised sun without rain,</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">But God has promised strength for today,</span></p>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Rest for the labor, light for the way,</span></p>
<blockquote style="padding: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" dir="ltr"><p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Grace for the trials, help from above,</span></p></blockquote>
<p style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto;
line-height:normal;text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt">Unfailing sympathy, undying love.</span></p>
<p style="line-height:normal"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal"> </span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;tab-stops:.25in;
mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal">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: <a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.org/"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:
none;text-underline:none">http://www.stpaulsepisag.org</span></a> .</span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal"> </span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal">Blessed preaching,</span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal">Judy Boli</span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal">St. Paul's Episcopal Church</span></strong></p>
<p style="line-height:normal;mso-mirror-indents:yes"><strong><span style="font-weight:normal">Saginaw, Michigan</span></strong></p>
</div>
<p></p>
-- <br>
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to <a href="mailto:propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org">propertalk.topic+unsubscribe@ecunet.org</a>.<br>
</body></html>