About mid afternoon on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I made the mistake of going out North Davis and hit major gridlock with the combined congestion of holiday shoppers at University Mall, a changing shift at West Florida Hospital, and the traffic complicated by holiday travelers coming off Interstate 10. A major problem and a major frustration. Stuck in traffic I began to think, we need to do something about this, and then it came to me- (although we do need to improve our flow of traffic, and a major new highway connecting from I-110 to 9 and 10 mile roads would probably help), what we need is not better highways, but better drivers.
The fact is that in America in this last century we have made quite a bit of progress in the kinds of roads on which we travel, but the travelers still have a long way to go. At the beginning of this century, the privileged few who could afford an automobile faced the challenge of some of the worst roads imaginable. The stone for this building was shipped by rail from Pennsylvania to Pensacola in 1906. Perhaps the stained glass came from Pittsburgh by rail in l908, but that is speculation. The nation was dependent on transportation by rail in the early days of this century and we had invested in the railroad system. Some of the interesting news stories of the first half of the 20th century carried tales of hardships on the road-sand and mud and ruts that caused early travel to be quite an adventure.
Henry Joy was the President of the Packard Motor Company and for a promotional trip, he traveled across the United States only to discover that the roads ended completely somewhere in Nebraska. A man in Omaha gave him instructions: "Upon leaving town, drive west until you reach a fence. Open the gate, drive through it and then close it." He recalled that he did this several times and then the fences ended and there was nothing but "two ruts across the prairie".
Isaiah described a dream highway like Henry Joy hoped to one day see: straight, smooth, and level from coast to coast.
The 1939 World's Fair in New York City showcased General Motors' Futurama, which reflected this same dream-super highways from Coast to Coast. The problem was that when their tiny cars slipped off their groove, others would crash into them, creating a massive, miniaturized glimpse of future gridlock, like you experience on North Davis, or in Atlanta, or Philadelphia, or Los Angeles. The better our highways, the worse our driving.
Do you think that maybe the problem is not the need for better highways, although that would certainly help, but just maybe, the real problem is the need for better drivers? We need individuals who are patient, kind, loving, capable, skilled, and calm behind the wheel.
We are about to launch into a new age when we, or our children, will be traveling on new Internet highways, beyond the speed of sound. And these road ways are even more complicated and challenging than driving on our super highways of today. It's easier in this complicated world to get on the wrong road, and be hemmed in and unable to change lanes. In preparing for the season and for the future, I want to suggest the following:
I. Be sure we are on the right road. We have found that the best road map for any age is the Bible, the counsel of Christian friends and the careful suggestions of our ancestors. Here in these invaluable resources, we find guidance toward the best of human life. Listen to the voices of the past. Listen to voices of authority. Listen and be obedient to the best of our tradition.
II. Perhaps we will want to travel lighter in the age ahead. The doublewide trailers and the double hitched trailers are dangerous, and so are we when we get on the road with so much stuff. Get rid of some of the excess baggage we are carrying - anger, guilt, selfishness, etc.
Roger Shinn writes of Jews who were marched for weeks on end to the death camps of Eastern Germany. They began the long march of death clinging to their possessions that became heavier and heavier with each passing day. Some died holding them tight, others shed them along the way.
We have found that Repentance and Simplicity, enables us to travel lighter...
There are still almost three weeks until Christmas, so why don't we let go of some of the unnecessary stuff we drag with us on the highway to the holiday? Why don't we just cut back a little on our gift giving and put the money in a card and let the people we love shop for what they need at a more leisure pace in the new year. Why don't we make an effort to let someone go ahead of us in traffic, or forgive someone who cuts us off in traffic, or pray for someone who is in a really big hurry to go somewhere. If every Christian would ease off on the peddle, repent of their own sin, forgive their impatient neighbor, it might not avoid gridlock in the future world, but it would make our journeys a lot more pleasant and less filled with rage.
III. Thirdly, let us realize what Isaiah realized and that was that God, and God alone, builds the roads to meaning and joy. We don't bridge the valleys, or level the mountains, or smooth the rough ground. God does these things because He is merciful to His chosen people.
In 1200 B.C. when Israel entered the promised land, in Deut. the 8th chapter, the people were reminded of two things:
1. Do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep His commandments , His ordinances, and His statutes.
2. Do not say to yourself, "My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth," but remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.
Over the years, Israel forgot or neglected these basic principles of life.
And then in 538 BC, after the Babylonian exile, after the fall of the nation of Judah, after 70 years of life in a foreign country, Isaiah prophesied to the Jews in Exile in Babylon, "Comfort yea, Comfort yea, my people. Tell them their sins are forgiven and their warfare is over." Isaiah was not calling the Jews of his day to an arduous highway building project, he was simply announcing the good news that God was about to make their journey easy. It was the same message that Moses had spoken in 1200 BC to the slaves in Egypt, God will provide a way! Centuries later, believers would see in the highway of Isaiah's prophecy a prophecy of John the Baptist in anticipation of the coming of Christ. The echoing prophecy of all the ages would be seen as fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Although this ultimate prophecy will be fully experienced when Christ comes again in glory, God's heavenly kingdom is established on this earth, even now the level highway is already in place. The way for us was opened through the Cross and the Resurrection.
In Jesus, once again, we do not have to do the heavy lifting, the moving of the earth around or the straightening of the roadbeds. That is the work of Jesus who is our highway. "I am the way, the truth and the life." He would say. Like Isaiah, John the Baptist was but announcing the good news: there is coming one whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen, one who is the Messiah. Preparation is not a matter of arduous highway building but of repentance and simplifying our lives. Highway building is ultimately a matter of Divine Grace, not human effort!
Contrary to our American approach to life, a better highway, or more stuff, or faster cars, will not cure what ails us. The answer is using the highways we now have and the freedoms we enjoy to become better drivers and travelers.
When you hold a child in your hands, you can feel the pulse beat of possibilities. When a person of faith, believes in the abilities of God, then great things began to happen. Believe it and you will see it!
In Kosovo...the New York times reports: "the people are depressed this Christmas, little joy and even less hope. Many have returned to destroyed villages without their parents, others without their children. It is a sad time. So, let this reporter write of what he sees, it is his freedom, but let me speak of something he cannot see, and that is the hope in the hearts of the children. A child doesn't see destruction of what has been, for he has no memory, only the desires of the present moment and the imagined possibilities of the future. Let us be like a child in this time of great possibilities in which we live and which lie just ahead in the new dawning age.
At one point, the great leaders of our world were but small, tiny, believing babies...
At one point, the great prophet Isaiah was but a small baby. Perhaps the writer of Isaiah, whose works are recorded in the 61st chapter and come from the period of Biblical history called Post Exilic, was but a small baby, possibly born in Exile and carried to the synagogue in the arms of his father who hoped and longed and prayed for the return to Jerusalem. This child had never known Jerusalem, but he heard his parents talk about it. He had never seen the temple, but had heard stories of the great crowds who came to worship and offer sacrifices there. When the people did in fact in 538 B.C. return to Jerusalem, they found a destroyed city. Jerusalem had been destroyed, just as has been the village of Jasalanka, Kosovo this year.
Judah's leaders were depressed because they were weighted down with the burden of an Exile that had lasted for 70 years. But now the Exile was over, and Isaiah walked among the destroyed remains of the city, and began to imagine possibilities of a restored city. A new temple, a confident people, a new government, His imagination soared as he prayed and God enabled him to see through the dust of destruction and the darkness of despair. He imagined new possibilities of a coming age, where armies and crime were unheard of, where the government was just and people were kind, and where the lion would lie down in peace with the lamb.
We learn from this Scripture that God stirs up the imaginations of his people on the advent of great events. And so once again by song, and Poinsettias and by spirit and scripture, we enter this Christmas season and the eve of a new millennium and detect a synergy of the season, which empowers our imagination. Let us Live our dreams! Let us Believe and we will see. Let God stir up possibilities in you this advent and empower you through the realization of what has occurred through Christ and accomplish his purposes through you. There is much Kingdom work to be done and you are gifted to do it, you are blessed with the resources to accomplish God's purposes. You can bring good news to the oppressed, you can bind up the brokenhearted, and you can release the captives, you can comfort all who mourn. Let us in the spirit of Isaiah, see not what is, but what can be.
Our great God has given this stirring in times of uncertainty in the past, like the post exilic period of Judah when the people walked in darkness among the ruins of Jerusalem and dreamed of its restoration. In a time of great destruction they imagined a glorious future. Our God always gives the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit to those who have faith like that of a trusting child.
Too many adults and youth are loaded down with worries and bad memories.
We waste a lot of time and energy asking "Why?" but a child with their great imagination and without all of the baggage asks "Why not?"
Why can't we have fun? Why can't we have peace? Why can't I have more candy? Why can't granddaddy get well? Why can't we share? Why can't everybody be kind to everybody else? Why can't everybody have many toys, a safe warm house and plenty of food? Why not? A child doesn't worry about Y2K problems. A child doesn't worry about "will we have enough money to shop for Christmas? Oh, to be a child again, or at least for a little while. The Advent is an opportunity to imagine possibilities like a child. To dream again and allow your mind to soar with the angels. To imagine a world of plenty and peace.
1. Let us imagine possibilities for the new century.
Let us imagine as did the prophet of a world at peace, who knows war no more. Let us imagine Y2K without any problems, but as an age of abundance for all.
Let us imagine the entire planet at peace. Jews and Palestinians working together. Catholics and Protestants in Ireland worshipping together. All people working together. And children everywhere no longer hungry nor hurting.
Let us imagine that the babies born in l999, will all be in the Graduating Class of 2017 and that they will be totally Drug Free and will live in a world at Peace.
Let us imagine schools that are safe and school boards who work together for the common good.
Let us imagine a nation of leaders and common citizens are all as good as their word.
Let us imagine a hospital where there are no cancer patients.
Let us imagine a community where we would be proud of the fact that we pay more money for a school like N.B. Cook's new School, than we do for a new jail or a new Federal Courthouse. Let us imagine that we will live in a state in the future where we are critical of our tax dollars being spent on new building for criminals and celebrate when we spend our tax dollars for students.
Let us imagine living in a world where everybody takes seriously the calling of Christian Discipleship "to serve one another."
Did you hear about the woman doing her Christmas shopping who walked up to the manager of a department store and asked, "Are you hiring any help?"
"No," he said. "We already have all the staff we need for Christmas."
"Good," she said. "Then would you mind getting someone to wait on me?"
Let us imagine that we live in a nation of servers.
2. Let us imagine possibilities for the Church of Jesus Christ.
Let us imagine as did the apostle, that in the coming age every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess Jesus Christ as Lord.
Let us imagine First Church as a Children's Center for warm laughter and love, as a flagship for healthy, drug free young people and a training ground for full time Christian workers. Let us imagine First Church as a center of enrichment for retirement aged persons. Let us imagine our church as a center for Christian studies and Divine Worship. Let us imagine our church with all of its stained glass in and all of it's people scurrying to find a seat. Let us imagine 1000 in worship in 2000. A 1000 in 2000-it has a nice ring to it.
Believe it and you will see it!
3. Let us imagine unbelievable possibilities for ourselves, our children and for our families. Let us imagine every member of our family believing in God and loving one another.
Let us imagine our families as debt free, that mothers and daddies don't yell at each other, and that all children will share, that all adolescents will honor their teachers.
Let us imagine our youth saying to us as parents: "Be careful, don't drink and drive, and be in early."
Let us imagine parents who trust their kids and kids who respect their parents. My mother used to say to my older brother and I when we were teenagers: "For once I would like to wake up on Sunday morning and hear one of you say: "Great, it's Sunday, let's go to church." Let us imagine our 14-year-old saying: "Great, it's Sunday."
Let us imagine our jobs as meaningful and all co-workers as helpful.
Let us imagine that every member of our family in the next century will live by faith and not by fear, that they will live by the rules of forgiveness and love rather than the results of anger and hate.
Let us imagine that God will give us spiritual wisdom, insight and guidance as we move into a new age with unbelievable possibilities.
In the concluding verses of Paul's letter to the church in Rome, the Apostle of the theology of the Church, pens a doxology -- a final statement of praise. "now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages, but is now disclosed."
Throughout the long letter to Roman Christians, the Apostle had sought to carefully delineate what the coming of Jesus Christ meant and then in this final doxological statement he affirms that "In him, The Mystery is revealed".
And what is this mystery? I'll come to that. But first let us observe and acknowledge that we live today in a scientific age in which we have pursued explanations for life's mysteries and the past millennium has produced such success that with it has come much skepticism and even cynicism. Disease germs, once a mystery, are now understood and many are controlled. Economic forces are more predictable and fairly reliable in projecting future possibilities. The study of Genetics is explaining the makeup of human personality and the human body. We have figured out so much that it has made us very, if not overconfident. Yet, while we are in the process of penetrating one after another of the mysteries which surround our lives, yet there is something about our life that remains clothed in mystery. What is the source from which we come? To where do we go when the breath of life leaves our mortal bodies? What is the nature of that which called into being life as we know it today?
The Apostle Paul was the one who helped the non-Jewish world, described in the term Gentiles, to first understand the mystery that in Jesus Christ had been revealed. Man had always searched for understanding of the nature of the source of life.
In the early days of humankind, primitives had through sacrifice of birds and animals and even humans, sought to appease the Mystery of Life.
In China, Confucius had taught the way of reason and courtly moderation as avenues to enter into the mystery. In India, Buddha taught the steps to Nirvana or personal peace. In the ancient Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, the Hebrew prophets and priests called upon the people to remember the commandments of Moses and to live lives of physical and ethical purity as a means of achieving acceptance by the mystery. In the isles and peninsula of Greece, there developed a hunger for philosophy among the sophisticated and among the masses a hierarchy of Gods who were to be worshipped and appeased on the Acropolis, or highest hill of each city. Paul came to Athens and at the Acropolis where Athena dominated all of the Gods of the city, he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. Said he, as I entered these sacred grounds, I noticed one statue after another to your Gods and Goddesses and one statue on which was inscribed: "To an unknown God". This unknown God, he said, has now revealed himself in Jesus Christ. And then again to the Romans, he speaks of the mystery which has been revealed.
The creator of the universe, The Word, the Logos of all human thought, The Ultimate source of all things Seen and Unseen, The Ground of all Being, The one from whom we come and unto whom we will return, This Great Mystery has now been revealed as: As Pure, unconditional, unadulterated, unlimited Love, Love like that of a Father, a Mother, a child, a grandchild, a Friend, a Brother, a Sister, a Counselor.
This Revealed Mystery is like a shepherd who knows his sheep. This mystery is a Samaritan who cares for the needs of an injured traveler. This mystery revealed is like a voice from the mysterious beyond saying to a frightened young expectant mother: "Fear not, the Lord is with you." This mystery is like a bright star in a dark sky. This mystery is like an Angelic voice saying to shepherds: "Do not be afraid, for unto you is born a saviour." This mystery revealed is like a baby born in a borrowed manager, whose name is Emmanuel. Love came down at Christmas, Love incarnate, Love divine, The mystery revealed is that God is Love and that he loves even us.
What happened in the birth of Jesus was like candlelight in a dark room. It is "good news" in contrast to the evening news. It is hope, in the midst of despair. It is peace, in the midst of war. It is love in the midst of hate. It is acceptance in the midst of rejection. It is joy in the midst of sadness.
Tonight we light our candles and sing of a silent night so long ago when the son of God was born in Bethlehem of Judea. A glimpse of light which God gave now 2000 years ago to a people who walked in darkness. To the weary travelers, Mary and Joseph, a borrowed stable became a place of rest, a haven for labor, and a birthplace for a king. This stable experience became for the young couple, like a glimpse of warm light in the cold, dark Mideastern night. It is still that for those of us who believe.
I. Over the past Millennium, in the midst of darkness, God has given to us experiences of light.
In 1225, a baby was born in Paris and Baptized Thomas Aquinas. He became a teacher and in his writings reconciled faith and human reason.
In 1436 Johan Gutenberg invented the printing press in Strasburg, Germany. He would lose his presses because of a heavy debt, but his invention would be like a glimpse of light in the dark ignorance of the middle ages.
In 1517 Martin Luther translated the Bible into the language of the people and the "Protestant Reformation." Was born. Martin would be excommunicated from the church, and yet he was like a glimpse of light in the dark interior of the church of the middle ages.
Again, in 1633 when Galileo, imprisoned for life, yet maintained the correctness of the Copernican theory that the earth was not the center of the universe. His position would be like a light.
As the 18th century was born, so was the 9th child of Susanna and John Wesley in the countryside of England, John Wesley when he was 38, describes the coming of light in his heartwarming experience at Aldersgate in London in 1738 "I felt my heart strangely warmed, I did trust in Christ and Christ alone for my salvation." It was the same time when slaves were being transported on English ships from Africa to America. In a dark period of human history, A glimpse of light in the heart of John and his brother Charles who would write the words "Hark the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King, peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled" "Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness. Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings."
In, 1791 our first Congress established the Constitution of the U.S. of America assuring the freedom of the individual against rulers or powers of darkness.
(One of the wonderful stories of the Colonial Congress was one day when there occurred an eclipse of the sun at noon as they were meeting. In that age before our modern age of weather channels and modern communication, many people as darkness covered the earth, feared the end of the world was occurring and many of the legislators panicked and several moved to adjourn. But one of them said: "Mr. Speaker, if it is not the end of the world and we adjourn, we shall appear to be fools. (It would have been the beginning of a tradition that would be maintained for a long time). "If it is the end of the world, I would choose to be found doing my duty. I move you, sir, that candles be brought to the chamber." It was a glimpse of light in the midst of darkness.
And again, in 1945 when a young Jewish boy in Pensacola, Florida heard over the radio a message that the war was over, the Holocaust done, and that his daddy was coming home, he cried for it was at early dawn.
In December l999, when the official count is in and it's official that with more than two billion members, Christianity is the world's largest religion. You are a part of the light, not the darkness.
II. Over this past year, in the midst of darkness, God has given to us all experiences of light.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
We sing of Peace on Earth and mercy mild. Of Joy to the World. Christmas Eve--a night for communion with the light of life which has come once again to a dark world through the birth of a baby.