Searching for God

Friends,

I want to try something new and post last Sunday’s message here. First let me share a couple of observations. A sermon is a spoken – not written – message. Each week I type up a manuscript and go over it a couple of times but don’t bring it into the pulpit. Sometimes the written message and the spoken one are very similar. Sometimes they are not at all.

One day this past week I took my written manuscript and edited it based on how I remember the sermon being spoken. I did this days after Sunday – so what is here is not what was shared last week. However, I hope it is recognizable.

I have edited and cleaned up the grammar, etc., but this is meant to be a ‘reasonable facsimile’ of the message you heard.

Notice many times I give credit when I refer to someone else’s ideas. I also recognize that there is no way to give credit every time someone else’s ideas have shaped mine, but I will do my best.

Blessings,

Ande

As usual - questions or comments are welcomed at ande.myers@gmail.com

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Ande Myers - Cornerstone Baptist Church

Genesis 1.1 – Searching for God

‘In the Beginning God’

Intro (to the series):

Last year one of the most reputable and most utilized Bible search engines on the web analyzed the searches done on their website and published the results. Between March and April of last year, BibleGateway.com was used to make over 25 million Bible searches. Late last year the results of those searches were published.

As I read this report, I realized that there were some sermons in here, sermons on the most searched passages in the Bible, and perhaps a sermon or two on the flip side – what people are not looking for. So, for the next few weeks we’ll examine some of these passages.

First, a word in general about what I’ve found. I’ve taken some time to read the top 100 verses and of them, sixteen (16% for those of you who are good at math) were from the Old Testament. This is not really surprising to me but I do believe it illustrates that we neglect God’s story in the Old Testament, many times.

I use an Old Testament Passage today and may use one more, but will focus the rest of the time on the New Testament. As I read through the most searched Scriptures I put them into categories: those dealing with courage to face fear, plans for life, sin, salvation and practical advice for the living of life. We will focus on these themes over the next few weeks. I am very excited about this journey and I hope you’ll plan to be here along the way.

I

One of my favorite singers (David Wilcox) has written a song called, Start with the Ending. In it he imagines a relationship that from the beginning has the honestly and clarity that often times is only revealed at the end of a relationship. Sometimes I’ve thought this would be nice, what about you? Start with the ending. Just this week I noticed a particular celebrity breakup. And this had been a very long relationship – at least in standards used for those that occur in the public eye. They said, When we were away from the lights and cameras we began to realize that we were headed different directions in life. We love each other, our time together was a blessing; we are just going different places in life.

This story told about the fact that after their breakup they both got away and asked some of these questions, Do I love myself? If I am to be alone am I o.k. with this? What will it take for me to be happy? What do I want in life?

At the end of their relationship they went back to the basics. Today I don’t want us to start with the ending. I want us to start at the beginning.

Some of us in life come to a point where we think we have some of it figured out. You see, there is a particular way that things ought and ought not to happen. We act and react and think and plan and have contingency plans for each situation. Yet, somehow, now we realize that in life one can’t plan for nor can one anticipate everything. This truth is compounded in family life. At this point we might find ourselves with no particular guiding clue. (Inspiration and Tolstoy’s words from Anna Karenina, part III, chapter 20.)

My advice at this point in life is unlike the singer’s advice to ‘start with the ending.’ My advice is to start with the beginning.

II

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. This is how the chapter starts…and over and over again, for seven days a pattern is repeated.

Unfortunately these verses have, in my opinion, been the source of the wrong kinds of attention. There are some who’ll read the Bible in general and Genesis specifically to answer certain questions in life, and this is alright. The questions they want to answer are, How, exactly did this happen? And, When, exactly did this occur? I really believe that these are the wrong questions and here is why.

These are some of the oldest Scriptures we have and the earlier Jewish audiences would not wonder about this. They would not ask, How old is the earth? Or, How did it come to be?

They were a minority people in the world and they had been surrounded by other people and their gods. Four hundred years in Egypt and then on to Canaan and eventually on to Babylon and back, and in each place they were surrounded by all these other gods. Some of these journeys were voluntary and some were not.

When they would find themselves at wits end and in need of help they would lift their eyes unto the hills for help and what would they see? (Do you remember from our look at Psalm 121?) They would see other gods carved into the hills and temples there. But they were reminded by the psalmist, Your help will come from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

So, specifically, verses one and following say, In the beginning was God. We’ll also know him as the great I AM, I was, I have been, I will be. Each person was reminded that there is something that always was, and this is the Lord God.

Verse two shifts the focus to the earth and says, The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep…

Here we see an image of formlessness, of void, there was nothingness and chaos. But, notice - a ray of hope, and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said…in chapter one, ten times God speaks and it comes to pass.

The early Jewish person is not concerned with How? or When? But she is burdened by Who? and What? In the beginning there was God and God made order out of chaos. God spoke and it came to be. And because of God’s Spirit, God’s presence, there is always hope.

III

I want to come at this Scripture from two angles this morning. The first one I have alluded to, Let’s start at the beginning.

A friend called me on Monday very excited about his team’s advancement in the playoffs. (I always am eager to talk football.) He then shared with me that this past year his father passed away, something I had not known. He decided, really, he committed, to spend more time with his family. His words were, Dad was my rock and without him I’ve been spinning, but now I know what I am to do.

I have spent 18 years giving my all for my company and they’ve moved me to Fredericksburg. And I realized, All this toil and all this giving I’ve done for them has gotten me nothing. And in the process I have neglected my responsibilities and obligations at home. I am not going to make this mistake again.

He had to go, but I hope our conversation is not over. You see, we didn’t touch on the spiritual aspect of things, but I recognize as clear as you are sitting here today that God’s Spirit was hovering – moving over the face of the waters. There has been darkness. There has been disorder. There has been chaos. But, the Good News of the Gospel is that there is Hope.

Genesis one has a pattern. God speaks, it happens, and it is good. Do you remember that God looks at each day, at all of what he’s made and sees that it is good?

Now, if you look at your days, if we look at our lives we see that all is not good. I believe this is because we – mostly un-intentionally – step further and further away from God and his goodness. We don’t do this on purpose or with malice. We just, like sheep are prone to wander and stray. We nibble and nibble and walk and walk and low and behold we are a long way from home.

IV

The second angle is related to the first. Remember that when God created human beings he made us in his image. What does this mean? Not only are the fingerprints of God all over us, but each of us is made in God’s image. So, when we look at one another we should remember this and watch closely for images of God.

Perhaps today – in our world – we should remember, when we look at our enemies or our adversaries (a better word) that God has created them in his image. I have fingerprints of God all over me…you have them over you…our neighbors do to…as do our enemies.

Recently there was an older couple retired from ministry looking for a church. (Gordan MacDonald’s Seat Selection for Worship.) As they came into the empty sanctuary they chose seats near the front – out of habit.

Not long after an older man in his eighties came in and sat in front of them. He was alone. Once the music began they sang and sang and sang and the older gentleman had to sit down. The former pastor asked, Are you o.k.?

Yes, I’m fine.

Knees, hips or ankle problems?

All three.

During the announcement he and his wife moved over and asked the gentleman to sit with them. He wanted to decline but did not and gathered his coat and moved back.

After the service he said that it was nice to have someone to sit with, for his wife died two years ago and he had no one to come to church with him. He also shared that his son’s family was having problems and he was quite worried, as they were all the family he had. They seemed to bond well together as fellow worshipers can.

The retired pastor said, May I pray for you? And he did.

This week you will get these chances, for they don’t just happen from eleven to noon on Sundays. This week you will have opportunities to serve the Lord, will you take them?

On last Saturday evening I went to Asheville to see a member of our church in the hospital. Afterwards Michelle had given me the go-ahead to take some personal time and find a Barnes and Noble.

I knew there was one south of town on 26 but had missed the exit. As I asked a young man how to find my way he said, You need to turn around and go back.

I said, Can’t I just go up here and through there and so on and so on?

He realized I would never find Barnes and Noble that way so he said, No, you need to turn around.

The Scripture has a word for this and it is Repentance.

Some of us are heading the wrong direction. It isn’t malicious. It has been gradual. Either way no length of travel down the wrong road will lead us to the right place. This morning maybe we need to stop, turn around, start with the beginning, even. This may be the best thing you can do today. If so, use this time of commitment and respond to the Lord’s leading in your life.

Amen.

Come and Worship

Friends,

I hope your New Year is off to a great start. On last Sunday we began a look at some of the Songs of Ascent. These are Psalms 120 – 134. There are fifteen of them and they were sung going up to Jerusalem to worship. If you were here Sunday you remember that the theme for these weeks is this, Come and Worship.

As a pastor I have heard many reasons people give for not worshiping. Some have been thoughtful and valid, some have been doozies. And I have endured most of these – even the doozies – with a straight face.

We could each probably come up with a dozen reasons not to worship but I can think of one big reason to Come and Worship and that is to meet God. It can be plain and simple.(Inspired by the thoughts of Eugene Peterson.)

This year I have been reading portions of Mark Twain’s autobiography. The portions I am reading were compiled from monthly magazine articles roughly a hundred years ago.

Twain tells of a pastor friend of his, Rev. Joseph Harris, quite an interesting guy (this story is from 1880). In Twain’s words:

Harris has had many adventures. He has more adventures in a year than anybody else has in five. One Saturday night he noticed a bottle on his uncle's dressing-bureau. He thought the label said "Hair Restorer," and he took it in his room and gave his head a good drenching and sousing with it and carried it back and thought no more about it. Next morning when he got up his head was a bright green! …As the days went on and Sunday followed Sunday, the interest in Harris's hair grew and grew; because it didn't stay merely and monotonously green, it took on deeper and deeper shades of green; and then it would change and become reddish, and would go from that to some other color—purplish, yellowish, bluish, and so on—but it was never a solid color. It was always mottled. And each Sunday it was a little more interesting than it was the Sunday before—and Harris's head became famous, and people came from New York, and Boston, and South Carolina, and Japan, and so on, to look. There wasn't seating-capacity for all the people that came while his head was undergoing these various and fascinating mottlings. And it was a good thing in several ways, because the business had been languishing a little, and now a lot of people joined the church so that they could have the show, and it was the beginning of a prosperity for that church which has never diminished in all these years.

I could say, Come and Worship Sunday to see what color the preacher’s hair is…But, I’ll stick with this, Come and Worship you might just meet God. Have a great day.

Blessings,

Ande

Friends,

This morning I read an interesting but sad story in the newspaper (online.) If are curious, you can find it here – Mark Madoff story.

The story was about Bernie Madoff’s oldest child, Mark. You’ll remember that Bernie was a crook, the organizer of a Ponzi scheme, and it is estimated that he schemed away about $68 billion of other people’s money. Bernie is in prison here in NC and will be for 150 more years.

But the story I saw was about Bernie’s son, Mark, and the choice he made to take his own life last week. Here’s part of the story as it appeared in the online edition of the paper:

Last Friday, the publisher of a promising real estate newsletter called Sonar Report rose before dawn, scoured the news to gather items for that day’s edition and, at 9:04 a.m., sent it out to his e-mail subscribers.

Less than 24 hours after sending his e-mail, he hanged himself in his downtown Manhattan apartment, leaving behind a life of burdens and blessings.

The blessings appeared to be sustaining him, even on that final day, according to those closest to him. They recall a man who was patiently building a new business, talking regularly with close friends, spending time with his wife and four children and, even in the last hours of his life, walking his dog, an affectionate Labradoodle.

But behind that screen, the burdens of life as Bernie Madoff’s son — the continuing suspicion from the public, the harsh accusations in numerous lawsuits, and his exile from the world of Wall Street — were steadily becoming unsustainable.

This is so very sad. Mark took his life on the second anniversary of his father’s arrest. Many of his friends had worried about him but thought he was doing so much better. In this Bernie Madoff saga, how many victims are there? Mark left a wife and four children, all victims. Ruth, Bernie’s wife of 50 years and Mark’s mother, has been called the ‘loneliest woman in New York City.’ She has been ostracized by the public, shunned by her friends and wounded by rumors of Bernie’s extra marital affairs. Even though she’s become a very wealthy woman over the years, I’d say she’s a victim, too. Four of his relatives who have reaped benefits from Bernie’s business dealings have been named in legal suits thus far. These suits will drag on for years and years in court. And, let’s not forget, Bernie Madoff lost $68 billion of other people’s money - maybe thousands of people. Certainly they are victims.

This makes me wonder, How much bad can one person do? But, on second thought, I don’t think I really want to know.

This afternoon I hope to complete a message about the Good News of Christmas as I focus specifically on Simeon and Anna’s faithfulness. With the article from the newspaper in one hand and the witness of Scripture in the other, a flipside to my previous question has emerged…How much good can one person do?

Perhaps a better way to ask this question is, How much good can God accomplish in the life of one willing person?

You know, some of us probably know people like Mark Madoff and his family. We know people burdened with sins of their own. And these sins are upon them like a heavy dead weight. We also know people dealing with the consequences of someone else’s sins. Sometimes this even seems worse. We know people who right now look at their circumstances and can’t see a way ahead.

Let me remind you, God wants to use you to bless these people today. God wants you to encourage them and remind them that there is hope. God wants you to live lives of faith and dependence on him. God wants you to keep your promises and tell the truth. God wants you to embrace his Good News. And God plans to use your faithfulness to help accomplish his purposes. This is a promise of Scripture and a mission of the church.

On Christmas Eve we’ll hear these words in worship and they will remind us of God’s faithfulness and love. They also testify to the willingness of those who received God’s gifts and were called to follow despite their fears:

In the quiet of the night

A woman gives birth:

A personal act of faith;

Accepting God’s charge upon her.

In the quiet of the night

A husband becomes a father:

A personal act of faith;

Accepting God’s charge upon him.

In the quiet of the night

A baby breathes the air:

A personal act of sacrifice;

God steps out of the divine into the mundane

For us.

Will you look for God’s work in the world? Will you listen to the lives of your neighbors? Will you step out in faith and follow God in faithfulness? This is the life of a disciple.

Blessings,

Ande Myers

Comments? Email me at ande.myers@gmail.com

Hope in the Lord

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

~ Psalm 146.5

Friends,

During this Advent Season I, as you pastor, am supposed to tell you not to be distracted by the commercialization of Christmas and the hubbub it brings. I accept this as part of my job. Not too long ago I was in a local store and saw the decorations and the lights and heard the carols and I thought what you probably have thought, as well: Thanksgiving can’t be too far away! (ba-dum-bum)

Early this morning at the coffee shop I finished a unique memoir written by a woman who had, in a way, lost her husband. He had been struck by a car and had suffered severe head trauma and in order for his life to be saved, part of his brain had to be removed. As a result of his injuries and his treatment, he no longer had a way of remembering the past or looking forward to the future. All he had was today, or, more specifically, this very moment.

As his wife coped and tried to meet his needs, she found herself really only living for today and in the moment, as well. No longer was the past comforting to her and tomorrow for her was the great unknown. Over and over again I was struck wondering, Where is her hope?

Thus far in Advent we have lit the Candle of Hope and the Candle of Peace and as we light them it is important to remember that we don’t just passively observe these things (Hope, Peace, Joy and Love). As we light these candles we make commitments and we make promises. Do you realize that one of the ways God plans to bring hope into this world is for his people – you and me – to act hopeful? And really the only way we can do this is to place our hope in Jesus Christ. And certainly God calls you and me to bring his Peace, to point to him and to work for the things that will bring Peace. We also must embrace the One who brings us peace.

Sunday we’ll focus a bit on the Candle of Joy and one of the joyous things we’ll do is sing the Cantata. As a member of the choir I am excited about singing these songs. As a member of the church I look forward to the music and to worship. As a father I look forward to bringing my children. As a son I look forward to my parents being here. And as your pastor I hope to see you in worship on Sunday.

Blessings,

AndeMyers

Comments - email me at ande.myers@gmail.com

Thoughts on Friendship

Friends,

This morning I am just reflecting on this past weekend at church. On Saturday we distributed 50 Thanksgiving meals to our neighbors; on Sunday we worshiped together and shared in a Thanksgiving Meal at church that evening; and on Monday we served about 400 meals at Angel Food. Whew.

I have two thoughts I want to share with you about this. One, thank you, thank you, thank you for your help and involvement in these ministries, in worship, and in all aspects of the weekend. After we got home from the meal and from the community service in town I said to Michelle, This was a good day at church. Would you agree? Thought two: I thoroughly enjoyed serving, worshiping, eating, and fellowship alongside you. You are fun to hang around with, serve with, and you never cease to be a blessing to me.

A couple of Sunday mornings ago we were on vacation and preparing to worship with a friend in Lenoir. I bought the Observer and was able to read it on Sunday, something I rarely am able to do on Sunday. (This is not a complaint, just an observation.) One story that caught my eye was ‘The Best of Friends,’ written by our former president, George W. Bush. (Has enough time passed that I can mention him without it being political?)

When he said he would step out of the fray, he obviously meant it. And one of the only we have heard from him in the past year, apart from some interviews about his book, was this short article. And, you know what it was about? Friendship. Interesting.

His words: Harry Truman, one of my predecessors, is often quoted as saying, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” But while the 33rd president and I are said to have much in common, we diverge on this topic. Now that I’m retired, people ask me for advice, and I tell everyone: Make friends, keep them, and learn from them your entire life… He went on to say, My friends have truly been one of the greatest gifts of my life. It’s been said you can judge a person by the friends he keeps—and if that’s true, then I’m a fortunate man indeed.

I say these are fine words. Make friends, keep them, and learn from them your entire life.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Blessings,

Ande Myers

Comments? Email me at ande.myers@gmail.com

A Prayer Experiement

Friends,

I hope you are having a great week and enjoying this rain. Don’t we need it?

On Sunday in the first sermon in a series of three, What Christians Do, we focused on the fact that We Pray.

Remember that I asked you specifically to pray for three different people each day this week. Here’s a story that was told:

A mother had two sons, one a gardener and the other a potter. Said the gardener, ‘O mother, pray to God for rain to water my plants.’ Said the potter, ‘O mother, pray to God for sunshine to dry my pots.’ Now the mother loved them equally well. Shall she pray for rain or sun? She decided that she would pray for both her sons and leave their requests in the hands of God.

(adapted from Harry Emerson Fosdick, The Meaning of Prayer, written in 1915)

Well, it is Wednesday – how are you doing in this prayer experiment? If you’ve lifted up three people each day in prayer, great, keep going. If you have forgotten – it is only Wednesday, start now. And, if you weren’t here to accept the challenge, won’t you begin today.

On Sunday we’ll focus on part II, What Christians Do: We Think.

I hope to see you tonight as we listen to one of Paul’s sermons.

Blessings,

Ande

Comments? Send an email to ande.myers@gmail.com

The World in the Palm of the Hand

Last week on vacation I began an interesting book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Now, I don’t practice Zen, nor do I ride motorcycles, and I know virtually nothing about how either works. Nevertheless, isn’t reading the thing that can take you places you’ve never gone? An escape?

This book was a runaway hit in the early 70’s and has been on my list for a while. It is also pretty easy reading and on one level is the story about a father, his eleven year-old son and two other friends who ride out West on the back of motorcycles. This part of the storyline is simple.

But, like with many good books, there is a deeper story, also. You see, this father is trying to figure out his life. He is on a journey – and I’m a sucker for journeys – and is trying to understand what it is that he’s lost in life. He must first comprehend the past to understand who he is now and who he can be tomorrow. When read on this level, it is a book of Philosophy.

One thought that has captured my imagination occurs as the father is trying to understand the difference between himself and one of his riding partners. He observes that we glean our picture of the world as we notice a myriad of events in our lives and select them and sort them and process them. The author’s exact quotes was, We take a handful of sand form the endless landscape of awareness around us and call that handful of sand the world.

My wheels have really been turning on this. I’ve known people whose world was simply as big as their living room and what they could see from it. One said, Did you know that 17 school buses pass our house each morning on the way to school? That’s 3 more than last year!

I’ve also known people whose world was grand. I knew one lady who was basically confined to her very small home in rural Virginia because of physical limitations, yet her world was large and full of ideas that she wanted to discuss with me. She was involved with many people and lived life to the fullest with her mind through books and conversation and worship.

I wonder what sand I am holding in my hand and how it shapes my understanding of the world. I fear I often hold tight to the wrong things. I worry and am anxious. I can be selfish. My world gets too small. I rely too much on myself.

A wise person once said, One must look at the world with the Bible in one hand and the New York Times in the other. (Feel free to substitute your newspaper of choice.) I would add, When in doubt, focus on the Bible and the Good News therein, for it is here that we find our grounding.

Late one afternoon on the beach last week I stood with my feet in the sand; the coolish waves were lapping over my ankles. As I looked up I saw the moon clearly in the darkening blue sky. I think I began to understand being ‘wed to heaven yet rooted on earth.’

What do you hold in your hand that shapes your understanding of the world? My prayer is that you hold tight to what is Hopeful and Best and learn to turn loose of everything else. Jesus said it this way, But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mt 6.33)

Blessings,

Ande

Do you have comments? I'd love to hear: ande.myers@gmail.com