Sermon: Plan B

This is my first sermon for the licensed lay preacher class in the Episcopal church. The style is a little different than the Southern Baptist Church in which I was reared.

Plan B

Luke 1:26-38

May the Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Let us pray. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you ,Oh Lord. Amen

Plan B. How many times in our lives have we planned something that didn’t quite work out the way we planned? It could have been when we were a child. A teenager. A young adult. A thirty-something. A forty-something, etc, etc. Your plans could have been this weekend, or even this morning. Take a minute to think of a time when something didn’t quite work out the way you planned….  Got it?  Just one for now. Remember the way you felt when things didn’t work out the way you planned? Were you happy? Sad? Angry? Elated? Relieved? Confused? Hold that feeling for a few minutes.  We will refer back to it shortly.

Mary apparently had her life planned out like any young woman of her day. She was engaged to a nice Jewish boy. She was faithful in her worship and service. We know these things because the Gospel tells us that “she found favor among women” with God. She was doing the right things. Life was going as planned.

BOOM!!! Gabriel shows up. BAM!!! Mary has no idea what to think. Who is this man?  What does he mean that I am favored by God? Gabriel tells her to “be not afraid” and then drops the BOMB - the biggest change in plans in the history of mankind - “you are going to conceive a son and you shall name him Jesus and he shall be…. “ And so on and so on… I don’t know about you, but when God changes my plans suddenly, my mind sort of shuts down. I start thinking of alternative plans instead of really listening. Mary was different. From what we read, she listened. She thought for a moment, then asked a simple question: How can this  be?  It was a very fair question! Gabriel explained the details — nothing is impossible with God.  Wow! NOTHING IS  IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.

 Mary thought again. Did she get angry? Did she cry? Did she object? Did she explain that she already had the hall rented for the wedding? The invitations already went out? How would she EVER fit in the dress in that condition? She could have thought about the awful possibility that Joseph would not understand and would have her put away. She could live her life in shame and loneliness. Mary knew in her heart that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. There were lots and lots of “scenarios” that could have raced through her mind, but we read in this passage that Mary had a very simple response - “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”  

I am not going to ask you to put yourself in Mary’s sandals. I ask that you remember the situation you thought about earlier. Recall the feelings and emotions you experienced. Those feelings can be intense. How did you react in that situation? 

Think about how we would feel, how we would react, if God wanted us to change our plans. 

Hmmmm.  Would Gabriel paying us a visit be the only way we would consider it?  I chuckled to myself when I was working on this sermon. Gabriel visiting us in the 21st century sort of sounds like a Saturday Night Live skit.  

Knock at the door. “Who is it?” 

“Gabriel. You are blessed amongst women.”

“What???”

“You have found favor with God” 

“Uh, go away or I am dialing 911.”

“Pizza”

“I know that is you. Go away”

“Loan shark”  BUT I digress… 

Someone I know very well had a Plan B moment recently. He felt in his spirit through his prayers and Bible study that he would face something AGAIN. Through the skill of doctors and the grace of God, he overcame cancer several decades ago. He seemed to know he would face that old foe again. Nothing happened for a couple of months, then BOOM! One of his doctors told him that there was a good chance he had cancer. BAM! When telling the story of the doctor office visit, he reacted to the news by comforting the doctor! “Don’t be afraid. I have been through this before.” After he left the doctors office, he asked God “How can this be?” Several weeks passed as he went through the process of tests and getting test results. While sharing his experience with friends, he was very transparent. He wanted to pray “I am a servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” He often prayed “Lord, if this cup can pass from my lips, please let it.” Many times he prayed “Seriously, God? Again?” He spoke of faith. He spoke of “nothing is impossible with God”. He also worried about all the “scenarios” that could happen like anyone would. Then the news came…  He found out he did not have cancer. It sounded like the doctor was even happier about the test results than he was!  Sometimes the bombs are really duds!

Just like many of those “I have a friend” stories turn out, that friend was me in October of this year.  My plans, my life, were on hold while I went through this period. God asked me to re-evaluate my plans, my priorities.  I am a “planner” so it was difficult for me!

Enough about me. How about you? What kind of BOOM, BAM and BOMB moments have you experienced? How did you feel? How did you react? What was your conversation with God like? We all have our own plans and our busy schedules. What is God asking of you now?  It could be something like “Go visit someone who needs a friend” or “help with the homeless ministry this month” or “Call those folks who just moved to the area and invite them to church”. Maybe even “Take that four year EfM class”.  Yikes!  Are you willing to give your plans to God?  Are you willing to let God change your plans? There is often fear involved when we consider this question! “God is going to make me do something I just can’t do” or “What if God sends me to Africa to be a missionary?” We all seem to think of scenarios that help us talk ourselves out of doing the things that God asks us to do.  

Thinking again on our Gospel reading, please consider three things:  

First— Be NOT afraid!  From what I have seen in my life, being afraid of what God might ask us to do can be paralyzing. We can get stuck in a place where we just sort of drift through our lives. We do good things but we don't give ourselves completely to God. Fear can be a big part of that. Be NOT afraid. Remembering this will help you handle the BOOM moments.

Second -- “Nothing is impossible with God”.  In my faith history, there is a rousing revival song by this title. <>  I remember bouncing around the house for days after the meetings humming or belting out that song. Wouldn't it be amazing if we could rest in that promise each and every day. That short sentence will help you handle the BAM moments. 

Lastly -- Consider starting your day by praying “Here am I, the servant of the Lord ; let it be with me according to your word.” Surrendering our lives to God is a truly amazing adventure. I am not going to lie to you. This life will not be all sunshine, rainbows and unicorns. Life without God isn't either. We can have a meaningful life of loving God and each other. A life of giving of ourselves. A life where fear cannot overtake us. A life where we truly believe that nothing is impossible with God. Saying "Here am I “ every moment of every day helps us defuse the BOMBs of life.

Amen.

Transparent

Our Daily Bread
Transparency means different things to different people. Older folks think it means those sheets of clear film that we used to write on and project on a screen before Powerpoint came along! Gosh, I am old!

I have written my blog with a high level of personal transparency over the years. It takes people off guard. It can also make people feel umcomfortable -- especially me! LOL Reading today's devotion reminded me why I write this way and why I need to keep working on transparency. Letting others see in can help them overcome their similar issues. It can encourage others to know that other folks have things they deal with. We can also encourage each other as well share our experiences. Living our Christian lives in community is how things are supposed to work!

Lord, transparency is not easy. Please help us put aside our pride, selfishness ande arrogance so we can get closer to you!

Technology Thursday
Old School
I admit that I use too many harsh chemicals around the house. To clean the toilet. To kill weeds. To get all the germs off the kitchen counters. I found two old school, all natural alternatives that I plan to try. Both involve white vinegar. I will let you know how it goes.

Weed killer

Toilet bowl cleaner
Pour about a cup of white vinegar in your toilet. Let sit for 15 - 20 minutes. Brush around the edges and flush. Your toilet is clean and sparkly! (and disinfected!)

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Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God - William Carey

Even in Ohio?

Our Daily Bread
If you can imagine, I have a joke with friends about the passage "be content in whatever state you are in" -- even if it is OHIO! LOL You can substitute your state name if you want!

Being content and peaceful in your current circumstances is a great goal. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to improve ourselves or our station in life. The point is that we should move forward for the glory of God, not for our own glorification or worldly desires. God wants what is best for each of us. There are so many times that we push ourselves too hard for the wrong reasons. If you have any questions about this topic, check out the lyrics to Praise you in this storm by Casting Crowns. God is there whether you are up, down, in Ohio or Kentucky, wherever!

Lord, our state of mind and heart do not need to be linked to our circumstances -- only to you!

Wellness Wednesday
6 Foods You Should Make Yourself (and Not Buy!) [article]

Oatmeal
Oatmeal packets are typically full of sugar and other preservatives and it's much cheaper to make your own! If your mornings are really rushed, you can even make your own packets ahead of time!

Hummus
Once you make your own hummus, you'll never be able to go back to buying it from the store. It comes together in minutes and is SO much better (and cheaper)!

Salad Dressing
My favorite salad dressing is super easy and you can combine all ingredients in a jar, shake until combined and keep right in the jar - it won't last long!

1 part olive oil + 2 parts vinegar + diced shallots + dijon mustard + salt & pepper

Soup
Making soup at home means you know exactly what goes into it and you won't need to add unnecessary ingredients or preservatives. Soup also freezes nicely, so make a big batch and freeze in portions to eat later.

Guacamole
It can be tempting to buy packaged guacamole, but making your own is much tastier and only takes a few minutes. Combine an avocado with a lime or lemon and season with salt and pepper.

Extra additions: chopped cilantro, chopped onion, diced tomatoes, chopped jalapeno peppers

Croutons
Stale bread need not be thrown away! Simply cut into 1 inch pieces, drizzle with olive oil, season with spi

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Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

Grace and endurance

Our Daily Bread
Have you ever watched a NASCAR race? I watch clips from races sometimes. It amazes me how some drivers escape danger during crashes.  It also amazes me how long they drive so fast!

These observations brought me to the title for today's entry - Grace and endurance. NASCAR drivers are "lucky". We have grace to get us through dangerous times in our lives. NASCAR drivers have endurance. They had to develop that just like we need to develop spiritual endurance in our lives. Our race was started. Let us drive our race the best we can so we can see Jesus waving the checkered flag!  

Lord, you let us drive and drive.  Please help us seek your will so we can experience grace and build endurance.

Teaching Tuesday
Surprised by Hope 
by NT Wright

I finished my quick read of this book last week. I liked it OK, I guess. As one friend posted on Facebook "God's Kingdom - A Holy Ambiguity?" I suggested this book as a reference to a different viewpoint than what we were taught in Sunday School and college. 

My personal opinion is that we can try to piece together scriptures all we want, but we don't know. Lots and lots of smart people have tried to figure it out over the years. I think it is what way for several reasons:

1. human pride - we are bad enough now! Can you imagine what we would be like if we had all the answers? Humans would try to find the easiest path to get to whatever is after this life. There is also the pride of "knowing", people lifting themselves up instead of God.
2. faith - we are to trust God for every breath and for what comes after this life. That is easily said, but not easily done!
3. God is God - We try to restrict God because out tiny minds can't understand his awesomeness. Imagine our afterlife being a million times more wonderful than we can comprehend - then multiply that by a million! 

Reading books like this is a good exercise. Check it out on Amazon or your local Christian bookstore.

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We are far from perfect, but despite our mistakes and our sins, we will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon us - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide

Truly wondrous

Our Daily Bread
I saw a video on Facebook over the weekend that explained how magicians do the "bend the spoon trick". There is a special kind of metal that returns to the shape it was given at a certain temperature. A magician uses a spoon made out of that material and "bends" the spoon to its original shape. The metal in the spoon actually does all the work!

I know that completely blows your mind like it did mine! ha! I thought about how God does truly wondrous things in the lives of his children. We are made of a metal that is in the image of God. We spend our lives seeking the ways to get back to God after the world and sin bends our lives out of shape. God is there. No magic involved.  Just love and his Holy Spirit to lead and guide us!

Lord, please help us love you and thank you for the way you straighten out our lives!

Movie Monday
I saw two movies this week - a brand new one and an old one that was new to me.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
I was hesitant to see this one. After reading the reviews and user opinions, I paid my money for the 3D ticket. I am not sure the 3D was worth the extra money, but the movie was pretty good. The story line is about how the apes and the humans meet up again after not having contact for several years. The apes are thriving. The humans are struggling. The thing that struck me most about the movie was that there is good and bad in ALL of us no matter what our species!

I give this movie 3 bear paws. See it on the big screen, though 3D is not necessary.

North by Northwest
I hadn't heard of this movie until I saw it on the CAPA summer movie list. It stars Cary Grant. Need I say more? LOL It is considered a Hitchcock masterpiece for it suspense and the balance of a charming performance by Cary Grant. It is a little over two hours long, which is very long for a movie made in 1959, but it held my attention.

I give this movie three bear paws. Rent it. The last showing on the CAPA series was last night.

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I pray the weight of my sins doth not crush me back to dust from where I came. I pray that God create in me a new, clean heart and place a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Praise the Almighty God from whom all blessings flow.

Yes. Virginia, there is grace

Our Daily Bread
There was a famous movie about Santa Claus and a little girl named Virginia that wrote a letter to him. The first line in the letter has been immortalized in movie lore "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus..."  While reading the devotional, I thought about Virginia writing God about his existence!

"Yes, Virginia, there is grace" might be a line in the letter. Each of us probably asks this question many times in our lives, especially after we make mistakes! Dealing with the wages of our sins can be a horrible thing. As humans, we think we can get a way with stuff, then are surprised over and over when reality hits! Yikes! Let's pray for each other that we live our lives in the glow of God's grace!

Lord, we know you know everything. Please help us live that way!

Sunday Wisdom
Today is the first day of "Sunday Wisdom". I will post one of the Proverbs each Sunday. I love reading the wisdom of the Proverbs!  I hope you do too! Proverbs 1 talks about the call of Wisdom and the danger of evil companions!

Proverbs 1 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

Prologue
2 For learning about wisdom and instruction,
    for understanding words of insight,
3 for gaining instruction in wise dealing,
    righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to teach shrewdness to the simple,
    knowledge and prudence to the young—
5 let the wise also hear and gain in learning,
    and the discerning acquire skill,
6 to understand a proverb and a figure,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Warnings against Evil Companions
8 Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,
    and do not reject your mother’s teaching;
9 for they are a fair garland for your head,
    and pendants for your neck.
10 My child, if sinners entice you,
    do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
    let us wantonly ambush the innocent;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive
    and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.
13 We shall find all kinds of costly things;
    we shall fill our houses with booty.
14 Throw in your lot among us;
    we will all have one purse”—
15 my child, do not walk in their way,
    keep your foot from their paths;
16 for their feet run to evil,
    and they hurry to shed blood.
17 For in vain is the net baited
    while the bird is looking on;
18 yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves!
    and set an ambush—for their own lives!
19 Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain;
    it takes away the life of its possessors.

The Call of Wisdom
20 Wisdom cries out in the street;
    in the squares she raises her voice.
21 At the busiest corner she cries out;
    at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
    and fools hate knowledge?
23 Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
    I will make my words known to you.
24 Because I have called and you refused,
    have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
25 and because you have ignored all my counsel
    and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when panic strikes you,
27 when panic strikes you like a storm,
    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel,
    and despised all my reproof,
31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
    and be sated with their own devices.
32 For waywardness kills the simple,
    and the complacency of fools destroys them;
33 but those who listen to me will be secure
    and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.”

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Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8

Power in a name

Our Daily Bread
Have you ever noticed in the Old Testament how powerful names are? The same is true in the New Testament. Names were an important part of the Jewish culture. Abram to Abraham. Sarai to Sarah. Jacob to Israel. Saul to Paul. There are several instances of where God told fathers to name their sons unexpected names (John the Baptist and Jesus).

We see the power of names and nicknames today. There are some words you just DON'T say because of the negative power they have. Instead of lifting othets up, we use names or nicknames (or slurs) to tear people down. I told a concert band friend one time "I don't understand how a slur can be so beautiful in music, but so awful otherwise!"  Be careful what names or nicknames you use!

Lord, you have a nickname for us "beloved children of God"! 

Simply Saturday
This song seems to go hand-in-hand with the devotional. Read the lyrics or listen to the song and think about it.

"Words" as sung by Hawk Nelson [video]

They've made me feel like a prisoner
They've made me feel set free
They've made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king

They've lifted my heart
To places I'd never been
And they've dragged me down
Back to where I began

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

You can heal the heartache
Speak over the fear
(Speak over the fear)
God, Your voice is the only thing
We need to hear
(We need to hear)

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Let the words I say
(Let the words I say)
Be the sound of Your grace
(Sound like Your grace)
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

I wanna speak Your love
Not just another noise
Oh, I wanna be Your light
I wanna be Your voice

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Let the words I say
(Let the words I say)
Be the sound of Your grace
(Sound like Your grace)
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts
Or put it out

I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

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As wise King Solomon said, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).