To keep this short, my Friday and Saturday were eventful. I listed my car on craigslist (yes, we're selling the Maxima), I led the most difficult funeral I've done so far, I went bowling while Lisa had to attend a baby shower, and I watched the Pens game with Chip, my college roommate.
Sunday morning, we had an Aldersgate Day celebration at the church. For those of you who don't know what that is, ask your local United Methodist Clergy. If he or she doesn't know, demand they be stripped of their ordination immediately. We sang wonderfully written Charles Wesley hymns, and I read selections from John Wesley's "Salvation By Faith," one of his first sermons preached after the events of May 24, 1738.
Afterwards, our congregation threw a first anniversary dinner for Lisa and me. So that was fun. It was kinda like our wedding reception: they made us cut the cake together, we got to eat first, and we wanted to sit at every table and visit with loved ones, but instead had to sit up front. Last night, we watched our wedding video for the first time. We laughed, we cried, we danced in the living room, and we remembered how blessed we are to have such wonderful family and friends in our lives.
And today, of course, is Memorial Day. To be honest, I think this is the first time I've ever actually recognized it as more than just the first day of summer. As a child, we never got too much into celebrating any patriotic holiday beyond July 4th. And through college and seminary, this time has always been marked by transition -- getting ready for a summer job, graduating, moving to and fro around PA, Ohio, and Georgia, and even getting married on one occasion. So it was nice to watch the parade and attend the Memorial Day service here in town this year. The cemetery is beautiful all year, but especially so this week.
As a pastor, I always feel like I'm tiptoeing cautiously through these patriotic holidays and seasons. During worship yesterday, we sang one of the patriotic hymns because the worship committee insisted. During the community service today, the community singers sang "God Bless America," and the Baptist minister offered an invocation and benediction. I find it difficult to express patriotism while still ultimately directing all my praise to Jesus Christ. This is much easier to do in non-ecclesial settings like the cemetery this morning, where I can just be a proud citizen thanking God for allowing us the many great freedoms we enjoy here. And today, I can honor and remember those who have paid the price for my earthly freedom. This can be done without claiming our land is more Christian than other nations -- without claiming God favors the good old U.S.A. I am certain he does not favor us, and does not dole out grace only to countries where Christianity is alive and well (and even that is debatable these days).
However, worship is more difficult. Each week, I preach from an altar area flanked by a Christian flag on one side and an American flag on the other. Several months ago, I reluctantly allowed the local girl scout troop to lead us in the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of worship. And yesterday, I let us sing an opening anthem proclaiming our love for our country, sweet land of liberty, asking that our land may long be bright with freedom's holy light, and that God may protect us by his might. While singing, I silently prayed for forgiveness if I was in any way praising my country rather than my Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer.
If I had my way, there'd be no flag in the sanctuary. There'd be no cute little girl scouts leading us in the pledge unless we were in a cemetery park, as we were this morning. And there would be no "hymns" sung in praise of our country while we were gathered for the express purpose of praising God alone. My patriotism has no role in public worship, because when I worship God, I want to be sure it is only as a citizen of his kingdom.
I'm still wrestling with how to walk this fine line between recognizing how blessed we are by God to live in this great nation, while being sure not to mistake God's blessings for God's favoritism. Our freedoms here in the U.S.A. are not signs that God loves us any more or less than the people of any other nation. May God bless our land, but may he also bless every other land as well.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Our Story, Our Song
Last night, we had a good ole fashioned hymn sing in the sanctuary. About 25 of us gathered, ranging in age from 3 to 83. We sang for an hour and a half, and could’ve easily sung another 2-3 hours without murmuring or arguing. It was a wonderful time.
Sure, there were times when some of us “younger folk” didn’t know one of the good old Gospel hymns, and the older generations stumbled through Thy Word by Amy Grant while our youth belted it out with gusto. There was much debate over whether How Great Thou Art was a great hymn or a lousy one. And there was a stubborn pastor who refused to sing a note of Onward Christian Soldiers, one that everyone else in the room seemed to love just as much as the pastor wished to rip it out of the hymnal.
But there was also complete joy in singing Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. There was something incredibly holy about our singing of Surely the Presence of the Lord. We became a roomful of God’s children as we sang Jesus Loves Me. A couple of people spontaneously jumped up to take over the piano to sing solos. And it just seemed wrong to end with anything other than the most well-known hymn of all, Amazing Grace.
As I sat there, I felt the Holy Spirit moving through that divinely ordained place and time. I realized the importance of hymnody, and that it is one of the few musical genres (perhaps the only one) that reaches across all generations – if we allow it. It is not outdated music unless we ourselves make it so.
As I’ve come to know the congregation of West Newton, I’ve discovered that one of the favorite hymns here is the Fanny Crosby classic, Blessed Assurance. The lyrics of this hymn sum up last night perfectly. We were blessedly assured. It was “a foretaste of glory divine.” We felt “angels descending bring[ing] from above, echoes of mercy, whispers of love.” We were “happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, [and] lost in his love.”
This was our story, this was our song, praising our Savior, all the day long. I do hope we have more of these nights.
Sure, there were times when some of us “younger folk” didn’t know one of the good old Gospel hymns, and the older generations stumbled through Thy Word by Amy Grant while our youth belted it out with gusto. There was much debate over whether How Great Thou Art was a great hymn or a lousy one. And there was a stubborn pastor who refused to sing a note of Onward Christian Soldiers, one that everyone else in the room seemed to love just as much as the pastor wished to rip it out of the hymnal.
But there was also complete joy in singing Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. There was something incredibly holy about our singing of Surely the Presence of the Lord. We became a roomful of God’s children as we sang Jesus Loves Me. A couple of people spontaneously jumped up to take over the piano to sing solos. And it just seemed wrong to end with anything other than the most well-known hymn of all, Amazing Grace.
As I sat there, I felt the Holy Spirit moving through that divinely ordained place and time. I realized the importance of hymnody, and that it is one of the few musical genres (perhaps the only one) that reaches across all generations – if we allow it. It is not outdated music unless we ourselves make it so.
As I’ve come to know the congregation of West Newton, I’ve discovered that one of the favorite hymns here is the Fanny Crosby classic, Blessed Assurance. The lyrics of this hymn sum up last night perfectly. We were blessedly assured. It was “a foretaste of glory divine.” We felt “angels descending bring[ing] from above, echoes of mercy, whispers of love.” We were “happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, [and] lost in his love.”
This was our story, this was our song, praising our Savior, all the day long. I do hope we have more of these nights.
Love One Another
Sermon for Sunday, May 17, 2009
Scripture: John 15:9-17
In listening to the radio this past week, I heard a lot about love. Here’s some of what I heard:
“This one goes out to the one I love.”
“What is love?”
“It’s more than a feeling.”
“What is this thing called love?”
“We’ve got a thing that’s called radar love.”
“I ain’t complaining but I’d sure like to find me a true fine love.”
“Jungle love, it’s driving me mad, it’s making me crazy.”
“That’s the way love is, baby.”
“I can’t help falling in love with you.”
“I ain’t ready, crazy little thing called love.”
“Can anybody find me somebody to love?”
“Can’t buy me love.”
“Let’s fall in love. Why shouldn’t we fall in love?”
“Sugar Pie Honey Bunch, I can’t help myself, I love you and nobody else.”
“I like it, I love it, I want some more of it.”
“‘Cause I love you.”
“I’m just a stubborn kind of fellow, got my mind made up to love you.”
“Do you love me?”
“Love me do.”
“I’ll give you the best of my love.”
“Love is what you need.”
“I will always love you.”
“Some call me the gangster of love.”
“Don’t leave! I think I love you!”
“Don’t take your love from me.”
“Gonna try and love again.”
“She’s in love with a boy.”
“She loves you.”
“Can you feel the love tonight?”
“I feel like makin’ love.”
“You’d be so easy to love.”
“I just called to say I love you.”
“Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“I can’t get enough of your love babe.”
“How sweet it is to be loved by you.”
“Love will keep us alive.”
“You brought a new kind of love to me.”
“That’s how your love makes me feel.”
“That’s love.”
“All you need is love.”
We hear a lot about love. It’s a word used very often. In fact, Jesus uses the word “love” or a variation thereof no less than 9 times in this passage alone – more than once per verse. And that doesn’t count the fact that the word “friends” here really means “loved ones.” Faith, hope, and love abide, and the greatest of these is love. The greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbors. Even the core value of our Western PA Annual Conference is LOVE: “We love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves. This value is commanded by Jesus, inspired by our Wesleyan heritage, including to ‘spread scriptural holiness over the land,’ and witnessed through our integrity, accountability, and inclusiveness.”
But do we really know what it means to love God and love one another as Christ has loved us? If we look closely at this morning’s passage from the Gospel of John, then we do know what it means to love. Jesus gives us specific instructions on how to love him and to love one another.
First, we are to abide in Christ. As he invests the time and energy to be with us, we are to do the same. How do we form relationships in the first place? Through time spent together. My closest friends are the ones that I have spent the most time with in my life. We may not spend a lot of time together now because they live so far away, but when we first became friends, we would spend all our time together. The relationship between me and my wife began primarily through 4 hour car trips back home from college. And my relationship with Jesus Christ has grown through abiding in him, spending time with him.
Abide in him, and let him abide in you. The greatest gift you can give another person is the gift of time. We set aside time for our loved ones. We make sure that we connect through the sharing of time. To abide means to remain. So we remain connected to the relationships that are important in our lives. We remain invested in our loved ones. You don’t develop a deep relationship with someone without remaining invested in that relationship. If you don’t abide in that relationship, taking time out for that other person, the relationship dies. So our relationships with God and with one another require a commitment of time and energy – a continual investment to keep the relationship going. To love one another is to give the gift of time to one another.
Secondly, a loving relationship requires opening up to each other. Jesus says, “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends [or, loved ones], because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” The servant-master relationship is a business relationship – it might be cordial or even friendly – but nothing more. A servant does not concern his master with any personal information about his life, and neither does a master confide in his servant. However, two friends – two real friends – share everything with one another. They complete each other’s sentences. They open up to one another. They share their hopes and dreams with each other. They share sorrows and fears together. They laugh together. They cry together. Everything is an open book between two people who truly care about each other. This can take the form of a romantic relationship or a platonic relationship. Either way, true love is characterized by opening up to one another, to confiding in one another, to allowing ourselves to be vulnerable to one another. True love among friends is making everything known to one another – no secrets, just relationship.
Okay Jesus, I think I can relate. Spending time with one another? Check. Sharing everything with one another? Check. Yeah, this loving one another thing isn’t so hard. We’re supposed to have a relationship with you characterized by spending time and hiding nothing from each other, and we’re supposed to form relationships with one another in the same way. I can do this. This is good. Anything else?
“No one has greater love than this,” says Jesus, “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends [or, loved ones].” Whoa, whoa, whoa, Jesus. Now wait just a gosh darn minute! Are you kidding? You’re just using that as a figure of speech, right? Like, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” Like we tell our friends, “Sure, I’d take a bullet for you.” But we say it because we know it probably won’t ever happen. It sounds courageous and caring and like we really love the other person. But we know that it’s not that often that we are literally faced with the prospect of laying down our life for another.
But it does happen. Last month, three Pittsburgh Police officers laid down their life while trying to protect others. We hear heroic stories of people laying down their lives to help others escape harm from natural disasters. And there’s the story from a number of years ago not too far from here, where a man broke into a home with a family of four. After the man killed the father, the mother ran out of the house and into the woods, where she was eventually killed as well. Later, police determined that she intentionally ran from the house to protect her children. She laid down her life for loved ones.
We toss that phrase around casually, as if we’ll never be faced with it. And we may never be faced with it. But I suspect Jesus does not toss this phrase around so casually. Maybe it’s because he actually will lay down his life for his loved ones not too long after this discourse. But I also think it’s because he knows that the example of laying down one’s life embodies love better than any other example we could come up with.
Why? Because when we say we would lay down our life for someone else, we are saying that we value the other person’s life more than our own. Sacrificing our own life for another takes courage, but more than anything, it takes SELFLESSNESS. It is an act of putting others before ourselves. It’s thinking of another’s wellbeing before our own. It’s regarding others as worth the ultimate sacrifice – ourselves.
Everything Jesus calls us to be and do in this morning’s text requires selflessness. We give the gift of time to another, which sometimes means sacrificing our own desires for that of another. Maybe you come home from work and all you want to do is lay on the couch and relax, but your spouse needs help with a chore around the house, or your child needs help with schoolwork. Maybe you had plans to spend Friday night at the movies, but as you’re walking out the door, a friend calls in need of someone to talk to. And you give up your relaxation time, because it’s more important to be there for a friend. Maybe there’s a crucial playoff hockey game you want to watch, but you have to sacrifice watching it so you can help advance God’s kingdom through an important administrative council meeting at church.
Or perhaps you give your time to a complete stranger as an act of love. Just this week I was walking through the parking lot of a hospital, and as I approached the entrance there was an older man who was helping an even older woman out of the car. Both appeared rather weak and frail, and were struggling a bit. A man, presumably a patient at the hospital, was taking a short walk around the entrance, with a portable oxygen tank, no less. He was obviously not the most qualified person to help out this older couple. But he was the only one around. So he stopped by and offered help. Initially, the older couple refused, but the man insisted on helping. So here’s a man in need of an oxygen tank to breathe, giving himself up for another. This man gave the gift of time to another. And in a small way, he was laying his own life, his own self, aside for the life of another.
Most of us will not be called to literally lay our life down for another. But we will be called to put ourselves to the side for another. We are called daily to lay down our life in small ways. Whose needs can you put above your own? Who will you allow yourself to take a backseat to? How can you be more selfless?
I normally hate commercials. However, I really like the Liberty Mutual commercials from the last few years. Have you seen them? They show people doing small, random acts of kindness. It’s a “pay it forward” type of a cycle. Someone picks up a child’s toy. Someone else sees that, and it inspires them to hold an elevator for a stranger. That inspires someone to escape the harm of falling boxes, which inspires someone else to let a stranger pull out in front of them in heavy traffic. And on it goes. Kindness is contagious. Love is contagious. Selflessness is contagious. Laying down one’s life for another is contagious.
We are to lay down our life in the same way Jesus Christ laid down his life – with no complaining, with selflessness, and sometimes, in pain. Jesus’ salvific act on the cross was completely selfless – the ultimate act of love. And guess what? It was done for everyone. Jesus loved every human in the act of laying down his life. So that is our task of love. That is our task of selflessness. Who are we to love? Who are we to “lay down our life” for? Family? Close friends? Co-workers? Those living in our neighborhood? Those sharing the pew with us? Fellow Methodists? Fellow Christians? Mere acquaintances? Strangers on the street? Jesus Christ? The answer is “Yes.” We are to love one another. An important aspect of this passage is that there are no examples, no qualifications, no explanations for who “one another” might be. That ambiguity helps us realize that loving one another is filling in the blank.
While Jesus offers a specific example of HOW to love, he does not offer an example of WHO to love. He just says, “love one another.” So, this love of “laying down our lives” for another is all-inclusive, just as it was for Christ on the cross. Christ is calling us to set our own motives and desires aside whenever we can, living selfless rather than selfish lives.
Friends, this is what Christ calls us to this morning. Christ calls us to love one another through acts of selflessness. Christ calls us to love everyone – no exceptions – by laying our lives down for them. And let me tell you: I haven’t even been here a full year, but I know there are many people in this room right now that are experienced in loving as Christ loved. There are many people in this congregation that daily lay their lives down for others, be it family, friends, fellow church members, or strangers. As a congregation, I have already seen that you have so much love to give that you’re practically bursting at the seams.
But no matter how loving we may be, we can always do better. No matter how selfless we are, we can always be more selfless. And just because we laid down our life for another today does not mean we have a free pass for tomorrow. Loving one another through selfless acts is a task we must take up daily. It is a never-ending proposition, because we know that the world could always use more love. There’s no such thing as too much love in the world. So I invite you this morning: love one another. Lay down your lives for one another. Love others as Jesus loves us. For there is no greater love than selflessness. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Scripture: John 15:9-17
In listening to the radio this past week, I heard a lot about love. Here’s some of what I heard:
“This one goes out to the one I love.”
“What is love?”
“It’s more than a feeling.”
“What is this thing called love?”
“We’ve got a thing that’s called radar love.”
“I ain’t complaining but I’d sure like to find me a true fine love.”
“Jungle love, it’s driving me mad, it’s making me crazy.”
“That’s the way love is, baby.”
“I can’t help falling in love with you.”
“I ain’t ready, crazy little thing called love.”
“Can anybody find me somebody to love?”
“Can’t buy me love.”
“Let’s fall in love. Why shouldn’t we fall in love?”
“Sugar Pie Honey Bunch, I can’t help myself, I love you and nobody else.”
“I like it, I love it, I want some more of it.”
“‘Cause I love you.”
“I’m just a stubborn kind of fellow, got my mind made up to love you.”
“Do you love me?”
“Love me do.”
“I’ll give you the best of my love.”
“Love is what you need.”
“I will always love you.”
“Some call me the gangster of love.”
“Don’t leave! I think I love you!”
“Don’t take your love from me.”
“Gonna try and love again.”
“She’s in love with a boy.”
“She loves you.”
“Can you feel the love tonight?”
“I feel like makin’ love.”
“You’d be so easy to love.”
“I just called to say I love you.”
“Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“I can’t get enough of your love babe.”
“How sweet it is to be loved by you.”
“Love will keep us alive.”
“You brought a new kind of love to me.”
“That’s how your love makes me feel.”
“That’s love.”
“All you need is love.”
We hear a lot about love. It’s a word used very often. In fact, Jesus uses the word “love” or a variation thereof no less than 9 times in this passage alone – more than once per verse. And that doesn’t count the fact that the word “friends” here really means “loved ones.” Faith, hope, and love abide, and the greatest of these is love. The greatest commandments are to love God and love our neighbors. Even the core value of our Western PA Annual Conference is LOVE: “We love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, and our neighbors as ourselves. This value is commanded by Jesus, inspired by our Wesleyan heritage, including to ‘spread scriptural holiness over the land,’ and witnessed through our integrity, accountability, and inclusiveness.”
But do we really know what it means to love God and love one another as Christ has loved us? If we look closely at this morning’s passage from the Gospel of John, then we do know what it means to love. Jesus gives us specific instructions on how to love him and to love one another.
First, we are to abide in Christ. As he invests the time and energy to be with us, we are to do the same. How do we form relationships in the first place? Through time spent together. My closest friends are the ones that I have spent the most time with in my life. We may not spend a lot of time together now because they live so far away, but when we first became friends, we would spend all our time together. The relationship between me and my wife began primarily through 4 hour car trips back home from college. And my relationship with Jesus Christ has grown through abiding in him, spending time with him.
Abide in him, and let him abide in you. The greatest gift you can give another person is the gift of time. We set aside time for our loved ones. We make sure that we connect through the sharing of time. To abide means to remain. So we remain connected to the relationships that are important in our lives. We remain invested in our loved ones. You don’t develop a deep relationship with someone without remaining invested in that relationship. If you don’t abide in that relationship, taking time out for that other person, the relationship dies. So our relationships with God and with one another require a commitment of time and energy – a continual investment to keep the relationship going. To love one another is to give the gift of time to one another.
Secondly, a loving relationship requires opening up to each other. Jesus says, “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends [or, loved ones], because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” The servant-master relationship is a business relationship – it might be cordial or even friendly – but nothing more. A servant does not concern his master with any personal information about his life, and neither does a master confide in his servant. However, two friends – two real friends – share everything with one another. They complete each other’s sentences. They open up to one another. They share their hopes and dreams with each other. They share sorrows and fears together. They laugh together. They cry together. Everything is an open book between two people who truly care about each other. This can take the form of a romantic relationship or a platonic relationship. Either way, true love is characterized by opening up to one another, to confiding in one another, to allowing ourselves to be vulnerable to one another. True love among friends is making everything known to one another – no secrets, just relationship.
Okay Jesus, I think I can relate. Spending time with one another? Check. Sharing everything with one another? Check. Yeah, this loving one another thing isn’t so hard. We’re supposed to have a relationship with you characterized by spending time and hiding nothing from each other, and we’re supposed to form relationships with one another in the same way. I can do this. This is good. Anything else?
“No one has greater love than this,” says Jesus, “to lay down one’s life for one’s friends [or, loved ones].” Whoa, whoa, whoa, Jesus. Now wait just a gosh darn minute! Are you kidding? You’re just using that as a figure of speech, right? Like, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.” Like we tell our friends, “Sure, I’d take a bullet for you.” But we say it because we know it probably won’t ever happen. It sounds courageous and caring and like we really love the other person. But we know that it’s not that often that we are literally faced with the prospect of laying down our life for another.
But it does happen. Last month, three Pittsburgh Police officers laid down their life while trying to protect others. We hear heroic stories of people laying down their lives to help others escape harm from natural disasters. And there’s the story from a number of years ago not too far from here, where a man broke into a home with a family of four. After the man killed the father, the mother ran out of the house and into the woods, where she was eventually killed as well. Later, police determined that she intentionally ran from the house to protect her children. She laid down her life for loved ones.
We toss that phrase around casually, as if we’ll never be faced with it. And we may never be faced with it. But I suspect Jesus does not toss this phrase around so casually. Maybe it’s because he actually will lay down his life for his loved ones not too long after this discourse. But I also think it’s because he knows that the example of laying down one’s life embodies love better than any other example we could come up with.
Why? Because when we say we would lay down our life for someone else, we are saying that we value the other person’s life more than our own. Sacrificing our own life for another takes courage, but more than anything, it takes SELFLESSNESS. It is an act of putting others before ourselves. It’s thinking of another’s wellbeing before our own. It’s regarding others as worth the ultimate sacrifice – ourselves.
Everything Jesus calls us to be and do in this morning’s text requires selflessness. We give the gift of time to another, which sometimes means sacrificing our own desires for that of another. Maybe you come home from work and all you want to do is lay on the couch and relax, but your spouse needs help with a chore around the house, or your child needs help with schoolwork. Maybe you had plans to spend Friday night at the movies, but as you’re walking out the door, a friend calls in need of someone to talk to. And you give up your relaxation time, because it’s more important to be there for a friend. Maybe there’s a crucial playoff hockey game you want to watch, but you have to sacrifice watching it so you can help advance God’s kingdom through an important administrative council meeting at church.
Or perhaps you give your time to a complete stranger as an act of love. Just this week I was walking through the parking lot of a hospital, and as I approached the entrance there was an older man who was helping an even older woman out of the car. Both appeared rather weak and frail, and were struggling a bit. A man, presumably a patient at the hospital, was taking a short walk around the entrance, with a portable oxygen tank, no less. He was obviously not the most qualified person to help out this older couple. But he was the only one around. So he stopped by and offered help. Initially, the older couple refused, but the man insisted on helping. So here’s a man in need of an oxygen tank to breathe, giving himself up for another. This man gave the gift of time to another. And in a small way, he was laying his own life, his own self, aside for the life of another.
Most of us will not be called to literally lay our life down for another. But we will be called to put ourselves to the side for another. We are called daily to lay down our life in small ways. Whose needs can you put above your own? Who will you allow yourself to take a backseat to? How can you be more selfless?
I normally hate commercials. However, I really like the Liberty Mutual commercials from the last few years. Have you seen them? They show people doing small, random acts of kindness. It’s a “pay it forward” type of a cycle. Someone picks up a child’s toy. Someone else sees that, and it inspires them to hold an elevator for a stranger. That inspires someone to escape the harm of falling boxes, which inspires someone else to let a stranger pull out in front of them in heavy traffic. And on it goes. Kindness is contagious. Love is contagious. Selflessness is contagious. Laying down one’s life for another is contagious.
We are to lay down our life in the same way Jesus Christ laid down his life – with no complaining, with selflessness, and sometimes, in pain. Jesus’ salvific act on the cross was completely selfless – the ultimate act of love. And guess what? It was done for everyone. Jesus loved every human in the act of laying down his life. So that is our task of love. That is our task of selflessness. Who are we to love? Who are we to “lay down our life” for? Family? Close friends? Co-workers? Those living in our neighborhood? Those sharing the pew with us? Fellow Methodists? Fellow Christians? Mere acquaintances? Strangers on the street? Jesus Christ? The answer is “Yes.” We are to love one another. An important aspect of this passage is that there are no examples, no qualifications, no explanations for who “one another” might be. That ambiguity helps us realize that loving one another is filling in the blank.
While Jesus offers a specific example of HOW to love, he does not offer an example of WHO to love. He just says, “love one another.” So, this love of “laying down our lives” for another is all-inclusive, just as it was for Christ on the cross. Christ is calling us to set our own motives and desires aside whenever we can, living selfless rather than selfish lives.
Friends, this is what Christ calls us to this morning. Christ calls us to love one another through acts of selflessness. Christ calls us to love everyone – no exceptions – by laying our lives down for them. And let me tell you: I haven’t even been here a full year, but I know there are many people in this room right now that are experienced in loving as Christ loved. There are many people in this congregation that daily lay their lives down for others, be it family, friends, fellow church members, or strangers. As a congregation, I have already seen that you have so much love to give that you’re practically bursting at the seams.
But no matter how loving we may be, we can always do better. No matter how selfless we are, we can always be more selfless. And just because we laid down our life for another today does not mean we have a free pass for tomorrow. Loving one another through selfless acts is a task we must take up daily. It is a never-ending proposition, because we know that the world could always use more love. There’s no such thing as too much love in the world. So I invite you this morning: love one another. Lay down your lives for one another. Love others as Jesus loves us. For there is no greater love than selflessness. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Not so mundane after all...
Last Friday, my car died. Luckily, I was able to get it home. Monday, I got it towed to the dealer, and Tuesday, I put a significant chunk of money into an 11 year old car with 150,000 miles on it. Our hope was to turn it around and sell it over the next couple months to some high schooler who needs a beater to drive around in.
Today, that same car died again. In the same way. It was towed into the same garage, where they discovered that "You won't like me when I'm angry." I didn't quite lose my cool, but my frustration was apparent as I explained that after all that time and money, the same problem persists.
Tuesday, I removed a bat from my office. That was a fun time.
And tonight was capped off by driving 15 minutes to a meeting with other area churches, only to discover a locked church and empty parking lot. If the meeting was cancelled, I didn't get the memo.
It's been quite a week, with many frustrations and challenges. But then I realize that these are my biggest problems. I still have my health, a comfortable house, a fully stocked kitchen, a wonderful wife, a loving family, a great congregation, and an awesome God. Plus, I've made friends with a couple tow truck drivers in the last week. When I stop and put things in perspective, all these mishaps with cars and bats and meetings that could've been is quite comical. In a way, I'm starting to feel like my life is a sitcom.
Tune in next week, when I get into a car accident, and the other guy can't pay for my repairs, so the judge sentences him to be my butler.
Today, that same car died again. In the same way. It was towed into the same garage, where they discovered that "You won't like me when I'm angry." I didn't quite lose my cool, but my frustration was apparent as I explained that after all that time and money, the same problem persists.
Tuesday, I removed a bat from my office. That was a fun time.
And tonight was capped off by driving 15 minutes to a meeting with other area churches, only to discover a locked church and empty parking lot. If the meeting was cancelled, I didn't get the memo.
It's been quite a week, with many frustrations and challenges. But then I realize that these are my biggest problems. I still have my health, a comfortable house, a fully stocked kitchen, a wonderful wife, a loving family, a great congregation, and an awesome God. Plus, I've made friends with a couple tow truck drivers in the last week. When I stop and put things in perspective, all these mishaps with cars and bats and meetings that could've been is quite comical. In a way, I'm starting to feel like my life is a sitcom.
Tune in next week, when I get into a car accident, and the other guy can't pay for my repairs, so the judge sentences him to be my butler.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tworship
Taylor Burton-Edwards, the Director of Worship Resources with the General Board of Discipleship, has written an interesting article about the newest trend in worship: twittering during the service. The article is fairly balanced, pointing out the pros and cons of such activity. Thankfully, our congregation is still discovering the World Wide Web, so I will personally not have to deal with this for awhile. This is good, since I'm not a Twitterer (nor do I plan to be).
It's a Mundane Life...For Me...
I know, it's been awhile since I've posted something other than a sermon or devotion. Forgive me for my laziness -- I've just not been in the mood to blog in recent weeks. Maybe it's the post-Lent hangover, maybe it's all the excitement of baseball season combined with the NHL playoffs, or maybe I'm just a slacker at heart. So here's a quick rundown of my mundane life since Easter Sunday:
1. I've already been to 2 Pirate games, and hoping to make many more. The Brewers are really starting to tick me off, especially Cryin' Braun.
2. Lisa and I saw RENT when it came into Pittsburgh. Good music, good times. Still, the whole night I had the spoof song from Team America: World Police in my head.
3. We visited Raleigh to see our new niece, Natalie Jane Ross. She's cute. Her older brother, Jonathan, is almost 3. He really likes playing outside with Uncle Erik.
4. Having a Sunday off that weekend was great. I love leading worship, but I find the occasional Sunday off refreshes me. In some way, it clears my head for future sermons.
5. We got a new dishwasher. It's still a portable one, but it's nice. We'll be running it for the first time today.
1. I've already been to 2 Pirate games, and hoping to make many more. The Brewers are really starting to tick me off, especially Cryin' Braun.
2. Lisa and I saw RENT when it came into Pittsburgh. Good music, good times. Still, the whole night I had the spoof song from Team America: World Police in my head.
3. We visited Raleigh to see our new niece, Natalie Jane Ross. She's cute. Her older brother, Jonathan, is almost 3. He really likes playing outside with Uncle Erik.
4. Having a Sunday off that weekend was great. I love leading worship, but I find the occasional Sunday off refreshes me. In some way, it clears my head for future sermons.
5. We got a new dishwasher. It's still a portable one, but it's nice. We'll be running it for the first time today.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Stand By Me
Sermon for Sunday, May 3, 2009
Scriptures: Psalm 23, Acts 4:5-12, John 10:11-18
Psalm 23 was our call to worship this morning, and I suspect that for many of you, those words were familiar. Perhaps some of you could recite this psalm from memory. In fact, the words of the 23rd Psalm are so familiar that many consider it to be the most well-known scripture, even by those who have never set foot in a church. Many athletes admit they pray this psalm for strength in the midst of adversity while they are competing. Former President George W. Bush quoted this psalm in his address to the nation on the evening of September 11, 2001. And of course, the 23rd Psalm is often called the “funeral psalm.” It is the most oft-used scripture at such a time, for the psalmist writes from the vantage point of the valley of the shadow of death. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” There are not many people, Christian or not, who are unfamiliar with the 23rd Psalm.
The 23rd Psalm tends to be the go-to scripture in times of adversity, fear, or sorrow. It’s our favorite in such times because it speaks to the human desire for peace, comfort, and security in the midst of life’s valleys. The psalmist writes of walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Have you ever walked through the shadows in a valley? It’s cold and dark in the shadows. It’s lonely and unsettling. And sometimes, the shadows in the valleys of life are kinda scary – such as the events of 9/11, the loss of a loved one, an unexpected illness, or even financial uncertainty. I don’t think I need to provide examples of what the valleys of life are – we all know those times, because we’ve all lived through them. Valleys are inevitable in life. We all walk through the valley of the shadow of death from time to time. We all have times of uncertainty, adversity, darkness, fear – times when we just don’t know where to turn for the safety, security, comfort, and strength that we desperately yearn for.
The psalmist walks through the valley of the shadow of death, but he fears no evil. He fears no evil, for God’s rod and staff comforts him. In such a dark, uncertain time, the psalmist is still aware of God’s presence, walking with him through the shadows. In this dark time, God is with him. God provides green pastures (i.e. food) for him. God leads him to still waters (i.e. water that will quench his thirst). Goodness and mercy follows him all the days of his life. He is led on the right path.
When we find ourselves in the valleys of life, the question lingering in the thick air is often the question of God’s presence. Where is God in this dark time? How can I experience the goodness of God in such a bad time? Where is God when I need God most? Where is God right now?
Brothers and sisters, the psalmist is here to tell you that God is with you in the valleys of life. God is with you in the shadows, experiencing the same cold dark feelings you experience. God is behind you, providing goodness and mercy and shoulders to lean on. God shares the pain we feel. God sheds the tears we shed. God knows the despair or the sorrow on our hearts. God feels the adversity and the stress bearing down on us. In the valleys of life, God our Father in heaven is with us – comforting, providing, restoring, and loving.
This is why the 23rd Psalm is so popular: because we all know what it’s like to be in a valley. We all walk through the valley of the shadow of death from time to time. We all have struggles, fears, difficult situations, days filled with sorrow, and periods of loneliness. The valleys are different for each person, but they all bring the same emotions – fear, discomfort, even pain.
When I read Psalm 23, I often think of the outpouring of love that occurs when someone experiences the loss of a loved one. Cards and flowers are sent, words of support and sympathy are offered, and the freezer quickly fills up with casserole after casserole. Yet in these times, people ask, “where is God?”
God gives us comfort and restoration with the cards and letters that others send us. God’s presence is made known through the kind words a co-worker may offer. God provides for us by packing our freezer and fridge full of food made by friends and neighbors. And you want to tell me God is not with you? You want to tell me you can’t feel God’s presence, can’t see God’s love?
The 23rd Psalm is a reassuring one. It reminds us that no matter how dark any of life’s valleys are, God is always with us. God is walking with us, leading us, caring for us, providing for us. So we will have no fear in the shadows, for God is with us. His rod and staff, they comfort us. Despite the current valley, only goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life.
The shepherd imagery found in Psalm 23 is familiar imagery to anyone who reads scripture. The Bible is filled with this imagery of shepherding, of us as the sheep and God as our shepherd – the shepherd that leads us, that provides for us, that protects us. And so we turn to the Gospel of John, chapter 10, and hear Jesus’ teachings on the good shepherd vs. the hired hand. Jesus is the good shepherd – the word good here can also mean “true” or “model”, so Jesus is the true or model shepherd. The true shepherd will do anything to protect his sheep, because he cares for his sheep. However, the hired hand will run away at the first sign of trouble, because the hired hand cares only about himself and his own safety.
When I read Jesus’ words here, I can’t help but think of the absolute mess that was the 2007 season for the Atlanta Falcons football team. In that off-season, the Falcons hired Bobby Petrino as their head coach. He was a college coach eager to make a name for himself in the NFL, and this was his opportunity to do so. The Falcons had one of the league’s premier talents in QB Michael Vick. They were ready for a great year. But then Vick, their star QB and the face of their franchise, was arrested and later imprisoned on charges of running an illegal dog-fighting ring. Before the season began, they had lost their star QB. This in turn became a distraction that many of the players couldn’t handle, and they spent more time worrying about their former teammate than they did about the season. Some players asked to be traded. Other players flat-out quit on the team. Still other players were openly criticizing management and the media. And, there was no one fit to play QB. And very quickly, the Falcons’ 2007 season was in complete shambles.
So on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, just a few months after being hired, Bobby Petrino QUIT on the Falcons. This mess of a season was not what he signed up for. And so, like the hired hand that he was, Petrino fled at the first sign of trouble – leading the sheep to fend for themselves. You see, the hired hand sees the wolf coming, sees trouble on the horizon, and flees. The hired hand cares only about himself and his own safety, and there is no concern for the safety of the sheep.
Of course, no one wants a hired hand. Hired hands bail out at the first sign of trouble. We all want a true shepherd – one that will stick with us no matter what danger is on the horizon. The true shepherd does whatever it takes to protect the sheep – even if that means putting his life on the line. The problem is, it’s hard to tell the true shepherd from the hired hand when things are going well. But the true character of the shepherd is discovered in adversity. The true shepherd is found when he is forced to sacrifice his own safety for the safety of the flock, putting himself in harm’s way so that the sheep may be safe.
Jesus is that true shepherd. Unlike the hired hand, Jesus knows us. Unlike the hired hand, Jesus cares for us. Unlike the hired hand, Jesus knows his job is to stick with us when the heat is on. And we have no fear, for when the wolves are staring us down, circling around us, threatening to attack, we pray the 23rd Psalm – I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. God the Father is the shepherd with us in the valley of shadows, and God the Son is the shepherd with us when the danger arrives. He is with us no matter what, like a coach willing to stick with his team no matter how bad the season is going.
So God the Father and God the Son is with us in the valleys of life, in the scary and threatening situations of life. And of course, God the Spirit is with us as well. The Holy Spirit is with us in times of trouble. How do we know this? One only has to turn to our epistle lesson for the day to discover the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of Peter.
In this morning’s reading from Acts, Peter and John are, like all good followers of Christ, being questioned by the religious authorities. They’ve just healed a crippled beggar at the gate of the temple, followed by preaching and teaching that in Jesus there is resurrection of the dead. The chief priests are annoyed, it says, so they arrest Peter and John. We pick things up the next day, when Peter and John, now prisoners, are being questioned by the high priest. “By what power or name did you do this?” Luke, the writer of Acts, then says:
“Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.”
Peter was under fire from the authorities who have arrested him. They want to know what gives him the right to go around healing cripples and teaching about resurrection from the dead. And Peter must tread lightly, for these are powerful men questioning him – men who can perhaps take Peter’s life if he says the wrong thing. This is a narrow valley of the shadow of death that he’s walking into, and these are wolves circling around him, the vulnerable lamb.
But Peter stands tall. He proclaims the same truth to the high priest that he has already proclaimed to the masses: Christ is risen, and through his resurrection we are offered eternal life. And Peter is not afraid to witness to his faith, even in the midst of powerful men who have him imprisoned. He fears not, because God is with him in the form of the Holy Spirit. Verse 8 says, “Then Peter, filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, said to them…”
In the midst of a difficult situation, the Holy Spirit fills Peter with courage and strength. In the midst of questioning and imprisonment, the Holy Spirit fills Peter with the comfort and security that allows him to speak boldly. As Peter walks straight into the valley of the shadow of death, he fears no evil, for God is with him. As the wolf comes, threatening to attack, the true shepherd sticks with him, offering unconditional love and never-ending protection. In the midst of life’s challenges, disappointments, sorrows, sticky situations, and dangers, God is there. All three persons of the Trinity are with us: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Whatever form God takes, he is with us. He protects us. He fills us. He stands before us to show the way, stands behind us to strengthen us, and stands right beside us with loving care. God is always with us, giving strength, guidance, protection, courage, provision, restoration, love, and care every step of the way. Fear no evil, for God is with you. The rod and staff of the true shepherd is with you to comfort you. The Spirit fills you with courage and strength in dangerous situations. May it be so through all the peaks and valleys of our days on this earth. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Scriptures: Psalm 23, Acts 4:5-12, John 10:11-18
Psalm 23 was our call to worship this morning, and I suspect that for many of you, those words were familiar. Perhaps some of you could recite this psalm from memory. In fact, the words of the 23rd Psalm are so familiar that many consider it to be the most well-known scripture, even by those who have never set foot in a church. Many athletes admit they pray this psalm for strength in the midst of adversity while they are competing. Former President George W. Bush quoted this psalm in his address to the nation on the evening of September 11, 2001. And of course, the 23rd Psalm is often called the “funeral psalm.” It is the most oft-used scripture at such a time, for the psalmist writes from the vantage point of the valley of the shadow of death. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” There are not many people, Christian or not, who are unfamiliar with the 23rd Psalm.
The 23rd Psalm tends to be the go-to scripture in times of adversity, fear, or sorrow. It’s our favorite in such times because it speaks to the human desire for peace, comfort, and security in the midst of life’s valleys. The psalmist writes of walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Have you ever walked through the shadows in a valley? It’s cold and dark in the shadows. It’s lonely and unsettling. And sometimes, the shadows in the valleys of life are kinda scary – such as the events of 9/11, the loss of a loved one, an unexpected illness, or even financial uncertainty. I don’t think I need to provide examples of what the valleys of life are – we all know those times, because we’ve all lived through them. Valleys are inevitable in life. We all walk through the valley of the shadow of death from time to time. We all have times of uncertainty, adversity, darkness, fear – times when we just don’t know where to turn for the safety, security, comfort, and strength that we desperately yearn for.
The psalmist walks through the valley of the shadow of death, but he fears no evil. He fears no evil, for God’s rod and staff comforts him. In such a dark, uncertain time, the psalmist is still aware of God’s presence, walking with him through the shadows. In this dark time, God is with him. God provides green pastures (i.e. food) for him. God leads him to still waters (i.e. water that will quench his thirst). Goodness and mercy follows him all the days of his life. He is led on the right path.
When we find ourselves in the valleys of life, the question lingering in the thick air is often the question of God’s presence. Where is God in this dark time? How can I experience the goodness of God in such a bad time? Where is God when I need God most? Where is God right now?
Brothers and sisters, the psalmist is here to tell you that God is with you in the valleys of life. God is with you in the shadows, experiencing the same cold dark feelings you experience. God is behind you, providing goodness and mercy and shoulders to lean on. God shares the pain we feel. God sheds the tears we shed. God knows the despair or the sorrow on our hearts. God feels the adversity and the stress bearing down on us. In the valleys of life, God our Father in heaven is with us – comforting, providing, restoring, and loving.
This is why the 23rd Psalm is so popular: because we all know what it’s like to be in a valley. We all walk through the valley of the shadow of death from time to time. We all have struggles, fears, difficult situations, days filled with sorrow, and periods of loneliness. The valleys are different for each person, but they all bring the same emotions – fear, discomfort, even pain.
When I read Psalm 23, I often think of the outpouring of love that occurs when someone experiences the loss of a loved one. Cards and flowers are sent, words of support and sympathy are offered, and the freezer quickly fills up with casserole after casserole. Yet in these times, people ask, “where is God?”
God gives us comfort and restoration with the cards and letters that others send us. God’s presence is made known through the kind words a co-worker may offer. God provides for us by packing our freezer and fridge full of food made by friends and neighbors. And you want to tell me God is not with you? You want to tell me you can’t feel God’s presence, can’t see God’s love?
The 23rd Psalm is a reassuring one. It reminds us that no matter how dark any of life’s valleys are, God is always with us. God is walking with us, leading us, caring for us, providing for us. So we will have no fear in the shadows, for God is with us. His rod and staff, they comfort us. Despite the current valley, only goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life.
The shepherd imagery found in Psalm 23 is familiar imagery to anyone who reads scripture. The Bible is filled with this imagery of shepherding, of us as the sheep and God as our shepherd – the shepherd that leads us, that provides for us, that protects us. And so we turn to the Gospel of John, chapter 10, and hear Jesus’ teachings on the good shepherd vs. the hired hand. Jesus is the good shepherd – the word good here can also mean “true” or “model”, so Jesus is the true or model shepherd. The true shepherd will do anything to protect his sheep, because he cares for his sheep. However, the hired hand will run away at the first sign of trouble, because the hired hand cares only about himself and his own safety.
When I read Jesus’ words here, I can’t help but think of the absolute mess that was the 2007 season for the Atlanta Falcons football team. In that off-season, the Falcons hired Bobby Petrino as their head coach. He was a college coach eager to make a name for himself in the NFL, and this was his opportunity to do so. The Falcons had one of the league’s premier talents in QB Michael Vick. They were ready for a great year. But then Vick, their star QB and the face of their franchise, was arrested and later imprisoned on charges of running an illegal dog-fighting ring. Before the season began, they had lost their star QB. This in turn became a distraction that many of the players couldn’t handle, and they spent more time worrying about their former teammate than they did about the season. Some players asked to be traded. Other players flat-out quit on the team. Still other players were openly criticizing management and the media. And, there was no one fit to play QB. And very quickly, the Falcons’ 2007 season was in complete shambles.
So on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, just a few months after being hired, Bobby Petrino QUIT on the Falcons. This mess of a season was not what he signed up for. And so, like the hired hand that he was, Petrino fled at the first sign of trouble – leading the sheep to fend for themselves. You see, the hired hand sees the wolf coming, sees trouble on the horizon, and flees. The hired hand cares only about himself and his own safety, and there is no concern for the safety of the sheep.
Of course, no one wants a hired hand. Hired hands bail out at the first sign of trouble. We all want a true shepherd – one that will stick with us no matter what danger is on the horizon. The true shepherd does whatever it takes to protect the sheep – even if that means putting his life on the line. The problem is, it’s hard to tell the true shepherd from the hired hand when things are going well. But the true character of the shepherd is discovered in adversity. The true shepherd is found when he is forced to sacrifice his own safety for the safety of the flock, putting himself in harm’s way so that the sheep may be safe.
Jesus is that true shepherd. Unlike the hired hand, Jesus knows us. Unlike the hired hand, Jesus cares for us. Unlike the hired hand, Jesus knows his job is to stick with us when the heat is on. And we have no fear, for when the wolves are staring us down, circling around us, threatening to attack, we pray the 23rd Psalm – I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. God the Father is the shepherd with us in the valley of shadows, and God the Son is the shepherd with us when the danger arrives. He is with us no matter what, like a coach willing to stick with his team no matter how bad the season is going.
So God the Father and God the Son is with us in the valleys of life, in the scary and threatening situations of life. And of course, God the Spirit is with us as well. The Holy Spirit is with us in times of trouble. How do we know this? One only has to turn to our epistle lesson for the day to discover the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of Peter.
In this morning’s reading from Acts, Peter and John are, like all good followers of Christ, being questioned by the religious authorities. They’ve just healed a crippled beggar at the gate of the temple, followed by preaching and teaching that in Jesus there is resurrection of the dead. The chief priests are annoyed, it says, so they arrest Peter and John. We pick things up the next day, when Peter and John, now prisoners, are being questioned by the high priest. “By what power or name did you do this?” Luke, the writer of Acts, then says:
“Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.”
Peter was under fire from the authorities who have arrested him. They want to know what gives him the right to go around healing cripples and teaching about resurrection from the dead. And Peter must tread lightly, for these are powerful men questioning him – men who can perhaps take Peter’s life if he says the wrong thing. This is a narrow valley of the shadow of death that he’s walking into, and these are wolves circling around him, the vulnerable lamb.
But Peter stands tall. He proclaims the same truth to the high priest that he has already proclaimed to the masses: Christ is risen, and through his resurrection we are offered eternal life. And Peter is not afraid to witness to his faith, even in the midst of powerful men who have him imprisoned. He fears not, because God is with him in the form of the Holy Spirit. Verse 8 says, “Then Peter, filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, said to them…”
In the midst of a difficult situation, the Holy Spirit fills Peter with courage and strength. In the midst of questioning and imprisonment, the Holy Spirit fills Peter with the comfort and security that allows him to speak boldly. As Peter walks straight into the valley of the shadow of death, he fears no evil, for God is with him. As the wolf comes, threatening to attack, the true shepherd sticks with him, offering unconditional love and never-ending protection. In the midst of life’s challenges, disappointments, sorrows, sticky situations, and dangers, God is there. All three persons of the Trinity are with us: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Whatever form God takes, he is with us. He protects us. He fills us. He stands before us to show the way, stands behind us to strengthen us, and stands right beside us with loving care. God is always with us, giving strength, guidance, protection, courage, provision, restoration, love, and care every step of the way. Fear no evil, for God is with you. The rod and staff of the true shepherd is with you to comfort you. The Spirit fills you with courage and strength in dangerous situations. May it be so through all the peaks and valleys of our days on this earth. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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