Country Road... take me home.

You know, it is not everyday that someone asks me to do a funeral for one of their loved ones. Today was a special day. A wonderful family in my church asked me to do the funeral for their grandmother, a woman they loved dearly. I was honored to be asked to do this. As I found out more about the day, I realized we would be going to "my neck of the woods" near Greenville, Alabama. As I left the suburban area of Prattville following my close friends, I soon realized we were getting close to the middle of nowhere.

The middle of nowhere is a wonderful place, regardless of where it might be. My family is from the middle of nowhere, a small farm called Pine Flat halfway between Greenville and Camden, Alabama. This middle of nowhere looked very similar to my middle of nowhere...and it warmed my heart. Following the service, lunch was provided by a wonderful group of ladies in the fellowship hall of a small Church of Christ. Deviled eggs, meatloaf, ham, casseroles, green beans, lima beans, cornbread, potato salad, mashed potatoes, and did I mention deviled eggs filled the room. It was a wonderful time of fellowship, togetherness, and remembrance. Thanks be to God.

On the move...

One of my hobbies is running. I am not saying that I am fast, or competitive, or really all that committed, but I do enjoy it. I started this hobby at some point following college. I enjoyed running while I was an intern at the Wesley Foundation at Auburn University. I loved my rout through campus and the "loveliest village on the plains." I ran a good bit in graduate school and loved finding new places to run through the city of Atlanta... love love love Freedom Parkway! Now I run in Prattville. I am having a hard time finding new routs. There are some necessary things I need for a good running path.

1. Sidewalks... I know it is best to run on the road but I like the option of not paying attention to traffic.

2. A safe area. Now there are probably very few "unsafe" areas in my small community but I like a place where I see people. Where if I fall and hurt my knee and scream someone pays attention. I also like a well lit area.

3. A variety of scenery. I like to be entertained... what can I say?

If you have any thoughts please message me or leave a comment.

Also, am I the only one who things this has been the longest winter we have had in a long time? I am over winter. Sunday afternoon gave me a glimpse of spring. It was beautiful and I ran for 3 miles through my neighborhood. I am beyond tired of the cold, rainy, gloomy weather. Spring, can you please hurry up! Please!

Gift of Water

Matthew 3:13-17

Each year, many children and adults come to this font to be baptized. They have the water sprinkled or poured over their heads. If they are infants, unable to answer for themselves, their parents reaffirm their faith, proclaiming their belief in Jesus Christ. We, as a community of faith promise to encourage them, strengthen them, and support them in the faith. This is not simply an individual act, but rather it is a communal act.

I remember the first time I baptized a child at that font. It was a joyous occasion for the family, but also for me personally as it was the first time I had baptized a child, ever. As a said the prayer of blessing over the water, saying the words “Pour out your Holy Spirit to bless this gift of water and the child that receives it. To wash away his sin and clothe him in righteousness throughout his life, that in dying and being raised with Christ he may share in Christ’s final victory.” I felt as if the spirit of God entered this sanctuary, covering this child, and strengthening his parents. It was a moment I will remember for the rest of my life. A few weeks later, his parents sent me a picture along with his birth announcement. Like a proud parent, or in my case, minister, that picture hangs on my refrigerator, reminding me of the way that God’s spirit covered both of us that day. I am sure when he is a teenager, or college student, or adult we will run into each other, and each time I will remind him that he was, the first child I baptized. With great joy, and perhaps a little bit of pride, I will tell him about that day. I would be surprised if after a few times he will be interested in the story, but for me it will be a cherished memory, a remarkable story.

Baptism is often difficult to understand, or explain. Various traditions have different opinions, theological stances, and interpretations about this holy act. As United Methodist we believe baptism is a sacrament; meaning God uses common elements, in this case water, as a mean of divine grace. For our church, baptism is the act of God through the grace of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.

As the water pours over the person, the Spirit of the Lord descends upon them. They become part of the community of faith. It is by water and the spirit that we are all baptized. It is by water and the spirit that we are integrated into the community of faith. It is by water and that spirit that we are all called children of the Almighty God.

Unlike the Methodist church, many traditions simply baptize because it is in the Matthew passage that we read this morning. In this passage, we see how Christ began his ministry. This is how it all started. It is the story of Christ going from a small child, Mary’s little baby boy, to an adult. It is here we see this transformation- the spirit of God descending upon the Messiah, affirming Christ, and declaring Jesus as God’s only Son. It is indeed a remarkable story. And so like Christ, we respond as well…offering ourselves, and our children for baptism, for transformation and incorporation into the Body of Christ. Knowing, that it is not something that we do, rather it is something that God does. God’s spirit ascends on us, covering us, loving us, and affirming us.

When I worked as an intern at First United Methodist in College Park, baptisms were an especially exciting time in the life of the congregation. The congregation at College Park is comprised of mostly older adults with few young families and children. When I was there we confirmed three teenagers, and that was cause for a great celebration since they had not had a confirmation class in over five years. It makes me very thankful for all of the young people we confirm each year. Funerals, at College Park, are much more frequent than baptisms, so when there is a baptism it is also cause for a great celebration. One Sunday, while I was there, we baptized one of the few babies in the congregation. To hear that community of older adults promising to raise this child in the faith brought tears to my eyes. They proclaimed the words we often say “With God’s help we will proclaim the god news and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround this child with a community of love and forgiveness, that he may grow in his trust of God and be found faithful in his service to others. We will pray for him, that he may be a true disciple who walks in the way that leads to life eternal.” When they spoke these words, words they rarely had the opportunity to speak, they meant what they said. They took the responsibility very seriously. The words that were infrequently spoken, were said with great great conviction. They made a promise to God, to the child, and to his parents, and they were serious about the promise. With those words, the spirit of the Lord came upon the child and his community of faith. It was a remarkable worship service in which all who were there encountered the Divine.

When we, this United Methodist community of faith, respond during baptism with the same words spoken in Untied Methodist congregations in Cameroon, Chattanooga, Chicago, or College Park we each live out those words differently even thought they have the same meaning. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, tells us that we have each been given different gifts[1] and we are called to use those gifts for the Kingdom of God… to lead all of God’s children in the “way that leads to live eternal.”

When I was a child Miss Sue Ellen Autry took that promise very seriously as my two years old Sunday school teacher. Each Sunday she showed up to “teach” a group of two year olds about Jesus’ love for them. Although I did not understand Christ love for me at that point in my life, I was certain Miss Sue Ellen loved me and that was enough at the age of two. When I was three Miss Rhonda helped me find my voice and a microphone as I bolted out the words “If I were a bell I would ring, ring ding a ling I would ring, but a bell I will never be because I am happy you see just being me.” She took the promise she made at my baptism very seriously. When I was in the sixth grade John and Josephine Foshee took their promise very seriously as they lead about twenty 12 year old in confirmation, showing us that faith could be cool and fun integrating bands that we listened to at home like Phish or Dave Matthews into their weekly lessons. As a high school student I went on various mission trips with my youth group. Brad Norris, a contractor from my home church, took his promise very seriously as he helped high school students with construction in a third world country. As an adult, many of you have taken that promise seriously as you continue to affirm my call to ministry. The promises we make carry a great deal of weight. In their own way each of these people helped “lead me in the way that leads to life eternal.”

When we all make this promise, it is important for us to think about they way we are going to help lead the child “in the way that leads to life eternal.” Some of you have the gift of teaching, so when you say ”We will surround this child with a community of love and forgiveness, that he may grow in his trust of God, you are promising that child, his or her parents, and God that you will teach that child. You will teach them in vacation bible school, or Sunday school, or in a bible study when they are an adult. If you have the gift of administration you are promising to make sure that their playground is safe, their youth room is a place of growth, or that their Sunday school classroom is easily accessible when they become an older adult. If you have the gift of song you are promising to teach their 4-year-old choir, lead them in a youth praise band, or lead as an example in making a joyful noise during worship. If you have the gift of service and outreach you are promising to help them make cards for soldiers overseas, or support them in planning a college mission trip, or visiting them in the nursing home. If you have the gift of care and compassion you are promising to encourage them when they when they fall, love them when they do wrong, and support them when they grieve. If you have the gift of diligent prayer, you are promising to pray for them at all times and through all parts of their life.

Regardless of your gifts, you are making a promise to raise them in the “way that leads to life eternal” and this does not simply apply when they are a child but as they grow and mature in the faith. It is a promise we make to that child and we remember the promises that were made to us when we were baptized. It is a promise we make to the parents and we remember people who supported and encouraged us along our journey of faith. It is a promise we make to the Lord, vowing to care for our Creator’s children. It is a remarkable promise we all make.

Christ began his ministry on this earth by first being baptized. When we are baptized we are incorporated into the body of Christ, into the community of faith. It is here we begin our journey of faith… the journey of love and understanding of our Lord. This journey is not always an easy path. There are often challenges when our faith is questioned, but through those who have promised to support, encourage, and lead us in the way to life eternal our faith remains solid. It remains our foundation. As I look out into this congregation, I am reminded of the promise that I, with you, made to that precious little boy I baptized about a year ago. And with that promise I am reminded of my promise to all of you. When we vow to raise a child in the way that leads to life eternal, it is not just to that specific child, but rather it to the enter Body of Christ. The words we say certainly carry a great deal of weight. They are reassuring, comforting, and at the same time challenging.

I will always remember the first child I baptized, I will always remember hearing you say those words. Words of challenge, comfort, and reassurance. That day, that precious boy was incorporated into the Body of Christ, that day he became part of the community of faith. That day he began the journey. The journey that leads to life eternal. Let us remember the words that we so frequently proclaim” With God’s help we will proclaim the god news and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround this child with a community of love and forgiveness that they may grow in their trust of God and be found faithful in their service to others. We will pray for them, that they may be a true disciple who walks in the way that leads to life eternal.” Knowing that with those words we person begins their journey and we fulfill a promise. Knowing that through the water and the spirit the individual is brought into the Body of Christ. God’s grace covers them. God transforms them, and they are given into our care. Let us go forth from here sharing in the promise, rejoicing in the spirit, and being cleansed by the water.

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[1] 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

The Word Became Flesh

John 1:1-14

The day after Christmas is often anti-climatic. Rarely to people look forward to the 26^th. Toys have been opened, dinner has been eaten, and surprises are no longer surprises. Secrets that have been kept for weeks and weeks have been revealed…. and most of all Santa is resting. Within an hour, there were no longer presents under the tree at my mother’s house. The present I bought weeks ago in Atlanta for my mother had been opened. Steve opened his presents, including some of my grandfather’s cuff links and even Liza, my dog, had opened her stocking and seemed to be enjoying her new toy. Soon we would eat baked cheese grits, bacon, and apricot scones. The time of excitement is Christmas morning, this is what children have been looking forward to for weeks and weeks. The rest of the day, for most of us, is spent watching children play… and, if you are lucky, taking a nap. Rarely is today, the 26^th of December exciting. On December 26^th, life attempts to go back to normal.

But, for whatever reason, this is always more difficult that it seems. It is hard for life to go back to normal. After all, we have been watching Christmas commercials since Halloween. Following Thanksgiving we entered the season of Advent: Children’s programs, choir cantata’s, missions festivals, and worship services prepared our lives and our hearts for our savior to enter. We sang “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” over and over. We read our advent devotionals; we worshiped together on Christmas Eve, taking communion. We sang JOY TO THE WORLD OUR LORD IS COME with excitement lifting our candles knowing that our savior had been born. After weeks and weeks of waiting, weeks of advent. After weeks of preparing our hearts for the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ has been born. God is here! Our Savior sleeps in a manger. Mary looks at her precious baby boy with wonder. Joseph, the proud earthly papa, gazes at the child with pride. Our Lord has come to this earth. After all of this it is very difficult for life to go back to normal.

We almost feel bad, for taking down the decorations, for taking down the tree. And if you are anything like me, you wait until the very end to take down the nativity set. It often sometimes seems like we take Jesus out of the world as quickly as he entered on Christmas Eve. We briefly celebrate the incarnation, then move to celebrate with friends and family, then nap, then wrap everything up, gently placing the ornaments in their boxes, hauling the tree to the curb, and placing the wreath back in the attic. But even if this is our tendency, it does not have to be the reality.

Now, do not hear me say that you need to keep your Christmas decorations our all year long. That is not the point. Indeed your neighbors will mind if your 10,000 light blinking nativity set is ablaze in May. Your tree will eventually become a fire hazard, and leaving decoration our all yearlong makes them less special when they go out next year. BUT life is different.

Our world is different because “the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.” The incarnation IS real. God has become human. Love has come to this earth. “the Word has become flesh.” God is among us. God works with us. God taught us. God is given for us, for our salvation. That precious baby, God in the flesh, has come to this earth with a mission. Because of that… life is different. We have a new reason to rejoice. We have a new reason to serve. Because God loved, us, we now turn and love our neighbor. The birth of Christ comes into all aspects of our life...it becomes the theme of our world…the reason we love. The reason we worship. Christ becomes the reason we serve. Like Christ was born in an ordinary stable, in an ordinary manger, to two ordinary people, we find the Messiah in the ordinary places. We find Christ, “The Word who has become flesh is found in the most common of places.”One of my professors at Emory University tells this story about the incarnation. Dr Thomas Long states,

“A few years ago a church located in a large city decided to turn its gymnasium into a night shelter for homeless people. Every winter there were reports that some of these people, condemned to sleep out in the open, had frozen to death, and so the church made the warmth and safety of its building available without charge. Each evening during the winter, volunteers from the church would spend the night in the shelter, providing food, clothing, and lodging for as many of the homeless as the building would hold. Almost without exception, the volunteers reported that the experience of spending the night with these people from the streets had been far more than an act of dutiful charity. The volunteers had found their own faith strengthened, their own reliance upon the grace of Christ reinforced by the experience. Several months after the shelter was opened, one of the pastors of the church was being interviewed on a radio talk program. The interviewer was an opinionated fundamentalist whose biases were quite strong. It became clear during the interview that he felt that the church ought to stick to the business of preaching the old-time gospel and stay away from meddlesome activities like shelters for homeless people. "Now just tell me," he jeered at one point, "where is Jesus in all this?" For a moment the pastor considered silently how to respond, then said calmly, "You just have to be there…”

The incarnation is real, even after the lights go up, even after the presents are unwrapped, the incarnation continues to live among us. The incarnation continues with us, through the New Year. Even into places and times where the 10,000 light decorations would be frowned upon. The incarnation is real. The word has become flesh, and God dwells among us!

As people of faith we find it in different places, both past and present. We see God at work in our lives. We see our Lord moving among us, through us, and within us. This year I received a very unique and special present from my mother. These were the words, it contained. “Women are included in all provisions of the Discipline referring to the ministry.” The present I unwrapped on Christmas morning was a Book of Discipline from 1956, the year our General Conference voted to allow the ordination of women. As I opened it with tears in my eyes, I knew it would be a book I would value for the rest of my life. The incarnation was at work during that General Conference almost 55 years ago. The incarnation was at work in the ordinary place, the Alpha Chi Omega hall at Auburn University when called me to go into ministry. The incarnation was at work when you received me with open arms, continuing to affirm my call to ministry. God is found in our ordinary places. The word has become flesh!

It was in a stable in Bethlehem that God, in Jesus Christ came to this earth. It was a manger rather than a throne. It was a peasant girl, rather than royalty. The visitors where Sheppard’s rather dignitaries and persons of power.

God rarely makes a grand entrance. God does not require our pomp and circumstance to enter into our world, to bring light to our darkness. God is found in the normal. In a stable. In a gymnasium. In a sorority dorm. In Prattville, Alabama. God is found in our ordinary. You do not have to look far to see that the word has actually become flesh. To see that God is present among us.

A few weeks ago, as a community of faith, we gathered one Sunday evening in the beginning of Advent for an Advent Missions festival. We gathered together and participated in different services projects that allowed over 700 people, 700 people, to know that our church cares for them. To know that God loves them. In places like Epworth 101, Sunday school class rooms, and Pratt Hall, the incarnation was truly at work. God was at work in us. God was at work among us. God was at work through us. Jesus Christ uses our ordinary for the extraordinary.

The incarnation calls us to continuing seeking God even after the tree is placed away, even after the presents are unwrapped, even after the food is eaten, even after the candles from worship services are extinguished, the incarnation beckons us to find Christ in all places. In the ordinary. In our homes, in our places of work, in our school, in our stores, even in our gymnasiums.

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

The word has become flesh, and God dwells among us. Let us seek our Lord, who was, who is, and who is to come in all places, through all people, and in all circumstances.

Give Thanks

Isaiah 12

This time ff year many, many, many families gather. Loved ones come from far and near to gather. People book airline flights, pack bags, and load up in cars. Friends and families gather in kitchens watching loved ones put the finishing touches on the sweet potato casserole, dressing, and green beans. Some of us may even gather on a cold Thanksgiving Day around a deep fryer as someone tends to the turkey…. this is after all Alabama. Regardless, we gather. When family has arrived, the table has been set; the food (oh the wonderful food) is placed on the table, each person sits down. Someone offers the blessing (if you are in my family it is the youngest child, I once lead everyone in a lovely rendition of Johnny Appleseed) and the feast begins. Along with this wonderful feast is the equally wonderful conversation.

For many families who are spread throughout our great nation, Thanksgiving might be the only time everyone gathers at the family table for a meal and conversation. In each home the conversation is different. For some it is a time to catch up, for others the conversation might center on the upcoming football game and speculation about Bowl games. If you are in my family, the talk will more than likely center on the Iron Bowl. However, for others the conversation might be a bit different.

This week a wonderful person in our church told me about her families yearly Thanksgiving dinner conversation. Each year she asks her children to share that for which they are most thankful. Each year they give her a bit of grief responding, “seriously mom, again this year… We do this every single year!” Eventually they like each year before, give in to her request. Each person around her table shares that for which they are most thankful. Each year her hear is warmed and she is always, always surprised at what they share.

Thankfulness is not something that is often our first response. Often, we have to be reminded to be thankful. To return thanks to God. On Veterans Day I went to Birmingham to spend the afternoon with one of my best friends that I had not seen in awhile. Amanda and I ate lunch at Chuey’s, a new restaurant at the Summit. As we sat down at the table, placing our napkins in our laps, I noticed that the sleeves that the silverware was in had prayers of them. Each of these prayer returned thanks for the food. There was a Catholic, a Jewish, and a Protestant prayer. These served as a reminder, to a society that is busy and consumed with their plans, to return thanks back to God.

The prophet, Isaiah in our scripture reading this morning reminds the nation of Israel to return thanks. As a divided people suffering through war and hardship, Isaiah’s words serve as a reminder. These are a people at war Syria, about to be conquered by the Assyrians, but Isaiah reminds them “Good things are yet to come.” They are about to be tossed into Babylonian exile. They will be strangers in a foreign land. The Temple, their symbol of God, will be destroyed. It seems like there is little if anything to be thankful for, yet Isaiah proclaims! “You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD!” The Israelites do not need to fear because day of Thanksgiving is coming! The people of Israel do not need to fear because they will be reunited. They will be redeemed. They will have salvation. It will be like the time when King David was ruler over Israel. Things will be better. Good days are yet to come!

How often to we feel like these Israelites. Life confronts all of us with struggles. We face hardships in various forms. We worry about the wars that we send our military off to fight. We concern ourselves with our children. Families face challenges. The economy places a hardship on many individuals wondering if they will have a job this time next year. Last week we remember those that we have lost from this community of faith. We find ourselves worrying about what will happen next. What life will be like in a year? How our children will fair in school. Perhaps we often feel like the Israelites.

It seems like one thing after another confronts us with challenges both to our daily life and also our spiritual lives. We wonder if it will ever stop. But be assured, “Good things are yet to come!” Isaiah proclaims! “You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD!”

I consider myself a novice runner… nothing like the marathon runner sitting behind me. Thursday evening I went for a run. Although my mind if often occupied with “can I make it to the next intersection, up the next hill, maybe I can make it to the house on the corner,” this evening was different. I began to pray. I started to thank God for all the good that was in my life. Like that family sitting around the table I began to list all the things for which I am thankful. To my surprise the list when on and on. When I began to list them I was surprised at what all came to mind…Steve, my family, my friends, this community of faith… then came the things that I did not expect. I am thankful for the way our denomination as affirmed my call to ministry. I thanked God for the family that raised the man I will marry in May. I thanked the Lord for those I have the opportunity to visit with on Tuesday afternoons. I thanked our Savior for our children and the way they always greet me with a smile on Wednesday evenings. Finally I thanked our Creator for the beautiful clear night sky, for God’s creation, and that I was able to enjoy it on such a cool evening. I was reminded of the words found in Isaiah, “You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD!”

One of the things that I have found most interesting in the past few weeks is our “Thanksgiving tree.” This is located just outside of Pratt Hall. The bulletin board next to the kitchen, if you have not noticed it, has a table next to it. On that table are leaves made out of construction paper for you to write and place on the bulletin board. We are encouraged to write those things for which we are thankful on the leaves. What a great idea Annette Brownell had when she placed those leaves next to the board and encouraged to list that for which we are thankful.

Last Wednesday, I noticed a group of children reading each leaf. They all noticed the wide variety of things that people in our church were thankful for during this season. Among those were: family, friends, pets, schools, spouses, our community, and our church. As “grown-ups” passed the tree they asked the adults if they had placed their thanksgivings on the tree. Many had, others that had not found themselves challenged by a very excited group of children. All that had not written something on a leaf responded to the children’s request by placing their thanksgivings on the “Thanksgiving tree.”

As the holiday season is fast approaching, we are already seeing signs of Christmas through advertisements in the newspaper and on our televisions. It seems like our secular world goes directly from Halloween costumes and candy to Christmas morning with no regard for Thanksgiving. Walking around Phipps Plaza, a large mall in Atlanta, a few weeks ago while I was in the area for a continuing education event, I was amazed literally dumbfounded that Christmas decorations were all ready decking the halls of the mall. Mid October, mind you. Where was Thanksgiving in the midst of all of this? Have we, as a society, forgotten to be thankful? Have we forgotten to “thank God from who all blessing flow?” It seems like we skip over the songs like “Come ye thankful people come” to “Santa Clause is coming to town.” Where are our grateful hearts?

Regardless of life’s challenges, we are called to be thankful. The words of Isaiah state is clearly “You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD!” We are called to be thankful. Regardless of our circumstance there are many things in all of our lives for which we can return thanks.

We should approach Thanksgiving with the excitement of the children looking at our bulletin board. We should approach Thanksgiving with the eagerness of that mother who asks her children each and every year “What are you thankful for?” We should anticipate this time of togetherness with friends and family, this time of remembering how important each individual is in our lives, with the same wonder we approach Christmas. So, this week, as we prepare for the upcoming holiday, as you plan a menu, make plans for travel or clean your house for visitors, as you eagerly anticipate November 24^th take a few moments and remember that for which you are most thankful. Remember your friends, your parents, and your children. Remember your child’s teachers, remember our city leaders, remember your communities of faith, remember the community of saints that formed and shaped you. Remember and give thanks. Give thanks to our Creator. Give thanks to our God “from whom all blessing flow.” Give thanks. Tell those for whom you are thankful that they have been such a blessing in your life. They need to know that you are thankful for the impact that they have had on your life. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, “You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD!”

The mother that always asks her children “for what are you most thankful” is amazed at their responses each year. She anticipates this Thanksgiving dinner conversation with great joy. Each year she gets a new glimpse at the lives of her children. They are not just thankful for the food before them, but they often respond that they are thankful that they have an opportunity to be in school, or that in this type of economy that they have a job. So, I ask you “for what are you most thankful?” “You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD!”

Let us give thanks to God our Creator Redeemer and Sustainer- who is, who was, and who is to come.

The rest of the story

Luke 19:1-10

Our gospel lesson this morning is one that we are all familiar with. It is one that we were taught as children perhaps in Sunday school or in vacation bible school. My first memory of this story comes from a felt or flannel board in the pre-school Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church in Greenville, Alabama. I remember the tree that she placed on the black board and the little man that she placed in the tree. This felt board story was only reiterated by the song recited over and over and over again by so many children. We all know it… Zaccheaus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he.

The song is familiar, the story is familiar. We all know what happens. He climbs in the tree. He wants to see Jesus. Jesus looks up. Jesus tells him to get out of the tree because he is hungry and plans on eating in Zaccheaus home. Remember. “I am going to your house today…” We know the story. Even our children know the story. If you have ever stepped foot into a church you have probably heard of this story.

We often forget “the rest of the story” that radio personality Paul Harvey often shares with this audience. So here is “the rest of the story.”

You see, Zaccheaus was not simply a “wee little man,” a person short in stature but he was also short on honesty. A tax collector, he made a fortune on exploiting other people. The manner that we complain about the IRS does not even compare to those in Jericho’s dislike of Zaccheaus. He was simply awful, and rich. Rich and awful and dishonest. Thank about the manner in which people shudder when the name Bernie Madoff is mentioned. That might be the way that people felt when Zaccheaus would walk through town. In her sermon about Zaccheaus, Episcopal priest Rev. Ellen Purdman commented about why we teach our children that Zaccheaus was a “wee little man and a wee little man was he.” She said, “Probably because teaching children “Zaccheaus was a bad little man and a bad little man was he” would not go over well in most Sunday School classes.

And he was a “bad little man.” One of the wealthiest men in his town, he had few if any friends. Having few friends can be a lonely place. Because of his chosen profession, Zaccheaus family had deserted him. So this “wee little man” was really alone, even though so many people surrounded him. Each day he would go about collected “what was due to Caesar” and taking a bit off the top. Telling people they owed more than they did, he would profit from the excess. What if they did not pay? Well obviously they were sent to prison like any person disloyal to the Roman government. Zaccheaus, a Jewish man, had that power. He had that power and used it frequently. He would send his own people to prison for not paying what he told them they owed. He was a “bad little man.”

Well in such tight knit communities word spreads quickly. People hear that Jesus is coming through Jericho so a crowd gathers. A crowd gathers to see this man who has been healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and even eating with sinners. Just a few days earlier Jesus had picked the tax collector over the Pharisee. Jesus had said that the tax collector was justified because of his humility, not simply the Pharisee because of his good works. This is unheard of for a rabbi to say this to a man like a tax collector, so a crowd gathers.

We all know how this works. Think back to the 1996 Olympic games. When Atlanta got the vote to host the Olympics the entire Southeastern United States cheered with excitement. Never mind that the Atlanta delegation told the Olympic committee that the average temperature for Georgia is 74 degrees…yeah maybe in November. But I digress. As the torch and flame made its way to Atlanta, it first went through Alabama. In Wetumpka, Alabama the torch traveled with different individuals running with it, to Jasmine Hill gardens and a crowd gathered. A large crowd. They wanted to see this piece of history. Individuals who had grown up in Elmore County wanted to be able to tell their grandchildren that they had see the Olympic flame. They had seen the same flame that had been in Los Angeles, Moscow, and Rome. And they knew the flame would continue to travel to places like Beijing, Toronto, and Rio de Janerio.

We know how crowds gather, and this one is no different. Word gets out and it spreads like wild fire, so people come. People come to see this man who heals the sick, feeds the hungry, and eats with sinner. “Eat with sinners,” Zaccheaus thinks, “Maybe he will pay attention to me, the worst of the worst.” So along with the crowd, the crowd that hates him, he gathers to see this man they call Jesus. Because he is a “wee little man” and because no one will let him get to the front of the crowd, he climbs a tree.

Perhaps this is where small children feel a kinship with this “bad little man.” I have rarely met a small child that does not enjoy climbing trees. In fact I have heard stories about how children from this congregation love to climb the well-worn limbs of the Magnolia tree in the side lawn of the church. As a child I loved to climb trees. My great grandmother lived on the main drag in Greenville Alabama. When I was growing up Fort Dale Road was considered a busy thoroughfare. In her large front yard I was not permitted to go past the magnolia tree. It is fortunate, for me that my parents permitted me to go up to the tree in her yard. I would have found myself in trouble much more often had this not been the case. The limbs of the tree reached to the ground and like any Magnolia tree they were great for climbing. My cousin, Virginia, and I would climb the tree each time we were at Mama Watsons’s house. Virginia would stop about half way up. I, on the other hand, would climb until I could see out of the trees canopy. All the while Virginia telling me I needed to come down. On one occasion my Aunt Rebecca walked out of the house to see Virginia on the lawn and me in the tree. She sternly, but without yelling, told me to “get out of that tree.” She said I was so high up it was not safe. I did as I was told but always waited until I would not get in trouble and climbed the tree as high as I could while no one was watching.

Jesus has a similar reaction to Zaccheaus. It did not matter that he was an adult and still climbing trees. It did not matter that he had joined in a crowd of individuals who hated him to see this man who associated with the likes of him. It did not matter that people pushed and shoved him out of the way so they could have a better view of the mane they called Jesus. What mattered is that he sought out the Messiah. He sought our Lord. He wanted to see Jesus. Just to just get a glimpse of him. He knew he was a “bad little man,” but maybe Jesus would be kind. Maybe he would smile at him and that would at least make this day of loneliness more bearable.

And so, Zaccheaus limbs up into the sycamore tree. It climbs above the people angry that he is even present at this event. He climbs high enough so that when Jesus walks by he can just catch a glimpse of him. And he does! He sees the Messiah! He sees this man they call Jesus! Jesus walks close to the tree. Zaccheaus can almost touch his clothes! Zaccheaus watches intently. Then Jesus looks up. He looks up and sees a strange little man in a tree. He looks up and smiles. Then without thinking twice says, “Zaccheaus! Get out of that tree! And Hurry! I am hungry!” Well, really according to Luke he says “Zaccheaus hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today!” But regardless, Jesus notices the “bad little man.” He notices the tax collector and despite his dishonesty, despite Zaccheaus’ sin, Christ offers love.

Saying you would eat with a tax collector, in fact the worst tax collector in the area was unheard of for a religious authority. Zaccheaus was unclean. He was a sinner, an unrepentant sinner. But regardless, Christ offered love. Christ beckoned him to come out of the tree. To get down because there was a conversation to be had. Christ needed Zaccheaus to know that he was not alone, to know that he was loved, and Christ needed the crowd to see that all were welcome to be part of the kingdom of God…even this bad little man.

Because of this extravagant show of love Zaccheaus heart is changed. When he gets out of the tree he knows there are things to be done. He knows that he had done horrible things to his community and so he repents. Our gospel says that Zaccheaus proclaims, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." And he had enough money to live up to this promise. So Christ offers him forgiveness. Jesus says, “Today salvation has come to this house!”

The people in the crowd are astounded. They are amazed. They say among themselves, “Not only is this religious teacher, this rabbi, this Jesus speaking to Zaccheaus. Not only is he eating with him. But he is also forgiving him.”

When Zaccheaus gets out of the tree, he knows something has to change. He knows his life has to become different. He knows he must be redeemed; not only by the Messiahs but also by the community in which he lives. The community he has defrauded. So when he gets out of the tree his life becomes different. He becomes a follower of Jesus. He becomes a person who seeks Christ and he is incorporated back into the community.

And that, my friends, like Paul Harvey says “is the rest of the story.”

So what are you called to do? When Jesus tells you to get out of the tree what in your life has to change? What are you called to do? How are you called to be transformed for the kingdom of God. Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is among us, there are people in our community that are in great need and we are all called to do something. Maybe you are called to cook for our meals on wheels program. Maybe you are called to help with our children. Maybe you are called to travel to Nicquaraga and serve God’s children in South America. What are you called to do for the kingdom of God?

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16

The Psalms, you see, are songs that expressed the emotions of the Hebrew people. The hard, burdened, and often-difficult life of God’s chosen people. These were songs often joyfully and occasionally woefully sung during worship. And like our ancestors in the faith, these are words that Christians have been sung for 2,000 years to praise the Almighty God. So we join with this great tradition this morning and remember the words of Psalm 91 that have brought comfort and peace to generation after generation. “Those who dwell in the shelter of the most high” are words that bring us assurance.

Imagine a dark room, full of men who have dedicated their lives to the Lord. Their one mission in life is to serve the church and the world. This group of Trapist monks in central Kentucky serves the world through prayer. They pray and worship eight times a day. Other than their vocal prayer and worship, they live a lift of silence, meditating on the Lords interaction with the world. In their monastery, there are a few rooms dedicated to talking, rarely are these used unless an outsiders comes with questions about their life of faith. When asked they share openly. . One even remarks, “we pray for those who do not know how to pray for themselves.” They pray for us. They pray for the world. Eight times a day they pray for you and for me.

I, personally, find it comforting that there is a group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to praying for me, even when I often forget to pray for myself. It find it comforting that in the unsure world in which we live, where war is a constant threat, financial markets are unsure, and faith in governments is wavering, there are people who pray. There are people who pray for the “arrow that flies by night,” be it a real arrow or an emptiness and loneliness that some feel in the dark and dim hours of the night. The prayers of these men comfort me like this Psalm comforts many of us.

This Psalm 91 reminds us of God’s constant presence. God will not leave us nor forsake us and the words to this ancient prayer remind us of God’s existence in our lives. We are people who “dwell in the shelter of the Most High.” All too often we have forgotten about God’s shelter and have relied on our own wit and strength for protection. Many of you have heard stories about my experience living in the Bahamas and serving five churches on Eleuthrea Island. A few summers ago I was granted the opportunity to live in a very rural part of the Bahamas through a program at Emory. I packed my bags, boarded a plane to Nassau, then boarded a six passenger plane to Eleuthera. I did not know what to expect. I arrived at my one room cinder block home. The doors to my home did not lock, coming from Atlanta this was quite unusual and a bit scary. As I learned more and more about the community, I realized that a 20 something female minister with no spouse was not the norm…imagine that. On my arrival, no one knew who I was or what I was there to do. I would frequently get “cat calls,” from men in the area making me even more uncomfortable and nervous. After my first Sunday of leading worship, the whistles and remarks ceased. I began to feel more comfortable. That was, until, one specific day. It was a normal day when I woke up. I visited some of the homebound individuals in the community. I worked on my sermon around lunch. I met some of the children in the playground and visited with them in the afternoon. Around 4:00 I decided to go for a run. I had to drive to the neighboring town to lead a bible study that evening and thought this would be a great way to clear my head. I started my run down the frequently traveled road. When I got to my turn around point, I turned and continued on my way. As a approached a few houses I noticed a group of men sitting in the yard. Lets just say they had started their evening activities a bit early and as I ran in front of the house they began to yell at me. Then follow me. I kept running occasionally looking back just to see them still behind me, following me to my home. I went to a friend’s house and her husband told them to leave, or he would call the police. Eventually I went back to my home, placing all the furniture in front of the doors I found myself in scared, alone, and in a foreign country.

As evening fell, the arrow that flies by night started to terrify me. “What if they know where I live,” I thought. “What if the come to find me.” I panicked, called my mother, e-mailed my friends, made plans to have actual locks placed on the doors and then when none of that gave me peace, I finally began to pray. Why is it that during time of unrest, God is often a last resort? One in every four U.S. homes has a home security alarm. Each and every evening the news tells us how unsafe our world is becoming. Even our local news is covered with stories of homicides, burglaries, and car wrecks… here in the River Region. A few weeks ago I was visiting a member of our church at her retirement home and she was remarking about how much the world has changed during her 90 years of life. It seems that fear is all around us. But even though, we still try to find peace and rest on our own. We install more locks, more security systems, and we talk about the way that life is changing. Often prayer is our last resort. We fail to remember that we live in the shelter of the Most High. We forget that our refuge is God the Almighty. We do not recall the manner that God covers us, protects us, and shields us. But even when we forget the manner that God protects us, when we fail to remember the manner that God loves us, God continues to comfort us and give us peace.

During the times in our life when we feel most alone, we can be assured that God is with us. The arrow is not so troublesome, and that we do live in the shelter of the Most High. God is our refuge. God is our fortress. God is our strength. God does not leave us.

God says to us, the children of the Almighty, “Those who love me, I will deliver.” Our Lord’s promises are sure and we are reminded of them when our God says, “When they call to me, I will answer them.”
 We are assured of God’s continual presence with us, and our Lord says “I will be with them in trouble.”
 We can be assured that we are loved when our Lord proclaims, “I will rescue them and honor them. 
With long life I will satisfy them, and show , my salvation.” Psalms 91 is a song written to remind the Hebrew people of God’s steadfast love. It was written to remind the Hebrew people that in places where there seems to be no peace, no safety, no security…God is a refuge. God is a fountain of strength.

God is WITH all of us. Even in times when the arrow seems to be pressing, God is with us. Even in places where there is darkness, God is with us. In even the deepest night, even the most frightening time, even the most terrifying moments, God is with us. God is always with all of us. We do not need to fear because God has covered us. God is with us.

At 3:15 in the morning in a small monastery in central Kentucky a bell tolls, awakening the brothers to a time of prayer. Sleepily they meander to the small sanctuary in the modest building that they call home. They begin to pray. They pray for the world while we sleep. One monk remarks that this is the time when people are most vulnerable. Deep in the middle of the night while the world sleeps they pray for the resting world. They pray that the arrow will not fly, they pray that the pestilence will remain far away. Deep in the night’s cool dark air almost anything can happen, so they pray. They recite the words to Psalm 91.

You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,^* 
will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’ 
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, 
and under his wings you will find refuge; 
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, 
or the arrow that flies by day, 
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday. Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name. 
When they call to me, I will answer them;
 I will be with them in trouble,
 I will rescue them and honour them. 
With long life I will satisfy them,
 and show them my salvation.

This is their calling, they pray for the world. The worlds to this Psalm remind them, they remind all of us that God protects us; that God is with us. They pray for safety, they pray for God’s presence. They pray. This is their calling. This is our calling.