Flora First Christian Church - Flora, IN

April 6, 2008

Titus 2: 11-14

Pastor Jim and His Trip Downstairs

In my first 21 years in ministry, I served as an associate minister; three years in Northern Kentucky and eighteen in Seymour. During those years I worked with six different interim pastors who all displayed compassion and a joyful faith. A man named Jim was admired because of his humor and positive outlook. Jim served as interim in the Seymour congregation back in the early 1990’s. At that time Jim was newly retired after serving a Central Indiana congregation for 35 years. He had the energy of someone in their thirties; he was robust, outgoing, animated, and he loved to sing. If someone would casually mention a verse or combination of familiar words that was found in a hymn, Jim would break out in song, just like in a Broadway musical. If I were to say: “That’s great,” Jim might start singing “How Great Thou Art!” He would do that even in sermons, in staff meetings, and even while standing in fast food lines. Everyone loved Jim. Not too much appeared to embarrass him.

The Forgotten Notes

One Sunday Jim left his sermon notes on his desk. He realized this early in the service and he left the chancel platform to go to his office downstairs and retrieve his notes. In the early 90’s that church had yet to acquire a true soundboard, -the ministers still wore lapel microphones. The sound system was turned on in a back room and each of us had to turn our own microphones on and off when we were not speaking. As Jim was making his way downstairs to retrieve his notes the entire congregation began hearing a loud, distinct whistle sound through the sound system. It was a happy sound. I could see the expressions of the congregation. At first their looks were –what’s that sound and where’s it coming from? Then Jim began to sing and the congregation realized that his mic was turned on. The crowd began to snicker and then laughed because that was “so” Jim and everyone knew that he was a happy man. Then the congregation heard a door open and close. There were new sounds. Then suddenly it was like light bulbs went off over each head in the church, we all knew that Jim was in the restroom. Laughter exploded and an elder was seen exiting quickly out a side door heading down the Sunday School wing to catch up with Jim. When Jim returned to the sanctuary someone spoke up with a sing-songy statement: “We all know where you’ve been.” That was the only time I ever saw the guy embarrassed.
“So what does that have to do with anything?”

Well . . . Jesus said: “You who have ears to hear, let them hear.” But I don’t think that’s what he meant. There are some things most of us don’t want to hear. A catch phrase in recent times is: “That’s more information than I wanted or needed to know.” How true! Sometimes our friends, families and even strangers have things that they need to say. Sometimes we’re just not comfortable hearing about their mistakes, sins, poor choices, ramblings, and private matters that they’ve kept in their hearts. For some reason they have selected us to hear about their private matters. God is always listening and always has his ears open. God wants to listen to us.
In the 40th chapter of Psalms, King David is crying out to God in prayer during an especially tough time. He prays: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and gunk, set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to Our God.” (Psalm 40:1-3)

This is one of those verses that really say more about God’s character than about King David’s. God hears us when we laugh and we cry. God hears us when we are driving down the highway by ourselves and we break out in a conversation. God hears us in those moments of darkness in our bedrooms when we can’t sleep, and even when we’re in the bathroom. God is saying: “Speak whenever you want—I’m listening.”

A Dinner Table Family

Bev and I sought to be a “dinner table” family. I shared a little bit about dinner table families at the Maundy Thursday service. A dinner table family is one who has the evening meal together almost every night. Some studies show that children in families who have at least one meal together each day, are far less likely to use illegal drugs, drink alcohol, become sexually active at an early age, and generally have an active faith.
It’s around dinner tables with text-messaging cell phones turned off, and DVD players shut down, and TV’s turned off that we really get to know our children and one another.

It was around the dinner table that we first heard what our girls thought they wanted to do when they grew up. Michelle talked about performing on stage from an early age. She wanted to dance, act, sing, and wear frilly lacy, colorful costumes like the ballerinas. Her other goals were just to help people. It was a couple of weeks prior to Valentine’s Day when the girls were about age six that we made a trip one evening to Wal-mart. At the entrance of the store there was a display of colorful, lacy, women’s lingerie. Michelle immediately saw the display, ran up to it, took one off a hanger, and proudly said for the whole store to hear: “Look, everyone they have ballerina costumes. Can I get one?”
It was around the dinner table one Sunday afternoon, about a year or so earlier when Stephanie began talking about the bicycle she was saving for and all the money she now had would help buy it. Both Bev and I perked up at that point. “Money? What money? I didn’t hand out any money. Did you give out any money?” Stephanie is our child who when excited or deeply interested in something –her whole face lights up. So we asked “Stephanie, how much money do you have? Stephanie with excitement got up from the table, left for her bedroom, and returned with her little hands full of change. I don’t remember which of us asked the question, “Stephanie, honey, where did you get this money?”
Stephanie began telling us that during Sunday School class that day she had to go to the restroom. She saw baskets setting outside each classroom. She didn’t know that these were classes offerings and that the Sunday School superintendent would be picking them up. When she went back in her classroom she asked her buddy, Chad: “What are all the monies out in the hallway for? Chad told her: “Its there to help people. When I need some money that’s where I get it. Take some. I do.” Hum . . . she did want a bigger bicycle without training wheels. Oh the innocence of children! We then had a conversation about how the money helps people.
All of that money mysteriously showed up in the next week’s offering plate. She did get her bicycle for her sixth birthday, but its financing didn’t come from through the offering plate.

Matthew 18:3 – Faith Like a Child

Remember the time when the disciples were in the middle of another of their debates on who would be the greatest in heaven. Jesus decided to turn that occasion into a teachable moment, with a visual illustration. That was one of at least two occasions where Jesus placed a child smack dab in front of them. On this occasion he said . . . “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18: 3)
Some of the more contemporary translations use the words, “Unless you have faith like a little child, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” What was Jesus saying? Think of the characteristics of children. Until children are taught differently—they totally trust those who nurture and love them, they believe and accept with their hearts, not their minds. They just want to spend time with those who love them, and to love them in return. They want everyday to be an adventure, full of excitement and joy. That’s the kind of response God wants us to have in our relationship with Him: trust, joy, love, faith! That’s what I’ve learned from my children, from my nephews, and that’s what I’ve learned from some of your children.
We’re blessed to be able to spend time with God and with each other in worship. God wants nothing more than to place His arms around us, as Jesus said he longed to pull Jerusalem to himself like a mother hen longs to draw her chicks to herself. Don’t we have a great God who hears our every cry, and our every thank you for the new life and salvation that has been handed to us? And when we pour our joy, trust, and thanks out to God, God says to us “You’re welcome.” Amen.

A Peculiar People
Titus 2: 11-14 April 6, 2008

Pastor Jim and His Trip Downstairs
In my first 21 years in ministry I served as an associate minister; three years in Northern Kentucky and eighteen in Seymour. During those years I worked with six different interim pastors who all displayed compassion and a joyful faith. One of these men who were especially admired because of his humor and positive outlook was named Jim who serviced as interim in the Seymour congregation back in the early 1990’s. At that time Jim was newly retired after serving a Central Indiana congregation for 35 years. He had the energy of someone in their thirties; he was robust, outgoing, animated, and he loved to sing. If someone would casually mention a verse or combination of familiar words that was found in a hymn Jim would break out in song, just like in a Broadway musical. If I were to say: “That’s great” Jim might start singing “How Great Thou Art!” He would do that even in sermons, in staff meetings, and even while standing in fast food lines. Everyone loved Jim. Not too much appeared to embarrass him.

The Forgotten Notes
One Sunday Jim left his sermon notes on his desk. He realized this early in the service and he left the chancel platform to go to his office downstairs and retrieve his notes. In the early 90’s that church was yet to get acquire a true soundboard, however the ministers still wore label microphones. The sound system was turned on in a back room and each of us had to turn our own microphones on and off when we were not speaking. As Jim was making his way downstairs to retrieve his notes the entire congregation began hearing a loud, distinct whistle sound through the sound system. It was a happy sound. I was sitting on the chancel in one of the minister chairs, and I could see the expressions of the congregation. At first the looks from the congregation were –what’s that sound and where’s it coming from? Then Jim began to sing and the congregation realized that that his mic was turned on. The crowd began to snicker and then laughed because that was “so” Jim and everyone knew that he was a happy man. Then the congregation heard a door open and close. There were new sounds. Then suddenly it was like light bulbs went off over each head in the church, we all knew that Jim was in the restroom. Laughter exploded and an elder was seen exiting quickly out a side door heading down the Sunday School wing to catch up with Jim. When Jim returned to the sanctuary someone spoke up with a sing-songy statement: “We all know where you’ve been.” That was the only time I ever saw the guy embarrassed.
“So what does that have to do with anything?”

Well . . . Jesus said: “You who have ears to ear, let them hear.” But I don’t think that’s what he meant. There are some things most of us don’t want to hear. A catch phrase in recent times is: “That’s more information than I wanted or needed to know.” How true! Sometimes our friends, families and even stranger have things that they need to say. Sometimes we’re just not comfortable hearing about their mistakes, sins, poor choices, ramblings, and private matters that they’ve kept in their hearts. For some reason they may have selected us to hear about their private matters. God is always listening and always has his ears open God wants to listen to us.
In the 40th chapter of Psalms King David is crying out to God in prayer during an especially tough time. Here he prays: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and gunk, set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to Our God.” (Psalm 40:1-3)

This is one of those verses that really say more about God’s character than about King David’s. God hears us when we laugh and we cry.” God hears us when we are driving down the highway by ourselves and we break out in a conversation. God hears us in those moments darkness of our bedrooms when we can’t sleep, and even when we’re in the bathroom. God is saying: “Speak whenever you want—I’m listening.”

A Dinner Table Family
Bev and I sought to be a “dinner table” family. I shared a little bit about dinner table families at the Maundy Thursday service. A dinner table family is one who has the evening meal together almost every night. Some studies show that children in families who have at least one meal together each day, are far less likely to use illegal drugs, drink alcohol, become sexually active at an early age, and generally have an active faith.
It’s around dinner tables with text-messaging cell phones turned off, and DVD players shut down, and TV’s turned off that we really get to know our children and one another.

It was around the dinner table that we first heard what our girls thought they wanted to do when they grow up. Michelle talked about performing on stage from an early age. She wanted to dance, act, sing, and wear frilly lacey, colorful costumes like the ballerinas. Her other goals was just to help people. It was a couple of weeks prior to Valentine’s Day when the girls were about age six that we made a trip one evening to Wal-mart. At the entrance of the store there was a display of colorful, lacy, women’s lingerie. Michelle immediately sees the display, runs up to it, takes one of a hang and proudly says for the whole store to hear: “Look everyone they have ballerina costumes. Can I get one?”
It was around the dinner table one Sunday afternoon, about a year or so earlier when Stephanie began talking about the bicycle she was saving for and all the money she now had would help buy it. Both Bev and I perked up at that point. “Money? What money? I didn’t hand out any money? Did you give out any money?” Stephanie is our child who when excited or deeply interested in something –her whole face lights up. So we asked “Stephanie, how much money do you have? Stephanie with excitement got up from the table, left for her bedroom, and returned with her little hands full of change. I don’t remember which of us asked the question, but it came to our five year old: “Stephanie, honey, where did you get this money?”
Stephanie began telling us that during Sunday School class that day she had to go to the restroom. She saw baskets setting outside each classroom. She didn’t know that these were each classes offerings and that the Sunday School superintendent would be picking them up. When she went back in her classroom she asked her buddy, Chad: “What are all the monies out in the hallway for? Chad told her: “Its there to help people. When I need some money that’s where I get it. Take some. I do.” Hum . . . she did want a bigger bicycle without training wheels. Oh the innocence of children! We then had a conversation about how the money helps people.
All of that money mysteriously showed up in the next week’s offering plate. She did get her bicycle for her sixth birthday, but its financing didn’t come from through the offering plate.

Matthew 18:3 – Faith Like a Child
Remember the time when the disciples were in the middle of another of their debates on who would be the greatest in heaven. Jesus decided to turn that occasion into a teachable moment, with a visual illustration. That was one of at least two occasions where Jesus placed a child with smack, dab in front of them. On this occasion he said . . . “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18: 3)
Some of the more contemporary translations use the words, “Unless you have the faith like a little child, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” What was Jesus saying? Think of the characteristics of children. Until children are taught differently—they totally trust those who nurture and love them, they believe and accept with their hearts, not their minds. They just want to spend time with those who love them, and to love them in return. They want everyday to be an adventure, full of excitement and joy. That’s the kind response God wants us to have in our relationship with Him: trust, joy, love, faith! That’s what I’ve learned from my children, from my nephews, and that’s what I’ve learned from some of your children.
We’re blessed to be able to spend time with God and with each other in worship. God wants nothing more to place His arms around us, as Jesus said her longed to pull Jerusalem to himself like a mother hen longs to draw her chicks to herself. Don’t we have a great God who hears or every cry, and our every thank you for the new life and salvation that has been handed to us? And when we pour our joy, trust, and thanks out to God, God says to us “You’re welcome.” Amen.

INVITATION

We come to our time of decision and invitation. Here each of us are given the opportunity to trade in an old way of life and receive a new one full of forgiveness, love, and joy—when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The old passes away and the new arrives. To anyone who would receive Christ, would reaffirm you faith in him, or unite with this congregation in membership—come, and our Lord will receive you.

A Peculiar People
Titus 2: 11-14 April 6, 2008

Pastor Jim and His Trip Downstairs
In my first 21 years in ministry I served as an associate minister; three years in Northern Kentucky and eighteen in Seymour. During those years I worked with six different interim pastors who all displayed compassion and a joyful faith. One of these men who were especially admired because of his humor and positive outlook was named Jim who serviced as interim in the Seymour congregation back in the early 1990’s. At that time Jim was newly retired after serving a Central Indiana congregation for 35 years. He had the energy of someone in their thirties; he was robust, outgoing, animated, and he loved to sing. If someone would casually mention a verse or combination of familiar words that was found in a hymn Jim would break out in song, just like in a Broadway musical. If I were to say: “That’s great” Jim might start singing “How Great Thou Art!” He would do that even in sermons, in staff meetings, and even while standing in fast food lines. Everyone loved Jim. Not too much appeared to embarrass him.

The Forgotten Notes
One Sunday Jim left his sermon notes on his desk. He realized this early in the service and he left the chancel platform to go to his office downstairs and retrieve his notes. In the early 90’s that church was yet to get acquire a true soundboard, however the ministers still wore label microphones. The sound system was turned on in a back room and each of us had to turn our own microphones on and off when we were not speaking. As Jim was making his way downstairs to retrieve his notes the entire congregation began hearing a loud, distinct whistle sound through the sound system. It was a happy sound. I was sitting on the chancel in one of the minister chairs, and I could see the expressions of the congregation. At first the looks from the congregation were –what’s that sound and where’s it coming from? Then Jim began to sing and the congregation realized that that his mic was turned on. The crowd began to snicker and then laughed because that was “so” Jim and everyone knew that he was a happy man. Then the congregation heard a door open and close. There were new sounds. Then suddenly it was like light bulbs went off over each head in the church, we all knew that Jim was in the restroom. Laughter exploded and an elder was seen exiting quickly out a side door heading down the Sunday School wing to catch up with Jim. When Jim returned to the sanctuary someone spoke up with a sing-songy statement: “We all know where you’ve been.” That was the only time I ever saw the guy embarrassed.
“So what does that have to do with anything?”

Well . . . Jesus said: “You who have ears to ear, let them hear.” But I don’t think that’s what he meant. There are some things most of us don’t want to hear. A catch phrase in recent times is: “That’s more information than I wanted or needed to know.” How true! Sometimes our friends, families and even stranger have things that they need to say. Sometimes we’re just not comfortable hearing about their mistakes, sins, poor choices, ramblings, and private matters that they’ve kept in their hearts. For some reason they may have selected us to hear about their private matters. God is always listening and always has his ears open God wants to listen to us.
In the 40th chapter of Psalms King David is crying out to God in prayer during an especially tough time. Here he prays: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and gunk, set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to Our God.” (Psalm 40:1-3)

This is one of those verses that really say more about God’s character than about King David’s. God hears us when we laugh and we cry.” God hears us when we are driving down the highway by ourselves and we break out in a conversation. God hears us in those moments darkness of our bedrooms when we can’t sleep, and even when we’re in the bathroom. God is saying: “Speak whenever you want—I’m listening.”

A Dinner Table Family
Bev and I sought to be a “dinner table” family. I shared a little bit about dinner table families at the Maundy Thursday service. A dinner table family is one who has the evening meal together almost every night. Some studies show that children in families who have at least one meal together each day, are far less likely to use illegal drugs, drink alcohol, become sexually active at an early age, and generally have an active faith.
It’s around dinner tables with text-messaging cell phones turned off, and DVD players shut down, and TV’s turned off that we really get to know our children and one another.

It was around the dinner table that we first heard what our girls thought they wanted to do when they grow up. Michelle talked about performing on stage from an early age. She wanted to dance, act, sing, and wear frilly lacey, colorful costumes like the ballerinas. Her other goals was just to help people. It was a couple of weeks prior to Valentine’s Day when the girls were about age six that we made a trip one evening to Wal-mart. At the entrance of the store there was a display of colorful, lacy, women’s lingerie. Michelle immediately sees the display, runs up to it, takes one of a hang and proudly says for the whole store to hear: “Look everyone they have ballerina costumes. Can I get one?”
It was around the dinner table one Sunday afternoon, about a year or so earlier when Stephanie began talking about the bicycle she was saving for and all the money she now had would help buy it. Both Bev and I perked up at that point. “Money? What money? I didn’t hand out any money? Did you give out any money?” Stephanie is our child who when excited or deeply interested in something –her whole face lights up. So we asked “Stephanie, how much money do you have? Stephanie with excitement got up from the table, left for her bedroom, and returned with her little hands full of change. I don’t remember which of us asked the question, but it came to our five year old: “Stephanie, honey, where did you get this money?”
Stephanie began telling us that during Sunday School class that day she had to go to the restroom. She saw baskets setting outside each classroom. She didn’t know that these were each classes offerings and that the Sunday School superintendent would be picking them up. When she went back in her classroom she asked her buddy, Chad: “What are all the monies out in the hallway for? Chad told her: “Its there to help people. When I need some money that’s where I get it. Take some. I do.” Hum . . . she did want a bigger bicycle without training wheels. Oh the innocence of children! We then had a conversation about how the money helps people.
All of that money mysteriously showed up in the next week’s offering plate. She did get her bicycle for her sixth birthday, but its financing didn’t come from through the offering plate.

Matthew 18:3 – Faith Like a Child
Remember the time when the disciples were in the middle of another of their debates on who would be the greatest in heaven. Jesus decided to turn that occasion into a teachable moment, with a visual illustration. That was one of at least two occasions where Jesus placed a child with smack, dab in front of them. On this occasion he said . . . “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18: 3)
Some of the more contemporary translations use the words, “Unless you have the faith like a little child, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” What was Jesus saying? Think of the characteristics of children. Until children are taught differently—they totally trust those who nurture and love them, they believe and accept with their hearts, not their minds. They just want to spend time with those who love them, and to love them in return. They want everyday to be an adventure, full of excitement and joy. That’s the kind response God wants us to have in our relationship with Him: trust, joy, love, faith! That’s what I’ve learned from my children, from my nephews, and that’s what I’ve learned from some of your children.
We’re blessed to be able to spend time with God and with each other in worship. God wants nothing more to place His arms around us, as Jesus said her longed to pull Jerusalem to himself like a mother hen longs to draw her chicks to herself. Don’t we have a great God who hears or every cry, and our every thank you for the new life and salvation that has been handed to us? And when we pour our joy, trust, and thanks out to God, God says to us “You’re welcome.” Amen.