<div style="color:black;font: 14pt Times New Roman, Times, serif;">Forwarded: <br>
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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: Sun, Mar 29, 2020 10:31 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon used for Facebook live-video for Lent 5A: "Unbind Him and Let Him Go Free" and "Unbind Us from COVID-19 Anziety, Boredom/Selfishness, and Fear"<br>
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<div style="line-height:normal;">I
absolutely love the story we just read- it sometimes brings tears to my eyes,
because there’s so very much wisdom in it and it lets us see, just a little
bit, into the amazing mind of God.<span style=""> </span>The
first half of the episode points out what we believe- that our God is in charge
and that he is an on-time God.<span style=""> </span>Mary,
Martha, and Lazarus were good friends of Jesus, so when Lazarus got deathly
ill, they simply assumed they could send for their good friend Jesus to heal
their brother.<span style=""> </span>After all, Jesus was
known for his healing powers, and if he could heal complete strangers, he could
certainly extend himself to heal a good friend.<span style="">
</span>Problem- they sent for Jesus, but he didn’t come for four days.<span style=""> </span>It probably took one day for the messenger
from Mary and Martha to arrive.<span style=""> </span>Then
Jesus waited two days.<span style=""> </span>He had to decide
if he would risk his ministry on this dangerous trip, because the last time he
was in Jerusalem he was almost stoned to death.<span style="">
</span>Then it probably took a day’s travel to get there- long walk!<span style=""> </span>What’s so special about four days?<span style=""> </span>There was a Jewish tradition that that the
soul hovered around the body for three days after death and then left.<span style=""> </span>So, by the fourth day- this was a hopeless
cause.<span style=""> </span>Other cultures had the same
understanding- for good reason.<span style=""> </span>We have
wakes.<span style=""> </span>You know how the custom of a wake
started?<span style=""> </span>In England, lead cups were often
used when people drank alcoholic beverages.<span style="">
</span>The lead combined with lots of alcohol could really knock the drinker
out.<span style=""> </span>To keep from burying a live person,
the “body” was laid out on the kitchen table and the family and friends would
sit around eating, drinking, and waiting for a couple of days to see if the
person would “wake” up.<span style=""> </span>But after four
days- no way!<span style=""> </span>Dead is dead, and in fact-
in that heat- dead is very smelly.<span style=""> </span>You
noticed, when the sisters saw Jesus- the first thing they said was an
accusation: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died!”<span style=""> </span>But Jesus wasn’t late- he was right on time,
because God’s amazing power was about to be proclaimed; and when Jesus said, “I
am the way, the truth, and the life”- all anyone had to do was open their eyes
and see it.</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">The
last half of the story is where the rubber hits the road- it’s about living
what we believe.<span style=""> </span>It’s about this- do we
really believe God is in charge?<span style=""> </span>Well
then, prove it by our lives.<span style=""> </span>Take risks
for God.<span style=""> </span>Don’t panic when things aren’t
going the way you want.<span style=""> </span>Stay faithful
and trust God.<span style=""> </span>All of these elements are
in the rest of the story- watch.<span style=""> </span>What
had to happen if God was going to work a miracle and restore Lazarus to
life?<span style=""> </span>Mary and Martha had to take the
risk of their lives.<span style=""> </span>They had to obey
Jesus when he told them to roll the stone away.<span style="">
</span>Under ordinary circumstances, what would have met them as soon as that
stone produced even a small gap into the tomb?<span style="">
</span>Smell!<span style=""> </span>The ghastly smell of
rotting human flesh!<span style=""> </span>Have you ever
smelled a pack of ground beef when it’s been in the refrigerator too long?<span style=""> </span>Now look- ground beef is bad enough; but if
the smell is coming from your beloved brother’s decomposing body- that’s too
much to bear!<span style=""> </span>What’s that song- “Trust
and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey”-
easier said than done.</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;"> </div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">There’s
one more significant part of this episode.<span style="">
</span>After Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out,” what is the next thing Jesus
said to do?<span style=""> </span>“Untie him and let him
go.”<span style=""> </span>Some translations say, “Unbind him
and let him go free.”<span style=""> </span>Just as Lazarus
had to be released from those restrictive burial wrappings, so must we.<span style=""> </span>One of our most important jobs for this
COVID-19 crisis is to become unbound from coronavirus difficulties.<span style=""> </span>I’ve been in contact with our members and
frequent attenders, and I’ve found that we suffer from 3 negatives: anxiety,
boredom, and fear.</div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">U<span style="font:7.0pt New;"> </span></span></span>ANXIETY:
one of our members was so very anxious that she was staying in bed and crying.<span style=""> </span>Other symptoms are too much tv, short temper,
slipping back to negative habits that were in remission.<span style=""> </span>I have a “take-it-or-leave-it” suggestion-
music.<span style=""> </span>When my husband was so very sick
and then died, I played “My Life Is in Your Hands” over and over.<span style=""> </span>Another good song is “Be Still My Soul, for
God Is in Charge.” To help anxiety: sing, move, dance, wash the dishes, vacuum
the floor, play with the kids, and get some counseling- over the phone if
necessary.<span style=""> </span>Please don’t waste your
life.<span style=""> </span>Meet God halfway in allowing Jesus
to unbind you from anxiety.</div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">U<span style="font:7.0pt New;"> </span></span></span>BOREDOM:
actually this is a form of selfishness.<span style="">
</span>We Christians sacrifice so others (as well as ourselves) can remain
virus free.<span style=""> </span>One of the huge problems
with this virus is that it is “crazy-contagious!”<span style=""> </span>We infect people, and they infect us, before
we know we have the virus, i.e. WHEN WE STILL HAVE NOL SYMPTOMS.”<span style=""> </span>We (or they) can continue spreading this
deadly disease for 2- 14 days innocently before the first symptom.<span style=""> </span>LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AND STAY HOME.<span style=""> </span>The song for boredom/selfishness: “Break
Every Chain.”<span style=""> </span>Break the “you-link” of
the virus and prevent it from spreading from/to you.</div>
<div style="margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">U<span style="font:7.0pt New;"> </span></span></span>FEAR:
mostly the fear of death of ourselves or a loved one.<span style=""> </span>This might be a good time to prepare to
die.<span style=""> </span>Remember, dying is not an “if,” it’s
a when.<span style=""> </span>We could practice each day of
this crisis to live our lives to the fullest.<span style="">
</span>We can also daily give our loved ones to God.<span style=""> </span>They are his anyway.<span style=""> </span>We might find “Amazing Grace” helpful.</div>
<div style="line-height:normal;">May
God bless us as we lean on Jesus through this crisis.<span style=""> </span>May we emerge on the other side of the
COVID-19 pandemic stronger, wiser, and walking closer to Jesus.</div>
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