Jim Benfer

Sermo519 For Sunday 6-21-09

Scripture Reading: Psalm 15

A Life That Will Never Be Shake= n

What goes through a person&= #8217;s mind when they know they are parting, perhaps with some for the final time? All kinds of emotion run through your mind. Thankfulness is the prominent emotion for me today. In the past eight years many of yo= u have come to be like family to me. I have been richly blessed by our association and I hope you too, have been blessed by my ministry with you.

I say this because you really are my fellow ministers of the gospel. One doesn’t have to have a seminary degree or a title to share in the wor= k of making disciples of Jesus Christ. In fact, the ability to love others is equal to loving God when it comes to following Jesus. I have seen = many of you share your love in my time here and I am honored to have labored in = Hot Springs with = you.

One thing that I truly don&= #8217;t want is regret in my life. I don’t want to say to myself one day, “I wish that I had not done this or I wish I might have done that.” I want to live without regret.

I found a list on the inter= net of mixed dog breeds you might regret buying.&= nbsp; The Malamute x Pointer =3D Moot Point, a favorite of lawyers but it doesn’t seem to matter. The Pointer x Setter =3D Poinsetter, a traditional Christmas pet. The Great Pyrenees x Dachshund =3D Pyradachs, a puzzling breed. = The Pekingnese x Lhasa= Apso =3D Peekasso, an abstract dog. The Irish Water Spaniel x English Springer Spaniel =3D Irish Springe= r, a dog fresh and clean as a whistle. The Labrador Retriever x Curly Coated Retriever =3D Lab Coat Retriev= er, the choice of scientists. Or perhaps the Terrier x Bulldog =3D Terribull, a dog that makes awful mistake= s. And finally, the Deerhound x Terri= er =3D Derriere, a dog that’s true to then end. [1]

Seriously, there are the th= ings we regret not doing and the things we wish we had done better. I believe our scripture this morni= ng is a formula that protects us against blundering through life in a way that le= ads to regret. Now, I want to war= n you that just following the letter of scripture is not the point here. What goes unsaid is often much more important—and it is with this wisdom. The truth behind these words is a = life that is living in relationship with God.&n= bsp; This is a relationship that colors every experience of living.

Regret is just one more way= to say that a life has been unpinned from its foundations. At such moments we realize that we= have relied on ourselves, on luck, or our skills and God is distant. It may happen when we experience a sudden diagnosis of disease, an untimely death, or adversity. Friends, we may not have control of every event that comes into our lives, but those who hold on to their faith= in God will not be shaken.

Regardless of what events h= ave already occurred in our lives, you and I are leaving behind a heritage for those who carry on when we are gone. Especially on Father’s Day, we need to ask, “What do I w= ant to leave behind for my children, and for others?” I want to leave you a few suggesti= ons that if followed, will help you live free of regret, leave a heritage others will honor, and have a life that cannot be shaken by the storms that come i= nto it.

We are all members of the Church, and we owe it to everyone else to make life better for those who come after us. Our scripture points to an exe= mplary life—one which continuously asks the question, “How can I please God?”

When Jesus laid the corners= tones of the Church he distilled his will for us pleasing God in the Sacrament of Ho= ly Communion where we share with one another equally. And then he gave the disciples the= New Commandment—to love one another as he had loved them. [2]

Carolyn Gillette told the s= tory of a hospice chaplain named Larry, and how he became friends with an 80-year-o= ld lady named Mary. Mary was a hospice patient. Larry visited with her many ti= mes, and was greatly impressed by her faith. One day, he got a call that Mary had taken a turn for the worse. And that if he wanted to see her alive, he̵= 7;d better go that day. Larry went to visit his friend, and found her in a very deep sleep. Larry didn’t wake her up, because he knew Mary had been i= n a lot of pain. But just as he turned to go, she opened her eyes wide and star= ed right at him. Mary looked intently and then said to him, "Oh, for a minute, I thought you were Jesus." They laughed about it for a moment = and had a good visit together. Just two hours later Mary did see Jesus face to face. But Mary’s comment really hit a note with Carolyn Gillette. Car= olyn later wrote: "I believe we all ought to be mistaken for Jesus, every o= nce in a while. God has given you a mission, just as God gave a mission to Jesu= s. If you’re living it out, if you’re showing his unconditional lo= ve, if you’re treating other people with care and compassion; if you̵= 7;re bringing good news to the poor, and healing to the sick, and freedom to tho= se whose lives are being torn apart. Then maybe someone will look at your life= and say, ’Oh, for a minute I thought you were Jesus.’" [3]

How can you and I, and the = Church please God? We are to serve s= o that others with the love of Christ Jesus.

Secondly, if we have not lived up to our potential, it doesn’t have to remain that way. = Jesus didn’t pick perfect disciples—and I thank God for that! There are so many times that I have wanted to say, “Not me Lord, I’m imperfect, I’m not up to= the task.” When I first cam= e to this church I was inexperienced and green.= Yes, I have failed at times, but you have given me grace—and m= ore important--God’s grace is sufficient to every occasion.

We are people of the present—not the past. T= he past is just a marker that helps us aim straighter for tomorrow. What has been does not have to pre= dict the future. To be a Christian= is to hold this belief. We have been slaves to sin, but sin will not remain our master. We are born mortal, but we have be= en raised immortal with Christ. = This is the promise of those who find their life in Jesus our Lord.

You may remember a message = preached from this pulpit, Don’t Let L= ife Put a Period Where God Put a Comma. [4]<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> A life of faith tells us that = our past failure doesn’t have to be our future. God is calling you and me to somet= hing better.

Anyone who watched= the New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots in 2008's Super Bowl rememb= ers the catch made by David Tyree, a receiver for the Giants. Eli Manning, quarterback for the Giants, threw what looked like a desperate pass. Tyree somehow jumped high above defensive coverage, picked the ball out of the ai= r, pinned it to his helmet, and fell to the ground for a completion. The Giants went on to win the game, 17–14.

In the wake of his= new fame, Tyree has talked openly about a troubled past. Tyree started drinking when he was in junior high. By his junior year in high school, he was regul= arly consuming 40 ounces of malt liquor and a half a pint of Jack Daniel's. It w= as not uncommon for him to smoke marijuana in the same sitting. The habits continued throughout his college career.

After Tyree was ar= rested for selling drugs to pay off a fine he had incurred during his rookie season with the Giants, his pregnant girlfriend threatened to leave him. "I h= ad no peace," David said. "My life was obviously in disarray." = When he picked up a Bible and read its message of redemption, it changed his lif= e. He began to see new possibilities for his life. He made a commitment to never drink again and started attending church for the first time in a long time. Tyree= is now sober, married, and a Super Bowl champion. [5]

“All have turned aside, [we] have together become corrupt; there is no one who d= oes good, not even one.” [6] However, thanks to Jesus Christ, t= hat doesn’t have to be the last word on us.

Finally, as disciples of Jesus Christ, with the example of those who have come before, we owe future generations a righteous heritage. That’s right I said we o= we future generations a righteous heritage.&n= bsp; Especially in this generation of selfishness, we must recognize that= we have been blessed not so much by our own work, but the work of those who ca= me before.

Many of you will remember = the movie starring Richard Dryfuss who played the part of a Mr.Glen Holland, a musician and composer who takes a teaching job to pay the rent while trying= to compose one memorable piece of music to make him famous. The movie was titled, “Mr. Holland’s Opus.”

Mr. Holland d= reams of being a composer but a new baby in the family causes him to re-evaluate = his goals. So he finds a job teaching. When he’s not teaching he sp= ends time at a piano, writing, trying to compose this special symphony he wants = to compose.

In the movie, a num= ber of sub-plots work against Hr. Holland. The child he and his wife have tu= rns out to be deaf. The school he works for is in a constant battle for f= unds and school administrators want to control the budget by eliminating “= the arts.” So overwhelming are his duties as a teacher that Mr. Hol= land is forced to chose; His dream “opus” or his student’s education. He tries to continue his composing, but slowly the composer dies in order that the teacher, the instructor in him might live.

His heart is broken, but he fulfills his obligations as a teacher.&nbs= p; However, out of the death of Mr. Holland’s dream to compose something great, comes the fulfillment of something even greater. In = the end, in dying to himself, in losing his life, Mr. Holland actually winds up composing a greater “opus.”&nb= sp; This great work is not in terms of sheets of music but in the lives = of his students. A brilliant symphony is composed of the individual live= s he encourages and brings together and nurtures and helps through his teaching.= When one dies to their own self, i= t then becomes possible to leave a legacy for future generations. And, when we serve our church and = our community in the name of Christ, we leave a righteous heritage.<= /span>

I and others have worked th= at a living heritage of love might live and grow here. You and I stand on the shoulders of giants. Others have poured out their lives and being so that we may reach higher. I leave your service today hoping = that you will be inspired to continue reaching higher.

Do I regret that another wi= ll take my place? Never! It has been my privilege to lift u= p this Church so that Bro. Bud and our staff, and you too, may continue to do the = work our Lord gives. Let me remind= you of two things: First, this is the Church of Jesus Christ. Secondly, this is the church to wh= ich your service has been consecrated. You have vowed to the Lord to support it with your prayers, your presence, your gifts and your service.&nbs= p; Therefore, fulfill your vows so that others may bless your service.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few! In humility= , continue to bless each other as fellow servants of our Lord. If you will do these things, you w= ill please God, you will bless one another, and you will build a life and a chu= rch that cannot be shaken. In the= name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen!