Getting to Know God via GLEE: Part 2 - The God of Guidance

A Sermon Preached at Journey United Church of Christ on June 12, 2011 (Confirmation Sunday).  Based in part on “The God You’re Looking For” by Bill Hybels.

This weeks Glee feature:  Season 1, Episode 1 “Pilot”

When was the last time you stood at what you felt to be the crossroads of life?

One of those times in when decisions are made? to attend college or go right to work, to take this job or wait for something better to come along, to marry or to remain single, to start a family or stay child-free, to move to a new location or to stay put. 

Crossroads are not simply a matter of choosing what to have for breakfast, what to wear when you get dressed in the morning, or what cell phone you’ll chose at your next upgrade.  Crossroads are bigger issues … with much larger and long-lasting implications.  What we do when you reach such a crossroads has a lot to do with who we will become, how our lives will turn out…they’re a little bit scary and guess what confirmands?  They are part of life … and they do come with some regularity for all of us. 

GLEE VIDEO:  Season I; Episode 1 (Pilot)“Mr. Shu’s Crossroad”              31:07-32:44

Well, if you’re there, along with Mr. Schu, we may have just what you need.  Because today, as we continue our series on “Getting to Know God via Glee”, we’re going to discover the God Who Guides Us …and how that God helps us when reach or approach those intersections of life. 

First, our reading for the day, Genesis 24:1-28 from “The Message”, a Modern Translation by Eugene Peterson. 

Abraham was now an old man. GOD had blessed Abraham in every way. Abraham spoke to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of everything he had, "Put your hand under my thigh and swear by GOD—God of Heaven, God of Earth—that you will not get a wife for my son from among the young women of the Canaanites here, but will go to the land of my birth and get a wife for my son Isaac."

The servant answered, "But what if the woman refuses to leave home and come with me? Do I then take your son back to your home country?"

Abraham said, "Oh no. Never. By no means are you to take my son back there. GOD, the God of Heaven, took me from the home of my father and from the country of my birth and spoke to me in solemn promise, 'I'm giving this land to your descendants.' This God will send his angel ahead of you to get a wife for my son.  And if the woman won't come, you are free from this oath you've sworn to me. But under no circumstances are you to take my son back there."

So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his solemn oath. The servant took ten of his master's camels and, loaded with gifts from his master, traveled to Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor.

Outside the city, he made the camels kneel at a well. It was evening, the time when the women came to draw water. He prayed, "O GOD, God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day; treat my master Abraham well!  As I stand here by the spring while the young women of the town come out to get water, let the girl to whom I say, 'Lower your jug and give me a drink,' and who answers, 'Drink, and let me also water your camels'—let her be the woman you have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I'll know that you're working graciously behind the scenes for my master."

It so happened that the words were barely out of his mouth when Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel whose mother was Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with a water jug on her shoulder. The girl was stunningly beautiful, a pure virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up.

The servant ran to meet her and said, "Please, can I have a sip of water from your jug?"  She said, "Certainly, drink!" And she held the jug so that he could drink. When he had satisfied his thirst she said, "I'll get water for your camels, too, until they've drunk their fill." She promptly emptied her jug into the trough and ran back to the well to fill it, and she kept at it until she had watered all the camels. The man watched, silent. Was this GOD's answer? Had GOD made his trip a success or not? When the camels had finished drinking, the man brought out gifts, a gold nose ring weighing a little over a quarter of an ounce and two arm bracelets weighing about four ounces, and gave them to her.

He asked her, "Tell me about your family? Whose daughter are you? Is there room in your father's house for us to stay the night?"  She said, "I'm the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah and Nahor.  And there's plenty of room in our house for you to stay—and lots of straw and feed besides."

At this the man bowed in worship before GOD and prayed, "Blessed be GOD, God of my master Abraham: How generous and true you've been to my master; you've held nothing back. You led me right to the door of my master's brother!"  And the girl was off and running, telling everyone in her mother's house what had happened.

Whether we’re aware of it or not, we all have a method for decision-making.  Some people, either consciously or subconsciously, automatically opt for the path that will in their minds cause the least pain, the path of least resistance, the easy way.   Some people do just the opposite and venture down the path that is filled with the greatest challenge, they are the risk takers, those who love to live on the edge.   Then there are those who don’t necessarily make the decision themselves; instead they rely on others to choose for them, they take the path that others tell them to take, the most popular way, go with the flow, follow the crowd. And then there are those who, like Abaraham, when they come to the big crossroads of life, look up … not just to see where the signs point, but beyond that … they look up to God as their guide through life, to see which way God is leading them, to follow the path that God has cleared for them.  They claim the wisdom of the Proverbs … our verse of the week (not to mention the words of song that we sing here at Journey from time to time)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean upon your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge God and your path will be made clear”                                                 (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Well, today, I want to lift up that method of decision-making.  To look at how it works and how we can claim it in our own lives.  Because, you see, the guidance God offers is guidance of the best kind.  There is good guidance and bad guidance, just as there are good guides and not so good guides.

Look at it this way.  How did your parents guide you?  I’ve noticed there are two distinct parenting styles when it comes to helping children learn.  My dad is a car mechanic.  When he taught me how to change a flat tire, he did so by offering suggestions and insights along the way,  but he let me actually do the learning … He provided the wrench, but sat back and coached me through the process, giving advice when needed. 

I’ve noticed in my role as campus minister, there are parents who approach things in a different way.  Their idea of teaching is to do it for their children while they watch and watch and watch.  They don’t actually ever do the task.  We have a name for them – helicopter parents!  The hover just like a helicopter and do everything their child needs done for them.  The difference?   Children never really learn how to do it using that method…they end up weak and dependent, diminished and devalued in the process.  When parents function more as “coaches” they become stronger, more capable, more confident over time.   

The nature of God’s guidance is more in keeping with that of a good guide.  God is not in the business of guiding us in a way that keeps us weak and dependent.  God guides us in a way that makes us mature and wise. There is a world of difference between the two.

So, how does God do that … God guides us through a variety of ways as we journey through life… what we might want to think of as signposts or road signs along the way

We don't always like that method.  Sometimes I think we wish God would be a little more “helicopter-like”, hovering and doing for us.  Ever found yourself wishing that God would just write out directions in the sky, or send specific step-by-step instructions in a secret text message on your cell phone.  God doesn’t guide us that way because we would stay weak and dependent in a unhealthy way.  God not only wants to help us at a crossroads, God wants to help us learn, to grow up, to mature, to become increasingly wise.”

So let's look at what the signposts or road signs are.  The first is pretty obvious - THE BIBLE.  When we are trying to become good decision-makers, when we are trying to receive guidance from God, we need first to look to God’s word the Bible

Psalm 199:105 says “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path"

Seems king of obvious, but studies indicate that folks really aren’t into reading it much any more.  When we don't read it and study it and commit it to memory, it's like throwing away the instruction book

But sometimes we need more specific guidance on how to apply scripture and for that God gives us another “signpost” - the HOLY SPIRIT.  Now, this form of guidance may make us “mainline Protestants” feel a little bit apprehensive.  We kind of like to read about the Holy Spirit once a year, on this – Pentecost Sunday – and then we’re really more comfortable packing it up and putting it away again.  Kind of like we do with the Christmas decorations and the plastic Easter eggs.  Once a year, whether we need it or not.  No more, no less.  Once a year.    

While audible words booming out of the clouds are not God’s usual method of guidance, God does “speak” to us through the gentle prompting of the Spirit,  “impressions from God”, spiritual nudges or tugs.  The Spirit will prompt you if you are open to it.  We fully claim that promise as the United Church of Christ.  “God IS Still Speaking.”

That’s the way God works.  When we are coming to decision points, God offers us the wisdom of the Bible, God often uses the Holy Spirit to nudge us, tug us, guide us in a certain way, and sometimes, God uses THE COMMUNITY OF FAITH – real life people. 

God often speaks to us through other people … particularly though the guidance of godly friends (and I think that more often than not, that's a plural in the Bible)  Proverbs 24:6  "In the multitude of counselors there is safety."  I have learned the hard way that my life is better served by multiple mentors instead of a single one.  I have my husband, I have people in this church, I have colleagues within the UCC who I ask for advice, I have a group of clergy women whom I meet with regularly.  When I have the counsel of some wise mentors I am adding to the basis for making good decisions I am receiving the guidance from God

Yet, when listening to that wisdom, that advice, I also need to take into account my own UNIQUENESS, who it is that God created me to me, and the special circumstances in which God places me.  What may be right for someone else may not be right for me.  In allowing God to guide us, we need to be aware of our circumstances, what is happening around us … and who God created us to be.

Watch how the decision-making unfolds as Mr. Schu gets some wise counsel from none other than Emma, the guidance counselor, who understands how a path that may be right for one person may be wrong for someone else….

GLEE VIDEO

SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 (PILOT)

“Emma, the Guidance Counselor”    34:49 – 39:38

If you’re open to all the signposts along the way, you should be able to reach the crossroads and make a clear-cut decision….

But, I want to end with one final thought this morning. 

What happens if you come all the way down this road and you get right here and you have to make the call, and you do the best you can, but after you decide, you discover a bit down the path that perhaps you didn't make the best choice.  You find yourself heading in the wrong direction. 

I want you as confirmands (and the rest of you), to remember that with God, course corrections are possible.  Romans 8:28  “  God can make all things work together for good to those who love God and who are called according to God’s purpose.”   Going down the wrong path can be painful, gut-wrenching, lonely and sometimes even depressing.  But what you will find out is that there is grace available to you even if you choose the wrong path and wind up on the wrong road.  If we make wrong decision, life is not over.  Grace does not end there.  God still wants to redeem that situation and bring you back on the right road some time.

PRAYER OF RESPONSE:

O Guiding God, today many of us are at crossroads.  Some are at spiritual crossroads.  We have been tugged here by your Holy Spirit.  You guided us here.  And we are at a very important crossroads of the heart.  We pray that your Spirit would nudge them a step closer to you.  For all those who are who are at that crossroads today, please make it clear.

Help us surrender more completely to your directing hand.  Teach us how to be wise over time, and to follow your wisdom and to cooperate with your guiding hand.  And as we do this, we trust that you will lead us down paths that honor you and lead us into paths that satisfy and fulfill.  Amen.

Getting to Know God Via GLEE: Part 1 - The God of Refuge

A Sermon Preached at Journey United Church of Christ on June 4, 2011.  Based in part on “The God You’re Looking For” by Bill Hybels.

This weeks Glee feature:  Season 1, Episode 8  “Mash Up”

I’d like to ask you think back - back to the time when you were a kid.  Who was the class bully?  Do you remember that kid in your neighborhood or your local playground who made everyone run with fear and trembling?  How many of you were that bully?

In our neighborhood it was a kid names Chris.  She was the meanest, roughest, scariest little kid in my class.  The worst part was that she lived only two blocks away on same street further down the path to and from school.  That meant that my entire journey to and from school every day was fraught with peril.  My only hope was to get there before she did in the morning (which wasn’t difficult since she was usually late).  And then on the way home I would hope that she would find someone immediately on her way out the door that she just had to beat up right then and there – that meant I could get a head start and be safely locked away in my home by the time she began stalking 7^th Avenue.

At McKinley High School, the setting for the hit series GLEE, bullying takes on a unique form of abuse in the form of the “Slushy Facial”.  The cools kids are on the throwing end of the slushy and the outcasts are on the receiving end.  As difficult as it is to receive “the slushy”, what’s even worse is to find yourself moving from the throwing side of the social order to the receiving ends.  Early on in GLEE, Finn and Quinn experience first-hand the reversal of their social standing. 

For those of you who are not fans of the show, let me set the context.  Quinn is captain of the cheerleaders (aka “The Cherrios”), she is also president of the celibacy club.  Her boyfriend Quinn, is captain of the football team and equally admired by everyone at McKinley High.  All is well, until Quinn finds herself pregnant (we find out later that it’s not by Quinn, but by his best friend, Puckerman) … if that weren’t enough, Quinn makes a decision to join GLEE club which lowers his status as well … and here’s what happens

Season 1, Episode 8, “Finn and Quinn Get A Slushy Facial”

In the culture of the Ancient Middle East, there was a good deal of running and chasing going on, only IT WAS FOR REAL … it was far more serious than a childhood bully and worse than a slushy in your face. 

You see, in ancient times, in certain parts of the Middle East, societies were not all that organized and judicial systems hardly existed.  To fill the void left by the absence of police, judges and courts, people were often left to take matters into their own hands. 

Here’s how it worked:  If someone in your family or extended family lost their life at the hands of someone from another family, your family would call a meeting.  You’d discuss the situation and you would appoint what came to be known as a “blood avenger”.  A blood avenger was a representative from your family whose full time job (at least temporarily) was to find whoever it was that killed your family member and chase them down, run after them, until they collapsed … then they would kill them as an act of retribution.

Now when you had these meetings to decide who was going to be your blood avenger, you did not choose happy-go-lucky, Aunt Dorothy.  No, no, no.  You would choose one of your relatives who lives in da Bronx … someone like Anthony or Vinny … or fleet-footed cousin Nick.  Whoever was the strongest, fastest, most persistent person in your family. 

Your blood avenger tracks down the whereabouts of the person who killed someone in your family.  As a matter of honor, the blood avenger would run after and run down the killer until he dropped, and then justice would be achieved and he would go back to the family with proof of the kill.  And they’d have a big old party to celebrate.

It’s a little crude, a little bloody, but it sort of kept the law and the order.

But a problem arose.  There was no provision for accidental homicides and unintentional deaths.  For example, let’s say a woman is in hurry to get to the market.  She jumps on her camel and takes off.  But a five-year old steps out in front of her.  The five year old is knocked down right there in the middle of the road … it’s a terrible accident.  The woman feels horrible.  She gets down off the camel, tends to the little one … but it’s too late … he dies.  She didn’t mean it.  But what happens?  The five-year olds family calls a meeting and they appoint a blood avenger.  And the blood avenger’s orders are clear “track down the camel-riding housewife and you catch her.  You chase her until she can’t run another step and then you kill her.”

“That’s not fair,” you say. She didn’t mean to cause the death.  It was an accident.  It’s not fair.  And you are right.  But nobody knows what to do about it. 

No one but God.  God addresses the problem by establishing “cities of refuge.” 

Joshua 20:1-6 (TEV)

Then the LORD told Joshua to say to the people of Israel, "Choose the cities of refuge that I had Moses tell you about. If any of you accidentally kills someone, you can go there and escape the one who is looking for revenge.

You can run away to one of these cities, go to the place of judgment at the entrance to the city, and explain to the leaders what happened. Then they will let you into the city and give you a place to live in, so that you can stay there. If the one looking for revenge follows you there, the people of the city must not hand you over to that one. They must protect you because you killed the person accidentally and not out of anger.

You may stay in the city until you have received a public trial and until the death of the man who is then the High Priest. Then you may go back home to your own town, from which you had run away."

Get the picture? If someone could make to the city of refuge before the blood avenger tracked them down … they could not be harmed.  It was a place of protection.  A place of safety. 

The point I want all of you to grasp today is this --- the idea for these cities of refuge flows right out of the very heart of God.  It’s God’s nature.  It’s God’s nature to provide safety and refuge for folks who are feeling hunted down and oppressed. 

Now, stop and let that sink in for a bit.  It may be very contrary to what we’ve often been told about God.  At times, we’ve been led to believe that God is more like the “blood avenger” trying to hunt us down and make us pay for the awful things we’ve done.  Have you ever seen God like that?  Have you ever felt like God was some kind of “cosmic cop?”

I’ll bet if I asked how many of you can related to longing for a safe and secure place so that you can hide out and heal for a time, I’ll bet I’d see a forest of hands. 

It’s unfortunate because that view of God is simply not the picture painted for us in scripture.  In fact, one of the most beautiful pictures of what a refuge is in a spiritual sense is found in Psalm 91.  Look at verse 4 where it says  “God will shelter you under her wing”  Have you ever seen little chicks hop around chirping, pecking, doing chick stuff … and then all of the sudden the chicks and the mother hen become aware that there is a predator.  The mother hen doesn’t schedule a seminar, plan a self-help class, or start handing out brochures.  She lifts her wings and within seconds, all the baby chicks disappear underneath them. 

Where once there was just a hen and a bunch of little chirpers, now the predator sees nothing but one mean mama.  The chicks hide there.  They are sheltered there. 

God offers to be our spiritual refuge and our strength.  And let’s face it, how many of us need that kind of refuge these days? 

But God doesn’t just offer to be that kind of refuge, God invites us to carry on that legacy and imitate the very nature of God in our lives as well. 

Those of you who watch Glee on a regular basis, know that at McKinley High, the Glee club becomes that kind of place for the kids who need it most.  Glee club is a “slushy-free” zone.  Mr. Schuster provides a place of refuge where everyone is welcome – the kid in the wheel chair, the gay kid, the pregnant cheerleader and her boyfriend, the Asian kids, the drama queens and the list goes on and on. 

Sounds vaguely like “no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey … you’re welcome here.”  I can’t tell you enough how delighted I am that we are a church of radical hospitality and extravagant welcome.  That challenge will always be before us.  At times it’s easy.  Of course we feel compassions for those who society has treated harshly through not fault of their own.  We easily become a place of refuge.  But what about the folks who are less like us?  What about the folks who defy our sense of justice and push our sense of mercy?  Can we equally welcome them? 

In Glee it’s not always easy and while it’s easy to accept some folks, it’s not easy for them to accept others who threatened their sense of identity.  It’s easy for self-absorbed Rachel to welcome Kurt, but it’s not so easy to welcome someone whose talent threatens her role as the lead soloist.

Will that be us?  Or can we meet the challenge to fully be a place of refuge?

Let’s pray …

Our refuge providing God, we know that there are many people here today who are tired out from running away from avengers.  There are many people here who are desperate for a safe place.  There are those who hurt and grieve and others who are lonely and scared and frightened.  We pray that you would give us all faith to believe that if we call out and pour out our hearts to you, you will shelter us under your wings.

Enable us to fully live into your character as we seek to be a place of refuge, a place of radical hospitality and extravagant welcome when it is easy and when it is a challenge. Give us strength for the ministry you have called us to, wisdom as we plan and perseverance for the journey. Amen.