Tag: Joshua

Stones

I have not preached or added a sermon for a while, but this morning I shared this story and sermon as a part of worship in a smallish church I attend here in Vermont. I love this story…..

When I went to seminary I took all the classes you would expect.
Courses on the Bible.
A class on Church History.
Theology.
Pastoral Care.
And, being Presbyterian, I also had to take a year of Hebrew and a year of Greek. The l original languages in which the Bible was written.
Oh yea…even a class on preaching.
And, I was introduced to words I had never heard before which, when I first heard them, I had to look them up to see what they meant.
Words like:
Hermeneutics.
Soteriology.
Exegesis.
Isogesis.
The difference between consubstantiation and transubstantiation.
But looking back, the course which had the biggest impact on both my faith and my ministry was entitled The Gospel According to Mother Goose. And the primary book for the class was The Uses of Enchantment by Bruno Bettleheim, who was a Professor at the University of Chicago and a psychologist who worked primarily with autistic children.
Two insights from that class continue to shape how I think and how I read the Bible.

The first insight was and is the power and importance of stories in our lives.
The stories we tell and how we tell them are not just about back then, but they continue to shape our understanding and our values and how we see the world. The stories we tell about our nation. And, about our families. And, about ourselves. Experientially, we all know the power of the stories. When your family gathers or you are with good friends who you have known for a long time, how often do you tell stories which begin with “Remember when…” not just to remember, but to remind yourself and each other of who you are and what you value.
And second, I learned the Bible is primarily a story…or a series of stories.
Stories, first told then written down to make sense of and give meaning to events that had already happened. In Hebrew scripture looking back from the Exodus and later from the Babylonian exile. In Christian scripture, looking back from the experience of the resurrection and telling the story of Jesus and what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. We misread and misunderstand the Bible when we read it as a newspaper or as a textbook.

So, with that I have a story to tell you.
From Hebrew Scripture.
The Book of Joshua. Chapter 4.
But, before I begin a two minute Bible study.
First, to put Joshua in context,
Moses, the great Patriarch of the Jewish people – Jewish baby floated down the river in a basket to be found by Pharaoh’s daughter and then raised Pharaoh’s court. Later in his life confronting Pharaoh and leading the Israelites to freedom through the Red Sea. Wandering in the wilderness. Given the 10 Commandments. Moses had just died, within sight of, but never reaching the Promised Land, and Joshua was named as his successor whose responsibility it was to lead the Israelites on the last part of their journey to theIr journey.
Second, Joshua and Jesus are the same name.
Joshua is the name Hebrew. Jesus is the same name in Aramaic. A name which means God saves. Any Jew, hearing the story of Jesus would immediately connect that story to the story of Joshua. So, keep that in mind as you hear this story and then read and think about the stories of Jesus’ ministry.

And, now the story…
From the Paul Alcorn translation of the Bible.
After what felt like a lifetime of wandering in the wilderness, here they were.
Finally,
Standing on the bank of the Jordan River.
The wilderness, with all it meant and all the hardships experienced there, behind them.
The Promised Land and the hope of new life in front of them.
Like children (or maybe even like some of you! on Christmas morning, they couldn’t wait.
Just as they were about to plunge into and to rush across the river, Joshua tells them to stop.
What? Stop now?
When they were so close.
“Stop.” Joshua says again.
“Before you cross the river, have one person from each of the 12 tribes pick up a stone. Put it on their shoulder and carry it across the River. When you get to the other side, put all the stones you have carried in a pile.”
Then, with the exasperation that comes with a lifetime of wandering in the wilderness and just waiting for this moment, the people ask, “Why?”
And, here is Joshua’s response…
“So that in the days to come, when you are settled and safe in the Promised Land and you are walking along the river with your children or grandchildren, they will see this out of place pile of stones and ask “Mama/Papa/Nana, what is that?” and in that moment you will have the opportunity to retell the story of slavery and freedom, and of God’s walking with us through all that time in the wilderness and the gift of who we are and where we are.”

The end.

But, believing as I do that the Bible is not just about then, but also about now.
And, not just about them, but also about you and me.
And, also knowing the purpose and power of good stories.
The question becomes…
What pile of stones are you building which would cause another to stop and to ask why?
And, what will you say when they ask?
What story will you tell?

Mama, you don’t even know her. Why did you do that for her?
I did it because that is how I would like to be treated if I found myself facing her circumstances. Or how I hope you would be treated if you ever found yourself in a moment like that.

Papa, if I spoke up I would be the only one.
Remember what we just sang in church. This little light of mine. I’m going to let it shine. Hide it under a bushel, No. All around the whole wide world.
I believe that.

Nana, they don’t even live near us. Or look like us. Why do you care about them?
Because I love God and believe that each of us is a child of God which makes them family.
My sisters and brothers.

Take a stone from the river, Joshua instructed.
Place it on your shoulder and carry it across.
Then stack them one on top of the other on the other side.
So that, in the days to come, when you pass by with your children and your grandchildren and they see the pile of stones and ask why, you will be given the chance to tell the story.

Markers

For nearly 30 years, these two manila file folders have either been on my desk or the first two files in my desk drawer. Both are filled with notes and articles and scraps of paper. Some I found and saved. Others were handed to me.

An Op-ed piece written by a general in the army about the people he considers to be heros.
A poem by Mary Oliver and a reflection by the author Annie Dillard.
A speech from 2003 made on the Senate floor by Senator Robert Byrd sent to me by a friend.

One way or another, all of it found their way into one of these two folders because they were and are sermons waiting to be preached.

In addition to what was inside, on the outside are my scribbled notes. Quotes from something I heard or read which caught my attention and which I did not want to forget. Also sermons waiting to be preached.

“Let your heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” – Bob Pierce
“There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal.” – C.S. Lewis

And this…
What is truer than true?
The answer. A story.
And so this morning, this story which I have told before and so you might remember it.
But, like all good stories, it deserves to be told again.
And, this morning is the morning to tell it.
So, as Prologue to the story, this two minute Bible study.

You may recognize his name.
Moses. Patriarch of the Jewish people.
The first five books of Hebrew Scripture are named for him.
While watching his father-in-law’s sheep he encountered the burning bush and through that experience went to Pharaoh to free the Israelites who were slaves in Egypt.
He led the people as the fled for their lives.
He parted the Red Sea.He was given the 10 Commandments.
Through it all, he guided the Israelites as they wandered for all those years in the wilderness dreaming of the land they believed God had promised them.

Moses never quite got there. He died on Mt. Nebo able to see the Promised Land, but not set foot on it. Following the death of Moses, Joshua, whose name means God saves or God saves the people (And whose name in Koinonia Greek, the language of Christian scripture, would be Jesus. Remember that when you read the gospel narratives) is chosen as the heir apparent.

That’s the Bible study.
Here is the story.
From the Paul Alcorn version of Joshua 4.
After mourning the death of Moses, the wilderness wandering continues.
Eventually Joshua and the Israelites find themselves standing on the banks of the Jordan River.
That boundary…
Both literally and figuratively…
Between homelessness and a home.
Between wandering and stability.
Between wilderness and Promised Land.
Between Life and Death.
Finally arriving at that time and place they had dreamed of for so long, the people are about to joyfully splash their way across the river when Joshua tells them to stop. And gives them this instruction:
As you cross the river, take a stone from the river. Carry it across. And make a pile of your stones are the other side.
You can imagine the reaction.
The polite translation would be something like, “Joshua, why?”
Then this.
Which is the point of the story and what I hope you remember.
In response to their “Why,” Joshua tells them this:
So, in the days to come, when you are walking along the banks of the river with your children or your grandchildren and they see that out of place pile of stones and ask you why it is there, you will have the opportunity to tell them the story…again.

That’s the story.
And, this is why it is the story for today.
First, thank you.
Thank you for the markers…
For the pile of stones…
You have left along the way over these last 30 years for me to see.
Markers which reminded me over and over again of what is important.
Markers which reminded me both of who I am and who I am called to be.
Reminded me of who we are and who we are called to be.
Looking back I am keenly aware of some of those moments.
Others, I am sure, will find their way to the surface in the days and weeks to come.
I can’t thank you enough.
You have been kind and courageous and generous and visionary and, in real time, life and world changing.
I am very much aware I am who I am because of who you are and who you have been.
Thank you.
Along with each of you, I selected a stone from one of the baskets.
I am not sure where it will end up in our house in Vermont.
On the bookcase.
Next to our bed.
On my desk.
But somewhere, as that reminder…
That marker…
That you have left from me to see.

And, this reminder…
Each day we leave markers for others to see.
Our children.
Our neighbors.
Our co-workers.
The larger community.
Whether they say it out loud or just to themselves, when they see the pile of stones you leave behind they ask, “Why?” And in that moment you/we have the opportunity to, once again, give voice to the values we understand to be wrapped up in our vision of God’s Kingdom come. What we remind each other of each and every Sunday.
Loving God.
Loving neighbor.
Treating others as we would like to be treated. As they would like to be treated.
Caring for those too often pushed to the edges.
Extending welcome.
Letting the light you know and the light you have shine in the darkness.
Living with open hands and open hearts.
As you have done for me, continue to leave markers to others remember the story and so find our way.

This morning I gave you a stone.
From me to you.
May it be a reminder left in your path.
For you to see and to remember.

Choices

It all started with a conversation.
Well, actually a text.
My phone vibrating on my desk with a message: Do you have 30 minutes sometime this week to talk? Home on Christmas break, a college student wanted to know if he could stop by and talk with me for a few minutes. We had talked before as he worked through the pressures of growing up and trying to have his faith and values grow up, as well. This last conversation was one more step in that growing up process.

There were moments in his life, he said, when he had a very real sense of God’s presence.
At the time of his grandfather’s death.
When, in a difficult situation, he had sensed and received help and strength.
But, not always.
Other times it was hard for him to find or connect with that which he knew and named as God.
He wondered (and asked!), what he was missing or doing wrong and what he needed to do in order to experience that loving, supportive presence of God more often.
Don’t we all wonder that at one time or another?
Wouldn’t it be nice to walk around each day surrounded by an uplifting sense of the Holy which elevates you above the mess of today rather than getting up each morning and having to plunge into the mundane and sometimes craziness of the day in, day out routine.
Diapers to change.
Dishes to wash.
Decisions to make.
Work to do.
Little of which feels very much like God.
At least most of the time.
At least to me.

A second conversation then followed up on the first.
This next conversation took place a little more than a week ago with the group of high school students and adults as we were wrapping up our week of living and working in the community of Campuzano in Nicaragua. We were talking about what the week had meant and about coming home and about how you hold onto and bring back with you some of what was so real and so powerful and so meaningful when you were there. We were asking the question:
Why is it so easy to care when you are there and it gets harder when you come home? Why is it so easy to accept those who are different from you there and harder here? Why is it so easy to work hard and to be dirty and to not worry what you look like or what clothes you are wearing there, then when it is when you walk into school? Why does caring and compassion and kindness come so naturally and feel so right when you are there and become so elusive when you are back at school or at work?

Both conversations ask the same question.
How do I…
How do we…
Hold onto…
Stay in touch with…
What seems so right.
So real.
So much of God.
In those moments when God seems close?
The response I gave in both conversations was this.
You can’t.
Or, at least, I don’t know how to do it.
Sure there are those practices and disciplines which connect us better to God.
Prayer. Meditation. Worship. Service to others.
But, you can’t automatically manufacture that feeling of God.
What you can do is appreciate those moments when you experience them and name them for what they are and remember them and draw strength from them when when they do happen. And, you can use them to help point you in the right direction which may be what is most important.

Despite what or how you feel in any particular moment, you can make that choice. You may not always feel compassion and kindness, but you can always choose compassion and kindness. You may not always want to welcome the other, but you can still choose to extend hospitality. You may want to scream and shout and point fingers and blame others, but you can choose to speak and act with respect even when there is profound disagreement. You may not always feel God is close, but you can always choose God.
Choose to walk with God.
Choose to live the way God would have you live.
Choose to practice the values wrapped up in your understanding of God.
Choose to believe that God is at work in your life and our world.
Choose to believe that you are called to be partners with God in the work God is doing.

Which brings us back to Joshua.
That Jewish Patriarch who assumed leadership of the people after the death of Moses and who led the Jewish people out of the wilderness and across the Jordan River and into the land they understood to be promised to them by God. Here, at the end of his life, he summons the people of Israel to Shechem. To the most holy place he knew. After reminding them of their history, he challenges them with this:
“Choose this day whom you will serve.”
After Egypt and exodus.
After wandering in the wilderness and now having a place to call home.
Choose God or something else.
It is your choice to make, but you do have to decide.

That question is our question, as well.
Choose this day whom you will serve.
We may not always feel God’s presence, but we can always choose God.
It is a choice we make each and every day.
Sometimes multiple times each day.
God or…
Compassion or…
Kindness or…
Respect or…
Peace or…
Justice or…
You decide.

The Markers We Leave

Happy New Year!
Like what all of you who have school aged children or grandchildren experienced this week, for us today this is the start of a new year. New beginnings, whether we mark them in terms of dates on a calendar or grades in school or even transition points in life, often provide a moment for personal reflection. Maybe even new decisions about how you would like to spend your time and about who and how you would like to be and what you would like to do. To mark the occasion I almost bought all of you party hats and noisemakers like mine, but, instead I thought I would tell you a story and give you a stone.

This story from Hebrew Scripture. The book of Joshua.
After wandering for so long in the wilderness, that barren place somewhere between Egypt and what is now Israel, and after Moses, the great leader and Patriarch of the Jewish people, had died, Joshua leads the Israelites to the banks of the Jordan River. Behind them was desert and hardship and testing and uncertainty. In front of them waited Promised Land. As they are about to plunge into the river leaving the past behind and to claim the future, Joshua tells them to stop.
“Pick up a stone,” he said.
“Carry it across the river and when you get to the far side set your stones down in a pile.”
“Why?” The people asked.
This was Joshua’s response:
“So that in the days to come when you are walking along the banks of the river with your children or grandchildren or your neighbor’s children they will see the out of place pile of stones you have made. And as children always do, they will ask you ‘Why? Why are these stones here?’” Then you will have a chance to tell the story.”

I share the story with you today, because as we begin this new year I wonder what hopes or dreams inspire you? What aspirations do you have for yourself or for your children or for the communities in which we live as we begin this next year? All things being equal and if this were an opportunity to take stock and to begin anew or to at least adjust priorities and time…

What would you like do that would make your life deeper or richer or more meaningful? More in line with who God is and who God calls you to be?
What would you like to do to move your daily living more in line with your best values and your bravest hopes?
What would you like to do to strengthen your family or to help your children learn about more than math or science or history, but also about God and faith and compassion and kindness?

Here is what I think…or at least what I hope.
Those thoughts which began to push into your awareness from the edges of your mind as I asked my questions; Those hopes you have or dreams you hold onto…
When translated into actions, large or small in whatever way you are able, become the markers you leave for others to see and to ask about.
Whether they ask it out loud or just say it to themselves, they ask Why?
Why did you stop and help that person?
Why did you treat her that way?
Why did you get upset about what you read or saw?
Why did we drop off that bag of groceries?
Why do you go to church on Sunday?
Why do we have to do THAT?

“Why do we have to carry a stone across the river,” they asked?
“So, in the days to come others will see the stones you left and ask you why?”

What markers do you want to leave behind for others to see?
For your children to see? For your grandchildren to see? For your neighbors to see?
Markers that will point both them and us in the direction of God’s Kingdom come?
I wonder.

As you leave this morning, I extend this invitation.|Take a stone from the basket and add it to the stones on the table as a sign of your desire to add to the markers we leave in the lives of others and in the communities around us. And, take a second stone and take it home and put it someplace you will see it each day and so be reminded…and so one more time will have the chance to tell the story.

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Several things I believe: