http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons The weekly sermons and announcements from the Bear Creek United Methodist Church. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:57:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 © webmaster@bcumc.org () webmaster@bcumc.org() 1440 The weekly sermons and announcements from the Bear Creek United Methodist Church. webmaster@bcumc.org No no http://www.bcumc.org/Photos/RSSart.jpg http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons 144 144 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/08/pastors-sermon/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/08/pastors-sermon/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:49:27 +0000 Bonnie http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/?p=1462 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/08/pastors-sermon/feed/ 00:01:01 David Orendorffnbsp;nbsp; nbsp;Luke 13:1-9nbsp;nbsp; March 7, 2010 Once upon a time a Jerusalemite was reading the Jerusalem Times and saw an article that puzzled him. Knowing ... David Orendorffnbsp;nbsp; nbsp;Luke 13:1-9nbsp;nbsp; March 7, 2010 Once upon a time a Jerusalemite was reading the Jerusalem Times and saw an article that puzzled him. Knowing that a wise man named Jesus was in town, he went to Jesus for an answer. It seems that some Galileans were on a holy pilgrimage to Jerusalem and, on the way to the temple to make a sacrifice Pilate, the Rome-appointed governor of Judea took umbrage and had the Galileans killed. The reader's question was, "Were the Galileans killed because they were bad people?" This is our old friend "blessings theology" (God blesses good people and curses bad people) sticking its ugly head up yet one more time. If you get killed by a power -mad tyrant, you must have done something bad to deserve it. Jesus answers with what I can only imagine was an incredulous tone: "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered such?" followed by an emphatic, "I tell you, NO!" Then Jesus takes the Jerusalem Times and points to another article. Eighteen construction workers in the Siloam tunnel, which is the main supply of water to Jerusalem, were killed when a tower in the tunnel fell. Jesus asks, "Do you think those who were killed were worse folks than all the others who dwell in Jerusalem?" And again he answers, "I tell you, NO!" Note, for clarity, that the tragedies which struck were in no way the result of the behavior of those who died. That is, they weren't smokers who died of lung cancer. They were victims of someone else's decisions and actions-in nbsp;one case the vicious power of Pilate and, in the other, faulty construction. We could take today's Seattle Times, find an article about a tragedy and ask the same question, "Did this happen because this was a bad person, a person worse than other people in King County?" Blessings theology just doesn't hold water; it doesn't make sense. Very bad things like car wrecks, earthquakes, the holocaust, famine, poverty, and fatal illnesses happen to very good and very innocent people. Jesus doesn't just deny that God operates by blessings theology, he also says, twice, "Unless you repent you will all likewise perish." What is that about? It sounds pretty threatening and a little confusing. Repent from what? Perish like the Galileans, like the construction workers? What is Jesus talking about? A refresher course on "repent" will help. When someone tells us to repent, we usually think of the bad stuff we do and our need to stop doing it, with an added "I am sorry." While this is hopefully the consequence of repentance, it is not the heart of repentance. The word we translate as repent literally means "to change one's mind or opinion." nbsp;Saying I am sorry and trying to change behavior is not repentance, it is the consequence of repentance, of a changed mind. We have all known and been folks who are sorry and say sorry and then do it again. Why? Because the same old mind generates the same old behavior. Only when we have a true transformation of mind do we actually quit doing it or do it differently, whatever it is. But what about the "likewise perish" part of "unless you repent you will all likewise perish." Folks who spend their time thinking about how the blessings and curses of life come from a power greater than themselves have what we now call a victim mentality. Why? Because those with a "blessings theology" mind don't believe they have power over their lives, but that they are most generally at the mercy of some powerful other, be it a god or a person. Barbara Baker, in a psychological article discussing victim mentality, writes: A victim mentality is one where you blame everyone else for what happens in your world... If you do not get the promotion it is because Mr. Johnson was out to get you. Not because he found you playing on the Internet every day. Your best friend called and said she could not have dinner with you. She is always doing tha... Sermons webmaster@bcumc.org no No http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/06/announcements-3/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/06/announcements-3/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:26:12 +0000 Bonnie http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/?p=1461 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/06/announcements-3/feed/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/06/youth-calendar/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/06/youth-calendar/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:23:58 +0000 Bonnie http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/?p=1460 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/06/youth-calendar/feed/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/06/pastors-message-3/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/06/pastors-message-3/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:20:34 +0000 Bonnie http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/?p=1458 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/06/pastors-message-3/feed/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/01/from-casual-to-captive/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/01/from-casual-to-captive/#comments Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:09:16 +0000 johnl http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/?p=1455 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/03/01/from-casual-to-captive/feed/ 00:01:01 David Orendorffnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;Philippians 3:17-4:1nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp; February 28, 2010 This is my translation and it attempts to stay close to the Greek both in words and sense.nbsp; ... David Orendorffnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;Philippians 3:17-4:1nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp; February 28, 2010 This is my translation and it attempts to stay close to the Greek both in words and sense.nbsp; Any errors are mine. 3:17Brothers and sisters, come with me my companion followers and observe how those who are walking about are an example to us.nbsp; 18For many of those walking about of whom I have often spoken, even now weeping I tell you, are hostile to the cross of Christ. 19Their final outcome is destruction, their god is the belly and the essence of their presence is shame, thinking about the things of earth.nbsp; 20For our common wellbeing exists in heaven out of which we expect a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body according to the power which enables him and subjects all things to him.nbsp; 4:1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love as a servant and for whom I long, you who are my joy and my reward, in times like these persevere in the Lord, my beloved. So far my Lenten thoughts are about choices.nbsp; Last week it was the choices Jesus made following his baptism.[1] Today it is the choice Paul is challenging the congregation in Philippi to make.nbsp; The challenge is particularly urgent because Paul is in prison and rightly expects that his death is near. To better understand Paul's plea it is helpful to understand Paul's target audience.nbsp; Early in his ministry Paul chose to be a pastor and apostle to God fearers.nbsp; God fearers are gentiles (non-Jews) who attend synagogue but have not converted to Judaism; that is, though they worship with Jews they have not been circumcised nor do they practice kosher food laws.nbsp; They are folks who are culturally Roman with religious inclinations toward Judaism. Paul pleads with these God fearers to get off the fence and choose to build their lives around the faith of Jesus in God not around faith in themselves.nbsp; He pleads that they be fully committed to the power of Jesus working in them, even if they, like Jesus, must die. John Wesley makes a similar plea to the first Methodists. In his sermon "Almost a Christian" [2] he calls his listeners to be "Altogether Christian" rather than "Almost Christian." Wesley describes "almost a Christian" as those who: Don't murder, don't oppress the poor, don't cheat or defraud anyone and manage debt well. They value truth and justice. And, quoting Wesley, "There (is) a sort of love and assistance which they (expect) one from another." "Almost a Christian" folks have...the outside of a real Christian. They don't curse. They go to church, avoid adultery, fornication, and uncleanness and so forth. In other words the "almost a Christian" is a pretty good person and someone we would be glad to have as a neighbor or friend.nbsp; Wesley contrasts the "Almost a Christian" with "The Altogether a Christian." He says the "Altogether a Christian" is one whose life is based in a faith built around Jesus' "Great Commandment."nbsp; They are both internally convicted and externally active in love of God, neighbor and self.nbsp; Wesley writes, "Whosoever has this faith, thus working by love, is not almost only, but altogether, a Christian."[3] Today the Book Study Group will finish reading and discussing George Barna's "The Seven Faith Tribes."[4] You might want to join them since they are having a lively debate with Barna on this very topic.nbsp; Those Wesley calls "Almost a Christian" Barna calls "Casual Christians."nbsp; In an interview Barna says; A Casual Christian can be all the things that they esteem: a nice human being, a family person, religious, an exemplary citizen, a reliable employee - and never have to publicly defend or represent difficult moral or social positions or even lose much sleep over their private choices as long as they mean well and generally do their best. ...To them, Casual Christianity is the best of all worlds; i... Sermons webmaster@bcumc.org no No http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/27/choices-and-more-choices/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/27/choices-and-more-choices/#comments Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:48:54 +0000 johnl http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/?p=1453 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/27/choices-and-more-choices/feed/ 00:01:01 Luke 4:1-13nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;David Orendorffnbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;February 21, 2010 We are a culture that loves choices.nbsp; To be able to choose is perceived as freedom.nbsp; We have more ... Luke 4:1-13nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;David Orendorffnbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;February 21, 2010 We are a culture that loves choices.nbsp; To be able to choose is perceived as freedom.nbsp; We have more freedom of choice than anyone in history. I have more choices in the first hour of being awake than 98% of the world has for a month or more. nbsp;Without a good plan and a list walking into Safeway can cause a paralysis of choice. All of these wonderful choices boil down to one fundamental choice, how will we spend our lives?nbsp; Make no mistake; living life is a spending of precious minutes, talents, materials and opportunities.nbsp; And it is we who, for the most part, choose the spending.nbsp; Today's passage relates directly to the choices we must make for a life well spent. The setting is important. Jesus is led by the Spirit to the wilderness.nbsp; It is a place of chaos where he is vulnerable to the weather, to beasts and to robbers.nbsp; In the wilderness only God stands between Jesus and destruction.nbsp; Secondly, Jesus chooses to fast, to voluntarily put off life's comforts and to take on life's suffering.nbsp; By going to the wilderness and fasting Jesus has chosen to make himself reliant solely on the mercy of God.nbsp; That is when the devil comes. The devil observes that Jesus must be pretty hungry after a long fast, and since he is the Son of God couldn't he use his privilege to turn some nearby stones into bread.nbsp; It seems an innocent enough choice when you're really hungry.nbsp; Jesus' answer to the devil recognizes the fundamental need for bread to live, "People do not live by bread alone" implicitly acknowledges that bread is needed.nbsp; However, the complete passage from Deuteronomy that Jesus is quoting goes, "People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."[1] Our real life is not in bread but in what God has to say to us.nbsp; And Jesus speaks for God when he answers the attorney saying God's commandment is this, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."[2] We have this same choice. We too are God's children and the Holy Spirit is in us as well, giving us power to turn the stones of our labor into bread.nbsp; And that is a good thing.nbsp; The bad news is that we live in a culture obsessed with making and keeping as much bread as possible.nbsp; We live in a time and place that chooses to eat the whole loaf at every meal, often without even saying thank you.nbsp; In fact, among the world's population we are God's very blessed children being in the top 2% for bread, education, and income.nbsp; You name it and we are at the top.nbsp; The test the devil offers is "What are we going to do from up here?"nbsp; Will we use the power in us to feed our tummies and desires first and then, maybe, with the leftovers, if there are any leftovers, feed others?nbsp; How will we use the power God has given us? The devil poses a second choice Jesus must make for the spending of his life saying, "I have power and glory over all the kingdoms of the world.nbsp; I will give you power and glory if you worship me." Jesus' response is simple and direct.nbsp; Again quoting Deuteronomy he says, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'"[3] Like having a lot of bread, our culture is also obsessed with "authority and glory" or alternatively translated, "power and prestige" or "the need to be looking good."nbsp; How else do we explain the size and price of our homes and cars?nbsp; Doing cross cultural training I learned that a first question we ask (or wonder) when meeting each other is, "What do you do for a living?" whereas many other cultures ask questions about family. But to spend life trying to look good is a trap.nbsp; It is the promise of a false security which a fall in the showe... Sermons webmaster@bcumc.org no No http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/26/announcements-2/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/26/announcements-2/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:03:26 +0000 Bonnie http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/?p=1450 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/26/announcements-2/feed/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/26/pastors-message-2/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/26/pastors-message-2/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:00:45 +0000 Bonnie http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/?p=1448 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/26/pastors-message-2/feed/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/18/announcements/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/18/announcements/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:39:16 +0000 Bonnie http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/?p=1444 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/18/announcements/feed/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/14/on-the-way-to-death/ http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/14/on-the-way-to-death/#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:12:53 +0000 johnl http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/?p=1440 http://www.bcumc.org/Sermons/2010/02/14/on-the-way-to-death/feed/ 00:01:01 David Orendorffnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;Luke 9:23-43nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;February 14, 2010 There is something heavy on Jesus' heart and he needs to pray. So he goes up a mountain with ... David Orendorffnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;Luke 9:23-43nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;February 14, 2010 There is something heavy on Jesus' heart and he needs to pray. So he goes up a mountain with three friends, Peter, John and James, to speak to God.nbsp; On the mountain Jesus is unencumbered by the trappings and voices of civilization with its demands of time, attention, commitment and loyalty.nbsp; There is only Jesus and God and the heaviness of Jesus' heart. While Jesus is praying Peter, James and John notice a significant change in his face so that he seemed to radiate light.nbsp; And then God came to Jesus in the spirits of Moses and Elijah; Moses because he is the redeemer of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt; the one who guided a whole generation through the wilderness to the promised land by the gifts of manna and torah, God's care for the body and for the soul. And God comes as Elijah because Elijah is the first and the greatest of the prophets, healing hunger and many diseases; and speaking the word of God for salvation, again care for body and soul. And the three of them, Jesus, Moses and Elijah spoke of what it was that troubled Jesus.nbsp; They spoke "of Jesus' departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem." "Departure" is just a euphemism for "passed on, gone to greater glory, no longer with us," that is, "Jesus death on a cross."nbsp; And strangely for them this is not some kind of inevitable failure but instead it is what Jesus will "accomplish." For the three of them, Jesus' death is a task, a deed, that needs to be done and Jesus will do it.nbsp; They speak of the coming crucifixion not as defeat but as achievement. Ever had anything heavy on your heart?nbsp; Ever felt the need to get away from all the noise and be alone with God?nbsp; Ever retreated to the scriptures searching Moses or Elijah, or Jesus or Paul, or whomever God will send to speak to an aching, perhaps weeping soul? Ever felt like you have given it everything you have and that the only thing left to offer is your life; that now you must go to Jerusalem, the city of God's shalom which has no shalom, and there be arrested by the people of your faith, put on trial by those you came to love, tormented by those you would heal, and crucified by those you will forgive? Peter speaks for not only himself, but for John and James when he offers to make three tents.nbsp; Every hiker knows that don't need a tent unless you plan to stay.nbsp; And it is Peter's hope, as it is often ours, that the high moments with God will last days and not seconds; and that the inevitable movement toward the "departure in Jerusalem" can if not be arrested, at least be delayed. Peter, John and James want to stay on the mountain in the glory of God and not go to the cross in the valley.nbsp; Who wants to die?nbsp; No one!nbsp; No one.nbsp; Not me, not you, not even Jesus wants to die. It is then that a dark cloud comes and engulfs them all so they can no longer even see each other.nbsp; And the cloud speaks saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"nbsp; And when the cloud lifts and they can again see, Jesus is alone, Moses and Elijah are gone.nbsp; They listen just as the cloud instructed but Jesus says nothing to be heard.nbsp; So they too say nothing to anyone and come down the mountain moving inevitably toward Jerusalem and the cross. There will come times when we know that we are God's and we know we must do a hard thing, a thing we don't want to do, a thing that feels like death, may even be death and yet we know we must go, one foot in front of the other, moving toward the heaviness the frightens us.nbsp; So Jesus comes down the mountain. The next day, that is the very day after recognizing and accepting the inevitable dying, a father came to Jesus and cried to him for the sake of his child.nbsp; And Jesus, on his way to accomplish his departure in Jerusalem, stopped, felt the man's love, cast the demon from the boy,... Sermons webmaster@bcumc.org no No