Third Sunday After Epiphany January 24 2021
Redeemer United Church Of Christ ( Zuehl ) Marion, TX
“ Making The Most Of The Time We Have Left “
( Jon 3: 1-5,10, I Corin. 7: 29-31 , Mark 1: 14-20 )
Rev. Peter E. Bauer
I once knew a man who said to his minister “ I plan on dying at age 75. “ The minister didn’t really know what to say to this man. He knew that he had been depressed for quite some time. The minister said to the man that he should “ hang in there, that things will get better. “ Every time there after when this man saw the minister, he would remind him “ I expect to die at age 75. “ Well, one day this man came to church and after the church service he walked up to the minister and he was very mad. The minister asked him “ What’s the matter? “ The man informed the minister that he had turned 75 and that he was still alive ! “ I was supposed to die at 75 and look I’m still alive ! “ The minister replied, “ Well, I guess God wants you to continue to live for some reason. “
Another parishioner, a woman in her early 80’s also shared with her minister her premonition that she was going to die soon. She put off making improvements to her home, even postponed and deferred dental work because she was convinced that she wasn’t going to live that much longer. Again, several years later the woman came to her minister and said “ I don’t understand it. I’m still alive. I was supposed to die long ago. “ The minister replied to her, “ Well, there’s still time to get that dental work done.” I guess some people will do anything to get out of going to the dentist.
Let’s face it, none of us know how long we will live until our life ends. We can conjecture regarding how we can live longer. Don’t smoke, drink moderately, eat a balanced diet, get regular exercise, get regular adequate sleep. Then you can hear about some elderly residents in the mountains of Sicily who drink wine every day and smoke and live to be over 100 ! You might find yourself shaking your head in confusion. What is the secret to longevity in life ? Recently, in the last several years there has been some interesting research regarding age duration for people and the zip code where they reside.
A recent study complied by the University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and University Of Texas Health Sciences Center revealed the following: The study found those who live the longest reside in the northwest part of the city, specifically in zip code 78254. Neighbors there have an average life span of 89.2 years, with women living an average of close to 93 years, and men about 84 years. On the flip side, one of the zip codes where people have the shortest lives is 78202, where the average person lives just over 71 years. Women in that zip code have an average life span of 75.6 years, while men average just over 67 years of age.
Remember Billy Joel said
“ Only the Good Die Young “
Dr. Bryan Alsip, the chief medical officer for University Health System, noted that average life spans can be as much as 10 to 20 years apart..,. and it can depend upon where you live. "If you can envision someone living in an area of town that has fewer resources... a lot more stress, and they are not able to take care of themselves, it's obviously going to contribute to worse health outcomes," he said. ( ibid )
There have been other studies done including one by Dr. Jim Zabora of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. His finding suggested that the average age in Roland Park ( higher income area ) was 81 while 5.5 miles away in Madison Park East ( poor area ) it was 57.
Recently another report suggested that if you live in the loop in downtown Chicago, you may make it to 90, where as if you are five miles to the southwest in Englewood, you may it to 60. This is the largest gap in age longevity in the United States. https:
Now consider Jonah. Here was a guy who had some health risk factors going against him. He is on his way to Tarshish. He boards a ship, pays his fare to travel. He hides below deck. A great storm blows up. The sailors on the ship get scared. They throw cargo into the sea to lighten the load of the ship. They then get concerned that someone must have been responsible for this calamity. So they nab Jonah and throw him overboard where he is swallowed by a whale. After Jonah gets vomited onto dry land he becomes resolved to go to Nineveh and proclaim God’s message of repentance to the people. What is unique here is that we have another rare example in scripture where God chooses to do differently, to take another course from what was initially proposed. God chooses compassion and not vengeance.
What we do with our lives has s lot to do with how we spend our time, particularly with the time that we have left.
Jesus knew that he was embarking upon a mission: “ The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news ! “ What we discover is a that a well lived life is one that has purpose not matter what the longevity may be. Jesus goes on and calls Andrew and Simon, who were fishermen, to follow him. They indeed respond by dropping their nets and they followed Jesus. The same process occurs with James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Both fishermen follow Jesus no doubt leaving Zebedee with a lot of consternation. He is going to be two hands short in operating his fishing boat.
It’s true that life is what you make it, but I think it’s even more true that life is what you live for. If you live in the service of others, to support a idea, ideal or moral, value that is greater than yourself, then you have the possibility of what you will do in this life will have lasting significance for others and for those who will follow you.
Note that Jesus began his work knowing that John The Baptist was already in prison. Jesus knew that what he would do could likely be dangerous and yet he realized that it was important to provide this ministry for the long Haul. We don’t know how long we will live, but we do know who gives is life and that is God. What would happen if we make the most of the time that we have left, the time that is allotted for each one of us ?
We may discover meaning and purpose. We may experience joy and satisfaction. We may realize validation and integrity in who we are as people of God.
May it be so.
We pray in Jesus’ name.
Amen
Second Sunday After Epiphany January 17 2021
Redeemer United Church Of Christ ( Zuehl ) Marion, TX
“ Who Do You Follow And Why ? “
( 1 Samuel 3: 1-10, ( 11-20 ), I Corinthians 6: 12-20, John 1: 43-51 )
Rev. Peter E. Bauer
For those of you who have children in school, it is not uncommon to have the following conversation: One child may say to an older sibling “ I have Mrs. Smith as my teacher this year. She says that she remembers you when she taught you five years ago. “ Now for a young person, this can be a curse. The student may be wondering if the teacher will be comparing them to their older sibling and they may really dread if the teacher says: “ Oh, you’re not like your brother or sister. They were so excellent in their work “
I saw this first hand many years ago, when my oldest niece informed me that she had the same high school English teacher that I had ten to fifteen years prior. I asked my niece what she was like now. My niece said “ She still will refer to us as People, People ! “ I laughed because this is what she did when she addressed my class. Sometimes, you have no choice in terms of who you follow. You get assigned to a class and who find out that the teacher taught your brother or sister. You drive down a freeway and suddenly you are forced to detour off of the expressway and there you sit in backed up traffic for at least thirty minutes. Then again, there are instances regarding who we follow that are more of a voluntary nature. There are those who follow the San Antonio Spurs, the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Texans. We have people who follow the Democratic or Republican party. We have those who are Steak Connoisseurs and those who are Vegan.
You could argue that who we follow says a lot about our identity, our need to affiliate with others and to be a part of a common bond focused on a common mission. We follow a sports team because we want them to win. We follow a certain author or musical performer because we like what they write or the music that they perform.
There are characters in the Bible who are called by God and initially there is a response that is rather ambiguous. The prophet Jeremiah is called to lead the people of Israel. Jeremiah responds: 6“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” ( Jeremiah 1: 7 )
Then, there is this strange interaction between God and Samuel. We read Samuel is asleep on the floor and three times God calls him to come to him. Every time Samuel replies “ Here I am “ and every time God tells him to go back to bed. This is reminiscent of a parent telling their recalcitrant child to go back to bed. Finally God summons Samuel one more time. This time, Samuel responds and says: “ Speak, for your servant is listening. “ ( I Samuel 3: 10 ). Samuel is making a leap of faith. He is verbalizing trust in God, an entity that really doesn’t know yet. He is obediently waiting for a revelation of God’s will for him.
John’s Gospel is unique regarding presenting Jesus. There is no birth account, no shepherds, no angels not heavenly host. Instead, we are introduced to John The Baptist and immediately after that Jesus starts calling disciples to follow him. Jesus has the following interaction with Nathaniel “ Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false. “ “ How do you know me ? “ Nathaniel asks. Jesus answered, “ I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.. “
Nathaniel is sitting under a fig tree no doubt enjoying the shade from the heat. of the day.
Nathaniel responds “ Rabbi, you are the son of God; you are the King Of Israel. “ ( John 1: 47-49 ).
Like Samuel, Nathaniel is making a faith claim in Jesus, but not necessarily realizing what that faith claim will mean. Years ago, my former youth minister Rev. Charles F. Berger related the following story: He was staying in a cabin on the Oregon coast. It was night and he was fast asleep. All of a sudden, he related, that he woke up abruptly and he heard a voice which said: “ Follow me. “
For Rev. Charles Berger, this was a life changing event, he went to college and theological seminary and went on to become a minister to youth, a pastoral care and counselor and he also served as the former Chaplain at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Or I credit Chuck as being the first primary influence that motivated me to learn about being a therapist. I was involved in a encounter group that he facilitated at the First Baptist Church in Portland, Or where I attended when I was in high school. I was so impressed by how well Chuck ran the group and how attentive he was to all of us high school students who attended this group during the late 1960’s.
Who we follow in life, who we give allegiance to does make a difference, not only for us but to others with whom we have contact. Jesus calls us to follow him. What that will mean will differ for each one of us. But the common theme here is that following Jesus makes our lives different. We have new priorities, we have new goals. We don’t live for ourselves, but we live for others. We live so that the Kingdom of God might be made manifest in our lives and in the life of the world.
I ask you and I and all of us
“ Who do you follow and why ? “
Do you follow the one who is the most popular, the most powerful or do you follow the one who says that to die to yourself and to live for others is the way that you experience God and an enriching life.
May we follow the one who seeks to love and redeem us and the world now and always.
May it be so.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen
First Sunday After Epiphany January 10 2021
Redeemer United Church Of Christ ( Zuehl ) Marion, TX
“ What Do You Want ? “
( Genesis 1: 1-5, I Thessalonians 5: 1-8, John 1: 35-43 )
Rev. Peter E. Bauer
I hope that you had a great Christmas holiday and that it was restful, relaxing and meaningful. Perhaps, you received some presents, maybe a tie, or a sweater, a handbag or an electronic gadget, a new phone, tablet or computer. Christmas is a time for giving and now is the time of year when retailers will see a lot of items returned to stores for refunds.
In 2019
According to a survey by the National Retail Federation this year, more than half (55%) of holiday shoppers plan to return or exchange any unwanted gifts within a month of receiving them. And one-third of shoppers say a store’s return policy is an important factor when deciding which retailers to shop. A similar study by marketing analytics provider Oracle suggests an even higher return rate. Up to 77% of consumers plan to return some of their gifts, and nearly 20% expect to return more than half, an Oracle survey of 15,800 consumers in September found.
A growing number of shoppers who bought gifts online instead of from physical stores in recent years has also put a strain on carrier services. On Thursday, UPS said it expects to process 1.9 million post-holiday return packages on January 2, a peak day which the shipper rightfully named “National Returns Day.2019 Holiday Gift Shopping Hits Record—So Will Post .observer.com › 2019/12 › 2019-holiday-christmas-shop
One might wonder will the number of returned items be even higher from the 2020 Christmas shopping season ? A news report indicated that the cost to merchants this year 2020 for returned gifts will be 1.1 million dollars ( NPR 12/24/2020 ). You get the impression that people do not always know what they want. This can be frustrating for someone trying to purchase the perfect gift for a family member or friend. There’s a good chance that the gift you purchased will be returned within a month later. So what is it that people want for their lives ? The Declaration Of Independence tells us that people, American citizens, should seek life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Financial advisor Suze Orman has noted “ . People first, then money, then things.” Professor Emeritus Dr. Cornell West of Princeton University has written “ “We have to recognize that there cannot be relationships unless there is commitment, unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience, persistence.”
Then we read that the prophet Micah declares; “ What does the Lord require ? But to love justice, do mercy and walk humbly with your God. “ ( Micah 6:8 ). When we ask the question “ What do we want ? “, we need to consider further are we asking in terms of a life that is centered on ourselves or on a life that is centered and focused towards others ? One of the factors that really distinguished the early Christian followers of Jesus versus other religions in the Roman Imperial Empire was that the followers of Jesus, who would later be referred to you as Christians, practiced hospitality. They took care of those who were needy. They feed the hungry, clothed the naked, took care of the widows and the orphans. This can also be seen as a major emphasis regarding ministry within the United Church Of Christ. Institutions like Deaconess Hospital, the Evangelical Children’s Home and the Emmaus Homes all express this commitment to taking care of those who have the least,
As the writer of Matthew’s Gospel would remind us :
“ 10“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. “
( Matthew 18:10 ) John The Baptist and his followers were looking for the coming of the Messiah. According to the New Testament, John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth were relatives. Some scholars maintain that John belonged to the Essenes, a semi-ascetic Judaic sect who expected a messiah and who practiced ritual baptism. John used baptism as the central symbol or sacrament of his pre-messianic movement.” John the Baptist - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org › wiki › John_the_Baptist
When the disciples of John The Baptist saw Jesus they proclaimed “ Look, the lamb of God “ ( John 1: 35 ) Here these two disciples of John The Baptist follow Jesus and it is here that Jesus asks them “ What Do You Want ? “ Jesus is really trying to unearth their motive ? Are they following him as some type of cult leader, a rock star or are they seeing him as the one chosen by God ? The disciples ask Jesus “ Rabbi, Where are you staying ? “ and so they come and stay with Jesus and they see that Jesus is starting to call his disciples, first with Andrew and then with Simeon, son of John who will be referred to as Cephas or Peter.
Jesus is asking you and me “ What do you want ? “ Do you want to follow the way of the world or do you want to follow the way of God ? We can see from the pattern of consumers who purchase Christmas presents, that a lot of the gifts will be returned to vendors by recipients who weren’t happy with what they received. That’s one way of negotiating life. I will barter and trade to get what I want when I want it. Another way of experiencing life in a new way is responding to the call of service for the Kingdom Of God. What can I do to express the love of God in my life ? What can I do to lives the gift of charity, of grace, of healing ?
We say in the Communion liturgy
“ The gifts of God for the people of God “ How about we consider our lives as gifts to God and to one another ? How about taking seriously that each of us are sacred human beings who reflect the sacredness of God ?
What do you want ?
May it be more than ourselves, may it be more than our own power and our own wants and desires. May we be moved to want to love and serve God and reflect the grace and redemption that Jesus brings into our lives daily now and always.
May it be so.
In Jesus’s name.
Amen
Second Sunday After Christmas January 3 2021 2020
Redeemer United Church Of Christ ( Zuehl ) Marion, TX
“ The Light Coming Into The World “
( Jeremiah 31: 7-14, Ephesians 1: 3-14, John 1: 1-9,10-18 _)
Rev. Peter E. Bauer
One cold December night, around 10:30 PM, as luck would have it, the power went out at my house. I looked outside and saw that it just wasn’t just my house, but it also effected the surrounding houses in my neighborhood. I thought what could have caused this, a squirrel or two chewing through a power line ? One of my dogs has a dog sweater with the message on its back which reads: “ Squirrels cannot be trusted. “ Then again, I thought that maybe there was a traffic accident and that a power transformer was destroyed ? All I knew was that it was dark and cold and that it was late and that I needed the power back on. After calling CPS, and lighting some candles, I settled down in my recliner with my cell phone close by waiting for the call to let me know that the power was restored.
Here the waiting seemed like an eternity. One hour, two hours passed and then all of a sudden a flicker of lights go on. Hallelujah, the power has come back on ! But only momentary, and then the lights are off and there is darkness again. Another phone call to CPS, only to be informed that the estimated time for return to power is three hours away. I settle back onto my recliner and resigned myself to starting later to work the next day as I wouldn’t shower and shave until the power was stored. Finally around 4:30 AM, the power returns and the lights go back on. For those brief several hours, I am left to trying to relax, catch some sleep and not let my mind and anxiety run away with itself regarding whether I will be able to plug the coffee maker in again.
The writer of Matthew’s Gospel notes:
“the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." (Matthew 4: 16 )
Think about for a moment when there are been moments for you “ when the light has dawned. “ Maybe it was when you realized a successful harvest after much hard work planting and tending the soil. Maybe it was when you completed a project at work and you received tremendous praise from your supervisor. Maybe it was seeing your child get confirmed and become officially a member of the Church and of the community of faith. Maybe, this moment allowed you to reflect that your love and guidance as a parent was important as it is having lasting significance on your child.
Jeremiah proclaims:
“ And their soul shall be as a watered garden and they shall not sorrow any more at all. “ ( Jeremiah 31:12 )
The biblical writer looks forward to the time when the people of Israel will be restored. What can restoration look like for you and me ?
The writer of John’s Gospel observes:
“ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all people might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. “ The true light that gives light to everyone who was coming into the world. “ (John 1:6-7 ) When someone exhibits joy and light, you know it. You feel it instinctively. When a total stranger appears at the supermarket and helps me to open a very stubborn plastic bag to order to fill it with vegetables, for that moment, light arrives. In that instance, I’m reminded again that God loves and cares for us.
Reverend Daryl Horton, as lecturer at Austin Theological Seminary Austin, TX has written:
“ What an awesome privilege we have to invite the light of the world into our lives. As I embrace new mercies each morning, I also offer this invitation to Him. It is no casual invitation to be taken lightly, it gives Jesus permission to intervene in the most intimate aspects of my life. My spirit rejoices when I think about the impact of His arrival. Through power and grace, His words cause the darkness to disappear and light appear. Through compassion and correction I am drawn closer to his heart. Through the demonstration of His love, the shadow of death lost its sting and had to flee. Wirth the presence of my Savior comes joy and peace, while victory is proclaimed because he reigns. “ Who are the persons of light for you ? Might it be a teacher, a coach, a friend, a husband or wife, a pastor, a family member ? Who is that person who extends the light of Christ to you ?
John The Baptist knew that his work was important but he also knew that what he was doing was pointing to someone who was greater, someone who would redeem the world./
We pray that this new year will be a blessing, one in which the darkness of the past year through which we have lived can be vanquished. We are called to be people of the light.
So let’s make this new year, 2021, a year of greater light for you and for me, for our congregation, our community and for our world.
We really need it now.
May it be so.
In Jesus’s name.
Amen
First Sunday After Christmas December 27 2020
Redeemer United Church Of Christ ( Zuehl ) Marion, TX
“ Have You Thanked Your Mentor Today ? “
( Isaiah 61: 10- 62:3 , Galatians 4: 4-7, Luke 2: 22-40 )
Rev. Peter E. Bauer
I was riding down the escalator to the first floor of the old Meier And Frank (Now May And Company ) department store in downtown Portland, Or. There , in front of the cosmetics counter, stood Ms. Laurette Swann, my former high school English teacher. I hadn’t seen here in about 15 years. We briefly spoke to each other. She was delighted that I was going to Princeton, N.J. to attend theological seminary. She then added the following question: “ Was I rough enough on you ? “
I thought this was an odd but a rather intriguing question. Miss Swann was definitely dedicated to her craft and talent for teaching. She was no nonsense. She was a stickler for detail. She was impeccable about teaching good grammar, good punctuation and good writer. She was also someone who made you think. She was the one who introduced me to George Orwell. One of her favorite expressions was : “ Your education is not complete until you read Animal Farm and 1984. “
How accurate she was in this observation. We have lived in a world which has been threatened by dictators who have used double-speak and gas-lighting in attempts to control people, promote various ideologies that hurt a great number of people while promoting the economic interests of only a few. When I heard Miss Swann’s question, I paused and then I replied: “ Yes, you were rough on me and I’m glad that were. “ Miss Swann smiled and said : “ I’m glad that I was rough on you as well . “
Think about the people who have had great influence on your life ? They may have been you parents, grandparents. They may have been your teachers, your pastors, your athletic coaches. What did these people give you ?
Back in January 1985, I was at the Naval Chaplain School at Newport, R.I. The school is located in a beautiful location on Narragansett Bay known for sailing and fishing. The Navy, at that time, had a lot of training schools for the various staff corps. I remember that I arrived there after the first of the year in 1985. I had lived in San Diego, Ca for four years. I was accumulated to warm weather. I left San Diego with the temperature in the upper 70’s and arrived in Newport, R.I. where the temperature was 32. The next day the temperature dropped to 15 degrees and there it remained for the next month. Every morning at Chaplain School we would work out in the gym and go for at least a two mile run. I had managed to come down with a bad case of Bronchitis and I was recovering with the help of some good drugs. One morning as I was running along near the rear of the formation, I heard the voice of Gunny Crawford, our Marine Corps Gunny and PT instructor, call; out to me “ Cheer up, Chaplain Bauer, Spring is around the corner and you will be in Okinawa. “ I thought he’s right and hopefully the weather in Okinawa, Japan will be similar to San Diego. Gunny Crawford not only helped me loose weight but he helped me gain some confidence that I greatly needed at the time.
Look again at Mary and Joseph. Here we have this young Palestinian Jewish couple who are new parents to their son Jesus. They are trying to do the right thing. They want to be good parents. They bring their child Jesus to Jerusalem to the temple in order that Jesus can be presented to the Lord. While they are in the temple, they meet two people Simeon who is described as being a righteous and devout man and Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phaneul, of the tribe of Asher. She was widowed and she is described as worshiping at the temple day and night.
Note that both of these two people saw great promise in Jesus and they do not hesitate to share there joy and praise for what they see “ as being the salvation of Israel. “
Simeon is heard to say:
“ This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the hearts of many will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too. “ ( Luke 2:33-35 )
Simeon and Anna serve as sort of spiritual godparents, mentors for Jesus. Their blessing and acknowledgement indicates that Jesus will be significant, that there will be lasting effects regarding his life and ministry.
Again, what have your mentors taught you ? Maybe, there were the gifts of love and kindness, the gift of learning, education, the gift of civic responsibility and engagement. The gift of fairness and right action in all things whether it be sports, business, economics or politics. The lives that we lead are influenced by those who have come before us, by our contemporaries who are with us, and by our families and the future generations who will come after us. I realized that I was lucky to be able to express my appreciation to Miss Swann for what she have me. Not everyone has that opportunity to thank their mentors in person.
What we can hope for is that through the example of who we are and by the work that we do, that our lives can be a witness to what they have taught us and what they have left us. One sunny afternoon, I was standing in the parking lot of the First Congregational Church in Portland, Or. Rev. Dr. Lincoln Reed was standing next to me. Lincoln and I were looking across the street at Paramount Theatre ( now the Arline Schnitzer Concert Hall). There was a crowd of young people stretched around the block who were waiting to enter the theatre that night for the concert by the band “ Little Feet. “ The Portland Red Brigade ( this was pre Antifa ) had a habit of tagging buildings downtown. On the side of the Paramount Theatre someone had spray painted in red paint “ My blood is Reid “. Without hesitation, Lincoln pointed out to me : “ Remember Peter, if we are going to win the revolution, we have to be good spellers. “
How true was his observation.
We have to be ready, we have to be prepared, we have to do our homework in all things, in order to be ready for those experiences that life will bring us. Have you thanked your mentor today ?
I hope you have and if not I hope will have the opportunity in the future. We are blessed by God and we are also blessed by the communities of which we are a part, including our church and the church universal.
Let us always remember those who have contributed their life to our lives.
May it be so.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen
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