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If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get out of the Boat. Part 2

1/25/2020

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PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
As we hear your Word, O Christ, may we be reminded that you are always with us encouraging and equipping us.  Amen.
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS                                                            Matthew 25:14-30, GNT
14 “At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this. Once there was a man who was about to leave home on a trip; he called his servants and put them in charge of his property. 15 He gave to each one according to his ability: to one he gave five thousand gold coins, to another he gave two thousand, and to another he gave one thousand. Then he left on his trip. 16 The servant who had received five thousand coins went at once and invested his money and earned another five thousand. 17 In the same way the servant who had received two thousand coins earned another two thousand. 18 But the servant who had received one thousand coins went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.
 
19 “After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. 20 The servant who had received five thousand coins came in and handed over the other five thousand. ‘You gave me five thousand coins, sir,’ he said. ‘Look! Here are another five thousand that I have earned.’ 21 ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!’ 22 Then the servant who had been given two thousand coins came in and said, ‘You gave me two thousand coins, sir. Look! Here are another two thousand that I have earned.’ 23 ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant!’ said his master. ‘You have been faithful in managing small amounts, so I will put you in charge of large amounts. Come on in and share my happiness!’ 24 Then the servant who had received one thousand coins came in and said, ‘Sir, I know you are a hard man; you reap harvests where you did not plant, and you gather crops where you did not scatter seed. 25 I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground. Look! Here is what belongs to you.’ 26 ‘You bad and lazy servant!’ his master said. ‘You knew, did you, that I reap harvests where I did not plant, and gather crops where I did not scatter seed? 27 Well, then, you should have deposited my money in the bank, and I would have received it all back with interest when I returned. 28 Now, take the money away from him and give it to the one who has ten thousand coins. 29 For to every person who has something, even more will be given, and he will have more than enough; but the person who has nothing, even the little that he has will be taken away from him. 30 As for this useless servant—throw him outside in the darkness; there he will cry and gnash his teeth.’
                                                                                                         1 Peter 4:10-11, GNT
10 Each one, as a good manager of God's different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God. 11 Those who preach must preach God's messages; those who serve must serve with the strength that God gives them, so that in all things praise may be given to God through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and power forever and ever. Amen.
                                                                       
     Matthew 14:22-33, GNT
22 Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people away. 23 After sending the people away, he went up a hill by himself to pray. When evening came, Jesus was there alone; 24 and by this time the boat was far out in the lake, tossed about by the waves, because the wind was blowing against it.
 
25 Between three and six o'clock in the morning Jesus came to the disciples, walking on the water. 26 When they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. “It's a ghost!” they said, and screamed with fear.
 
27 Jesus spoke to them at once. “Courage!” he said. “It is I. Don't be afraid!”
 
28 Then Peter spoke up. “Lord, if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to you.”
 
29 “Come!” answered Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. “Save me, Lord!” he cried.
 
31 At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, “What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?”
 
32 They both got into the boat, and the wind died down. 33 Then the disciples in the boat worshiped Jesus. “Truly you are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
 
SERMON                                           Unopened Gifts
Do you have gifts you’ve never opened? 
  • Books you’ve never read? 
  • Potential you’ve never used? 
  • Talent’s you’ve never developed? 
  • Invitations that went unanswered?
  • Relationships you didn’t give a chance?
  • Opportunities you let pass you by? 
  • Faith you never expressed?
 
These are the questions raised by today’s parable from Matthew 25.  John Ortberg relates these missed opportunities to the disciples who stayed in the boat in Matthew 14.  If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.  To remain seated is to miss an opportunity to grow and to experience life to the fullest in spite of the risks.
 
Now I get it.  The past couple weeks I didn’t want to leave my house, because I was coughing so much.  To be honest, I didn’t miss the office, because I could easily work from home.  I didn’t want to risk falling on the ice; I could enjoy the world from my window.  I’ve already confessed how easily I can become a boat potato.  But on the other hand, when I did come to work, I got things done.  When I did step outside to shovel, I enjoyed the fresh air.  Welcoming our guests on Saturday was an opportunity I did not want to miss.  There are times to be still and times to move.  We have to follow God’s lead to know which is which. 
 
Matthew 25 includes three parables about being ready for the coming kingdom of God.  The Ten Bridesmaids wait with lighted lamps for the Bridegroom to come and celebrate the wedding, but some run out of fuel.  As we wait for Christ’s return, we need to keep our spiritual life kindled and burning bright to shine in this world and light the way for Jesus.  The Sheep and the Goats are sorted according to how they have treated others in the between times.  Again, while we wait for Jesus to usher in the fullness of God’s Kingdom on earth, we are to treat everyone, even the least of those among us as if we were caring for Christ himself.  The parable of The Servants and their Master is about making the best use of what God has given us while we wait for Jesus our Master, to return as Christ the King. 
 
In the parable the master distributed responsibility for his wealth among his servants, each according to what the master already knew about them.  Two of them made wise investments, and when they master returned, they were rewarded for their good stewardship.  The third literally buried what was given, and hence was punished for such poor stewardship.  What you need to remember here, is that this is not just about money, though that is one of the many things over which we are given stewardship.  But there is so much more!
 
We have stewardship responsibility over physical things:  our health, property and belongings, food, water, air, and the environment, everything you can see and touch and the entire universe beyond that.
 
We have stewardship responsibility over intellectual things: our minds, our history, literature and art and music, ideas and concepts, mathematics and science.  I remember a commercial that declared “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
 
We have stewardship responsibility over relationships: with our friends, our colleagues, our neighbors, our families, and on some level with everyone who shares our planet.
 
We have stewardship responsibility over spiritual things: our relationship with God, our witness to this faith, obedience to God’s commandments and the nudges of God’s Holy Spirit, the gifts and fruits of the Spirit God develops within us, the Church and it’s future, outreach to those around us and to future generations, making disciples here and everywhere, now and in the future.
 
All of these are our responsibility as God’s children, as heirs of God’s kingdom.
 
Here are some things I found significant as John Ortberg writes about the “talents” God has gifted to us and trusted us to use wisely:
 
“The Lord of the Gift has entrusted his property to you and me. Everybody receives a gift…We are all called by God. We are all equipped and expected to contribute. Every gift is chosen by the master…No one decides on his or her giftedness…The master chooses. 
“In place of the word talent, you might think about your life.
“Your mind.  Your abilities.  Your spiritual gifts.  Your body.  Your money.  Your will.
“…God himself offers to partner with you in your life…He offers us himself as the best gift of all.” (p. 39)
 
I invite you to take time today to seriously consider the many gifts God has presented to you individually and as a congregation.  What are we doing with the gifts God has entrusted to us?  Are we faithfully and wisely investing them?  Please notice the question is not what are we lacking?  No one asked that.  God doesn’t ask that.  That’s just a very human way of making an excuse to stay in the boat. 
 
Quit looking at what’s missing and ask what you do have, what we do have.  My mom’s and my motto has served me well my whole life and affects how I think about this church, too.  “Make do with what you’ve got.”  That’s all God is asking of any of us.  But the thing is, God’s gifts plus God’s partnership can’t possibly be less than enough for anything God asks of us!  
 
God never asked you to be River Church or Open Door.  God only asks you to be the best First United Presbyterian Church of Clinton Iowa that you can possibly be at any given point in time.  Right now God isn’t asking you to be the Riverside Presbyterian or First Presbyterian of your past.  You lived each of those well in their appointed era.  Right now God is asking you to be the best First United Presbyterian Church you can be in the 2020s.  But just as is true in your individual lives, so it is in our life together; to be the best we can be may require getting out of our comfort zones to walk where God is leading us.
 
Ortberg understands that fear is what keeps us in the boat unable to move forward. 
“Fear makes people disobedient to the calling of the master.” (p. 44) He admits, “Fear prompts me to lie.” (p. 44) Ortberg suggests we participate in gossip when we are afraid of being left out.  We hoard possessions, because we are afraid of being bored or not having enough. We flatter others or cater to them, because we are afraid they won’t like us otherwise.  If you are honest about your character flaws, how many of them trace back to something you fear? 
 
Bible characters had the same problem.  Those in the wilderness were afraid they would starve.  Jonah was afraid his enemy would actually turn to God.  The spies sent into the promised land were afraid of giants.  The disciples were afraid of the Romans.  When fear holds us back, we are disobedient, and we miss significant opportunities to grow in faith and service to God.  We miss the beauty and joy and blessings life offers us.  We miss the experience of walking with Jesus, even on water!
 
But what does the Bible say so many times in the face of fear?  “Do not be afraid!”  
Among the many such admonitions we read,
 
Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
 
Isaiah 43:1b “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.”
 
Jeremiah 46:28 “Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, for I am with you,” says the Lord.
 
Haggai 2:5 “My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’”
 
Ortberg states, “Fear is not an adequate excuse for the tragedy of an unopened gift.” (p. 45) God will hold us accountable for the gifts God has indeed given to us.  What angered the master with the third servant was that in fear he buried his gift.  He didn’t even try.  Max DePree states that “unrealized potential is sin.”  (Quoted by Ortberg, p. 46) Conversely, Ortberg believes that “Heaven will be the ultimate place of realized potential.” (p. 47)
 
So rather than cowering in fear, listen to these words of God.
 
Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?”
 
Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous, for I will be with you wherever you go.”
 
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you.  They are plans for good and not disaster, to give you hope and a future.”
 
While writing today’s message I was listening to music that kept telling me to “Open your eyes!” and asking me “Where is your treasure?”  It’s a five-album set that invites the listener on an adventure across the seas, driven by the wind, to take action, seeking what is most precious.  It continues to ask, “What is your passion?” 
The final movement hopes the listener has found their answer. 
 
To me these words can also be a metaphor for our life journey with Christ.  As I look at the story of Peter walking toward Jesus across the water, I know Peter could resonate with this adventure, because Peter dared to try. Peter got out of the boat while the others buried this opportunity to grow and more fully trust their master. 
 
Through our Bible stories today God is also asking us if we have found our treasure and what we have done with it.  So, as I share the poem spoken at the end of my musical adventure, perhaps you can also find within it a conversation with God for yourself and for our congregation. 
 
Look around you.
Did you find your dream?
Did you find your treasure?
 
Yes, we have finally found it
Covering us like the shining light
Setting us free like the winds coming from above.
Can you see the changes?
 
Let us continue to hope and yearn.
Though the roaring winds continue to blow, it will not stop us.
We are the history and we will be the one.               
Can you hear those voices (those voices)? 
 
(Outro: Long Journey, ATEEZ “Treasure Ep. Finale: All to Action”)
 
It is my hope that through this study and through this year, through ongoing conversations with God and with each other, we will hear, and we will choose to get out of the boat, to realize the potential God has given us for this time in our lives.  Let us like Peter, join the adventure.


​Our current series for Jan. 12 - Feb. 23, 2020 is based on Rev. John Ortberg's book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get out of the Boat.  This is a great book if you are stuck in a rut and wondering about the possibilities of a new adventure OR if you are facing some stormy challenges in your life and need to move forward.  You'll find the gist of it here in these messages.
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If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get out of the Boat. Part 1

1/11/2020

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PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
As we hear your word today, Lord Jesus, may we remember that you are always with us, even when we face the storms of life and the challenges they offer.  Amen.
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS                                                        Judges 6:1-15, 36-40, GW
6 The people of Israel did what the Lord considered evil. So the Lord handed them over to Midian for seven years. 2 Midian’s power was too strong for Israel. The Israelites made hiding places in the mountains, caves, and mountain strongholds to protect themselves from Midian. 3 Whenever Israel planted crops, Midian, Amalek, and Kedem came and damaged the crops. 4 The enemy used to camp on the land and destroy the crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to live on—not one sheep, cow, or donkey. 5 Like swarms of locusts, they came with their livestock and their tents. They and their camels could not be counted. They came into the land only to ruin it. 6 So the Israelites became very poor because of Midian and cried out to the Lord for help.
 
7 When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help because of what the Midianites had done to them, 8 the Lord sent a prophet to them. He said, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says:
 
I brought you out of Egypt.
I took you away from slavery.
9 I rescued you from the power of the Egyptians
    and from the power of those who oppressed you.
I forced people out of your way.
I gave you their land.
10 I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God.
    You must never fear the gods of the Amorites
        in whose land you will live.’
            But you have not obeyed me.”
 
11 The Messenger of the Lord came and sat under the oak tree in Ophrah that belonged to Joash from Abiezer’s family. Joash’s son Gideon was beating out wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 The Messenger of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “The Lord is with you, brave man.”
 
13 Gideon responded, “Excuse me, sir! But if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracles our ancestors have told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and has handed us over to Midian.”
 
14 The Lord turned to him and said, “You will rescue Israel from Midian with the strength you have. I am sending you.”
 
15 Gideon said to him, “Excuse me, sir! How can I rescue Israel? Look at my whole family. It’s the weakest one in Manasseh. And me? I’m the least important member of my family.” …
 
36 Then Gideon said to God, “You said that you would rescue Israel through me. 37 I’ll place some wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the wool while all the ground is dry, then I’ll know that you will rescue Israel through me, as you said.” 38 And that is what happened. The next morning Gideon got up early. He squeezed out a bowl full of water from the wool.
 
39 Then Gideon said to God, “Don’t be angry with me. But let me ask one more thing. Let me make one more test with the wool. Let the wool be dry while all the ground is covered with dew.” 40 During the night, God did what Gideon asked. The wool was dry, but all the ground was covered with dew.
 
                                                                                                      Matthew 14:22-33, GW
22 Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to the other side ahead of him while he sent the people away. 23 After sending the people away, he went up a mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone.
 
24 The boat, now hundreds of yards from shore, was being thrown around by the waves because it was going against the wind.
 
25 Between three and six o’clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. They said, “It’s a ghost!” and began to scream because they were afraid.
 
27 Immediately, Jesus said, “Calm down! It’s me. Don’t be afraid!”
 
28 Peter answered, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.”
 
29 Jesus said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid and started to sink. He shouted, “Lord, save me!”
 
31 Immediately, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, “You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?”
 
32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing. 33 The men in the boat bowed down in front of Jesus and said, “You are truly the Son of God.”
    
SERMON                                           Water Walking
We are going to spend several weeks on this same Bible story, but I will read it to you from a different translation each week.  We’ll focus on different verses as the series progresses.  Each of you will relate to it in your own way from your own life story, perhaps experiences in your past, challenges or decisions in your present, or things you might anticipate in your future.  As we continue through this series, I’d also like you to meditate on it as a congregation, as it may suggest to us concepts to consider in the choices we have ahead of us.  You may also find some aspects of it relevant in terms of community or environment or national or world issues. 
 
Today, I simply want to introduce you to the concept of water walking as John Ortberg, a Presbyterian pastor and writer sees it in his study and teaching of this Bible story.  His book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get out of the Boat will be the basis of my preaching for the next few weeks.  I’m on my third time reading through it.  The Wednesday morning study group completed the DVD and discussions that go with it just before Christmas, and that DVD is what the Adult Class will be using.  He has a great teaching style, so I hope many of you will take advantage of this opportunity.  I am also giving the book to Session members.  I’d really like you to read some of it as we go along, in preparation for the work you have ahead of you this year.  It’s a fun read; he tells good stories; it is not boring.  Otherwise I wouldn’t be reading it again!
 
So, to begin, I’d like you to sit back and imagine with me.  Close your eyes if that helps or just pick a spot in the room to focus on for a moment.  Imagine that you are in a boat out on a very large lake.  It’s dark, but there are lamps on the boat.  The wind picks up and the waves start to get rough.  As the wind gets stronger and the boat is rocking it starts to rain.  You and some of your friends do know how to handle a boat, but this storm is getting fierce.  It crosses your mind that you might not make it to shore, because you are so far out, and the waves and wind are too much.  Between the rain and the waves water is sloshing in the boat faster than you can bail it out.  You glance at the faces of your friends, and you know they are just as scared as you are becoming.  Then you see someone walking towards you.  You are no where near the shore.  This person is not in a boat.  The figure is literally walking toward you on the water, and you wonder if you are seeing a ghost.  Then the person calls out to you, “It’s me; don’t be afraid,” and you recognize the voice of Jesus.
 
I want you to pay attention to what you are feeling right in this moment.  What are your physical reactions to this situation?  Did your pulse quicken?  Did your stomach churn or your thoughts race? Do you feel any sense of anxiety or panic?  Did those sensations change at all when you recognized Jesus’ voice?  What effect did that recognition have on you? What would you do next?
 
Now as you come back to this moment in the sanctuary, realize that whatever you just experienced, at least one of the twelve disciples in the boat probably had a very similar reaction.  Perhaps you now have a more real sense of what it was like for them in this story.  You may also recognize other situations in your life when you have this kind of reaction.  For me it’s any situation that feels somewhat threatening and over which I have no control, where my limited skills won’t be enough.  It could be fear of a car accident in a tight traffic situation or bad weather conditions.  It could be as simple as a doctor or dentist appointment.  It could be the pile of paperwork or the boxes I’ve been avoiding.  Or it could be as big as my upcoming retirement.  Any of those could make me anxious as the storm at sea made the disciples feel.  Ask yourself right now what can cause that kind of anxiety for you.
 
Where I left you in the guided meditation is right before Peter makes a decision.  Peter asks Jesus to command him to get out of the boat and walk to him on the water.  Water walking is the determination to get out of the boat, to walk toward Jesus.  Eleven of the disciples stayed in the boat, and the gospel lesson doesn’t put them down for that, although John Ortberg does call them “boat potatoes.” (title of chapter 2) The question you are going to be asking yourself throughout this series is, “Will I/ will we get out of the boat to walk to where Jesus is inviting us?” 
 
Ortberg begins the initial chapter on water walking with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt.
 
It’s not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…who, at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.  So that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat. (p. 11)
 
By Roosevelt’s definition, the eleven are timid souls while Peter at least dared greatly.
 
Ortberg lists several characteristics or qualities of water walkers.  I have shared some of this chapter previously when I first read this book, but it bears repeating as we look at our own future choices. 
 
  1. Water walkers recognize God’s presence. (p. 13ff) Jesus identified himself, and Peter clearly believed it was indeed the Lord.  Do you have a sense of when it is God nudging you to do something?  There are times especially in my teaching and preaching ministry when I know it is God leading me or speaking through me.  There are times in my devotions or here in worship when I know God is in the room with us.  When you are floundering like a boat in a storm at sea, perhaps that is a good time to ask, “Lord, where are you in the midst of all this?”
Ortberg reminds us that God may show up at odd hours or places and that our obedience to God does not exempt us from the storms of life. (p. 15) Likewise, being in the midst of a stormy situation does not mean that God has abandoned you.  God is there, but may be giving you space to learn something and grow.
  1. Water walkers discern between faith and foolishness.  (p. 16) Not every opportunity is an appropriate risk.  We need to prayerfully and carefully discern where God is guiding us.  We’ll look at Gideon’s method of discernment later.
  2. Water walkers get out of the boat.  Ultimately that discernment process can’t take forever.  If you spend your life waiting for the right moment, that may mean the opportunity will pass, and you have been a boat potato after all.  Boats seem safe and secure; they represent our comfort zones.  But in a storm that boat could just as easily capsize.  Even the Titanic sank.  Those who survived got off that boat.  Ortberg puts it this way, “Your boat is whatever represents safety and security to you apart from God himself.”  (p. 17) That may be your home, your insurance policy, your pension, your family, your job, whatever.  But nothing in this world is fully secure, only God.  So, Ortberg asks himself, “What is it that most produces fear in me – especially when I think of leaving it behind and stepping out in faith?” (p. 17) However you answer that question, that’s your boat. 
  3. Water walkers expect problems.  You start any new adventure filled who hope and high ideals, but when reality sets in, what then?  That’s Peter seeing the wind in this Bible story.  That is when he begins to sink.  No adventure, no life choice is going to be without its tough moments.  That’s just the way life is in our world.  There will be obstacles.  You will have moments of doubt.  Some things will go wrong.  Science philosopher, Larry Laudan, writes about risk management.  His first principle is this, “Everything is risky.” (quoted by Ortberg, p. 20) There is risk involved whatever decision you make.
  4. Water walkers accept fear as the price of growth.  Ortberg quotes Susan Jeffries, “The fear will never go away, as long as I continue to grow.” (p. 21) Our human tendency is to stick with comfort and assume that means we are doing well.  Comfort is fine for a time out, a healing break, rest, but it is not a lifestyle for growth.  Or as Mike put it with regard to my retirement, “Don’t just sit in your chair watching your shows.”  As I realized Jessika and others had hopes for what I might try next, it was a real wakeup call, because sitting in my chair watching my shows is exactly what I had planned to do with my retirement, that and enough pulpit supply for supplemental income.  I was fully prepared to be a boat potato, but now I’m looking forward to staying out of the boat and walking with Jesus.
  5. Water walkers master failure management.  They have the attitude of Jonas Sauk who after 200 unsuccessful attempts at the polio vaccine finally succeeded.  When interviewed he said, “I was taught not to use the word ‘failure.’  I just discovered two hundred ways how not to vaccinate for polio.” (quoted by Ortberg on p. 22) You might think you are a failure if your plan doesn’t succeed on the first try or the tenth or hundredth try.  But each attempt is an opportunity to learn and to grow.  One might think Peter was a failure when he began to sink, but Ortberg says no. “The worst failure is not to sink in the waves. The worst failure is to never get out of the boat.” (p.23)
  6. Water walkers see failure as an opportunity to grow.  That is precisely the point.  So the next time you tweak your plan a bit and try again.  Sir Edmund Hillary knew that every time he didn’t make it to the top of Everest, he grew as a climber, and eventually he would grow enough in his skills to make it to the top. As Ortberg says, “Failure does not shape you; the way you respond to failure shapes you.” (p. 24) Elsewhere he writes, “Failure is not an event, but rather a judgement about an event…It is a way we think about outcomes.”  (Participant’s guide, p. 21)
  7. Water walkers learn to wait on the Lord.  That means trust.  That means allowing yourself to be vulnerable.  That means discernment of God’s timing and not rushing ahead just because you are eager.  Isaiah 40 teaches us “those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings as eagles.  They shall run and not be weary.  They shall walk and not faint.” (Is. 40:31) To fly with the eagles, to run or even to walk without fainting, it’s worth waiting on God’s timing and trusting God to guide us.
  8. Water walking brings a deeper connection with God.  Since a water walking type of adventure requires total trust in God, leaning into God’s presence, fixing our focus on the Lord, and knowing that if we falter, the Lord will reach out to us,  these all lead us to a much deeper connection and commitment to God.  Don’t you think this experience walking on water is part of what set Peter aside for the leadership Jesus eventually gave him?  He would have to fully rely on God to lead the church.  That deep faith connection with Christ is available to all of us if we are willing to develop it and if we are willing when Jesus tells us to step out of our boat.
 
To look at one more biblical example of this today, our Old Testament reading takes us to a story we don’t tell very often other than Sunday School.  It is Gideon’s story from the book of Judges.  Gideon would eventually succeed in some great battles but only when he faithfully follows God’s instructions.  Here we see him at the beginning of his relationship with God. 
 
Gideon grew up in a time of turmoil with attacks coming from the land of Midian and internal upheaval as many have left worshipping and obeying God to follow the religions of their neighbors.  God’s Messenger came to Gideon with a greeting that might remind you of Gabriel’s approach to Mary. “The Lord is with you, brave man.”  Gideon did not see himself in this way at all.  He claimed to be the weakest member in the weakest family of a tribe that is not the greatest.  He doubted his own potential. 
 
But Gideon didn’t give up in spite of his excuses.  To use water walking language, he wasn’t cowering in the back of the boat, but he was trying to figure out how to test the waters before climbing out of the boat.  What Gideon proposed to God’s messenger was a discernment process some have since called “putting out a fleece.”  In very practical everyday terms, Gideon laid wool on the threshing floor and said, “If this is really you God asking me to do this, tomorrow morning let the wool be wet and the ground be dry.” It was.  Then just to be doubly sure he requested the opposite scenario the next day.  It was as he asked.  To me Gideon’s story says there is nothing wrong with asking God to confirm what we think God is asking of us. 
 
In Peter’s case he asked Jesus to command him to come out of the boat.  If Jesus had remained silent, Peter would have remained in the boat.  As you approach decisions especially as they relate to new adventures or taking risks, take time for discernment.  Ask God for clarity.  One of my favorite prayers is “Make it so clear I can’t miss it.” 
 
Whether it is for something in your personal life or our life together, I invite you into a time of discernment before making decisions.  I would especially ask this of Session elders and Deacons before their meetings later this month and for those who will attend the faith sharing training as well.  Discernment includes intentionally taking time for prayer, for waiting on the Lord.  Ask God for clarity and for direction.  Ask for wisdom and discernment.  Invite someone else to pray for you as well.  Spend time reading your Bible and other devotional materials.  God may well speak to you through these.  Come to the Adult Class to go further discussing this Bible story and Ortberg’s take on it or attend another study/discussion group.  Make use of our sanctuary or chapel to pray and remember that a lot of prayer is actually just sitting and listening for God to speak to your inner spirit.  My coach talked about our need for discernment this week and to just be silent in God’s presence.  It calls to mind Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”  To strengthen that spiritual connection you might also fast for part of a day.  On Thursdays I am doing a liquid fast until either lunch or supper.  As you consider what it means for you or for the church to get out of the boat, take time for discernment.  Then when you trust that God is inviting and leading, keep your focus on Jesus, and dare to get out of the boat.  


Our current series for Jan. 12 - Feb. 16, 2020 is based on Rev. John Ortberg's book, 
If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get out of the Boat.  This is a great book if you are stuck in a rut and wondering about the possibilities of a new adventure OR if you are facing some stormy challenges in your life and need to move forward.  You'll find the gist of it here in these messages.

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The Season of Christmas  2019-20:  ​January 5

1/5/2020

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PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
As the wise men were guided by the star of Bethlehem, may we be guided by your Word made flesh in Christ.  Amen. 
 
SCRIPTURE LESSON                     Matthew 2:1-12
2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
 
6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”
 
7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
                                                                       
THE JESSE TREE                      The Star of Bethlehem                                                 
 
A significantly different star appeared, and certain men in the East saw it.  John McArthur says they were “Magi, magicians or astrologers-- possibly perhaps even Zoroastrian wise men from Persia whose knowledge of the Hebrew scriptures could be traced back to the time of Daniel.” (from John McArthur’s One Volume Commentary) They interpreted this star to mean that a new king had come.  They felt a desire, a calling even, to follow that star and find the king.  They brought gifts with them: gold to honor a king, frankincense as a priest would offer to God, and myrrh used for both healing and embalming.  All three were precious gifts; they gave of their best.  They made the long difficult pilgrimage to a foreign land, because they sensed this one would be important to the whole world; they came to meet and to worship him.  
 
As they came closer to where the star seemed to indicate, they continuously made inquiries seeking a new king.  Of course this was most disturbing to Herod the Great, the first of the Herodian dynasty whose reign over the Jewish territories was sanctioned by Rome. He governed Judea, Samaria, Galilee and more outlying areas. When the Magi’s search reached his ears, he summoned the religious and scholarly leaders among the Jews to put a location on the promise of the Messiah. The answer was Bethlehem.  The original quote from Micah 5 goes on to say that the Messiah born in Bethlehem, who comes from ancient times, will be a Shepherd for his people and will be one of peace.  Jesus fulfills all of that prophecy.  Of course, as King Herod sent them on their way to “search diligently for the child,” supposedly so that he could also worship him; Herod’s real intent was harm, to eliminate a potential rival to the throne.  (Matt.2:8) 
 
The Magi continued following the star which led them to a house where Mary and Joseph were caring for the young Jesus.  We don’t know the exact time of their arrival; some speculate as long as two years later, some only a few days or weeks.  Biblically their story is separate from that of the shepherds.  We do know the family was still in Bethlehem, but not for long.  The Magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they returned home by a different route.  Joseph was warned in a dream to take the family to Egypt until the massacre of the innocents ended along with Herod’s reign of terror. 
 
In his Christmas/Epiphany meditation on this story from Matthew 2, John Maxwell asks what happens “When You Follow A Star and Find A Stable.” (in One Holy Night, p. 2ff) While the designation of stable is a bit out of place (Matthew says house), there is still this concept that an infant in a humble home is not what the Magi might have anticipated when they set out to follow that star.  It’s not just that this happened to the Magi long ago, but it happens to us all the time.  We set out for something grand, whether it’s an event to attend, a special time in our lives, someone we always wanted to meet, or something we want to accomplish, sometimes the result is less than we hoped.  Maxwell asks this critical question, “How is your conduct affected by the outcome of your expectations?” (p. 4) 
 
Let’s look at the Wise Men for our example.  They believed that star would lead them to an important king.  Maxwell suggests “they were expecting a mansion or a royal court.  They even stopped at King Herod’s palace to find out about this star and this child who was to be born.” (p. 5) What they found in Bethlehem was a young child in his mother’s arms in a modest house in a small town.  Nothing about this scene looked at first glance like a king.  Given a carpenter dad and very young mom in this humble setting, Jesus probably didn’t look like either a king or a prince to them.  Then again, in his 30s, as Jesus began his public ministry, this itinerant teacher still didn’t look like a king or a prince.  His miracles and teaching may have caused some to take seriously the possibility that he might be the Messiah, but for many more, this was not the kind of Messiah they expected or wanted.  This soft spoken, kind-hearted teacher/preacher didn’t sound like the military leader they hoped would lead a revolt and free them from the Roman Empire.
 
How did the Magi respond to the surprise?  They didn’t complain to God that this was not what they expected.  They didn’t turn away, take their gifts and go home.  They didn’t heave a heavy sigh and awkwardly stumble through a polite greeting.  No!  Without hesitation they knelt before this child in an attitude of homage and worship, and they presented the precious gifts they had so carefully chosen and carried such a distance.  They did exactly what they had planned to do to honor a king.  It didn’t matter that the king wasn’t quite like their preconceived notions.  They trusted that this was indeed the king indicated by the star, and they still trusted in the importance of the event.  Then being warned that this child was in danger, because of their prior conversation with King Herod, they chose to protect the child by avoiding Herod’s questions and returning another way.
 
I suspect there are times when Jesus isn’t quite what you expected either.  We can’t wrap our human minds around this fully human/fully divine thing.  Sometimes humanity has leaned one direction or the other, but it’s hard to find the balance of God wrapped in human flesh who came to dwell among us.  We have a hard time accepting God’s love and mercy for us, because we think we have to do or be something significant to earn the privilege of this relationship or to be worthy of all God offers us through Christ and Holy Spirit.  Mary Marthas read the perfect line for that in The Story yesterday, “Salvation is not based on a list of what we do to make God happy and what we won’t do because it is against the rules…The solution to the problem, way back in the first century, was not a “What” but a “Who.” (Max Lucado & Randy Frazee, The Story: Leader’s Guide, p. 149) In one way or another, Jesus often surprises us; he doesn’t fit some of our preconceived ideas about God or salvation.
 
Life can be surprising or disturbing in other ways as well.  Things that looked promising go sideways.  We work hard for something, but the opportunity falls through.  Jobs or relationships turn out to be not as perfect as we had hoped.  Retirement dreams hit a hard reality because of the stock market or a health issue.  Along life’s way we make mistakes, or circumstances change, and we don’t always get what we expect.  That was a theme last week with Joseph, too. 
 
How should we respond to these unexpected twists and turns in life?  First, I like what Maxwell says, with regard to an appropriate attitude.  “Strong Christians see God in both the good and the bad.  The mature believer sees God not only in pleasures and palaces, but also in the barnyards and stables of life.”  (p. 8, 13)
 
Second, look at the example of the Wise Men: 
  • accept that God is at work in this situation,
  • bow to God with respect and worship,
  • go ahead and offer your gifts in God’s service. 
 
 
Maxwell writes, “The beautiful part of the Christmas story of the wise men is what they do when they come to that stable.  …I believe that all wise men throughout the ages have done these three things when they come…to a place or situation that isn’t exactly what they were expecting.” (p. 11) He goes on to talk about these three significant responses:
  • They Look for God,
  • They offer their very best to God,
  • They change their direction.
 
Looking for God, that’s finding the Romans 8:28 in the situation.  “We know that God works all things together for good for the ones who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.”  It’s asking in the midst of this bad news, what is God doing?  It’s Joseph of the Old Testament saying, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” (quoted p. 12) It’s Job after losing everything saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) It’s David writing the 23rd Psalm while hiding in a cave from his adversaries.  It’s Paul writing from prison the encouragement found in his letter to the Philippians.  When life does not work out the way you hoped, dreamed, or planned, look for God at work in the midst of or in spite of what did happen. 
 
Offering our best is the opposite of our human inclination when life doesn’t go the way we want.  Instead we are inclined to hold back, to not give anything, at least not our very best.  Our brain says, “Oh, this isn’t right.  Well, maybe I’d better hold on to this.  Maybe I shouldn’t try so hard.  What if the situation gets worse; I may need this.” Maxwell talks about his own practice of the “mirror” test, to every day look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Am I giving my very best in the situation that I’m in?” (p. 15) Whether your life in that moment is filled with problems or prosperity, it is in every case a good question to ask. 
 
What about changing direction?  We don’t like change.  But we need change.  When something isn’t going right, something needs to change.  You can’t continue in the same behavior if you are expecting a different result.  It doesn’t work that way.  Sometimes you need to make a change to break an addiction or be healthier, to be more faithful regarding environmental issues.  It’s a choice you make for a better life.  Sometimes change is thrust upon you because of circumstances beyond your control.  But change is not necessarily a bad thing even if it is a difficult thing for us to adapt.  The birth of Jesus changed everything and invites us to change as well.
 
None of us can fully predict what 2020 will bring into our lives. Your expectations now may be like following the star of your dreams and aspirations.  Things may not go as you hope.  There will be some detours and some unexpected twists.  Not all of them will be pleasant.  The goal is not to go through the year unscathed or unchanged.  You may think that sounds like your wish, but we know reality will offer some challenges.  What do we do then?  How should the faithful respond when following a star or any other sign of God leads us to a humble place rather than a grand promise?  Learn from the Wise Men of the Epiphany story.   
  • Look for God in every circumstance.
  • Give your best to God at all situations.
  • Be willing to change direction when God leads you a new way.
These are the keys to living our best in 2020.  God be with you, Amen.
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