Trinity Episcopal Church-April 2008

April 2008

I heard a sermon about a guy in the bible who was going to do one thing, but, decided to do what God wanted him to do. That happens often in the bible. They say if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. Anyway, the guy was headed in one direction, but, God took him elsewhere.

This young preacher focused on one word of the reading. The word "but." He went on to explain that everyone has a big "but" in life; God gives him or her that "but." And the preacher went on to say, "One man's "but" is not the same as another man's "but." His final point: "What are you going to do with your big "But" today?"

Our gospel tells of two guys who are thinking about Good Friday and how everything good that day had died. It seems to them it will be Friday for the rest of their lives. Nothing can be normal again; they decided to leave the big city and go into the country where there is space to think, talk, and sort things out.

But, they meet Jesus along the way, and He speaks to them, and they respond. They meet the Easter Jesus! So the guys went from a dark Good Friday to sunny, hopeful resurrection Easter Day.

It was Archimedes said that if he had somewhere to stand he could, with a lever, lift the world. The resurrection is somewhere for us to stand; a place to keep our feet firm; when everything else seems to be going to pieces.

The road to Emmaus is the road we take after we've taken other roads in life that lead to no where---to dead ends. It's our road to get out of town; the road to getting away from it all & to sort things out.

I read about a guy who lived in Rio de Janeiro where the Christ the Redeemer statue is always visible, (125 feet tall) especially to those looking for it. "Since I often got lost," he said, "I was often looking, like a sailor seeks land, I would seek the statue; peering between phone lines and roof tops, for a familiar face while I drive.

If I find Jesus I find my bearings." Jesus is the point of reference---true on the roads in Rio, and true in life in general.

The two disciples walk into the sunset (so the story plays out in my head). A stranger pops up; they did not recognize Jesus; the sun was sinking, they only perceived his silhouette. The stranger scolds them for not believing the Scriptures.

Then, book by book, beginning with Genesis, Jesus rekindles the fire in their lives that was almost snuffed out.

And as they walk, the sparks return, and by the time they reach Emmaus, their hearts are burning within them. The Christian walks, not toward the sunset, but towards the sunrise; we go onwards, not to a night which falls, but a dawn that breaks.

As a Christian, I assume an intimate, conversational walk with God is possible in life! We can't find life without God, and we can't find God if we don't walk with Him.

More and more people are walking with God these days than ever before. I think many are finding it not so pleasant to walk alone.

God knows you intimately. He knows what time you went to bed last night; what you dreamed about; what you had for breakfast this morning; where you left your car keys, how you feel about your Aunt Lulu, and why you're going to dodge your boss at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon.

Intimacy is the whole point. Intimacy is the purpose of our lives. It's why God created us. Not simply to believe in him, or obey him, or know about him like you would Ulysses S. Grant or how to grill a good steak, but to know Him and have a friendship with Him, a partnership.

Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice. And he said, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I'll come in.... Intimacy requires communication. But if you're not looking for him you just might miss him on the road.

I kept waking up at 5 a.m. for several nights in a row---my eyes wide open and my thoughts toward God as I lay in bed. Finally one night I demanded, "What's going on here Lord? Why are you waking me up?" God said, "You don't have time for me during the day so this is the only opportunity you are giving me to speak." It was true, my schedule so full, my life so busy. If you're not looking for Him you just might miss Him on the road.

God speaks to his people--- usually not in detail, like a grocery list, or with specific instructions, like a putting together you kid's swing set. He gave us something else in place of those details...it's called faith. We have to trust Him.

One of the supervisors asked a Boeing technician how an aviation project was going. He said, We've run into a problem. There's been a major malfunction of the primary proto-propulsion in the first stage vehicle." The supervisor asked, "What does that mean?" The tech replied, "The rubber band broke."

God's voice is more like prompting, feelings of guidance, or desire. We don't need to make it so complicated. I watched the opening season of a show called Dancing with the Stars.

One of this year's contestants is deaf. She said, "I can't hear (but I sleep great) and I can dance. If you can't hear the music how do you dance? She looked at her partner and said, "Fabian is my music."

Without God, we are deaf to the world, but with God, we hear the music to life's dance. God is my partner. And when a feeling or desire comes over me and I am deeply moved, I just somehow hear God saying, "I am here. I am in this."

We sometimes hear other voices that are not likely to be God speaking. For instance, nowhere in the bible does it say, "And then God worried." So I can be quite confident that thoughts that move me toward a paralyzed anxiety are not from God.

Sometimes there are accusing voices that try to bring guilt and condemnation.

If we are to live in peace with ourselves, we must learn to put our foot down and say, "I may not be perfect, but I am growing. I've made mistakes, but I know I am forgiven."

"Why is it that when we talk to God it is called prayer but when God talks to us they call it schizophrenia?" We all have conversation going on inside.

I believe we all hear voices, opposing voices. Ego and conscience; the physical and spiritual; what Paul calls the "flesh" and the Holy Spirit. Two people suffer with a disease: one becomes bitter and despairing while the other is hopeful and an inspiration to others. Same disease, different voices.

Two people live with meager finances: one is consumed by envy and discontent while the other is grateful and concerned with others. Two people live in a universe where God is always present. One decides that there is no room for Him; the other lives in awareness and interacts with God.

Ego tells us we don't have enough things; it tells us we get our identity from how we look; it tells us to criticize or condemn others because it makes me feel bigger and superior; it tells us "God is a big waste of time so now let's go get a double cheeseburger with bacon, and a mocha shake---& super size it!" The other voice is God's voice. The Holy Spirit that dwells within. Buddhists call it your Buddha nature; Hindus call it Atman. Some come to only know this voice as conscience.

I believe it is the divine voice that tells you it is more blessed to give than receive; to be kind to one another; to look for the beauty and goodness in people and in the world; It's the intimate voice that says hope, believe, pray, trust.

Native American Grandfather explaining this struggle to follow the divine voice to his grandson. He said, "There are two wolves inside every person; a black one and a white one. The black wolf is negative and destructive and teaches us how to hate, hurt, and be selfish.

The white wolf helps us to be in harmony together and in the world, and fills us with life-giving thoughts and energy. Your whole life there is like a battle going on inside you between these two wolves."

The grandson ponders a bit and then asks, "So which wolf wins?" The grandfather says, "The one you feed."

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April 2008