For the Birds...

 

For the Birds

 

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

The baptism of Jesus 

 

3:15 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,

 

3:16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 

3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

 

3:21 Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,

 

3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

 

 

I’ve learned a lot from birds. We have a backyard full of them, especially when I feed them with the hundreds of pounds of black oil sunflower seeds I buy at the Mars, PA Agway store. In the Winter, like we are experiencing now, they come in droves. We also provide them with water, via a large “bird wash” that is heated so it doesn’t freeze. Here are a few of the observations of these winged guests:

 

·      Blue Jays are mean birds, usually chasing other birds away from the feeder, a behavior I really don’t understand, given that they tend to land, grab a seed or two, and fly off to a nearby tree to crack the shell and eat the seed. Why do they feel they have to arrange for exclusive access to the feeder when this is how they feed? If they were people, they might remind me of those folk who take forever ordering their food in the drive-in lines at fast-food places, then take more time checking through their order at the pick-up window, while others wait behind them. Unlike the drive-up folk, though, at least the Jays are pretty, and they put on an exciting show at the bird wash, even though they do manage to splash much of the water out onto the ground during their “performance.”

 

·      I can see why Cardinals are most folks’ favorite Winter birds. The male of the species is beautiful, with its bright red feathers that stand out so nicely against the newly fallen snow. The males seem to stand guard in the low branches of nearby trees while the females get their fill of seed, before taking their turn at the feeder. And then while the males perch at the feeder, they seem to intentionally “kick out” seed from the feeder to the ground birds below, only pausing to eat every few cycles. Again, they seem to be watching over the ground birds as they eat. They appear to be courteous and caring members of the bird community, and while accompanying their paired female at the bird wash, they hold back until the female has drunk her fill and leaves before drinking, themselves. 

 

·      In the Winter, I supply the cages on the side of our Audubon feeder with suet cakes, having read that birds need the extra fat during the cold months. While the other birds do occasionally visit the suet stations, they are mostly monopolized by the two or three species of woodpeckers that we see. Mostly we see the Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, and boy, do they hit the suet hard, especially when it’s really cold. I guess if your standard modus operandi involves rapidly smacking your beak on a tree to bore a hole to lure food into, you might need to rethink that process when the temperature falls into the teens, so a convenient suet cake is your “drive-in” option. I rarely see the woodpeckers at the seed perches, but neither are they territorial at the suet cakes if other birds decide to take a hit. And they don’t give ground if a Blue Jay tries to shew them from it, either. They seem to know their place at the feeder, and respect the other birds.

 

·      We see numerous other little finches and wrens at the feeder, many of which prefer to glean the ground feed kicked out by the Cardinals. The little Purple and House Finches will actually cue up along the deck railing for their turn in line at the bird wash, too. They are both polite and skittish, rapidly flitting away if I glance at them through the window. The finches seem to be the “cleanest” of the backyard birds, frequently taking long and vigorous baths in the bird wash. 

 

·      I confess that my favorite of the backyard birds are the Mourning Doves. These chubby rascals visit in small flocks, may be seen perching to feed, from time to time, but preferring to peck through the ground feed. While leaving the other birds alone, they DO manifest a bit of territorial mastery with each other, especially while feeding immediately under the feeder. They are fun to watch when they perch to feed, as their balance isn’t all that great, and they kind of teeter. The same is true when they perch along the edge of the bird wash, which they will often do for minutes at a time. They are not at all bashful about it, and will literally stare back at me when I am watching them at the bird wash from the window. This time of year, they seem to be rather portly, but not being an ornithologist, I’m guessing this could be extra fluffy feathers? I like to watch them take off, too, as they are a bit like a C-130 cargo plane trying to get its big carcass in the air, and they make a funny little noise when they take flight. It sounds a bit like the “whoop, whoop, whoop” that Curly of the Three Stooges used to employ. I imagine the “MDs,” as I call them for short, to have personalities much like Curly’s, as they don’t seem exceptionally bright. However, when they sing their song, I just stop what I’m doing and listen, as it is quite profound. It’s somber, haunting tone is obviously why they are called “Mourning Doves.” I find their song peaceful and soothing. While the MDs appear slow and sluggish, I have never seen one of our neighborhood’s roaming cats get even close to nailing one, as they always seem to get airborne just in the nick of time. 

 

Birds have a prominent place in our biblical record of the Judeo-Christian faith, too. Jesus referenced birds when he said in Matthew, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” He also said that “Not a sparrow falls from the sky without the Father’s consent.” At the least, Jesus was a birdwatcher! However, the “starring bird” of the Bible is most certainly the dove, which is mentioned over 50 times. The dove is a symbol of both peace and reconciliation in these references. Remember that after the flood, Noah sends out a dove, and when it brings an olive branch back in its beak, he knew the flood was ending? The dove with the olive branch has become a symbol of peace. Doves were also sacrifices offered in the temple, including by Mary and Joseph when they presented Jesus. 

 

Today’s text from the Revised Common Lectionary is the “Baptism of the Lord” text, and it is a dove that comes down from heaven as a “bodily form” representing the Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus. As mysterious as doves are—especially my little friends the Mourning Doves--the Holy Spirit does them one better, doesn’t she? 

 

[It has been my practice to use the feminine pronoun when talking about the Holy Spirit, as a means of inclusion in the Godhead. The New Testament word for Holy Spirit—pneuma—is feminine, and in the Godhead, we have the “Father,” the “Son,” and why not the “feminine” presence of God in the Holy Spirit? I have always felt this made good sense, given that the Holy Spirit is a PERSON of the Godhead, not an “it,” or just some “force” emanating from God, and if a person, why NOT understand the Holy Spirit as feminine in nature given that WE are made in God’s image, and “male” and “female” are at the ends of the sexuality continuum. God embodies the entire spectrum, which includes female, so I tend to refer to the Holy Spirit as “she.” And YES, it gets me into trouble with the conservatives, but I stand by it.]

 

In Jesus’ time, the idea of the Holy Spirit was hard to define. God was certainly viewed by the ancients as a “spiritual being,” and God’s “Spirit” was a thing, but being strict monotheists, the Jews would not have seen the Spirit as anything but some “extension” or manifestation of the one God. In actuality, Christians and our belief in the Holy Trinity ALSO believe in ONE God, but manifest in three “persons,” a construct which drives the monotheists crazy. Christians do not believe in three Gods, but we do postulate God as manifesting Godself as a “community” or a “family,” in three “persons.” It is considered heresy to “de-personify” the Holy Spirit into some benevolent force or “power” sent forth by God, as stated earlier. The “bodily” reference of the dove in the Luke text is quite important, in this regard, but a dove? Why a dove? In the context of the event of Jesus’ baptism, the dove—a symbol of peace and reconciliation—descending from heaven an alighting on Jesus makes perfect sense, as Jesus, himself, will BE the Prince of Peace, and the means of reconciliation for all of humankind. Doves descend gently, they don’t divebomb, as is often depicted on stained-glass windows, and their soothing sounds remind us that God loves us, redeems us, heals us, and wants peace to be a reality, “alighting” on the human community. 

 

Of course, there is another element of the dove, as I related in my earlier description of the Mourning Doves in my backyard—they are patently unpredictable. How great is THAT as a symbolic element of the Holy Spirit? I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been able to predict regularly and accurately the way which the “wind” of the Holy Spirit is blowing, and when it DOES become clear, then I have to make the choice to FOLLOW that “wind” in the direction she chooses, even when I’m not fully passionate about it. God’s Spirit has her own agenda—God’s agenda—and it does not always align with MY agenda! Just when I think I’ve got God figured out, the dove of the Holy Spirit does that “Whoop! Whoop! Whoop!” thing and flies off in a different direction. If I close my eyes and put myself in a prayerful, “listening” attitude, though, I may hear that comforting, soothing song of the Spirit.

 

Unpredictable? The Celtic Christians have long seen the Wild Goose as the symbolic “bird” of the Holy Spirit, for precisely this reason. As they say, the Wild Goose pops up when you least expect it, it does what IT wants to do, and you simply can’t tame it. In the Celtic Christian tradition, this makes much more sense as a an analog for the Holy Spirit, who likewise is not “tamable” and is working GOD’S agenda, not ours. And those things can get NASTY with you, if you don’t pay attention!

 

I guess the general idea of some type of “bird” reference for God’s Holy Spirit works for me, having spent so much time watching the “community” of birds in my backyard, as they seem to work things out, just like we need to be able to do in the Christian church, if we are to accomplish the mission of the Gospel. And while the Holy Spirit was sent by God to “alight” on us and on the church, she was also meant to fly and sing, and these are two things the church must do, both to praise God and to SERVE God. Like I learn from birds, so we may learn from our charismatic or Pentecostal siblings who spend much time “tuning in” to the Holy Spirit and yielding to her leading. The work of the Holy Spirit is not just “for the birds,” nor is it to be ignored by the modern Christian who wants to be a “tuned in” disciple and servant leader. In this regard, the church needs more Cardinals to guard and feed the community, and Mourning Doves to offer the soothing song. And that haunting song serves to remind us that it was a death that launched our redemption, but the “Whoop! Whoop! Whoop!” of taking flight that reminds us that a resurrection empowers us and gives us hope! Maybe THAT’S what the church needs—more “Whoop!” Amen!

Your Lavish Riches

Your Lavish Riches

 

Ephesians 1:3-14

The will of God made known in Christ 

1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

1:4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.

1:5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,

1:6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace

1:8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight

1:9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,

1:10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

1:11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will,

1:12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.

1:13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;

1:14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory.

 

Beginning the New Year with grace sure sounds like a good idea. We human beings seem to have a problem with generating our own grace, so let’s talk about God’s grace, for the purpose of this first 2025 sermon. Biblically, we tend to define GOD’S grace as “God’s unmerited favor.” Like any definition or explanation of the Holy Trinity, this definition falls far short of all that God’s grace—extended to the creation and especially humankind—actually is. We know that God has shown grace to God’s people since the proverbial Garden of Eden, or we all wouldn’t be here, at least as we and Hollywood tend to understand Deity. In fact, maybe THIS is our problem in defining grace—we’ve got GOD all wrong. What if God IS grace, even as the Bible says God IS love? What if the very existence of God IS as a being who, from the earliest thoughts of the creation to Earth’s final whimper, is a giant “Pez dispenser” of grace? 

 

This would be the thought of a process theologian. The “grandaddy of them all” passed away late last year—the United Methodist scholar, John Cobb. Process Theology sees God AS a dispenser of grace, with the goal of reconciling all of creation AND the human community into a concrescent, loving community. While some have criticized Process Theology as “non-Christian” because it purportedly has a “weak Christology,” I would submit that for the Process thinker, Christ is the ultimate “concrescent” being—fully encompassing both God AND humanity. And as such, Christ introduces into the human community the possibility of total unity with God AND each other. In Christ, the grace-giving God offers what Karl Barth said was the great “YES” to the world, making possible humanity’s full reconciliation and redemption. Without the Christ event, God historically had to just keep “luring” humanity toward blessedness by laying down bits of saving grace like breadcrumbs before a hungry animal. After the Incarnation and the totality of the Christ Event, humanity is now “enlightened” to see the flow of God’s grace and to live in such a way as to stay within that “flow.” Our journey’s path is not perfectly straight, due to our fits, foibles, and imperfections, but it IS “moving on to perfection,” as Mr. Wesley might put it.

 

Speaking of Mr. Wesley, he was partly famous for being a preacher of grace, and for attempting to shine a light on God’s grace in such a way as to help us understand how it applies to our lives. He saw God’s grace taking three forms:

 

PREVENIENT grace, or that which “goes before.” Prevenient grace was that which guided a “pre-cognitive” human being Godward. United Methodists put a lot of weight behind prevenient grace, believing it is particularly the agent of Christian baptism, and most especially of infant baptism. 

 

JUSTIFYING grace, or the “grace of salvation.” Justifying grace is that which offers the “all-ee, all-ee IN free” to humanity through the Christ Event. It is a “yes” grace, announcing to the world GOD’S “yes,” and then eliciting a “yes” response from the person recognizing and receiving this “saving” grace. 

 

SANCTIFYING grace, or the “on to perfection” grace. Sanctifying grace is that which guides us to “live out” what we believe, as Christians, and to work toward becoming the person WE want to be and which GOD wants us to be. (Incidentally, as a Process Theology thinker, I would suggest that most of Process Theology operates in the realm of this sanctifying grace.)

 

The most controversial of the Wesleyan “graces” would have to be JUSTIFYING grace. Conservative “Methodists” pretty much ascribe to the “Four Spiritual Laws” idea of popular evangelicalism. It goes something like this: we are sinners, needing God’s pardon, or we’re eternal toast; in Christ’s shedding of blood and death on the cross, human sin is “atoned for”; if we say the Sinner’s Prayer and confess Christ as lord, this “blood is applied,” and we are forgiven by God; and then God has a “wonderful plan for our life.” The hope of all evangelicals is that THEIR process leads to a dramatic transformation of the sinful life, and living happily ever after. The problem with it is that rarely is this the actual human reality. I have met too many Christians who deeply struggle with the fact that their lives are NOT going the way this evangelical thought-line teaches it SHOULD, and they feel so shamed by it. Oh, there ARE the occasional, miraculously-transformed lives, but this is not the experience of so many, who are chastised for “not following the program,” and made to own the blame of their faith malaise. Where’s the grace in that? The other problem with this evangelical model is that it is not Wesleyan.

 

Wesley certainly advocated a disciplined life for his followers, but it was launched and fully empowered by GOD’S grace, and in its striving for perfection, advocated for “acts of mercy,” or the “good works” of the faithful. In helping to bring about human social justice and helping those victimized by the social stratifications of the monied interests, we became co-creators of a more beloved, “concrescent” community, moving ourselves AND the human community toward God’s “perfection.” Wesley understood—and taught—that this “perfection” had nothing to do with “law” and everything to do with grace and love. God was pleased when God’s people were fed, clothed, sheltered, and embraced, NOT just by individual Christians keeping a list of rules which are often mislabeled as “God’s law.” The purpose of God’s “law” was to bring about the concrescent, beloved community, in the first place, NOT just to appease Deity. We sure get that all backwards. Mr. Wesley did not, but WAY too many folk who consider themselves Wesleyan do. 

 

While we’re at it, let me suggest two other “elements” of grace to add to John Wesley’s Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying:

 

INDIVIDUAL grace, or the grace YOU need. It is clear from the life of Jesus that God does NOT see us as just a bunch of smelly sheep needing a random shepherd. Jesus cast himself as the GOOD shepherd who “knows his sheep’s voice.” Each person has value to God, and God offers grace that each of us needs. Clearly, MY needs may be VERY different than YOUR needs. Jesus Christ is not a “one size fits all” Savior! If it is true that “every hair (or follicle) on our head is numbered,” then God sees us for who we are and understands what we need to thrive at any one moment. (Here we are in the Process Theology model again, aren’t we?) 

 

CORPORATE grace, or the grace that empowers concrescent, beloved community, and that is essential to its ongoing unfolding in the “real” world, and to its survival. Corporate grace is the grace of the church, or the “Body of Christ,” and it is the grace wielded by the Holy Spirit as she weaves us together and guides our pathways toward God’s goal of a SINGLE pathway toward reconciliation and “concrescence” with Godself and each other.

 

I’m tempted to suggest yet another form of grace: the grace of patience, as we certainly struggle with each other’s current sitz im leben, which “must be wrong,” for it differs from MINE, and we all know I must be right!(?) We surely need this kind of grace to survive our political “civil war,” don’t we? I don’t really think God has a “grace” of patience, but since it IS listed among the “fruit of the Spirit,” the wider means of God’s grace can apply.

 

I called this message “Your Lavish Riches,” because I DO believe that this precisely describes God’s GRACE, offered to us “without price,” other than the price of belief and practice. The Ephesians text makes it clear that God has “lavished” this gift of grace upon us. “Lavished” is an incredible verb! A God who “lavishes” is a God who profoundly loves, not judges. A lavishing God is one who loves all that God has created. A lavishing God grieves when one of God’s “little ones” stumbles. A lavishing God wants the best for us, but ALSO for YOU. 

 

As I write this message about God’s grace, as the author describes in the Ephesians passage, and how God “lavishes” it upon us all, the words of one of my favorite hymns from “The Faith We Sing” goes through my head, which maybe summarizes this discussion of grace:

1.I was there to hear your borning cry, I'll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized to see your life unfold. 

I was there when you were but a child, with a faith to suit you well;
in a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell. 

2.When you heard the wonder of the Word I was there to cheer you on;
you were raised to praise the living Lord, to whom you now belong. 

If you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one,
I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk till rising sun. 

3.In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young,
I’ll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I’ve begun.
When the evening gently closes in and you shut your weary eyes,
I’ll be there as I have always been, with just one more surprise.

I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized to see your life unfold. 

Friends, God’s grace IS “unfolding” us, and it is indeed being lavished upon us! May 2025 be a year in which we come to understand just how RICH we are! Amen.

  

Holiday Inn

 

Holiday Inn

 

Luke 2:1-20

2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

[Since we’re away this coming Sunday, I’m sharing my Christmas Eve message with yinz via my blog as this week’s retirement sermon. Enjoy!]

 

Yes, the text is the same one I use every year on Christmas Eve, and yes, it’s from the “Authorized Version,” or as it is more popularly known, the King James Version. Why? Let’s just say that Charlie Brown (actually Linus) and tradition win the day. The shepherds being “sore afraid” when the angel of the Lord appears to give them the skinny on what was going on in Bethlehem also carries weight with me. While the “experts” tell us that “sore” just means “very” in King James lingo, I see much more in it. All kinds of things in life make us “sore afraid,” don’t they? That call from the doctor’s office that says, “We got your tests back; you’d better come in,” or the middle-aged Mom of two pre-teens who gets the word that her recent “discomfort” is caused by an unexpected pregnancy. These have every reason to be “sore afraid.” Or word that your pension may be in jeopardy, due to some bad investment management—“sore afraid.” When I was a young teen, and on delivering newspapers in the early dawn hours, and suddenly saw a large dog running my direction, snarling and baring its considerable teeth, BELIEVE ME, I was, in that moment, SORE AFRAID. “Sore afraid” is a fear borne of a sudden threat, the full nature of which one doesn’t yet know, AND has no idea how to face it. The “sore” is that hurtful emptiness that occurs in the “pit” of the stomach, and is amplified by the body’s being suddenly caught between the “fight” or “flight” responses. The “sore” is a kind of paralysis that begins and even lingers between the ears of the one who is afraid. In the case of the shepherds, being “sore afraid” is a group activity. Have you ever faced an angel of the Lord? Neither have I, but even imagining being out in a cold, dark field surrounded by nothing but bleating sheep and a small group of your peers, and to have an angel appear, illuminated by “the glory of the Lord” would probably rob me of my consciousness, at least for a few minutes. “Sore afraid” is one of those fear moments when the blood rushes from your flesh and you turn as white as a turnip. I’m guessing that even the sheep went quiet. I know I’m kind of beating this horse a bit hard, but I’m trying to make the point of the power of the ancient translation of this transformative birth narrative by pointing out how no other rendering adequately captures a phrase like “sore afraid.” 

 

And it’s not the only one: a “decree went out from Caesar Augustus”; Joseph was of the “house and lineage of David”; Mary was “great with child” and “the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.” This wonderful version just keeps casting Christmas images and warms our hearts, especially when the shepherds “make haste” (book it) and “found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe, lying in a manger.” Can’t you just hear Linus reciting this passage, explaining to the disillusioned Charlie Brown what Christmas is REALLY all about? I’m guessing that most of us would have been unimpressed, had Linus quoted a modern translation that states everything in the current vernacular. Have you read what the Heavenly Host says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” in a contemporary translation? The Contemporary English Version translates Luke 2:14 as: “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.” Bor-ing! For me, the King James narrative of this story just grabs me where I’m “sore.” The poetic nature of it soothes, reassures, and paints a picture that has deep, placid colors, quiet, “hushing” sounds, and adoring, young couple witnessing the world’s greatest miracle. The shepherds represent the world. The whole world. The REAL world. None of them was Elon Musk or even Warren Buffet. Neither were they soldiers bearing arms “to protect the child.” They were sheep herders who slept under the stars, had no coffee breaks, and no “day offs.” So it is with most of the people who live on planet earth, and so God invites THEM to the birth of his son. Jeff Bezos wasn’t invited, even with his promise of two-day delivery. Mary had beat that, anyway.

 

Scholars have spent countless lifetimes trying to get to the bottom of what actually transpired that night, both theologically and historically. I know that is their job, but frankly, the human race has decided already how it came down. Luke’s story as told by the King James interpreters is how it works for us. It delivers and aesthetic and a promise of “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” that no collection of facts or hypotheses can top. We shouldn’t really CARE what actually happened, as life is story, and this is our story—the CHRISTMAS story. It speaks to us, and continues to transform us. I’ve argued for years that anything we DO to celebrate Christmas that even nibbles at the edges of “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” is authentic and should not be discouraged. Even if it includes over-shopping, over-eating, and having a bit extra of the “Communion” wine. When people get together in the name of Christ’s birth and love one another, it’s a genuine Christmas, regardless of the trappings. When armies declare a ceasefire on December 25, and those who HAVE, give to those who DON’T, it’s truly honoring the “Heavenly Host.” And when this time of the year we offer a little extra care and affection to our animals, it is certainly a flashback to that first Christmas, because, after all, they were the first witnesses to the miracle, beyond Joseph and Mary. 

 

And speaking of hosts…I have a painful memory of my childhood, and like the manger scene, it is juxtaposed against a great blessing. As kids, my brothers and I LOVED to go on vacation. We were a lower-middle-class family with professional parents who, due to the nature of their jobs, were on and off in terms of regular employment, or at least jobs that paid consistently well. Hence, when our Summer vacation time rolled around, resources were often limited. Yet, our parents NEVER let that get in the way of us getting in the car and heading out. Our folks would often just choose a destination and away we’d go. Of course, this was before the “online” world, or even updated paper travel guides, unless you belonged to “Triple A,” which our budget didn’t allow. So, we’d be bearing down on a busy, Summer destination like Atlantic City, Geneva on the Lake, or Niagara Falls, with no hotel reservations or any idea about where we’d take our meals, other than the “snacks” mom would pack in a small cooler. Often, we’d drive for hours and hours, and night was rapidly approaching. We kids were tired, and the painful Sterling ritual of multiple stops at budget motels to see if they had a vacancy. However, since we were now in popular venues, there wasn’t any “room at the inn.” Sometimes we’d not find a motel that we could afford until close to midnight, and we would all be exhausted. I remember one particular trip when we had already stopped at probably 10 or 12 hotels that had “no room,” and we happened upon a glistening, new, hotel chain that called itself “Holiday Inn.” Their giant, neon marque announced “VACANCY,” and it had a pool! As we pulled in, my brothers and I could see that this place was definitely a cut or two above our usual places. “Holiday Inn” seemed to be saying, “You’re WELCOME here! Come on in!” Of course, dad emerged a few minutes later to report, “They want $40 a night! I’m not paying THAT!” And on we drove. In those late night hours, I came to sympathize with Joseph, Mary, and the babe, although there were some nights I would have gladly bunked in a manger. We boys LOVED vacation, but those night terrors? Of them we were “sore afraid.”

 

What that experience did for me is that my family NEVER went anywhere without reservations! To this day, even when Ms. Dara and I head out for a “random” trip, we STILL pick a direction and reserve a motel room. Our version of the Holiday Inn—which has also gone the way of the Dodo bird, now just “Holiday Inn Express”—is the Hampton Inn. We find kind hospitality, a good bed, and a “free” breakfast there, and with reliable consistency. In terms of spiritual metaphors, my childhood “no room at the inn” experience has also regularly caused me to examine, as a spiritual practice, whether I am granting Jesus “room at the inn” in my life. This has nothing to do with my “salvation,” but everything to do with my “sanctification,” or “living into” what I profess to believe. The hotel “fire drill” of my youth also compels me to be a part of efforts to “welcome the stranger” and “love my neighbor.” Dara and I just recently gave a major gift (for us, anyway) toward helping a political refugee family find a new home in America. There will be room at the inn for them, thanks to the gifts and efforts of a number of concerned Christian disciples. Holiday Inn, indeed!

 

I don’t know about you, but I think we all could use some heart-warming hospitality and “peace on earth” and “goodwill” this year? We’ve just come through an election cycle that has many of us questioning whether our nation will be a “Holiday Inn” to the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” or one that says “GET OFF MY LAWN!” to those looking for room at the inn. People are still dying in the West Bank and in Ukraine. The nation’s wealth continues to migrate upward toward the “one percent of the one percent,” and billionaires have the ear of the incoming President. “Peace on earth” is a no-brainer—we all would like to see the killing end—all killing, including in our schools. But if we have more than three synapses firing, we know that there will never BE peace without justice, meaning until at least persons’ survival is made possible by some level of equity. And THAT won’t happen until humanity “invests” in the challenge of the Heavenly Host: “GOODWILL toward men!” Maybe this Christmas will be a new beginning? Might the angel of the Lord make a curtain call to remind us of who we are and WHOSE we are? This year, may the hearts of American people who claim Christ as Lord be a ”Holiday Inn” for the poor travelers on that endless search for an affordable vacancy. May we, like sweet, young Mary, “keep these things and ponder them in our hearts…” And then, with courage and commitment, act on them in the New Year. Merry Christmas, Dear Ones!

THAT One

 

THAT One

 

Micah 5:2-5a

From Bethlehem comes a ruler 

 

5:2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

 

5:3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel.

 

5:4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth,

 

5:5 and he shall be the one of peace.

 

 

I have a lot of “favorite” movies, but one of them is “Finding Forrester,” starring Sean Connery and then newcomer, Rob Brown. Connery plays a J.D. Salinger-styled novelist who writes the “great American novel” (“Avalon Landing”) and then retreats to his agoraphobia, rarely—if ever—leaving his New York apartment. He takes an interest in a young, African American high school student he sees playing basketball out his apartment window, and who has an extraordinary writing ability, himself. The two become friends and “writing buddies,” while the student, Jamal Wallace, winds up playing basketball on a scholarship to a prestigious private school, where he also excels at writing. His writing teacher, played by F. Murray Abraham, doesn’t believe the writing he is turning in is actually Jamal’s, as he is prejudicial against those on athletic scholarships, if not racially so, as well. In the climactic scene in the film, William Forrester bravely ventures forth from his seclusion to visit the classroom and read an essay Jamal Wallace has written, of which his teacher believes he plagiarized from the great author. As Forrester enters the classroom to the shocked surprise of all, not to mention Abraham’s character, he introduces himself, and then points to his own portrait on a wall filled with paintings of famous authors, and says, “I’m THAT one.” 

 

These kinds of dramatic identifications ALWAYS make for good “theater.” In Ronnie Howard’s HBO series about the history of America’s Apollo moon program—“From the Earth to the Moon”—there is a wonderful scene when astronaut personnel director Deke Slayton gathers a group of potential Apollo astronauts into a conference room and announces, “Gentlemen, the man who will be the first to walk on the moon walked through that door today; the men who will make the first moon landing are sitting right here.” The awed silence in the scene I’m sure well mirrors the actual, historical moment it portrays, as those astronauts must have looked around the room at each other and wondered who “those men” were. 

 

Have you ever been singled out for an assignment, a task, a position, or an honor of some sort that was so special it sort of became a life-changing moment? Or at least a moment that signaled that some significant others had endorsed your gifts and/or your abilities by elevating you in this way? In that moment, you became “THAT one!” 

 

Have you ever been selected for a special job, or singled out for a prestigious honor? Don’t feel bad if you’ve never had such a dramatic moment—most of us haven’t—but at least think of a time when someone you DID love or respect “chose you” for their attention. Frankly, when Ms. Dara acquiesced to becoming “Mrs. Jeff Sterling” was the highest such honor I’VE ever received! Although God’s calling me to enter the Christian ministry was a close second (Sorry God…). Do you remember how unique it made you feel? AND, in many cases, it sent us charting a new course for our lives, and resetting our priorities for how we spent our time. 

 

I did have one other such honor when I was asked if I would be willing to be nominated to lead our Conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry. I had served on the board for eight years, under the leadership of two different pastors who were exceptional, inspirational leaders, and when I was approached about being the vice-chairperson, I suggested that I’d rather see a woman in that role. (Our Board of Ordained Ministry, or “BOOM” as it is known, was mostly a throwback to the time when only men were chosen for such roles.) I was told by the nominating committee that they had chosen a woman as the nominee for the chairpersonship, and I was therefore OK with taking the second seat. Not long thereafter, I was again approached and told that after an initial “yes,” due to family circumstances, the chair nominee had pulled her nomination. After being told that our bishop had given me the nod, at this point, I said yes to the lead role, but only if several new women clergy could be added to our board, AND if one of them would become the vice-chair. This all was agreed to, and is what transpired over the following weeks. Hence, I followed in the footsteps of a colleague who was a “giant” in the role as BOOM chair, and was felt exceedingly affirmed by the thought that my bishop and my peers felt that I could do the job. If THAT doesn’t keep you running to God for guidance, wisdom, and “knowledge,” I don’t know what would! I believe that when it comes to any service we are called to in the Kingdom of God, if we ever start to feel WE have “the right stuff” to do the job WITHOUT constantly asking God for help, we’ve most likely crossed the Rubicon into major failure territory. None of us is immune to “grabbing at the reigns,” but when we decide we should drive is when we lose our way. Becoming “THAT one” at any point by being chosen to perform an important calling doesn’t ever mean we have equaled or surpassed the lordship of THAT ONE! 

 

Today’s text is prophetic writing from the minor prophet, Micah. (And remember, “minor prophet” only means they didn’t write as much as did the “major prophets” like Isaiah or Jeremiah; it isn’t a score of the importance of what they wrote!) In this case, Christians see this as a “foretelling” of the emergence of a messianic figure that sure sounds like the Jesus we know. He shall be “the one of peace,” or in more movie drama, “THAT one!” And his responsibilities will be monumental.

 

The ”one of peace” will redeem Israel and “the rest of his kindred.” I know, my Old Testament scholar friends will flag me for “over-Christianizing” the text by interpreting “the rest of his kindred” to mean the rest of humanity and not just the scattered tribes of Micah’s day, but so be it. We ARE living in the post-resurrection era, and we DO now know that Christ came to redeem humanity, not just Israel, so what we now know tends to fog my rearview mirror a bit. It was a big assignment, even for the Son of God, who still must respect the freedom of will that God gave human beings. How it must pain God when God witnesses that such an outpouring of grace and love is somehow either not perceived by some of us, or not deemed “adequate” by others. But as “THAT one” of peace, Christ continues to call us toward Godself, and to “find” this redeeming offer that still stands. 

 

The other roles that THAT one of peace assumed include “feeding his flock,” which is a metaphor for everything from teaching to healing to serving as our “life GPS.” The “Good Shepherd” not only does not abandon the “flock,” but he even goes looking for the single, lost “sheep.” The text says that we shall “live secure” thanks to this “one of peace” and what he will do for us. There is the same danger with making this “living secure” the centerpiece of our faith as there is with believing we can “drive” without God’s continual attention and input, via prayer and our spiritual disciplines, though. Once we feel “secured” by our faith in Christ, the temptation is to enjoy the “shade” offered by Christ and fail to listen for our assignment as a servant in this endeavor. All Christians are gifted and called to servant ministry of some kind. When we keep saying “no” to opportunities to serve, often “hiding” under the excuse that we’re “not good enough” or “don’t have the right gifts,” we grieve the Holy Spirit who can fix both shortcomings very easily. Many years ago I was told something by a wise pastor that I will never forget: “God wants your AVAILABILITY even more than your ABILITY.” If God can raise up stones to offer praise, God can certainly work through my paralyzing fears or “comfortable” laziness. 

 

We light the final Advent candle this weekend, and it is the candle of PEACE—THAT one! On Tuesday night, we will gather to celebrate the birth of God’s ultimate THAT one, the “one of peace” who came to rescue us all, and to call us into service in building God’s Beloved Community. No matter how dark things me be around us, there is a light that never ceases to burn brightly, and it is Jesus Christ, the Lord. His peace WILL prevail, and the Realm of God WILL come, with us or in spite of us. May we proudly light this candle of peace, and may it be a beacon shining through and around our lives to the world that THAT one of Peace has come! Amen!

 

 

Again I will Say...

 

Again I Will Say…

 

Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice, the Lord is near 

 

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

 

4:5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

 

4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

 

4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

One thing I have learned in life is that there is a difference between “being happy” and having JOY, or “rejoicing.” The Apostle Paul, who is credited with writing these verses, had little to be happy about. Thanks to an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, his life had been turned upside down. The scholar Paul, whom the Bible says was taught by Gamaliel, an acclaimed Rabbi and teacher, “had it made” in the Jewish community of his day. He was already a great Jewish leader, and had been assigned the task of “purifying” the Jewish faith of upstart Christians. In the lingo of our day, Paul was an Ivy League graduate who had a job for life, and the high esteem granted his position. Jesus gets ahold of him and turns him into the “apostle to the Gentiles,” something the Jewish Pharisee Paul would have found abhorrent, were it not for his dramatic conversion. History suggests that his blinding encounter on the road may have left him with a vision impairment, which meant he was at the mercy of others to travel, and travel much he was called to do. I have a clergy colleague who has lived his life with serious vision impairment, and who is not able to drive. He has to use an electronic device to enlarge print even to read. And yet, he has served in a wide variety of important positions within our denomination, was a District Superintendent, and served as Assistant to the Bishop. He also started a number of innovative ministries in Western Pennsylvania, has been deeply committed to dismantling racism in our Annual Conference, and came within a few votes of being elected a bishop of the church, himself. Every time I read of the exploits of the Apostle Paul, I think about Rev. William Meekins, Jr., who has been an inspiration to me for many years. I tell William’s story, though, to say that William has had a number of close friends and colleagues who made it part of their ministry to transport William around to serve God. While William’s own spouse, Jennette, has been his primary chauffer when he was named a D.S., and other times, these clergy friends would take William to countless Conference and general church meetings and events. I know that each of them developed a strong bond with him, and became life-long friends. This is exactly the experience the Apostle Paul had, growing close to his own traveling companions who made his journeys possible. Both men could have used their vision disability as an excuse to do less, but in each case, they found ways to strengthen their ministries through the parties who came to their aid.

 

Still, Paul had little to be “happy” about. If you read his whole resume from the Bible accounts of his experiences, several times he details how often he was beaten, stoned, and even thrown in the garbage heap outside of town and left for dead. Once, he was even bitten by a poisonous viper while making a fire on the beach after surviving a shipwreck! It would appear he had few “happy” moments, which are typically based on immediate circumstances and fleeting feelings of euphoria. Instead, what Paul experienced most often was JOY. 

 

Joy is a “big picture” emotion. In fact, it may not even be limited to BEING an emotion! One experiences joy by taking stock of the opportunities life has brought along, being motivated by them, and having a measure of pride in what has been accomplished. I’ve been battling a really lousy cold this past 10 days, or so, and really “felt” terrible. I could not account for a single “happy” moment during this time. However, when I didn’t feel like doing anything else, I would intentionally take stock of my family, my marriage, my life as a called pastor, and the joy all of this has brought me. In a brief conversation, I also got to “relive” some of my time in seminary, which was an exceptionally joyous experience for me. It drives Dara crazy, but at this point in life, I find I just like to sit and watch her. She thinks I’m just taking in her beauty, which has always captivated me, but I’m doing far more than that. I’m using her presence as a mnemonic device to recall the incredible experiences our 47-pluse years together have brought to me. I can’t help but smile with great joy—Paul uses the word “rejoicing”—at the thoughts of our two children, and what they have become as adults, the towns we have lived in and enjoyed, and the incredible people we have had the privilege to know in each of our churches. We’ve taken lots of trips together, several to Europe, one to South America, and visited our kids in Alaska and Hawaii. I think of the nights when we just sit with each other and read, or watch a football game together. Most of all, though, I think of our shared Christian faith, and the depth and breadth of Dara’s experience of it, which has both inspired and challenged my own. My soul truly rejoices. I GET IT when Paul says, “REJOICE…and AGAIN I say REJOICE!” It’s not enough to rejoice only once. And this kind of joy is not confined by our most immediate sufferings. Not at all.

 

Paul says that in Romans 8:18: “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.” Paul’s joy—and I believe OUR joy—is neither limited to looking back, but has a “drive” setting! What is ahead is even more joyous and glorious! I feel that way about my relationships with my wife, my family, my calling, and my faith in Christ. I hope you can get caught up in this kind of optimistic joy, too, if you haven’t already! The BEST is yet to come! There are many who are discouraged by the results of this most recent national election, and I easily could have been one of them. However, I believe that we are called to continue our diligence over our leaders actions, responding to protect the rights and privileges of the “least of these,” and to work in all ways and in all times to make sure they get their most basic needs met. The incoming administration with its “America First” philosophy should be challenged to do all it can to end homeless (especially homeless veterans), assure the domestic tranquility and inalienable rights of all, and do what is necessary for ALL Americans to have a shot at the pursuit of happiness. If these things are not addressed for ALL Americans, then “America First” becomes just an empty campaign slogan. Economic justice, racial justice, the availability of affordable healthcare and a decent education—these all certainly fit under an “America First” banner, don’t they? We who believe in these things, if not motivated by our Christian faith, then held accountable by our own Constitution, must be vigilant, encouraging, and be driven by our joy that we DO have a free nation, and not by our disappointment that our person didn’t win the election. And for those whose candidate DID win, don’t hide behind your victory, as your folk have much work to do with us to meet the “America First” agenda! Will we be a nation of REJOICERS, or a nation of sad-sacks and gloaters? 

 

Likewise, the United Methodist Church is reorganizing after the devastating disaffiliation process. We can sit around and wring our hands, filled with cries of “woe is me,” or we can get to work, the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks to the “present suffering” of Jesus, we are now in the position built with the JOY and REJOICING of redemption and reconciliation. The last thing the church needs are sad-sacks and gloaters. It doesn’t matter who’s “right” or “wrong,” what matters most is who is willing to pick up the mantle of servanthood, and find new and creative ways to love our neighbors as ourselves. People are hurting out there. The church should be a balm of healing and a house of encouragement, not a collection of mourners and moaners over how “resource poor” we are. After all, Paul would work hard to raise enough money to engage in his missionary journeys, and you never read of him complaining about not being able to do what God had called him to do because the offerings weren’t “full” enough. 

 

In the midst of an era of violence and conquering, Paul encourages the Christians of Philippi to be GENTLE people, which he saw as a tremendous witness. He also urged them to be a “non-anxious” presence in the world, for there was certainly enough crippling anxiety to go around in Greco-Roman society. Then he does this fantastic thing with PEACE. Only Paul can turn a phrase like “peace that passes understanding.” When I was much younger, I naively thought that Paul was referring to a peace that was so strong and obvious that it was almost impossible to comprehend. Older and wiser, now, I see that Paul’s “peace that passes understanding” is the peace of God that supernaturally comes upon us in the midst of circumstances that would NEVER bring such peace. When we are grieving the loss of a loved on, fighting a terrible illness or handicapping condition, facing economic hardship, or battling an addiction, THIS peace can show up, and it makes absolutely no SENSE. It is a peace that boggles the mind. While it is truly a supernatural gift from God, it may be borne by believers—kind, non-anxious, and gentle ones. Encouraging ones. Praying ones. This is what Paul is telling the church at Philippi. We need to hear this, too.

 

With all of the challenges he—and they—faced, Paul REJOICES and then REJOICES AGAIN! This is a word for us, today, too. We as AMERICANS face challenges. We as GLOBAL CITIZENS face challenges. We as individuals and FAMILIES face challenges. And certainly, we as the church of Jesus Christ face challenges. May we begin by rejoicing…and AGAIN I say rejoice. It bears repeating, doesn’t it? Amen.

Tender Mercies

 

Tender Mercies

 

Luke 1:68-79

God's tender compassion 

 

1:68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.

1:69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his child David,

1:70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

1:71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.

1:72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors and has remembered his holy covenant,

1:73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us

1:74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,

1:75 in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days.

1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

1:77 to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.

1:78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,

1:79 to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

 

 

I remember seeing the film, “Tender Mercies,” starring Robert Duvall, back in 1984 and being taken in by the wonderful story of Mac Sledge, the aging, faded country and western singer. If you’ve never seen it, it’s worth streaming. Duvall won the Best Actor Oscar for it, and Horton Foote won one for best screenplay. The film just lost out to “Terms of Endearment” for Best Picture. As a story about redemption and “second chances,” it’s hard to beat; kind of a modern-day parable. As I read this week’s preaching text, the scenes of this film kept repeating in my head. God is all about tender mercies.

 

This goes right to your view of the nature of God. My friend and mentor, Ron Hoellein, would often say that a person’s view of the nature of God pretty much dictated how they related to God. And our understanding of the nature of God is something that is probably formed in us developmentally, as we grow up. It is “fed” by our church history, our family values and parenting, and our personal religious experiences. If you grew up hearing that we are “sinners in the hands of an angry God,” as Jonathan Edwards preached, then for you, God’s mercy was not “tender,” but a legal pardon, and God was “the judge” warning you to straighten out your act. On the other hand, if your religious exposure in any of the arenas I mentioned earlier was one of God’s “universal” love wherein everyone is accepted, no matter their response or behavior, then you probably don’t see God as the “screenwriter” of tender mercies, either, just the one who tears down all the fences and lets the animals roam free. While this latter view of the nature of God is more accurate, if taken to its free-wheeling extreme, God, Godself, may become irrelevant beyond the “freeing” exercise, and any idea of a sacrificial love may be lost. Portia’s words about “the quality of mercy” fall on deaf ears.

 

If I had to fall into one of these two camps, I’d choose the latter, given my understanding of the nature of God and my years of studying the Bible. If you want to find only a judgmental God who is “angry” at the sins of God’s people, you can find verses that will uphold that view, but if you really read things in the broader context of the message, you begin to see just how many times God “vents” about sin, but keeps on forgiving, offering second and third and fourth chances to God’s people, and pulls their fat out of the fire time and time again. The “big picture” of the Bible is, in my opinion, one of tender mercies and undying love. But it all comes at a price for God, be it God’s “sanity” in trying to understand our love of temptation and transgression, but also resulting in Christ’s death on the cross.

 

If I were to summarize my view of God’s tender mercies, I would quote to scriptures: For God so loved the world that God gave God’s only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life; and Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. The tenderness in God’s mercy comes in part from the nature of the sacrifice God made on behalf of the world, AND in the simple rules we have to live by to honor both God and our existence and bring about a sustainable Beloved Community.

 

In the Horton Foote screenplay, Sledge has lost his career, is divorced from his country-singer/headlining wife, and estranged from his daughter. He winds up drunk and abandoned by his cronies in a rural hotel after a weekend bender, and without money to pay the widowed owner for the room, he offers to do odd jobs around her property to work it off. She doesn’t know who he is (or “was” in his heyday as a famous singer/songwriter), and holds him to his promise, initially with little grace. Both she and her young son come to love the now repentant guest, who eventually chooses to be baptized in the widow’s church, as a sign of his new leaf, and lease on life. Of course, they fall in love and are subsequently married. After a tragedy wherein his rebellious daughter is killed in a car accident, his career is restarting, thanks to a few new songs he writes about his redemption and rediscovery of true love. One of my favorite scenes is when he joins an amateur group of teen C & W musicians to sing at a barn dance, mesmerizing the unsuspecting crowd. (It would be kind of like going to a friend’s daughter’s wedding, only to have Billy Joel or Elton John show up at the piano to provide dinner music.) The tension Foote puts in the script due to Sledge’s history of self-destruction keeps the viewer on edge, always waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop. Thankfully, everyone lives happily ever after, highlighting the title, “Tender Mercies.”

 

Sledge’s story is humanity’s story. But while sledge gets “one more chance” to find and accept his redemption, humanity is blessed by a God who never turns God’s back on us, always loves us, and keeps giving us new chances to acknowledge these tender mercies, for the Christian at least, via Jesus Christ. I guess I like the movie so much because it so parallels, or at least points to, what I believe is the nature of God—a loving, forgiving, sacrificing deity who so wants to have a bond with the creation, to partner with us to restore the Beloved Community God first envisioned, and to live happily ever after. Our Jewish siblings have a phrase that best summarizes this “partnership” with God: tikkun olam, which is translated “mend” or “fix” the earth. Anyone who has been through a troubled—or even shattered—relationship knows that there is no “fix” that is one-sided. If both parties don’t agree to partner in the restorative process, it dies on the vine. This is why God’s tender mercies are meant to entice us to first acknowledge and accept this redemptive, loving view of God’s nature, and then to join the “partnership” in fixing the world, one step at a time. One of my other mentors used the phrase, “putting feet to your prayers.” 

 

I’ll be honest with you, I’m not a fan of Country and Western music, but the beautiful story of “Tender Mercies” drew me in to the potential “story nature” of its best songwriters. The same could be said for how I saw the Bible, as a young person. But when I eventually got “drawn in” by the story therein, I began to change, as did my hunger for studying and reading it. But remember, our view of the nature of God colors how we will understand what we read. It is entirely possible that our view of God’s nature must be the first thing to be redeemed. The “sinners in the hands of an angry God” view will only create a society of people living in fear, not love. This view metes out forgiveness very sparingly, is quick to revoke it over some alleged offence, and tends to “que” the anger down to the currently unrepentant. Go for the “For God so loved the world” view of God’s nature—you’ll be glad you did, and have a good chance at the “happily ever after” thing.

 

As we’re in the Advent season, when the church has historically looked forward to the “return” of Jesus Christ, this raises another question: If Jesus IS coming back some day, as many believe, is it to bring retribution for the sins of the world, or to put the final keystone on the arch of the Beloved Community? You can read the Bible either way, but your view of the nature of God will dictate where you will fall on the question. I encourage you to adopt the “tender mercies” view, that in the words of our Luke chapter one passage, might “serve God without fear,” and have our “steps guided into the way of peace.” Sure sounds like a formula for “happily ever after” to me. Amen.