LOVE – Born at Christmas Sunday, December 15, 2013 – Advent 3 ...

LOVE – Born at Christmas Sunday, December 15, 2013 – Advent 3 (Note: Pastor James usually uses few if no notes. Therefore, the “Sermon Notes” give just a reflection of what was said that Sunday – but gives the substance of his preparation for the congregation. He is hopeful that these thoughts can inspire and bring you depth in your walk with God.)

What is the one thing that joins us together? Why are we here? What drives Dick and his Lindi Moser to arrive in the ice and snow so that the sound and mics will be set up for worship? Or Larry to spend hours of his personal time to see that the heat is on – or that the slides for worship are working appropriately? What is it that gives our custodian Mike the energy to stay three hours past an event to make sure that the church is set up for Sunday worship – or the willingness, on his own time, to drive a volunteer home. What gives Linda Abraham the passion to make sure that 14 Madison High School families have something to eat at Thanksgiving or Christmas? Or Betty Dodd and others the stamina to offer those who have no home or shelter from this icy weather – a place here at our church. What incentive gives Dan or Frank or John the drive to spend hours during the week to ensure that the music we participate in during our worship is inspiring and molded with excellence. What gives Kay the courage to assist a man obviously on “something” an ear – and care for who he is and how he can safely get home. What makes this church open to those who have been rejected by other churches – or what makes some of YOU cry … when you hear stories of families devastated by a tsunami? What? What it is – that draws us together? What is it that unites us – and forms us into one “organism”? Is it THEOLOGY? No! Is it our denomination – partially, but not at the core. Is it the Bible or the stories of Jesus or the Hebrew journey? NO … That’s not the center of why we are here. We are here because of LOVE. Love of God for us ... Love of each other … Love of a common spiritual journey … Discovering love for ourselves – our gifts – and the use of those gifts to make a better world … FILLED WITH LOVE – SACRED and HEALING LOVE. YES? We buy gifts – to show our love. As we open the gifts – it reminds us of the relationship that we share – and the love that exists between us and the gift exchange. In reality it is not the gift that is important … but the relationship. Right? Over the past 5 and a 1/2 months – You have touched my heart with your care – your encouragement – and your love and acceptance. Why did you do this? Because of love.

  

Because of the love driven by God’s Spirit within you … Because of the love of the ministry here – and your desire to see it thrive and grow … Because of your love for God – and your openness to see what wonderful new ways that the Holy One will change us and this place to meet the needs at hand.

In the story of Christmas – As Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem on that first Christmas nearly everybody was caught up short: • Mary wasn't ready to have a baby; • Joseph wasn't ready to get married to a pregnant woman; • The innkeeper wasn't ready to have Joseph and Mary stay; • The shepherds weren't ready to travel; • The wise men weren't ready to find a baby in a barn; • Herod wasn't ready for a challenger to his throne, even if the baby was only months old at the time. Everybody was "caught up short." The Day of the Lord came quietly … and when it came – it wasn't what people expected. They all were looking for a King   

But the Day of the Lord came – like a whisper rather than a wind; Emmanuel’s arrival came like a tinkling bell … … rather than a loud, crashing cymbal. It came like dew on the morning grass … … rather than a thunderstorm.

And in the quiet of Bethlehem's manger – House of Bread (Bethel – House … Hem – Bread) , as God stepped into our world … to live as a human. Jesus entered the road of human history … which the prophets had pointed to – … and it surprised EVERYONE! On Christmas night – God took a sudden right turn …  in an unknown location –  through an unknown young girl –  through an ordinary birth – Jesus stepped into our world having been connected by an umbilical cord for 270 days / or nine months – The Creator relying on a created soul – Mary – for life. The Spirit of all of life could do nothing …

… except breathe and cry – by himself. We too are all “Marys” … who are greeted by God on numerous occasions in various opportunities for God’s love to activate within us … to change us into the purest image of God that exists within every soul. We all walk on the edge between rationality and faith … between what “makes sense” and wanting to embrace the Spirit within that we never will be able to explain. But our realities are constantly changing … and human “truth” is also ever in flux.  

Human beings can never fly People will never be able to see and hear others … … on the other side of the world.  A person cannot ever walk on the moon. That's the way it is in our world ever since Christ came. We travel a road on the edge of eternity. Advent is the true expectation of God – who should be up there somewhere … but he came – poor, rejected, and common – to live among us. Do you ever allow God to live around you? … within you … and work through you to those you love? Do you trust God that much? We are only faintly familiar with God – and our faith is too weak to convince us. When we ignore Advent … we give up on the eternal part that dwells within us … and fall asleep next to the wonder of God that can empower us and give us our identity. Therefore, it become “us” who loses. Years ago archaeologists dug up a Roman diary of a soldier stationed far from home. He wrote, "I have come to the conclusion that there are two things to live for in this world. One is power and the other is love, and you can't have both at the same time." He was right. If you go after power, don't look for love … you'll never find it. The most important things of life … can’t be bought by money. Is that one message that the Christmas story was trying to convey? Those who live open to the love of God …  that might come in the sky – as the sleepy sheep ranchers experienced …  or in a barn, like the owner of a Bed and Breakfast … in Bethlehem …  or a construction worker – … who thought it wise to break up with his fiancé … … who had apparently been unfaithful. BUT, he soon realized his judgment of her was wrong. All of these never – EVER – thought that these situations would be life changing. But they were … and they DID! For too long Christians have tried to summarize their faith in dogmas of theory and creeds …. Within intelligent and rational statements. Unfortunately, that is not what Christianity is all about. In reality, Christianity is a romance. It is a love affair as deep and as true and as powerful as God himself is. So why DID God make this world? To express his love. Why does God allow us to sin? Because he wants to give us the freedom to choose to love him or not. Why did Jesus come? To reconnect us to the possibility of who we are – and discover the power of love. To court us into the best that life can be. That's the "outline of romantic theology" in a nutshell.

So is it crazy to celebrate Advent? NO! Advent just states that the best of life here is something that Jesus, as a baby, brought with him on that night when he stepped over the cliff of eternity – and delivered sacred love for us … for others … and from God – to a small village called Bethlehem. If you are a parent you will probably agree that the day your child was born, a new love was born in you. But can we really say that love really born at Christmas? Well, in a sense that IS true! Love entered into human history in a unique way … on Jesus’ birthday. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. – 1 John 4:9 Love always has an object. If you say, “I am in love.” I will ask you, “With whom?” I cannot love without there being a recipient, someone to receive my love. Well, if God is love ... and love was born at Christmas, for whom was love born? You! Yes, You and Me! With all of our issues and all of our problems. And … YES – with all of our strengths. That’s what the angels declared as they announced the birth of Jesus to a group of sheep herders as they said Jesus was born … for YOU! YES … Just turn to Luke chapter 2 and listen carefully to the angels! LOVE – BORN AS A LITTLE BABY

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and placed him in the animals trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. – Lk 2:4

Mary and Joseph were alone, far from home and their initial visitors were probably barnyard animals. Jesus deliberately laid aside His rights as God when he humbled himself and took on humanity (Philippians 2). “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” You were in that announcement! Great Joy for ALL People. Think of it as if God was wrapping a gift for you. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” COME AND SEE THEN GO AND TELL … THAT LOVE HAS COME TO BRING GREAT JOY!

17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

God wants us all to come witness His love and believe! Once we have believed, we can learn much from the shepherds. After they saw the baby, Then they shared their Joy of the News of God’s Love!

– CONCLUSION – What is your experience of love being born – within you? At this point in your life do you have any children? Do you love each child and grandchild? Yes, you love dearly!! Don’t you? And if you and I, fallible weak human beings, can love like that, how much more God must love every one of us! His love is capable of expanding to include every soul who ever draws breath. God’s love was born at Christmas … For YOU and ME – So what will come of it. Will you let it bring you Joy – or Hope – or spring forth Love. The gift is yours … What do you need. God is available to give it … in unexpected ways!!!