House on the Rock
November 5, 2006
Matthew 7:24-29
I find this teaching a soothing balm. When I hear this story it makes that clenched fist inside me unclench. Why? Because the rain fell, the floods came, the winds beat on both houses. I mean just the word beat alone. It was harsh, horrible weather. Our faith is not a faith that spares you from the realities of living. Because we join this movement it doesn't make life magically easier or free from the troubles of the world. It just means that life can't eradicate us, it can't crumple us, it can't cause us to be destroyed. Faith allows us to stand firm and strong in spite of what life hands us.
It doesn't matter what happens in our world tsunamis, hurricanes, we eventually hear from some Christian group that God is punishing this group for X reason. I just want to scream every time. It makes my blood boil. Usually, these folks are Biblical literalists, and yet, they seem to not know this story which appears both here and in the gospel of Luke. How can we say that God rains down punishment when it clearly says, that if you are a religious leader you must be known by your actions! So is the action to condemn a people in crisis? Is this what the gospel means? Or is it that we can rise again, because of our faith. Our houses might fall but we won't, we have a strong foundation!
Once again we are being asked to consider what it is that we hear and what are we going to do about. And, then, we are pushed further to ask, what will manifest from our action. If you don't do all three it's not meeting our Jesus movement ethic. And, it matters in a very practical way. Because we get sick, our homes burn down, we lose our jobs…the tsunamis of life hit. But, it doesn't matter how hard life beats upon your house, if your foundation is faith, you will stand!
It's a good reminder right before our election cycle on Tuesday. I pray that each of you is going to do everything in your power to get out to vote. Not because I believe God is democratic. Not because I think God cares if we vote in general. But, because I think it's a sign of what we're doing and gives us an opportunity to do something beyond ourselves. In this culture it's something we can do to attempt cultural change. There's a great grid out in the Narthex which talks about each of the propositions. What do you hear? What action will it set in place? How will that effect our community? When you answer these questions, how does it line up with our ethical beliefs?
50 th anniversary
Show video from ucc.com
There is going to be a party to celebrate our 50 th anniversary as the UCC. A party to celebrate all of the amazing places that we have been in the last 50 years, in Hartford , Connecticut . I hope that we will have a group that attends this event. Every church is being asked to send at least 4 people. But, I hope we might send more. Because, our little church is part of this larger church. And, we have a wonderful legacy in 50 years. And, in 50 more years it will be wonderful to look back and know we were there, beginning the visioning and action plan for the next 50 years of a united and uniting community of faith. There are not too many organizations left that are working towards unity these days and it's something to gather, sing and worship with thousands who believe we can be united even though we may not do things the same way. It is something to worship with people from all over the country who attend this same type of community that we do. Some say, there is not another church like this. However, it's not true. Ask Carol. She had a very similar community in California . Ask my friends Theresa and Michelle who lead a very similar community in Iowa . Ask Eric Elnes who leads a very similar community in Phoenix . We have communities that are similar all over the United States . But, the greatest thing, is that we are all founded on the rock of our faith. And, we may use different language, we may use different orders of worship, we may commune differently, or read Scripture in a different language, but we all meet together to celebrate the still speaking God. The God that unites us and continues to call us towards uniting. And life can beat at us. The floods can come. But, we are going to move together, growing, deepening, expanding because we're listening to what God is saying and we're moving in response. I can't wait to see what the UCC will help to happen and what our next firsts will be.
Remember, life is hard. Making this choice to be part of this movement, doesn't make things easier. However, this faith will give you support. This faith will give you purpose. This faith will fill you with love, peace, joy, kindness and compassion. It's a rock that can't be crushed, a solid foundation. Let's make sure that in 2056, when the next generations are looking back, we have left a legacy that reflects what Jesus has called us to embody, the Still speaking god.
Let us pray.