Poems, Prayers, and Promises from a Country Parson

Introduction

    Today is the first Sunday of Lent.  As we continue our forty day preparation for Good Friday and Easter Sunday, I want us to spend these days pondering three questions.  These questions are not original to me for they are timeless questions.  In fact, these questions are pondered in Bishop Ruben Job’s new book Three Simple Questions: Knowing the God of Love, Hope, and Purpose.  The three simple questions are: “Who is God?”, “Who am I?”, and “Who are we together?”
    During Lent our book club will be meeting on Thursday afternoons at noon to discuss Three Simple Questions.  So if you would like to continue the conversation we begin on Sunday morning with my sermon, then you are all welcomed to do so at the book club.
    Today on this first Sunday of Lent, I want us to ponder the first question, “Who is God?”
    This is a timeless questions.  Folks have been trying to figure out the answer from the time folks began figuring.  Over the past two weeks on my trip to Israel, I saw historic evidence from 10,000 years ago where people were trying to answer the question “Who is God?”  Some of these sites went back to the bronze age.  They were places where people would sacrifice animals hoping to please and gain favor with their tribal gods.  Some of these sites went back to the Old Testament.  I stood on Mount Carmel and saw where the Prophet Elijah went to war against the Prophets of Baal.  Elijah was able to prove that his God was far more powerful and real than the false and impotent god Baal. 
    Last week I saw historic churches that dated back to the early days of Christianity.  For nearly 2000 years Christians and tourists have visited these churches as a way to connect with God. 
    I learned so much on my Holy Land trip, but this morning the one lesson that comes to mind is this--We all have a god in our life. 
    All of us have something in our life that serves as god.  Even the atheists who reject the idea of any supernatural deity have something that serves as god in their life.  Even the agnostic who doubts or believes we can’t really know if there is a supernatural deity have something that serves as god in their life.
    All of us have something in our life that serves as god.  It might be fame. It might be fortune.  It might be power.  Your god might look at you every morning in the mirror as you comb your hair and brush your teeth.  All of have something in our life that serves as god.
    When it comes down to it, what we think of god-that is how we answer the question “Who is God?”, shapes how we live. 
    This book is on my to read list, so I’ve yet to read it; however, I guess I can still agree with a man whose book I’ve yet to read.  But several years ago the late Christian scholar JB Phillips penned his famous book Your God is Too Small.  Like I said this Christian classic is on my to read list, but I bet some of you all have read this book or you’ve at least heard of it.  But I think JB Phillips was right because I know so many people whose god is too small.
    Let me share what Bishop Rueben Job has to say about this.  He writes:

    Far too often we are content with a god too small to be Creator of all that exists.      We are content with our own form of a “tribal god” that belongs to us rather than     a God who belongs to no one but who gives love, grace, and blessings to     everyone. (Three Simple Questions, page 17).

    Is your god small enough to fit in a box?  Is your god a god just large enough for you to limit and control?  Is your god a god who is just large enough to fit your agenda. 

    Or consider this:

    Far too often we are content with a god too tame and domesticated to shake us to the very roots of our being and send us out of worship trembling in aw and amazement, clearly headed in a radical and countercultural direction.

    Is your god tame enough to leave you comfortable?  Is your god sophisticated enough to enjoy garden parties and an active member of your favorite social club?  Is your god a good boy? (Job, 17).

    Or consider this:

    Far too often we are content with a god who offers a band-aid for our wounded souls rather than the God of radical mercy, justice, and love--who forgives our sins and wipes them away just as soon as we offer that same forgiveness to those who may have wronged us; who not only forgives our sins but also heals our wounded souls, mends our broken relationships, and sends us on our way full of hope, confidence, trust, and strength to transform the world by living in the kingdom of God already being formed “on earth as it is in heaven.” (Job, 17).
   
    Is your god simply a band-aid or an aspirin?  Is your god just a feel good friend?  Is your god too small?

    “Who is God?”  The way we answer this question shapes the way we live.  As Christians we have a unique understanding of God.  As Christians we have a unique answer to the question “Who is God?” 
    We find this answer in scripture, the inspired Word of God.  Listen again to the scripture we heard this morning from Hebrews chapter 1.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

    For Christians we can answer the question “Who is God?” by looking at Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews recalls how in the past God was revealed to us as word.  God spoke.  God was a revealed voice.  But for Christians we believe...:The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 
    For Christians we can answer the question “Who is God?” by believing God is revealed unto us as Jesus Christ.  If we want to know who God is all we must do is look at Jesus. 
    The writer of Colossians has this to say about God:

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
    These are some of my favorite verses of scripture.  These verses speak of grander, magnificence, and power.  These verses speak of a great, big, powerful God.  These verses speak of a god that isn’t too small.  These verses speak of a God that can’t be controlled, tamed, and manipulated to fit our personal needs and agendas.  These verses speak of a God of amazing love, hope, and purpose.

    The writer of Colossians continues:

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

    Wait.  Let me read that last part again...”by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
   
    I think the question “Who is God?” is very appropriate as we begin Lent.  Lent is the season in which we prepare for Easter.  I also like to think of Lent as a season of journey.  During Lent we traverse from the Mount of Transfiguration, the great tall peak where God’s divine glory in Jesus Christ was revealed for just a moment to the disciples Peter, James, and John to a little hill known as Golgotha, skull hill, where God shed his blood on the cross.
    Yes I think “Who is God?” is very appropriate as we begin Lent.  Lent calls us to consider the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of God in Christ.  Lent reveals to us who God really is.  Lent reveals to us the God who showed his love to all creation in that he died for us while we were yet sinners.  It is the cross that ultimately tells us who God is.
    But Lent will also answer the questions “Who am I?” and “Who are we together?”

So this morning I want to conclude this sermon by asking...”Who is your god?” 

This morning I would like to pick up and continue a conversation we began last week.  Knowing how hard it can be just to pick up a conversation that ended 7 days ago and for the sake of those who weren’t here to be part of that conversation and those who where here and have forgotten, let me take a moment or two to review what we talked about last Sunday.
    Last Sunday we began a conversation about the Christian theology of healing.  In the broadest sense of the word, Healing is about wholeness.  God wants and desires for all of us to be whole.  God’s grace is still at work bringing healing into the lives of the broken: sometimes with doctors, sometimes with therapy, sometimes with miracle, sometimes gradually over time, sometimes on this side of eternity, but always on the other side of eternity.  So our concern shouldn’t be if God heals, but simply when God heals.
    God has also given the church a divine mission. That mission is: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”   And to complete this mission the church has been given three important tasks: preach, teach, and heal.
    Preaching is the sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ-the gospel.
    Teaching is explaining the good news of the gospel.
    Healing is making the good news of the gospel alive and real in our lives.
    So preaching would be sharing this bit of good news, “Jesus said, ‘Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has trouble of its own.”
    Teaching would be a Sunday school, bible study, or another small group talking about worry and how it keeps us from living for today.
    Healing would be allowing God to work in your life to help you let go of the fears of loneliness, scarcity, or uncertainty that get you all wrapped up in worry and keeps you from living for today.  Healing would be trusting in God for today and tomorrow.
   
    Last week we also pondered the question, “What is keeping you from the healing presence of Jesus?”  We saw how ignorance, doubt, fear, not wanting to be healed, and the Sabbath law could have all been factors that caused the people of Capernaum to wait until sunset to come into the healing presence of Jesus.
    This morning I want to continue our discussion about healing by looking at what I call “The Healing Steps.”  I came across the “The Healing Steps” in the this book “God’s Healing Community.”  This book was written by Dr. Frank Bateman Stanger.  Stanger was a well respected preacher, professor, and long time president of Asbury Theological Seminary.  This book is still in print and I suggest you read it for more information and inspiration.
    Like I said last week the healing steps are not a magical formula or incantation that give us the power to control God’s will.  However, they are a set of ordered practices and disciplines that help us position our lives so we can best receive the healing grace God offers to us. 
    But before we look at the healing steps, I want us to look at an Old Testament story that bears witness to these steps.  If you want to know more about the healing steps, please turn to 2 Kings 5 as we look at the story of Naaman the Leper.

    The Bible tells us the following information about Naaman...
    
    Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria.
   
    Naaman is a gentile.  He is not a Jew, but that doesn’t matter to God.  God is at work in his life and Naaman isn’t a believer in Yahweh.  If you are looking for an example of previenent grace, that is the grace that goes before us and woos us into knowing about God, here it is.
   
    He was a mighty man of valor, but (as we would say in Southern talk...Naaman had everything going for him, but bless his heart) he was a leper.

    I think it is important to clarify that that leper is a broad and generic term.  Leper refers to anyone with a skin disease or rash.  In the Old Testament times, I would be called a leper because from time to time I have breakouts of severe dry skin known as eczema.  If you read in Leviticus there are lengthy chapters that describe the various skin diseases and tell how the priest can discern if it is a serious case of leprosy or just a rash.  So please note, this doesn’t mean Naaman had the severe case of leprosy that caused skin and fingers to fall off.  I doubt Naaman had the severe case of leprosy that we now know as Hansen disease because a leper wouldn’t be able to be a military leader or an advisor to the king.  Kings wouldn’t risk catching such a nasty disease. 

    Naaman’s success reveals something about his character.  He didn’t allow his sickness or disease to keep him from living.  He didn’t allow his sickness or disease to be an excuse.  He rose above his troubles and became a great man, but bless his heart he was still a leper.
   
    The Bible continues to tell us about God at work in Naaman’s life.

    Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
   
    This too is another example of God’s grace at work redeeming something terrible into something good.  Here is this slave girl, captured and taken away from her people, her home, and her religion; however, God uses her situation to change Naaman’s life. 

    I think the scripture shares something else about Naaman’s character or at least about the character of his wife.  His wife wasn’t too full of herself to ignore the advice of her servant.  His wife hears this word of hope and tells her husband about a cure.  Naaman doesn’t want to be a leper so he seeks out this cure.

    So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”
   
    So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

    Naaman isn’t a light packer.  He loads up for his trip to Israel.  He brings all this gold as gift to the king.  When I read this all I could think of is a “co-pay.”  But as we see the king of Israel isn’t much help to Naaman.

    And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”

    This bit of information really tells us something about the King of Israel.  The King of Israel doesn’t know about the man of God in his own kingdom.  Elisha doesn’t even cross the king’s mind.  He doesn’t even think about the man who had healed bitter and poisoned water, helped Israel and Judah fight and have victory over the Moabites, raised the dead son of the shumminite woman, and purified the deadly stew a group of prophets had eaten.  A jewish servant in a foreign kingdom knew about the man of God, but the king of the prophet’s own kingdom was ignorant of the man of God in his midst.

    But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

    Friends this is another example of humor in the Bible.

    So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”

    Naaman finally arrives at the right place.  He comes to the Prophet’s house.  He descends like a big wig: chariots, a crowd of servants, all the treasure he had brought to pay the prophet who would heal him. 
    I find this funny because how many times have you gone to the doctor’s office and you didn't get to see the doctor?  Naaman doesn’t see the doctor, or the physicians assistant, not even a nurse.  Elisha sends out the janitor, his servant.  The servant tells Naaman what he must do to be healed of his leprosy.
    This is almost the miracle that doesn’t happen.

    But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
   
    Naaman is angry.  He has come this far to be cured and he doesn’t even get to see the man of God.  A servant comes out and tells him to jump in a muddy river.  This isn’t what Naaman expected.  He is mad.  He is disappointed.  He almost misses his miracle.  Yet again we see Naaman’s character.  He listens to the advice of others...

    But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

    So Naaman listens.  He goes into the river seven times.  Seven is a symbolic number.  Seven is the number of perfection and wholeness.  You might say seven is a symbol of healing.  And now the story of Naaman’s life changes.  The story of Naaman’s life now reads:

    Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, at one time he was a leper, but now he is healed.

    I think it is important to briefly tell you the rest of Naaman’s story.  This miracle changed Naaman’s life in many ways.  Not only was he no longer a leper, but this miracle changes his heart.  Naaman became a follower of Yahweh, the God of Israel.  He carries dirt from the land of Israel so he can worship and offer sacrifices to the God who healed him. 

    As I read the story of Naaman I see examples of the principles of the healing steps.  Again, these healing steps are insights based on the work of the late Reverend Doctor Frank Bateman Stanger.

Determine if you are sick or think you are sick?  Or are you simply tired?
Clarify your need and discover what you must do.
Inner/ spiritual/ emotional problem?
Emotional problems can really affect your health.  Christian therapist and pastor David Seamands did a lot of work in this area.  If you have had emotional pain or abuse in your life I highly suggest you read Healing for Damaged Emotions and Healing for Damaged Memories.
Some of you all might remember the movie The Three Faces of Eve.  This movie told the story of a woman who was plagued with severe emotional pain that evidenced itself as multiple personality disorder. When Eve found healing for her emotional pain, she found healing for her whole life.
Organic/ structural problem?  Could you have a problem with part of your body-kidney’s aren’t working, muscle pain, can’t see well, etc.  Or structural: a broken bone, a pulled muscle, etc.
Determine who you need to seek help from: Doctor, pastor, or a counselor?
And through all of these steps pray.  Take a look at your bulletin insert:

Relaxation--relax and trust in God.
Purging--Confess your sin before God.  Clean your heart of those things that grieve the heart of God.
Clarification--Clarify the need you want to lift up to God.  Be specific about the area that needs to be made whole.
Consecration--Offer your life, your health, and your future to God. 
Anticipation--Visualize God's healing grace bringing wholeness to the place of brokenness in your life.
Appropriation--Use your health and wholeness to honor God.

Almighty God, the Bible reminds us that, “You look down from heaven and see the whole human race.  From your heavenly throne you watch all who live on earth below.”
    God we are thankful that you who created the heaven and earth watch over and care for us.  We are thankful that, “you who made our hearts understands what we do.”  We are grateful that you know our joys, our troubles, our successes, and our failures.  We are grateful that you know our hopes and our fears.
    God forgive us, when we doubt your care for us.  God forgive us when we fail to trust you and place our trust in the strength of others.  Help us to trust in your goodness, grace, and strength.
    God remind us that you continue to watch over those who fear you, honor you, trust you, and rely on your perfect unfailing love.
    God remind us that you will rescue us from the hands of death and you alone will keep us alive in times of famine. 
    God help us put our hope in you who is our help, our shield, and our divine hope.    Amen.

Please not that this manuscript is a guide that I use for preaching.  I have it handy, but I do not follow word for word.  Check out Colbertumc.org or ComerUMChurch.org to hear the preached sermon. 

It has been said, “Good things come to those who wait.”  But I’ve recently learned that there are some things that aren’t worth waiting for.  In today’s scripture from Mark chapter 1, we find something that isn’t worth waiting for.
    Today’s gospel story is one of several stories in the Bible that brings out the Monday Morning Quarterback in me.  If you don’t know what a Monday Morning Quarterback is, just listen to any sports talk program on the radio tomorrow morning.    These experts will be on the radio giving their advice on how the Giants and the Patriots should have played football in tonight’s Super Bowel.
    These Monday Morning Quarterbacks will be quick to say they should have passed the ball instead of running it, shouldn’t have called that time out when they did, should have let this player play instead of that one, and the list of their suggestions and play calls goes on.  When it comes down to it, Monday Morning Quarterbacks know today what needed to be done yesterday. 
    But Monday Morning Quarterbacks have one problem.  Despite all their wisdom, insight, and expertise--They weren’t on the field yesterday.  They weren’t the ones trying to catch a bad snap.  They weren’t the ones running up and down the field.  They weren’t the ones tackling and getting tackled.  Monday Morning Quarterbacks know today what needed to be done yesterday, but they weren’t on the field yesterday.
    Like I said, this story brings out the Monday Morning Quarterback in me.  It stirs within me the “would’ve, could’ve, and the should’ve.” When I read this story, I wonder why the folks waited until sunset to be healed. 
    “Good things come to those who wait” and “There are some things that aren’t worth waiting for.”  Jesus isn’t worth waiting for!
    When I read this story and think of the sick, the lame, and the troubled who waited for until sunset for Jesus to heal them, I say to myself-”Why did they wait?  If I had been there, I wouldn’t have waited.”  Some things are worth waiting for.  When you know Jesus the healer is in town, you don’t wait for him to come around, you hurry to find him. 
    This is the Monday Morning Quarterback.  We read the text today and know what should have been done yesterday, but we weren’t in Capernaum yesterday. We weren’t there when Jesus the healer came to town, so we can only guess why the people waited until sunset to be healed.
    Maybe they waited until sunset because they were ignorant.  Maybe they waited because until sunset because they didn’t know Jesus was in town.  Maybe they didn’t know Jesus had healed a demon possessed man in the Synagogue that morning.  I don’t know, but the Mark does tell us that the word about Jesus spread around the entire region.
    Maybe they waited until sunset because they had their doubts.  Maybe they waited because they heard the story, but didn’t believe it.  The story of the miracle in the synagogue was too good to be true.  It was just a tall tale.  I don’t know, but perhaps they saw the sick and crippled who had been healed walking by and knew their doubts were wrong.
    Maybe they waited until sunset because they were afraid.  Maybe they had fears about Jesus.  Who was this man?  He had a new authoritative teaching.  He had a different message a message with power.  Maybe they waited until their fears had been alleviated and they knew this man of authority was also a man of compassion.
    Maybe they waited until sunset because they didn’t want to be healed.  Later in his ministry Jesus would meet a man at the Pool of Bethesda.  For 38 years this man had been paralyzed.  When Jesus met him at the pool he asked the man “Do you want to be made well?”  It might surprise you, but there are some folks who are happy being sick.  They like the attention.  They like the pity.  They like not being expected to do what the healthy can and are expected to do.
    Maybe they waited until sunset because they didn’t want to break the Law.  You might not know this but there was a law that prevented work on the Sabbath.  On the Sabbath you weren’t allowed to pick up and carry anything.  On the Sabbath you couldn’t walk too far.  On the Sabbath you were forbidden to do anything that looked like work, and many religious leaders considered healing to be work. 
    The first part of this story took place on a Sabbath.  Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law on the Sabbath.  In doing so, he broke the law.
    I can just imagine a family with a sick daughter.  They heard what happened in the synagogue.  They know Jesus the healer is in town.  They so desperately want their daughter to be made well, but as long as the Sabbath Sun shines down they are forbidden by the law to pick up their sick daughter and carry her to Jesus.  I see mama sitting by the bedside gently comforting her sick daughter.  I see Daddy looking out the window watching the Sabbath sun move across the sky.  The day seemed to take so long.  Then it finally happened.  Sunset came.  When sunset came it marked the end of the Sabbath.  The law was no in effect.  The people who waited could now come and be healed.  I see Momma and Daddy carrying their sick daughter to Jesus the healer.
    Praise God that Jesus didn’t let a law keep him from doing what he came to do.    Jesus as the Son of God was wise enough to know the difference between God’s law and man’s law disguised as God’s law.  Jesus was wise enough to know it was foolishness to think that God would take a day off from bringing healing and wholeness to the broken and sick.
    We don’t know why the people waited to be healed.  We are only Monday Morning Quarterbacks.  We weren’t in Capernaum when the Jesus the healer came to town.
    But this morning there is a question we can answer, “Why are you waiting?”  What sunset keeps you from being healed and made whole by Jesus?
    Could it be ignorance?
Maybe you’ve  never heard scriptures like:

Psalm 6:2-”Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing.  O Lord heal me, for my bones are troubled.”

Jeremiah 3:22-”Return, o faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness.”

Isaiah 53:5-”But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.”

Pslam 103:3-5 “He forgives you sins every one.  He heals your diseases, every one.  He redeems you from hell, saves your life.  He crowns you with love and mercy, a paradise crown.  He wraps you in goodness, beauty eternal.  He renews your youth, you’re always young in his presence.”

    Maybe you never heard about the healing ministry of the church.  Maybe you don’t know God has called the church to preach, teach, and heal.  If you ever go to Nancy Goss’s beauty shop she has a little post-it note on the wall that offers a wonderful explanation of the ministry of the church.  Nancy heard this on the radio and was smart enough to write it down and wise enough to post it on the wall for others to read.
    “Preaching is proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.  Teaching is explaining the good news of Jesus Christ.  Healing is making the good news of Jesus Christ real.” 
    Could it be doubt?  Maybe you believe the healing ministry of the church was a thing of the past.  There are several sincere Christians who believe the gifts of healing ended with the Disciples and Apostles.  These Christians do not believe in the miracle of healing.
    Many only know the healing ministry of the church to be what they see on TV.  They look at the big spectacles and crusades and see something they don’t want to be part of.  They hear about the con-artists and “faith-healers” who break trust and use healing ministry as a way to gain fame and wealth, and they don’t believe God is at work healing today.
     At one time, I thought the healing ministry of the church was just a gimmick of flashy televangelists.  I now know that it isn’t.  The healing ministry of the church can be as simple as a prayer at the bedside of a hospital patient, a thoughtful conversation in the Pastor’s office, or a caring touch. 
    If you doubt the healing ministry of the church I know several people who can testify that God still heals. They’ve experienced the miracle of healing in their life.  Perhaps hearing their story can turn your doubt into belief.   
    Could it be that you don’t want to be made well?  Maybe you are content being sick.  Sickness is normal for you. Health would be something new and fearful.   Maybe you are afraid of what it takes to be healed.  Perhaps you don’t want to let go of the pain and bitterness.  Perhaps you don’t want to quit a habit that is making you unhealthy. Maybe you are afraid of what will happen once the brokenness in your life has been made whole.
    I saw this first hand in my family. One day grandma asked grandpa to move a heavy concrete flower pot from the back porch to the front porch.  Wanting to make grandpa happy he moved it, but doing so he hurt his back.  Grandpa never recovered from that injury.  It never kept him from fishing, watching tv, and doing the things he wanted to do, but whenever somebody asked him to do something he didn’t want to do, like wash the dishes, fold the laundry, or take out the trash-Grandpa was quick to remind us of the flower pot.  He was hurt and couldn’t do it.
    What sunset keeps you from coming into the healing presence of Christ?
    Perhaps your just confused.  You don’t know what to think or believe about the healing power of Christ and the healing ministry of the Church. 
    Well, let me tell you what I believe about healing. 
    I believe God is a healing God.  God wants all of us to be whole.  In essence that is what healing is all about.  Healing is wholeness.  Healing is about being fully who God wants us to be and has created us to be.  Healing is about be whole in mind, body, and spirit. 
    I believe God heals in many different ways: God can heal instantly and God can heal gradually directly through divine miracles, with medicine, good health practices, and with the faith community. I believe we cannot limit the ways God is able to heal and bring wholeness.
    Some folks ask “if healing is the will of God.”  I believe it is.  And some folks wonder why somebody who prayed for healing wasn’t made well.  I don’t think it is a matter of “If God heals, but when.”  God can elect to heal on this side of eternity, but God certainly heals on the other side of eternity.  The Bible tells us that in Heaven there is no sickness or disease.  In Heaven we will be whole.
    I also believe God wants us to know about healing grace.  That is why I am preaching and teaching about healing today.  I don’t want ignorance to keep you from coming to Jesus the healer.
    Next week, we will look at what some call the Healing Steps.  These steps are not a magic formula to receive divine healing and control the divine will of God, but rather they are Biblical principles that help put us in a position to understand and live in the will of God and thus be ready to receive whatever healing grace God offers. 
    But that is next week.  This is today.  So this morning I ask.  Why wait?
    I believe in the presence of Christ there is healing.  In the presence of Christ we can experience health, healing, and wholeness.  In the presence of Christ we can experience the fullness of salvation.  Did you know that in the original language in which the Bible was written, the healing, wholeness, and salvation are all part of the same word?  Healing and salvation go hand in hand.  Healing and wholeness go hand in hand. 
    If you think about it when we are sick, part of our self is missing. When I was stuck at home with the swine flu, I didn’t feel like myself.  I almost didn’t feel human.  I had no energy, no appetite, and I could barely think straight.  When are lives are full of sin we too can have the same symptoms.  Healing and salvation through Christ make us whole.  In Christ we are made fully human.
    So why wait? 
    Jesus is here.  We believe in the sacrament of holy communion Jesus the healer is present at the table.  In this simple meal of bread and cup Jesus is here to bring health, wholeness, and salvation to all who come to him in faith.  
    I believe in the healing power of the sacrament of holy communion.  I believe in communions healing power because I've seen it first hand.  
    I was in my second year of pastoral ministry.  At the time I was serving a small church in the cornfields of central Kentucky.  I was also a full-time seminary student and working part-time at the YMCA.  It was a busy time of the school year when I got the call.  “Bro Hugh Mama’s in the hospital.  It don’t look good.  Her colon is dying.  She is in bad shape.  Could you come?  Could you bring communion?”
    Earlier that year I had preached my first sermon series about Christian healing.  I had shared with this small congregation about the healing power of holy communion, but I’ve never seen it face to face.  I had doubts, but I continued to ask God to help my unbelief.
    I made the long drive from Lexington to Elizabethtown, Ky.  It was about a three hour round trip.  I wasn’t looking forward to trying to fit a funeral into my busy school and work schedule.  Mama played the piano and I didn’t know how we would replace her.
    Well I visited Mama.  We talked.  I prayed and we had communion.
    I never had to preach Mama’s funeral.  She is still alive.  Though her health has deteriorated over the years, Lela Mae is still here.  God’s healing grace in her life reminds me of Hezekiah.  Hezekiah was at death’s door and he prayed for God to heal him.  God gave him 15 more years.
    Like I said, the question isn’t if God heals.  It is when. 
    So why wait?
   
    Jesus Christ the Healer invites to his table the broken, the hurting, the tired, and the weary who love him, earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace and wholeness with one another.  Therefore let us confess our brokenness, our hurts, our pain, and our sins to God and to one another.

This prayer is inspired by the scriptures of Isaiah 40.

Heavenly Father,
    We your children thank you for this gift of prayer that you have given us.  We are grateful that bend low to Earth to hear us as we struggle to reach up to Heaven to hear you.
    Father we ask that might be merciful and forgive us, for time to time we fail to be the people you desire us to be.  Father we have forgotten part of the good news you have told us.  Father in your mercy remind us, “That you will not grow tired or weary, and we cannot Father your understanding.”  Father in your mercy remind us that, “You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak.”
    Father in your mercy help us for we, both youthful and not so youthful, are tired and weary.  Help us as we stumble and fall.  Be quick to catch and hold us.
    Father in your mercy help us put our hope in you.
    Father please renew our strength.
    Father may your Holy Spirit lift us up on wings like eagles so we might rise above all that seeks to hold us down.
    Father may your Holy Spirit quicken us to run and not grow weary as we work to bring your Heavenly Kingdom and will on Earth.
    Father may your Holy Spirit guide us as we seek to walk in your way today, tomorrow, and forevermore.
    Heavenly Father, we your children thank you for bending low as we reach up to you now.  Help us as we faithfully wait and anticipate the fulfillment of your will in our lives. Thank you for hearing our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ your son.  Amen.

A sage once said, "Good things come to those who wait."  I've also learned, "There are somethings not worth waiting for."  Some things are worth hurrying for!

So I ask, what are you waiting for?  And what are you not waiting for, but hurrying to find?

Several friends use this service.  With the future of IWeb and MobileME publishing unclear, I now move on to another service.  We will see how well this works out.