Sermon for March 31st, 2019 - Revision history

Iraneal at 13:40, 31 March 2019

2019-03-31T13:40:08Z

Iraneal at 03:36, 30 March 2019

2019-03-30T03:36:17Z

Iraneal at 02:58, 30 March 2019

2019-03-30T02:58:19Z

Iraneal at 02:55, 30 March 2019

2019-03-30T02:55:36Z

Iraneal at 02:47, 30 March 2019

2019-03-30T02:47:14Z

Iraneal at 02:29, 30 March 2019

2019-03-30T02:29:18Z

Iraneal at 02:06, 30 March 2019

2019-03-30T02:06:25Z

Iraneal at 21:32, 29 March 2019

2019-03-29T21:32:45Z

Iraneal at 21:10, 29 March 2019

2019-03-29T21:10:27Z

Iraneal at 20:11, 29 March 2019

2019-03-29T20:11:37Z

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 NEAL:  There's one more thing I want to ask about--I've always wondered about the meaning of the last three verses in this passage:  "If I have raised my hand against the orphan, because I saw I had supporters at the gate; then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty."  First of all, what's with the orphan and the supporters at the gate?
-CALVIN:  Back in the old country, the "gate" was what you might describe as "City Hall."  The place where powerful people make laws, enforce them, and sometimes turn a blind eye to 'em.  Havin' support at the gate--whether you earned it or whether you bought it--either way, makes it real easy to take advantage of people, but that don't make it right.
+JOB:  Back in the old country, the "gate" was what you might describe as "City Hall."  The place where powerful people make laws, enforce them, and sometimes turn a blind eye to 'em.  Havin' support at the gate--whether you earned it or whether you bought it--either way, makes it real easy to take advantage of people, but that don't make it right.
 NEAL:  And the dislocated shoulder?  The broken arm?

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	CALVIN: It is true that everyone cannot be like Monsieur Joe Bob, for we have not thousands of Camels like he had (thank God--they are ugly creatures!). But let us each look to our ability--though our gifts and deeds are not always what they ought to be, if we allow our compassion to lead us ever closer to those in distress, God accepts it.		CALVIN: It is true that everyone cannot be like Monsieur Joe Bob, for we have not thousands of Camels like he had (thank God--they are ugly creatures!). But let us each look to our ability--though our gifts and deeds are not always what they ought to be, if we allow our compassion to lead us ever closer to those in distress, God accepts it.
		+
		+	NEAL: There's one more thing I want to ask about--I've always wondered about the meaning of the last three verses in this passage: "If I have raised my hand against the orphan, because I saw I had supporters at the gate; then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket. For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty." First of all, what's with the orphan and the supporters at the gate?
		+
		+	CALVIN: Back in the old country, the "gate" was what you might describe as "City Hall." The place where powerful people make laws, enforce them, and sometimes turn a blind eye to 'em. Havin' support at the gate--whether you earned it or whether you bought it--either way, makes it real easy to take advantage of people, but that don't make it right.
		+
		+	NEAL: And the dislocated shoulder? The broken arm?
		+
		+	JOB: It's a figure of speech. I'd rather lose my right arm than get away with somethin' wrong on account of my good reputation.
		+
		+	CALVIN: I am glad to see that you have retained both of your arms, then.
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		+	JOB: Sure. I guess. But you know that calamity from God I was so terrified of? Well, it happened. And that fear that I couldn't face his majesty? Well, I did. But I suppose that's what we're talking about next week, ain't it, preachers?
		+
		+	CALVIN: Mais oui! And may we all bow down in humble reverence before the majesty of our God, who is more terrible than we can imagine, more generous than we deserve, and more loving than we can comprehend. Thanks be to God! Amen.

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	JOB: Sure, I know what it's like to be wealthy. But I also know what it's like to be broke. If you can't be generous when you're broke, you won't be generous when you're wealthy. And no matter how little you think you have today, you might have even less tomorrow. It's always better to help as much as you can right now, because tomorrow you might be the one askin' for help.		JOB: Sure, I know what it's like to be wealthy. But I also know what it's like to be broke. If you can't be generous when you're broke, you won't be generous when you're wealthy. And no matter how little you think you have today, you might have even less tomorrow. It's always better to help as much as you can right now, because tomorrow you might be the one askin' for help.

−	CALVIN: It is true that everyone cannot be like~~...~~Joe Bob, for we have not thousands of Camels like he had (thank God--they are ~~smelly~~ creatures!). But let us each look at our ability--though our ~~alms~~ and deeds are not always what they ought to be, if we allow our compassion to lead us ~~toward~~ those in distress, God accepts it.	+	CALVIN: It is true that everyone cannot be like Monsieur Joe Bob, for we have not thousands of Camels like he had (thank God--they are ugly creatures!). But let us each look to our ability--though our gifts and deeds are not always what they ought to be, if we allow our compassion to lead us ever closer to those in distress, God accepts it.

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	JOB: Sure, I know what it's like to be wealthy. But I also know what it's like to be broke. If you can't be generous when you're broke, you won't be generous when you're wealthy. And no matter how little you think you have today, you might have even less tomorrow. It's always better to help as much as you can right now, because tomorrow you might be the one askin' for help.		JOB: Sure, I know what it's like to be wealthy. But I also know what it's like to be broke. If you can't be generous when you're broke, you won't be generous when you're wealthy. And no matter how little you think you have today, you might have even less tomorrow. It's always better to help as much as you can right now, because tomorrow you might be the one askin' for help.
		+
		+	CALVIN: It is true that everyone cannot be like...Joe Bob, for we have not thousands of Camels like he had (thank God--they are smelly creatures!). But let us each look at our ability--though our alms and deeds are not always what they ought to be, if we allow our compassion to lead us toward those in distress, God accepts it.

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	JOB: Now, if you'd delivered my cargo to someone pretending to be my client without asking for any ID, I'd probably still've fired you. But if you asked the right questions, tried to be responsible, and your heart was in the right place--at that point whatever happens next is between me and my client. You've done your job, good and faithful employee.		JOB: Now, if you'd delivered my cargo to someone pretending to be my client without asking for any ID, I'd probably still've fired you. But if you asked the right questions, tried to be responsible, and your heart was in the right place--at that point whatever happens next is between me and my client. You've done your job, good and faithful employee.

−	CALVIN: This is a good saying, "your heart in the right place." When we observe someone in need, someone who has endured hardship, it is our heart that should leap out of us and toward our brother or sister, who is human, like we are. If the heart is open, then the hand will open next, and our help will follow willingly and quickly. But if our heart is not moved, but instead we grumble, drag our feet, or look to see what others will do first, then may God teach us humility by taking away from us those things we would ~~not willingly~~ give to ~~others~~.	+	CALVIN: This is a good saying, "your heart in the right place." When we observe someone in need, someone who has endured hardship, it is our heart that should leap out of us and toward our brother or sister, who is human, like we are. If the heart is open, then the hand will open next, and our help will follow willingly and quickly. But if our heart is not moved, but instead we grumble, drag our feet, or look to see what others will do first--if we cannot learn charity, then may God teach us humility...by taking away from us all those things we value more than our brothers and sisters in need.
		+
		+	NEAL: As a pastor, sometimes I hear people say things like, "I would help more if only I had more time." Or, "I'll give more when I get more...like if I win the lottery or something." I suppose one might say that it's easy to be generous when you're the CEO of a large company, you know, with 3,000 camels and 7,000 sheep, a whole lotta servants, and all that?
		+
		+	JOB: Sure, I know what it's like to be wealthy. But I also know what it's like to be broke. If you can't be generous when you're broke, you won't be generous when you're wealthy. And no matter how little you think you have today, you might have even less tomorrow. It's always better to help as much as you can right now, because tomorrow you might be the one askin' for help.

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 NEAL:  Okay, I get it.  But who's the client in this metaphor?  How do you know WHO you're supposed to deliver God's cargo to?
-CALVIN:  James 1:27.  "True religion, that is pure and undefiled before God is this:  To care for orphans and widows in their distress."   Or Matthew 25:40.  "Whatever you have done for the least of these my brothers, you have done to me."  Or, Job 29:15.  "I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.  I was a father to the needy, and I championed the cause of the stranger."
+CALVIN:  James 1:27.  "True religion, that is pure and undefiled before God is this:  To care for orphans and widows in their distress."   Or Matthew 25:40.  "Whatever you have done for the least of these my brothers, you have done to me."  Or, Job 29:15.  "I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.  I was a father to the needy, and I championed the cause of the stranger."  It is not a great difficulty to know whom God wishes us to help with the resources he has given us.
-JOB:  Now, if you'd delivered my cargo to someone pretending to be my client without asking for any ID, I'd probably still've fired you.  But if you asked the right questions, tried to be responsible, and your heart was in the right place--at that point whatever happens next is between me and my client.
+JOB:  Now, if you'd delivered my cargo to someone pretending to be my client without asking for any ID, I'd probably still've fired you.  But if you asked the right questions, tried to be responsible, and your heart was in the right place--at that point whatever happens next is between me and my client.  You've done your job, good and faithful employee.

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 NEAL:  The story of Job, as we've seen, is a hard one.  But this week I wanted to take a break from the main story, and focus on an aspect of Job that often gets overlooked:  Long before tragedy struck, and long afterward, Job was a generous man. Not just to his family or friends, either.  In today's scripture passage as well as several other places in the Book of Job, we learn that he made it a principle in his life to care for widows and orphans, to feed and clothe the poor, and to champion the cause of strangers in his land.  So if it's alright with the two of you, I'd like to talk about that today--about what it means to be generous, what generosity looks like, and why it's important.
-JOB:  Well, for starters, it's not somethin' you talk about.  It's somethin' you just do.
+JOB:  Well, for starters, it's not somethin' you talk much about, if you can help it.  It's somethin' you just do.
 NEAL:  You make it sound easy, but that hasn't been my experience.  In my very first week as a pastor, I got scammed by a couple who came to the church asking for money and help.  I listened to their story; I gave them money, only to find out later they were lying about it all.  What I hate the most about that experience was that it made me skeptical of everyone else who came to the church asking for help.
-CALVIN:  (chuckling) You should give thanks to God for this lesson! It is good that we should be prudent and look carefully to whom we give--for if we gave without any wisdom and discretion, eventually would have nothing, and then even the poor among us would be left helpless.  But this wisdom does not come without experience, without making mistakes.  Still, it would be a much bigger mistake to NOT take any risk at all, to NOT learn from our experiences, or...to disguise our greed and lack of compassion as prudence.
+CALVIN:  (chuckling) You should give thanks to God for this lesson! It is good that we should be prudent and look carefully to whom we give--for if we give without any wisdom or discretion, eventually we would have nothing, and then even the poor among us would be left helpless.  But this wisdom does not come without experience, without making mistakes.  Still, it would be a much bigger mistake to NOT take any risk at all, to NOT learn from our experiences, or...to disguise our greed and lack of compassion as prudence.

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 NEAL:  You make it sound easy, but that hasn't been my experience.  In my very first week as a pastor, I got scammed by a couple who came to the church asking for money and help.  I listened to their story; I gave them money, only to find out later they were lying about it all.  What I hate the most about that experience was that it made me skeptical of everyone else who came to the church asking for help.
-CALVIN:  (chuckling) You should give thanks to God for this lesson! It is good that we should be prudent and look carefully to whom we give--for if we gave without wisdom and discretion, eventually would have nothing, and then even the poor among us would be left helpless.  But this wisdom does not come without experience, without making mistakes.  Still, it would be a much bigger mistake to NOT take any risk at all, to NOT learn from our experiences, or...to disguise our greed and lack of compassion as prudence.
+CALVIN:  (chuckling) You should give thanks to God for this lesson! It is good that we should be prudent and look carefully to whom we give--for if we gave without any wisdom and discretion, eventually would have nothing, and then even the poor among us would be left helpless.  But this wisdom does not come without experience, without making mistakes.  Still, it would be a much bigger mistake to NOT take any risk at all, to NOT learn from our experiences, or...to disguise our greed and lack of compassion as prudence.
-−
-−
-−
-−
-−
-−
-Is not your wickedness great?
-    There is no end to your iniquities.
-For you have exacted pledges from your family for no reason,
-    and stripped the naked of their clothing.
-You have given no water to the weary to drink,
-    and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
-The powerful possess the land,
-    and the favored live in it.
-You have sent widows away empty-handed,
-    and the arms of the orphans you have crushed.
-Therefore snares are around you,
-    and sudden terror overwhelms you,
-or darkness so that you cannot see;
-    a flood of water covers you.

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 ==Two Preachers and a Trucker: Humanity==
-NEAL:  The story of Job, as we've seen, is a hard one.  But this week I wanted to take a break from the main story, and focus on an aspect of Job that often gets overlooked:  Long before tragedy struck, and even afterward, Job was a generous man. Not just to his family or friends, either.  In today's scripture passage as well as other places in the Book of Job, we learn that he made it a principle in his life to care for widows and orphans, to feed and clothe the poor, and to welcome strangers in need.
+NEAL:  The story of Job, as we've seen, is a hard one.  But this week I wanted to take a break from the main story, and focus on an aspect of Job that often gets overlooked:  Long before tragedy struck, and long afterward, Job was a generous man. Not just to his family or friends, either.  In today's scripture passage as well as several other places in the Book of Job, we learn that he made it a principle in his life to care for widows and orphans, to feed and clothe the poor, and to champion the cause of strangers in his land.  So if it's alright with the two of you, I'd like to talk about that today--about what it means to be generous, what generosity looks like, and why it's important.
-I try not to let this incident color my opinion of everyone who comes to the church asking for help. Many (perhaps even most) are genuine in their need, and truly grateful for any help we are able to give, whether its money from the benevolence fund, food from our food pantry, or even just prayer, encouragement and a listening ear. These days, I probably ask a few more questions, and I'm more likely to make a referral to the appropriate social service agency than reach for the checkbook. But striking the right balance between wanting to help the poor, and wanting to be responsible in the way that we help, is still a difficult thing.

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	==Two Preachers and a Trucker: Humanity==		==Two Preachers and a Trucker: Humanity==
		+
		+	NEAL: The story of Job, as we've seen, is a hard one. But this week I wanted to take a break from the main story, and focus on an aspect of Job that often gets overlooked: Long before tragedy struck, and even afterward, Job was a generous man. Not just to his family or friends, either. In today's scripture passage as well as other places in the Book of Job, we learn that he made it a principle in his life to care for widows and orphans, to feed and clothe the poor, and to welcome strangers in need.
		+
		+
		+

	In my first week as a pastor, Mr. and Mrs. Heath Andrews walked into the church offices asking for help. They were passing through El Paso, and had fallen on difficult times. They asked if the church might be able to help with the cost of diabetes medication for Heath's wife: Her prescription had expired... they could not afford to renew it... all the other churches and social service agencies in town had turned them away... time was running out... we were (I was) their "only hope."		In my first week as a pastor, Mr. and Mrs. Heath Andrews walked into the church offices asking for help. They were passing through El Paso, and had fallen on difficult times. They asked if the church might be able to help with the cost of diabetes medication for Heath's wife: Her prescription had expired... they could not afford to renew it... all the other churches and social service agencies in town had turned them away... time was running out... we were (I was) their "only hope."