First Lesson: Exodus 1: 8 - 2:10
Responsive Reading: Psalm 124
Second Lesson: Romans 12: 1-8
​Gospel Lesson: Matthew 16: 13-20

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
C.S. Lewis[1] tells the tale of a sister and a brother named Lucy and Edmund.  Lucy and Edmund lived in Britain during World War 2 and they were forced to leave their home for the countryside to stay safe in the presence of German bombings[2].  Moving to the countryside was just the beginning of change within Lucy and Edmund’s life.  Lucy was the youngest of four children.  Lucy was known for having such a wild imagination that the other children often wouldn’t know what to make of her.  They thought Lucy was often not old enough to know any better.  Lucy one day finds a giant wardrobe in the house that she was living.  Lucy peeks behind the dresser to a see a door into the world of Narnia.  What Lucy sees in Narnia no one was going to believe: talking animals along with all sorts of other seemingly make believe creatures.  No one believes Lucy’s story at first until she takes the other children there also[3]. 

Lucy’s brother Edmund was her opposite in every way: Edmund didn’t get along with any of his brothers and sisters especially Lucy[4].  Edmund made fun of Lucy every chance he got for her silliness[5].  Edmund was known for being unable, to tell the truth.  Edmund would pick on smaller, weaker, children every chance that he got[6].

So here’s what you should know about Narnia where Edmund and Lucy travel[7].  Narnia was the world that had perpetual winter.  Snow, ice, the wind, freezing temperatures every day of the year.  Worst of all a wicked witch rules Narnia. When Edmund is in Narnia, he is willing to turn his back on his brothers and sisters at the first chance he gets, all so he can follow the Wicked Witch instead[8].  Edmund worst of all was negative, believing places like Narnia or even people were capable of being transformed.  His Sister Lucy, in contrast, was known for her strong faith and belief that things would ultimately work out in the end. 

Here’s the thing about Lucy and Edmund in Narnia, the silly Lucy was right, the change would soon come to Narnia in the form of Aslan the Lion.  Aslan would transform nasty into kind.  Aslan would transform the selfish into the selfless.  The greatest change of all would take place in the life of young Edmund.  You see Edmund had just done the worst thing that you could do in Narnia, Edmund had betrayed his loved ones.  The punishment for Edmund’s crime is he was going to die.  Edmund was going to be sent to the Wicked Witch’s grasp seemingly unable to escape.  Only Aslan the Lion dies in Edmund’s place instead.  Edmund and Aslan would seem to be forever separated from this point; only Edmund gets to see Aslan rise from the dead!![9].  Edmund was transformed every day of his life from this point forward.  Edmund became trustworthy[10].  Edmund stopped making fun of his silly sister for her foolish beliefs.

Now here’s what I want everyone to do.  I want you to picture the seemingly silly Lucy who perpetually lived with strong faith even when others thought it was silly versus Edmund who only judged life by the evidence of who was stronger?  Edmund believed that things could never change all that much.

Picture Edmund and Lucy now hear the words from our Romans lesson for Today:
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind[11].”

The Apostle Paul speaks these words with a specific purpose in mind.  Paul doesn’t speak them to think like we normally do about transformation[12].  Not as a way of beginning your journey no different than the couch potato decides to become a marathon runner.  Paul’s intentions are to change instead of the perspective on the world that is around you.

For example, when I was in 4th Grade the most popular type of pants were called “Zubaz”  Zubaz were like a striped, sweat pants that had been made popular by professional wrestlers and weightlifters.  Zubaz were bright and always attention grabbing.  Here’s the thing about Zubaz they had a popularity shelf-life of about two years.  What was previously cool quickly became uncool.  Although ironically enough I will still frequently see Zubaz at Vikings games as they’ve made a bit of a comeback. 

Here’s the problem with though with finding our identity in the trends of others[13].  Like Zubaz they are always changing in and out of style. Zubaz were cool in 4th grade, but uncool in 6th grade.  Culture often represents repression on what you can wear, say, or even believe.  Culture fails to offer hope when it comes to lasting transformation since the judgments of the world around us are always changing.

Our identity as Christian people is rooted in something must different than the external means like Zubaz.  Any transformation that takes place within our lives often comes from that which we can’t see or measure.  We don’t grow more right with God by our earthly accomplishments.  We are instead defined by our identity with the Risen Lord.  Christ does promise transformation like what happened to Paul when he was blinded on the Road to Damascus.  Christ promises a transformation though even beyond this.  Christ promises that he will transform us once and for all in the Resurrection that is to come.  Transformation shall come as the old world is behind us as we come into the presence of our savior.

Let me close this morning with the following story[14].  One night a nurse working in the ICU looks out into the hall.  She sees a man who appears to be tired and stressed.  She figures that this must be the son of one of her elderly patients.  The nurse escorts the young man into the room proclaiming to the dying man “Your son is here.”  She had to repeat the phrase several times before the dying man could summon the strength to open his eyes.  The dying man was heavily sedated because of his condition, and his eyesight wasn’t all that good, so he could barely make out the young man standing outside the tent.

The dying man reached out his hand; the young man proceeded to grab it wrapping his fingers tightly around it, he then begins to speak encouraging words to the man dying[15].  The nurse brought a chair to the bedside.  The young man never left the dying man’s side clinging to his hand all night long, continually speaking words of hope.  The dying man would say nothing in response, merely holding out to the young man’s arm.  As the dawn approached, the patient died.  The young man then placed the dying man’s hand on the bed.  He got up to notify the nurse. 

The young man waited as the nurse followed necessary protocol on the deceased man.  When the nurse was finished, she began to offer words of comfort over the young man’s loss[16].

The young man finally interrupted the nurse, “Who was that man[17]?”

The nurse was stumped “Wasn’t he your father[18]?”

The young man replied, “I have never seen him before in my life[19]?”

“Then why didn’t you say something when I brought you to his room[20]?” asked the nurse.

He replied “I knew he needed his son and his son wasn’t here.  When I realized he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, I knew how much he needed me[21].”

You see the young man was doing for the dying man what Jesus does for us.  You see Jesus transforms people, no different than Aslan the Lion transformed Edmund.  Jesus takes us when we are at our lowest, at our weakest, and guides us into a whole new world of “hope”.  Edmund became a King of Narnia regardless of how nasty he had previously been in life, just as Paul became the Christian Church’s greatest preacher after previously being its greatest enemy.  Grace transforms people. Forgiveness transforms people.  Hope transforms people.   Resurrection transforms people, even if we can’t identify the stranger we meet in the night, right before all these things take place.  Amen


[1] The following is the plot of C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe first published by Geoffrey Bles in 1950. 
[2] Otte, John. “Narnia: Changing in the Wardrobe.” Sermon Central. 9.Dec.2005. Web. Aug.10.2017. 
[3] Otte, John. “Narnia: Changing in the Wardrobe.”
[4] Otte, John. “Narnia: Changing in the Wardrobe.”
[5] “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.5.Aug.2017. Web. Aug.10.2017. 
[6] Otte, John. “Narnia: Changing in the Wardrobe.”
[7] Otte, John. “Narnia: Changing in the Wardrobe.”
[8] Otte, John. “Narnia: Changing in the Wardrobe.”
[9] Otte, John. “Narnia: Changing in the Wardrobe.”
[10] Otte, John. “Narnia: Changing in the Wardrobe.”
[11] Romans 12:2. 
[12] Reasoner, Mark. “Commentary on Romans 12:1-8” Working Preacher.. 24.Aug.2008. Web. Aug.10.2017. 
[13] Molin, Steve. “Rearranged or Changed?” Sermon Writer. 2002. Web. Aug.10.2017. 
[14] Unknown Source. “A Son to a Dying Man.” Stories for Preaching.  Web. Aug.10.2017. 
[15] Unknown Source. “A Son to a Dying Man
[16] Unknown Source. “A Son to a Dying Man
[17] Unknown Source. “A Son to a Dying Man
[18] Unknown Source. “A Son to a Dying Man
[19] Unknown Source. “A Son to a Dying Man
[20] Unknown Source. “A Son to a Dying Man
[21] Unknown Source. “A Son to a Dying Man

First Lesson: Genesis 45: 1-15
Responsive Reading: Psalm 133
Second Lesson: Romans 11: 1-2, 29-32
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 15: (10-20) 21-28

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Harland was born just outside Henryville, Indiana in 1890[1].  Harland lost his father at the age of 5.  Because of this loss, Harland had to learn the art of cooking from a young age while his mother worked.  When Harland was 12, his mother remarried, but his stepfather and Harland had one run in after another.  Harland would drop out of 7th Grade and go work on a farm.  Harland at 15 lied about his age to enlist in the US Army.  When Harland returned he worked all sorts of various jobs:  insurance salesman, steamboat operator, manufacturing, railroad worker, tire salesman, he even practiced law for a bit[2].  Harland’s brother in law encouraged his wife to dump Harland for his inability to hold down a job[3].  1930, Harland gets put in charge of a service station at the start of the great depression.  Harland’s service station was in a remote area, so when travelers looked for grub, Harland started cooking.  Harland got pretty good at the cooking business, especially famous for his chicken.  He had perfected a new method of pressure cooking the chicken.  In 1955, disaster struck Harland the new freeway Interstate 75 came through Central Kentucky[4].  Harland’s business on the previous well-traveled Route 25 was destroyed.  Harland was soon 65 years old, broke and living in his car.  Harland spent the next two years living in his car, traveling around hoping to sell his chicken recipe to a willing buyer.  Two years brought nothing but hardship.  Finally, someone bought Harland’s recipe, then another then another.  Seven years after selling his “secret” chicken recipe, Harland Sanders who had been made a Kentucky Colonel along the way sold his Kentucky Fried Chicken for $2 Million Dollars[5].  Here’s the thing about Colonel Sanders his future seemed as bleak at times as a man’s could be.  Harland probably struggled to believe that things would work for him in the end until God’s plan for his life began to unfold fully.

Now I want to tell you the story of another guy who like Colonel Sanders’ his life had been one bad break after another.  Joseph’s brothers get jealous of his multi-color coat and throw him into slavery.  Joseph gets dragged away from home into Egypt.  Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph of inappropriate behavior, leading him to prison.  While in prison, Joseph reveals himself to be the greatest interpreter of dreams in all the land of Egypt.  Joseph soon rises to Pharaoh’s second in command, because of his unique gift.  All the while, Joseph’s former brothers, and father are suffering a famine.  Joseph’s brothers then travel to Egypt, where an unrecognized Joseph is suspicious of their motives[6].  Joseph demands to see younger brother Benjamin.  Jacob, his father, didn’t want to send Benjamin out of fear of losing him like Joseph.  Joseph insists that he won’t help his brothers until he sees brother Benjamin.  Joseph uses Benjamin’s presence to try to trick his brothers, to see if they’ve changed their previous selfish ways.  Joseph plants a silver cup on Benjamin, to see if the other brothers would defend him or watch him die.  Joseph’s brother Judah leaps to Benjamin’s defense.  Joseph, his brothers, and his family then reunite.  How does Joseph eventually sum up all these crazy happenings to his brothers “What you meant for evil- God meant for Good[7].”  Joseph like Colonel Sanders probably had his nights of wondering from where his future might come.  Joseph eventually saw that God’s plan would bring about salvation to not only the people of Egypt but the people of Israel also.

The following story leads us into our lesson today from Romans 11.  Romans 11[8] tells the tale of the Apostle Paul’s own people struggling with God’s plan of salvation.  They were struggling with their own times of rejection[9] by both men and seemingly by God.  They were struggling with how much Paul claimed The Cross changed things.  What Romans 11 assures is How God does not reject his people, even when they stumble.”  No matter how dark the hour, God’s mercy shall triumph in the end[10]. 

What Romans 11 says is there will be hours when God’s mercy will not be easily seen. We might struggle with the directions of God’s plans.  Rest assured, our God promises to remain faithful to you even as you live through your times of trial, no different than Colonel Sanders or Joseph (Son of Jacob).

October 10, 2004, Matthew, Jacob, and Justin Backstrom called their parents Nathan and Connie to inform them they were just leaving Walmart and would soon be home[11].  Later that evening, sheriff’s deputies arrived at Nathan and Connie Backstrom’s home.  The boys had been in an accident hit by a drunk driver. Matthew (20) and Justin (16) die instantly. 

While at the hospital as the surviving Jacob was in surgery, Connie Backstrom prayed:” Lord, I want to make a difference. I will not go where You do not open the door. This is your work, and I do not have the energy to open even one door[12].”Jacob Backstrom (17) would die the next day.

When such an accident happens, reporters flocked to the Backstrom home[13].  They were expecting the Backstrom’s to let the other driver have it for his wickedness.  He was speeding, talking on his cell-phone, and previously drinking.  Instead, the Backstrom’s spoke of the power of their faith in Jesus.  They spoke of forgiving the driver and praying for his need for recovery. The Backstrom’s would later visit the driver who killed their children in prison.  This loss would cause the Backstrom’s to begin a ministry preaching about their faith in coping with tragedy[14].  Nathan and Connie Backstrom’s hope is that no other family ever has to endure what they’ve endured, yet what keeps them going is the belief like in the story of Joseph that God can bring meaning from the darkest of places.

You might hear The Backstrom’s story and see nothing but the cruelest of condemnation.  Mercy in times like this truly seems absent.  Mercy similarly seemed absent at times for Colonel Sanders and Joseph in Egypt during their nights of uncertainly. 

Nathan and Connie Backstrom didn’t dare try to explain God’s ways.  What they trust is that in life’s various twists and turns that God shall ultimately be merciful in the end.  So even if we don’t know, how God might work everything out on this day, we believe that good shall eventually come. 

John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist church.  John Wesley was estimated to have preached over 40,000 sermons within his lifetime[15].  John Wesley as a preacher was not always well received.  Wesley was frequently attacked by mobs.  John Wesley was no intimidating presence standing a mere 5’3 and weighing under 130 lbs.  So one time in his ministry: Wesley was facing a particularly rough stretch.  How God’s mercy would reveal itself for Wesley was unclear. 

Sunday, A.M., May 5[16]
“Preached in St. Anne’s. Was asked not to come back anymore.”
 
Sunday, P.M., May 5
Preached in St. John’s. Deacons said “Get out and stay out.”
 
Sunday, A.M., May 12
“Preached in St. Jude’s. Can’t go back there, either.”
 
Sunday, A.M., May 19
“Preached. Deacons called special meeting and said I couldn’t return.”
 
Sunday, P.M., May 19
“Preached on street. Kicked off street.”
 
Sunday, A.M., May 26
“Preached in meadow. Chased out of meadow as bull was turned loose during service.”
 
Sunday, A.M., June 2
“Preached out at the edge of town. Kicked off the highway.”

Sunday, P.M., June 2
“Afternoon preached in a pasture. Ten thousand people came out to hear me[17] (him).”

John Wesley would die in 1791.  Nearly 80,000 in England plus another 40,000 in America claimed membership in his Methodist church[18].  Today, there are nearly 80,000,000 Christians part of the Methodist movement[19]. 

The point of our lesson for this morning is this.  There will be times when Our God seems to be silent.  There will be times when we feel rejected and despised by God.  Rest assured, the Potter above is continually molding the clay[20]. The clay is being molded into something beyond what we can imagine on this day.  Our great promise guiding us forth from this day is our God ‘s mercy is being poured out upon all his people (Jew and Gentile alike).  Rest assured, even if you’re an out of work chicken fryer, the least favorite son, grieving parents, or a struggling preacher or even whole nations struggling with the meaning of your salvation.  Rest assured there is no problem today too big that your God can not fix[21].  Even if the recipe remains a secret! Amen
 


[1] “Colonel Sanders.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 4.Aug.2017. Web. Aug.8.2017. 
[2] Colonel Sanders.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[3] Ashley. “The Failure and Eventual Success of Colonel Sanders.” Money Talks Coaching.  7.Nov.2012. Web. Aug.8.2017. 
[4] Ashley. “The Failure and Eventual Success of Colonel Sanders.”
[5] Ashley. “The Failure and Eventual Success of Colonel Sanders
[6] Tanner, Beth. “Commentary on Genesis 45:1-15.” Working Preacher. 20.Aug.2017. Web. Aug.8.2017. 
[7] Genesis 50:20. 
[8] Romans 11:1-2a,29-32.  
[9] Romans 11:1. 
[10] Skinner, Matthew. “Commentary on Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32.” Working Preacher. 14.Aug.2011. Web. Aug.8.2017
[11] Killleen, Jo Anne. “Loss of three sons spurs couple to share their message.” La Crosse Tribune. 20.Mar.2009. Web. Aug.8.2017.
[12] Killleen, Jo Anne. “Loss of three sons spurs couple to share their message.”
[13] Stier, Rev.Leon “Persistence (c) . Email Mediations. 11.Aug.2015. Web. Aug.8.2009. 
[14] Killleen, Jo Anne. “Loss of three sons spurs couple to share their message.”
[15] “John Wesley: Did You Know?” Christian History. Issue 2. 1983 found on Christianity Today website on August 8th, 2017. 
[16] Bible.org “John Wesley’s Diary”. 2.Feb.2009. Web. Aug.8.2017. 
[17] Bible.org “John Wesley’s Diary.”
[18] “John Wesley: Did You Know?” Christian History
[19] “United Methodist Church.”  Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.30.June.2017. Web. Aug.8.2017. 
[20] Berge, Paul. “Commentary on Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32.” Working Preacher. 17.Aug.2008. Web. Aug.8.2017. 
[21] The following line is taken from an Alyce McKenzie article title from Patheos.com published on August 11th, 2014.  

First Lesson: Genesis 37: 1-4, 12-28
Responsive Reading: Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b
Second Lesson: Romans 10: 5-15
​Gospel Lesson: Matthew 14: 22-33

​Before the Sermon, first a joke[1].  A Lutheran Pastor named Pastor Jones once upon a time looked out the window on a Sunday Morning, he saw the most glorious Summer day he had ever seen.  The weather was projected to be 70 degrees without any wind.  There didn’t look to be a cloud in the sky.  The thing you need to know about Pastor Jones is that he was an avid golfer.  He would play every chance he got.  He also had an associate pastor in Pastor Smith that could easily cover the service.  So Pastor Jones calls Pastor Smith declares himself not to be feeling well enough to go to church.  Pastor Smith agrees to cover, but Pastor Jones then drives his car forty miles away not to be recognized on the golf course.  Pastor Smith lines up on the tee for the first hole golfing by himself.  Saint Peter looks down from heaven annoyed with Pastor Jones and says to the Lord “You’re not going to let him get away with this are you?”. The Lord sighed “I guess not.”  So Pastor Jones swings his club, he hits the shot of his life, on a 400-yard par four, it approaches the green, then the hole, the ball finally goes in for a “hole-in-one,” as Pastor Jones jumps for joy.  Saint Peter gets even more annoyed at this point saying to the Lord “Why did you let him do that?”.  To which the Lord smiled and replied, “Who exactly is he going to tell?” 
​
Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

When I was in middle school, I had a job where I would caddy on the golf course for my Uncle Jim.  Jim used to be a cop in Newark, New Jersey.  Newark is one of the toughest places in the country.  By the time I started caddying for him, Jim had spent the last few years of his life trying to get better at golf.  Jim invested quite a bit of money in seeking to get the best equipment that money could buy.  Jim had taken lessons from professionals.  He had also spent several days a week on the golf course.  The problem with Jim’s golf game like for many people is his results could never match his expectations.  Jim would hit a bad shot and the outburst would start!  Jim would throw clubs down the fairway or into the nearest body of water.  Jim used every bit of colorful language that you can imagine. 

Jim’s outbursts would quickly become the thing of legend at Chisago Lakes Golf Course.  One time, Jim was playing with my parents and his wife.  Some high school boys were playing behind growing annoyed at what they perceived to be my mom and her sister’s foursomes slow place of play.  In an attempt to speed the group up, the high school boys hit golf balls right at my mom and aunt.  They didn’t know of Jim’s presence.  Jim upon seeing the golf balls land near their feet, hopped in his golf cart, started swinging a club over his head, and you’re imagination probably doesn’t need to run too wild at the language that Jim was using.  The previously tough high school boys began to cower in the presence of an angry large Italian man.  They came up to me who wasn’t there a few days later to apologize, yet again.  Now that you have an image of my Uncle Jim on the golf course, I want to tell you another golf story. 

One of my seminary professors Walter Sundberg grew up in New Jersey[2].  One of Sundberg’s greatest influences was his Pastor a man named Carl Shea.  Sundberg was good friends with Pastor Shea’s son.  Pastor Shea like my Uncle Jim loved to play golf.  Pastor Shea like Jim was also a large, towering presence that no one was going to mess with.  Pastor Shea like Jim would act in ways that those around him wouldn’t quite know how to interpret.  When Pastor Shea was on the golf course, he would often overhear the other golfers using foul language, even worse using the Lord’s name in vein.  Pastor Shea like my Uncle Jim would confront the offenders.  Pastor Shea would walk up to the other golfers and say “Jesus Christ, he is a good friend of mine.  Do you know him too?”

Pastor Shea’s teenage sons were always embarrassed to be near their Father because of this[3].  Pastor Shea kept practicing the same habit round after round.  Finally, his sons had a change in spirit becoming entertained by this just watching the reaction when Pastor Shea confronted the other golfers.  Like my Uncle Jim, Pastor Shea’s actions quickly spread to every member of that golf course.  No one forgot being in Pastor Carl Shea’s presence.  “Was anyone converted instantaneously by this act? Maybe/maybe not.  Seeds were planted that perhaps did eventually bear fruit years down the line”[4]. 
Now many of us here the story of Carl Shea and imagine never having the courage ever to do such a bold thing on the golf course.  You might fear confrontation with a man driving a golf cart,  waving a golf club over his head, and letting loose all sorts of colorful language in your direction.  

Now both these golfing stories bring us to our lesson today from Romans 10[5].  The Apostle Paul’s ministry continually dealt with hostile audiences.  Paul undertook three major missionary journeys, each years long.  What did Paul’s journeys bring: stonings, beatings, imprisonments, and eventually death.  All sorts of people told Paul to get lost.  So Paul went and preached to some more people. 

Paul’s preaching was simple.  “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved[6].” 

Because of Paul’s preaching courage: the Gospel was brought to people in Syria, Turkey, Greece, Jerusalem, and eventually Rome, the majority of books in our New Testament were written, and Paul helped break down the walls that had previously separated Jews from Gentiles.

All these things happen because Paul like Pastor Carl Shea believed it was of utmost importance to “confess” that which they’ve held to be true.  Both men were unapologetic and without shame when it came to speaking to their deepest of convictions.  “Christ is Lord!”

Jimmy Carter taught Sunday School and was a deacon at his local Baptist church[7].  What influenced Carter is growing up, he one time heard a sermon ask “If you were arrested for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you[8]?”  In the Early 1960’s, Jimmy Carter was a struggling peanut farmer in Plains, Georgia.  Carter in 1962 decides to run for state senate so that he could advocate for the racial integration of Georgia’s schools[9].  In 1966, Carter sought Georgia’s governorship but lost the election.  A short while after the election, another church invites Carter to speak on “Christian Witnessing.”  Carter decides to speak about the last fourteen years of his involvement in his home church’s evangelistic mission week.  Carter was proud that he had visited 140 people in those 14 years encouraging them to attend a revival meeting.  Carter initially thought this was pretty good until he thought about his recent campaign for Governor of Georgia.  As Carter pondered his travels around the state over a three-month period, he realized that he had talked to around 300,000 people about voting for him[10].  The comparison struck Carter as he pondered what was truly important in his life.  For Pastor Shea or the Apostle Paul, what ultimately wasn’t most important was what people thought of them, but rather what they confessed about Christ Jesus. 

Now as you hear these stories Today.  You probably don’t see yourselves as quite as bold as Pastor Shea or the Apostle Paul.  Even talking to ten people a year like Jimmy Carter would be way outside your comfort zone.  You might even be making the excuse that God couldn’t possibly use you as old as you are to advance the “good news.”  But what if to truly make a difference in the faith of those near you, doesn’t need to be quite so dramatic. 

Let me close with one last story; John Stonestreet was no extraordinary ninth-grader[11].  He was a self-described “knucklehead.”  Stonestreet was the worst kind of “knucklehead” a Christian school attending one.  Whereas Stonestreet was surrounded by Christians six days a week, he had never encountered anyone like the Apostle Paul that got the “good news” through to him. 

Last day before Christmas break, Stonestreet is sitting in Bible class[12].  The teacher announces the class is being sent out two by two to visit shut-ins with the community.  The purpose of the assignment was to bring Christmas cheer.  But the last thing, Stonestreet wanted to do was visit with old people, he had never previously met.

Stonestreet and his friend hatch a plan[13].  They would visit one person, say they couldn’t find the second house, and then have fun at the mall.  The woman they were going to see was Mrs. Buckner.  Mrs. Buckner was 89 years old living by herself at the end of a long driveway on her son’s land. 

Stonestreet upon seeing Mrs. Buckner didn’t know what to say, as they seemed to have nothing in common.  The room grew quite awkward when Mrs. Buckner suggest the boys join her in the singing of a Christmas carol.  The boys sang Silent Night with as much enthusiasm as non-singing high school boys tend to have.  They figured the end of the song was their excuse to leave, only to never see Mrs. Buckner again.[14] 

Mrs. Buckner before leaving, suggested a prayer.  Both the boys prayed brief prayers, then Mrs. Buckner began to pray.  Neither boy in all their years at church had ever heard a prayer like Mrs. Buckner’s prayer; she spoke as if she had no greater confidence in the world that her God was listening to her.  As the boys left, they both commented on what a cool old woman that Mrs. Buckner had been[15].

Two years later, John Stonestreet woke up;  for some unexplainable reason he couldn’t shake the words of Mrs. Buckner’s prayer[16].  He decided he had to see her once again.  He approaches her door, she answers.  Stonestreet begins to say “you probably don’t remember me, but two years ago I came here with my friend Brian.  My name is John[17].” 

Mrs. Buckner has a big smile go over her face, only to reply “John, I prayed for you this morning[18].”

Stonestreet and Mrs. Buckner’s friendship would form on this day and last the rest of Mrs. Buckner’s life[19].  Mrs. Buckner vowed to pray for John every day the rest of her life. Stonestreet admits that he has no idea where his life might have gone without Mrs. Buckner’s presence.  Today, John Stonestreet is a prominent Christian radio host and author. 

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching.”- Romans 10:14. 

Mrs. Buckner, Pastor Carl Shea, and the Apostle Paul were three unique personalities living in three unique worlds.  What they all had in common is they believed that it was the name of Jesus that had the power to bring forgiveness and salvation to the world that longs to hear it.  Amen.   
           


[1] The following comes from the ELCA Clergy Uncensored Facebook Page posted by Lawrence Recla on August 12, 2017. 
[2] Stier, Leon. “Confessing Christ (a).” Email Mediatations. 12.June.2016. Web. Aug.1.2017.  The following is based on a 2010 sermon given by Dr. Walter Sundberg. 
[3] Stier, Leon. “Confessing Christ (a).”
[4] Stier, Leon. “Confessing Christ (a).”
[5] Romans 10:5-15. 
[6] Romans 10:9
[7] Jimmy Carter.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 5. Aug.2017. Web. Aug.1.2017. 
[8] “Jimmy Carter.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.. 
[9] Jimmy Carter.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[10] Stories for Preaching. “So Much Effort?” Web. Aug.1.2017. 
[11] Steir, Leon. “An Old Lady’s Prayers.” Email Mediatations. 14.July.2016. Web. Aug.1.2017 taken from John Stonestreet’s writing at Breakpoint.org  on May 25th, 2016. 
[12] Steir, Leon. “An Old Lady’s Prayers.”
[13] Steir, Leon. “An Old Lady’s Prayers.”
[14] Steir, Leon. “An Old Lady’s Prayers.”
[15] Steir, Leon. “An Old Lady’s Prayers.”
[16] Steir, Leon. “An Old Lady’s Prayers.”
[17] Steir, Leon. “An Old Lady’s Prayers.”
[18] Steir, Leon. “An Old Lady’s Prayers.”
[19] Steir, Leon. “An Old Lady’s Prayers.”

First Lesson: Genesis 32: 22-31
Responsive Reading: Psalm 17: 1-7, 15
Second Lesson: Romans 9: 1-5
​Gospel Lesson: Matthew 14: 13-21

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
“God doesn’t choose the people we might choose; that’s why some of us got chosen[1].” –Derek Prince
George Mason University is primarily a commuter campus for students in the Washington D.C. area.  The George Mason Patriots lacked much in the way of resources often necessary to compete in big time college athletics.  The 2005-2006 George Mason Men’s Basketball Team had no players seemingly destined for the NBA[2].  They didn’t even win their conference the Colonial Athletic outright, let alone a better basketball conference like the Big 10, or ACC.  The Patriots season was seemingly over after losing in their conference tournament.  The biggest day in NCAA Basketball is the second Sunday in March known as “Selection Sunday.”  Selection Sunday is the day where a selection committee chooses the “65” best teams in all the land to play for a chance at a championship.  Few people thought George Mason would be selected.  George Mason somehow some way was selected to the NCAA field.  CBS’ lead Basketball analyst Billy Packer proclaimed “They don’t deserve to be there[3].”  The experts thought George Mason would lose the first game and be shown to not belong in the first place.  George Mason’s first game was against Michigan State who had played in the previous year’s Final Four Championship.  George Mason won!  The second game was against another basketball power in North Carolina the defending NCAA champions.  George Mason won again!  They then won in the next round! Finally, George Mason was standing toe to toe with the Connecticut Huskies considered to be the best team in the country that year.  Cinderella facing Connecticut was certainly going to have her midnight.  Only George Mason won again; the Patriots were going to the Final Four.  The moral of our story is Selection Committees will get it right, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. 

Today, I want to look at another selection process.  Today’s lesson from Romans 9[4] deals with Heaven’s selection process.  When Paul wrote the Book of Romans people believed for generations and generations that only his people the Jews should occupy heaven.  The George Mason like outsider Gentiles didn’t belong.  Paul in his letter seeks to make the point that God doesn’t choose people by resume or birth but purely as a matter of God’s grace.

To illustrate this, Paul later[5] invokes the famous Old Testament Story of Jacob and Esau[6].  Isaac had two sons.  Esau would seem to have been the perfect heir to receive his father’s blessing.  Esau was a man’s man, a rugged hunter.  Jacob was what some might call a “mama’s boy” who liked to spend time in the kitchen.  Jacob could also be a bit devious and underhanded at times.  You compare Esau and Jacob’s resumes, Esau would appear to be the perfect son to take over his father’s estate.  Esau was legally entitled as he was the older brother.  God had other plans though.  Jacob the brother who would later wrestle with God would eventually receive the name of “Israel[7].” Jacob’s descendants had previously been the unlikely recipients of God’s choosing. 

Paul’s message for today is that it isn’t always the likely candidates who get chosen.  If you think politics are exciting today, they had nothing on the year 1876[8].  Samuel Tilden was the Governor of New York.  Tilden ran for President against Rutherford B. Hayes, the Governor of Ohio.  Tilden won the popular vote, Tilden won the Electoral College, and Tilden according to the submitted results won the disputed states of Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina[9].  Tilden because of the disputed states he seemingly won was still one vote shy of a majority within the Electoral College.  Samuel Tilden seemingly had as legitimate a claim to the Presidency as anyone could ever have.  Hayes’ supporter claimed the voting process was unfair and Washington was stuck in partisan gridlock.  Both political parties agreed to set up a panel of seven Republicans, seven Democrats, and one independent to sort out this convoluted matter. The one independent U.S. Supreme Court Judge David Davis was thought to be the Independent tie-breaking vote.  One problem though, the Illinois Legislature unexpectedly elected Davis to the Senate.  All other Supreme Court Justices that could be appointed were known backers of Rutherford B. Hayes[10].  Rutherford B. Hayes was elected President in 1876 despite how all people thought the process previously should work.  It took 1876 Presidential Election to cause people to never think about politics the same way again.

It was the same thing at the time of the Apostle Paul.  Growing up God’s chosen people were those who were circumcised at birth.  God’s chosen people were those who maintained strict diets.  God’s chosen people were those direct descendants of Jacob.  God certainly couldn’t select George Mason or Rutherford B. Hayes when all the evidence says otherwise.  The whole point of the Book of Romans is this.  The Cross changes everything.  Because of the Cross: Jew and Gentile now stood equally before God.  The only hope either Jew or Gentile has alike is the promise of God to commit to the unlikeliest of people.

BB Warfield was considered one of the great religious minds in these United States around the turn of the 20th Century.  Pastors still quote Warfield nearly a century after his death.  To understand BB Warfield, you need to know the story of his wife, Annie Kinkead[11].  Annie Kinkead was the daughter of a prominent attorney who once defended Abraham Lincoln in Lexington, Kentucky.  If you were looking for a mate in 1875, Annie Kinkead would have been at the top of the popularity list.  She was known not only for her beauty but also her brains and wit.  Annie and BB Warfield married in August 1876, before moving to Europe so BB could study theology.  While in Europe, Annie and BB’s life would change forever[12].  One day while out walking, Annie and BB got caught in a terrible thunderstorm.  The experience was so scary that Annie Warfield’s nervous system never recovered.  The shock was such that Annie Warfield was homebound from the age of 25 onward.  BB Warfield dedicates his life to his wife’s care.  BB Warfield would spend hours a day reading to his wife.  BB would arrange his schedule at Princeton day after day to assist in his wife’s care[13].  Annie could only be seen by BB because she felt comfortable in no one else’s presence.  Those around him were not so much amazed by BB Warfield’s legendary scholarship, but even more so by his compassion towards Annie. 

BB Warfield had his world flipped upside down by Annie’s troubles, yet it was his experiences with Annie that opened him to the true nature of God’s ways.  They affected every day of his ministry.  Warfield became convinced that God’s selection process is ultimately more certain that any process of this world.
I Peter says[14]: “You were not saved because of any silver or gold that you possess, but rather because Christ was destined for us before the foundation of the world.” 

What these words get at is the meaning of our lesson for Today.  Our God’s commitment to his people is such that neither any thunderstorm nor defect shall cause him to abandon the promises of his gospel to us.  God chooses his people, even when we reject him along the way, even when we have seemingly nothing to give back in return.

One final story for this morning[15].  Once upon a time, there was a clergyman looking out his window to see his melon patch.  A group of boys was stealing his melons.  The clergyman calmly rose from his chair, opened his door, and attempted to call the boys over.  The boys began running away.  What did the clergyman do?  He tried getting them to come back; he shouted: “Boys, boys take as many melons as you want[16].” The boys certainly didn’t expect this.  The boys were spooked at this point.  Who was this crazy guy attempting to give us melons they were trying to steal?  The minister began to chase the boys.  He soon came across the two smallest boys unable to climb over a fence to escape.  The minister escorted the young boys back to his melon patch, where they picked the best-looking melons there.  As he sent them on their way, he encouraged the boys to invite their friends back.  When the older boys heard about this, they were mad; it was so unfair that the younger boys got the “best” melons.  The melon selection process was so unfair was the complaint[17]!  The only reason, the younger boys, got melons is because they were slower and smaller.

The minister realized the point of our lesson from Romans 9 that Kingdom of God is not about fairness.  The Kingdom of God is about God selecting George Masons regardless of their resumes.  The Kingdom of God is about God selecting the younger, weaker brother Jacob and not only giving him a birthright but a nation.  You see the Kingdom of God like the Election of 1876 does not select by traditional voting mechanisms.   Like in the story of Annie Kinkead Warfield, The Kingdom of God rather isn’t about what you bring, at all but rather the nature of God’s commitment to you through all the ups and downs of life.  Just like in the case of the Apostle Paul, you might even be daring to persecute Christians, but Our God has a way of even tracking down people running away from a melon patch.   

Amen


[1] Quote was taken from Hot Sermons.com on July 27th, 2017.  The quote deals with Predestination. 
[2] “2005-2006 George Mason Patriots Men’s Basketball Team.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 17.June.2017. Web. July.27.2017. 
[3] 2005-2006 George Mason Patriots Men’s Basketball Team.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
[4] Romans 9:1-5. 
[5] Romans 9:12-13. 
[6] Genesis 25:24-34. 
[7] Genesis 32:22-31. 
[8] “United States Presidential Election, 1876.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 16.July.2017. Web. July.27.2017.
[9] Wormser, Richard. “Hayes-Tilden Election 1876.” PBS Jim Crow Stories. Web. July.27.2017. 
[10] History.com “Compromise of 1877.” Web. July.27.2017. 
[11] Jones, Scott. “Avoidance Issues and Unavoiding God.” Mockingbird Ministries (MBird).  2.May.2017. Web. July.27.2017. 
[12] Jones, Scott. “Avoidance Issues and Unavoiding God.”
[13] Jones, Scott. “Avoidance Issues and Unavoiding God.”
[14] 1 Peter 1:18-19.  
[15] Stier, Leon. “Not Fair?” Email Mediations. 17.Oct.2016. Web. July.27.2017. 
[16] Stier, Leon. “Not Fair?”
[17] Stier, Leon. “Not Fair?”