I preached this sermon for Ila's funeral this week. I used the Old Testament scripture from Isaiah 43, 23rd Psalm, and a Gospel reading from John 14. This is a fairly straightforward sermon and speaks to who Ila was in her relationship with Jesus Christ. Ila was 62 and had been battling cancer for the past three years. She died at home with her family around her onFriday evening. Earlier in the day we had baptised her grandson, Carter, in the very same bedroom with the family all crowded together, fulfilling one of Ila's last wishes. When I finished baptising Carter, who is one year old, he looked at me and said, "Thank you!" First time I have been thanked in that way, but it seems to me to have some pretty deep theological message as well. Here is the sermon preached to a packed church on Tuesday morning.
SERMON – “Perfect”
(Informal comments Including: Three sons – There is a special place in heaven for the mother of three sons.)
Ila did not ask for perfect. She did not ask for life where the sky is always blue and the sun is always shining. Ila did not ask for perfect, nor did she expect perfection. But if you had asked her, she would have told you that she experienced perfect. The Perfect parents, Perfect husband, Perfect family, Perfect co-workers, the Perfect church, the Perfect life. But Ila did not ask for perfect; did not expect it.
Now; I know, I know, nothing is really perfect. I mean there were a lot of dark clouds along the way. As we examine Ila’s life we realize it was far from perfection. Not even counting these last three years battling cancer, there were some tough days, hard decisions, and some lucky bounces. And yet, today of all days, we claim perfection. Looking back with grace, seeing with eyes focused beyond the pain of grief, perfection is all that comes into view.
Perspective is funny thing; the further away from the trees we travel, the more our breath is taken away by the beauty of the whole forest.
In this passage of scripture from the Gospel of John, God in Jesus Christ is sharing with the disciples all that will take place in the coming days. He shares that he will be leaving them. He offers that he goes to prepare a place for them, and will come again one day and they will be reunited. Jesus tells them he will not leave them alone, orphaned, but will send the Holy Spirit to remind them of everything. They need not worry, nor be afraid of anything ever again. It all sounds perfect.
However, we know Jesus tells all this to the disciples just before he is arrested and then crucified for the sin of the world. Perfect just became un-believable, unbearable, un-thinkable; all in the matter of just a few hours.
If we were never to move beyond this point of the story; If we stopped here at the trees because the pain of perfection so close in hand, now seemingly lost, was too harsh, too ugly, or threatened to overwhelm us we would miss the perspective of the whole forest. We would miss the beauty of the resurrection and new life in Christ Jesus. We would miss perfection in all it’s glory. Sadly we would miss the greatest gift of love the world has ever known.
And yes, we are all temped to stop believing, to stop listening to Jesus just as the final call is about to be trumpeted. Our humanness tugs at our emotions; even as God is calling us this very moment to raise our heads beyond the grief of the day and look once again into His face of perfection.
We cringe before the mystery of death.
And we cry out to our God whose voice comforts us:
1 But now thus says the LORD,
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
If only we could fully accept the words of God’s prophet Isaiah:
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Perfection, it seems is at hand in the Name of Jesus, the Holiness of our Redeemer,
the grace of our Savior.
Perfection is not a human trait, it is a Godly one. We become perfect only as God enters our lives and offers discipline and responsibility into our daily habits.
Perfection is impossible without God. But with God all things are possible.
Ila did not ask for perfect. She did not ask for life where the sky is always blue and the sun is always shining. Ila did not ask for perfect, nor did she expect perfection.
But if you had asked her, she would have told you that she experienced perfect through new life in Jesus Christ and will for all eternity. Amen.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
SCRIPTURE STUDY / WEEK LEADING TO SUNDAY August 7, 2005
Monday: Acts 22:3-21 Paul Tells of His Call
It is easy to see why God chose Saul (Paul) to go to the gentile nation and offer them new life in Jesus Christ. He is articulate and well educated in Greek thought, his family is Jewish, and he is a Roman citizen. All combine to make Paul the great Apostle of the early church.
Tuesday: Acts 26:2-18 Why Paul is Called
God works in funny ways and Paul outlines just how it is that he has been used to further the kingdom of God. The big part of his call is his new life experience. Paul tells just how this happened and we can understand how he must have been feeling. This is very powerful witness that continues to change lives just by the telling of the story.
Wednesday: Psalm 82 A Plea for Justice
Read this Psalm with the voice of one who has suffered injustice. You may find a residual anger in your heart and resonate with the Psalmist. Or you may feel very foreign to this type of crying out to God. Either way this Psalm is honest in offering to God the place of judgment and action.
Thursday: 1 Samuel 1 Hannah has a Baby
This woman can pray! We read about Abraham and Isaac and wonder how Abraham could have offered to sacrifice his only son. But then we read this passage and find Hannah doing something similar. Could you give up your child to God? What is really going on here?
Friday: 1 Samuel 2 Hannah and the Boy vs. Eli and the Boys
Hannah’s song is one of the oldest pieces of scripture. Consider Eli and how he has lost control of the family. What can he do to regain his sons? We are surely to balance the goodness of Samuel against the evilness of Eli’s sons.
Saturday: 1 Samuel 3 The Lord Speaks to Samuel
Samuel had first to recognize that it was God speaking to him before he was given the message. We generally consider this Samuel’s call to ministry. How terrible it would have been if Samuel had not listened to Eli and responded in a proper fashion. I believe the Lord still speaks even as I read and also agree with verse one in this passage as it relates to our days. Samuel did not expect the Lord to call to him.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Sermon Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-11; 19-4:1a
Sermon Title: “Here I Am”
It is easy to see why God chose Saul (Paul) to go to the gentile nation and offer them new life in Jesus Christ. He is articulate and well educated in Greek thought, his family is Jewish, and he is a Roman citizen. All combine to make Paul the great Apostle of the early church.
Tuesday: Acts 26:2-18 Why Paul is Called
God works in funny ways and Paul outlines just how it is that he has been used to further the kingdom of God. The big part of his call is his new life experience. Paul tells just how this happened and we can understand how he must have been feeling. This is very powerful witness that continues to change lives just by the telling of the story.
Wednesday: Psalm 82 A Plea for Justice
Read this Psalm with the voice of one who has suffered injustice. You may find a residual anger in your heart and resonate with the Psalmist. Or you may feel very foreign to this type of crying out to God. Either way this Psalm is honest in offering to God the place of judgment and action.
Thursday: 1 Samuel 1 Hannah has a Baby
This woman can pray! We read about Abraham and Isaac and wonder how Abraham could have offered to sacrifice his only son. But then we read this passage and find Hannah doing something similar. Could you give up your child to God? What is really going on here?
Friday: 1 Samuel 2 Hannah and the Boy vs. Eli and the Boys
Hannah’s song is one of the oldest pieces of scripture. Consider Eli and how he has lost control of the family. What can he do to regain his sons? We are surely to balance the goodness of Samuel against the evilness of Eli’s sons.
Saturday: 1 Samuel 3 The Lord Speaks to Samuel
Samuel had first to recognize that it was God speaking to him before he was given the message. We generally consider this Samuel’s call to ministry. How terrible it would have been if Samuel had not listened to Eli and responded in a proper fashion. I believe the Lord still speaks even as I read and also agree with verse one in this passage as it relates to our days. Samuel did not expect the Lord to call to him.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Sermon Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-11; 19-4:1a
Sermon Title: “Here I Am”
Thursday, July 21, 2005
SCRIPTURE STUDY LEADING TO SUNDAY July 31, 2005
Monday: Ruth 1 Ruth & Naomi
This is the crux of the story. You must read this passage to understand the ending. The whole point of Ruth and Boaz is caught up in Ruth’s willingness to follow Naomi back home.
Tuesday: Ruth 2 Ruth & Boaz
God works to make a bad situation a good situation. The chance of Boaz and Ruth getting together are slim and none, but then God is a God of possibilities. You might want to do some digging and find Boaz family linage. You will end up back with Jacob and Abraham.
Wednesday: John 13 The Last Supper
Read though this very familiar passage of Jesus in the upper room with his disciples. As you read I would like you to look for and note places of Jesus acting as King. You must also be aware of the counter-culture kingdom over which Jesus is presiding. What new insights of Jesus do you find?
Thursday: Psalm 61 A Psalm of David
God is a rock higher than ourselves. I was recently asked to explain why we take off our hats in the church sanctuary. My response was that in the action of uncovering our heads we offer deference to one whom we acknowledge is greater, a cousin to the tipping of our hat or a salute. This seems to be learned behavior until we have the experience of deciding this for ourselves.
Friday: Ruth 3 Naomi’s Instructions to Ruth
I have often called this whole book the story of Naomi’s Redemption. You will begin to see the transformation taking place in this her life because of the generosity and grace of those around her. Doesn’t Boaz remind us of a king?
Saturday: Ruth 4 A Marriage and a Child for Ruth & Boaz
A child is born to this unlikely couple and he will be the father of King David. Well there are a few generations in-between but you get the idea. Note the linage of the King has a foreigner in Ruth placed squarely where we cannot disregard her presence. What must this mean for King David and then again for us who are claimed as children of the King?
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Sermon Scripture: Ruth 4:13-22Sermon Title: “The Old Family Tree”
This is the crux of the story. You must read this passage to understand the ending. The whole point of Ruth and Boaz is caught up in Ruth’s willingness to follow Naomi back home.
Tuesday: Ruth 2 Ruth & Boaz
God works to make a bad situation a good situation. The chance of Boaz and Ruth getting together are slim and none, but then God is a God of possibilities. You might want to do some digging and find Boaz family linage. You will end up back with Jacob and Abraham.
Wednesday: John 13 The Last Supper
Read though this very familiar passage of Jesus in the upper room with his disciples. As you read I would like you to look for and note places of Jesus acting as King. You must also be aware of the counter-culture kingdom over which Jesus is presiding. What new insights of Jesus do you find?
Thursday: Psalm 61 A Psalm of David
God is a rock higher than ourselves. I was recently asked to explain why we take off our hats in the church sanctuary. My response was that in the action of uncovering our heads we offer deference to one whom we acknowledge is greater, a cousin to the tipping of our hat or a salute. This seems to be learned behavior until we have the experience of deciding this for ourselves.
Friday: Ruth 3 Naomi’s Instructions to Ruth
I have often called this whole book the story of Naomi’s Redemption. You will begin to see the transformation taking place in this her life because of the generosity and grace of those around her. Doesn’t Boaz remind us of a king?
Saturday: Ruth 4 A Marriage and a Child for Ruth & Boaz
A child is born to this unlikely couple and he will be the father of King David. Well there are a few generations in-between but you get the idea. Note the linage of the King has a foreigner in Ruth placed squarely where we cannot disregard her presence. What must this mean for King David and then again for us who are claimed as children of the King?
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Sermon Scripture: Ruth 4:13-22Sermon Title: “The Old Family Tree”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)