Skin in the Game

That's what he always used to preach.  Got to get some skin in the game.  Turned church around for me.  Not a place to go.  A place to go from

He said we get together to gather our strength.  It wasn't about what we did there.  We would go and it would be hard.  We would do it.  It would matter.  There was always joy.

We suffered and we celebrated together.  He tried to fill the church the best he could do with his own family.  Certain Sundays his guests would out number members.  He would meet someone once and ask them to come preach to us because Nottingham was where he brought his best.  In truth he brought his best to everything.

We lost Stanley Miller too soon already before here at Nottingham. We certainly have a good idea what it is like.  The best story I know is when he visited the seniors at Euclid Beach.  He asked them, "Dave's Market across the street they must give you something this time of year?"

"No." the seniors answered without delay.  He was across the street before anyone had known what was going on.  It was thanksgiving time.  He spoke to the manager and returned with either frozen turkeys or promises of frozen turkeys.  People didn't often know what to think of him when he was in meetings.  We had this in common too.

He had skin in the game.  Everything he did was important to him.  These ideas did not come from nowhere.  We have so much to draw upon as we look to our future.  This has not been an easy time for anyone.  Life the last few years has been more about death than life it seems at times.  No one alive had the experiences we all have had these last two years.

We lost one of our great leaders, Stanley Miller.  We sure do have skin in the game.  Not something we are ever prepared.  Reminds me of other people I have lost.  We have a story from numbers this week that reminds me of my Dad.  He used to like all the odd stories of the bible.  We discussed many.  He was well spoiled in the word. I didn't really remember this one.

Numbers 11:24-29

 24 So Moses went out and spoke to the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered seventy men from among the elders of the people and stationed them around the Tent (tabernacle). 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took some of the Spirit who was upon Moses and put Him upon the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied [praising God and declaring His will], but they did not do it again.

26 But two men had remained in the camp; one named Eldad and the other named Medad. The Spirit rested upon them (now they were among those who had been registered, but had not gone out to the Tent), and they prophesied in the camp. 27 So a young man ran and told Moses and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying [extolling the praises of God and declaring His will] in the camp.” 28 Then Joshua the son of Nun, the attendant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”

Where this story takes place is important.  The rabble as they are called are getting tired of eating manna.  The story implies it is the foreign element among them from Egypt that really started the trouble.  There were a good many greedy people as there always are where ever people gather,  Sometimes I put my father in that category when I see how well he was taken care.  Sometimes I put myself in this category.

But here we have quite a story if you remember.  God sends them meat all right.  God talks about sending so much meat that it will be coming out of their ears and nose.  The wind brings quail and the people spend the day gathering.  This was good luck?  God sends a plague against the greedy and we are told they end up in the ground.  

"Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!"  This prayer for the good news and the holy spirit of Moses almost overlooked.  There is a risk of exaggerating the importance of the word of God, but not much.

What a place for this spirit of Moses story.  Moses was doing everything spiritually speaking for his people.  God tells them that he is different because God speaks directly with him because he has this spirit upon him.  He took some of the Spirit who was upon Moses and put Him upon the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied [praising God and declaring His will], but they did not do it again.

It is easy to imagine that there is a good reason that only two of them went and prophesied to the camp.  It often feels when I speak to seventy children one thing I am lucky if two will understand.  We come from different places and we share the same place differently.  We have here something foreshadowed about the holy spirit and the good news.

Something could be shared of this spirit and not lost.  We come with this spirit to look at our scripture reading today Mark 9:38-50 which I read from the Amplified Bible.

38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not accompanying us [as Your disciple].” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is for us. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he will not lose his reward.

In this first section we see clearly how the disciples before the holy spirit came upon them struggled to see the vision of Jesus.  We hear an echo of Moses.  Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets.  What was it they didn't like?  We often talk about how different times and cultures can be.  Yet what is it they do not like.  Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not accompanying us.

People are at their best when they take ownership, but their shoulders often at their widest.  In all stages and season of life I have found this to be true.  In my students and my teachers.

Outsiders like insiders.  This was more than foreign to them.  A cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ.  Was Jesus getting them ready.  When we say Jesus is a great teacher we do not say that as simple praise.  We say this because we have a record of his methods and we know the outcome, to this very morning.

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe and trust in Me to stumble [that is, to sin or lose faith], it would be better for him if a heavy millstone [one requiring a donkey’s strength to turn it] were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It is better for you to enter life crippled, than to have two hands and go into [a]hell, into the unquenchable fire, 44 [b][where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out.] 45 If your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell, 46 [c][where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out.] 47 If your eye causes you to stumble and sin, throw it out [that is, remove yourself from the source of temptation]! It would be better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm [that feeds on the dead] does not die, and the fire is not put out.

Could we say here we have a more old testament Jesus.  Someone we are not as comfortable.  No is the simple answer.  Here we are.  This too is good news.  We have to hear this more than a dire warning.  An invitation to the bounty of life.  Being outside is nothing compared to cause to stumble someone you have a chance to help.  Opportunities to serve are missed at your peril.

49 “For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good and useful; but if salt has lost its saltiness (purpose), how will you make it salty? Have salt within yourselves continually, and be at peace with one another.”

Salt.  Salt of the earth. Sometimes I sing it in my mind.  One of my favorite teaching we talked about last week.  In verse 35 Sitting down [to teach], He called the twelve [disciples] and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all [in importance] and a servant of all.” 

What if you don't want to be first?  Well I would offer here there is not another answer.  You want to be second? must be servant of all but one.  As we file in we see something of a plan.  If you keep reading in Mark you see Moses is what Jesus talks about next and might wonder I have a plan for this sermon.  If you keep reading you will find a plan for life.

We might hear something of an answer to dire warnings.  The worst you could say is that we really do not have a choice.  But that is easy when you have been properly spoiled by the word.  James 5:13-20 again from the Amplified Bible gives us an answer to this question and many others.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. Is anyone joyful? He is to sing praises [to God]. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He must call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with [a]oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed [b]intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops [as usual].

We often take it as an article of faith that we all know to pray.  We might pray in phases and get down a long line that God just places a right turn.  We grieve our own life as much as we grieve others.  

We got some skin in the game.  Somethings we can't lose.  We can never lose Jesus.  We can only walk away or with him.  In my mind this is not a choice.  

Somethings we could do without.  Many things in truth we can do without.  Beyond my health and a chance to work hard there is little I can not do.  

As a man the entire world stacked against him.  There was little Pastor Miller could not do.  He faced with a smile I am witness.  He wasn't supposed to succeed.  He somehow never got that message.  There he was.  He was blessed indeed.  His territories were enlarged.

Also lost a friend who lost his way before 40.  His actions it could be said lead directly to death.  There is a finality to a life when it ends.  We don't have to evaluate our feelings about someone anymore.  He had many names actually that people called him, but he only called himself one.  It is not hard to say I love him.

We lost our music director Karen recently as well.  When you start to think of all the death it can lead you to many conclusions.  I remember her one day leaving the church as she talked to herself, "I'm just not praying hard enough."  I smiled and think of that moment often.  I am happy that I knew how lucky we were to have her when we did.

I pray without ceasing but you might not think I am praying.  Another one of those non decisions of mine.  When I am blessed I do not hesitate to ask for the next one.  When I don't get what I pray for I wonder how I am so far off track.

It's not easy.  It matters.  In life we find seasons.  In the end we find abundant eternal life or an end.  Not for lack of love.  How do you feel about things you create? 

Let Us Pray:

Creator of All Thank you for bringing us here.

Thank you for taking us there.

Help us to learn from our great teacher.

Help us to keep your lessons ever near.

Help us to get some skin in the game

Help those who grieve

Help those who sing

We ask for every single one of your blessings in the name of your son, Jesus.

Amen

Benedictions

Go into the world as if it matters

Go into the world as if you matter

Go into the world to serve

Go into the world as if your life depended on it

Let's get some skin in the game

Nottingham UMC 9/26/2021

Skin in the Game

That's what he always used to preach
Got to get some skin in the game
Turned church around for me
Not a place to go
A place to go from

He said we get together to gather our strength
It wasn't about what we did there
We would go and it would be hard
We would do it
It would matter

We got some skin in the game
Somethings we couldn't lose
Somethings we could do without

As a man the entire world stacked against him
He faced with a smile I am witness
He wasn't supposed to succeed
He somehow never got that message
There he was

He was blessed indeed
His territories were enlarged

170

473921304958601

my words even less use

I wish I could talk in numbers

Crime is always about opportunity

We never expect the worst even as it arrives

9/11 sure did give people what to talk about

11/7 I remember just Bosnians always had things to talk about

That day they didn't

Nothing has changed except our interests

I worked a transition project so well funded till it wasn't

The chains of command are long yet nimble

We actually think we know better

We were far from world war II

We gain capitol and rest of world destroyed

We have rested on our laurels and 14 million dead Russians

three Mediterranean staples

Grain, grapes, and olives this was the basis of the Pax Romana.  That peace that the Mediterranean world enjoyed so long it got named.  Palestine, the promise land would go though much in this period.  Here we are talking about a period that was so monumental to our brothers of Abraham.  For us the most important is undoubtedly Jesus for them it was the destruction of the second temple.   

When you look up expulsion of the Jews you really do have to be specific.  After the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD they were expelled from their home land.  Families would have members in several cities.  Not because they wanted to, but because any city might expel them and they would have somewhere to go.

They certainly not the only victims of this world.  They are not the only aggressor in this world either. 

So their was this peace based on flour, alcohol and oil.  Alcohol still has a unique place in our society, but to them sketchy water was more the reason.  Alcohol like kombucha would be safe to drink.  Water you would often be taking a big chance in their world.  

We have this interesting scripture from John that over laps with what Pastor Wilma preached last week about the bread of life.  I have been following the liturgical calendar for some time now of our church.  I didn't know that it could over lap. 

Two ways to look here.  The divisions we often see in the gospel are arbitrary.  Preaching is much like cooking: good in good out.  Last week we certainly feasted as we often find ourselves doing with the word.  I think we all know something of what it means to be full of the word.  Even more so because there was a time we were empty.  Interesting how things work out that way.

I was walking through a Serbian village with my family.  We came down by the river side.  There were plastic bags more than there was river it seemed.  Wasn't sure how that could make sense.  I find this need to make sense.  As we talked I learned they had never removed trash from the villages.  How long had there been these villages.  Jesus would be no stranger there.  To the Pax Romana at least.

Now two mysteries why was it not even worse.  How could they have never sent a garbage truck to the villages of the Balkans?  Thing was I remembered from watching my mother in-law there wasn't much garbage.  The citrus rind she would use to make syrup for the winter would grace the most amazing cakes you could imagine.  Something was peeled something was fed or composted.  What we miss of these stories is the sustainability Jesus was sharing with them.  They understood.  They didn't send garbage trucks to their villages.  They only sent transportation for the bounty of the valley.

Seldom happens that I have great mysteries solved with so little effort.  There was no garbage problem in the past because there was no garbage.  Every single time I go and buy the smallest of things people try to give me bags.  I go to places more that listen to me and ask if I want a bag.  Or sell it to me.  What we see as an answer to the Balkan villages is to truck garbage from the villages like we do here.  Progress they say.

The Balkans are closer than we are to what Jesus ate.  They now have big box stores, but you would be surprised you can pickle almost anything.  I didn't even understand it myself when I lived it, but it taught me.  What my mother in-law had most was flour, alcohol and oil.  When my brother in-law returned from Canada he asked her how much her weekly groceries had increased having me my young wife and baby there.  I will never forget her face for two reasons.  One she defended me.  Two she did not understand the question.  She thought in decades not weeks.  She had no idea her weekly cost.  She was ready for ten years and I will tell you it does not take the space we think.

One day we had lunch together.  She started crying.  I asked her what is wrong.  She said she was afraid she would not be able to go to Sara's wedding.  She had been born two or three days before.  She thought in decades.   As American bombs rained down she found it hard to imagine the visa she would one day have.  We last spent extensive time together when my son was born here.  He still loves yogurt.

I grew to understand the Mediterranean diet.  It started with bread.  Bread as Pastor Wilma noted is something we know.  In Bosnia it is funny there really is only one type of bread.  They call the last piece that you use to eat the last scraps off your plate with, "your strength."  I took couple dozen Bosnian kids to the sea side and bought them brown bread.  They did not believe it was bread and would not touch it.  I was witness or I would not have believed it.  They liked to have fun with me they said I spoke Hungarian.  Madjarski, funny we call them Hungarians cause they reminded us of the Huns, us being old English speakers.

As in the time of Jesus and now the rich and elite ate whatever they wanted.  We know there were many vomitoriums built during the Pax Romana.  None for the poor.  They had baths I guess and theater.  The poor mostly flour alcohol and oil.  Bread almost a medium because the oil is what will keep you alive.  Little meat bits here and there more for flavor for the poor.  Remember even our soul food comes from what was left to the slaves.  People make do.  Chicken feet make soup.  They didn't used to have much garbage in the villages.

All this really to get deeper in where we were last week.  Over lapped.  Before we can understand what Jesus is talking about with the bread of life we need to see what the bread alone.  Sustainability.  I do come to this idea that anything can be good for you.  I don't eat meat, but there are people that do in these blue zones identified around the world where people live longer.  Nothing healthier about the pork they have there really, but the culture of making.  All the work involved is almost a balm for the ill effects we feel.

I could go to the store and eat anything I want at any time.  Why this is a goal is a sign of how far we have lost our way.  Entertainment seem headed that way.  We want to be entertained by anything at any time.  I am as I have mentioned before many things and one is a dead head.  A person who enjoys the Grateful Dead.  When I first learned of them there were these tapers who were like key keepers who passed and shared the music.  You needed connections for the music to flow.

I knew at the time eventually there would be satellites broadcasting down the entire library of their music.  Today they certainly do.  I still discover new music of theirs.  A band not together in more than 25 years.  I often think of the tapers.  I only knew two.  The world changes and we are not always prepared.  All the music at my finger tips.  All this garbage flowing from our villages. 

The tapers were like the villages of our community.  Produced real good and no garbage.  Well, even the garbage had a purpose we could discuss what a bad night they had.  If you know anything about the band the worst night they had was probably Woodstock.  We have this community but our villages don't produce anything really.  Our community is a shell of itself and we don't yet know how we will live.  Our river's are chocked with plastic bags.

So here we have today's scripture: John 6:56-69  from the Amplified Bible

56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] remains in Me, and I [in the same way remain] in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, even so the one who feeds on Me [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] will also live because of Me. 58 This is the Bread which came down out of heaven. It is not like [the manna that] our fathers ate and they [eventually] died; the one who eats this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] will live forever.”

This is where we ended last week contrasting the daily bread with this living bread. 

Now we continue this week.

59 He said these things in a synagogue while He was teaching in Capernaum.

60 When many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This is a difficult and harsh and offensive statement. Who can [be expected to] listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about it, asked them, “Does this cause you to stumble and take offense? 62 What then [will you think] if you see the Son of Man ascending to [the realm] where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life]. 64 But [still] there are some of you who do not believe and have faith.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “This is the reason why I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him [that is, unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.”

Most commentators here feel Jesus is talking beyond his 12 to all the people who had started to follow him.  In many ways it is like a message we hear in our popular culture.  You are what you eat.  This is something we don't like to hear.  How do I know? they sell a lot of hot dogs.  Mechanically separated swept from the floor.  They are certainly not the only offender.  

Even good choices can be bad.  We have less trans fats in our diet, but we have palm oil in everything now which is great for us.  Not so great for the orangutan.  Monoculture breeds garbage.  Often problem's solution cause more problems.  Trucking plastic to the village and trucking garbage out seems insane.  In many ways we are the beginning of the end.  Our world certainly broken enough to be saved.

66 As a result of this many of His disciples abandoned Him, and no longer walked with Him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve [disciples], “You do not want to leave too, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope]. 69 We have believed and confidently trusted, and [even more] we have come to know [by personal observation and experience] that You are the Holy One of God [the Christ, the Son of the living God].”

Peter foreshadows Paul here even before the comforter arrived.  He must have felt something of the armor of God.  “You do not want to leave too, do you?”  I wonder here if Jesus in this question is really saying to them I need you.  Jesus certainly saved us all, but doesn't ask us to do the same things.  The twelve again perhaps here found their greatest moment.  There would be more disciples but they would never be more than these twelve who did not want to go.

It only takes a spark to get a fire going the song says, I dare say it was this spark.  Even Judas was counted then.  Not sure how much we can say about his role, but then again not sure how much I can say about your role, but I can tell you something Paul said: 

From Ephesians 6:10-20 Amplified Bible

10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. 11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. 13 Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. 14 So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), 15 and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. 16 Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people. 19 And pray for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news [of salvation], 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. And pray that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly and courageously, as I should.

Is the lesson of Judas that in any group of twelve humans there will be failure even in the best organization. Can we put failure to purpose.  Garbage to renewal?

There is a story of the village our church comes from shared by Roy Larik during our summer speaker series.  There were many good things about this little area.  Two rivers and these ever so useful natural bluestone outcrops.  You could almost see how the first class at Nottingham might have thought that God was on their side.  Anyways the interesting story is about the mills that sprung up almost at the same time if not just before settlers arrived.

The key infrastructure was the mills that would grind the grain.  They encouraged or maybe brought the people here.  Build it and they will come if you will.  Jesus would feel at home.  They certainly didn't eat anything whenever they wanted.  They ate with the seasons like during the Pax Romana.  We are not really that far removed.  Biggest change this crude oil they first found useful in Pennsylvania.  We have come a long way in a short time.  These bags made from oil choking rivers.  Not so long ago we didn't have much use for that oil.

There is something I haven't mentioned.  There is more of us.  Is that better? Well it is not sustainable what we are.

Garbage from the village is what we truck out more than anything it now seems.  We are in-between.  The Pax Romana is broken.  This is not what we are going to be.  Praise the Lord!

Let us pray:

Give us this day our daily bread and what is more give us this living bread to not only live eternally, but to live the way of our Lord.  Help us to find our way in this complex world.  Let us see why we are here and let us see where we are going.  We ask you to share your will to each of us that we may play our role.  Bless us to be a blessing to someone.  Bless someone to be a blessing for us.  And again and again around that we would go.  We ask in the blessed name of our savior Jesus Christ, Amen

Benediction

Go see then do.

Pray and put on all the armor of God

This world is fear filled, but we are not afraid

Let God's will be done in us and it will be enough

Let God's will be done in them and it will be enough

Let us find one and other together and it will be enough

Thanks be to God, go where you are sent my brothers and sisters

Nottingham UMC 8/22/2021

100 Years

This day I realized my granny was my age when I was born

She would have been 100 years I never really thought of her age

Many times I found myself alone on her side 

Something about these generations we communicated

Sometimes it is hard to remember what to hang on to

Thing about children is we don't remember the best years

I was no different and do not remember more than I do

What I have is more than I will ever have

I think of my friend Karen as she spoke to herself

She said I must not be praying hard enough

I smiled that was not the reason

77 years not round

We are all children

Thing about children is we don't remember the best years

More than we will ever know

200 years a class where nothing new is ever learned

Found in Translation

I thought I had some odd jobs before I worked with the tree people

Did not think work could get stranger 

There are certain statistics that are easy to collect that no one has interest

We talked every week until we had work

The office emptied and filled out of the wood work

The older women showed up so we talked

The younger women started to drive

They would come yell at me cause I would let them

She said she did not ask for all these hardships

I told her no one made her come 

Harun was better than a translator he reminded her "ha"

That was the noise she made he was there

In Kakuma they tell stories

Oppression builds community

Eid al-Adha

Because we can be different things.  I want to start with something different.  A transcendental thought. 

"But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future. He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time." RW Emerson

Now what is a transcendental thought?  Transcendentalism is a 19th-century school of American theological and philosophical thought that combined respect for nature and self-sufficiency with elements of Unitarianism and German Romanticism.

I consider myself a Transcendentalist among other things, Walt Whitman one of my favorites.

"He is the Answerer,
What can be answer'd he answers, and what cannot be answer'd
he shows how it cannot be answer'd.
...The words of the true poems give you more than poems,
They give you to form for yourself poems, religions, politics, war,
peace, behavior, histories, essays, daily life, and every thing
else,
They balance ranks, colors, races, creeds, and the sexes,..."

A second idea I want to talk about an informal survey I did this last week among people I came across.  I asked a number of people if they knew what the big Muslim holiday was last week.  I wonder some of you may know.  When I was younger I would assume if  I knew something everyone knew that something.  It took me a long while to learn that not everyone had the interest I had.

Complete disclosure I only know because I served in a Muslim country for the global board of ministries for several years.  Also it is funny to me that we know so little of other people's holidays.  In Islam there are really two big holidays.  The first comes at the end of Ramadan which is the month of fasting.  Makes complete sense to have a holiday after a month of sacrifice.

Interesting at this holiday they give to the poor.  As a young man far from home and family working in the war in Bosnia I was seen as poor so my student's parents would always send me baklava.  Funny how people in the midst of war but in their family can see you the UNPROFORac who came to keep their peace as poor.  I was happy to receive their blessing in any case.

Later in Cleveland when I worked with Muslim refugees it was this holiday that helped them through the year.  Established families in Cleveland would come to the refugee enclave and just give.  Pay rent you name it - was a celebration of sacrifice and joint struggle as I saw it.

But it was the second big holiday that occurred last week.  I think we should know each others holidays.  What they celebrated was something we celebrate.  Abraham willing to sacrifice his son to God.  In a real sense it is what brings us here today.

Pastor Roland Moore, the last elder to serve Nottingham in an official capacity preached last night about a personal relationship with God.  Well it was Abraham's personal relationship with God that brings us here and what they celebrated last week.

Eid al-Adha

This important Muslim festival lasts four days and marks the moment when Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice Ismael, his son, for Allah. Today, most Saudi families celebrate Eid al-Adha by dressing up in their finest clothing, saying special prayers, and slaughtering lambs to share their meat with everyone.

In my time in Bosnia I would see lambs on balconies in the city in preparation for the holiday.  This holiday had a different feel.   My friends couldn't really explain their religion too well.  Many had just recently turned to religion.  Believe me war will make you do that.

I didn't have much better luck.  They asked me what happens if you do something wrong.  I thought about it and said, "well they have to forgive you."  We went in circles like that.

Overall, there are about 2.3 billion Christians in the world and 1.8 billion Muslims. World Jewish population approaching 15 million including my two nephews.  We are the people of Abraham.  It is strange that we know so little of each other.  

One thing I have always believed is the relevance here of Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Amplified Bible

9 Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor; 10 for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, then they keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? 12 And though one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I believe God has plans on plans.  I have this idea that if God wants to speak to people in different ways then that is how it will be.   There are things we will never know in this life, but patterns are key I think.  The pattern here is we don't know much about the other.  I guess it isn't surprising.  With these two lenses we will look at our scripture today.

John 6:1-21 Amplified Bible

6 After this, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. 2 A large crowd was following Him because they had seen the signs (attesting miracles) which He continually performed on those who were sick. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down there with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was approaching. 5 Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward Him, and He said to Philip, “Where will we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 But He said this to test Philip, because He knew what He was about to do. 7 Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii (200 days’ wages) worth of bread is not enough for each one to receive even a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down [to eat].” Now [the ground] there was [covered with] an abundance of grass, so the men sat down, about 5,000 in number. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated; the same also with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they had eaten enough, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and they filled twelve large baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign (attesting miracle) that He had done, they began saying, “This is without a doubt the promised Prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Then Jesus, knowing that they were going to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountainside by Himself.

16 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and they got into a boat and started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had still not come [back] to them. 18 The sea was getting rough and rising high because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed three or four miles [and were near the center of the sea], they saw Jesus walking on the sea and approaching the boat; and they were [terribly] frightened. 20 But Jesus said to them, “It is I (I Am); do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take Him on board the boat, and immediately the boat reached the [shore of the] land to which they were going.

A couple of points.  The total number of people may have exceeded 10,000. The disciples did not have enough money to buy so much food, and the small villages in the area would not have had a sufficient quantity of bread to sell to them.  Kind of reminds you of impossible problems we face today.

There was once a German and Bosnian talking about their lives.  The German said I make about one thousand marks and my expenses about nine hundred marks and I manage to put away 0ne hundred marks.  The Bosnian replied I make one hundred marks and my expenses are nine hundred and I don't know how I get through the month.  Jesus never stopped feeding the multitudes.

Many times we have the how.  The woman who grabbed Jesus' robe was healed because power came out.  The little girl got up because Jesus told her, that was the how.  Here in John we are told what happened but we don't know how.

Was Jesus bringing bread from nowhere which I am confident he could.  Was he just seeing what was there that everyone else missed.  I guess my question is was this a hard or easy miracle.  I don't think it was the hardest, but the impact was certainly the greatest.

This here was revolution and everyone there knew it.  "But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future. He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time."   Everybody there was there and everything everyone had was on offer.

Jesus knew John tells us.  Then Jesus, knowing that they were going to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountainside by Himself.  This is the heart of the story.  This Jesus walking on water was because Jesus saw a better revolution possible that included us.  These people would have easily thrown off Roman rule.  Well that is what I believe is the reason Jesus left.  He had other fish to fry.

Why was this revolution.  Well in our celebration of our two hundred anniversary as a congregation we have talked often about the first class at Nottingham.  Now I want to talk more about schools.  I mentioned earlier that I like to consider myself in the tradition of the transcendentalists.  The root is to transcend.  I have also mentioned casually that I consider myself a communist.  I know that is trigger word for many people.  People who understand very little.

When I studied international relations we did not call ourselves communists anymore.  We are historical structuralists that is we believe there is a structure to history.  We started in small bands in caves and such places.  We built towns.  Then cities.  We were feudal for a long time.  Then came the capitalists which it is true set us free from Kings.  God told Israel long time ago don't bet on kings.  Few listen.

A communist is a academic who believes that there is something that comes after capitalism.  This in contrast to theories supported in the 1990s in New York specifically about the end of history.  Pre 9/11 America was so quaint.  Again we call ourselves historical structuralist because we think there is a structure to history.  Jesus tells us there is one.  In this scripture imagine Jesus had to beat it so the first revolution would not go.

Again what was so revolutionary.  Everyone had.  No one lacked.  Sure people who call themselves communists have lacked.  Lenin was a Bolshevik, he didn't trust the people.  Bolshevik means majority and they ruled as authoritarians.  They wanted to skip history.  Lenin thought he could speed up history.  He might have been able to.  People don't know the last few years of his life he had a bullet in his neck.  He told everybody don't let Stalin rule.  I'm not sure what else he could have done.

His brother was a revolutionary who was killed.  Lenin went to work every day.  The world is complex.  God has plans on Plans.

Our world today is losing its way in so many ways.  In Haiti gun men came into the presidents house and killed the president.   Michel-Rolph Trouillot, a Haitian anthropologist who died in 2012, wrote: “History is the fruit of power, but power itself is never so transparent that its analysis becomes superfluous. The ultimate mark of power may be its invisibility; the ultimate challenge, the exposition of its roots.”

What I personally find distressing is their in no speculation really about motives.  In 1994 when we sent troops to help we signed contracts.  Big contracts for such a small place.  There are ripples from 1994 I am sure and there is exploitation by elites.  Someone was trying to reform. 

 Matthew 5:11 Amplified Bible

11 “Blessed [morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness] are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you because of [your association with] Me.

This is not a political message.  I don't want you to be a communist, but I do want to understand the schools of thought that believe history and History with a big H have a structure.  Mostly because one of those that shows us is Jesus.  Why was it so revolutionary.    Now [the ground] there was [covered with] an abundance of grass, so the men sat down, about 5,000 in number. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated; the same also with the fish, as much as they wanted. 

We don't have any how here, but what do we know?  Everyone there present, above time .  Then Jesus, knowing that they were going to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountainside by Himself.

We marvel at the how and it tells us Jesus is Lord, but we don't have a how here.  Did Jesus find more in us or just give us.  Well yes: We know where John started.  

John 1:1 Amplified Bible

1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

It is interesting to wonder when these people realized that their king had left.  I guess it is also a question of how many of them kept Jesus as their king in the second revolution of Jesus: the new covenant. Many I imagine, but they would tell people they knew Jesus when.  They were ready to take over the world before anyone else.

I don't mean to dismiss the end of the scripture but I almost feel like walking on water gets too much hype as it were.  If there was a preview of a movie of Jesus' life you could do worse then him walking on water.  You wouldn't show him sneaking away from the first revolution.  I think Jesus saw exactly where they would take him, but Jesus was thinking about you and me and the other.   

I think it is very cool that Jesus pulls the plug on the first revolution.  I am a man but I have been something else is how I described it to my son.  It isn't so hard to be a man cause I have been something else.  I have been a boy.  It is hard to be a boy because you have never been something else.  We love to talk about how God knows the number of hairs on our head, but seldom remember the same is true for our worst enemy.  It is a simple faith.  It is a complex world.

We read something else today in Ephesians 3:14-21 from the Amplified Bible again.  And I will try to tie these schools and classes and children of Abraham together.

14 For this reason [grasping the greatness of this plan by which Jews and Gentiles are joined together in Christ] I bow my knees [in reverence] before the Father [of our Lord Jesus Christ], 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name [God—the first and ultimate Father]. 16 May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, 18 be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; 19 and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen

This is not a political message.

"But man postpones or remembers; he does not live in the present, but with reverted eye laments the past, or, heedless of the riches that surround him, stands on tiptoe to foresee the future. He cannot be happy and strong until he too lives with nature in the present, above time." RW Emerson

 They were going to come and take Him by force to make Him king.  Well I will say this we didn't all reject him thank God.  We may not be the most intelligent creature on the planet in the end, but everybody there knew.  And really everybody who hears the story can imagine.  There is no how.

We look for patterns and seeing here and eating here.  There is more to this story.  There is 10,000 people left behind.  The disciples were frightened we hear.  What were all these people.  I imagine they had much to talk about.  I imagine they never forgot that day.  I imagine they saw more in their community then they did before.  Did God give it or make it or did they find it, well yes.  It is a complex world, but it is a simple faith.

Let Us Pray

Eternal God, Creator of the universe, there is no God but You. Great and wonderful are Your works, wondrous are your ways. Thank You for the many splendored-variety of Your creation. Thank You for the many ways we affirm Your presence and purpose, and the freedom to do so. Forgive our violation of Your creation. Forgive our violence toward each other. We stand in awe and gratitude for Your persistent love for each and all of Your children: Christian, Jew, Muslim, as well as those with other faiths. Grant to all and our leaders attributes of the strong; mutual respect in words and deed, restraint in the exercise of power, and the will for peace with justice, for all. Eternal God, Creator of the universe, there is no God but You. Amen.

Reprinted from the World Council of Churches

Benediction 

Help us to remember it is the hairs on all the heads that are counted.

It is the hungry.  It is the poor.  It is the outcast.  It is the politician.

It is the other.  It is the thief.  It is the judge.

Help us to be focused on your will and do our part.

As we pray for all

In the name of Jesus our Lord, Amen

Nottingham UMC 7-25-2021