Michael's Messages

Ministry Matters™ | Blog | Don't Give 'em What They Want

2011-11-01T16:50:00.000-04:00

Ministry Matters™ | Blog | Don't Give 'em What They Want

Shane Raynor offers this interesting insight into church "Strategies"

Mysticism

2011-03-25T20:11:00.001-04:00

Jesus’ teachings were never popular, simplistic, repetitious verses to be mumbled weekly as a means to satisfy an unapproachable and unknowable deity. Rather, His teachings challenge each of us to make friends with the Spirit within each of us so that we might experience the living eternal presence of a loving God. Jesus message was clear: each of us has a personal connection to the creator of the universe who wishes us to call Him Father. If we will but move past the things of earth, past the illusion that we are at home here, and that we can have both the things of earth and the joy of heaven, our souls will lead us to higher levels of communication with God. God speaks to each of us who intentionally opens a channel of communication with him. Mysticism is nothing more than shutting out the world long enough to listen to God—high voltage prayer.

Christ's disciples were the first Christian mystics because they followed the discipline Jesus taught them. All but one of Jesus’ disciples was martyred for their determination to spread his teachings; however, their voices were so impassioned and their “truth” so authentic, they changed the world. Converts to the disciples’ metaphysical message began to communicate with a holy presence which could not be understood or seen by people who maintained their allegiance to the world. Nonetheless this presence was real and tangible to these followers who fell in love with and gave their lives for Jesus and his Father.

Saints of every time period are those who take themselves out of the world in order to hear God. It is called a life of contemplation. Many of our well-known saints—Saint John of the Cross, Saint Theresa of Avila, Saint Francis, Hildegard of Bingen, Mother Theresa, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, and Thomas Merton are all well known Christian mystics. Mother Theresa, Teilhard de Chardin, and Merton were all mystics of the twentieth century. Like the prophet Elisha who ran from the world to live in a cave, these people shut themselves off from the world in order to hear “the still small voice of God.”

If anyone thinks this is an easy life, try sitting patiently until God speaks to you. Most of us can’t even quiet ourselves long enough to watch a rainbow or sunset from start to finish or to stay with a fire long enough until the embers die, let alone to sit long enough to not only recognize God’s voice but also to slog through our skepticism and disbelief. Can you imagine anyone announcing to his or her spouse, church, or community, “I have decided to become a Christian mystic.” We would immediately be pummeled with questions like: how will you buy bread? If we answered “Man does not live by bread alone,” clearly we are following our Lord’s teachings; even so, our friends and neighbors would think us mad just as they did Saint Francis a thousand years ago.

There was a time in human history when being “one who communicated with God” was considered a holy calling and those who accepted the call holy people. Jewish rabbinic communities supported men who devoted their lives to study. In early Christianity, monasteries became places for people to leave the world behind and to devote their lives to contemplating the nature of God. Almost all cultures have had medicine men, saints, and holy lepers. These cultures valued men and women who were willing to receive God through the really hard work of self-surrender and meditation because with that commitment miracles, healing, and faith grew among the people. Christian mystics brought not only God’s word but also often supernatural and unexplainable acts to the physical world. Why then has Christianity become less and less accepting of this evocation? My thought is that often the voice of God is frightening to those who have not committed themselves to receiving Him. Religion comforts the worldly with rote sayings and oaths that make a personal relationship with God impossible for many.

When Michael and I first talked of collaborating on a book of meditations, I readily agreed to do so because I enjoy creative worship projects. Before long, I realized that Michael was transmitting God’s desire to be God With Us in his poetry. Michael was being led to a whole different level of Christian writing. He was literally transcribing messages from the Holy Spirit as have other mystics through the ages. There have been moments when I read one of Michael’s poems that my eyes sting and my body burns; my heart lays heavy with a grief for being away from heaven. I “get the power” of Michael’s words, but I can’t hold onto them. They aren’t so easily absorbed and categorized into my thought process. I have to sit as he has with the idea that my soul needs to be in communication with God and that communication is not so easy to come by. It takes practice. It takes commitment. It takes desire to say as Saint Francis did “My God and my all.” How we will proceed with this work is beyond my imagination and Michael’s control. Clearly, his soul has found a way to adore the Father with such wisdom that both Michael and I are simply audience to his work. I am reminded of the scripture “You don’t have because you don’t ask and you don’t ask because you don’t know how to ask.” In Michael’s striving to know God, he has apparently asked the right questions because the floodgate’s of Heaven are open to him. These writings are not for the spiritually immature who think their tradition will save them; it is for the spiritually hungry who know they are missing something their religion isn’t giving them. Those who resonate with Michael’s writing should see them as a stepping stone to their own inner wisdom, their own God within.
_______________
Introduction by Maggie McCary to "Soul Insights: Christians Bridging the New Age" - http://ChristiansBridging.com

Your Reward

2011-03-06T20:12:00.000-05:00

I wrapped you in my loving arms
More than you received, you gave that love to others
Knowing you would always be filled up with my love
You held my hand through times of great tribulation
You stood with the great truth at your side
And now this shall be your reward

Go forth in life and accept the goodness I shall lay in your path
__________________________
from Soul Insights: Bridging the New Age for Christians
by Michael R. Martin, CLS
with Maggie McCary

____________________
Posted using BlogPress app on my iPhone

The Addict's Prayer

2011-02-27T14:21:00.003-05:00

You woke me up
To this new day
Clean and sober
With thanks I pray

You gave me life
And when I stumbled
You brought me here
To make me humble

Brothers and sisters
Who've been there, too
It's death or life
And I chose you

So thank you, Lord
For this new day
Clean and sober
These things I pray.

copyright (c) Michael R Martin 2011
____________________
Posted using BlogPress app on my iPhone

The Trinity

2011-01-24T01:58:00.000-05:00

In our lives, think of the Trinity in terms of Christian action:
Father, Son & Holy Spirit = Head, Hands & Heart

Father: Study the scriptures – don't read but truly study them, dig around. Use your head to come to know God

Son: Like Jesus, give your life, your hands to the service of God

Holy Spirit: Give your heart to God so that you might bring light and love into the world around you.

My Farewell and Hello

2011-01-16T14:31:00.000-05:00

As i led my last service at the United Methodist Church in Saranac Lake, the scriptures gave me strength and led me to know I was on the right path. I have been suffering by ignoring my call and holding back. That is done.
________
Isaiah 49:3-5

He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel,
and you will bring me glory."
I replied, "But my work seems so useless!
I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.
Yet I leave it all in the LORD's hand;
I will trust God for my reward."
And now the LORD speaks—
the one who formed me in my mother's womb to be his servant,
who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.
The LORD has honored me,
and my God has given me strength.

Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Psalm 40:1-4
I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the LORD.
Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.

1 Corinthians 1:4-9
I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
_______

My Farewell

"After 10 years as voluntary praise service music minister for the First United Methodist Church in Saranac Lake - and at a time when I'm told there would only continue to be a Praise Service if it is run voluntarily and entirely unsupported by the Church - I have decided to accept a position as Music Minister at a non-denominational service held every Sunday 10AM at St. Joseph's Addiction Treatment & Recovery Center in Saranac Lake. St. Joe's was founded by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and is Roman Catholic. The service, however, is non-denominational and INCLUSIVE, under the Roman Catholic Womanpriests initiative (http://www.romancatholicwomenpriests.org/). The worship is being led by ordained Christopher Courtwright-Cox and is offered for St. Joseph in-patients and open to the outside public.

I welcome this position as an opportunity to pursue my calling in music and ministry in an open, supportive environment. I've served as guest minister at St. Josephs on several occasions, so I know the power of the Holy Spirit moving in a room of souls crying out for a greater closeness with God. It is regrettable that for most of the years I served the First UMC, the Praise Service was rarely treated as a legitimate part of this Church's ministry. Nevertheless, I took my role seriously, spent many hours each week preparing for each service, and maintained a high standard as a UMC CERTIFIED LAY SPEAKER. While some may think that certification is just a title, it represents a certain level of discipline and study undertaken by the individual, as well as a vote of confidence by one's home church and peers.

I value the friendships I have made, and the experience gained while serving. I wish you all well. I hope that you will take the time to come check out our service one Sunday. Perhaps, too, I will be back as a guest musician or minister at YOUR church some time in the future. And, lastly, this might be an opportunity for this Methodist Church to examine its priorities and actually develop a coordinated worship plan. I'd be happy to participate in such an effort."

We shall (can) all prophesy

2011-01-09T07:45:00.000-05:00

Acts 2:17-18 (AMP)
And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [*telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (^divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [^divinely suggested] dreams. Yes, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy [*telling forth the divine counsels and ^predicting future events pertaining especially to God's kingdom].

*G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon
^Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon

A Message for the Season: Love Fulfills God's Requirements

2010-11-28T10:44:00.000-05:00

Romans 13:8, 10 (NLTse)
Love Fulfills God's Requirements

[8] Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God's law.
. . .
[10] Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God's law.

Romans 13:8, 10-14 (MSG)
Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along.
. . .
You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.

But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!

The Providence of God

2010-01-11T02:31:00.001-05:00

"He saw also that the providence of God is a circle of loving and giving, God serving His poor through the bounty of His rich, and His poor offering up their thanks to Him."

From "My God and My All: The Life of St. Francis of Assisi" by Elizabeth Goudge, P. 56

Christmas Prayer (or Pastor's Lament)

2009-12-20T02:00:00.002-05:00

I lay me down, not sure the reason,
For I can't sleep in Christmas season
When all around me, here and there,
Apathy hath filled the air.
Come Christmas Eve or Christmas morn
Its not about the Savior born
Fellowship? Good News spread?
That egg nog's gone right to your head!
Good pastor, you this Church must grow
But don't disturb the status quo
(Especially the Christmas Show,
It's very special, don't you know?)

Good Christians all (I'm pretty sure)
Come walking weekly through our door
And rush to chat up the rare new face
That finds its way into God's place
Did I say God? Oh, heavens me!
What I meant was Church Trustee.
But just for now I simply pray
That God will grant another day
That I might use to do His will
And grant me sleep, that's better still!
I'll take His testing 'round the clock
For the privilige to guide His flock.

Life of Christ Glass Slides

2009-10-18T13:44:00.002-04:00

The images in this slideshow are scans of painted glass slides used for projection shows in the late 1800s (?) and early 1900s. The nearly complete set was found in a wooden box marked "Life of Christ" in our church, The First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake. They would have been used in a special projector - early multimedia! I have been told that at one time there was a big old projector in the church but it is no longer anywhere to be found. The titles are from paper labels on each slide.

Cedar Eden - The Blog: Religious TV Today - There should be a WHOLE LOT OF SMITING GOING ON!

2009-10-18T11:13:00.002-04:00

Religious TV Today - There should be a WHOLE LOT OF SMITING GOING ON!

So I am unwinding after my early Praise Service and decided to flip through the religious channels on DirecTV. There are a lot of choices at 10:30AM EDT. Every one - EVERY ONE - but two asked for money within 2 minutes of turning to the channel. And MOST within 30 seconds or less. It is wrapped up in false Christianity - don't you know the Lord WANTS you to have EVERYTHING you want. Wow! Such crap, such false teaching.

Here are the networks and the shows:

Fox - Hour of Power (ready to start a new life with God, call now!)
Inspirational Channel - Turning Point (get books and stuff with your gift - "order today")
God TV - Missions Week - (a new season of giving for a new level of media ministry)
World Harvest TV - (my favorite, God's diet plan!)
Daystar - Ed young TV (i want you to connect with us/partner with us)
The Church Channel - Medina Pullings (buy Dr. Pullings book)
TBN - Pastor Ed young, Sr. (come to their Holy Land Experience Theme Park!)
Word - Armor of God - come to our revival

Only TWO aren't direct marketing:

EWTN - Faith and Culture (analysis of various religious views); One World Praying (leading the world in prayer - today it is Catholics and The Rosary) - I;m going to take down my Rosary and learn about Fatima
BYU TV - Brigham Young University network (well, they are pushing just THEIR version of Christianity and THEIR University

Isn't ANY wonder that the unchurched are turned off? Think about it. This is probably the ONLY religion that many people are exposed to, and only as they quickly turn to and say "Oh, see, there they go again. Just asking for money."

Imagine the Heavenly Host looking down and tuning in. . . .

It makes a pretty good argument for their IS NO GOD!
There should be a whole lot of smiting going on!

Expectations • January 25, 2009

2009-01-25T09:00:00.005-05:00

Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:5-12l; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Expectations

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (32-35) (NLT)

29 But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. 30 Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. 31 Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.

32 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. 33 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. 34 His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

Paul urges believers not to regard marriage, home, or financial security as the ultimate goals of life. As much as possible, we should live unhindered by the cares of this world, not getting involved with burdensome mortgages, budgets, investments, or debts that might keep us from doing God's work. A married man or woman, as Paul points out (1Co 7:33,34), must take care of earthly responsibilities — but they should make every effort to keep them modest and manageable. (from Life Application Study Bible.)

1 Corinthians 7:17 (NLT)

17 Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.

In our reading from the Old Testament, the book of Jonah, a story of a minor prophet’s personal struggle with God over a mission on which he had been sent. In what is sometimes referred to as The Gospel of Second Chance, we have Jonah finally deciding to be obedient to the Lord, after running from him, then praying for him from within the great fish. The job Jonah was asked to do was decidedly not an easy task, or one that one would readily accept – to bring a message of doom to one of the most powerful cities in the world. Hence Johan’s Reluctance led to Disobedience, submission, obedience

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 (NLT) Jonah Goes to Nineveh

1 Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.”
3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. 4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” 5 The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.

10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

And in our Psalm, we have a centering prayer focused on God

Psalm 62:5-12 (NLT)

5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.
7 My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
8 O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge.

Interlude

9 Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air.

10 Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.

11 God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you;
12 unfailing love, O Lord, is yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they have done.

The Psalm reminds us that, although it is tempting to use honor, power, wealth, or prestige to measure people, and we may even think that such people are really getting ahead in life, on God's scales, these people are a "breath," a puff of air.

And our gospel reading tells of Jesus, following his baptism and temptation by Satan, walking the shores of Galilee and looking for a few good men – the first disciples.

Mark 1:14-20 (NLT)

14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. 15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

The First Disciples

16 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
19 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. 20 He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Expectations

When people first met Jesus, I wonder if they really knew what to expect. At some point, people began to see him as the promised Messiah, and so they had the promises of the Old Testament prophets to guide their expectations. But when Jesus first started his ministry, when he walked along the shore and called out to a few fishermen, what did those fishermen expect. When the crowds began to gather everywhere he went, what were they expecting to hear? When the poor, the lame, the sick began to press in around Jesus, just to see him, be near him, maybe touch his robe – what did the expect?

There is who you are, who you want to be, who people think you are, who you try to be for people. There is what other people see in you, what you do or see in yourself. There is what people tell you to do, there is what society tells or compels you to do. There is your conscience, which may be right or wrong.

We like to pigeonhole people. So to Marlene I am a husband; to my children, a father; to colleagues, a lake scientist; to my fellow Whompers bandmates, a musician and fellow Whomper; to you I am a certain kind of musician, perhaps as Pastor Al at Mooers UMC calls me – a gospel singer. Maybe to you I am a preacher, or just a fellow Christian, or a man with a message.

We can’t be all things to all people. Some days it feels like we can’t be anything to anybody. And some days we don’t feel like being anything to anybody.

If you could be one thing, relinquishing all other things, what would you be?

But people, men and woman, you and me – we aren’t one thing. We are many things with a whole lot of potential piled on top.

Expectations can limit us, make us inflexible, resistant to change, to new ideas. Expectations can become very negative when we begin to expect anything from someone just because you think that is the way things should be. We limit ourselves, we limit each other.
As United Methodists, we have learned to accept that pastors come and pastors go. Such change may be a good thing, introducing us to new ideas, new ways of thinking, new ways of doing things. But it also can make us close ranks and cling to our old habits and rituals. We expect things to be the way we expect them to be – the times of our services and Sunday school, what room our pastor uses as an office . . .
We develop closed hearts, closed minds, closed doors – the very antithesis of the UMC global mission.

8946. The "Perfect Pastor"

After years of research, the profile of the "perfect pastor" has been developed. The perfect pastor preaches exactly fifteen minutes. He condemns sin, but never embarrasses anyone. He works from 8:00 A.M. until midnight and is also the church janitor.
He make $60 a week, wears good clothes, drives a new car, and gives $50 a week to the poor. He is twenty-eight years old and has been preaching for twenty-five years, is wonderfully gentle and handsome, loves to work with teenagers, and spends countless hours with senior citizens. He makes fifteen calls daily on parish families, shut-ins, and hospital patients, and he is always in his office when needed.
If your pastor does not measure up to this profile of the perfect pastor, simply send this description to six other churches that are tired of their pastor. Then bundle up your pastor and send him to the church on the top of the list.
In one week you will receive 1,643 pastors. One of them should be perfect.

So, IF we are many things, and IF we can’t be all things to all people, what then, are we to do?

What does God expect of us?

What makes us human, makes us Christian, is our ability to focus, to rise up, when we see a need, a challenge, a crisis in the life of another human being.
And when we do that, we are doing what God expects of us. It isn’t what we want, what our spouse wants, what our kids, our parents want – it is precisely what God expects.

And in return, we can expect the One Truth, the Good News. We can expect to receive all of God’s grace and love, ALL of it. And, yet, there is still enough for everyone else to have it all, too.

Michael R. Martin – January 25, 2009
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Sunday November 30, 2008 – First Sunday of Advent

2008-12-29T20:43:00.005-05:00

Isaiah 64:1–9; Psalm 80:1–7, 17–19; 1 Corinthians 1:3–9; Mark 13:24–37

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Calendar
We begin a new church year. November 30 is the first Sunday in the liturgical year and lectionary cycle B of the Christian calendar.
November 30 is also United Methodist Student Day, with a special offering designated.
December 1 (Monday) is World AIDS Day.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for the First Sunday of Advent, Year B (November 30, 2008) (Purple or Blue)

Isaiah 64:1-9: The prophet calls for God to appear decisively, to "tear open the heavens" so the nations would tremble. He also confesses the need for such decisive intervention -- the utter sinfulness of humanity, even of those who are part of God's covenant. Finally, he changes metaphors -- from earthly catastrophe to remaking pots, begging God to be merciful when God comes.
Isaiah 64: God's appearance is so intense that it is like a consuming fire that burns everything in its path. If we are so impure, how can we be saved? Only by God's mercy. God is the Potter, We are the Clay
Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19 (UMH 801). The people cry out for restoration from the midst of exile. "Restore us, Lord God of hosts. Shine the light of your countenance upon us, that we may be saved!"
Psalm 80 [Theme:] A prayer for revival and restoration after experiencing destruction. God is our only hope for salvation. Life Application Study Bible.
1 Corinthians 1:3-9: In the midst of offering a greeting to the Christians in Corinth, Paul points to the end -- the coming Day of the Lord -- to call them to continue to grow and be faithful in using their spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians – Paul gives thanks to God
Mark 13:24-37: Jesus' description of the end and his clear instruction always to be on watch for signs of it.
Mark 13:24 – Jesus tells about his return

Isaiah 64:1-9 (NLT)

1 Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in your presence!
2 As fire causes wood to burn and water to boil, your coming would make the nations tremble. Then your enemies would learn the reason for your fame!
3 When you came down long ago, you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked!
4 For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!
5 You welcome those who gladly do good, who follow godly ways. But you have been very angry with us, for we are not godly. We are constant sinners; how can people like us be saved?
6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
7 Yet no one calls on your name or pleads with you for mercy. Therefore, you have turned away from us and turned us over to our sins.
8 And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.
9 Don’t be so angry with us, Lord. Please don’t remember our sins forever. Look at us, we pray, and see that we are all your people.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (NLT)

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Paul Gives Thanks to God

4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mark 13:24-37 (NLT)

24 “At that time, after the anguish of those days,
the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

26 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
28 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

32 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 33 And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!

34 “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 35 You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37 I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The entire thirteenth chapter of Mark tells us how to live while we wait for Christ's return: (1) We are not to be misled by confusing claims or speculative interpretations of what will happen (Mark 13:5,6). (2) We should not be afraid to tell people about Christ, despite what they might say or do to us (Mark 13:9-11). (3) We must stand firm by faith and not be surprised by persecutions (Mark 13:13). (4) We must be morally alert, obedient to the commands for living found in God's Word. This chapter was not given to promote discussions on prophetic timetables, but to stimulate right living for God in a world where he is largely ignored.
Life Application Study Bible.

Mark: These verses refer to the Second Coming of Christ.
• It was a common belief that the appearance of God would disturb nature (verses 24-25). This was seen in an incident in Exodus, where the appearance of God was accompanied by thunder or fire on the mountain and great fear.
• Verse 30, which says that this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place, was particularly disturbing to members of the early church who expected the Second Coming of Christ to take place during their lifetime.
• Verses 32-37 remind us all to remain alert and vigilant because no one knows the exact day or time when Christ will come again.

(Mark 13:37) Watch (gregoreuo): to keep awake, to stay alert, to be watchful and sleepless, to be vigilant. It also includes the idea of being motivated, that is, of desiring, of holding and keeping one's attention (mind) upon a thing. Watching also has the idea of being alert at the right time. It is at night that one really needs to stay awake and watch for the thief (cp. 1 Thes. 5:4-9).

"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1 Cor. 16:13).
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober" (1 Thes. 5:6).
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry" (2 Tim. 4:5).
"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer" (1 Peter 4:7).

Matthew 26:41 (NLT)

41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
Mark 13:33-34 (NLT)
33 And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! 34 “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.
Mark 13:36 (NLT)
36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning.

What is Advent?

(Wikipedia)Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming") is a season of the Christian church, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus, in other words, the period immediately before Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western Christian year and commences on Advent Sunday.
Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure as they await the second coming of Christ.
The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often to prepare for the Second Coming while commemorating the First Coming of Christ at Christmas. With the view of directing the thoughts of Christians to the first coming of Jesus Christ as Saviour, and to his second coming as Judge, special lessons are prescribed for each of the four Sundays in Advent.

Advent was formerly penitential, hence the traditional alter color is Purple as in Lent, but there is a growing interest in and acceptance of the color blue as an alternative. The United Methodist Book of Worship of 1992 identifies purple or blue as appropriate colors for Advent (224, 226, 238). The genesis of the introduction of blue into the liturgical colors comes from continued reflection on the calendar of the Christian year, particularly on the season of Advent. Here is how the reasoning goes: Advent is a season of preparation that anticipates both Bethlehem and the consummation of history in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Since this anticipation is characterized by hope -- in contrast to the repentance characteristic of Lent -- the color for the season should not be purple, with its mood of solemnity and somberness, but blue with its hopefulness. Admittedly, there is a some subjectivity in linking colors with certain moods.

An appropriate epistle for any Advent Sunday is Romans 13:11-14 (NLT)

11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

The first Sunday of Advent is November 30 this year, and we move into Year B of the lectionary. During this year of the three-year lectionary cycle, we will read through Mark's gospel, engage the stories of David's family, and spend considerable time in the epistles of Ephesians, Hebrews, and James.

But during Advent in particular, we focus on endings to come that bring the hope of new beginnings. And during Year B, since we are working with a gospel that has no stories about the birth of Jesus, the focus on endings is perhaps the most insistent, and in December in North America, perhaps the most difficult to manage against the "Christmas" practices and expectations of culture and many a congregation alike.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Second Coming

The biblical doctrine of the end times (called eschatology, from Greek eschata, “last things”) refers to the time and events of the consummation of God’s redemptive activity. Holy Bible, New American Standard.

It involves the “last” or “latter days” (e.g., Isaiah 2:2), the Day of the Lord (e.g., Amos 5:18-19; 1 Thessalonians 5:2), the “age to come” (e.g., Ephesians 1:21; Hebrews 6:5), the “last days” (e.g., 2 Timothy 3:1), the “last time” (Jude 18), and the “last hour” (1 John 2:18). Holy Bible, New American Standard.
The Second Coming of Christ (a phrase not found in the Bible) is expressed by the apostles in the following special terms: (1) "Παρουσία, Parousía" (parousía), a word fairly common in Greek, with the meaning "presence" (2 Cor. 10:10; Phil. 2:12). More especially it may mean "presence after absence," "arrival" (but not "return," unless this is given by the context),The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

Repeated Promises Of Coming
Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with promises of the Second Coming of Christ. There are 1,845 references to it in the Old Testament, and a total of seventeen Old Testament books give it prominence.
Of the 260 chapters in the entire New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming, or one out of 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. The four missing books include three which are single-chapter letters written to individual persons on a particular subject, and the fourth is Galatians which does imply Christ's coming again.
For every prophecy on the First Coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ's Second Coming.
Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.

Matthew 24:27-31 (NLT)

27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. 29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

Revelation 22:7 (NLT)

7 “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book.”

Revelation 22:12-13 (NLT)

12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Purpose of Second Coming

Matthew 16:27 (NLT)

27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.

Matthew 25:31 (NLT)

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.

1 Corinthians 4:5 (NLT)

5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

Preparation for Second Coming

Matthew 24:44 (NLT) (readiness)

44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.

Luke 12:35-36 (NLT)

35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.

1 Corinthians 1:7 (NLT)

7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:5 (NLT)

5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NLT)

23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

Titus 2:12-13 (NLT)

12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

1 Peter 1:13 (NLT)

13 So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

1 John 2:28 (NLT) Living as Children of God

28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.

Why Hasn’t Christ Returned?

Matthew 24:36 (NLT)

36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

2 Peter 3:8-9 (NLT)

8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

Biblical Details about the Second Coming Of Christ

We do not know when Jesus will return (Matthew 24:36)
Christ’s return will be unmistakable (Mark 13:26-27)
Christ’s return will be joyous for those who are ready (Luke 12:35-40)
The Second Coming will be a time of judgment on unbelievers (John 12:37-50)
At Christ’s second coming we will be with him forever (John 14:1-3)
The promise of Christ’s return (Acts 1:10-11)
Believers will be resurrected and given glorious bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
Christ’s return will be visible and glorious (1 Thessalonians 4:16)
At Christ’s return, Christians who are dead and alive will rise to meet him (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Continue to serve God as you await the Second Coming (1 Peter 4:7-8)
Patiently await Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:8-13)
Jesus is coming soon (Revelation 22:20-21)

The Events of Christ's Return

Christ will return visibly, with a loud command.
There will be an unmistakable cry from an angel.
There will be a trumpet fanfare such as has never been heard.
Believers in Christ who are dead will rise up from their graves.
Believers who are alive will be caught up in the clouds to meet Christ.
While Christians have often disagreed about what events will lead up to the return of Christ, there has been less disagreement about what will happen once Christ does return.

Life Application Study Bible.

What Does This Mean to Us, Today?

Matthew 24:3 (NLT) How Should We Live

3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”

We must be preparing ourselves so we will be ready for the second coming of Jesus.
We should be aware of the signs of the Second Coming, but realize that these signs are easily misread.
We are to continue to do the important work that needs to be completed before Jesus returns. (discipleship)
We can be sure that Jesus' return will be universally unmistakable.
We keep working, realizing that we don't know exactly when Jesus will return.
We remain prepared, realizing that each day is the possible day of Jesus' return.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NLT)

6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us.

We are to keep busy because neither Jesus' delay nor his imminent arrival should be an excuse for idleness.
John 12:48 (NLT) What Will Happen

48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.

Jesus' second coming will have a different purpose than his first coming. The purpose of Jesus' first mission on earth was not to judge people, but to show them the way to find salvation and eternal life. When he comes again, one of his main purposes will be to judge people for how they lived on earth.
John 14:2 (NIV)

2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

At Jesus' second coming, we will be with him forever.
1 Corinthians 1:7 (NLT)

7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

At Jesus' second coming, we will fully experience the reality of our salvation.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NLT)

13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

Jesus' second coming will include the resurrection of believers who have died.
Jesus' second coming will signal victory.

I want to wrap this up with a little reflection. When I was a teen, I went to a Baptist Youth Group on a regular basis. I went there out of my interest in God, but also out of my interest in a certain girl who also attended. My bible from that period is chock full of underlined verses, in a multiverse of colors. I can remember my girlfriend used to pass me love notes, saying things like “See you in the rapture.” I don't think we really knew what that meant.

Just recently, my wife and I went out to a restaurant to attend a surprise 50th birthday party of a good friend. We arrived early, since my vehicle is quite distinctive and we wanted to be able to park it somewhere out of sight. As we waited, more and more people arrived and we all waited, talking excitedly in small groupd scattered around the room. The appointed hour of my friend's arrival came and went. Folks began to get antsy after about 15 minutes, and still no birthday boy. Well, he finally arrived, only about 25 minutes late and a good time was had by all.

But that got me to thinking. What if it had taken an hour, two hours, three hours, a day, for my friend to arrive. How many would still be waiting? And if anyone was still waiting after a day, a week, a month, how EXCITED would they still be about the anticipated arrival. I suspect it would take far less than a day for everyone to drift away and get on with their lives.

That is what it is like waiting for Jesus. We've been told he is coming. It could be soon. Two thousand years later, how excited are YOU?

Michael R. Martin – November 20, 2008
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

As The Farmer Scatters Seed . . . • July 13, 2008

2008-09-10T10:31:00.001-04:00

Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112 or Psalm 25; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Matthew 13:1-9 (NRSV)

The Parable of the Sower
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!"

The Parable of the Sower Explained
18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

We have entered in our readings into the “season of parables.” Now, there is no such thing as a season of parables on any clerical calendar that I am aware of, but our readings over the next weeks will re-introduce us to many of these teaching stories. This parable of the farmer sowing grain onto four soils is the first of Jesus’ many parables recounted by Matthew. It takes place on the shores of Sea of Galilee. It is said in some gospel translations that a boat was always kept ready and waiting, and here Jesus takes to the boat perhaps that he might better be seen and heard by the immense crowd that had gathered. Keep in mind that this parable is shared at time when Jesus faced opposition. Parables, like satire and other relatively obscure forms of speech, are frequently used when straightforward speech could be life threatening. Parables are still used today as a rabbinical teaching tool (in Hebrew, parables are often called meshalim). I would say that there are two main questions for you to keep in mind as we explore these parables in our readings in the weeks to come:

First, what is the main point of the parable?
and most importantly, how does this parable speak truth to you, today, in our time, in your life?

I often wondered if Jesus decided to use this particular parable first as a lesson in parables – he certainly spells this one right out for us; or perhaps Matthew chose it as something easy to cut our teeth on. It is a simple, straightforward story. It was very applicable to the agricultural life of the times, so it was accessible to the people – they could easily understand the imagery, as I think we still can today. Who here hasn’t at one time or another broadcast grass seeds over the soil, or perhaps fed chickens by broadcasting feed, as pastor Linda used to love to recount? So we can identify with that farmer, sowing seeds.

Just in case you have never sowed seed or fed chickens, I have a modern day equivalent parable for you – recount the hydroseeding out in front of our house. Road construction nearing completion, some areas top soil, some still stony sandy soil, some areas pavement, some concrete curbing. Nowadays, road crews use hydroseeder to sow seeds over large expanses. . .

So, in front of our house, some of this mixture was sprayed onto our paved driveway, some was sprayed onto the sandy rocky subsoil, and some was sprayed onto the clean, rich loamy topsoil. Yesterday it rained. Yesterday it rained a LOT. Most of the seed mixture on the driveway washed away, but some is stuck in little cracks where the pavement meets the concrete curb. The seed mixture stuck pretty well on both the sandy soil and top soil. The sun will come out, the seed will sprout – what do you suppose is going to happen to the grasses that start growing? The grass stuck on the pavement will grow, tucked into the spray mixture, but the roots will have nowhere to go, and soon the sun will wilt them and they will die. The grass mixture on the sandy, rocky subsoil will also sprout, the roots will take hold, but the sand will hold little moisture. So although these grasses will grow, they will not thrive. Ah, but the seed that landed where it was meant to land, on the rich loam, it will sprout, the roots will reach down into a soil that holds moisture for it and the grasses will do well here.

So, there is the parable, for the old-time farmer or modern soil conservationist in you. But the easy thing about this parable – it’s a pretty short hop to see how this story can relate to God’s word and our mission as disciples. Believe me, some of the parables are not so easy to decipher, to relate to our own lives. But here, we have God’s Word -- the seed, and God’s disciples – the farmer, and the people of the world – the soil. We are not the seed, YOU are not the seed. The Good News is the seed! And although you and I are in the world, we are not the soil, WE are not the soil. We are among God’s chosen people, YOU are among God’s chosen people. God has nurtured your life from before you were born, and made you who you are, and led you, to this very here and now. God’s seed has been planted and tended and taken root in your heart and soul. YOU, my good friends, are farmers. Or, if you’d rather, you are the person directing the nozzle of the hydro spray truck – it IS after all a heck of a lot more efficient!

"Precision Farming" In Millennium

As we enter the millennium, a new system of crop management called "precision farming" is bringing agriculture into the Information Age

Precision farming is based on the idea that no two clumps of dirt are alike. The "modern" agriculture of the last 50 years has tended to treat whole tracts of land, from back porch to fence post, as great, homogenous plots of potting soil. Some areas end up overfertilized; other don't get enough herbicide. Still others get the wrong seed variety, so costs soar and crop fields suffer.

Precision farming delivers more personalized attention. As Daney Keppel of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultant says: "If you spoon-feed each plant based on what it needs, it'll probably do better."

The technique employs such innovations as Global Positioning Satellites (GPS), computer mapping systems, and a Star Trek-like crop monitor that uses beams of light to get a reading of "plant health." The technology is allowing farmers to collect and absorb unprecedented amounts of data about their fields and crops, and to tailor their husbandry to the findings.

Lasers measure field topography—the hills and valley—and multiple soil samples are analyzed for fertility, salinity, pH and a dozen more obscure properties. Satellite images are used to pinpoint problem areas in the fields. Every sandy patch, strand of Russian thistle and shortage of phosphorus is recorded with GPS locators and plotted out on maps so that the same area can be monitored year after year.

At harvest, electronic yield monitors built into combines automatically log the weight and quality of the crop.

As any farmer knows, you have to have two things first and foremost to grow a crop. . . good soil and good seed. Our mission, then, is to tend to the soil so that it is ready to accept seed, and plant seeds wherever and whenever we can. The nice thing about being God’s farmer is that you don’t have to do it all. You may never know the fruits of your labor, but perhaps that little bit of soil you cultivated in someone was just the planting bed needed for the next farmer that comes along. And after that farmer, someone did a little watering, then someone took out a hoe and did a little weeding. And before you know it, we’ve got another honest to God farmer on our hands!

I’ll reiterate what I said a few weeks back. We sit in this church at a time of incredible opportunity and challenge. We are by and large not happy with the way things are going, we have an inspired church council willing to evaluate change, and we have a new pastor who comes to us loaded with experience and energy and ideas. None of us is here by accident, nothing that has come before is wasted. I want to see this church bursting with farmers who come eagerly in each Sunday to get a little well deserved watering and tending so they can take it right back out their into the fields.

Can you IMAGINE what that would be like? How exciting that would be?
I know I am preaching to the choir here, or auctioning to the farmer, or whatever. I wish I could teleport our entire membership into this room right now and give them the same story. If I could teleport our membership here, I suspect we’d have mixed company -- farmers of all types and soil of various qualities -- but that’s ok, too. The body of Christ is made of many parts, each with a special purpose.

I am blessed that I can come here and worship with you, that you come here and worship with me, that we can worship together as often as we do. I am ready to do more.
I won’t ask for a show of hands, but if you are ready to do more, pray with me.

Heavenly Father, Creator God, continue to keep our church under your careful guidance. I praise your glory and am ever thankful for the gifts you have given me. I offer myself to you, Lord, in service. Guide me, Lord, that I might give what is most needed, where it is most needed, when it is most needed. Continue to water those of us gathered here with your blessings, Lord, that we continue to grow in your love. And, as always, I ask that all things be your will, Lord, not mine.

Amen

Michael R. Martin – July 13, 2008
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM & 10AM

Weeds & Waste Places • July 20, 2008

2008-09-05T10:23:00.002-04:00

Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 (NLT)

Parable of the Wheat and Weeds
24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. 26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’

28 “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’”

Parable of the Wheat and Weeds Explained
36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

37 Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one. 39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

40 “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

Jesus explained that the kingdom grows quietly and abundantly, yet evil still exists in the world. Jesus gives the meaning of this parable in 13:37-43, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seeds are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil." That the enemy came while everybody was asleep does not indicate neglect on anyone's part; that he went away does not indicate his absence. Instead, these details merely highlight the stealth and malicious intent of Satan (the enemy, "the evil one").

The "weed" Jesus referred is generally considered to be darnel, AKA darnel rye-grass or cockle (Tare in old bible translations) (Lolium temulentum), a weedy plant that looks very much like wheat in the early stages of growth, but becomes distinguishable when the heads of the wheat appear. The seed is not poisonous but it is often infected by a fungus which is very toxic. Darnel is a member of the rye-grass family and occurs throughout the US, where it is generally considered a noxious weed. The plant stem can grow up to 1 meter tall, with inflorescence in the ears and purple grain. It grows plentifully in Syria and Israel. It usually grows in the same production zones as wheat and is considered a weed. The similarity between these two plants is so extensive that in some regions cockle is referred to as "false wheat." It bears a close resemblance to wheat until the ear appears. The ears on the real wheat are so heavy that it makes the entire plant droop downward, but the "false wheat", which ears are light, stands straight. Interestingly enough, this weed is related to perennial rye grass, which is heavily planted as lawns and ground cover.

Jesus' hearers would have understood how no one would have noticed the weeds until the plants came up and bore grain. Only then would the weeds appear. A heavy infestation of darnel (indicated by it being "sowed" among the grain) would cause the roots of both plants to become entangled. To sow darnel in a person's wheat field was punishable by Roman law. This was a known practice in ancient warfare and feuds—destroy a nation's (or person's) agricultural base and his military might would also be destroyed. The presence of Satan's children among God's people would also serve to weaken them. Because no one recognized the weeds, both grew at the same time. This real-life situation gave Jesus' hearers a picture of God's kingdom growing and thriving alongside evil in this world.

On Noxious Weeds

Because of my work in lake management and county soil & water conservation districts across the United States over the past twenty years, I have become quite familiar with weeds. A weed is simply a plant that grows too abundantly where it is not wanted. Most distressing to the environment is the non-native invasive species. These are plants that don’t normally grow in the US and grow so well that they quickly overtake native species, disturbing and sometimes destroying the natural environment once they get introduced. Many weeds were introduced in the 1800s, when enthusiastic botanists brought to the US examples of new plants found in Europe and Asia. Plants such as Eurasian milfoil, which chokes lakes, ponds and waterways across the US, including most of NY and a number of popular lakes here in the Adirondacks. One small fragment of this plant can start a whole large colony within a year or two and entirely take over a lake in less than five years. This plant is a perennial, and is so hardy it even continues to grow under the ice.

One invasive plant, purple loosestrife, can produce up to 2.7 million seeds per plant yearly and spreads across approximately 1 million additional acres of wetlands each year, with an economic impact of millions of dollars.

A terrestrial plant, the giant hogweed, is a member of the carrot family, related not only to that favorite food of cartoon rabbits, but such common roadside plants as Queen Anne’s Lace and yarrow. Looking much like a giant Queen Anne’s Lace 2 ½’ in diameter, the plant grows 8 – 15’ high, with a 5’ wide deeply divided leaf. : Hogweed is a public health hazard. Giant hogweed produces a clear, watery noxious sap that causes severe photodermatitis in humans and animals, meaning the skin becomes so sensitive to ultraviolet light that skin contact followed by exposure to sunlight produces painful, burning blisters that may develop into purplish or blackened scars. This can be long-lasting, even permanent. Contact with the eyes can cause temporary or permanent blindness. This plant is known to occur in fields and waste places in New York. My baby sister had it growing in her garden in Laconia, NH.

Some high percentage of what we consider wild flowers are what we botanists call naturalized escapes. In other words, someone planted them in their flower garden and they spread into the wild and became established there. The percentage may be as high as 80 – 90 percent. Read any good botanical guide, such as Newcomb’s wild flower guide or local reclusive genius Michael Kudish’s Guide to the Flora of the Adirondacks and you’ll begin to realize just how many wildflowers are indeed escapes and naturalized plants. The other thing one quickly learns is that many of the common, meaning abundant, plants grow in what botanists call disturbed and waste places. This doesn’t mean trash dumps, but anywhere the earth has been disturbed and the natural plant community destroyed. Examples are railroad beds, edges of parking lots, abandoned farm fields.

This is a good lesson for us, if we consider God’s master creation, the human, to be like the plant community. Many people are naturalized escapes, growing in places where they find themselves. A high percentage are weeds. Unlike the Wheat and Weed parable, which spoke of a specific weed, not all weeds are bad. Many are pretty to look at – in fact, if it weren’t for the “weeds,” including the naturalized escapes, we wouldn’t have a very diverse population – of humans or wildflowers. But some of the weeds are very bad.

Here we have another parable where Jesus through Matthew provides an interpretation. Jesus spoke this words while at the sea. There he spoke publicly to the crowds. Jesus' movement back into the house signifies a movement away from the crowds and to private discussion with his disciples. Jesus described the identity of the important parts of the parable of the weeds recorded in 13:24-30. Jesus explained to his listening disciples that the good seeds are believers, sown by the Son of Man in the field of the world. In this world also existed those who were not children of the kingdom; thus, they were children of the devil, sown by him into this world. At the end of the age, the angels would come and the harvest would begin.

GOD DOES THE WEEDING

Jesus' reference is to the kingdom of heaven and is not limited to the church. However, the church is in the world as well as in the kingdom of heaven, so the truth also applies. There are good seeds and bad seeds, children of God and children of Satan, in the church. At first glance, the works of each may be difficult to distinguish. Jesus appealed to us to be appropriately inclusive (we should avoid exclusiveness and arrogant separatism). We should strive for unity with others even when it may present the risk of "weeds." The work of judgment is God's. Yet we must not be naive. Satan has a strategy and his children are at work.

The young weeds and the young blades of wheat look the same and can't be distinguished until they are grown and ready for harvest. Weeds (unbelievers) and wheat (believers) must live side by side in this world. God allows unbelievers to remain for a while, just as a farmer allows weeds to remain in his field so that the surrounding wheat won't be uprooted with them. At the harvest, however, the weeds will be uprooted and thrown away. God's harvest (judgment) of all people is coming. Make yourself ready by remaining faithful to Christ and obeying him.

13:40-42 "Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

At this harvest, God will separate his people from Satan's people. As the harvesters collect the weeds into bundles to be destroyed, so Satan's works and Satan's people will be thrown into the furnace of fire. According to the Life Application Bible, the "furnace of fire" is not a name for hell but is a metaphor for final judgment. Jesus often used the term "weeping and gnashing of teeth" to refer to the coming judgment. The "weeping" indicates sorrow or remorse, and "gnashing of teeth" shows extreme anxiety or pain. Those who say they don't care what happens to them after they die don't realize what they are saying. God will punish them for living in selfishness and indifference to him. Jesus, who has already identified himself as the Son of Man, revealed that he will inaugurate the end of the age and the final judgment.

TRAGEDY OF EVIL

Followers of Jesus do not fear God's final judgment, but we must respond to it with

tears, for the separation and suffering that will fall upon evildoers. We must never gloat over or feel indifferent to the fate of those facing judgment. God mourns over lost souls, and so should we.
sharing the gospel, since many need to hear and all who respond in faith will be saved from judgment. Christians ought to always be witnessing people.
lifelong service, because no matter what your job, profession, or education, all you do should be dedicated to God. God uses your work to advance his kingdom and overcome evil.

13:43 "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!"NRSV Reflecting words from Daniel 12:3, Jesus described the final glory of the righteous: "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever" (NIV). Those who receive God's favor stand in bright contrast to those who receive his judgment. The "kingdom of their Father" is another name for the kingdom of God and heaven. Heaven will be a glorious place! The message is vitally important, so anyone with ears should listen!

Michael R. Martin – July 20, 2008
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

On Love • August 31, 2008

2008-08-31T09:54:00.003-04:00

Exodus 3:1-15 Psalm 105; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

We have a selection of good lectionary readings for this week.

In Exodus, we have the story of Moses and the Burning Bush

In Matthewm Jesus predicts his death (“From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!””) and says those immortal words tos Paul: “Satan, get thee behind me!”

And Romans is about love. When I first started working on this week, I figured love would be an easy topic to tackle. But Nooooooo!

Romans 12:9-21 (NLT) – Love

   9Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
   14Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!
   17Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.
   19Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,
   “I will take revenge;
   I will pay them back,”
   says the Lord.
20Instead,
   “If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
   If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
   In doing this, you will heap
   burning coals of shame on their heads.”
21Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

In this reading from Romans, Paul exhorts the Christian communities at Rome to live out together what it means to be one body in Christ -- loving one another, respecting and forgiving one another, loving and reaching out in care to enemies, and blessing even those who persecute them. Even as Christ overcame the power of sin and death in his incarnation, life, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection, so his body, the church is called to overcome evil with good.

The New Living Testament entitles this passage “Love” and starts out “Don’t just pretend to love others.” The New Revised Standard Version calls it “Marks of a True Christian” and begins “Let love be genuine.”

In my approach to this topic, I first located a definition of love, in Wikipedia:

Love represents a range of emotions and experiences related to the senses of affection and sexual attraction.[1] The word love can refer to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes, ranging from generic pleasure to intense interpersonal attraction. This diversity of meanings, combined with the complexity of the feelings involved, makes love unusually difficult to consistently define, even compared to other emotional states.

As an abstract concept love usually refers to a strong, ineffable feeling towards another person. Even this limited conception of love, however, encompasses a wealth of different feelings, from the passionate desire and intimacy of romantic love to the nonsexual. Love in its various forms acts as a major facilitator of interpersonal relationships and, owing to its central psychological importance, is one of the most common themes in the creative arts.

Next, in my approach to understanding the subject of love, I collected a diverse group of quotations and reflecdtions on the subject.

The Persian (Iran) viewpoint:

Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth "you owe me".
Look what happens with a Love like that!
- It lights the whole Sky. (Hafiz)

and

The children of Adam are limbs of each other
Having been created of one essence.
When the calamity of time afflicts one limb
The other limbs cannot remain at rest.
If you have no sympathy for the troubles of others
You are not worthy to be called by the name of "man".

From the Greeks, we learn about special types of love. Much like the Eskimo is said to have numerous words for snow, the Greeks covered love. But I focused on the purest form of love, agape.

Agape (ἀγάπη agápē) means love in modern day Greek. The term s'agapomeans I love you in Greek, and sounds quite romantic. The word agapo is the verb I love. It generally refers to a "pure", ideal type of love rather than the physical attraction suggested by eros. However, there are some examples of agape used to mean the same as eros. It has also been translated as "love of the soul".

In the New Testament, agapē is charitable, selfless, altruistic, and unconditional. It is parental love seen as creating goodness in the world, it is the way God is seen to love humanity, and it is seen as the kind of love that Christians aspire to have for one another. I was exposed to this special selfless love on my Walk to Emmaus and was further warmed by agape as a servant on a number of Emmaus teams.

Christians believe that to Love God with all your heart, mind, and strengthand Love your neighbor as yourself are the two most important things in life (the greatest commandment of the Jewish Torah, according to Jesus - c.f. Gospel of Mark chapter 12, verses 28-34).

Paul the Apostle glorified love as the most important virtue of all. Describing love in First Corinthians in a poem made famous by so many weddings, Paul wrote,

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres." - 1 Cor. 13:4-7 (NIV)

John the Apostle wrote these words, popularized at football games and sports arenas around the world,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." - John 3:16-18 (NIV)

John also wrote,

"Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." - 1 John 4:7-8 (NIV)

Saint Augustine said that one must be able to decipher the difference between love and lust. Lust, according to Saint Augustine, is an over indulgence, but to love and be loved is what he sought for his entire life. He even said, “I was in love with love.” Finally, he did fall in love and was loved back, by God. Saint Augustine said the only one who can love you truly and fully is God, because love with a human only allows for flaws such as, “jealousy, suspicion, fear, anger, and contention.” According to Saint Augustine to love God is “to attain the peace which is yours.” (Saint Augustine Confessions)

Christian theologians see God as the source of love, which is mirrored in humans and their own loving relationships. Influential Christian theologian C.S. Lewis wrote a book called The Four Loves.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote his first encyclical on God is love. He said that a human being, created in the image of God who is love, is able to practice love: to give himself to God and others (agape), by receiving and experiencing God's love in contemplation (eros). This life of love, according to him, is the life of the saints such as Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and is the direction Christians take when they believe that God loves them.

Some Love Quotations:

"Attention is the most basic form of love; through it we bless and are blessed." - John Tarrant

"Love stretches your heart and makes you big inside." - Margaret Walker
"Love has no awareness of merit or demerit; it has no scale... Love loves; this is its nature." - Howard Thurman

"Love is more than three words mumbled before bedtime. Love is sustained by action, a pattern of devotion in the things we do for each other every day." - Nicholas Sparks

"To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven." - Karen Sunde

"Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence." - Erich Fromm

"In the final analysis, love is the only reflection of man's worth." - Bill Wundram, Iowa Quad Cities Times

"Love doesn't make the world go round, love is what makes the ride worthwhile." - Elizabeth Browning

"To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer. To suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy then is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer, or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're getting this down." - Woody Allen

"The more I give to thee, the more I have.'' - William Shakespeare

"Give your hands to serve and your hearts to love.'' - Mother Teresa

The key ingredient in interpersonal relationships is love—God's love (agape). This kind of love is a self-sacrificial love, a love that cares for the well-being of others. All the gifts that are exercised in the body should be expressed in this love. This love is the most accurate indicator of spiritual health in the body of Christ. To the Ephesians Paul wrote, "Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:15-16 NIV). Believers have God's love within because "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (5:5). For our love to be different from most of what is called "love" in the world, it must be genuine—without hypocrisy, deceit, falseness. Sincere love is genuine love. Jesus was referring to this kind of love when he said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35 NIV).

Agape received a broader usage under later Christian writers as the word that specifically denoted "Christian" love or "charity" (1 Corinthians 13:1–8), or even God (1 John 4:8, Theos ein agape, "God is Love"). The New Testament provides a number of definitions and examples of agape that generally expand on the meanings derived from ancient texts, denoting brotherly love, love of one's spouse or children, and the love of God for all people.

The Christian usage of the term agape comes almost directly from the canonical Gospels' account of the teachings of Jesus. When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus said, "'Love (agapao) the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love (agapao) your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-41)

At the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said, 'Love (agapao) your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love (agapao) your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?

GENUINE LOVE

Most people know how to pretend to love others—how to speak kindly, avoid hurting their feelings, and appear to take an interest in them. We may even be skilled in pretending to feel moved with compassion when we hear of others' needs, or to become indignant when we learn of injustice. But God calls us to real and sincere love that goes far beyond politeness. Sincere love requires concentration and effort. It means helping others become better people. It demands our time, money, and personal involvement. No individual has the capacity to express love to a whole community, but the body of Christ in your town does. Look for people who need your love, and look for ways you and your fellow believers can show your Christian love to others.

Romans 12:10a
• NIV: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
• NLT: Love each other with genuine affection.

I am a bit of a poet and a songwriter, although I don’t really demonstrate those talents here on Sunday mornings. Most of my stuff is a little dark – the pain of lost love or unrequited love. Romantic love can be quite painful. The most powerful love I ever felt was when my daughter was born, our first child. My wife experienced a extremnely prolonged labor with our daughter two weeks overdue. She tried to accelerate the process by mowing the lawn on a hot summer day. We went to see the movie Terminator, thinking that a scary movie might kick something into gear. After several attempts to induce labor, my daughters heartrate began to drop precipitously, and so she was born by Emergency Cesarean Section. Perhaps all other parents can empathize how the first time I saw my little girl, the first time I held her, I was filled with a powerful, overwhelming love that penetrated ever fiber of my being. I can still call upon that earth-shattering, life-changing moment. I know that when my son was born 18 months later, I was again filled with the awe and wonder of it all, but I don;t remember ever feeling so overwhelmed with love as I was the day Emily took her first breath.

Imagine if we could generate that kind of agape love - powereful, unearned and unconditional - for strangers, for our enemies. In the words of that great R&B hit composed by Herb Alpert, Sam Cooke and Lou Adler and performed by Sam Cooke, “What a wonderful world it would be.”

Michael R. Martin – August 31, 2008
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Jesus Walks on Water • August 10, 2008

2008-08-10T10:15:00.001-04:00

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28;Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Matthew 14:22-33 (NLT)

Jesus Walks on Water
22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here! ”

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink.

“Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

~~~
Christ had to constrain His disciples to leave and go to the other shore. They argued against going. There were several reasons why the use of constraint was necessary.

First, right after Christ had fed the crowd, they wished to take Him by force and make Him King. Christ knew the popular view of Messiahship. The Messiah was to lead Israel in revolt against the Roman conqueror, freeing the people and establishing a theocratic government, that is, the rule and reign of God over all the earth. The disciples were caught up in the excitement. Christ had to send them across the lake and disperse the crowd in order to calm the disciples and keep them from making a serious mistake. Of course, Christ knew that they would be fighting a storm, and having to strain against a storm and fight for survival would calm their excitement. His calming the storm would also prove His Messiahship and again show that He was in control of all things. It would show that He knew the best way to proclaim His Messiahship.

Second, it was time for Christ to move on, for others needed His ministry. He wanted the disciples to make use of what little daylight remained for crossing the lake.

Third, and so important to see, Christ needed time alone for prayer.

Fourth, and just as important, Christ wanted the disciples to begin learning one of the most important lessons of their lives: His presence would always be with them, not necessarily His physical presence, but His spiritual presence. What they needed was great trust in Him.
The Lord's presence makes all the difference in the world.

1. Preparation, Personal— Prayer: Christ's presence is assured by personal preparation. This fact is demonstrated by what Christ Himself did, and the lesson is forceful. He got alone for prayer. There are times when long sessions of prayer are needed—no matter the circumstances. If Christ sensed the need how much more should we.

Christ sent the disciples across the lake and dismissed the crowd; then He got alone to pray. So much had happened, Jesus was just drained and exhausted. The tempter had confronted Him once again, offering the easy way to secure the loyalty of the people (see Deeper Study #1—Matthew 4:1-11,. The people were ready to acclaim Him king, but He knew that human proclamation was only the way of the devil. He had to secure salvation for men through death and the resurrection. He needed time alone with God.

He needed to be renewed and strengthened. He was physically exhausted.
He needed to recover a clear perspective of His mission. He was mentally exhausted; His mind was so tired, it was probably like ours after intensive thought and labor—foggy.
He needed to be recharged with God's power and with the singleness of heart to do God's will. So much power had gone out of Him He was spiritually drained.

Several lessons on prayer can be gleaned from this experience of Christ.

He prayed on top of a mountain. The believer who stands on top of a mountain and thinks, viewing the awesomeness of the country below, sees the massiveness of God: His power, majesty, and glory. The believer gains a new perspective of God and man.

Christ prayed in the evening. The evening is a tender and warm time, a time when a person who has worked ever so hard is very much aware of being drained and needing renewal. It is a time when a review of the day and a look ahead to tomorrow can take place. Christ prayed all alone; He needed to share with God face to face.

He prayed "until the fourth watch" (3-6 a.m.), probably seven or more hours.
He prayed in a storm. A storm arose at some point, apparently long before 3 a.m. or the disciples would have already crossed the lake. The importance of prayer to Christ is strikingly seen in the fact that He prayed for so many hours in the midst of a storm.

Thought 1. We are mere people. We get tired so frequently; exhausted so often; tempted so much; pressured so tightly; strained so painfully. We fight to keep our minds on Christ and struggle to maintain a moment by moment consciousness of His presence. We war to keep at our task. Such takes its toll, wears us down mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Our only hope is to learn that Christ's presence, a consciousness of His presence, is assured by prayer—much prayer. We must learn to spend much time alone with God.

Thought 2. A dedicated person lives in a mad rush and is attacked time and again by distraction after distraction. It is impossible to remain strong and faithful to Christ without getting alone for prayer and renewal. Such is the way God has chosen to teach us to trust. We are not self-sufficient. If we want the assurance of His presence and if we are going to do what He has sent us into the world to do, we must spend time alone with Him.
This is one of the basic laws of spiritual growth and ministry.

Christ's presence conquers fear. This is the point seen in the storm and the disciples' experience in the storm.

1. A storm arose while they were crossing the lake. The word "tossed" (basanizomenon PWS: 4019) means to be tossed about with great force. The picture is descriptive: the boat was tossed about so ferociously that it was in pain and anguish. The storm arose while the disciples were working. They were doing exactly what Christ had told them to do, but the storm still came. How true of life: storms come upon the just as well as upon the unjust (Matthew 5:45).
2. Jesus went to the disciples, but note how: He walked on the sea. However, He did not go to them immediately. Why?
a. Because He needed to teach them to trust Him and to obey His command no matter what happened to them. They were doing what He had told them to do, so they could trust His care and His will.
b. Because He needed to teach them to go about conquering the storms of life by using their own skill and strength. They needed to learn to use all the gifts they had in struggling against the storms of life. He would step in only after they had done all they could. Once their own strength and skill had been exhausted, the praise for salvation would go to God and His delivering power, not to man.
3. The disciples were stricken with fear, they thought they were seeing a ghost. The physical and mental condition of the disciples is important at this point. They were physically exhausted, having struggled against the storm for hours, and they were mentally drained from using all the skill at their disposal. Their lives were threatened, and they were struggling for survival. All of a sudden out of nowhere they saw a figure, an apparition (ghost) walking on the water. They were frightened, perhaps bordering on going into shock—perhaps thinking that the "death angel" or a premonition of their death was at hand (Peter's impulsive request seems to indicate this). Then all of a sudden a voice shouted out: "It is I; be not afraid." Exhausted, frightened, shocked—fearing and struggling for their lives and being face to face with a real apparition—the disciples were suffering an almost unbearable experience.
4. Jesus gave assurance of His presence. Christ's sudden presence on the water was a great encouragement to the disciples, yet they were not quite sure it was Him: "Lord, if it be thou." His words and His presence are a marvelous revelation of His care and power to save us through the storms of life (see Deeper Study #1—John 6:20).

Thought 1. We should not turn back when storms arise, no matter how terrible the trial (cp. Matthew 13:5, 21). Christ is able to take the trials of life and make opportunities out of them. They give us experience in the life of faith.

Thought 2. This is human distress at its height, a terrifying experience. The thrust of the point is clear: we are helpless when caught in the greatest storms of life. Christ's presence alone can save us through those storms. His presence alone can conquer our fears and give us hope and security.

Thought 3. Storms can be moments of sorrow, self-conflict, temptation, decision making, or any adverse circumstance. Christ is ever so near and ready to help those who will call out to Him. His presence is most assuring, comforting, and strengthening to the true disciple.
Peter's faith faltered. Peter saw Jesus, his hope of being saved. He knew Jesus cared and loved and had the power to save him. He had his eyes upon Jesus. It was when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm that his faith began to weaken and he began sinking. Note that Christ saved him despite weak faith: "Lord...help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24). There is some faith in the cry, "Lord...help."

Thought 1. There is a picture of salvation in this scene. A man's hope is stirred: Christ's presence can save him. He asks to join Christ and Christ commands "Come." The man begins to walk toward Christ, passing over the turbulent waves of life. All of a sudden, he turns his attention away from Christ to the storms of life and begins to sink. He cries out in desperation, "Lord, save me," and Christ reaches out and saves him.

14:30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"NRSV Peter started to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the high waves around him. His faith wavered. His faith was strong enough to trust that he could walk on the water. But when he realized that he was in a terrifying storm, his faith did not stand up to the storm. Although we start out with good intentions, sometimes our faith is weak.

Michael R. Martin – August 10, 2008
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Freely Give • June 15, 2008

2008-06-14T23:05:00.003-04:00

Genesis 18:1-15; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-23)

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Matthew 9:35-10:8 (NLT) The Need for Workers

³⁵Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. ³⁶When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. ³⁸So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Chapter 10 Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

¹Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. ²Here are the names of the twelve apostles:
first, Simon (also called Peter),
then Andrew (Peter’s brother),
James (son of Zebedee),
John (James’s brother),³
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Thomas,
Matthew (the tax collector),
James (son of Alphaeus),
Thaddaeus,
⁴Simon (the zealot ),
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
⁵Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, ⁶but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. ⁷Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. ⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

I am not going to read through the rest, but there is a further parenthetical reading continuing through Matthew 10:9-23, where Jesus gives detailed marching orders to the disciples. What to wear, what to take with them – really what to NOT take with them, how to act, how to enter each city. At one point, Jesus says to the disciples (Matthew 10:16), “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.”

Matthew 9:36 (NLT) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Wherever Jesus went, crowds gathered.

But when Jesus saw these multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them. In the NLT, the crowds were “confused and helpless,” other translations have the people as “weary and scattered.” The word for "weary" can also mean "troubled," "bewildered," or "despondent" - synonyms that stress man's helplessness without God. Jesus considered the Pharisees to have failed in leading the people to God, who were therefore left without a shepherd.

Jesus looked at the crowds following him and referred to them as a field ripe for harvest, but the laborers to bring in the harvest are few. These "laborers" were the disciples, then few in number. Jesus commanded his disciples to pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers. The "Lord of the harvest" refers to God. The verb translated "send out" is a strong term, meaning to "thrust forth." In this context it speaks of a strong push to get workers into the field. These laborers must warn people of coming judgment and call them to repentance. Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone would show them how. We are to pray that people will respond to this need for workers. Often, when we pray for something, God answers our prayers by using us. Be prepared for God to use you to show another person the way to him. The reading continues in Chapter 10 which describes this mission and what it will involve in more detail.

In Chapter 10, Jesus sends out the 12 disciples. Though this was the first time they went out on their own, they had been given authority from Jesus to carry on the work of preaching and healing.

Matthew 10:1 (NLT) Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.

These twelve men had Jesus' authority over the forces of evil. Jesus empowered his disciples to drive out evil spirits. The disciples could speak the word, and God's power would cast out the demons. Jesus also gave these disciples power to heal every disease and sickness. It was important that they have these powers because Jesus was extending his mission through them. Jesus directly confronted demons and sicknesses. The disciples carried Jesus' purpose and his power.

The list of Jesus' twelve disciples does not give us many details—probably because there were not many impressive details to tell. Jesus called people from all backgrounds and occupations—fishermen, religious activists, tax collectors. He called common people and uncommon leaders; rich and poor; educated and uneducated. Today, many people think only certain people can follow Christ, but this was not the attitude of the Master himself. God can use anyone, no matter how insignificant he or she appears. When you feel small and useless, remember that God uses ordinary people to do his extraordinary work.

Matthew 10:5-6 (NLT) ⁵Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, ⁶but only to the people of Israel

"but only to the people of Israel"— God’s lost sheep.

Jesus' command to go rather to the lost sheep of Israel , who would have been the Jews. This was their short-term mission to Galilee. Later, these disciples would receive the commission to "go and make disciples of all nations"

Our reading ends with these words from Christ Jesus: “Freely you have received, freely give.”

You may recall that a few years back my baby sister, Thia, had been diagnosed with an aggressive metastatic melanoma, already at Stage 4 by the time she saw any doctors. Through it all, Thia worried a lot, but not like you might think. She worried of course about leaving her three daughters, two who were at home and one soon to be married. But mostly she worried about leaving behind a world where so few people knew her Lord and Savior; she worried about leaving behind a job unfinished. Through prayer and faith and advanced new treatments at Dartmouth-Hitchcock she was put into remission, with frequent extensive check-ups – first monthly, then every other month, then every three months, every six months – each visit a long day of tests and followed by an agonizing wait for the results.

On June fifth, I received this email from Thia.
______________

Hi Family,

I spent a long day at Dartmouth today for my 6 month check-up and this marks the 4 year anniversary of remission and the big milestone of 5 years since recurrence! I do not have to go back for ONE WHOLE YEAR!

I have a small bump that is not too suspicious that needs to be biopsied, but everything looks great.
Thank you for all the major support to us during that very difficult year and I know you all rejoice with us at this good news. I love you all!

Thia

______________

and she closed her email with this bit of scripture:

Psalm 126:3 "The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."

______________

You can imagine how this news has been greeted by my family, my mother. But the real story is that of a young woman who, facing near death, knew how much she had received that her only desire was to continue to freely give, above all else.

Whatever our present condition or state of mind may be, we all have and continue to freely receive the bounty of a loving God. Knowing that, remembering Jesus’ sacrifice for us, reflecting on the strength of those like Thia, should it be so hard to freely give?

Should it be so hard for each of us to freely give?

It should not.

In response, let us sing together “Freely, Freely” UMH389

Michael R. Martin • June 15, 2008
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Evolutionary Theology: How to Love God and Scienc

2008-03-05T20:37:00.003-05:00

Food for thought
- Michael R. Martin -

Evolutionary Theology: How to Love God and Science

From "Wired Science" By Brandon Keim December 04, 2007 | 10:57:42 AMCategories: Evolution, Religion

Jesus, meet Darwin.

In the aftermath of a Texas education official's dismissal for promoting evolution, I spoke yesterday to Michael Dowd, a leading proponent of evolutionary theology.

According to Dowd, science and religious faith are not mutually exclusive. Instead, the scientific process is a tool for understanding reality -- and at the heart of that reality is evolution, operating at multiple levels, from the sub-atomic to the human to the cosmic.

Dowd, who professed sympathy for intelligent design supporters but criticized their reactionary, circle-the-wagons approach to modernity, doesn't think evolution is mechanistic or pointless. He sees a universal evolutionary trajectory from disorder to order, simplicity to complexity and brutality to cooperation -- and that, he believes, is the grand narrative that will sustain the science-friendly religions of the 21st century.

"Evolutionary theology offers a third way. Rightly understood, evolution is as sacred and meaningful as any of the creation myths," said Dowd, who quoted biology titan E.O. Wilson, sometimes called Darwin's heir: "The evolutionary epic is prolably the best myth we'll ever have."

A formal Wired News Q&A should be coming out soon. In the meantime, here's some outtakes from our conversation.

On the nature of God: "Evolution theology offers an undeniable God. Nobody would ask, 'Do you believe in water? In life? In the universe?' Those are absurd questions." Instead, said Dowd, "God is another word for universe, and the divine imperative is evident in the properties of emergent and symbiotic systems."

On the current cultural landscape: "Up until now, there's been this big gulf. On the one side are creationists. On the other are the new atheists, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris and Dan Dennett, who say that you have to reject religion completely in order to accept evolution."

On Dawkins and the New Atheists: "I'm grateful that they're doing what they're doing. They're plowing the field. There's a hunger in Americans for a meaningful, inspiring way of thinking about what science is revealing to us. Dawkins let me reprint [in Thank God for Evolution, Dowd's new book] a letter he wrote to his 10-year-old daughter."

On the New Atheists' potential alienation of religious believers: "It's probably true, but it's understandable. They're trying to combat otherworldly, supernatural, mythic understandings of religion. They're accurate in some of those assessments. But they're not critiquing a sacred view of evolution. Many have publicly supported us. Richard and my wife [acclaimed science journalist Connie Barlow] have known each other for years."

On his reception by religious believers: "There's an interest in this. People are finding that it opens up new ways of thinking. Studying evolution is like following cosmic bread crumbs back to God. The details of evolution, understood in an inspiring way, reconnect us to the whole, to ultimate reality."

On apocalypse: "Dinosaurs are here to teach us things, not test our faith. And contrary to popular belief, these aren't the end times for humanity. They're just the beginning. Dinosaurs were here for 175 million years; humans have only been here for three million. And when we look over the course of evolutionary history, one of the patterns we see is that breakdowns, chaos and bad news keep catalyzing creative transformations. Throughout the history of the universe, the primary driver of evolutionary theory is chaos and breakdowns. The chaos in our time, the challenge in our personal lives, the challenges of species in the next decades -- these will be evolutionary catalysts that call us to greatness, that call us to make changes that could have taken hundreds of years. I find that more inspiring than the literal interpretation of any creation story. I don't think there's anything more exciting than the time we're living in now."

On Joel de Rosnay's postulation of man's future as cybiont, or an amalgamation of humanity, technology and nature as one synergistic organism: "It's one of the more inspiring visions. Life keeps finding ways to cooperate in larger symbiotic wholes. It's like we're creating a new cell at the scale of a planet. That seems to me an inspiring vision that many people can understand both theologically and religiously. There's an illustration in my book -- more complex forms of life going up a staircase. The neanderthal's standing behind a guy in a suit, saying 'I was wondering when you were going to notice that there were more steps.'"

On original sin: "Original sin is traditional language pointing to something fundamentally true: all of us have inherited proclivities, a nature we didn't choose, and live in a world different from where they evolved."

On Heaven and Hell: "I don't have to die to go to a place called Hell. If I'm surrounded by bitterness, arrogance and judgemental violence, stuck on my addictions, then I'm in hell now. And if I'm surrounded by love, generosity and care, then I'm in a place called Heaven."

Put Your House in Order • August 12, 2007

2007-09-07T19:08:00.000-04:00

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 • Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 • Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 • Luke 12:32-40

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Luke 12:32-40 (NRSV)

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Watchful Slaves (Be Ready for the Lord's Coming – NLTse)

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."

Jesus uses mini-parable to talk about our personal salvation.

Sell your possessions and give alms (give to the needy) – similar to the story of the rich man asked to sell everything to get to heaven (easier for a camel to slip through the eye of a needle). Not necessarily literal: but if it doesn’t mean to sell everything you own, it means to give until it hurts – give of your money, give of your talents, give of your time to a personal relationship with Jesus, give of your time to mission.

If you knew a burglar was coming tonight, you'd get your house in order to prevent a break-in (lock doors, lights on, sit up all night watching w/phone in hand, etc.)

Bible tells us Christ will come again to judge the living & the dead

Hebrews 9:28 (NLTse) so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NLTse) I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

1 Peter 4:5-6 (NIV) But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

John 12:47-48 (NLTse) I will not judge those who hear me but don't obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken

If you knew Christ was coming tonight, or tomorrow, or a week from Tuesday, what would you do differently?

There are at least three kinds of serious responses to this question

I’m not going to change a thing: I'm nice to my neighbors, I pray daily, read & study the scriptures, help out the church and church mission, been on every church committee there is and chaired one or two -- you see the problem here? At the very least, a person with that response has some issues with pride & humility.

I’m not going to change a thing: I've been so rotten that it is too late -- while it is never too late, it is a sin to have heard the gospel and God's great commandment and not put it to action in your life.

I’d better get busy: sure, I've been pretty darn good but I am only human & I'd better spruce things up for my Lord & Savior.

In one week, we will be welcoming a new pastor. In anticipation of her arrival, we’ve been sprucing things up around the church and parsonage. But we should also be taking a hard look within and perhaps sprucing up attitudes as individuals and as a church. To help in that respect, I’d like to share what the United Methodist Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions have to say about our personal role in the church and the pastor's role in the church:

Book of Discipline 2004 Edition

Introduction

"The Discipline is the book of law of The United Methodist Church. It is the product of over 200 years of the General Conferences of the denominations which now form The United Methodist Church."

"The Discipline [i]s the instrument for setting forth the laws, plan, polity, and process by which United Methodists govern themselves remains constant. … We do not see the Discipline as sacrosanct or infallible, but we do consider it a document suitable to our heritage. It is the most current statement of how United Methodists agree to live their lives together. It reflects our understanding of the Church and of what is expected of its laity and clergy as they seek to be effective witnesses in the world as a part of the whole body of Christ.

Part III--THE MINISTRY OF ALL CHRISTIANS: THE MISSION AND MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH; Section I. The Churches

120. The Mission— The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Local churches provide the most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs.

122. The Process for Carrying Out Our Mission— We make disciples as we:

— proclaim the gospel, seek, welcome and gather persons into the body of Christ;
lead persons to commit their lives to God through baptism by water and the spirit and profession of faith in Jesus Christ;
nurture persons in Christian living through worship, the sacraments, spiritual disciplines, and other means of grace, such as Wesley's Christian conferencing;
send persons into the world to live lovingly and justly as servants of Christ by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, caring for the stranger, freeing the oppressed, being and becoming a"compassionate, caring presence, and working to develop social structures that are consistent with the gospel; and
continue the mission of seeking, welcoming and gathering persons into the community of the body of Christ.

Section II. The Ministry of all People

125. The Heart of Christian Ministry — The heart of Christian ministry is Christ's ministry of outreaching love. Christian ministry is the expression of the mind and mission of Christ by a community of Christians that demonstrates a common life of gratitude and devotion, witness and service, celebration and discipleship. All Christians are called through their baptism to this ministry of servanthood in the world to the glory of God and for human fulfillment.

127. Ministry as Gift and Task — This ministry of all Christians in Christ's name and spirit is both a gift and a task. The gift is God's unmerited grace; the task is unstinting service. …

128. Faithful Ministry — The people of God, who are the church made visible in the world, must convince the world of the reality of the gospel or leave it unconvinced. There can be no evasion or delegation of this responsibility; the church is either faithful as a witnessing and serving community, or it loses its vitality and its impact on an unbelieving world.

Section III. Servant Ministry and Servant Leadership

131. Mission as Active Expectancy — The ministry of all Christians consists of service for the mission of God in the world. The mission of God is best expressed in the prayer that Jesus taught his first disciples: Thy kingdom come; thy will be done, on earth as in heaven. All Christians, therefore, are to live in active expectancy: faithful in service of God and their neighbor; faithful in waiting for the fulfillment of God's universal love, justice, and peace on earth as in heaven.

Pending this time of fulfillment, the ministry of all Christians is shaped by the teachings of Jesus. The handing on of these teachings is entrusted to leaders who are gifted and called by God to appointed offices in the church: some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). For these persons to lead the church effectively, they must embody the teachings of Jesus in servant ministries and servant leadership. Through these ministries and leadership, congregations of the church are faithfully engaged in the forming of Christian disciples and vitally involved in the mission of God in the world.

132. Calling and Gifts of Leadership —"The United Methodist Church has traditionally recognized these gifts and callings in the ordained offices of elder and deacon. The United Methodist tradition has recognized that laypersons as well as ordained persons are gifted and called by God to lead the Church. The servant leadership of these persons is essential to the mission and ministry of congregations. They help to form Christian disciples in covenant community within the local congregation through spiritual formation and guidance for Christian living in the world."

Section V. Servant Leadership

137. Ordained Ministry — Ordained ministers are called by God to a lifetime of servant leadership in specialized ministries among the people of God. Ordained ministers are called to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world and the promise of God for creation. Within these specialized ministries, deacons are called to ministries of Word and Service, and elders are called to ministries of Service, Word, Sacrament, and Order ( 332). Through these distinctive functions ordained ministers devote themselves wholly to the work of the Church and to the upbuilding of the ministry of all Christians. They do this through the careful study of Scripture and its faithful interpretation; through effective proclamation of the gospel and responsible administration of the sacraments; through diligent pastoral leadership of their congregations for fruitful discipleship; and by following the guidance of the Holy Spirit in witnessing beyond the congregation in the local community and to the ends of the earth. The ordained ministry is defined by its faithful commitment to servant leadership following the example of Jesus Christ, by its passion for the hallowing of life, and by its concern to link all local ministries with the widest boundaries of the Christian community.

Section VII. The Fulfillment of Ministry Through The United Methodist Church

140. Definition of Clergy— Clergy in The United Methodist Church are individuals who serve as commissioned ministers, deacons, elders, and local pastors under appointment of a bishop (full- and part-time), who hold membership in an annual conference, and who are commissioned, ordained, or licensed.

141. Employment Status of Clergy — Ministry in the Christian church is derived from the ministry of Christ ("301). Jesus makes it clear to us that he is a shepherd and not a hireling (John 10:11-15). Similarly, United Methodist clergy appointed to local churches are not employees of the local church, the district, or the annual conference. It is recognized that for certain limited purposes such as taxation, benefits, and insurance, governments and other entities may classify clergy as employees. Such classifications are not to be construed as affecting or defining United Methodist polity, including the "historic covenants that bind annual conferences, clergy, and congregations, episcopal appointive powers and procedures, or other principles set forth in the Constitution or the Book of Discipline (see e.g., ½ 301; 328-329; 333-334; 338; 340). In addition, any such classifications should be accepted, if at all, only for limited purposes, as set forth above, and with the full recognition and acknowledgment that it is the responsibility of the clergy to be God's servants."

Part V.--ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION; Chapter One--THE LOCAL CHURCH
Section V. Church Membership

218. Growth in Faithful Discipleship —"Faithful membership in the local church is essential for personal growth and for developing a deeper commitment to the will and grace of God. As members involve themselves in private and public prayer, worship, the sacraments, study, Christian action, systematic giving, and holy discipline, they grow in their appreciation of Christ, understanding of God at work in history and the natural order, and an understanding of themselves.

219. Mutual Responsibility — Faithful discipleship includes the obligation to participate in the corporate life of the congregation with fellow members of the body of Christ. A member is bound in sacred covenant to shoulder the burdens, share the risks, and celebrate the joys of fellow members. A Christian is called to speak the truth in love, always ready to confront conflict in the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation.

220. The Call to Ministry of All the Baptized — All members of Christ's universal church are called to share in the ministry which is committed to the whole church of Jesus Christ. Therefore, each member of The United Methodist Church is to be a servant of Christ on mission in the local and worldwide community. This servanthood is performed in family life, daily work, recreation and social activities, responsible citizenship, the stewardship of property and accumulated "resources, the issues of corporate life, and all attitudes toward other persons. Participation in disciplined groups is an expected part of personal mission involvement. Each member is called upon to be a witness for Christ in the world, a light and leaven in society, and a reconciler in a culture of conflict. Each member is to identify with the agony and suffering of the world and to radiate and exemplify the Christ of hope. The standards of attitude and conduct set forth in the Social Principles "(Part IV) shall be considered as an essential resource for guiding each member of the Church in being a servant of Christ on mission.

Part V.--ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION; Chapter Two--THE MINISTRY OF THE ORDAINED
Section I. The Meaning of Ordination and Conference Membership

303. Purpose of Ordination

1. Ordination to this ministry is a gift from God to the church. In ordination, the church affirms and continues the apostolic ministry through persons empowered by the Holy Spirit. As such, those who are ordained make a commitment to conscious living of the whole gospel and to the proclamation of that gospel to the end that the world may be saved.

2. Ordination is fulfilled in leadership of the people of God through ministries of Service, Word, Sacrament, and Order. The Church's ministry of service is a primary representation of God's love. Those who respond to God's call to lead in service and to equip others for this ministry through teaching, proclamation, and worship and who assist elders in the administration of the sacraments are ordained deacons. "Those whose leadership in service includes preaching and teaching the Word of God, administration of the sacraments, ordering the Church for its mission and service, and administration of the Discipline of the Church are ordained as elders.

. . .

4. The effectiveness of the Church in mission depends on these covenantal "commitments to the ministry of all Christians and the ordained ministry of the Church. Through ordination and through other offices of pastoral leadership, the Church provides for the continuation of Christ's ministry, which has been committed to the church as a whole. Without creative use of the diverse gifts of the entire body of Christ, the ministry of the church is less effective. Without responsible leadership, the focus, direction, and continuity of that ministry is diminished…"

And what the Book of Resolutions has to say:

Book of Resolutions

Introduction

The Book of Resolutions, 2004, published by The United Methodist Publishing House, is primarily a reference tool for church members and leaders. The Book of Resolutions, 2004, collects in one volume all current and official social policies and other resolutions adopted by the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. These resolutions are:

Official policy statements for guiding all the work and ministry of The United Methodist Church on approximately 200 subjects;
Educational resources for The United Methodist Church on many of the important issues affecting the lives of people and all God's creation;
Guides and models for helping United Methodist members and groups relate a lively biblical faith to action in daily life;
Resource materials for persons preparing public statements about United Methodist concerns on current social issues.

THE NURTURING COMMUNITY--Family
22. Support for Clergy Families

Over the last many years, clergy and their families have continued to express serious concerns for the stresses they bear in their congregations and districts. This phrase, "life in the fishbowl," describes how pastor and staff therapist Frank J. Stalfa sees the lives of clergy and their spouses and family members in our local congregations. The image is painfully accurate about the situation filled with unrealistic expectations, virtually nonexistent boundaries for privacy and personal time, disrupted lives, crisis in careers and educational programs, unending demands of congregational needs, and pressure for spouses and "PKs" (preacher's kids) to be perfect, "model" Christians.

The roles of clergy spouse and family "are unique and frequently taken for granted. These roles are, nonetheless, critical to the success of the clergy's ministry. Sustaining the emotional, spiritual, physical, and economic health of our clergy families is a ministry to be recommended to every congregation and district.

We can support our clergy families by doing the following:

First, examining our own attitudes, "perceptions, and expectations and identifying where we are unrealistic
Asking ourselves the questions that will identify any sexism or racism in our expectations and assumptions: If this clergy spouse/family member were another gender or another race, would I have the same expectations? Would I make the same assumptions?;
Remembering they are human and have their own personal and professional lives;
Regularly clarifying and keeping our expectations realistic, recognizing that pedestals are for statues;
Avoiding stereotypic demands of a clergy spouse as an extension of the clergy or as another professional at the service of the congregation.

Put Your House in Order

Whether Christ returns in judgement today or after your life has slipped beyond its earthly veil, these are the days & this is the life for which you will be judged

There is no such thing as a passive Christian - it is an oxymoron.

Sunday worship together, what Wesley (others?) called corporate worship, is a necessary commitment, a blessing to share. But it is not meant to be your one interaction w/Christ nor is it meant to be your one action for Christ.

Proverbs 11:24-25 (NKJV) There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.

Personal worship is also a necessary commitment - daily conversations with God through prayer & reading/studying the Bible

The Christian life is summed up in Hebrews 13:1-5 — hospitable to strangers, mindful of sufferers, purity in marriage, simplicity in lifestyle.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

The bible is very direct in how we should treat/interact with our church leaders

Heb 13:6 (NIV) Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Heb 13:17 (NLTse) Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

We, as individuals, ALL have to take an active role in the growth of our personal relationship with Christ, in growing Christ’s body, and in revitalizing the life of this church. It is not enough to come to church on Sunday and give money to cover church expenses, church mission, and the pastor’s salary. And we must recognize that a pastor is not just an employee, but our SPIRITUAL LEADER. We all have a role in ministering to one another and the people of this earth. Let us prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ, and for the coming of our new pastor, Reverend Maggie McCarey.

Michael R. Martin, Certified Lay Speaker
August 12, 2007 • First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

There have been more . . .

2007-05-12T21:43:00.000-04:00

Sorry. There have been many more messages. I've just been working more from notes than written text. And finding the time to recapture it as text . . . well, you should know how that goes.

Perhaps a podcast.

Michael R. Martin, Certified Lay Speaker
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Jeremiah: A new covenant promised • April 2, 2006

2006-04-02T19:20:00.000-04:00

Jeremiah 31:31-34;Psalm 51:1-12; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-33

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NRSV)
31The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt--a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

A few weeks ago, we read from Exodus 20 – The Ten Commandments. Exodus 20 is in many ways the capstone of the Israelites great journey out of Egypt. The Lord spoke to Moses, passing along not only what we now call the ten commandments, but a whole host of laws and rules and regulations for living. Just take a quick scan through Exodus 21 through Exodus 23 and you’ll see what He had to say in great detail about servants, personal injury to others, protection of property and restitution for stealing, social responsibility (covering such things as seducing a virgin, taking advantage of a widow or orphan, lending money), laws of justice and mercy, Sabbath laws, and annual festivals. And this covenant was sealed in Exodus 24 when Moses took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people and they responded “We will do everything the Lord has said, we will obey.” Exodus 24:7 And Moses climbs back up Mount Sinai, and enters a cloud, is called by the Lord, and stays for 40 days and 40 nights getting instructions for building all the necessary priestly things for upholding the covenant.

And this covenant of laws between God and his people was tough. If someone in your family screwed up, you were in trouble for at least four generations. Sure, if you could keep all the commandments you had it made – loved by God for a thousand generations. Quite the incentive . . . but you know, I doubt anybody quite made it.

So, by Jeremiah’s time, God must have been pretty frustrated. Hey, I told you what to do, you wrote it all down. All you had to do was follow all the rules and you’d be blessed for a thousand generations. But it wasn’t enough. The Israelites were just like the rest of us – imperfect flawed humans who, hard as we try, can’t seem to keep from slipping up somewhere along the line. So God spoke to Jeremiah and shared some really good news. There will come a time when I will make a new covenant with my people and I will put my law within them and write it upon their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people. My people shall ALL know me, from the least to the greatest. I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.

This is the new covenant you always hear about, the covenant in which we live. Jeremiah and crew could only look forward to the new covenant, but for us, this covenant is here. We have the wonderful opportunity to make a fresh start and establish a permanent, personal relationship with God. A week from now, we will start to retell those powerful events of Christ’s death and resurrection. Remember, come Easter, that it is the New Covenant that was born through those acts. We each can know God because God is in each of us, written on our hearts. And we know the deal is done because God sealed the deal when Christ died on the cross, forgiving all sin and remembering it no more.

A personal relationship with God, independent of all others, doesn’t matter what your father or mother did, your uncle, your granddad. For that matter, it doesn’t even matter what YOU’VE ever done in the past. Forgiven and loved. It is a wonderful feeling. Bask in that glow for a moment.

I’d like to conclude with a remark by John Wesley, which he made while reflecting on what Jeremiah had to say about the law or old covenant versus the gospel or new covenant. He said the prophet’s design is here to express the difference between the law and the gospel. The first shows duty, while the latter brings the grace of regeneration, by which the heart is changed, and enabled for duty.

Michael R. Martin – April 2, 2006
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Invitation to the Observance of Lenten Discipline

2006-03-03T20:44:00.000-05:00

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
the early Christians observed with great devotion
the days of our Lord's passion and resurrection,
and it became the custom of the Church that before the Easter celebration
there should be a forty-day season of spiritual preparation.
During this season converts to the faith were prepared for Holy Baptism.
It was also a time when persons who had committed serious sins
and had separated themselves from the community of faith
were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness,
and restored to participation in the life of the Church.
In this way the whole congregation was reminded
of the mercy and forgiveness proclaimed in the gospel of Jesus Christ
and the need we all have to renew our faith.
I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church,
to observe a holy Lent:
by self-examination and repentance;
by prayer, fasting, and self-denial;
and by reading and meditating on God's Holy Word.

Invitation to the Observance of Lenten Discipline' in the Ash Wednesday liturgy. This text is public domain and comes from the Book of Common Prayer.

Intentional Faith • February 19, 2006

2006-02-19T20:59:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 43:18-25; Psalm 41; 2 Corinthians 1:18-22; Mark 2:1-12

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

When last we left Jesus, he had just healed a man with leprosy, who ran about shouting about it. As a result, Jesus couldn’t enter a town publicly. He stayed out in the secluded places and people came to him from everywhere. We continue now with Mark Chapter 2.

Mark 2:1-12 (NIV) • Jesus Heals a Paralytic
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ² So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the paralytic, ¹¹ "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." ¹² He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"

Once again we have recounted a dramatic act of faith taken by one to reach the merciful healing touch of Jesus. And Jesus, and Mark in the retelling, uses this miracle, to demonstrate that Jesus is more than just a healer. For the first time in Mark, Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man. And before Jesus instructs the paraplegic to take up his mat and walk, he does something far more significant and NOT overlooked by the religious scholars among the crowd. Jesus forgives the man’s sins. What blasphemy is this? Only GOD can forgive sin? Here we have Jesus putting it all on the line right from the start. People were already starting to notice, resulting in growing throngs of worshipers, seekers, crowds. And others were beginning to notice, too. The religious scholars and keepers of the laws. Jesus was at the least, a blasphemer – a person who speaks disrespectfully of sacred things, sacrilegious – perhaps much more, a growing threat to rule and order.

I could construct a message for you about how we should all be like the men who cared the paraplegic to Jesus when we come across someone who has fallen, but I think that’s just a little to contrived. I know it is nice when the message relates to our daily lives. But sometimes the power of the Scripture is just the Power of the Scripture. Here’s all I want you to think about today’s reading: If you take anything away anything at all, its to be intentional about your faith. What the heck do I mean by that? Certainly Jesus was nothing if not intentional about His faith. It was all he was and in all he did, didn’t matter when, didn’t matter where, didn’t matter the consequences, when he was out in front of the crowds and when he was alone His Father. So, be intentional about YOUR faith. Make it so much a part of you that it is never left behind, never an afterthought, in good times, hard times, in the quiet moments, at all times.

Michael R. Martin – February 19, 2006
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Jesus Heals a Leper • February 12, 2006

2006-02-14T15:08:00.000-05:00

2 Kings 5:1-14, Psalm 30, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Mark 1:40-45

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Mark 1:40-45 (NKJV)
⁴⁰ Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." ⁴¹ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." ⁴² As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. ⁴³ And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, ⁴⁴ and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." ⁴⁵ However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction."

We continue with the Gospel of Mark. It's not often that the Lectionary year focuses on Mark's gospel so I'm taking this opportunity. It is believed that Mark's was the first of the gospels to be written and Mark is no nonsense and action-oriented in his approach. Rather than writing to reach the Jews -- covering Jesus' geneology or predictions of his coming in any great length, Mark writes for the common person to simply prove Jesus is the Messiah. Mark records more of Jesus' miracles than sermons. Jesus is clearly a man of power and action, not just words. Jesus did miracles to convince the people who he was and to teach the disciples his true identity as God.

Omitting the birth of Jesus, Mark begins with John the Baptist's preaching. Mark moves quickly: Jesus is baptized and tempted in the desert, he calls is first disciples, he drives an evil spirit out of one who is possessed, heals many, and retreats to pray in solitude. Jesus travels throughout Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and driving out demons -- all this and we are still in Chapter 1.

The Gospel according to Mark begins with these words:

Mark 1:2-4 (NIV)
²It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"-- ³"a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" ⁴And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Remember these words from Mark 1:8? “I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

In Jesus' day, leprosy was an awful, incurable disease. Actually, a wide variety of skin diseases were called leprosy. Leprosy itself was a disease characterized by degeneration of nerves and tissue, accompanied with disfiguring comtractions and skin lesions, often with the resultant loss of extremities. Lepers were removed from society and there were strict laws prescribing their life of isolation and how they were to proceed to reenter society should their leprosy go into remission. The Old Testament Leviticus devotes two whole chapters to these laws (Leviticus 13-14) and its worthwhile reading to get some comprehension of the background to today's story.

I see this tale as a bit of a turning point in Jesus' minitstry. Prior to this moment, Jesus was freely preaching in the cities and synagogues, but after this, his act of touching a leper had made him unclean by the Law, unwelcome in the city, and his ministry moved to the hillsides and outskirts of towns and cities.

Imagine the man’s hunger for healing, the faith in Jesus, that he should break all rules of cleanliness and society. It reminds me of the later miracle when Jesus heals the bleeding woman who cries out if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. I wonder from where does the leper’s faith come? By this time, word of Jesus must have been spreading like wildfire, like crazy rumors. A man, calls himself a prophet, healing with a touch. And so, the leper came. You often hear the verse about how Jesus cares for the sparrows of the field, how much more he must care for us. Personally, I see the stories of the leper and the woman as more indicative of Jesus' love and compassion. Frankly, I think the sparrows can pretty much fend for themselves. But if Jesus could care and heal ones so troubled, so unclean, simply because of their faith, would he not do the same for you? Can you be less deserving?

Michael R. Martin – February 12, 2006
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

portions from Life Application Bible Notes

What's Your Calling? • January 22, 2006

2006-01-21T21:37:00.000-05:00

Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:5-12; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Mark 1:14-20 (NRSV)
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

This is where it all began. This is where the rubber meets the road. It all started right here, man. Wow! In just a few short weeks, we’ve scripturally covered Jesus’ immaculate conception, birth, baptism, epiphany. And Jesus’ first words in Mark “The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent, and believe in the good news!” (NRSV)

Jews of Jesus' day understood exactly what Jesus meant when he proclaimed the time is fulfilled. The Greek word used for time, kairos, refers to a particular time period with its beginning marked by an extremely important event. This placed Jesus' coming in the center of God's plan for revelation and redemption. The Old Testament prophets often spoke of the future kingdom, ruled by a descendant of King David, that would be established on earth and exist for eternity. Thus when Jesus spoke of the "time" and the presence of the kingdom of God, the Jews understood him to mean that the Messiah had come to "fulfill" or inaugurate his long-awaited kingdom. Jesus reassured them that God was in sovereign control. He had begun to act in a new and decisive way. The most critical time had come. The door to God's great future had been flung open.

Jesus began his ministry with the very word people had heard John the Baptist say: Repent. The message is the same today. Becoming a follower of Christ means turning away from our self-centeredness and "self" control and turning our lives over to Christ's direction and control. Repentance has two sides—turning away from sin and believing in the good news. One without the other is kind of like half a sandwich (not a sandwich cut in half but one half or the other). The Good News, the gospel, means that Jesus, the promised Messiah, has come to usher in a new age of God's dealings with his people.

I've been thinking about a calling lately. You know, as in “what’s your calling?” When we are young, grownups are always asking us what we want to be when we grow up. Not many of us really know. Maybe in the Midwest, farmers children know they are going to be farmers. But we grow up and live life, experience many things, changes. And what we are doing and who we are at 20 is not who we are at 40 or 60 or whatever age you are now. If you were to define your calling today, how different would it be from when you were first starting out. Personally, I see it as quite different in perspective alone, if nothing else. My youthful interests were music, science, nature. Over the years these interests have pervaded what I do in both work and enjoyment. At one time, perhaps not too too long ago, I might have said my calling was to roll at least some of these interests into a career, helping folks around the country clean up lakes and maybe even getting some satisfaction in the process.

But that perspective thing I mentioned before, that’s what is different. When Jesus called to Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John “Come, follow me” he did not promise to teach them all the secrets of the universe if they would follow him. He did not promise them good health, or wealth and prosperity. But Jesus did promise to teach them how to be good disciples. “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” I’ve finally begun to truly see that this here – my relationship with Christ, my ministry and service, such as it is – is my center, my purpose, my calling, and everything else revolves around this, feeds into this. Take some time today and reflect upon your calling. What you do, what you enjoy – where does Christ fit in?

A new year, a new birth, a new beginning. . . so much promise. We will prosper as a church if we remember – Christ first, in all things. We are called as Christians to be disciples – to not only try and BE like Christ, but to DO for Christ -- to reach out, to do more, try something new, maybe even stretch beyond our comfort zone. . . Ephesians 2:10 comes to mind: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (NIV).

And don’t forget to take care of yourself

Pray daily – talk with God often
Read the Bible daily – the Bible is God’s inspired Word.
Learn to depend on the Holy Spirit, your counselor. As the Bible says, the Holy Spirit will teach you, guide you, & strengthen you in your times of need
Live one day at a time: The Bible says we are not to be anxious about what might happen tomorrow (see Matthew 6:33-34). The Bible also promises that, "Your strength will equal your days" (Deuteronomy 33:25, NIV). In other words, God's grace will be sufficient to meet the challenges of each new day.

Michael R. Martin – January 22, 2006
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

July 31, 2005

2005-07-31T19:45:00.000-04:00

Genesis 32:22–31;Psalm 17:1–7, 15; Romans 9:1–5; Matthew 14:13–21

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Our reading in Matthew today takes place just after the murder of John the Baptist.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand (NLT)

¹³ As soon as Jesus heard the news, he went off by himself in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed by land from many villages. ¹⁴ A vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

¹⁵ That evening the disciples came to him and said, "This is a desolate place, and it is getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves."

¹⁶ But Jesus replied, "That isn't necessary—you feed them."

¹⁷ "Impossible!" they exclaimed. "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish!"

¹⁸ "Bring them here," he said. ¹⁹ Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. And he took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and asked God's blessing on the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate as much as they wanted, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. ²¹ About five thousand men had eaten from those five loaves, in addition to all the women and children!

As soon as Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been beheaded, he sought solitude (verses 12-13). By this time in Jesus' ministry, however, the crowds had begun to gather at every opportunity. They followed him on foot and gathered by the thousands (verse 21). The passage notes Jesus' compassion: The crowd stayed with him for the day as he cured their sick (verse 14).

When evening came, Jesus miraculously fed the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fish (verses 17-19). The text states that there were 5,000 men present, besides women and children. Therefore, the total number of people Jesus fed could have been 10 to 15 thousand. The number of men is listed separately because in the Jewish culture of the day, men and women usually ate separately when in public. The children ate with the women.

It would not have been uncommon for travelers to bring dried fish or bread on a journey or for a youth to sell a limited variety of food items to the captive crowd. However, in a spontaneous gathering of this kind, it would be safe to say that the meager supplies of the food venders had long since been exhausted. Fish and especially bread were central components of the Palestinian diet; meat was rarely available except at feasts. Food was always sold in village markets, and the Galilean countryside was full of villages (Mark 6:36); but Jesus had withdrawn his followers some distance from the nearest villages (Mark 6:32). Even the larger villages would have under three thousand inhabitants; despite Galilee’s agricultural self-sufficiency, feeding the crowd in the villages would thus have been difficult. But it would have taken more than two hundred days of an average person’s wages (around seven months of hard labor) to feed the great multitude that had assembled.

SO Jesus performed a miracle. He took the meager food resources they had, and he blessed it. It was customary among the Jews to begin a meal by giving thanks for the bread and then dividing it. The form of prayer which they used in the time of Christ has been preserved by their writers, the Talmudists. It is this: "Blessed be thou, O Lord our God, the King of the world, who hast produced this food and this drink, from the earth and the vine." All ate until they were filled, and there were twelve baskets of broken pieces that remained. Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed over 5,000 people. What he was originally given seemed insufficient, but in his hands it became more than enough. We often feel that our contribution to Jesus is meager, but he can use and multiply whatever we give him, whether it is talent, time, or treasure. It is when we give them to Jesus that our resources are multiplied.

The opening verse of today's passage speaks to our own need to recognize when we need a retreat. John the Baptist was Jesus' cousin and, in a sense, his colleague in ministry. After hearing of John the Baptist's horrible death, Jesus and the twelve had set out for a deserted place for reflection. Along the way, however, another reality dawned. Although we frequently know what we need, the pressing needs of others often stand at the gate. From this passage, two conflicting issues become evident: self-care and compassion for others with genuine needs. As we look at Jesus' response to the multitudes, it becomes clear that we may not always be in a position to legislate when or how we take care of ourselves, take the solitude that we need. Most of us live in the tension of that narrow place that lies between caring for ourselves and caring for others. On the other hand, however, we do need periods of solitude, centering, and reflection. A critical question for today: How do we discern when to shut the door and pull down the shutters before damaging sanity, identity, or self-worth?

Seeking solitude was an important priority for Jesus (see also Mat 14:13). He made room in his busy schedule to be alone with the Father.

Luke 9:18-21 (NAB)
¹⁸Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
¹⁹They said in reply, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, 'One of the ancient prophets has arisen.' "
²⁰Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said in reply, "The Messiah of God."
²¹He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

Matthew 14:22-23 (WEY)
²²Immediately afterwards He made the disciples go on board the boat and cross to the opposite shore, leaving Him to dismiss the people.
²³When He had done this, He climbed the hill to pray in solitude. Night came on, and he was there alone.

Psalms 55:6-7 (NLT)
⁶Oh, how I wish I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!
⁷I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness.

Jeremiah 9:2 (NLT)
²Oh, that I could go away and forget them and live in a shack in the desert, for they are all adulterous and treacherous.

How may we benefit from solitude?

Matthew 14:13: As soon as Jesus heard the news, he went off by himself in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed by land from many villages.

Solitude can be time to deal privately with pain. Jesus sought solitude after the news of John's death. Sometimes we may need to deal with our grief alone. In our reading, Jesus was not able to dwell on his grief, but forced to returned to the ministry of his flock by his compassion for them.

Matthew 14:23-24 : Afterward he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

Solitude can be time spent with God. Seeking solitude was an important priority for Jesus. He made room in his busy schedule to be alone with the Father. Spending time with God in prayer nurtures a vital relationship and equips us to meet life's challenges and struggles. Develop the discipline of spending time alone with God—it will help you grow spiritually and become more and more like Christ.

Luke 4:42: Early the next morning Jesus went out into the wilderness. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them.

Solitude is important for prayer and refreshment, but will only be possible if we make it a priority. Jesus had to get up very early just to get some time alone. If Jesus needed solitude for prayer and refreshment, how much more is this true for us? Don't become so busy that life turns into a flurry of activity leaving no room for quiet fellowship alone with God. No matter how much you have to do, you should always make time for prayer.

Spending time with God in prayer nurtures a vital relationship and equips us to meet life's challenges and struggles. Develop the discipline of spending time alone with God — it will help you grow spiritually and become more and more like Christ

Relate to our lives: We all have times when we need to get away from it all, seek some peace and quiet, some solitude. I think it is essential – I have found this to be true for me. How often are we able to find this respite, and how long does it last before something intrudes –telephone, children, spouse, pet? Where can you go to find solitude?

THE ELUSIVE SOLITUDE
By James LaJocies

I stepped into the clear sunlight on a spring like day,
To enter the lush forest and search for the elusive solitude.
To help my minds jigsaw puzzle to fit.
To iron out the wrinkles of stress and smooth the mind of life’s highways.
To give me direction, reward me with clarity and to bring peace to my soul.

I searched for the elusive solitude.
I sought her out with purpose and found her hidden,
In the colors of Emerald Green, Sapphire Blue and Snow White.
She surrounded herself with a symphony of soft ocean waves,
With water in a cascading free fall. All of which she harmonized,
Using the wind, caressing the leaves of towering trees.
I found the elusive solitude and then solitude was interrupted ........ People.

Michael R. Martin – July 31, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

July 17, 2005

2005-07-31T18:25:00.000-04:00

Genesis 28:10–19a; Psalm 139:1–12, 23–24; Romans 8:12–25; Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 (NRSV)

The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

²⁴ He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. ²⁶ So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. ²⁷ And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' ²⁸ He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' ²⁹ But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. ³⁰ Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

{. . .}

Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds

³⁶ Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." ³⁷ He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; ³⁸ the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. ⁴⁰ Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, ⁴² and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁴³ Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

Like last week’s parable about the farmer sowing seed that fell on four different types of soil, this week’s parable comes to us with an explanation from Jesus. Keep in mind that not every farmer in the world plants seeds in rows. Sowing seed is quite different from planting seed, making it likely that weeds would ordinarily appear in the field. The parable indicates that the presence of weeds (other translations, tares) is not by accident. The weeds or tares, like the wheat, had also been sowed into the field — by an enemy.

In this, the second parable, Jesus again used the figure of the sower, but with a different twist. After a farmer sowed his wheat seed, an enemy came at night and sowed weeds on the same soil. As a result, the wheat and the weeds grew together and would continue to do so till the time of harvest, for removing the weeds early would result in destroying the wheat (vv. 28-29). Therefore they must grow together until the harvest when the weeds would first be gathered out and destroyed. Then... the wheat would be gathered into the barn.

As Jesus and His disciples came into a house away from the crowd they asked for an explanation of this “wheat and weeds” parable. First, Jesus said, the sower of the good seed is the Son of Man, the Lord Himself. This fact is an important starting point for understanding parables. The parables cover the time beginning with the Lord Himself on earth ministering and proclaiming the good news.

Second, the field is the world into which the good news is spread.

Third, the good seed represents the offspring of the kingdom. The good seed in this parable corresponds to the seed in the first parable that produced a fruitful crop. The weeds are the offspring of the evil one (cf. v. 19) that had been sown among the wheat by the enemy... the devil. This condition of the kingdom was never revealed in the Old Testament, which spoke of a kingdom of righteousness in which evil would be overcome.

Fourth, the harvest is the end of the Age, and the harvesters are angels (cf. v. 49). This fact gives the ending of the time period suggested by these parables. “The end of the Age” represents the conclusion of the present Age before Christ establishes the messianic kingdom. Thus the parables in Matthew 13 cover the period of time from Christ’s work on earth to the time of the judgment at His return. At His second coming, the angels will gather the wicked and throw them into judgment

Tares

Let’s talk about weeds and wheat. The most basic staple of the Palestinian diet (and the ancient diet in general) was bread; thus wheat was critical. The bearded darnel, Original Word: ζιζάνιον, zizanion. It is the Lolium temulentum, a species of rye-grass, growing in the grain fields, as tall as wheat and barley, and resembling wheat in appearance. The seeds are poisonous to man and herbivorous animals, producing sleepiness, nausea, convulsions and even death (they are harmless to poultry). It bears a close resemblance to wheat until the ear appears, and only then the difference is discovered. It grows plentifully in Syria and Palestine. The fields were normally weeded in the spring, but if the weeds were discovered too late – as in the parable – one would risk uprooting the wheat with them; the master does not want to risk his wheat. Once they were fully grown, however, harvesters could cut the wheat just below the head, leaving the shorter weeds to be cut separately.

Let’s talk about the devil as portrayed in this parable. His work was to sow wicked or lawless people in the world and to do it secretly so that they will be unnoticed (Matthew 13:38, 41). He came while men slept (Matthew 13:25). The devil comes while we are unconscious, too busy, too unconcerned, unaware, too preoccupied, too content or too enticed with pleasure and other affairs. The devil operated under the cover of darkness and deception.

And when the devil comes, he sows in the same field as the Lord. The bad are sown among the good. The devil's method is counterfeit and imitation (cp. 2 Cor. 11:13-15). Some within the world and even within the Church have not been sown by the Lord. They may be in the world; they may even look like they belong to the Lord, but they do not.

The devil is a sworn enemy to Christ, to the world, and to all good. He is the sworn enemy of man, to his peace, and to the fulfillment of his purpose and life on earth. Whatever power he uses on earth is the same as the power used by wicked men: it is usurped and unjust. Perhaps one reason so many weeds are sown is because so many righteous are sleeping when they should be watching over the field (Matthew 13:25). Satan never sleeps; he is ever awake for every opportunity.

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).

Note that the enemy – the devil – came and sowed his evil seed while people slept, then "He went his way." Satan does not want to be known as the sower of wicked men. In fact, he wants the wicked to disclaim him, never to confess that he is their "father" (John 8:44). The weeds are "in the Lord's field" professing that they belong to God, but they are deceived (2 Cor. 11:13-14).

As with the growing of all things, a day for bearing fruit always comes. It comes for every professing Christian. The weeds themselves were called "darnel," a wild plant that was slightly poisonous and narcotic. When eaten it would cause dizziness and nausea. It was called the bastard wheat. Its roots became intertwined with the roots of the wheat. If it was rooted up it would destroy the wheat plant before the fruit became mature. The method used to get rid of it was to let it grow and then to harvest it with the wheat. It was then separated from the wheat, bundled together, and cast into a flaming fire.

The weeds looked like wheat when sown and during the growing stage. All people appear the same in religious practices. In life, the unregenerate – those who are not spiritually reborn or converted – look just like the true believer. It is during the fruit-bearing stage that the difference appears. The unregenerate people can imitate true believers for only so long; eventually their true nature begins to show.

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit" (Matthew 7:17). "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God". "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:19-23).

A person's nature always comes out eventually. A weed shows itself. A wicked person may profess to be righteous, but a life of selfishness and unrighteousness will eventually take hold. The profession may continue, but so will the life of wickedness. The weeds among the wheat (the wicked among the righteous) are hurtful to the wheat.

1) They are an evil reflection upon the wheat. They sometimes make it very difficult for the world to distinguish between good and evil; therefore they are the primary cause for the charge of hypocrisy leveled against the church.

2) They stymie the growth of the wheat. Their behavior and conversation and thoughts are centered in the world, not on Christ. Therefore the righteous are not edified – are not improved in moral and religious knowledge – when weeds are clinging to them.

3) They are a threat to the wheat. They can draw needed nourishment from the wheat. The professing weed can tempt and lead the righteous away from the Lord and His nourishment, tempt and lead the righteous into the world and its delights.

4) They can cause the death of the wheat. The professing weed can persecute and even kill the wheat.

There are these questions concerning weeds or evil in the world.

Þ Where does evil come from?

Þ If there is a God, why is evil allowed to continue?

At this particular stage of the disciples' growth, Jesus simply states that evil persons are present – that someone who is an enemy to God plants them. His statement without an explanation is enough, at least for the present time. However, in answering the question of evil, a person needs to consider the full revelation of God that is given in Scripture. Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, is the original Sower or Creator. He is the Master and Owner of the field or world. He created man to be perfect (Matthew 13:43), that is, in His own image; and He planted within man a spirit to do right (Genesis 1:26). But immediately after creation, the other sower, the devil, went right to work. He began with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1f); and ever since he has sown nothing but weeds, the unrighteous, among God's "good seed."

There is the question as to why evil is allowed to continue in the world, not just globally but locally, even with the Church itself. This question, of course, concerns judging others. Jesus' answer to this question needs close attention. A person on this earth is not to judge others.

Þ It is sometimes hard to distinguish between the wheat and the weeds, the righteous and those who profess to be righteous but are not. If a person judges another, he may tear out some wheat along with the weeds.

Þ A day of judgment is coming; however, it is not to be executed by men, but by Christ at His return. The young weeds and the young blades of wheat look the same and can't be distinguished until they are grown and ready for harvest. Weeds (unbelievers) and wheat (believers) must live side by side in this world. God allows unbelievers to remain for a while, just as a farmer allows weeds to remain in his field so the surrounding wheat isn't uprooted with them. At the harvest, however, the weeds will be uprooted and thrown away. God's harvest (judgment) of all people is coming. We are to make ourselves ready by making sure that our faith is sincere.

In last week’s message, I talked about the sowing of seeds on the bare soil in front of my house as part of the ongoing road construction, how they used a hydroseeder to spray a soil and mulch and fertilizer mix over the rich soil, sandy soil, and paved driveway, too. What I didn’t mention was that even before this was done, weed seeds had already begun to sprout and weeds were becoming established across the much of the area. As of today, those weeds are well established while the grass is just now beginning to sprout. If I were to walk out there and hand-pull those weeds, I would destroy a lot of new grass in the process. I would squish the young grass plants with my footsteps, and I would surely yank a lot of young grass up along with the soil attached to the weed’s roots. And if instead of pulling the weeds out, I were to use a chemical herbicide, such as Roundup, I would surely kill as much grass as weeds as I was spraying the weeds.

I also think about thinning plants. If you have ever grown carrots, you know that these are some of the tenderest seedlings around, and because the seeds are so small, carrots tend to get planted and come up in little bunches. If you don’t thin them out, you’ll end up with a row of green tops with no orange, edible bottoms. But you have to be very careful. Weed them too soon and you just end up breaking off lots of tops, weed them too late and you end up pulling up young carrots that you meant to keep. Don’t thin them at all and you get a lot of stunted, deformed carrots. Sometimes it seems like tweezers are the best tool to weed carrots.

Weeding, or thinning seedlings, is an important function of gardening, but you have to be careful how it is done. Weed killer destroys weeds - but you have to be very careful with it. So it is with the church. Sometimes we think that there are folk who don't belong. They do things that aren't very loving. They don't seem to believe in what we believe. They may talk down on their brothers and sisters. They seem like weeds amongst the good plants. We have to be very careful about how we deal with these kind of people. Jesus tells us that we shouldn't worry about plucking up the weeds that grow around us. While they may belong to his enemy and ours - that pulling them out can damage the good plants. He suggests that we leave the judgement for God to make - and concentrate on doing what he asks us to do - which is producing fruit for God.

I think that is good advice. Let us go about the business of being true to God and self, focusing on good and right in our own lifes, and let God worry about the rest.

Michael R. Martin – July 17, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

It All Depends on the Soil • July 10, 2005

2005-07-31T18:23:00.000-04:00

Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112 or Psalm 25 (UMH 756); Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Matthew 13:1-9 (NIV): Later that same day, Jesus left the house and went down to the shore, ²where an immense crowd soon gathered. He got into a boat, where he sat and taught as the people listened on the shore. ³He told many stories such as this one: "A farmer went out to plant some seed. ⁴As he scattered it across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. ⁵Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The plants sprang up quickly, ⁶but they soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. ⁷Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and choked out the tender blades. ⁸But some seeds fell on fertile soil and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted. ⁹Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand!"

Matthew 13:18-23 (NIV): "Now here is the explanation of the story I told about the farmer sowing grain: ¹⁹The seed that fell on the hard path represents those who hear the Good News about the Kingdom and don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the seed away from their hearts. ²⁰The rocky soil represents those who hear the message and receive it with joy. ²¹But like young plants in such soil, their roots don't go very deep. At first they get along fine, but they wilt as soon as they have problems or are persecuted because they believe the word. ²²The thorny ground represents those who hear and accept the Good News, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares of this life and the lure of wealth, so no crop is produced. ²³The good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God's message and produce a huge harvest—thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted."

We have entered in our readings into the “season of parables.” Now, there is no such thing as a season of parables on any clerical calendar that I am aware of, but our readings over the next weeks will re-introduce us to many of these teaching stories. This parable of the farmer sowing grain onto four soils is the first of Jesus’ many parables recounted by Matthew. It takes place on the shores of ??. It is said in some gospel translations that a boat was always kept ready and waiting, and here Jesus takes to the boat perhaps that he might better be seen and heard by the immense crowd that had gathered. Keep in mind that this parable is shared at time when Jesus faced opposition. Parables, like satire and other relatively obscure forms of speech, are frequently used when straightforward speech could be life threatening. Parables continue to be used as a rabbinical teaching tool. In Hebrew, parables are often called meshalim. I would say that there are two main questions for you to keep in mind as we explore these parables in our readings:

First, what is the main point of the parable?
and most importantly, how does this parable speak truth to you, today, in our time, in your life?

Just in case you have never sowed seed or fed chickens, I have a modern day equivalent parable for you – recount the hydroseeding out in front of our house. Road construction nearing completion, some areas top soil, some still stony sandy soil, some areas pavement, some concrete curbing. Nowadays, road crews use hydroseeder to sow seeds over large expanses. . .

So, in front of our house, some of this mixture was sprayed onto our paved driveway, some was sprayed onto the sandy rocky subsoil, and some was sprayed onto the clean, rich loamy topsoil. Yesterday it rained. Yesterday it rained a LOT. Most of the seed mixture on the driveway washed away, but some is stuck in little cracks where the pavement meets the concrete curb. The seed mixture stuck pretty well on both the sandy soil and top soil. The sun will come out, the seed will sprout – what do you suppose is going to happen to the grasses that start growing? The grass stuck on the pavement will grow, tucked into the spray mixture, but the roots will have nowhere to go, and soon the sun will wilt them and they will die. The grass mixture on the sandy, rocky subsoil will also sprout, the roots will take hold, but the sand will hold little moisture. So although these grasses will grow, they will not thrive. Ah, but the seed that landed where it was meant to land, on the rich loam, it will sprout, the roots will reach down into a soil that holds moisture for it and the grasses will do well here.

So, there is the parable, for the old-time farmer or modern soil conservationist in you. But the easy thing about this parable – it’s a pretty short hop to see how this story can relate to God’s word and our mission as disciples. Believe me, some of the parables are not so easy to decipher, to relate to our own lives. But here, we have God’s Word -- the seed, and God’s disciples – the farmer, and the people of the world – the soil. We are not the seed, YOU are not the seed. The Good News is the seed! And although you and I are in the world, we are not the soil, WE are not the soil. We are among God’s chosen people, YOU are among God’s chosen people. God has nurtured your life from before you were born, and made you who you are, and led you, to this very here and now. God’s seed has been planted and tended and taken root in your heart and soul. YOU, my good friends, are farmers. Or, if you’d rather, you are the person directing the nozzle of the hydro spray truck – it IS after all a heck of a lot more efficient!

As any farmer knows, you have to have two things first and foremost to grow a crop. . . good soil and good seed. Our mission, then, is to tend to the soil so that it is ready to accept seed, and plant seeds wherever and whenever we can. The nice thing about being God’s farmer is that you don’t have to do it all. You may never know the fruits of your labor, but perhaps that little bit of soil you cultivated in someone was just the planting bed needed for the next farmer that comes along. And after that farmer, someone did a little watering, then someone took out a hoe and did a little weeding. And before you know it, we’ve got another honest to God farmer on our hands!

I’ll reiterate what I said a few weeks back. We sit in this church at a time of incredible opportunity and challenge. We are by and large not happy with the way things are going, we have an inspired church council willing to evaluate change, and we have a new pastor who comes to us loaded with experience and energy and ideas. None of us is here by accident, nothing that has come before is wasted. I want to see this church bursting with farmers who come eagerly in each Sunday to get a little well deserved watering and tending so they can take it right back out their into the fields.

Can you IMAGINE what that would be like? How exciting that would be?

I know I am preaching to the choir here, or auctioning to the farmer, or whatever. I wish I could teleport our entire membership into this room right now and give them the same story. If I could teleport our membership here, I suspect we’d have mixed company -- farmers of all types and soil of various qualities -- but that’s ok, too. The body of Christ is made of many parts, each with a special purpose.

I am blessed that I can come here and worship with you, that you come here and worship with me, that we can worship together as often as we do. I am ready to do more.

I won’t ask for a show of hands, but if you are ready to do more, pray with me.

Heavenly Father, Creator God, continue to keep our church under your careful guidance. I praise your glory and am ever thankful for the gifts you have given me. I offer myself to you, Lord, in service. Guide me, Lord, that I might give what is most needed, where it is most needed, when it is most needed. Continue to water those of us gathered here with your blessings, Lord, that we continue to grow in your love. And, as always, I ask that all things be your will, Lord, not mine.

Amen

Michael R. Martin – July 10, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

July 3, 2005

2005-07-31T18:22:00.000-04:00

Genesis 24:34-38,42-49, 58-67; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Romans 7:15-25 (NLT)

I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. [16] I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. [17] But I can't help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.

[18] I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can't make myself do right. I want to, but I can't. [19] When I want to do good, I don't. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. [20] But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it.

[21] It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. [22] I love God's law with all my heart. [23] But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. [24] Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? [25] Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.

This passage always strikes a little too close to home for me. It reminds me of my youth, growing up. There is a certain age in a boy’s life -- at least in my life and I see it on occasion in my son – a certain age when you know doing something is wrong, but you can’t help but do it anyway. Or worse yet, you do something just to see what might happen, not knowing whether it is right or wrong. When I was young and we were living on Cape Cod, my father had a workshop in the basement of the house where he kept his tools and I would watch him for hours, working on this or fixing that. For some reason, the house had several electric meters and they were located in the basement. The meters were the old glass kind with the spinning wheel inside, sealed with a tag to prevent tampering. One day, I decided to see what would happen if I took a hammer and smashed the meters open. Needless to say, it caused a little bit of a stir at the Martin household.

Life is full of these kind of learning experiences. Generally, we are still a species that learns by doing, as well as by example. When Paul laments his inability to rid himself of a sinful nature, he is not talking about those innocent things we do because we do not know any better. He is talking about those frustrating times when we know right from wrong and we still struggle to make the right choice.

7:15 Paul shares three lessons that he learned in trying to deal with his old sinful desires. (1) Knowledge is not the answer (Romans 7:9). Paul felt fine as long as he did not understand what the law demanded. When he learned the truth, he knew he was doomed. (2) Self-determination (struggling in one’s own strength) doesn’t succeed (Romans 7:15). Paul found himself sinning in ways that weren’t even attractive to him. (3) Becoming a Christian does not stamp out all sin and temptation from a person’s life (Romans 7:22-25).

Being born again takes a moment of faith, but becoming like Christ is a lifelong process. Paul compares Christian growth to a strenuous race or fight (1 Cor. 9:24-27; 2 Tim. 4:7). Thus, as Paul has been emphasizing since the beginning of his letter to the Romans, no one in the world is innocent; no one deserves to be saved—not the pagan who doesn’t know God’s laws, not the Christian or Jew who knows them and tries to keep them. All of us must depend totally on the work of Christ for our salvation. We cannot earn it by our good behavior.

7:15 This is more than the cry of one desperate man—it describes the experience of any Christian struggling against sin or trying to please God by keeping rules and laws without the Spirit’s help. We must never underestimate the power of sin. We must never attempt to fight it in our own strength. Satan is a crafty tempter, and we have an amazing ability to make excuses. Instead of trying to overcome sin with human willpower, we must take hold of the tremendous power of Christ that is available to us. This is God’s provision for victory over sin—he sends the Holy Spirit to live in us and give us power. And when we fall, he lovingly reaches out to help us up.

7:23-25 This inward struggle with sin was as real for Paul as it is for us. From Paul we learn what to do about it. Whenever Paul felt lost, he would return to the beginning of his spiritual life, remembering that he had already been freed by Jesus Christ. When you feel confused and overwhelmed by sin’s appeal, follow Paul’s example: thank God that he has given you freedom through Jesus Christ. Let the reality of Christ’s power lift you up to real victory over sin.

I have a riddle for you this morning:
Question: What happens when you don't pray?
Answer: Nothing!

This riddle works for the atheist and the Christian alike. The atheist believes in nothing, so if you don’t pray, nothing happens. It is meaningless. The Christian believes in the power of prayer, so if you don’t pray, nothing happens. The bible instructs us to pray – not so God will know our needs, but so God will know our love for Him, our commitment to Him.

So if you are ever troubled by sin, unfortunately a natural human condition, take it to God in prayer. What happens when you don’t pray? Nothing. What happens when you DO pray? God listens, God gives you strength, God answers prayer.

Amen

Michael R. Martin – July 3, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

PRAYER

Almighty God, ruler of all nations:
we pray for our nation and its people, and for our leaders.
May we be mindful of your favor and obedient to your will.
Forgive our shortcomings as a nation,
and purify our hearts
to know the truth that alone can make us free.
Save us from injustice and oppression,
from pride and arrogance,
and from greed and self-centeredness.
Increase our concern for people beyond our own boundaries
and for the poor and afflicted in our own land,
that we may be a blessing and an example to all nations.
Bring us at last to that day
when the whole world shall know peace and blessedness,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Father’s Day • June 19, 2005

2005-07-31T18:21:00.000-04:00

Genesis 21:8–21; Psalm 86:1–10, 16–17 or Psalm 17 (UMH 749); Romans 6:1b –11; Matthew 10:24–39

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Prayer for Families • Celebrations & Prayer

Gracious God, you created all of humankind and showed us the importance of relationships with one another. We commend to your care all the families of this congregation, community, and world. We pray that each home may be a home where love is felt. We pray for homes where, instead of love, there are households of hurt and abuse and suffering. We pray for children, youth, and adults, recognizing the importance of and the gift of every age as we grow. We pray for parents, stepparents, and foster parents. We pray for those who are single and for those who are married. We pray for those in loving relationships. May your grace be present to all. Grant us wisdom to know where there is no love, courage to act out of love for others, and peace to rest in your mercy. Help the commandments of love for you and love for others be our goal for life together. Amen.

Father’s Day Prayer of Petition, BOW 441 (invite congregation to add their own silent prayers between each petition)

End with Prayer for Homes and Families, BOW 437

Father's Day is a cultural holiday in the United States and serves to honor all fathers. It was first observed in 1920 in Spokane, Washington to honor William Smart. William’s daughter, Sonora, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909 because she wanted a special day to honor her father. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Sonora's mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. It was after Sonora became an adult, married and Mrs. John B. Dodd that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.

The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across American other people were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. Father's Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all honored on Father's Day.

Our first teachers are our parents. We pray for them in a special way this day. And on this Father’s Day, let us ask ourselves that difficult question that has been around for a very long time: "Was he a good father or was he a bad father?, Are you a good father or a bad father?" On one occasion when Jesus wanted to describe his understanding of the love of God for us all, he used the love of a father for his son. "Is there a father among you who will offer his son a snake when he asks for fish, or a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you, then, bad as you are, know how to give your children what is good for them, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:11)

The final test for parenting - the final test for fathering -- whether "good" or "bad"-- does not come with the cherished affirmation of a Father's Day card, but when two adult human beings who were once parent and child -- one young and one now old -- are friends. Good friends for life.
The relationship between a father and his children is based in great part on shared experiences and shared interests. It is a relationship built on specific moments -- moments that build a memory. Kite-flying and fishing, playing catch in the backyard, watching sports together. If you ask adult men or women to speak about their fathers, they are likely to talk first about experiences rather than feelings, about memories rather than attitudes or emotions. While I have many memories about my father, my best memories those hours spent fishing on Crystal Lake in Gilmanton, NH.

Matthew 10:24-39 (NIV)
²⁴"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!
²⁶"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. ²⁷What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. ²⁸Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. ³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
³²"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. ³³But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
³⁴"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— ³⁶a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'
³⁷"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

I find a lot of interesting and challenging language in this passage. One could develop many a sermon or message from this one reading, nearly a sermon per verse. I want to focus right now on one particular verse, verse 24, from the New Revised Standard Bible, the one you’ll find in your pew:

A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master. It is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. We, disciples, know that we are beneath the stature of Jesus, but our goal is to learn as much as we can from him and to absorb into ourselves his wisdom and ways of loving. The goal for us Christians is to be like Christ, to embody the wisdom and ways of Jesus into our being.

The United Methodist General Board of Disciples spends a lot of time in thinking and talking about what it means to make disciples of Jesus for the transformation of the world. In so doing, they come up with a paper entitled “[*]Fifty Characteristics of Disciple-Making Congregations.” I am not going to read all of them here but will give this copy to our Church Council chair to copy and share with the council. If you have access to the internet, you can go to GBOD.ORG and type “FIFTY CHARACTERISTICS” in their search box. Or, if you’d like, I can run and make you a copy after the service. But its definitely something we need to read and incorporate into our lives individually and as a congregation.

Speaking of the Church Council, I am pleased to say they have been reading and absorbing a good book entitled “44 Ways to Increase Church Attendance” by Lyle Schaller. The book focuses on ways to increase church attendance by increasing the frequency of attendance by “church regulars and members,” attract first-time visitors, and increase the probability that first-time visitors will return the following Sunday. Let me read a short passage from the book:

Read from 44 Ways to Increase Church Attendance here, marked passages on (p. 14 – 17)

I want to end with a quick look at verse 39: Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. This reminds of the popular thing in I believe the 1970s, going to find oneself. “I’m going off to find myself; Oh, she’s found herself.” So often it meant leaving most everything behind and focusing only upon one’s self – in retrospect, this was a very selfish practice. Perhaps that was what Jesus was referring to when he said “Whoever finds his life will lose it.” For Jesus taught that the self was of no value except in what it could do for others: love your neighbors, love your enemies, go forth in the world and proclaim the good news.

I believe we are facing a time of great and necessary change in our church, a time when we need to stop focusing inward and start looking outward, a time to reexamine why we are truly here – not to serve our needs but to bring Christ to others as disciples. We, as individuals and as a body of Christ, can no longer afford to sit on the fence and settle for status quo. We, as individuals and as a body of Christ, have a lot to offer to the world, blessings to share. So let us stop keeping the Good News selfishly to ourselves before we find ourselves very alone. You can start by making a pledge to come to worship regularly and a commitment to come to church council meetings and participate.

Michael R. Martin – June 19, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

[*] http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=11831&loc_id=17,

A Franciscan Blessing • Dismissal

(invite congregation to say “Amen” after each line)

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Amen.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. Amen.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen.

May the Blessing of God, who Creates, Redeems and Sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forever more. Amen.

Life's Foundation • May 29, 2005

2005-07-31T18:20:00.000-04:00

Genesis 6:11-22; 7:24; 8:14-19; Psalm 46; Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-28 (29-31); Matthew 7:21-29

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Matthew 7:21-29 (NLT)
²¹"Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as `Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.
²²On judgment day many will tell me, `Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.'
²³But I will reply, `I never knew you. Go away; the things you did were unauthorized.'
²⁴"Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
²⁵Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on rock.
²⁶But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
²⁷When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash."
²⁸After Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
²⁹for he taught as one who had real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

This parable ends the Sermon on the Mount. The bible often speaks metaphorically of God or Christ as a “rock.” The Holy Land is known for its torrential rains that often cause disastrous floods, so the parable about building a house on rock or stone had some relevance then, as it does now.

Over here we have a library full of books. Imagine that you could read all of these books and remember everything in them. You would really have a lot of knowledge, wouldn't you? You would have a lot of knowledge, but you wouldn't necessarily be wise. Do you know the difference between knowledge and wisdom? If we have knowledge, it means we have it up here in our head. If we have wisdom, it means we know how to put all of that knowledge into practice in our daily life.

Some people know a lot about Jesus and they put his teachings into practice in their daily life. Jesus said that those people are very wise. He said they are like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. The storms come, the rain falls, and the wind blows, but their house stands firm because it is built upon the rock.

There are other people who also know a lot about Jesus and his teachings, but they do not put this knowledge into practice in their life. Jesus said they are very foolish. He said they are like a foolish man who builds his house upon the sand. The storms come, the rain falls, and the wind blows and the their house falls flat.

I’ll bet for most of us, when it comes to our living Christ-like, we are sometimes the house built on rocks and sometimes the house on sand, sometimes the wise and sometimes the unwise. We strive for the best, but live in a world of distractions – work commitments, family commitments, health issues, television, internet.

On what is your “house” built? Do you want to wait until the day of judgment to discover whether the subsoil was rock or sand? How might we determine the texture of the soil? Consider the following questions to test what really are our inner beliefs and why we might hold them.

What is worth dying for? For what would we sacrifice our life? To save our children, our country, to recover a million dollars from the ocean floor, at the possible cost of our life?
What is worth killing for? When is killing another human justified? Self-defense? Defense of family, or property? It is proper to kill to uphold certain principles, such as liberty or capitalism?
What is worth working for? What is worth dedicating your life to, in service and labor? To become a star? To become a millionaire? To be a successful politician? Is it a worthwhile life to be nothing but a mother and raise a family? What kind of goals makes the sacrifices acceptable?
What is worth living for? What makes life worth living? What is that thing or things that you must have or life is meaningless, and that if you have it, life is satisfactory, no matter what else you must endure? True love? If you are loved and love in return, is that all that matters? Are your children the end purpose of your life? Is a good family life meaningless if you never achieve success in your chosen career? Do you need to accomplish something in science, politics, sports, or the art world or else life isn’t satisfactory? For what is life worth living?

Some of these questions are extremely hard to pin down. Maybe we don’t want to be pinned down. Most of us are like bees in a flower garden. We move from one flower to the next always believing that the next flower will be “it”, whatever “it” is!

Your answers to these questions will probably tell you what the subsoil of your life is, and it will tell you a lot about what the Lord is going to say to you on “that day” when all will be revealed. Is he going to “know you” or want you to go away, because you are an “evildoer”?

Putting into practice the words of Jesus is the basis of a sure foundation, but our world is full of temptation to ignore the words of Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, much is said. For example, “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.” But I have heard it said that that is a lot of nonsense because it destroys what a man is all about!

“You are the light of the world!” People should look to you for moral & spiritual guidance – Jesus is counting on you. Many may hope that is not true – to much pressure, not enough opportunity to do whatever you want. “Love your enemies.” It is said that is just one of those impossible morals which no one can follow. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth.” But our whole economic system is built on the reverse of that one! “Do not be anxious about your life.” Who can stop worrying? “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” If I have time, I’ll think about the king and the kingdom.

If hearing the words of Jesus and putting them into practice is not the foundation of your house, then what is? And what will be the result?

Life is full of storms. Jesus wants us to follow his words, to build our lives and our families on these words. He wants us to be ready for the inevitable storms of life –economic downturns, pension defaults, war, depression both mental and economic, relationship that fade, death of those who love us and whom we love, devastating illness, protracted disease, doors shut to advancement, being so foolish as to end up in serious trouble of any and every sort. Yes, even weather related events—hurricane, earthquake, drought, famine—they all may come. Will we stand, having built our present and our future on Jesus?

Jesus, Lord and Savior of us all in all times, is the rock. Following him and what he says is the beginning of wisdom. Jesus, we want to know what you taught, but more importantly, we want to have the wisdom to take what you taught and put it into practice.

Read your bible, study the scriptures, enhance your knowledge. And you would be wise to put it into practice in your daily lives!

Michael R. Martin – May 29, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Mother’s Day • May 8, 2005

2005-07-31T18:11:00.000-04:00

Seventh Sunday in Easter • Mother's Day • Festival of the Christian Home

Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Christian Home Month 2005: Families Called to Love

Develop and strengthen faith in the home.
Celebrate and support families in their faith journeys.
Lift up love in the family. As God intended, the home is a place for living in the light of God's love and daily practicing the Christian faith.

The 2005 Christian Home Month theme is "Families Called to Love." Read Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are away on a journey, when you are lying down and when you are getting up again. Tie them to your hands as a reminder, and wear them on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.). Here we are reminded to love God and to keep God's words throughout the day in visible ways. Through Jesus' words in John 13:34 ((NLT) So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.), we hear the commandment to love one another. As we are called to show love individually, we are called as disciples to show love in our homes and with those we call family.

Prayer for Families

Gracious God, you created all of humankind and showed us the importance of relationships with one another. We commend to your care all the families of this congregation, community, and world. We pray that each home may be a home where love is felt. We pray for homes where, instead of love, there are households of hurt and abuse and suffering. We pray for children, youth, and adults, recognizing the importance of and the gift of every age as we grow. We pray for parents, stepparents, and foster parents. We pray for those who are single and for those who are married. We pray for those in loving relationships. May your grace be present to all. Grant us wisdom to know where there is no love, courage to act out of love for others, and peace to rest in your mercy. Help the commandments of love for you and love for others be our goal for life together. Amen.

Mother’s Day

The earliest Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday". Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter*), "Mothering Sunday" honored the mothers of England.

During this time many of the England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.

As Christianity spread throughout Europe the celebration changed to honor the "Mother Church" - the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm. Over time the church festival blended with the Mothering Sunday celebration . People began honoring their mothers as well as the church.

In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Mass ever year.

In 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia. Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.
~~~~~

Proverbs 31: 25- 31 (NLT) She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions. She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not have to bear the consequences of laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!" Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

wise & loving counselor
blessed: one who enjoys happy circumstances & from whom joy radiates to others.
fear of the Lord: a loving reverence for God that includes submission to his Lordship & to the commands of his words.

Michael R. Martin – May 8, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Jesus' Comfort • April 27, 2005

2005-04-28T01:29:00.000-04:00

Fifth Sunday in Easter
Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Our gospel reading today comes from the Book of John, Chapter 14, verses 1-14.

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied."
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father?' Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves."

"Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."

This exchange takes place between Jesus and his disciples at what we call the last supper. Jesus is offering some comforting words to his disciples. Just before these wonderful words of comfort, Jesus had washed his disciples feet, showing that God’s son, God’s servant, is not beneath serving. And in fact Jesus’ message is often about serving. Following the foot washing, Jesus then predicts his betrayal by Judas:

John 13:18 – 19 (NIV) “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me. I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He."

; and Jesus predicts his denial by Peter:

John 13: 33-38 (NIV) “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?"
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
Peter asked, “Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”

So, returning to our own reading, it is understandable why the disciples were so upset. The man they worshipped as their savior, who they had seen perform miracles, and to whom they had pledged their lives, was saying he was leaving them and they could not follow, and two of them would do hurtful things to him. I can think of no better words of comfort than those He used: Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

I think about my own children and my family. At times, we all say hurtful things to those we love. And when we have hurt some one, what can we say? “I am sorry”, “I love you”, -- and if you have REALLY put your foot in it – “I will do ANYTHING to make it up to you!”

But Jesus is telling his disciples and us something different, something deeper. He was trying to make the disciples understand that his love was always and forever, that when he is gone he will still be listening and doing all that we ask. And the biggest news of all, that he was not just their leader, their prophet, but he was the Son of God and the Son of God is of the Father and the Father is of the Son. And if you read one verse further, Jesus explains the Holy Spirit who is given as Counselor. The Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Be kind to those you love. And always remember that Jesus did not leave us alone. He listens, he answers. God, our Father; Jesus, the Son of Man; and the Holy Spirit, Counselor – open your heart, your mind and your spirit and let them in.

Michael R. Martin – April 27, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Faith Alone • February 20, 2005

2005-02-20T14:09:00.000-05:00

Second Sunday in Lent
Genesis 12:1-4a; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-5, 13-17; John 3:1-17

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Once again, we have some wonderful readings today. I love the story of the nighttime rendezvous of Jesus and Nicodemus found in John chapter 3. Jesus, the carpenter, proclaimed prophet and rabbi by the people; Nicodemus, the Pharisee and Jewish Leader. Nicodemus’ risky inquisitiveness gives us a classic conversation of the New Birth, being born again. And of course, that chapter contains that most famous verse:

John 3:16 (NLT) "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Our Psalm today, Psalm 121, is a song for ascent to Jerusalem. I find this Psalm as comforting and uplifting as the famed 23rd Psalm (“The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want. . . ”).

Psalm 121 (NLT) A song for the ascent to Jerusalem.

I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth! He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

But I want to focus today on Faith Alone from the readings found in Genesis and Romans.

Genesis 12:1-4a (NLT) Then the Lord told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father's house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you." So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him, and Lot went with him.

Romans 4:1-5 (NLT) Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith? Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, he would have had something to boast about. But from God's point of view Abraham had no basis at all for pride. For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous."
When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive. But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work.

The story of Abraham begins when God first speaks to him at age 75. The Scriptures that reference this time often mention “the law,” which in Abraham’s day, meant the 282 laws of the Code of Hammurabi that governed standards of conduct and behavior. Most of the laws pertained to reasons you might be put to death, matters of conducting business, and slavery (lost slaves, stolen slaves, etc.). I like this one: “Number 53: If any one be too lazy to keep his dam in proper condition, and does not so keep it; if then the dam break and all the fields be flooded, then shall he in whose dam the break occurred be sold for money, and the money shall replace the corn which he has caused to be ruined.”

Anyway, the scripture says of Abraham that he believed God, and it was this simple act of faith which was "credited" to him as righteousness. Paul refers to this in our reading from Romans, arguing that Abraham was justified by faith apart from works of the law. The promised blessing of an eternal kingdom made to Abraham was not given because of his obedience to the law, but rather because of the gift of right standing that was freely his through the instrument of faith. As Paul stated, “people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work.”

In Romans Chapter 4, Paul makes two points: First, Abraham was saved by faith and not works of the law (this from our reading in verses 1-5). Second, the covenantal promise of an eternal Kingdom made to Abraham and his descendents never depended upon obedience to the law, but rather rested on a gift of righteousness obtained through the instrument of faith (you find this further into the chapter, in verses 13-17). Everyone who follows the example of Abraham and puts their trust in God, finds that their faith is credited to them as righteousness. God therefore justifies them, declares them right and worthy in his sight. As worthy sons they inherit the Kingdom promised long ago to Abraham, they inherit eternity. They inherit it as a gift of grace acquired only through faith.

Paul was writing to two ethnic groups in the Roman church: Gentiles and Jews. Both groups had reason to boast. The Gentiles had Rome, a great empire that dominated the known world. The Jews were God's chosen people, with Abraham as their ancestor. Both Jew and Gentile alike sought God's blessing based on the law. So who deserved God's attention? And why?

One problem with seeking to obey the law, doing good works, Paul points out, is that this effort substitutes for faith. Seeking to keep the law is like working for wages. You get what you earn, what you deserve. If we are justified by works, then we have something to boast about, and no longer have any need to trust in God, or even to call on God. Too often we may forget that the things that make us righteous before the world, give us nothing to boast about before God. This, then, is the eternal problem – good deeds, all that we do, give us nothing to boast before the Lord.

Fortunately, we have an eternal solution: Christ died for us. Christ took our sins upon himself and took it with him to the grave. In the resurrection, Christ gaves us new life in him. For Jesus "was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification" (Romans 4:25). As a result, we now share in the promise given to Abraham, we are reckoned as righteous, not because we deserve it, but freely given to us by our faith. For us that means that sin no longer rules over us because God considers us righteous and God's opinion is the only one that matters. Being declared righteous we are free from the law.

Charles Wesley sums up the teaching of this passage from Paul's letter to the Romans when he says: "Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, and looks to that alone". Faith alone is the instrument through which we appropriate the grace of God. No other instrument assists it. Righteous living, godly living, faithful living – all are worthy in themselves and expected of the Christian walk, but they play no part in appropriating God's grace. Our standing in the Kingdom of God is through faith apart from our good works. We see the promise of eternity and by resting on it we are given it.

How does "faith alone" apply to us in our Christian lives? Well, those of us here do good things for others, good things for the church. Whether it is helping out with the Turkey Supper, serving on a committee, working with scouts, giving of our time and tithe – all these and so much more are good Christian acts. But they do not make us righteous, they give us nothing to boast about, and they do not grant us everlasting life (“get us into heaven”). So do we stop doing these things? Of course not. But all that we do, if done with a heavy heart, a hard heart, done without committing head, hands and heart to God, done in the absence of faith, is meaningless in the eyes of God. Faith alone justifies us.

Faith alone?! That scares even me. I question God, I have doubts, and I am not perfect – not a perfect person, not a perfect Christian. I guess that leaves me out, maybe you too, right? Thankfully, the answer to that is “wrong!” I believe that so long as you have faith in God, believe that He has a plan for your life, you are free to question Him, even get angry with Him. Job was a perfect example of this. But there are things that you can do to strengthen your faith. By now, these should be familiar to you: prayer, study the scriptures, and participate in worship.

So go forth and practice good Christian habits. And May the Faith be with You!

Michael R. Martin – February 20, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Sources:

“Receiving Christ's Due, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, Second Sunday in Lent,” Analysis by Betty Krafft http://www.crossings.org/theology/theolo322.htm, 2/18/2005 1:12 PM
"Abraham Was Justified by Faith," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. http://www.lectionarystudies.com/lent2aae.html, 2/18/2005 1:12 PM

Taking on for Lent • February 13, 2005

2005-02-13T14:17:00.000-05:00

First Sunday in Lent
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32, Romans 5:12-19, Matthew 4:1-11

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

We have some wonderful readings today, full of deep meaning and relevance for the Christian life. We start in Genesis with some quick clips from the Garden of Eden, where God tells Adam and Eve they can eat from all the trees, including the Tree of Life, but not from the Tree of Knowledge. But alas, they are tempted by the Serpent, and Adam eats the forbidden fruit. In Romans, Paul contrasts the impact on humanity of Adam’s actions and Jesus’ actions. Just as one man’s digression led to condemnation for all, so too has one man’s act of righteousness led to justification and eternal life for all. Adam’s act brought us sin, while Jesus’ act brought us the forgiveness of sin. I certainly don’t want to leave out Matthew’s wonderful story of Jesus’ temptation by the devil in the wilderness, the testing of Jesus before his great walk of life.

For me, these stories help to form the framework of Lent, our time of preparation for Easter. Lent is 40 days to focus on Jesus’ great contribution to our salvation, God’s great gift and Jesus’ great sacrifice. It is important to remember that the Sundays of Lent are not part of the forty days of Lent but are "little Easters," a time for celebratory reflection.

I want to tell you a tale about my experience of Lent as a young catholic:

My parents both grew up in Franklin NH, a busy mill town on the banks of the Pemigewassett and Winnipesauke Rivers, which meet in Franklin to form the Merrimack River. My father’s family was catholic French Canadians. My great great great grandfather Jean Baptiste Martin was born in Canada in the early 1800s and married Marguerite St Jean. Marguerite and Jean gave birth to my namesake and great great grandfather, Michel Martin, who married Mathilde Gauvin in February 1987 in La Presentation, Quebec. Michel and Mathilde’s son Cleophas was born July 10, 1866 in Roxton Falls, Quebec. I’ve always liked that name because it is so similar to Cleopas, one of the fellows who met Jesus while walking towards Emmaus. Cleophas married Sylvanie Dagneault, who gave birth to my grandfather Sydney on July 3, 1894 in Eastman, Quebec. My grandfather Sidney immigrated to the United States from Quebec, Canada with his bride Regina Sylvestre. Sidney and Regina probably crossed to America in Derby Line VT and eventually settled in Franklin, NH where Sidney served as Chief of Police and worked in a paper mill that made toilet paper, probably International Paper.

My mother was from “the other side of the tracks,” literally and figuratively. Like many communities in the early to mid-1900s, Franklin NH was religiously segregated and the train tracks separated the Protestants from the Catholics. I can trace my mother’s family, Patch, back to William Patche born in 1530 in South Petherton, Somerset, England. William would be my great x 10 grandfather. William’s grandson, Nicholas Patche, emigrated to the United States in 1622 aboard The Sparrow, a fishing boat sent from England. The Sparrow, with Nicholas on board, arrived in the New World just two years after the Mayflower and one year after the Fortune. The Patche family settled in Salem MA and is featured prominently in books on the early Founding of our Nation. My great great great great grandfather Reuben Patch moved to NH. My grandmother, Dorothy Bell Kelley, grew up in Franklin NH, the adopted only child of an Irish lumberman who ran a number of portable saw mills. Dorothy, orphaned at 16 when her parents were killed in a car accident, worked at the Stevens Woolen Mill on the Merrimack River, and as a nurse, and married Parker Plummer Patch Sr.

Franklin is a wonderful old town, and today still has the big wide main street. My parents met at the local town beach on Webster Lake. I am not sure how religious my mother’s upbringing was, but I know that my father and his family were devout Catholics. Growing up, my sister’s and I were indoctrinated into Catholicism. We had our catechism, holy first communion, fasted Sunday morning until after Mass, and followed the practices of the religion. Perhaps it was just my youth, but I never learned much about why we did things the way we did. Take Lent, for instance. We were always told we had to give up something for Lent. I never knew why, never connected it with any Holy Season or the coming of Easter. We were told we had to give up something important to us, something we liked. Spinach didn’t count. So at seven or eight years old, I would give up things like bubble gum, or maybe watching cartoons on Saturday morning. . . at least for the first week or so until the pressure cooled off. Give up for Lent – for whatever reason, that was the way it was.

I understand a little bit more about the Holy Seasons and Lent these days. Lent is a time of preparation for the initiation of people into the Christian life in baptism. It is also a time for the church, for us, to journey together toward Easter and for the reaffirmation of our baptismal covenant. Lent is not about being miserable, sad, and funereal in anticipation of Good Friday. Fasting and giving up something can be part of Lenten disciplines, but so can taking on some things – give up of ourselves, our precious time for the betterment of ourselves and those around us.

I’d like you to turn your program over and take a look at the Preparation for Easter Covenant on the back. This page contains a reminder of our Lenten focus, and then a number of ideas for things you can do as Inward and Personal Disciplines and for Outward and Social Disciplines. When you go home today, take some time to plan how you will spend your Lent. And I will just remind you that suggestion number two under Inward and Personal Disciplines, “Share in the Lenten Series on Sunday mornings,” takes place in the lounge right after this service.

Michael R. Martin – February 13, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

My Preparation for Easter Covenant

2005-02-13T13:00:00.000-05:00

Lent is a time to prepare for Easter. It is a necessary prelude. The death and resurrection of Christ are true whether or not I prepare for Easter. However, without my heart and life being ready, I may not experience the depth and power. of Christ's death and resurrection. So with my brothers and sisters, I commit myself to disciplines for conversion from sin and death to love and life in Jesus Christ. With the aid of the list below, I make the following commitments to discipline and growth for the next six weeks:
(Check the ones you desire or feel prompted to do; circle the ones you then decide to do.)

Inward and Personal Disciplines

Spend time in solitude each day.
Share in the Lenten Series on Sunday mornings.
Read a book for inner growth.
Read twice through the Gospel of Matthew.
Begin to keep a journal of prayer concerns, questions, reading.
Focus on thanksgiving, rather than on asking, in prayer.
Give myself a gift of three hours to do something I always say I don't have time to do.
Find a way to go to bed earlier or sleep in so I get enough rest.
Make a list of people with whom I need to be reconciled. Pray for them and let Jesus guide me in my thinking and feeling toward them.
Take control of my life by ______________.
Go to all of the Holy Week services as an act of love and waiting with Jesus.
Take one hour to inventory my priorities and plan how I will reorder them.
Give up a grudge or a rehearsal of a past event.
Forgive someone who has hurt me.
Dance my prayers to a favorite tape or CD.
Other promptings:

Outward and Social Disciplines

Take on some loving task.
Plan to visit a "shut-in" neighbor or church member weekly.
Write a letter of affirmation once a week to a person who has touched my life.
Listen and respond to Christ's call to a ministry of service.
Go to coffee or dinner with someone I want to know better.
Begin to recycle waste from my home and workplace.
Give blood and recall the cross.
Call the Pastor or Church Office and ask how I can help.
Say "NO" to something that is a waste of money and time.
Pray to God to help me resist prejudice and to give me courage in opposing it.
Rebuke the spirit of criticism and my own tongue out of control.
Find a way to live out the baptismal promise to "resist evil, injustice, and oppression" in the power and liberty God gives us by ___________________
Other outward and social promptings:

Keep this for reference during the coming weeks of Lent.

Who are you? • February 6, 2005

2005-02-07T08:46:00.000-05:00

Transfiguration Sunday, Scout Sunday, "Souper" Bowl Sunday

Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 99, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Matthew 17:1-9

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Exodus 24:12-18 (NLT) And the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain. Stay there while I give you the tablets of stone that I have inscribed with my instructions and commands. Then you will teach the people from them." So Moses and his assistant Joshua climbed up the mountain of God.
Moses told the other leaders, "Stay here and wait for us until we come back. If there are any problems while I am gone, consult with Aaron and Hur, who are here with you."
Then Moses went up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. And the glorious presence of the Lord rested upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from the cloud. The Israelites at the foot of the mountain saw an awesome sight. The awesome glory of the Lord on the mountaintop looked like a devouring fire. Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Matthew 17:1-9 (NLT) Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain. As the men watched, Jesus' appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became dazzling white. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter blurted out, "Lord, this is wonderful! If you want me to, I'll make three shrines, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him. Listen to him." The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
Jesus came over and touched them. "Get up," he said, "don't be afraid." And when they looked, they saw only Jesus with them. As they descended the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until I, the Son of Man, have been raised from the dead."

Who are you? Do you ever ask yourself “Who am I?” Do you ever see someone and wonder what that person is like? Have you ever judged someone by their looks? Do you ever wonder how other people perceive you? This morning I was running in and out of church, carrying in all my stuff from the car, and I saw three older teens walking up the other side of the street. They were dressed like snow boarders: big baggy pants, long coats, funny knit hats. I called out “Good morning” to them, and then thought, “Maybe I shouldn’t have called to them. Here I am, dressed in my Boy Scout uniform, coming out of a church. I forget I am older than I feel. Not one of them at all” But they cheerfully called back “Good morning” and kept walking on their way.

It is human nature to judge by appearances. We don’t like it when someone does it to us but it’s a hard thing to resist doing ourselves. Some people look the same every time you see them. Me, I change my appearances frequently. Sometimes a crew cut, but often longish hair. Often a beard, but sometimes just a moustache, and today I am sporting this goatee. Sometimes I wear my contacts but often I do not. When I go out, I may wear a baseball cap, or sometimes this floppy expedition hat. Like most Americans, I typically wear jeans and a tee shirt, but often for meetings and conferences I will wear dress pants and a sports coat, or even a jacket with a shirt and tie. And today, look at me; I am wearing my Boy Scout uniform in honor of Scout Sunday.

If you were a stranger to me, and met me just once, on any given day, you might think I was a long-haired, bearded jeans and tee shirt sort of guy, or you might think I was a crew-cut dress up sort of guy. It all depends on what I looked like when you saw me. And that is who I would be to you. In fact, in my business I have clients who think I am the guy who studies lakes and helps them clean them up, while other clients think I am the guy that uses advanced computer mapping to analyze land use. I was talking to one client about their mapping project and happened to mention I was studying three lakes in the adjacent county and her reaction was surprise. “I didn’t know you did that,” she exclaimed, when actually “that” is mostly what I do for a living! The same could be said of my private endeavors – to some I am a photographer, to others a musician, and rarely the twain shall meet.

So who we are out in the world is not necessarily a function of who we think we are, or even what we do. Equally, who someone is and what someone is capable of accomplishing is not necessarily a function of how they appear to us. And if that is the case, isn’t it also true that someone’s personal connection to Christ might be something we may not even recognize on first glance or casual acquaintance?

When we learn something new about someone and see them in a different light, they are transfigured. Have they really changed? Probably not, but we see more of who they are. Peter and James and John went up the mountain with Jesus and witnessed something amazing. Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. I can only imagine how Peter and James and John were affected by this witness. In some ways they must have been deeply affected by it, changed by it, transfigured by it. But wasn’t Jesus the same Jesus with whom they walked up the mountain? And weren’t they still the same three? So what changed? To me, what really changed was knowledge – they learned something new about themselves and their Savior, something new about someone they thought they knew.

I find it difficult sometimes to live here in the real world and still remain focused on Christ. I don’t know about you, but my personal opportunities for transfiguration seem at times to be far and few between. But still, I am a lot of different things all rolled into one imperfect vessel for Christ, just as you are a lot of different things all rolled into one imperfect vessel for Christ. On this Transfiguration Sunday, I am reminded that all who we meet are also many things, just like you and me. I know that I have to do a better job of seeing all people for who they really are, the blessed children of God. How about you?

Michael R. Martin –February 6, 2005
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Rest in Time of Weariness, Peace in Time of Turmoil

2005-01-29T01:22:00.000-05:00

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew:11: 28-30. (NLT)

Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26: 4 (NLT)

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Phillipeans 4: 6-7 (NLT)

Fellowship • November 14, 2004

2004-11-14T14:51:00.000-05:00

Isaiah 65:17-25; Isaiah 12 or Psalm 118; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Today’s Psalm, Psalm 118, is one of the hallelujah psalms. Hallelujah means “praise the LORD” and expresses the uplifting and optimistic tone of these songs. Psalm 118 is one of the psalms traditionally sung at the Passover meal, commemorating Israel’s escape from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 11-12). Isaiah Chapter 12 is offered as an alternative to Psalm 118. This chapter is a hymn of praise and a graphic description of the people’s joy when Jesus Christ comes to reign over the earth.

In our reading from Isaiah 65:17-25, we have a pictorial description of the new heavens and the new earth. They are eternal, and in them safety, peace, and plenty will be available to all. Isaiah recounts the lord speaking, beginning with:

Isaiah 65:17-18a (NLT) "Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth—so wonderful that no one will even think about the old ones anymore. [18] Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! . . .

And concluding in verse 25 with:

Isaiah 65:25 (NLT) The wolf and lamb will feed together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. Poisonous snakes will strike no more. In those days, no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain. I, the Lord, have spoken!"

And our reading from the Gospel:

Luke 21:5-19 (NLT) Some of his disciples began talking about the beautiful stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, "The time is coming when all these things will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another."
"Teacher," they asked, "when will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time?"
He replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name, claiming to be the Messiah and saying, 'The time has come!' But don't believe them. And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately." Then he added, "Nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and epidemics in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs in the heavens.
"But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will be accused before kings and governors of being my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me.So don't worry about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply! Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. And some of you will be killed. And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.

Our reading from Luke, 21:5-19, begins with the disciples and Jesus in the Temple built by Ezra in the 6th Century BC and remodeled and expanded by Herod the Great over a 46 year period. When some of the disciples commented on the beautiful stonework and decorations of the temple, Jesus stated "The time is coming when all these things will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another." (Luke 21:6 NLT). The temple was indeed destroyed in A.D. 70 when the Roman army burned Jerusalem. In response to Jesus’ prophecy, the disciples asked Jesus about the times ahead. Jesus did not leave his disciples unprepared for the difficult years ahead. He warned them about false messiahs, natural disasters, and persecutions; but he assured them that he would be with them to protect them and make his kingdom known through them. The persecutions of the disciples soon began. Luke recorded many of them in the book of Acts. Paul wrote from prison that he suffered gladly because it helped him know Christ better and do Christ’s work for the church (Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:24). The early church thrived despite intense persecution. In fact, late in the second century the church father Tertullian wrote, “The blood of Christians is seed,” because opposition helped spread Christianity. Jesus warned that in the coming persecutions his followers would be betrayed by their family members and friends. In fact, Christians of every age have had to face this possibility. In the end, Jesus promised that he would return in power and glory to save them. It is reassuring to know that even when we feel completely abandoned, the Holy Spirit will stay with us. He will comfort us, protect us, and give us the words we need. This assurance can give us the courage and hope to stand firm for Christ no matter how difficult the situation. Jesus was not saying that believers would be exempt from physical harm or death during the persecutions. Most of the disciples suffered martyrdom. Rather Jesus was saying that none of his followers would suffer spiritual or eternal loss. On earth, everyone will die, but believers in Jesus will be saved for eternal life.

On this, the international day of prayer for the persecuted church, I’d like to reflect on Christian suffering. As Christians in the United States, we do not often truly suffer for our beliefs, suffer for Christ, but there are many around the world who do, who are truly risking everything for their faith. James speaks to suffering and healing in:

James 5:10-11, 13-16 (NLT) For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord's plan finally ended in good, for he is full of tenderness and mercy. . . 13Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord. 14Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

God intends for us to experience life together, what the bible calls fellowship. Fellowship, especially fellowship in small groups, is an essential part of being a Christian and belonging to a church. Nowadays, fellowship often refers to casual conversation, socializing, food, and fun. Asking “Where do you fellowship?” means where do you attend church. Inviting someone to “stay after church for fellowship” means join us in the back for refreshments. Ask Rick Warren tells us in the Purpose Driven Life, real fellowship is much more than just showing up at services. It is experiencing life together and includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other “one to another” commands found in the New Testament. As a church nowadays, we really miss the opportunity to be function as a family, to be there for one another, to truly interact in small groups. Think about how you can take what we have here this morning out into the rest of your week, not just to minister to the community at large, but to minister to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

On this day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, remember that you are not responsible for everyone in the Body of Christ, but you are responsible to them.

Now I’d like to invite you now to the alter rail to be anointed by Pastor Linda. In Scripture, oil was both a medicine (such as in the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37) and a symbol of the Spirit of God (as used in anointing kings, see 1 Samuel 16:1-13). Thus oil can represent both the medical and the spiritual spheres of life. Christians, we should not separate the physical and the spiritual because Jesus Christ is Lord over both the body and the spirit. Western science & medicine is finally starting to recognize that there is a strong link between spiritual and physical health. So, come forth in an attitude of personal confession and prayer. This is an opportunity for the forgiveness of sins and for healing. Pastor Linda will pray over you and anoint with oil in the name of the Lord.

May the grace of the Lord be with you always, for you are precious family. Amen.

Michael R. Martin – November 14, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

God's Comfort • October 24, 2004

2004-10-24T12:08:00.000-04:00

Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Ever have one of those weeks where you just don’t seem to get anything worthwhile accomplished and you are sort of feeling a bit down and a bit worthless? Well, I am at the tail end of two weeks in a row like that. I haven’t been getting anything done at work, days and nights have gone by with nothing accomplished. And right smack in the middle of it, a good friend dies suddenly.

Twenty four hours after hearing of Rob’s death, I found myself sitting with my bibles and my journal. I turned to a little resource I think I adapted from the back of an old Gideon’s Bible, entitled “Help in Time of Need.” I was directed to a couple of verses listed under “Comfort in Time of Sorrow” that I would like to share with you this morning. I guess if I have a message to share today, it is contained in these verses I am about to share, from the New Living Translation bible. May you be blessed and refreshed by His holy word.

2 Cor. 1:3-5 All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.

Romans 8:26-28 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

And I am not sure how I stumbled upon this last reading, but I hope you will find it as uplifting as I did.

Col. 3:12-16 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

May God bless you and keep you, my friends.

Michael R. Martin – October 24, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Reflections on Galations 6:1-1

2004-10-22T20:52:00.000-04:00

If another is overcome by sin, help them back and don't fall into the same trap. Share each others troubles and probems. Don't get tired of doing what is good, don't get discouraged and give up, for we will be rewarded at the appropriate time.

Gal 6:10 (NLT) Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.

Laity Sunday • October 17, 2004

2004-10-17T14:26:00.000-04:00

Jeremiah 31:27-34; Psalm 119:97-104 or Psalm 19; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

I'd like to start by reading something by Sandy Zeigler (szeigler@gbod.org), Director of Lay Leadership Development at the General Board of Discipleship

Partners in Ministry: All God's People, Singing the Song and Living the Life

As this year's Laity Sunday theme suggests, we are all called to ministry and to sing the song and live the life. What is your song? How do you sing it? Are you a soprano, alto, tenor, or bass? We all have a song to sing, no matter how we sing it. We are all called.

It is not just the clergy who are called to live for Jesus and represent him to a hurting world; we all belong to a royal priesthood of believers.

How does the song you sing affect your life? Do you whistle while you work? Our lives should reflect Christ. No matter where we are or what we do, we must mirror our faith. Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world, that a city set up on a hill cannot be hidden, and that we should let our light shine for all to see and not hide it under a bushel.

To reflect the light of Christ, we need to spend time with him. Prayer, searching the Scriptures, Christian conferencing, worship, fasting, and Communion are ways to develop a closer relationship with Jesus. John Wesley called these practices the means of grace. They are ways in which we can partake of and experience more fully the grace of our Lord and Savior.

Living the life is more than just attending worship on Sunday or attending meetings or singing in the choir. Prayer, both private and corporate, is essential to a close relationship with God. Searching the Scriptures (Bible reading and study) is crucial to our development as disciples. Worship and Holy Communion and fasting can draw us closer to God and help renew our relationship with God. Small groups or covenant discipleship groups help us to grow and persevere in our daily walk. Acts of compassion and justice reveal our faith to others.

How are you singing the song and living the life? Are you devoting time to abiding in Christ? Can others see Christ through your actions? I would suggest that you seriously consider practicing the spiritual disciplines — means of grace — so that you can more perfectly reflect the light of Christ and live as his disciples.

As part of the family of Christ, we are all automatically part of the priesthood of all believers. Laity Sunday is designed to recognize those who are committed to discipleship. But I think that is all of us: by living a Christ-filled life, we are bringing his light into this world for others to see. Its as simple as being nice, being generous with your time, your good attitude, your skills – and not just to the church, but to all around you, stranger and friend alike.

I am reminded of a saying I heard last weekend: God does not choose those who are talented and gifted, but gives gifts and talents to those who choose him. I have seen this happening in my own life. People tell me I have a powerful speaking voice – first of all, God gives me the words to speak. And 20 years ago, about the best you could say about my public speaking ability was that I could read pretty well. In fact, the first time I ever spoke in public, at a conference, the comment I got at the end was that my talk was “very nicely read.” And people seem to be moved by the music when I play and sing. I have been playing guitar and singing for almost 25 years, but it wasn’t until the last five years when I began to sing regularly for Christ that my humble talents really began to shine.

Whatever gifts or talents you have, God will use them if you let him. And if you pledge to serve God, ask him “Lord, use me as you can, your will, not mine,” listen, and go where he calls, you will find gifts you didn’t even know you have.

2 Corinthians 5:17 speaks of what it means when we become part of the Body of Christ. “What this means is that those who became Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life is begun!”

When we choose Christ, it is not a one-time thing. We are baptized once in our lives, but we choose Christ daily, sometimes minute by minute. We are sinners by nature, frequently tempted or distracted by daily life. Micah 6:6-8 (NLT) speaks to us sinners who choose Christ:

What can we bring to the LORD to make up for what we've done? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and tens of thousands of rivers of olive oil? Would that please the LORD? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for the sins of our souls? Would that make him glad? No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

We who have made that choice to follow Christ, who daily make that choice, our fate is sealed. We can not give back the knowledge we have gained in knowing Christ, the knowledge of right and wrong, the call to serve. However, in return we are many times blessed by God’s love, God’s forgiveness, and God’s grace. Yes, we are sinners, but it is our sins that have made us who we are. It is our sins that have brought us to this very place in our lives. And it is God’s forgiveness that enables us to use our humanity to serve others, to tell others. We have been filled with the Holy Spirit. Now that we have it, what are we going to do with it? Now that you know the power of Christ in your life, what are YOU going to do with it?

Michael R. Martin – October 17, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

A High Priority Relationship • September 19, 2004

2004-10-16T20:08:00.000-04:00

Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9, 43; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Introduction

In a couple of weeks, I will be spending the weekend with a number of pilgrims who will be experiencing the Walk to Emmaus program. In the past, my role on these weekends “Short Crash Courses in Christianity” has been as music team leader. This coming weekend, God has called me to serve as a group table leader and giving a talk, entitled “Life in Piety: Giving our Hearts to Christ.” The talk is the keystone talk on Friday. The day focuses on God’s grace and ends with my talk about developing a close relationship with Christ. I would like to share a little of this subject with you this morning.

The subject of my talks is “Life in Piety.” My dictionary defines Piety as “Religious devotion and reverence to God” and it stems from the Latin pietás, meaning dutiful conduct.* A life in piety is a life lived in close relationship with God. I am not talking about random acts of kindness here, but a life where God is THE priority. It means surrendering your heart, mind & will to God. As Kahlil Gibran wrote in The Prophet, "Your daily life is your temple and your religion." Living a life in piety means changing the priority of your life. Think about your life today. How do you spend your time? How do you spend your money? Where you spend your time and/or money is generally where your priority is. A life in piety means living a life where God is number one, above all else.

Living a life in piety doesn’t mean that you give up your present life & livelihood to become pious. It does not mean we become celibate or silent monks or anything like that. Living a life in piety doesn’t mean your life will be without its share of pain and woes. Even Jesus, whose relationship with God was his total being, experienced some tremendously painful events. Living a pious life does not mean you become perfect, either. None of us are perfect, we are humans. Fortunately, God never asked us to be perfect. But God does expect us to live as best we can in His way, to have a personal and ongoing relationship with him. Lastly, living a pious life does not mean you are better than anyone else. In fact, in time you’ll seek being the least, the servant.

Ephesians 3:7-8 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me. . .

Philippians 2:3&5 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. . . Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Characteristics of High Priority Relationship

The characteristics of ANY high priority relationship are honesty, authenticity, depth, and resourcefulness. These are also the characteristics of a high priority relationship with God. To me, the key to living a life of piety is recognizing, truly recognizing, that all that you are, all that you have, all that you have been, life’s past journey and your future, all of these you owe to Christ, to God, to the Holy Spirit. Be ever thankful for all that you are and have been given.

Let’s examine the four characteristics of the high priority relationship we seek with God: Honesty, Authenticity, Depth & Resourcefullness. Honesty, first and foremost, is essential in any relationship that matters. Honesty means sharing your true feelings with God, even when they are negative. One of the most wonderful enlightenments I have ever had in my conversations with God began with me alone in church late one night, kneeling at the alter, yelling in anger at God. I don’t even remember now what got me to that place, but I clearly remember how my honesty was rewarded with an overwhelming feeling of peace.

Authenticity means sharing yourself completely. It means giving your best to God, rather than trying to hold a little something back for yourself. Depth means being willing to give your self completely to God, all that you are and all that you do. Resourcefulness in your relationship with God means having the assurance to deal with life’s ups and downs without forgetting your most IMPORTANT relationship. Resourcefulness is living a life in God’s grace, using the gifts He has given you, to make a difference in the world.

Devotional Practices That Enhance the Relationship

God wants a total commitment. Mark 12:30 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

Any great relationship requires focus and attention. As Rick Warren tells us in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, "Like any friendship, you must work at developing your friendship with God. It won't happen by accident. It takes desire, time, and energy. If you want a deeper, more intimate connection with God you must learn to honestly share your feelings with him, trust him when he asks you to do something, learn to care about what he cares about, and desire his friendship more than anything else."

John Wesley talked about a variety of works of piety – devotional practices that enhance our relationship with God. Wesley said: “The chief of these means are prayer, whether in secret or with the great congregation; searching the Scriptures; (which implies reading, hearing, and meditating thereon;) and receiving the Lord's Supper, eating bread and drinking wine in remembrance of Him. . .”

With that in mind, let us now examine the devotional practices that enhance our relationship with God.

Prayer: constant conversation with God

The first of these devotional practices is prayer, what I like to call a constant conversation with God. John Wesley considered prayer an essential part of Christian living, calling it, in many of his writings, the most important means of grace. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 reminds us to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

I’ve spoken to you here about prayer before. Remember that the average American Christian prays four minutes a day and the average American pastor prays seven minutes a day. Jesus tought us to persistence in prayer, to knock often (knock, knock, knock, knock, knock) yet this is the prayer life of American Christians (knock). Prayer was enormously vital to Jesus. And so it should be with us. God wants that relationship with you as much as you need it from Him. Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life reminds us that "Friendship with God is built by sharing all your life experiences with him. . . . He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and even every thought. You can carry on a continuous, open-ended conversation with him throughout your day, talking with him about whatever you are doing or thinking at that moment. "Praying without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) means conversing with God while shopping, driving, working, or performing any other everyday tasks."

Searching the Scripture

Conversation in any relationship is a two way street. One of the best ways we can become closer to God so that His will becomes more evident in our lives is to read the scripture. The scripture is the source from which we learn the heart, mind, and soul of the One who calls us into this relationship. If all you get of the Bible are the few verses that are read to you each Sunday and the preacher’s interpretation, you are not getting the full story at all and you are not having a conversation with God. It wasn’t until I really started studying the bible that I realized how MUCH I was missing from this brief exposure to the scripture. It is but a teaspoonful of the Bible’s richness at best. Immerse yourself in the book, and read beyond the few verses that come up every year in church. This book will illuminate your life!

Meditation: Seek God's word & will

Meditation is another devotional practice that enhances your relationship with God. Meditating on the scripture is how we seek God’s word and will for our lives. As Billy Graham wrote in his wonderful summary called Living the Christian Life†, “The Bible is God's inspired Word. Besides revealing the Good News about forgiveness and eternal life, it can also answer the many questions you will have as you try to live a life that pleases God. It will enable you to be "thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17, NIV). Think about what you read; study and analyze it. Pray for understanding. The Holy Spirit will help you (Psalm 119:18), and you will begin to see life from God's perspective.”

The bible tells us in John 4:23-24

''Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

One cannot worship in truth unless one knows the Bible, God’s word. We are not commanded to worship God as we'd like him to be, but in truth, as He is revealed to us.

Once you become more confidant in your understanding of God’s word through study and meditation, venture forth and start reading some of the “popular” Christian books – you’ve heard me quote from several here already. But always be strong in your personal relationship with God, put your relationship with God first, and filter everything else through that relationship, no MATTER the source. As Rev. Matthew Baldwin tells us in the Dirty Hippy Liberal Christian Home Journal: “We must not assume that a Biblical teaching is immediately clear or applicable . . . (and) . . . We must also not simply accept another Christian's interpretation, however authoritatively it is given.” The familiarity with God’s word I have gained through study and meditation helps me evaluate all that I hear and read, whether it comes from a pastor, radio minister, or Christian author.

Worship

Worship is another devotional practice that enhances your relationship with God. Billy Graham wrote “When you received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you began a relationship not only with Him but also with all other Christians. Whatever it meant to you in the past, going to church can now become a rich and rewarding experience”

Billy Graham pointed out that, through organized worship:

“You will grow in understanding by hearing God's Word preached and taught.
You can ask questions and discuss Scripture with others.
You will learn to worship God, which means praising Him for all that He is and thanking Him for all that He has done for you.
As you worship, learn and serve with other Christians, you will find individuals with whom you can form lasting friendships (friendships that will last for all eternity!).”

Worship is not only what we do in our outward life, but what we do inwardly as well. The apostle Paul instructed the Romans in this fashion: “Use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God” (Romans 6:13b). Rick Warren wrote: "Worship is far more than praising, singing, and praying to God. Worship is a lifestyle of enjoying God, loving him, and giving ourselves to be used for his purposes. When you use your life for God's glory, everything you do can become an act of worship. "

Communion

Communion is another form of worship that enhances our relationship with God. Through communion, we actively participate in the drama of forgiveness and thanksgiving, receiving the bread of life and being restored as brothers and sisters in God’s family. Through communion, we celebrate with God remembering the love He shows us in Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Direction

Spiritual direction is a practice that will help you get the most out of the other relationship-enhancing practices. Spiritual direction is a relationship with a clergy or layperson who practices a relationship with God and is willing to guide you as you seek to experience your own fuller relationship with God. As your relationship with God grows, this spiritual guidance can grow into a mutual relationship of spiritual guidance called spiritual friendship.

Conclusion

Living a life of piety IS a life lived in a close relationship with God; a life lived with God as your number one priority. It is a life not just committed to making a better you, but becoming more Christ-like through your relationship with Him. It is a life of constant conversation with God, through prayer, scriptural study, meditation, and worship.

I promise you this: do these things and there will come a time when all of this will be natural, this conversation with God, this closeness to God, and that will be its own reward. Do these things and you will find that which is bad in you will become easier to manage, and that which is good in you will become richer, more evident, and more beneficial to you and those around you.

Romans 8:35-39 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Michael R. Martin – September 19, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

God's Love • August 1, 2004

2004-08-02T00:02:00.000-04:00

Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9, 43; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21

Sermon by Michael R. Martin, Certified Lay Speaker
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

God has blessed my life and I have much to be thankful for.

I woke up this morning with these words in my head. God has blessed my life and I have much to be thankful for. I have a house on a good chunk of land, here in the mountains, surrounded by green trees and mountain views. I live minutes from dozens of clean lakes and expansive wetlands. I am surrounded by the nature that I love, just waiting for me to explore. I have a successful business and the respect of colleagues scattered across the nation. A drive to a “job site” for me, like just this Friday and Saturday heading out to sample Minerva Lake, might take me through the Cascade Gap. And though I am often disturbed by the number of cars along the roadside there, I am reminded that I live in a place so desirable, so beautiful, so special, that people drive for hours, days even, to spend their precious vacations here, hiking, camping, canoeing, and dining out. And when I return home from work, I return to the home we call Cedar Eden, where I have a loving wife, two wonderful children, and a wonderful dog.

But that is me this morning. Too often I am too busy worrying about what needs to get done, the work that is overdue, the mess that the house is in, the remodeling that seems to have been stalled for decades. Too busy to notice, to reflect, on all that is good in my life.

Sometimes I get angry and scold Emily & Mathew for acting like spoiled children. I am disappointed, discouraged that it seems like they do not appreciate all that we do for them, all that we give them, the care we provide, the food, the home, and the gifts. I’ve learned from other parents that mine aren’t the only children that seem to want something, want more, nearly all the time. It’s not enough that perhaps we just took them on a trip to a museum, which they loved. The also want something from the gift shop. Or we just spent a bunch of money on school clothes, now they want that special backpack that all their friends have. Collectively, our children are a lot like us, they do not always appreciate what they have.

But does that mean we do not love our children. Of course not, we love our children more than life itself. We would protect them from all of life’s pains if we could. We want them to be happy and healthy. The sound of their laughter lifts our hearts, their pain breaks our hearts. We love them, unconditionally: not for who they are or what they do, but just because they exist.

Such is God’s love for us. Our lectionary this week is RICH in guidance for Christian living, RICH in the promise of God’s Love. In our Old Testament reading, Hosea Chapter 11, the prophet Hosea prophesies of God’s Love for Israel, speaks of God's tenderness in the face of rejection. "When Israel was a child, I loved him. . . . but the more I called them the more they went from me. . ." Throughout this passage, we sense the tempestuous moods of God, the deep tides of God’s compassion surging against the rock of a justly-deserved punishment for the people’s faithlessness. God speaks of caring for his people, like a parent with children, teaching them to walk, taken them in arms and healing them when hurt, loving them, feeding them, making their life easier. And yet the people sacrificed and worshiped false gods. We glimpse the pain of a parent’s heart, torn by the thoughtless straying of a wayward child, yet loving nonetheless. Here we are shown the Holy One who is beyond our ways, whose steadfast love outlasts all betrayal. Long before the coming of Jesus, we see our loving God.

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we are reminded to set our hearts and minds on things above, rather than on earthly things.

NIV: Colossians 3:1 - 11 – Rules for Holy Living:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

We are told to “put to death” those things in our lives that belong to our “earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” We are reminded to “rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” We are told “not lie to each other,” Paul is not calling the Colossians evil for being human, he is telling them to recognize that as humans they have these evils and temptations as a part of their being. Paul is telling them to recognize them so that they can put them to death, throw them off, live a purer life without them.

In Luke, Jesus counsels against greed and tells a parable of a greedy farmer who built bigger barns to hold his "stuff" and felt that he could retire to a life of ease and luxury. The farmer said: “’This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ And Jesus’ moral of the parable: “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

When I was growing up, I wanted to get to a point in my life where if I wanted something, I could have it. I didn’t want to wait for “things,” I wanted to have them when I wanted to have them. I’ve long since reached that point in my life where if I want some thing, I can have it. Those who know me know I love electronic gadgets, and I have lots of them. But, thankfully, I have also come to point in my life where I recognize that it is NOT the things in life that matters, but life itself, and the blessings God bestows upon our lives. How fortunate we are to be alive today, this day, this moment, together, because of God’s grace. If only we could constantly remind ourselves: “How fortunate we are to be alive today, this day, this moment.”

So, we are blessed by God’s love, loved by God no matter that we are only human, no matter that we too often fail in perfection. The bible reminds us to recognize our humanity, our shortcomings. But we are not instructed to beat ourselves up about it, we are told to repent: recognize our humanity, be sorry for our transgressions. And then rejoice in the Good News that God loves us, Jesus loves us, each and every day. He loves us when we hold Him close, He loves us when we push Him away. He loves us, unconditionally.

So let us go forth today, lifted UP by this wonderful knowledge, and see that we are sorrounded by His blessings. Let us go forth, and pass it on.

Michael R. Martin – August 1, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Prayer • July 25, 2004

2004-07-26T00:06:00.000-04:00

Hosea 1:2-10 • Psalm 85 (UMH 806 • Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) • Luke 11:1-1

Sermon by Michael R. Martin, Certified Lay Speaker
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

The issue of prayer is a simple one. Prayer is talking to God. Prayer involves several elements including thanksgiving, praise, and confession. There are names you may sometimes hear for two types of prayer: "intercessions" and "supplications". Intercessions are prayer-requests for others (*Entreaty in favor of another, especially a prayer or petition to God in behalf of another), and supplications are prayer-requests for ourselves (*to ask for humbly). I didn't call these "two special types of prayer because for the most part, prayer is prayer. And to pray is to talk to God. When the disciples questioned Jesus about prayer, they were asking for an understanding of how to pray and what to pray for. Jesus teaches them both a form of prayer, what we call The Lord's Prayer (in this case Luke's version) and a story of persistence in prayer. Some folks use this reading to suggest that we need to PESTER God with our prayer requests, but certainly at the very least we are being instructed to talk frequently with God.

American Christians, that is us, don’t pray like this at all. American Christians knock on God’s door once a day (knock once on wood pulpit or communion table) whereas Jesus taught that we to knock often and long. Research has found that the average American Christian, that is you and me, prays four minutes a day and the average American pastor prays seven minutes a day. There is an enormous contrast being the teachings of Jesus about prayer (knock, knock, knock, knock, knock) and the prayer life of American Christians (knock).

Why is this? Pastor Edward F. Markquart of Grace Lutheran Church on the West Coast gives us four reasons why American Christians don’t pray much.

First, American Christians are very busy. The richer a culture is, the less time it has for prayer because money and wealth gives one so many opportunities to be busy. We are so busy, we just don’t have time to pray. In the life of a busy American Christian, the first thing to be let go of is one’s prayer life. We are all busy people, and the first thing to go in the life of busy people is our prayer life.

A second reason that American Christians don’t pray very much (e.g. four minutes a day) is that we don’t believe prayer does that much good. For many Americans, prayer is essentially talking to yourself; prayer is positive pep talk; prayer is psychological motivation to be a better person.

A third reason that American Christians don’t pray very much (four minutes a day) is that American Christians often believe that a good God should protect them from the disasters of life, from cancer, car accidents and coronaries. When God doesn’t protect their friends and family from cancer, car accidents and coronaries, then there must not be a God.

A fourth reason that American Christians don’t pray very much is that we don’t walk closely with God. To have any close relationship, you need to talk often and deeply. You can’t have a close relationship with anyone without persistent intimate conversation. That is just the way it is with marriage, family, friendship, and God. Four minutes a day is not much intimate conversation with God. It’s not by accident that nearly every time I share with you I encourage you to read your Bible. Prayer and the study of the Scripture and the reading of Christian literature is our only way to have an intimate relationship with God. God wants that relationship with you as much as you need it from Him.

Pastor Markquart, concludes that for these reasons and more, American Christians ultimately conclude that prayer doesn’t work, that it is like star gazing, that it doesn’t change the nature of things. And so our society concludes that prayer doesn’t work. Our society: that is addicted to sex and violence, that our televisions are filled with so much sex and violence that we have actually become numb to it. Our society: that is filled with broken down marriages and broken down families. Our society: that has the highest rate of people in prison in the industrial world. Our society: that has twenty percent of our children living in poverty. Our society: that has the largest economic difference between the rich and the poor. Our society: that is known world wide for our moral decadence and spiritual poverty. Our society then, with all these things, concludes that prayer doesn’t work. It is like finding a drunken alcoholic on the street and asking him, “Does alcoholic treatment work?” and he replies, “O no. Not at all.” So it is with asking American Christian who pray four minutes a day, “Does prayer work?” And the American Christian replies, “Well, I don’t think so.” If you ask Christians in South America, Asia and Africa about the effectiveness of prayer, they answer, “O yes. Prayer works enormously well.” Ask Minnie what about the prayer life of the Africans sometime and listen to what she tells you. You don’t ask for a drunk for advice about drinking and you don’t ask American Christians for advice about prayer.

Jesus was not at all like this. Prayer was enormously vital to him. And so it should be with us. So, how do you pray? Well, the bible tells us. . .

In Matthew 6:5-8, Jesus instructs the disciples in prayer etiquette, saying "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."

I don’t know about you, but I HATE praying aloud in a group setting. But I think it gets easier over time. But praying aloud or alone, I consider the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospels as somewhat akin to a prayer outline. We address the Father with respect and give praise and thanks. We make requests. We ask that in all things they be His will, not ours. And we ask for forgiveness of our inevitable human failings. In our home, we are fortunate to often share dinner meals together, and most nights make it a point to sit down at the table and dine. We take turns saying grace before we eat, and it has evolved into its own special prayer, so that if any of us were to say this prayer, it would go something like this: “Heavenly Father, we thank you for this beautiful day. We ask that you be with (insert loved one’s name here) and watch over him or her as she or he goes through their (whatever). Bless this meal that it may nourish us and bless this home and family. Amen.”

There is a great scene in the film Bruce Almighty when God, played by Morgan Freeman, asks Bruce, Jim Carrey, to pray. If we had the capabilities here, I’d love to be able to play just that brief, wonderfully moving scene for you. Maybe now that the lift is done, that can be our next project, bring our worship services into the 21st Century. At any rate, in this scene in Bruce Almighty, God has asked Bruce to pray, and Bruce prays haltingly: “Um, Lord, feed the hungry and . . . bring peace to all of mankind.” and asks "How's that?" to which God replies "Great . . . if you want to be Miss America.'' God than asks "What do you really care about?'' Bruce says the name of his estranged girlfriend, who left him because he was being such a jerk. God asks if Bruce wants her back, but Bruce says “No, I want her to be happy, no matter what that means.” He asks that she find someone to give her all the love she had deserved from him, and who will always see her the way he does now, through God’s eyes. “Now that’s a prayer,” God responds.

Does God answer prayers ? You bet he does! I couldn't give you scientific proof, but I am certain that God has been working in my life for many years. An example of answered prayers: a year ago, almost to the day, my baby sister was diagnosed with rapidly an aggressive, fast moving metastatic melanoma. The prognosis was quite grim. Her chances of even living long enough to see her daughter married just last week were very slim. Just several weeks ago she got the news that she was in complete remission, thanks to excellent treatment at Dartmouth-Hitchcock & many many prayers. This is not to say that your life will be easy or you won’t experience hardships. Answers to prayers are not always what you expect, for God works in accordance to his will. But prayer is a vital part of our conversation with God.

So, here is my list of prayer guidelines:

Prayer early, Pray often - Doesn't have to be special time or place - use any time you've got: in the car, wherever.
Praise God and be thankful for all that is good in your life - this also serves to get you recognizing the good even what things seem to be falling apart. My sister, even when her future was very uncertain would say what a blessing her sickness was since it brought my family closer.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help for yourself and others. Recognize that God's will may be different than yours, but ask & know He has a plan that most certainly includes you.
Don’t worry about the words. God knows your heart. The act of prayer simply shows your loving commitment to Him.
Most importantly, pray from your heart.

Michael R. Martin – July 25, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

*Definitions: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition: College Edition Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin company. All rights reserved.

Three to Love • July 11, 2004

2004-07-12T00:11:00.000-04:00

Amos 7:7-17 • Psalm 82 • Colossians 1:1-14 • Luke 10:25-37

Sermon by Michael R. Martin, Certified Lay Speaker
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

In Luke this week, we come (once again) to the familiar parable of the good Samaritan. Now Luke has turned from mission and discipleship, which has been our focus in readings and the message over the past few Sundays, to basic attitudes the disciple is to possess. In a series of three passages he addresses attitudes toward neighbor, spending time with Jesus and prayer to God. There is an important connection here. How we respond to our neighbor and how we walk with God are integrally connected. Both Jesus and the lawyer connect these two concepts in this week’s reading.

As it starts, we have a Jewish lawyer asking Jesus: "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus replied by asking the lawyer what the scriptures said and the lawyer replies with the Great Commandment of Deuteronomy: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

The story of the Good Samaritan is a familiar one, and it teaches us who is our neighbor and how to treat our neighbor. In those times, as now, there was the concept of neighbor and non-neighbor, us and them. Or should I say us versus them? Through this parable, Jesus tells us to treat everyone as a neighbor. There is no US and THEM. Not only that, we are to love our neighbor, that is to say EVERYONE, as we love ourselves. And the tremendous power of the story back then was this: nowadays we think of “good Samaritan” and we think “Oh, well, a Samaritan is good.” But the truth of the day was that to a Jewish scribe a Samaritan would have been the exact opposite, a notorious "bad guy" and traitor. So the HERO of this story was a bad guy. Culturally he was the last person expected to be hailed as an exemplary neighbor.

Ethics, how we conduct ourselves, how we treat others, our neighbors, is not an abstract question of options in a particular situation; it is a matter of character developed through a walk with God and a focus on Jesus. I am reminded of an incident that I experienced this past week, a lesson in ethics.

Marlene & I were in Yorktown Heights in Putnam County, working on a project I have to help clean up a lake. On this particular trip we were looking at storm sewers, drains and underground pipes, that dump polluted stormwater into the lake. After visiting the main problem area at the lake, a large storm drain that was adding pollutants to the lake, we decided to find the Town Hall since my client had said that the Town had a map of the storm sewers. We could use the maps to determine how big of an area was contributing to the problem.

Well, finding the Town Hall was an adventure. Yorktown is a large town, and that part of the state has lots of roads, lots of traffic, and more than their share of dangerous intersections. Some helpful folks at the local fire station gave me directions and we set off. After several missteps, we knew we were close. We drove by the Town Garage and continued on, finally coming to the Town Hall. The parking lot was full, but inside it was very still. We could see folks in various offices, behind windows, talking among them selves. As you first walk into the building, a sign directs visitors to the building directory, I guess so you can find where you need to go with out disturbing anybody. Marlene and I studied the directory and decided that the engineering department, which included environmental issues and mapping, was the place to go. According to the directory map, the engineering department was in the basement, so we set off, found the stairs, and hidden behind a corner, found a very uninviting closed door marked “Engineering.” I opened the door, rather hesitantly, and went inside. Two women were talking. One looked my way and I told her we were looking for storm sewer maps. She quickly pointed to the other woman, and turned away. The second woman looked at me, and I repeated that we were looking for storm sewer maps. “Well, that is two separate things,” she replied rather haughtily. She obviously misunderstood me, thinking I was referring to storm sewers (storm drains) and sanitary sewers as one. “OK,” I explained, “we are looking for storm DRAIN maps.” “You have to go to the Highway Department. We do sewers here, they do storm drains there.” Now, Marlene and I know that while Highway Departments often CLEAN storm drains, it is usually the engineering department that creates and maintains the maps. But we set off to the Highway Department. Of course, at the Highway Department, we were told that all mapping was done at the Engineering Department back at the Town Hall. Back through all the traffic and REALLY dangerous intersections from whence we came.

So back we went. And I nicely said to that same secretary that the Highway folks said the maps were here. Fortunately, as she was denying it, someone over the wall heard her, came out, and brought us back to where he did the mapping. As this fellow explained, they did the mapping but the highway department was given the software to look at it too. And over the wall we could hear the secretary say something to the effect of “See, I WAS right.” Well, we got what we needed and more from the gentleman who came and rescued us from that secretary, but here attitude bothered me all the rest of the day. I wasn’t so much mad at her treatment of us, but saddened by her attitude. To this woman, it mattered more that she was right, could justify herself to herself right or wrong, than whether she was nice to us, or helpful, or learned something new. She was the “Anti-Good Samaritan” and it seemed it would probably take some serious shock to change her ways.

The lawyer in Luke brings forth one of the most abstract, but important, questions we can wrestle with: What is the goal of life. Humankind has struggled with this question throughout its history. Many people engage in such a quest whether they have religious interests or not. Most of us sense that power and possessions are really meaningless life goals. We sense that there is something more. But beyond that, we often draw a blank.

Ephesians 1:11-12 It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

I’ve started reading a book called The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren – This is NOT a self-help book, as the author is quick to point out. The premise of the book is that if you want to discover your life's purpose, ask God. The book is a 40 day journey, each chapter seeking to focus your thoughts on the meaning of life. Chapter two, for instance: "You are not an accident. Your birth was no mistake or mishap, and your life is no fluke of nature. Your parents may not have planned you, but God did. He was not at all surprised by your birth. In fact, he expected it."

Rick Warren writes: "The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years. That's because we typically begin at the wrong starting point — ourselves. We ask self-centered questions like What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose. . . Contrary to what many popular books, movies, and seminars tell you, you won't discover your life's meaning by looking within yourself."

The author continues: "The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose."

I’d like to end with a verse from Colossians 3:12-14

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

To that, I would only add this: There are always those people out there who are a challenge to love. But one of the hardest things some of us struggle with is loving and accepting ourselves. After all, God didn’t want us loving our neighbor as ourselves if we don’t like ourselves, don’t take good care of ourselves. The bible tells us to love one another, love your neighbor. Please be SURE to include yourself in this equation. Love GOD, love yourself, love your neighbor.

Michael R. Martin – July 11, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Independence Day • July 4, 2004

2004-07-05T00:14:00.000-04:00

2 Kings 5:1-14 • Psalm 30 • Galatians 6:(1-6) 7-16 • Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Sermon by Michael R. Martin, Certified Lay Speaker
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY
• In loving memory of Ed Rhodes•

Luke 10: Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two

Our gospel reading today recounts Jesus recruiting and sending a large number of new disciples ahead of him. Depending on which bible translation you read, the number of disciples is either 70 or 72. For consistency, I will be using 72, the number in my NIV translation. This story takes place right after Jesus had conversations with the several reluctant disciples we talked about last week, those who would follow Jesus after they had taken care of other matters, to which Jesus replied that nothing was more important than this calling, that nothing come before God.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near’ . . . . "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me." The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

In Luke 9, our Gospel reading over the past two weeks, Jesus sent the twelve ahead of him, two by two. Now, in Luke 10, 72 new recruits, new disciples, are sent out by twos. The number twelve would remind the hearers of the twelve tribes of Israel, while the number seventy-two would remind hearers of the Gentiles. The Jews believed that there were 72 nations traceable back to Genesis 10. The progression from twelve disciples in Luke chapter 9 to the 72 disciples in Luke chapter 10 hints that the Gentiles or all the nations, not just those who considered themselves “God’s chosen,” would be recipients of the gospel. As these new disciples were sent, Jesus used two metaphors to prepare them for their mission:
• Harvest and laborers – the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few; there are many to be saved and so few disciples
• Lambs and wolves – I am sending you out like lambs among wolves; this task will not be easy. In fact, going forth will be at times quite dangerous. Just imagine yourself a cute fuzzy little lamb hopping around the pasture, and behind every boulder, every tree is a big wolf, lying in wait, long toothy jaws snapping in anticipation, just waiting for that tender morsel to skip on past.

So Jesus has told the disciples there is much for them to do, and it will be dangerous. Yet he also told them to take nothing with them. The community would care for them. Matthew 10:9-10 recounts this same event and provides Jesus’ reasoning. Jesus instructs his disciples in Matthew

"Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep."

Later on, in Luke 22:35-36, Jesus refers to these very instructions & instructs his disciples to do just the opposite as he prepares them for the coming of Judas & his betrayal:

Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered. He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one."

But for now, early on in his journey to the Cross, Jesus sends them empty handed so that the good people of the communities they visit have the opportunity to take them in and feed them. Jesus is saying: we do not need anything to be a disciple, except a trust in the Lord that he will provide. Go out into the world prepared only to preach the Good News and all else will be provided.

Jesus’ guidelines for discipleship were simple:
• Go where they were received.
• Remain in one place and eat what was set before them. In other words, don't move around seeking a better deal - take what ever is provided, lest they be accused of being opportunistic.
• Do the works of Christ and proclaim the kingdom of God in places where they were welcomed.
• Wipe the dust off their feet in protest against places where they were rejected.

Make no mistake, however. Jesus never said that to be a disciple for Christ would be a picnic. In fact, we are repeatedly told just the opposite. In today’s reading, Jesus likens it to being a lamb among wolves.

I believe that we, as modern day disciples, can act with this same trust, that we can proceed armed only with God’s Good News and our needs will be taken care of. All that is required of us is FAITH. I am reminded of Joshua 1:9 –

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

But do we, as modern day disciples, have the same power to heal as Christ gave the 70? I suppose it depends on how you look at it. We DO have the power to comfort and to trust God’s will, and to help others come to know Christ so that they to might trust in God’s will. And the power to comfort, to love with compassion, should not be taken lightly. I believe that God’s love and the Holy Spirit, which fills all believers to overflowing, is channelled to those we comfort if we do so with a pure heart, without motive or thought of self. And bringing someone to peace who is troubled, sick or in pain, bringing that person to acceptance of God’s will, IS healing. I think of our pastor visiting the aged and infirm at Uihlein and how appreciative they must be, I think of Cindy Smith visiting those of us who find ourselves rooming at the Adirondack Medical Center and how thankful the patients must feel. And I think of Ed, gleefully recounting the travels to the White Mountains of NH in his early life to my son Mathew and me when we dropped by during one of his recent stays at AMC, and I think of Ed this week, to weak to even speak, barely able to keep his eyes open. I see the twinkle in his eye and the smile on his face as I played and sang a few songs for him; how he clearly said my name, “Michael,” and “thank you” when I got up to leave – I’m not sure who was healing whom, but that is the wonderful thing about sharing Christ’s love – the more you give, the more you receive back. It is a well that will never run dry.

In the Gospel, Jesus instructs his followers in missionary technique and he gives them authority over all spirits. When the 70 returned, they were excited -- even the demons submitted to them! Jesus both encouraged and warned them. Yes, they had authority, but their salvation was cause for greater rejoicing. The disciples were instructed not to rejoice in their power over the spirits, but rather rejoice that their names are written in heaven.

Today, our nation celebrates its independence – fireworks and “hurrah!” for we are a great nation. There will be beer drinking and barbeques, a nation rejoicing. But you and I, the Body of Christ, let us celebrate our TRUE independence: independence from SIN by Christ’s suffering for us on the cross; independence from worldly worries having FAITH in Christ the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

As we read in Nehemiah 8:10 –

"Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Rejoice! These good things are promised to us, given to us, ours for the taking. Take it! You deserve it, you are worthy of it. Take it all! Let THIS be your Independence Day. Rejoice that your name is written in heaven!

Oh yeah. And just one more thing:
As we are reminded in Paul's letter to the Romans (chapter 12: 13)

"Share with God's people who are in need."

Now that you HAVE your independence, go OUT THERE and share it!

Michael R. Martin – July 4, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM

Would Be Disciples • June 27, 2004

2004-06-28T00:15:00.000-04:00

Sermon by Michael R. Martin, Certified Lay Speaker
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 • Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 (UMH 798) • Galatians 5:1, 13-25 • Luke 9:51-62

Our reading in Luke introduces the start of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem:When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
At that time, Jews and Samaritans despised each other. This animosity dated to the eighth century B.C., and arose out of the Assyrian conquest of the Jews. Samaritans claimed to have maintained proper worship in their land while other Jews were being compromised in exile. Mount Gerazim was the center of their religious life. Jews, on the other hand, accused Samaritans of losing their religious identity through intermarriage with pagan neighbors. The Jerusalem Temple was the center of their religious life. Samaria's location between Galilee and Judea, exacerbated the situation. To get to Jerusalem, Galileans had either to go through Samaria or to take a longer, more difficult route east of the Jordan River. Always tense, the relationship between Samaritans and Jews sometimes broke out in violence.

Luke is not clear concerning the intentions of Jesus' messengers. We don’t know if they were sent ahead to Samaria to make travel arrangements or to prepare the Samarians for Jesus’ ministry. Either way, the Samaritans would have no part of it. After all, Jesus had set a course for Jerusalem, which to them was a center of false religion. They surely resented the fact that Jesus was going there rather than Mount Gerazim.

When James and John learned of the Samarians refusal of hospitality, the offered to command fire to come down and consume them. Jesus had named James and John the Sons of Thunder, presumably because of their noisy, violent personalities. They were surely familiar with story in which Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume Samaritans. If Jesus would just give the word, they would repeat that action.

When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

Jesus’ response to the punishment suggested by James and John is stern and swift. He REBUKED them. Rebuked (epetimesen in Hebrew) is a strong word. Elsewhere in Luke’s Gospel Jesus rebukes demons, fevers, and storms, but never disciples. Jesus responds so strongly to James and John because he had instructed them to love their enemies, not to judge others, and to shake dust from their feet as a response to rejection. James and John had failed to listen. As closely as Jesus' ministry might have paralleled that of the prophet Elijah, Jesus was not Elijah and his mission was not to destroy but to save and reconcile. God will judge those who reject Jesus in due time, but disciples are to leave judgment in God's hands. By simply continuing on to another village, Jesus models the behavior that he expects of the disciples when they experience rejection.

VERSES 57-62: WOULD-BE DISCIPLES

As the Gospel continues, Jesus demonstrates that discipleship will be no easy task as Jesus encounters those who might become disciples. In these verses, Jesus clarifies the extreme nature of this call. Those who would follow him must first count the cost, because they will share Christ's suffering. They must not give anything priority over Jesus – not even good things. Jesus never said to choose him over the devil but to choose him over all, including family.

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

It is thought that perhaps this man saw Jesus as a man who was “going somewhere” and wanted to ride along on his coattails. And so Jesus’ reply to the man who offered to follow him everywhere was that He, Jesus, was going nowhere. Jesus’ ministry was not to be King of All but servant of all. Jesus was on his way to Crucifixion and the Cross.

To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

In those times, an unburied body was a mark of disgrace, and the burial of one's father or mother was an important part of honoring them in accordance with the Law. Perhaps the man’s father was not yet dead, and he was asking for time to care for his aged parent, which was also an import part of honoring them in accordance with the Law. Perhaps this was the man’s excuse to buy him time to consider discipleship, maybe later to come up with another excuse not to follow. Whether the father be dead or alive, Jesus' call is unequivocal. Let those who are spiritually dead bury the physically dead. Those with a spark of spiritual life have a responsibility to those who are still alive – those whose lives can still be redeemed – who are still able to decide for or against Christ.

Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

This recalls the Old Testament story with which Jesus' audience would have been familiar. Elisha was plowing with his oxen when Elijah called him. He asked, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." In the end Elisha committed fully to Elijah, for he slaughtered the oxen with which he had been plowing and used the yoke and harness as fuel to cook the oxen for neighbors to eat.

"Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God' ".

Having mostly lost our agricultural roots, this imagery might be lost on us. A farmer plowing with an animal must watch a fixed point ahead to plow a straight line. Looking back causes the farmer to swerve, plowing a crooked line, the mark of an amateur. The crooked line will be there for all to see for a full year – until the next plowing. The farmer who plows a crooked line will be the butt of many jokes during the year, and will try his/her best to plow straight lines next year. An Adirondack example that would be familiar to any one who has paddled a canoe or kayak across a lake or pond – If you don’t fix on a point on the opposite shoreline, but look around and back, you will “plow a crooked course” through the water, leaving a very obvious trail behind you as you go. So Jesus is saying if you will come with me, you must commit to the course and not look back.

We are told of these two men whom Jesus asked to follow him, and both gave an excuse rather than jump right in. But Jesus takes these excuses in stride, and does not rebuke the Would Be Disciples, but rather explains to them that their time to disciple is now and nothing takes precedence over His calling.

How many times have you asked someone for help and gotten what surely was a lame excuse? How often have YOU given an excuse to avoid having to do something you just didn’t want to do at the time? I can talk because I am the King of excuses . . . well, at the very least a Prince. Overwhelmed with things to do, exacerbated by my own procrastination, my natural response to being asked to do ANYTHING is to say NO. “Say No, ask questions later” – that is my usual modus operandi. In fact, when Susan Waters first approached me about preparing this very Sunday service, I said no. And it’s not a lie to say I am too busy, because, after all, who ISN’T these days? But I thought about it some, and changed my mind, which also seems to be part of my typical response. I’ve even come to recognize that this is the way I am and TRY, when asked to do some thing or another, TRY to say “let me think about it and get back to you.” But I will also admit there are times when I have committed to something where I bemoan having agreed to do it, whatever IT might be.

We should be slow to condemn those who offer excuses. Who among us hasn’t done the same? We all lead busy lives and experience all sorts of demands for our time. And even some of the giants of our faith first offered excuses before they finally accepted God's call.

• In Exodus, Moses protested, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" He argued, "O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue".
• Gideon pleaded, "But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
• Jeremiah protested, "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy"
• Isaiah said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips…!"

And yet each of these people, however reluctantly, did what God asked, and God blessed their reluctant discipleship. This is Good News, because it means that God does not put a big X through our name when we sin or protest or offer excuses. Every failure is an invitation to repentance and blessing. Did any of the three men in our Gospel lesson dropped their excuses and followed Jesus? We do not know for sure, but I am fairly certain they did, since Luke later states that Jesus sent 72 OTHERS ahead of him. It doesn’t really change the lesson either way.

My message last week at the 8:30 Praise Service was that God WILL call you to service if you only seek quiet and listen. To that, this week, I ask “What will you do when you hear that call?” Remember, you may be asked to serve in ways you least expect it, but ALL you do for good is service to God. As we are instructed in Galatians: “serve one another in love. . . . Love your neighbor as yourself."

How can we prepare ourselves, heart and soul, to serve, to be a disciple? Start by reading the Bible. Each week we are given readings, called the lectionary readings, which include text from the Old Testament, the Psalms, and the New Testament. They are read to you here in Church, but take the time to read beyond the text on your own. Read the whole Chapter and perhaps the Chapter before and after, not just the few verses specified by the lectionary. For my birthday, I received the Bible on CDs, read in dramatic fashion, and I have found it enjoyable and enlightening to listen to these while I travel. It really is amazing the stuff that is in the bible when you go beyond the little bit we get exposed to in church. If you find the traditional bible to dense, try reading a different interpretation, such as The Message, which presents the scripture in literary form.

In addition to the bible, read a daily devotional, which offer scriptures, prayers, and modern-life stories as illustration. The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide is available out front, in the church vestibule. The daily devotional I really like is called Our Daily Bread by RBC Ministries. If you are so inclined, go online – the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship (GBOD for short) has excellent online resources for making sense of the lectionary readings (www.gbod.org). Most importantly, make some time for yourself to focus on the Word – think about what it means to you, how does it apply in your life?

I believe that we are all asked to serve as disciples in some fashion, big or small. Sometimes it is just discipleship by example, in the way you live, the way you treat others, sometimes it’s being there for a friend in need, or a stranger in need. What WILL you do when presented with the opportunity to be Christ’s disciple? Will you offer up excuses like the Would Be Disciples in Luke Chapter 9, or will you offer up yourself in service? Who will you put first? Your job? Your family? Yourself? Or Christ?

There is only one right answer. Prepare yourself for His call. Be a disciple for Christ.

Michael R. Martin – June 27, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30AM & 10:00AM

Fear, what is thy name? • June 20, 2004

2004-06-21T00:16:00.000-04:00

Sermon by Michael R. Martin, Certified Lay Speaker
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

1 Kings 19:1-15a • Psalm 42
Galatians 3:23-29 • Luke 8:26-39

In the readings for this week, we hear from and about people who are dealing with some pretty dark moods: depression, dispair, fear. I’m going to look at some excerpts from these readings and talk a little bit about the experience of those in the stories, and reflect on those times in our own lives when we are perhaps taken a bit by these moods. And once again I invite you to find a time later when you can read and reflect upon the lectionary readings which are listed on your bulletin.

In our Psalm for this week, Psalm 42, we get some lovely imagery that has been captured in the song we will sing after the message: “As the deer longs for water, so my soul longs for you.” The psalmist speaks of a longing, his soul thirsting for God, brought on by a deep sadness. “My tears have been my food, day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" and “Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?”

Yes, the psalmist writes: “Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?” but then answers himself in the next lines with “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” The answer to each blue mood is, "Put your hope in God." This Psalm is a teaching psalm designed to show us where to turn in times of dispair. If you read it through you will note that it traces three stages of the Psalmist's experience, and at the end of each stage there comes the refrain that describes what brought him through, " hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

In our Old Testament scripture, Elijah is running for his life, away, afraid, for all of the other prophets had been killed with a sword. And Jezebel has threatened to do likewise to him. He ran to the town of Beersheba, left his servant, and continued into the desert. Elijah sat down beneath a broom tree and prayed for God to take his life. He fell asleep, and was twice awoken by angels who instructed him to get up and eat, and there was before him fresh bread baked on coals and a jar of water. God then asks Elijah, "What are you doing here?" and Elijah explains what he is fleeing.

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD , for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

The reading invites us to take a look at how God deals with us when we are afraid for our lives and dealing with depression. We run away, we hide. But what if we are silent, in worship and prayer, might we not hear God? What if, like Elijah, we were to lie down in a quiet spot, and sleep. Wouldn’t God see that we are fed? Too often we expect powerful, big, impressive things to awaken us to God’s presence. Have you ever prayer for a sign – a powerful wind, an earthquake, a fire – when perhaps it was the whisper you should have been silently awaiting?

Luke: story of Legion & the Pigs

In Luke, we read of the demon-possessed man in Gerasenes. Gerasenes was Gentile country, evidenced by the presence of a herd of swine, to the Jewish an unclean animal. This is the only account in the Gospel of Jesus in Gentile territory, and the second of four stories demonstrating the authority of Jesus, the first being the calming of the storm. So, Jesus and the disciples come to land sometime after the calming of the storm, and are met on the shore by a man who was demon-possessed. He wore no clothes, and lived in the tombs. This possessed man had broken the chains and shackles the townsfolk had used to try and contain him, so he had incredible strength. Yet, he fell to the ground and cried out “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?!” when he saw Jesus. For the demons had recognized Jesus for who and what he was. When Jesus asked the man’s name, he replied “Legion” for there were many demons within him.

A legion was a Roman army unit of about six thousand soldiers, a powerful occupying force whose power was overwhelming and whose presence meant the loss of control over every dimension of free society. The man's response tells us the extent of the forces arrayed against Jesus. The man's demons are many and powerful. It also tells us that the man had lost his identity to his demons. He bears their name and is controlled by their power.

But the legion of demons within the man recognized Jesus’ power, begging Jesus to spare them, allowing them to enter into the nearby herd of pigs rather than being thrown down into the Abyss, which is the dwelling place of spirits and the dead. And when Jesus so allowed, the demons went into the pigs, which ran into the water and drown. But the pig herders and the townspeople, rather than being amazed by what Jesus had done, were seized with great fear and asked him to leave.

Why were these people afraid? Surely, Jesus has performed a miracle. The possessed man was now sitting with Jesus, dressed in good clothes, and talking rationally. They were probably afraid because they did not understand this power they had witnessed and were uncertain what it would do next. After all, this power freed the possessed man, yet bankrupted the poor swineherds. Uncertainty, doubt -- fear! And then, there was the loss of the known to the unknown. Sure, the man was possessed, was mad. But they knew him and of him, and were adjusted to having him run free, living naked among the tombs. Now that he is "clothed and in his right mind", they will have to find room for him in their village. Will his family welcome him home, or will someone have to take him in? Has his wife remarried? Have his children made their peace with his absence? How will he make a living? Can they trust his healing to be permanent? Will he become dangerous again? Will one of their daughters fall in love with him? Jesus has solved one problem and created a thousand new ones! The routine changed, and therefore more uncertainty -- fear again!

Name your fear

Fear can be a very debilitating treacherous emotion. There is a healthy level of fear that we all need for basic survival but some people literally let fear rule their lives. This can take a person to the 'depths of hell' so to speak and keep you chained to a life that is full of guilt and regrets.

Catherine Glennie, in Overcome the Dragon of Fear, wrote:
Every single person faces the dragon of fear. No one is exempt. Fear is man's enemy. Fear is the factor that holds people back from doing what they really want to do in life. Fear is also the father of all bad behavior. Fear, unchecked, will lock into your body and there begin its awful work of disease.

Fear is different things to different people. Certainly, there are clinical fears or phobias. Phobias are characterized by being an irrational fear that is instantly triggered, provoking an immediate anxiety response – the phobic typically knows that the fear and response is unreasonable or out of proportion but can not help it. I did a little research and learned that are between 200 and 500 named phobias that clinical psychologists deal with, nearly 200 which are considered most observed in practice. These phobias cover pretty much anything you can think off – for instance, Philemaphobia, which I think my son has, since he always turns away when he sees this in a movie, is the fear of kissing. Meathesiophobia is the fear of change -- I think perhaps this afflicted the folks in Gerasenes. Autophobia is the fear, not of automobiles, but of being alone with one’s self. I think these last two fears are quite commmon, perhaps not at the level of being a phobia, yet many fear change and being alone with one's self.

I don’t know how many people carry secret phobias around with them – you know, I am afraid of spiders but I wouldn’t call it a phobia – but I suspect that many, many people, myself included, carry within them a number of secret fears that they allow, knowingly and unknowingly, to rule their lives. When I played trumpet in high school, I would make myself physically sick with nervousness before a concert; the first time I ever had to speak professionally in public, before my peers, I was a nervous wreck, and simply read what I had written. And I used to be sick for days before I had to get on an airplane to fly somewhere. I recognized these fears, named them, but it has taken me literally decades to get to where I am now, more comfortable flying because I love to visit different parts of the country and flying allows me to do that; typically at ease speaking or playing music in front of an audience, large or small. When I speak professionally now, which is fairly often, I don’t even bother to write out a script, because I have gained the confidence that I know what I need to say and will say it. Of course, as you can plainly see, I am not so comfortable preaching the Gospel that I’m ready to throw away my notes and wing it – though this is certainly how Jesus instructed his disciples.

So, yes, I am still far from perfect, far from being whole. I still fear many things, named and unnamed, that prevent me from being the best Christian, the best husband, the best father that I could be – fears that drive me to unhealthy habits when I know what would be better for me.

What fears to you have? Maybe it’s simply the fear of change, or fear of the unknown – common fears so well illustrated by the people of Gerasenes. What fears do you have? Can you name them? We probably inherit some fears, perhaps learn others: however we get our fears/wherever they came from -- our fears are ours alone and it is only between ourselves and God to name them, acknowledge them, learn from them, and ultimately deal with them. Not an easy task – conquering your fears – and it may take a lifetime. But not only will this make you a happier, healthier person, but it will also make you a better servant for Christ.

The man whose legions of demons had been driven away asked if he might continue on with Jesus. But Jesus instructed him to stay and proclaim throughout the city what Jesus had done – to give testimony to the Gentiles, who were not yet ready to receive Jesus. The man must have been disappointed at being denied the opportunity to stay with Jesus, but he obeyed. Like him, we find ourselves called to a different calling than the one which we would have preferred. For instance, many pastors are introverts who are uncomfortable in their very public life – our own Pastor Bill admitted to being extremely introverted during one of our small group lessons. Others, who might enjoy preaching or teaching, find themselves serving in quieter, behind-the-scenes ways – how often have you paused to appreciate the unseen at a function who prepared the meal. Some might have wished to serve on some distant mission field, but find themselves called to live their whole lives within the confines of their home state. Or, like Albert Schweitzer, a renowned physician and concert organist, we might find ourselves called to leave the limelight to serve in the hinterlands. The important thing is to listen carefully and to obey faithfully the call to which we have been called. It is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than to be a prince or princess anywhere else – if God has called us to be a doorkeeper.

So, seek quiet prayer and reflection, name your fears, and listen.
God will feed you.
God has the power to chase away your demons.
God will call you to serve.

Can you hear His whisper?

Michael R. Martin – June 20, 2004
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 8:30 AM

Lord of All • August 11, 2002

2004-06-03T00:18:00.000-04:00

Sermon by Michael R. Martin
First United Methodist Church of Saranac Lake, NY

Genesis 37:1-5, 12-28 • Romans 10:5-15 • Psalm 105 • Matthew 14:22-33

Our old testament reading begins the tale of Joseph as told by his father, Jacob. This is the start of the story of Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors. (Ref: Keith Kogut’s spectacular performance in the high school rendition of the play last year). Joseph was just 17 when the story begins – I imagine just about the age Keith was when he gave his performance.

Our reading says Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons (Remember Israel is Jacob, for God had given Jacob the name Israel after he had wrestled with God and returned to Bethel), “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him at an old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.” Joseph, you see, was the baby in the family, the last child, and its not hard to imagine how he was loved. We, too, sometimes lavish extra attention on the baby in the family, even as he or she grows up. We wouldn’t say we love them anymore than the others, but I think it is just a natural human tendency. Well, when Joseph’s brothers saw this, that their father loved Joseph more than any of them, they hated Joseph and could not speak a kind word. It pissed them off! To make matters worse, one day as our tale begins the brothers and Joseph were all out tending the flocks together and Joseph runs home with a “bad report” about them.

On another day, Israel sends Joseph back out to meet with his brothers who are tending the sheep. The brothers had moved the flocks from where they started, but when Joseph finally catches up to them, the brothers see him coming and make fun of him “Here comes that dreamer!” And the brothers plot to kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns, after which they will tell a story of a ferocious animal that devoured him.

I always thought a cistern was a large jar for holding water, but its much more than that. Up until fairly recent times, towns and villages in more arid regions such as the Middle East relied on surface water collected from the winter rains and stored in man-made reservoirs called cisterns. Communities constructed large cisterns and each home would typically have its own. Community and household cisterns were generally carved out of rock, below ground, with bell-shaped, pear-shaped, or bottle-shaped interiors. Some of them were quite large. Rainwater was collected from roofs and courtyards and directed into the cisterns. Sometimes the rainwater was directed through some form of sediment basin to settle out solid materials first. A 1921 census of Jerusalem found 7,000 cisterns in use. In recent times, cisterns have fallen out of use and become filled with sediment and debris, since it is far easier to open a faucet tap then haul buckets from the cistern. Some middle-eastern towns still require a cistern with each new house, although the owners would fill them now with a hose rather than rainwater.

So, anyway, the brothers are plotting to kill Joseph and throw him into a cistern. Yet one brother, Rueben, acted to spare his life by suggesting they just throw Joseph into one of the cisterns alive rather than to kill him first. (Rueben was planning to come back later and rescue Joseph and return him to his father.) So the brothers grabbed Joseph, stripped him of his richly ornamented robe, and threw him into an empty cistern. A bit later that day, a caravan of Ishmaelites approaches. The caravan was on its way to Egypt, the camels loaded with spices, balm and myrrh that they had acquired in Gilead. Joseph’s brother Judah suggests they sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites. The brothers agree, Joseph is sold for twenty shekels of silver, and he is taken along to Egypt with the other goods. Rueben, by the way, apparently did not take part in the sale of Joseph, for in the next passage following our reading Rueben returns to the cistern and finds Joseph gone and yells at his brothers, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”

I wondered how much Joseph was worth as a slave. A shekel was not only a coin but a measure of weight, about 2/5 of an ounce. I have no idea what 20 shekels of silver might have been worth at the time of our story. But the twenty shekels paid by the Ishmaelites for Joseph was 8 ounces of silver, which would be worth about $100 at today’s depressed silver prices. In our time, silver prices peaked around 1980 at $25 an ounce, when Joseph would have cost us $500. And you can go on the internet and buy actual shekel coinage from 93 BC for between $315 to $415. So if you had to pay for Joseph today, using actual shekels, you would shell out $8,000.

Our passage from Romans speaks of righteousness, proclaiming and confessing of faith, and includes the wonderful passages: “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” and “For there is NO difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.”

“It is with your heart that you believe and are justified.” Justification here does not refer to our common definition of the word, being proven right, but refers instead to God’s justifying grace. Justifying grace describes what God does when we come to faith – providing a lasting relationship between us and God.

There are generally considered to be three forms of God’s GRACE – God’s gift to humankind. God’s Prevenient Grace is with all of us from birth, preparing us for a new life in Christ. Prevenient means “coming before.” It is what guided each of us from birth on the path of life before we even knew we were on a path seeking God. Here is what John Wesley said about Prevenient Grace in his "Free Grace" sermon:

The grace or love of God, whence cometh our salvation, is FREE IN ALL, and FREE FOR ALL.... It is free in all to whom it is given. It does not depend on any power or merit in man; no, not in any degree, neither in whole, nor in part. It does not in anywise depend either on the good works or righteousness of the receiver; not on anything he has done, or anything he is. It does not depend on his endeavors. It does not depend on his good tempers, or good desires, or good purposes and intentions; for all these flow from the free grace of God; they are the streams only, not the fountain. They are the fruits of free grace, and not the root. They are not the cause, but the effects of it.

So we are all born into Prevenient Grace – God looking out for us if you will. But we are free to accept or reject God's justifying grace. When we experience or accept justifying grace, we come into a new life in Christ.

And in case you are wondering what comes after Justifying Grace, it is Sanctifying or sustaining Grace. It is the cycle of repentance and faith we continually repeat as we struggle to walk just a little closer with God.

We don’t often focus on the lectionary Psalm in our worship and meditations, other than our Act of Praise. Our Psalm for the day, Psalm 105, also recounts the story of Joseph sold to slavery, released by the king, and made master of the king’s household, ruler over all the king possessed, and free to teach the king’s princes as he pleased and teach wisdom to the king’s elders. More importantly, the Psalm opens by speaking of giving thanks to the Lord, calling on His name, and making known among the nations what He has done. Sing praises to him, tell all of his wonderful acts. Look to the Lord and his strength and seek His face always.

And then we have the reading from Matthew, Jesus Walks on the Water. The story takes place after Jesus had fed the multitudes – five thousand men, PLUS woman and children – with five loaves of bread and two fish. Following this, Jesus makes his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the lake, while he dismisses the crowed. At long last Jesus finds the solitude he so desperately sought, as he went up a mountainside to pray. By evening, Jesus is still alone on the mountainside, and the boat with the disciples is far from land, buffeted by the waves and the wind. During the fourth watch of the night (the morning watch, from 3AM to 6AM – some call it the darkest time of the night, but having risen early in the fourth watch many times myself, it could also be as the sky is beginning to lighten). During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus walks out to the boat, on the lake, and the disciples are afraid, thinking it is a ghost. Jesus tells them to not be afraid, but Peter replies, “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” When Jesus says “Come” Peter walks on the water toward Jesus, but begins to sink when he becomes frightened by the wind. “Lord, save me!,” Peter cries, and Jesus reaches out his hand and catches him. Jesus, probably a bit disappointed, asks, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” The wind dies down as Jesus and Peter climb back into the boat, and the disciples worship Jesus, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

So how does this all come together: Brothers hating brother, plotting to kill and selling one off into slavery; Romans reminding us that it is with our hearts that we believe and are justified, and it is with our mouths that we confess and are saved, and the Lord is the Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him; the Psalm calling us to give thanks and praise to the Lord and making His works known among the nations; and lastly Jesus walking on the water, calming the sea, but more importantly lifting up Peter as his faith falters and he begins to sink?

Taken apart, each reading has a story and a lesson to tell in its own right, but as the person in the pulpit I have tried to reflect on the meaning of the collective word. So here is what it says to me, and here is the message I offer to you. When I think about the story of Joseph and his brothers, I recall those times when I, too, like the brothers have been caught up in pride and fear and jealousy and all those things that must have motivated their actions. And I think of Joseph, who as near as I can tell was not particularly religious, and probably had no reason to suspect his brothers would go to such lengths to be rid of him. Joseph knew not of his fate but God had a plan for Joseph and God’s prevenient grace was at work to see it through. I only pray that those times in my life when I have acted as shamefully as the brothers that God was watching over those I wronged.

I don’t know about you, but there are times when I have doubts, when my faith fails. Much like Peter walking out on the lake towards Christ, I have looked around, felt the wind of the world, and began to doubt. One of the strongest religious experiences I have had in my adult life came one night, in the back of a dimly lit church following an evening service. I was sitting towards the back of the church, watching flames flickering on the alter, and pondering all of my doubts in my head: What if there IS no God? What if Jesus was just a man, or worse just a story? What if it is just some strange biochemical reaction in our brains that makes us sometimes feel “strangely warmed” by Christ’s presence? Low blood sugar, who knows? And when I could take all this rattling around in my head no longer, I spoke to the one person in the pew in front of me, in fact the only other person in the back half of the church where I sat. I said, “What if it’s all a lie?” And I don’t recall her exact first response, but this woman, a visiting pastor from Vermont, essentially told me it was okay to doubt. In fact, having faith does not mean checking your mind at the door. God would want you to explore and question and come to believe on your own terms. And we only spoke briefly, but when I leaned back I found that my fears and doubts were gone, and my mind was finally quiet – something I had been seeking for a long long time.

And so, this is what I think it means to be a Christian: it means we strive recognize our faults and our failings, we understand that as humans we will fall, but try not to use that as an excuse. And most importantly, and I still need to work on this part, always turn to Christ for a return of strength in faith, and to do it better the next time. Christ knows we will have doubts and will reach out to us as we reach out to him, as he did there on that lake. And when we have returned to faith, we need to use that strength to help others to know that the Lord is the Lord of All and to bring that message forth in ministry and deed.

Michael R. Martin – August 11, 2002
First UMC of Saranac Lake, 9:00AM & 10:00AM