Sermon from Matthew 2:1-12 for January 6

Have you ever gone on a trip without really knowing where you are going?

Get a Garmin! Because Google maps may fail you.

Last spring, Laura Lee Huttenbach, whose mother is Muriel Patterson Huttenbach, whose father was a brother to Glenn Patterson, who was Glenda Patterson Teabo’s father, and Laura Bendlin’s grandfather, asked if I would consider presiding at her wedding to Andy Sidford. Laura Lee, who grew up in Atlanta, was baptized here in 1988 when she was 6 on the occasion of a Patterson family reunion.

Laura Lee is the one who traveled in Africa and wrote a book about a former Mau Mau general entitled, “The Boy is Gone” and then wrote a book entitled “Running with Raven” about a man who had run every day on Miami’s South Beach, accumulating over 125,000 miles and who had run with 2500 people.

And I said yes to the wedding, even after she noted that the wedding was going to take place at a vineyard in Dahlonega Georgia. She had met Andy in NYC while studying for a journalism degree at NYU, and they had checked out NY and NJ possibilities, and even Charlottesville Virginia, since they had both at different times gone to university there.

But Dahlonega won, beautiful setting, near to Laura Lee’s family, and best of all, the right price! When Laura Lee then informed me that they would be covering my expenses to Atlanta (and Sue’s as well) it was a go.

Then I looked at airline prices. Wow! Talking to our son Brian, who does a lot of traveling, another option appeared: drive to Georgia and make it a vacation! And so, we did. Both Brian and Katie have used Enterprise for their business car needs, so I went to Enterprise and rented a car for $350 for a week!

Yes, it was a Nissan Sentra, but who needs a big car for a trip? And it was brand new!

Sue and I learned a lot about traveling on that trip. Like how handy those smart phones are with google maps and an app called “Waze” and another called “IExit”. One tells you about traffic, the other what is at every exit on the interstate, gas, food and lodging.

Because we are old school, we also brought the tried and true Garmin, and to tell you the truth, it saved us, as did that cute little Nissan. How?

Well in Dahlonega, which is in Northern Georgia, is the Gold Mine Museum. It turns out that well before the California or Alaska gold rushes, there was one in Dahlonega. We even went to a Gold Mine.

And there is really good and eclectic food: it’s a college town, University of Northern Georgia. And - it is the closest city to the Southern Terminus of the Appalachian Trail! Get A Garmin, just saying!

Since Sue has hiked a good bit of the trail with Allison and Tammy and a bunch of others, we thought it would be cool to get a picture at the trail marker as a souvenir. And as the crow flies, it is only 30 minutes from Dahlonega to Springer Mountain, which is inside the Chattahoochee National Forest.

So, early one morning we set off on our grand adventure, and all was well until at some point the paved roads became gravel, and then the gravel roads became red clay, and then the hairpin turns came at a 20% sideway angle, which on the lower side spilled down hundreds of feet over the mountain.

And, it had rained a lot in northern Georgia, and the slides, puddles, and ruts from run off were everywhere, and we were too far in to go back and we knew where we were going, kind of, until there was no longer any cell service!

No cell service, no Google maps. No calling for help. In a Nissan Sentra. New!

The Boy Scout motto is “be prepared”. The Troop 1 motto was “make due”. Get a Garmin. You see the Garmin uses satellites, not cell towers. And the road was only one car wide, and upward and onward was the only way to go, so we made due.

Almost three hours in, shaking from fear and anxiety, we came to a crossroad. And there deep in the forest, sat a camper, with a couple of dirt bikes and four wheelers, and the banjos started playing.

The Garmin told us to turn right, and down on the right was the parking lot for the Appalachian Trail. And Sue went and got her picture. And we went home another way!

According to the most recent interpretations, in April, the Magi, the astrologers from the East, saw in the constellation Aries, the Ram, the constellation of the Hebrew nation of Israel, a portent, when the moon, covered over Jupiter.

To them it was clear. Something amazing had happened in Israel. A birth. A new and cosmic king. And they decided to go and see him.

They knew vaguely what they were looking for, and vaguely where it was, kind of, and they came sort of prepared and then made due. They got to Judah. They saw Herod. He told them where they should look, and having found the new King of the Jewish people, one sent with miraculous signs of power, they Gentiles, bowed in deference and worshipped him.

They gave royal gifts. If they had had cell phones they certainly would have taken “selfies” and then warned by their Garmin, a dream, they went home another way.

Matthew alone of the gospel writers tells this story because he wants to make sure that his readers, mostly Jews in the early years, understood that Gentiles have always been part of the story. That seekers of the Christ child are always welcome. That one can always be perceived as an outside by some, and still be loved and accepted by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

For it has always been this way. From the very beginning. That all kinds of folks, from all walks of life, would seek out Jesus.

Just like you and me.

And that we, like those early readers of Matthew’s gospel, need to do all we can to invite even more to come and meet the child, the Messiah, our Lord and Savior Jesus.

Just a word of advice, along the way, get a Garmin.

Amen.

Music and Messages from December 30

Joy

Let’s begin with Joy. How is Joy different than happiness? I think is like uncontained happiness, delight, elation.

Here is a video of Joy. That is our grandson, Zak, blowing out his birthday candles for the first time.

This is the Joy we should be feeling as Christians. Excited, Eager and bubbling over with this Joy that we should be sharing with others.

I picked Joy to the World to sing with Joy but wondered whether I should have picked,

I have that Joy, joy, joy, joy, Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart. I have that joy, joy, joy, joy, Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart to stay. And I'm so happy, so very happy, I have the love of Jesus in my heart. And I'm so happy, so very happy I have the love of Jesus in my heart.

In scripture, we are all familiar with the 100th Psalm, “Make a joyful noise, all ye lands, serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing”.

Acts 2:25 & 26 says, “What David said are really the words of Jesus, “I always see the Lord near me and I will not be afraid with him at my right side. Because of this my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful and I will live in hope”.

Psalm 35:9 says, “I will celebrate and be joyful because you, Lord, have saved me.”

1Thessaloinians 5:16 - “Always be joyful!”

Jude1: 24 “Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence”.

Let’s make a joyful noise by singing # 270 Joy to the World verses 1 & 4.

Next let’s look at Peace

I’m sure some of us after all the excitement and joy of Christmas Eve and Day, were happy to take a moment and say, Ahh, finally, peace and quiet. We all need that calmness to gather our thoughts and strength to keep going.

I wonder if we polled people to see what their top 5 wishes would be for the New Year, how many would say, World Peace? We all definitely want it. Peace among nations, among people, among family, friends and more. We want inner peace.

Christ is the Prince of Peace.

Jen D’Esposito presented the idea of Jesus being the “piece” needed for “peace”, Perhaps sometimes we’re are missing the right Piece. Jesus is the piece to peace.

Scripture tells us:

Psalm 62:25 Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on him.

64:10 - May the Lord bless his people with peace and happiness and let them celebrate.

85: 8 & 10 I will listen to you, Lord God, because you promise peace
to those who are faithful and no longer foolish.

1 Love and loyalty will come together; goodness and peace will unite.

Numbers 6:26 May the Lord be good to you and give you peace.

Matthew 5:9 God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!

Luke 2:14 Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.

John 14:27 - I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn’t the peace that this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid.

Lets join together in singing hymn # 617 Near to the Heart of God, all verses.

Next is Love

Ahh love. There are so many kinds of love. Our daughter and her family live in Philomath OR. Philomath means the love of learning. Too bad they put the Oregon State University in the bordering city of Corvallis. We all know about romantic love. And of course, we can love friends, our church, ice cream and various other things.

What about the unconditional love of a parent? Recently, I was trying not to impart some motherly advice to our daughter about some decisions they need to make. I just couldn’t help myself and when I did, I said, I won’t mention this again but I just had to say a few things. Then I said, I love you more than you can ever know. Then added, but perhaps now that you are a mom, you might have some idea. Folks, that is the kind of love God has for us. That parental, unconditional, never-ending love, one in which He tries to let us do our thing even though it may not be the right choice and yes, sometimes that nudge that maybe we don’t appreciate. God loves us so much, more than we can ever know.

That love that John 3:16 tells us, God love the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.

God wants us to share love with others, too. Hear this from:

1 Corinthians 13: 1- 8 & 13 What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge?
And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others. What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive?
I would gain nothing, unless I loved others. Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude.

Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! 13 - For now there are faith, hope, and love.
But of these three, the greatest is love.

John 13: 34-35 says, But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.

Let’s join together and sign # 256 Love Has Come, verse 1

Hope

Hope is when our dog sees my husband and I put our coats on, I get my pocketbook and the car keys. She is so hopeful that we are going to take her and she will be getting a ride.

I think hope is kind of the half - glass full and expecting it to be filled. It is a positive feeling. Hope you have a nice day. Hope all your wishes come true. Hope you feel better. We never say, hope you don’t get that raise you wanted. Hope you stay sick. No, we want the best for others.

Hope is a lifeline. Those that don’t have hope, we have nothing and give up.

The Israelites had hope that the Messiah would come and save them. That hope came in our savior Jesus Christ

In scripture we hear -

Romans 12:12 Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.

Hebrews 6:18-20 from the Message says - We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us,(in the order of Melchizedek).

Romans 15:13 - I pray that God, who gives hope will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.

Ephesians 1:18 - My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.

The next hymn is # 542 My Life is in You Lord

Faith

Faith is believing or trusting in someone or something based on spiritual understanding rather than proof. In many ways Faith and Believe go together. Ever heard of a Faith Fall or Trust Fall? In a classroom I shared, a substitute teacher had the students try it. She had one boy stand on the counter and the others locked arms together to form a net sort of. Then the boy had to fall backwards and have faith that his classmates would catch him. Did he have proof they would be able to do it? No, he had to have faith. It worked. We often need to take a leap of faith as did people we read about in the Bible.

There are many stories in the Bible where people were healed due to their faith or the faith of others in Jesus. A crippled man walked, a woman healed, an officer’s servant healed, the blind could see, some raised from the dead.

Hear are other messages of Faith:

Hebrews 11:1 says - Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives proof of what we cannot see. ( Hebrews 11 is entitled The Great Faith of God’s People)

1 Peter 1:21 - And when he did come, it was to lead you to have faith in God, who raised him from death and honored him in a glorious way. That is why you have put your faith and hope in God.

Matthew 21:22 - If you have faith when you pray, you will be given whatever you ask for.

Acts 8:17 - Peter and John placed their hands on everyone who had faith in the Lord, and they were given the Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:39 - But everyone who has faith in Jesus will be set free.

Romans 10:17 No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.

Galatians 2:16 - But we know that God accepts only those who have faith in Jesus Christ. No one can please God by simply obeying the Law. So we put our faith in Christ Jesus, and God accepted us because of our faith.

And then there is this passage from James 2:14-17

My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? 15 If you know someone who doesn’t have any clothes or food, 16 you shouldn’t just say, “I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? 17 Faith that doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!

Let’s join together in the first verse of # 245 - O Come All Ye Faithful

Believe

We all believe a little differently and believe in different things. It is the way we interpret things and why we have misunderstandings and disagreements. In fact, that is why we have so many different religions. We are fortunate in our church as Jeff, who openly says we are free to disagree with him but he preaches what he understands from his readings and interpretations.

We have several creeds that have been written to help state what we believe. We usually said the Affirmation of Faith but today, please stand and join in saying the Apostles’ Creed.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Some scripture references for Believe -

Mark 1:15 - He said, “The time has come! God’s kingdom will soon be here. Turn back to God and believe the good news!

Mark 16:16 - Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be save. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned.

John 2: 22 - And when he was raised from death, his disciples remembered what he had told them. Then they believed the scriptures and the words of Jesus.

Romans 10:9 - So you will be saved, if you honestly say, “Jesus is Lord”, and you if you believe with all your heart that God raised him from death.

James 2:24 - You can now see that we please God by what we do and not only by what believe.

Church World Service put out this message on magnets and sent them to participants last year - Believe

there is

good in the world.

I believe God wants us to Be The Good

So for the New Year ahead take this message - We are called to not just have joy, peace, hope, love, faith and beliefs but to use all those things together to be Christians of action. Go out and do things in a way that people will know we are Christians.

Our final hymn is # 429 They’ll know we are Christians By Our Love. (1,2,4)

Benediction

From Romans 15:13

I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the Power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.

Sermon from Luke 3:7-18 for December 16

So…

In my office I have a new “dummy” sign. The sign is for me, because every once in a while, I have to be reminded to do certain things and not put them off.

It says, “Bias for action: Just Do It!”

It turns out that a bias for action is one of the things that distinguish great leaders from just good leaders.

Good leaders take time to think, and then eventually act. Great leaders, think fast, act fast, and fail fast. Why? Because while thinking slow and acting slow can save resources, it doesn’t save the greatest resource of all, time!

And while we struggle with our dueling parables: strike while the iron is hot, look before you leap, he who hesitates is lost, and the rest, the world, our volunteers, and often, our opportunity for mission is lost.

We need to act because sometimes people’s lives are at stake and sometimes so is their eternity. We all have a finite number of days. Acting now, as soon as is possible can make a huge difference.

And that includes when it comes to making clear that our repentance is real, and even more than that, that our love is real.

It turns out, at least according to John the Baptist, that repentance has to be made tangible in a personal transformation that leads to action.

Did you get all of that?

Repentance has to be made tangible, real, in a personal transformation that leads to action.

Listen to what John says, “If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn’t have any. If you have food, share it with someone else.” To the tax collectors he says, “Don’t make people pay more than they owe.” And to the soldiers he says, “Don’t force people to pay money to make you leave them alone. Be satisfied with your pay.”

That is, make your repentance, and your transformation real, by doing something about it. It’s the original “bias for action: just do it!”

The other day a person stopped by my office and shared that their kids weren’t going to get presents this year because one parent was unemployed, and the other underemployed.

One response available to me was to commiserate, offer to pray with them, and move on to the 99 others things I needed to do, or…

I could contact some of our amazing Deacons who know what’s what and get some Christmas help headed in that family’s direction right away because of a bias for action! We don’t sit on our hands and wonder and worry, we get to it, just like Jesus did.

Wednesday night we read the scripture in Luke where a blind beside the road heard that Jesus was going by and yelled to him for mercy. Jesus was mobbed, busy, even overwhelmed.

But Jesus stopped and ask the man what he wanted, what he really, really wanted. “To be able to see,” he said. And so Jesus healed him. Right there. Right then. None of this , “get an appointment and call me in the morning.” Just do it.

It fits with our church motto: “Making a difference: in Jesus Name!”

We believe in action, repentance made real.

We have recognized our sinful condition and we have repented, turned around 180 degrees.

Now we are onto getting into the world just like John said, and sharing our resources, helping those in need, making sure as best we can to care for those who need our help; not sitting on our hands waiting for an opportunity to let grace be revealed in us.

I retold the story this week of my early days here in Otisville, when I was confronted with people who needed food, and found myself getting a bit uncomfortable thinking they really didn’t need the help.

I remember talking to Father McHale at Holy Name about that, and he said, “Well, I look at it this way. When the day comes that I meet the Lord at the Pearly gates, do I want him to say, ‘Well Charlie, now why didn’t you feed that hungry child”? Or do I want him to say, “Well Charlie, you fed a few that didn’t really need it, didn’t you?’”

Somehow, with the second response would come a huge smile on Jesus face and that heavenly hug we all want so bad.

John saw the people and said, “why are you sinners here? Go and do something that makes your repentance real!”

And the Kingdom of God was revealed. Advent was real. And then Jesus…

Amen.

Sermon from Luke 3:1-6 for December 9

So…

In the midst of all the craziness around Advent we hear the Christmas Bells ringing: “focus, people”! Thank you, John!

One of the things I love so much about John the Baptist is that he, especially in this Advent season, is the complete Debbie Downer. We are all tied up in tinsel and bows, and John is all about repentance, baptism, and forgiveness.

Repentance, of course, requires us to admit, at least to ourselves, that we are off course, headed in the wrong direction, totally lost. Okay then.

Not just confused, or fuzy about the directions, but totally without our Garmin, Google Maps and Apple maps.

Repentance, as a word, suggests that we are in need of a 180-degree turn, all the way the opposite direction from where we were headed.

Do you remember the rules for what to do when you get lost: hug a tree? The idea is to stay in place until someone finds you.

Or how about the rule of threes, a stark reminder of what can go bad in three seconds, three minutes, three hours and three days. But the most important advice is this, once you realize you are lost, stop getting more lost!

Repentance suggests an even more aggressive strategy.

Look back and see f you can find the path you were on following Jesus, and then go back there. Get on the trail, get on track, get back in sync, and then follow the Master.

And John suggests another step: get baptized and experience God’s forgiveness, God’s grace, God’s love, God’s acceptance.

That is, don’t just rejoin the disciples; make a memory of it. Do something to memorialize your new start. Yes, get back up and dust yourself off as it were, but then take a moment, a public moment and say, “hey, I got lost, but I’m back on track people. Let’s do this!”

Baptism is a sacramental way to do that, but there are others. Testimonies are a good one. Tell folks your story. Make a commitment. Join with others in a public way to not only get back on the path, but intentionally join a group on the trail so there is some accountability, for you and for them! And then tell them about your off the trail adventure.

You know, there are quite a few little ones that have been born into our extended family over the past months, so baptism is always a possibility on any Sunday!

And just so we are clear, if you’ve never been baptized, we can make that happen!

But you can also choose to renew your baptism at any time. Just ask! We would never deny a sincere follower of Jesus the opportunity to say once again, I’m in!

So, if we are taking Advent seriously, repentance should be part of the deal, and so should baptism, as well as the experience of God’s love and forgiveness. It should be part of our time of introspection and centering in the deepest meaning of our faith, during Advent.

We Presbyterians don’t rebaptize, it’s a one and done experience. But renewing baptism, yes, yes, yes! Why wouldn’t we publicly renew the symbol of our commitment to Jesus’ call to discipleship?

Discipleship is hard no matter when we start doing it. Remember Jesus call to take up a cross and follow him. It’s even harder when it is a culturally crazy time. So why not just suck it up now and be disciples right in the midst of the crazy!

We could focus on sharing the good news of Jesus’ love and acceptance with all kinds of sinners and tax-collectors and fishermen and shepherds and used car salesmen and drug addicts and Walmart workers and whoever else is on your list of “least likely to be picked for “saint of the month!”  

We could work together in teams like Jesus’ disciples were, 2x2, or 4x4 and go and bring “good tidings of a great joy,” to lots of folks who least expect it.

Of course, that might mean going against some cultural norms and family expectations! We wouldn’t be able, perhaps, to get all the presents wrapped or go to all the parties or decorate all the trees or cookies or whatever.

It might be that we would be too busy making sure God’s beloved lost children were getting back on track to worry about all the hoopla.

But it would mean that we would be a lot more like John, a voice crying in the wilderness, “make a pathway for the Lord! Make it straight. Fill up every valley and level every mountain and hill. Straighten the crooked paths and smooth out the rough roads. And then everyone will see the saving power of God.”

It’s time to focus! On what really matters. Jesus.

Advent is here.

Amen.

Sermon from Luke 21:25-36 for December 2

So…

Advent has arrived, yippee! Kind of…

For many, Advent seems like it should a time of great joy.

But the reality is for most, it’s a time of great stress!

Advent is all about the ninety million things we need to do to get ready for Christmas. Hey Sue, lets rehab the kitchen just to make it crazier!

This is the time of year the furnace dies or the washer and or drier, or in the church’s case, the copier!

It’s just all about more. More shopping, more planning, more baking, more cleaning, more on top of everything else to the point that is all exhausting!

Advent, the time of preparation before the arrival of the Christ child on Christmas, is supposed to be a time of introspection and preparation of our hearts, but we have made it a time of preparation of everything but…

Because as always, we get it backwards, running around trying to figure out where the elf on the shelf has hidden itself since last year. Baking cookies, wrapping presents, trying without success to figure out what to get people who have everything and need nothing, until we drop over whipped from all the Advent Joy.

Years ago, when Father Gibney was the pastor at the Holy Name Church here in Otisville, he and I talked about the two churches going caroling together. And he told me that we couldn’t sing Christmas carols, only Advent carols.

I only know two Advent songs and we are singing them today! Then what?

Well, he said, Advent is a time of preparation for the baby’s coming, and for the Coming of Christ the King and the end of time. Advent is the time we think about the two comings, the two arrivals of Jesus. It is not a time to celebrate Christ’s birth!

We do that during what is known as the twelve days of Christmas, from Christmas Day until Epiphany, January 6^th, the day we remember the arrival of the Magi who visited Jesus and his mother at home, bringing them gifts fit not for an infant, but for an adult king: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

During Advent we are to think about the baby Jesus and King Jesus and get our lives and hearts together. We are not supposed to be exhausting ourselves over all the other stuff. We are supposed to be getting recharged.

So, of course, we ignored Father Gibney and sang Christmas Carols, because we are much more comfortable thinking about the baby boy in the manger, than a King come in power and glory!

We are more comfortable with our accumulated Christmas hoopla, than with sitting quiet and thinking about what we should be doing to please the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

 Of course, no matter what we do, the King is coming, Jesus reminds us!

The baby Jesus is here he seems to say to his disciples and us. He, Jesus, is an adult, one who will soon die on a cross. But the King is still coming, and knowing that, we are to get busy, not decorating tree, but preparing the Kingdom.

Jesus’ description of the great tribulations that overtake the faithful is not intended to make us faint of heart, but rather to stir us to faithful action.

We are part of the generation that is given the task of making disciples and sharing the good news of the kingdom with the world, and in particular, with those who are suffering the world’s ravages, whether they be man-made or natural disasters.

We are part of the generation that started with Jesus’ death and resurrection, with Pentecost, and with the destruction of Jerusalem. There was no going back. And we, disciples like those original listeners to Jesus, still have the same calling, the same marching orders, the same tasks.

We are to be reaching out and inviting others to follow Jesus, not so much because time is short and the end is near, but because our time is short, and our ends are near!

Did you hear what I just said?

Crazy, isn’t it. But’s true. I have no idea when the end of time will come, no matter what the Left Behind books and movies suggest. No one does. Jesus made that abundantly clear.

But…

We are to be reaching out and inviting others to follow Jesus, not so much because Jesus arrival is immanent, but because their time is short, as is ours, and our ends are near!

We all know how much time we have, and it is much less than it was yesterday, or last week, or last Christmas. It might be forty years. Or it might be forty hours. You and I don’t know. But what we do know is that what we have been called to do isn’t done and so now, today, we need to get to it.

So, who do you need to go and find and say, “I’m sorry!” to?

Who do you need to invite back into your life?

Who haven’t you shared your crazy love of Jesus with?

Who do you need to ask to go with you to drop off a fruit basket, or a box of food, or to go to Carolina or Florida and rehab a house with you?

Who haven’t you invited to worship, because you know they wouldn’t be comfortable here, and what should we do to make them comfortable here because there are a whole lot more people like them than not?

And why haven’t you decided that with the limited time you have left, that you are going to make growing the Kingdom of God a priority, because the King of that Kingdom has made you a priority since the beginning of time?

It’s Advent. In twenty-three days we celebrate Christmas. Time is short.

Amen.