[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #555, Easter 6, 5/13/07

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

EASTER 6 – (May 13, 2007)


Acts 16:9 15
Psalm 67
Rev 21:10,22 22:5
John 14:23 29 or John 5:1 9


THE ANSWER IS WITHIN

Paul receives his direction from within in the form of a dream.       
(Acts 16:9 15)

The new Jerusalem has no exterior light, no sun, no lamp.  Its 
illumination is from within, from the presence of God.    (Rev 21:10,22 
22:5)

Jesus promises this internal illumination in the form of the Advocate.  
 (John 14:23 29)

The healing which the lame man sought from outside himself, from the 
pool of water -- for 38 years! --  turned out to be inside himself when 
Jesus told him to stand up.   (John 5:1 9)

The Psalmist prays for God's face to shine upon us, and when it does, 
it shines on us from within.  (Ps 67)

We expect salvation to come from outside us.  We buy lottery tickets in 
hopes that we will get lucky.  We give up on our work until such time 
as we have a better boss.  We change the system with the idea that a 
new system will fix us.  We chase new technology as if it will solve 
fundamental human problems.  We think the important changes are those 
that sweep through the society instead of the ones that sweep through 
us.  It may be, however, that the most important changes in human 
history are the ones that have taken place inside an individual.


Something changed inside Paul to turn him into an Apostle.  Something 
changed inside Lydia to cause her to want baptism.  Something changed 
inside the disciples when they began to receive direction from the 
Advocate.  This strange new Jerusalem has no temple because the temple 
is inside everyone.  Its gates are open all the time because there is 
nothing to steal.  Everything of value is inside people.

I used to think that Billy Graham was unsophisticated in his conviction 
that personal conversion was the primary social change.  I took him to 
be afraid of embracing the civil rights and the anti-war movements.  
Actually he was more in tune with the New Testament than I in this 
regard.  He also followed a wisdom as ancient as China:  "A king once 
asked Confucius' advice on what to do about the large number of 
thieves.  Confucius answered, 'If you sir, were not covetous, although 
you should reward them to do it, they would not steal.'"  {"The Servant 
as Leader", Robert K. Greenleaf, 1991, p.34}

Have you ever complained about your church?  I have.  Could it be that 
the key to a changed church is not a brighter idea, a better program, 
not even harder work, but a changed pastor --  not a new pastor but the 
current pastor changed.   The leader sets and embraces the ideals of 
the organization.  Like the king that complained to Confucius about all 
the thieves in his kingdom, I complain about the 80-20 rule.  80% of 
the work is done by 20% of the people.  We struggle to raise money for 
a capital improvement program, yet in the parking lot this morning are 
eight vehicles that would cost half the goal.  What is the first thing 
that would have to change for these people to value the kingdom as much 
as their own luxury?  They? Me?


May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
(an e-mail service)

[See Web Page address below for a Children’s Message coordinated with 
these lections.]

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ChildPage/

Multiple Sermon Starter Essays are available at
http://www.webspawner.com/users/McGregorPage/

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