Lyrics - "In the Middle of Me"

Here are the lyrics to "In the Middle of Me" by Todd Agnew. This is the song that Chris and Melissa Purk did in our worship this morning. It was great! The song was a perfect fit with the theme for today's preaching, based on Romans 12:1-2 . . .

I need a little more sunshine in the middle of rain
Need a little more joy in the middle of pain
Need a little more color in the middle of this plain jane
I’ve looked as deep as I can see
And I think I need a little more You in the middle of me

I need a little more patience in the middle of stress
I need a little more beauty in the middle of this mess
Need a little more substance in the middle of this emptiness
I’ve looked as deep as I can see
And I think I need a little more You in the middle of me

Need more of You and less of me
More of You and little less insanity
More of You and little less complexity
I’ve looked as deep as I can see
It seems more of You is better for me

I need a little more rhythm in the middle of this lazy rhyme
Need a little more spontaneity in the middle of this daily grind
Need a little more truth not music in this world of lies
I’ve looked as deep as I can see
And I think I need a little more You in the middle of me

Sermon #5 @ St. Paris UMC (7.26.09)

Pastor Dave Kepple

Text: Romans 12:1-2

Title: “True Worship”

Date: July 26, 2009 (8th Sunday after Pentecost)

Internet Link for primary scripture texts used in this sermon:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012:1-2;&version=72;

While on vacation last year, Janet and I took an excursion one day, right down the road to Cincinnati.
It sounds a little creepy now, but we spent the day looking at bodies – human bodies.
To explain a little further, we went to the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, where we attended a program called “Bodies … The Exhibition.”
Maybe you remember hearing about this on the news. There was some controversy about the whole thing. The exhibit shows preserved human bodies, dissected to display all the various bodily systems and their inner workings.
Without getting into the controversy, I have to say it was a fascinating thing to see – a very rare opportunity to learn about these bodies we inhabit.
Janet was really into it – she was talking about going to med school! :-)
Something not captured at the BODIES exhibit was the human soul. They got the heart, but they didn’t have the soul on display. And really, it’s the soul which makes us what we are, who we are – as people created in the image of God.
How did Jesus put it?
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
I couldn’t help but think about the “Bodies” exhibit, as I reflected on this passage from Romans 12 which Laurel just read for us. Here, the Apostle Paul is offering the early church some guidance.
Paul begins by telling the believers in Rome to offer their bodies as “a living sacrifice” to the Most High God.
When Paul talks about offering our bodies as living sacrifices, he’s talking about the whole package – body and soul. He doesn’t actually want us to fling ourselves on the fire of an altar. Rather, he wants us to throw ourselves into living for Jesus Christ – who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He calls this a “spiritual act of worship” – true worship.
A living sacrifice.
By the time of Christ, the ancient Israelites already had a well-established system for people to make sin offerings on a regular and ongoing basis, as prescribed by the Law of Moses.
These sacrifices consisted of valuable animals who were slain, sacrificed on the holy altar. Trouble was, the blood of bulls and goats and the like could not keep the people in right relationship with God. They kept having to repeat them, over and over.
As the writer of the Book of Hebrews points out, the old rituals for removing our guilt pale in comparison to the redemption Jesus won for us on the cross. It was only through the blood of our great high priest, the one called Christ, that atonement was finally achieved once and for all.
Now here comes Paul, in Romans 12, calling us to offer our bodies – in other words, ourselves – as “a living sacrifice . . . holy and pleasing to God.”
There’s a problem, however, with living sacrifices. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in California, mentioned it in his famous book, The Purpose Driven Life.
“The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar,” Warren writes. (1)
Let me repeat that: “The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar.”
Have you ever done that with the offering of yourself? I know I have.
Sometimes we can start a day with the best of intentions -- striving to live for the Lord, wanting to love God and our neighbor with all our heart and soul strength and mind. But an awful lot can come our way in the course of 24 hours. Sometimes in the whirl of daily living, we can look up and all of a sudden we’re 100 feet or so away from that altar where we started the day as a living sacrifice. Which is to say: we’ve distanced ourselves from God.
Rick Warren notes that surrendering to God “is never just a one-time event.” There is a moment of surrender, when we give our lives to God and put our whole trust in His grace. But in addition, there is “the practice of surrender, which is moment-by-moment and lifelong.”
As a practical matter, Warren says, that may mean we have resurrender our lives 50 times a day!
You see, being a living sacrifice is hard. In fact, Warren adds a warning about it, writing:
“When you decide to live a totally surrendered life, that decision will be tested. Sometimes it will mean doing inconvenient, unpopular, costly, or seemingly impossible tasks. It will often mean doing the opposite of what you feel like doing.”
Did you hear that? Wow! Talk about not conforming to the pattern of this world!
If anything, the pattern of this world is doing exactly what we feel like doing.
Isn’t that why the world seems to be in such a continuous state of suffering and turmoil?
This surrender – and resurrender – has to become a daily habit. That’s what it means to be a living sacrifice.
Jesus put it another way, when he said if we want to become his disciples, we need to do three things. First, we need to deny ourselves. That means our own needs, wishes, wants, preferences and convenience are no longer the axis upon which our lives spin. Jesus Christ and the will of our Heavenly Father becomes the new center of our lives.
Secondly, we have to take up our cross daily. Again, it’s not a one-time thing. It’s something we need to do – one day at a time – for the rest of our lives. Jesus doesn’t tell us we have to do it forever. He simply tells us we must do it today – and every day. We must carry our cross – whatever that might mean for us – but we only have to do it 24 hours at a time. That’s really all we’re equipped to handle anyway. Then finally, Jesus says, we are to follow Him.
Uh-oh. That’s where things can really get sticky. Because Jesus wants it all. He wants us to give complete control of our lives – to Him. He wants us to live – for Him. In other words, he wants us die unto ourselves, so that He might live through us.
It might not be an ideal “marketing plan” for growing the church – inviting people to come and die.
But the funny thing is, dying to self is the only way to find what life is all about. In a sense, it’s the only way to find our true selves.
For as Jesus said in Matthew’s gospel: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matt. 10:39)
The hard truth is that when we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, we no longer have the right to pick and choose how – or where -- we will serve God. We can’t say to God: “I’ll do this – but don’t ask me to do that.”

Dr. Len Sweet, former president of United Theological Seminary in Dayton, notes that if Christians are going to be faithful, we must understand God very well may lead us somewhere out of our “comfort zone.”
In an article for Leadership magazine, Sweet reflected on the attitudes of some key people throughout the Bible and in the history of the Church. He writes:
“The world’s a better place because a German monk named Martin Luther did not say, ‘I don’t do doors.’
“The world’s a better place because an Oxford don named John Wesley didn’t say, ‘I don’t do preaching in fields.’
“The world’s a better place –
“... because Moses didn’t say, ‘I don’t do Pharaohs or mass migrations.’
“... because Noah didn’t say, “I don’t do arks and animals.’
“... because Rahab didn’t say, ‘I don’t do enemy spies.’
“... because Ruth didn’t say, ‘I don’t do mothers-in-law.’
“... because David didn’t say, ‘I don’t do giants.’
“... because Peter didn’t say, ‘I don’t do Gentiles.’
“... because Paul didn’t say, ‘I don’t do letters.’
“... because Mary didn’t say, ‘I don’t do virgin births.’
“The world’s a better place because Jesus didn’t say, ‘I don’t do crosses.’ ” (2)

To offer ourselves as a living sacrifice means we give up the right to say, “I don’t do. . .”
This act of worship, in offering our selves – our bodies, our minds, our very lives – is not something we can accomplish in the wink of an eye. As a matter of fact, it’s not something we can accomplish at all. It can only happen as God transforms us – as He changes us – by the renewing of our minds.
No doubt there will be many times when we are tempted to crawl off the altar, because being a living sacrifice may not be easy. But it definitely will be worth it. In the end, no matter what our earthly circumstances, following Christ in faith surely will leave us “rich with God” in our lives. It is the path that leads us home – home to the Father’s house.

I want to close with a message from St. Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite nun who lived in Spain in the 16th century.
Though her words are very old, they speak well to any who would be a living sacrifice for Jesus in the here and now. Teresa writes:

“Christ has
No body now on earth but yours;
No hands but yours;
No feet but yours;
Yours are the eyes
Through which is to look out
Christ’s compassion to the world;
Yours are the feet
With which he is to go about
Doing good;
Yours are the hands
With which he is to bless now.” (3)

Jesus gave his body – and his life – for our salvation, and for the glory of God.
Friends, it’s our turn now. Our turn to give our lives away.
Amen.

-----------------------------------------------
1. Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, pp. 83-84, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2002.
2. Len Sweet, “I Don’t Do,” Leadership, Spring 1994, p. 32.
3. St. Teresa of Avila, Walk to Emmaus, p. 52, The Upper Room, Nashville, 1991.

One Blog Leads to Another

One blog leads to another, and thus was begat yet another blog which I've dubbed "ODD SOCKS." This is where I'll be putting stuff I want to preserve for one reason or another -- including a few newspaper columns I wrote in days of yore. It's kind of my "junk drawer" on the Internet. :-) You'll find it at: http://oddsockdrawer.blogspot.com/

Sermon #4 @ St. Paris UMC (7.19.09)

Pastor Dave Kepple

Text: Psalm 1

Title: “Two Paths”

Date: July 19, 2009 (7th Sunday after Pentecost)


Internet Link for primary scripture texts used in this sermon:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%201&version=31


I’ve noticed that the signboard on the Lutheran church down the street says they welcome people “with open psalms.”
I like that, but then – for a lot of reasons -- I like the Psalms. (We’ll talk some more about that another time.)
Today we’re going to take a look at one of the Psalms, specifically the very first one.
What we have in Psalm 1 is very much an introduction – an overview – for the entire collection of 150 Psalms.
In fact, in some of the earliest manuscripts of the Old Testament, there is no number assigned to this first Psalm – apparently because its function was to be an introduction for all that follows in the book.
So when the first psalm speaks of there being two ways in which people can go in this life, it is setting the tone for all the others.
And though it speaks of a man, the words of the psalmist clearly apply to men, women, teen-agers, even to young boys and girls. This message is for everyone. It is a simple message, and yet a profound one.
When all is said and done, there are two paths we can choose from . . . the way of the righteous – which we might call “the godly way,” and the way of the wicked – or the ungodly.
The ungodly way is the path of those who drift into sin and who – sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly -- get comfortable with it, who accept sinfulness as a way of life because anything else is just too hard.
Those who choose the way of the ungodly are certainly not alone – for there are many who take this path, even within the body of believers. Yet they may feel alone much of the time, because they are, in effect, choosing to live apart from God. And when we do that, we always feel alone, no matter how many people may be around us.
The end results of the ungodly path are described in verses 4 and 5 of the first Psalm. We’ll come back to that in a minute.
But first, let’s consider the way of the godly – that is, the path of those who truly love the Lord and seek to live accordingly, as described in the first three verses of Psalm 1.
These faithful ones reject all the anti-God forces in this world which are constantly trying to drag us down, trying to distract us from the leading of God within us. They are said to be “Blessed” – supremely happy – filled with an inner peace that is a free gift from God.
These faithful disciples are those who delight in God’s law.
They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.” (Ps. 1:3, NRSV)
As in so many of the Psalms, this is the poetic language of a metaphor.
Consider the streams of water the Psalmist writes of, and then think of the “Living Water” that Jesus mentioned in conversation with a Samaritan woman one hot day. These life-giving, soul-satisfying waters are the source of our very being.
No matter what we may face in this world, even heartache as we experience times of grief and suffering, if we are planted by the rivers of the water of life, we will bring forth fruit in our season. We will remain strong in the Lord. We will have a peace inside that will sustain us. You might even call it “peace like a river.”
One morning a couple months ago, down at our old place near Middletown, I was walking from the parsonage to the church, with the morning sun shining brightly. From the outside, some distance away, I looked up at the church’s stained glass window, and the panes of glass were dark and dull. You could not make out the image portrayed – the picture of Jesus kneeling in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, shortly before his betrayal and arrest.
But though I couldn’t see it from outside, I knew from experience that on the other side of the window, the sunlight was surely illuminating the stained glass, and shooting beautiful rays of color into the sanctuary, from the glistening image of Christ.
I remember thinking to myself: that’s a little bit what our lives are like at times.
God is always at work in our lives, but sometimes we only see the darkness, the dull, shapeless images. Kind of like the Apostle Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 13, where he writes: “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror...”
But all the while, the sun is shining, and the power of God is at work in ways we can’t see, and the Spirit is illuminating the colors of our lives as beings created in the image of God.
So even when we can’t see much hope, we know deep down that hope is always there, and that it’s not merely hope – it’s a sure thing. It is the way of Christ, and it will not fail us.
The Light of Christ will show us the way in this world.
The Word of God is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path.
But what about the ungodly? What about those who choose to ignore God’s rightful ownership of their lives?
For these folks, the Psalm paints a bleak picture. It says they are like the chaff, which the wind blows away.
The dictionary says the “chaff” is the husks of grain. It is the part that is worthless. The chaff is blown away by the wind, here today and gone tomorrow, of no eternal significance. . . .
So there are two paths we can go by. We need to choose very carefully, each day, which direction we’re going. Because there is a road that leads straight to hell.
Temptation invites us to choose the wrong path. Temptation, in and of itself, is not a sin. It’s only human to experience temptation – of one type or another. Even Jesus experienced temptation in this life to all kinds of sinful choices. Remember how the devil worked on him out in the desert? But Christ, the trailblazing pioneer and perfecter of our faith, would not allow anything to separate him from the Father – not even when he could have had the whole world at His command.
There was a sad story in the news not long ago about a Miami Valley man who got terribly lost in this journey of life.
His name is William H. Nelson Jr., and until a few months ago he was the city manager of Miamisburg.
Nelson got caught in an Internet sting operation run by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, in which he attempted to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old girl for sex. Nelson resigned as city manager on March 16, shortly before news of his arrest last October became public.
The married father of two sons pleaded guilty to one felony count of importuning. He has since been sentenced to three years probation, and is required to register as a sex offender for the next 15 years.
I was struck by something Nelson told the judge at his sentencing about the night of his arrest.
Nelson said: “I was in the process of getting into my car to leave . . . (and) I had a moment where I realized this . . . wasn’t just some disembodied Internet chat. I had a ‘What am I doing?” moment. . .
No doubt there were many foolish and sinful choices Nelson made before that evening ever arrived. But even then, it seems to me, God was trying to show Nelson another way – a way out. I truly believe in that one brief moment – that “What am I doing?” moment – God was trying to free Nelson from the glue-trap of sin; trying to spare him and his loved ones, and everyone who trusted in him, from the suffering and misery that was sure to come. But the moment passed. Nelson turned the key and drove to Columbus.
In the Book of James, it is written: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
It’s a lot easier for us to resist the devil when we stay in love with God, and stay close to God, delighting in the Law of the LORD, and meditating upon it day and night.
Now there are a lot of ways we can delight in the Law of the Lord – we don’t have to lock ourselves up in a monastery and take vows of poverty, chastity and silence.
But we do have to pray. We don’t have to be eloquent or use fancy theological flourishes, but we do need to speak from our heart, even if it’s as simple as praying, “Help me, Lord,” or maybe “Jesus, take the wheel!”
Prayer is the fiber optic cable that links our hearts and minds with the Living God, the Creator of all things, and to His Son – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We must remember that all the power of God is available to us, should we come to face our own “What am I doing?” moment with regard to one type of sin, or another.
It’s an awfully good idea to make regular use of prayer – or as an old gospel song puts it, to “Have a little talk with Jesus.” It’s hard to have a relationship with God – and therefore it’s hard to stay in love with God – if we’re not willing to talk to him about what’s going on in our lives, or if we’re not willing to listen to His still, small voice in our souls.
Yes, there are two paths we can go by . . .
In the Book of Proverbs, the way of Wisdom is synonymous with the Way of God. As a matter of fact, the phrase “The Way” (or similar wording) occurs more than 60 times throughout the book – especially in the first two-thirds of the book.
In Proverbs, among many perils and hazards described, there are thorns and snares to guard against as we make our way through life. And if we’re not careful we will become “ensnared,” if we veer off the path of wisdom. How much easier is the journey for the traveler who sticks to wisdom’s trail .
For on wisdom’s trail – we will find straight, level paths which allow us to walk securely in the light of God’s Word.
And keep in mind -- the wise traveler isn’t too proud to stop and ask for directions, and is always willing to listen. The foolish one, however, well, his pride will prevent him from admitting it when he is lost.
Now here’s the good news:
As we continue on the journey of life, if we realize we’re going the wrong way, God will allow us to make a U-turn.
In fact, God not only allows U-turns, but encourages them – and welcomes them.
Through Jesus Christ, his only Son, He has given us the perfect way to make the U-turn we need – through the route called Repentance.
If any of us here today are heading the wrong way, the good news is there’s still time to change the road we’re on. There’s still time . . .
Jesus is the Way, my friends – the only way.
As He taught his disciples: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Two paths – every day – and we must choose wisely, with God’s help, if we are to avoid getting lost, as we choose . . .choosing between:
Good and evil . . .
Faith and fear . . .
Love and hate . . .
Light and darkness . . .
Holiness and sinfulness . . .
Life and death . . .
Heaven and hell . . .
Jesus Christ IS our “true north,” and only He can lead us home.
Amen.

Recording-breaking VBS attendance in St. Paris

This year's Community Vacation Bible School -- sponsored by the local Federation of Churches -- was a smash success, with an average attendance of 108 youngsters over the course of five evenings!
I'm told that easily exceeds past attendance levels. Tuesday night was my turn to present the Bible story. My task was to cover the first 9 of the 10 plagues visited upon Egypt because of the Pharoah's stubborn refusal to let God's people go. Covering 9 plagues in 15 minutes is a challenge -- doing so through five back-to-back sessions with different groups ... whew!
There were 2 mission efforts associated with this year's VBS, too. Money was raised in support of Champaign County Habitat for Humanity (which apparently is building a home in Saint Paris in the near future). Meanwhile, the kids also brought in 240 canned goods for the federation food pantry (which operates out of the United Methodist Church). . . . As they say -- "It's all good!"

'The Inspirer' - Article #2 @ St. Paris (Newsletter - August 2009)

A Message from Pastor Dave

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
– Isaiah 43:9

The unchanging message of God’s love through the gospel of Jesus Christ extends back to ancient Israel. But it seems in every age the Lord is always doing a new thing to get that message out to people in a weary and hurting world.

In these early years of the 21st Century, there’s no doubt God is leading us to use new “wineskins” such as the Internet – not only to strengthen our own faith communities – but also to share the hope of Christ with those who are aching for something real in their lives. In the digital age, instant online communication is possible no matter where we are, and that’s a gift from God that can be used in healthy ways for His Kingdom.

Along those lines, here are some technology tidbits for thought:

Web Site: Our church needs a home on the Internet, and I am looking for a person – or maybe even a team of persons – who might be interested in developing and maintaining a web presence for Saint Paris United Methodist Church. This is essential if we want to display radical hospitality to those who are thinking about giving church a try. Younger adults, in particular, are far more likely to get online and see what they can find out about a congregation before ever setting foot inside the door. We need to get our “online welcome mat” out there, along with information about our congregation and how we go about “sharing the Love of Jesus Christ in the Community.” Is God calling you to this form of service? If you love the Lord and enjoy working with computers, this could be right up your alley! Think about it, pray about it, and if God is leading you in this direction, please let me know!

E-mail: Please consider sharing your e-mail address with me. I am compiling a church e-mail group listing that now has 30-plus participants and is being used for prayer chain items. I’d like to expand the use of this list beyond prayer requests to include other news, information, and inspirational items that may be helpful within our church family. (Participants are always free to opt out of the list!) If you’d like to be included, just send your e-mail address to me at dekepple@gmail.com

Pastor’s Blog(s): Last month I started developing a web log or “blog” as they are more commonly known. I’m calling it “Communion Railings,” and you can find it by going to: http://dekepple.blogspot.com

On the blog, you’ll find text versions of all the sermons I’ve preached in Saint Paris, newsletter articles (like this one!) for The Inspirer, and other occasional musings I feel inspired to “blog” about. You can also find my “blog roll” – which connects to various blogs I am following, plus some other useful links. I hope you’ll check “Communion Railings” out.

As a matter of fact, I enjoyed developing that blog so much I decided to start another one – just for fun -- where I am collecting some favorite (and occasionally off-beat) quotations. It’s called “Gently-Used Quotes,” and you can find it at:
http://gently-usedquotes.blogspot.com/


Facebook: Yeh, I’m on that, too -->

http://www.facebook.com/dekepple

This “social networking site” has become a favorite place for all kinds of things, from posting the latest photos of our grandchildren, to commenting on the amazing turn-out for our Community VBS, and for keeping up with family and friends in a way that might not otherwise be possible. Then, too, this is where I sometimes reflect on the ups and downs – mostly downs – of being a Cincinnati Bengals fan.

I also believe Facebook could be a helpful tool in sermon preparation, as I may invite your comments and questions regarding upcoming sermon themes. (One large-church pastor did this recently and soon had 50 comments to sort through!)


Twitter: You betcha! You can “follow” me at:

http://twitter.com/dekepple

. . . Truth be told, I haven’t done much “tweeting” yet. But I’m ready should the need arise!
In the meantime, Twitter has been great for following my granddaughter’s traveling softball team as they compete in various tournaments!

Hey, I’ll see you in church – and perhaps in cyberspace.

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Dave

P.S. -- Remember, God loves you & there's nothing you can do about it!

Sermon #3 @ St. Paris UMC (7.12.09)

Pastor Dave Kepple

Text: Matthew 14:13-21

Title: “We Have Everything We Need”

Date: July 12, 2009 (6th Sunday after Pentecost)


Internet Link for primary scripture text used in this sermon:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2014:13-21&version=31


My name is Gabriel -- but I’m no angel.
In Hebrew my name means “man of God,” but the truth is I’m just an ordinary man.
I once met a godly man, however. In fact, I have come to believe He was the very Son of God.
I’ll tell you about him, but first let me tell you about me and my family. It all ties in together.
My wife, Esther, has given me four children.
First came three girls: Rachel, Phoebe and Tabitha. Then finally – at last, thank God! – a son was born, a boy named Eli.
We live in the town of Bethsaida on the north edge of the Sea of Galilee. I have lived here all of my life – some 33 years now. I am a potter, like my father before me. I am not a rich man by any means, but we get by and usually have enough to eat. We have, however, known great heartache in our family.
An imperial soldier raped my wife some years ago, and then killed her parents when they discovered him with her. That soldier never was punished – they simply sent him to another post in Syria. How my Esther suffered. For a long time, she cringed whenever seeing the swine in the Roman army – and we saw them all the time. How I hated them all.
But we also have lived with the sorrow of our daughter’s blindness. Tabitha has been blind since birth, and it’s not been easy for her – or us. Some people even said it was our fault – mine and Esther’s – for having committed some sin. I didn’t care what people thought. I just wanted my daughter to be able to see. And there was nothing anyone could do about it – or so I thought. That brings me to my story.
You probably have heard of Jesus the Nazarene. I had been hearing about him for months, before that day he finally came near Bethsaida.
They said Jesus was a rabbi from western Galilee, and a most amazing teacher at that. But the thing which really excited me was hearing the stories that were spreading like wildfire, stories about his miracles – miracles of healing. They said he seemed to have the power of God at his command – that with a word from Jesus, the lame could suddenly walk upright. Even lepers had been healed. And when I heard he healed a man who had been blind since birth, my heart started pounding. If there was any way possible, I knew I had to take my Tabitha to see him.
The opportunity came one morning when I heard Jesus had arrived by boat to a place just five miles from Bethsaida. Esther and the two older girls were working at my brother’s house, so I just closed the shop and took Tabitha and Eli with me. We weren’t going to miss out on seeing the famous rabbi. I didn’t know how long it might take, so I told Eli to bring plenty of bread and some fish for us to eat.
It was a hot afternoon and a long walk, but we were excited when we saw the crowd – we knew this must be where Jesus was. I guess we weren’t the only ones desperate to see him. There must have been thousands. People said he treated everyone he met with caring and kindness, like he had always known them. And once again, he had demonstrated the power to heal many of the sick ones.
When we got close, I was so excited I could hardly breathe. Finally we were there – in his presence. Jesus put his hands on Tabitha’s shoulders, and with the warmest smile I’d ever seen, he said, “Look at me child.” I swear -- from that very moment -- our beautiful daughter could see perfectly – as if there’d never been anything wrong. I fell down and kissed the Master’s feet, and I began to cry. He touched my head, then he leaned down and whispered in my ear: “You, too, are healed my son. You and your wife.” And then he turned, and walked away.
I noticed some of the men with Jesus talking in hushed tones as daylight began to fade. I could hear the one called Peter say something about the late hour, and needing to send everyone away because they would be hungry. My 9-year-old son, Eli, heard him, too. Before I could stop him, Eli approached the men and handed them the sack with our food.
Though I feared we would go hungry this night, I didn’t really mind Eli’s childish gesture. After all, this Jesus had just delivered my daughter from blindness. I would have given them anything they wanted!
Suddenly, Jesus spoke loudly, saying, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
I couldn’t make out what was said next. But a few moments later, Jesus told everyone to sit down on the grass, and I was startled to see he was holding the same bread and fish that Eli had carried.
Jesus thanked the LORD for the food, and then he broke the loaves and gave them to Peter and the other men, who started passing out bread and fish to all the people on the ground. It seemed absurd – such a meager amount of food for such a huge crowd! But they just kept going, passing out the food – we even got some.
There was a sense of wonder in the air as we ate together. We knew we were in the presence of no ordinary man.
Within a short time, everyone had been taken care of – and there was a ton of leftovers, baskets full! I had never had a meal such as this before. It not only filled my belly – it seemed to satisfy my soul.
What a day it was – and what a man!
They said Jesus would be heading for Jerusalem in a short time.
Soon everyone would find out that Jesus was no ordinary man.

* * *

Now shifting back to the 21st century . . .
Many of you, I would guess, are at least somewhat familiar with the story of this miracle of Jesus, when he fed more than 5,000 people in the middle of nowhere with a few loaves of bread and a couple fish. In fact, this is the only miracle of Christ that appears in all four gospels.
On the other hand, I bet there’s not a soul here – with one possible exception – familiar with the story of the Lord’s healing of Tabitha, the girl who had been blind since birth.
There’s a reason for that. This story is a product of my imagination. However, that doesn’t mean it – or something very much like it – couldn’t have happened. You know why I say that?
Here’s why. Let me point you to the Gospel of John for a moment, to the 20th chapter, where John tells us: “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31)
Of all the astonishing things that Jesus did, how awesome it is to consider there were many other “signs and wonders” Jesus performed that weren’t even recorded!
As John put it, “If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)
My friend “Gabriel” and his family may be fictional, but there is nothing fictional about the miracle of the loaves and fish, and the power that comes from Jesus Christ. This power flowed not only in the ancient world, but in our world today.
The power and presence of Jesus Christ can change people today, it can change situations and circumstances today, and yes, it most certainly can and does bring healing today.
And when we come to the Lord in faith – when we put our whole trust in his grace – Jesus will always give us what we need, if not always what we want.
We can’t force it though. We can’t treat Jesus like an object to satisfy our various wants and needs – like some genie in a bottle.
What we can do is come to Christ humbly, on our knees, and give him thanks and praise for that which he has already done for us through his suffering and death on a cross. We can come to him humbly, whatever our problems may be, and we can place them into his hands – his nail-scarred hands – and then we can let go. In other words, we surrender; or, like the song says, we surrender all. Then, in the fullness of God’s love, we can rise to our feet with the new life that Christ brings, and ask our King what we can do for Him.
Jesus will give us everything we need to respond in faith to his call upon our lives.
We may or may not be successful. Jesus doesn’t care if we’re successful. He cares that we are faithful. He cares that we love Him enough to spend time with him. He cares that we love him enough to feed his sheep.
And meanwhile He continues to feed us, each and every day, with bread. Like the manna that God provided for the Israelites as they wandered the wilderness in search of the Promised Land, Jesus surely will sustain us – day by day.
In a few moments the same Jesus who fed that hungry throng with five loaves of bread and a couple fish will feed us, too, as we come to his table.
As we eat this bread and drink this cup, we once again will receive this holy meal that satisfies as no other can.
For this meal is the very life of Christ, poured out for you and for me.
Thanks be to God.

A Quick Return to Butler County

I did have a quick return to Union Chapel -- not entirely unexpected. Hal O'Neal, who had been quite sick and receiving Hospice care for a while, passed away June 26 -- just 3 days after we moved up here. With the new pastor's invitation, I was able to return to Poasttown Heights to minister to Marge O'Neal, Linda Brown and the entire family, and preside over the funeral. I'm thankful I was able to do that. It was kind of like an epilogue -- or if you prefer musical terms, a coda -- to my time in ministry at Union Chapel. I will miss the people there very much.

But I'm also happy and excited to be here! Saint Paris is a wonderful community, and I am enamored of the church, the parsonage and town -- which is a pretty good trifecta! :-)

Sermon #2 @ St. Paris UMC

Pastor Dave Kepple

Text: Galatians 5:1, 13-25

Title: “Sweet Freedom”

Date: July 5, 2009 (5th Sunday after Pentecost)


Internet Link for primary scripture texts used in this sermon:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:1,%2013-25&version=31



Freedom is on our minds and in our hearts this weekend, as we mark the 233rd anniversary of our nation’s birth.
It doesn’t seem all that long ago that Janet and I and our baby girl, Judy, were sitting on a blanket in Lake County, Ohio, and watching the fireworks on that Bicentennial Fourth of July – in 1976.
Well, Judy’s 34 now and has a baby girl of her own – Cora Rose. In fact, Judy and Cora were in St. Paris on Wednesday for a brief visit. It’s hard to believe how time flies.
(Just as an aside, during their visit we took Judy and Cora and our son, Scott, out for lunch at Castle’s restaurant, east of town. I have a feeling we’ll be going back there again!)
To be honest, I’m not sure I fully appreciated the freedom we enjoy as American citizens back in 1976. In fact, I don’t think I really knew just how much I love this country until it came under attack on Sept. 11, 2001 – when it seemed it might all be slipping away from us, right before our eyes.
I had a few minutes that Tuesday morning, on 9/11, before making the short walk to our former church, so I flipped on a cable news channel. It was a little before 9:00 o’clock
To my stunned amazement, I saw one of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center ablaze. They were saying an airplane had crashed into it. I decided to take a portable radio with me to the church, so I could keep up with the news.
As I listened to the radio, shock turned into horror when another airliner smashed into the Trade Center’s other tower, setting it on fire, too. And when word came that yet another hijacked plane hit the Pentagon, and that at least one other hijacked plane was unaccounted for, I felt deeply afraid – and not only for our nation.
You see at that time, our daughter, Judy, was living and working in downtown Washington, D.C.. Not knowing the extent of the assault, I feared she could be in mortal danger.
I literally ran home – across an open field -- to be with my wife. We tried reaching Judy by telephone at work, but all the circuits were busy. We sent her an e-mail. No response.
Not long after that, thankfully, Judy called to let us know she was all right. She also said she could look out her window at work and see smoke in the distance . . . coming from the Pentagon.
What a harrowing day – Sept. 11, 2001 – a life-changing day for all of us, and for our country.
More recently, as we’ve watched the struggle for freedom in Iran – or at least for a fair election process – I’ve been impressed by the courage of those Iranian citizens who have risked their very lives to challenge a fraudulent and corrupt government. The scenes of demonstrations in the streets over there have been a strong reminder for all of us -- we dare not take the blessings of freedom for granted.
At the same time, we also are reminded to live in deep gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy – not the least of which is the freedom to worship as we please. We can also give thanks for a political system that – for all its many flaws – still is the best form of government ever devised.
I think it’s safe to say we can all join together in asking God’s blessing on our beloved country today, and in the days to come. May we always be one nation under God.
But there’s another kind of freedom we need to consider this morning. It is the freedom which the Apostle Paul speaks of in his letter to the Galatian Church. As much as we value – indeed, cherish – the freedoms we are blessed with as Americans, there is this other kind of freedom which is of far greater value, or – like the TV commercials used to say – “priceless.”
This is the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. It is a freedom that brings blessings as nothing else can.
Paul comes right out and tells us that this freedom is the way of life intended for those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. As a matter of fact, he says in Galatians 5:13 that we are called to be free – every one of us who follows Christ.
Paul is telling the Galatians that – among other things – they are free from the yoke of the Law. Because that Law of Moses cannot save them – even the strictest adherence to the Law cannot save them. For the Galatian Christians – as for all others – there is only one thing that can bring salvation, and that is the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
When we place our faith in Jesus as the Son of God, when we turn our lives over to him and trust in the transforming power of Resurrection, then and only then can we experience true freedom. As is stated in John’s Gospel, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NIV)
But as the Rev. Dr. Timothy Downs has noted, this is a different kind of freedom that Paul speaks of in his letter.
“It’s a freedom that is not just, ‘OK, I can do anything I please.’ . . . Our freedom is framed by a love of God. Freedom is not license. It is freedom to act within the context of a relationship with God, a relationship of love.” (1)
Paul makes it clear that with this wonderful freedom comes responsibility. In verse 13 he tells us not to use this freedom to “indulge” our sinful nature. Rather, he says, the very best way to use this freedom is to love our neighbor as ourself. Though Paul doesn’t state it here, this freedom also is a calling to love God with all our being. Truth is, there’s little chance we will love either our neighbors or ourselves, if we don’t first experience a passionate love for God.
So we’ve been given tremendous freedom in Christ, but Paul warns we must handle this freedom with care.
Paul says the best way to handle this freedom is to love, and to do this we – as he states in v. 16 – must “live by the Spirit.” It is the Spirit of God dwelling within our hearts that gives us the supernatural ability to love – even as God loves. When we tap into this Spirit, which flows into us by faith, we receive power to reject the desires of our sinful human nature. Christ sets us free from the law of sin and death. It is this amazing grace which can make every day “Independence Day” for followers of Christ.
If we’re not careful with this freedom, Paul says, we can dig a deep, dark hole for ourselves in a hurry by yielding to our sinful nature. Paul gives a laundry list of ugly outcomes. Here’s how Eugene Peterson translates it in The Message:

“It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.”

I’m kind of glad he doesn’t! There are something like 15 things that Paul catalogues for us there – outcroppings of the sinful nature. Paul warns that using our new-found freedom in this manner will lead to disaster.
But if we tap into that Spirit which God makes available to us, then we will find out just how sweet true freedom can be. For there is a whole other list of things that Paul says we will experience through life in the Spirit. He calls them fruit, and he names nine of them: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Paul says that when we live by the Spirit -- with that focus on loving God and loving our neighbor as ourself – all these things are readily available to us.
Which way would you rather live?

I like how Bible scholar William Barclay sums it up in his commentary on Galatians 5, where he writes:
“Christian freedom is not license, for the simple but tremendous reason that the Christian is not a person who has become free to sin, but a person, who, by the grace of God, has become free not to sin.” (2)

I want to close with a story shared by Rev. George Antonakos, a Presbyterian pastor in Baltimore, Md. He writes of an occasion when Abraham Lincoln went to a slave auction one day.
Lincoln “was appalled at the sights and sounds of people buying and selling other human beings . . . His heart was especially drawn to one young woman on the block whose story was told in her eyes. She looked with hatred and contempt on everyone around her. She had been used and abused all of her life – the trading block was just one more humiliation.”
The bidding began, and Lincoln decided to take part. “As the bidding went up, he just bid a little higher.” A man kept trying to top his bid, “but Lincoln wouldn’t be topped. Finally, he won and paid the auctioneer for the slave woman.”
“What are you going to do with me?” she asked Lincoln.
“I am going to set you free,” Lincoln replied.
“Free?” she asked. “Free for what? Free to do whatever I want?”
“Yes,” Lincoln said. “Free to do whatever you want.”
“Free to go wherever I want?” the woman asked.
“Yes,” Lincoln answered, “free to go wherever you want.”
“Well,” the woman said with a smile. “I’m going with you.”
To this marvelous story, Rev. Antonakos adds: “That’s the way our Lord Jesus is. When He comes into our lives, He sets us free from all those things that we chase after to find security. But when we put Him in the center of our life, we are free and we grow and we become and we achieve and we succeed – because we follow Him.” (3)

Friends, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Let us stand firm, then, and not let ourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Let us live free or -- as Paul warns us – we just might die hard.
Amen.
______________________________

1. The Rev. Dr. Timothy Downs, “Jesus Means Freedom,” Nov. 14, 2004.
2. William Barclay, The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, Revised Edition, p. 45, 1976, The Westminster Press: Philadelphia.
“Free to Follow Christ,” Rev. George Antonakos, Central Presbyterian Church, Baltimore, Md., as quoted on “Sound Bites” blog, 7.2.09, http://www.soundbitesministry.blogspot.com/

'The Inspirer' - Article #1 @ St. Paris (Newsletter - July 2009)

A Message from Pastor Dave

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord …
plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

I am so glad the month of July is finally upon us, and we now can begin our journey together as servants of Jesus Christ. It was way back on Feb. 28 when my former district superintendent called to tell me Bishop Ough wanted to appoint me as pastor of St. Paris United Methodist Church.
Since that day, my wife Janet and I have been very much living in two worlds. We have experienced the sadness of saying farewell to people at our former church who had become very dear to us over the last 10 years. At the same time, we have been looking forward with genuine excitement to making the move to Champaign County and becoming part of the community of believers here.
Throughout these hectic days and weeks, the people of St. Paris have never been far from my thoughts and prayers. We ached with all of you, in particular, as the town endured the tragic loss of those four children who died in the mobile home fire in March.
I know this is a time of mixed feelings for you, too, as you’ve had to say farewell to Pastor Doug and Julie Upton. Doug and Julie have been very kind and gracious, helping us prepare for our move. We also are grateful to Brian Case and the Trustees for their efforts to make the parsonage more accessible for Janet. That means so much.
As we begin, one of my priorities is simply getting to know you. I am eager to get acquainted with all of you, from the youngest baby to the oldest grandma. I’ll be looking for opportunities to visit with you, as well as meeting with various groups and ministry teams at the church.
I’m sure you can help me learn more about our community and our congregation’s history, and I also want to hear about your hopes and dreams for the future. (I’ve already been bragging to people about the church’s mission statement: “Sharing the love of Jesus Christ in the community.” What a beautiful vision for all of us to live into!)
My hope is you will feel comfortable keeping me informed of situations where care is needed, so I can respond in a timely fashion. In addition to the telephone numbers for the church and parsonage, you also can reach me on my cell phone (number deleted from post) or by e-mail.
I trust God has a plan for all of us, and I know Christ is already here, waiting to guide us into the future. I look forward to the exciting challenges and happy surprises awaiting us all on the journey.

Your brother in Christ,

Pastor Dave

P.S. -- Remember, God loves you & there's nothing you can do about it!

Sermon #1 @ St. Paris UMC

Pastor Dave Kepple

Text: John 3:14-17

Title: “God’s Love (The Heart of the Gospel)”

Date: June 28, 2009 (4th Sunday after Pentecost)


Internet Link for primary scripture texts used in this sermon:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:14-17&version=31


First of all, thank you!
Thank you for the many expressions of welcoming us in Christian love this past week. Janet and I have deeply appreciated all the meals (and many desserts!), the gift basket, the beautiful altar flowers, and above all the caring support you’ve shown us.
There’s no doubt about it, moving is tough – especially when you’ve been in the same home for quite a while, as we had been. They say that which does not kill us makes us stronger. After the last few weeks, I think I do feel just a bit stronger – by the grace of God.

For all of us, this truly is a day of new beginnings.
It is a day of new beginnings for me and my wife, Janet. We have been looking forward to this hour with excitement since learning of my appointment to St. Paris on Feb. 28 – exactly four months ago.
It also is a day of new beginnings for Pastor Doug and Julie Upton, whom you’ve been blessed to know these past seven years. For the Uptons, this is the start of a whole new way of life in “retirement,” as they care for their loved ones in Indiana.
Doug and Julie have been wonderful to us as we have prepared for this transition. I know we all will continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers and wish them the very best.
Then, too, it is a day of new beginnings for this congregation. As I have written in my first article for the church newsletter, I trust God has a plan for all of us, and I know Christ is already here -- waiting to guide us into the future.
We have been praying for you. From a distance, we identified with and ached for all of you and for the St. Paris community, as you suffered the tragic loss of those four children in that terrible fire in March.
Last month we felt the shock and concern along with you as two people were killed when a Graham Local Schools bus and a van collided on Route 36 near Zimmerman Road.
We also read with admiration how the people of St. Paris came together to help not only the families of the fire victims, but also the family of a young boy injured in an accident with a horse. Learning about the special dinner and basket auction held at the elementary school to assist these families, Janet and I both were left thinking: “This is the kind of community we want to be part of.”
Indeed, that strong sense of community is one of the reasons I am excited to now be living here, and serving as your pastor.
I know you have been praying for me and my family, too, and I thank you for that. I believe deeply in the power of prayer, and I hope you will continue to pray for me every day as we work side by side in the vineyard. We are so glad to be here!
And friends, what an exciting time it is to be a follower of Jesus!
Of course, I suppose that’s always been true – since the Lord first walked the dusty roads of ancient Israel.
But let’s consider where we are now, some 2,000 years later:
* Our nation’s economy crashed into a brick wall last year, and we are still feeling the aftershocks through layoffs and unemployment, lost retirement funds, an epidemic of foreclosures, and uncertainty a bout the future.
* Beyond our borders, the world is roiling with violence and fear. We know the threat of terrorism is a constant, both in the USA and in other lands. The world trembles as nuclear weapons are developed in places where evil and hatred seem to have the upper hand.
* On the personal level, the siren song of sin still calls out to all of uas, and remains as lethal for us as the forbidden fruit was for our first parents in the Garden of Eden. And no one is immune from the danger.
For example, I was saddened to learn recently that two associate pastors at one of our denomination’s largest and most vibrant churches had been suspended because of an inappropriate relationship with each other – both pastors having spouses. Again we are reminded, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
No one is immune.
Meanwhile, technology makes our global community a little smaller every day, from the Internet to 24/7 TV news, , and from ‘texting’ to ‘tweeting’ on Twitter. Many of these tools can be a blessing. However, they also can quickly become a curse if they draw our time and attention away from putting the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first in our lives.
The bottom line is this. More than ever, people need the Lord, and the life that He – and He alone – can bring us.
I’ve heard it said the Chinese word for “crisis” also means “opportunity. As we have no shortage of crises in the world around us, we also have increased opportunities to share the gospel.
Has there ever been a time when the world – when people everywhere – have more desperately needed the Truth of the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ?
And the very heart of that gospel is God’s amazing, unconditional love for you, for me, for people of every race and nation, and indeed for the whole created world.
That’s why I chose John 3:16 as part of the lesson for my first Sunday here. For the message of this text – perhaps the best-known of all Bible verses – is at the very core of our relationship with God.
God’s love for all of us – even with all our occasional weakness, foolishness and shortcomings – is the beating heart of the gospel.
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
The Bible is the story of God’s love for humanity – all of the Bible, the Old Testament and the New . . . As someone once said, “for reasons that are impossible to explain, we human beings are incredibly precious to God.”
The gospel is a simple message for complicated people. I like the way the Apostle Paul sums it up in his 1st letter to the Corinthian Church, where he writes:
“Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you . . . that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day … and that he appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (from 1 Cor. 15, NRSV)
As he went about spreading the gospel to the Gentiles on his travels, Paul had many opportunities to tell his own story of how he came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior one day on the road to Damascus. In the coming weeks and months, I look forward to sharing with you about my own experience with Jesus Christ, and how the Lord has touched me – a sinner saved by grace. I also am eager to hear your own stories about how it all became real for you – this amazing love, this saving grace, which we know through Jesus.
I mentioned that one of the reasons I am excited to be here is the strong sense of community that you have in St. Paris, and throughout the Graham Local School District.
A second thing that has really a struck a chord with me is this congregation’s mission statement, which I gather was adopted not that long ago – “Sharing the Love of Jesus Christ in the Community.”
Because the fact of the matter is, this gift of God’s love is too wonderful to keep to ourselves. In fact, if we have truly been touched by God’s grace, we’re going to be overflowing with a desire to pass the love of God on to others. And like the song says:

“It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s Love,
Once you’ve experienced it;
you spread His love to everyone;
you want to pass it on.”

Loving others, caring for others, showing mercy and forgiveness as it has been given to us – these are among the ways we demonstrate the gospel to the weary and hurting world all around us. I know you are already doing this in a number of ways, from the community food pantry to the mission efforts of the UMW, and from Operation Christmas Child to your strong support for the Relay for Life, to name a few.
I can’t wait to see how and where we can “be” the church next, as together we grow and work to make this mission statement an ongoing reality. Well, I suppose I could go on and on – but hey, we’ve got time. You don’t need the full load on my first Sunday!
So in closing, let me just say that while the world is changing – faster every day it seems – the message of the gospel does not change.
Jesus Christ is the same – yesterday, today and forever.
In a world of shifting sand, He is the solid rock upon which we can build lives of meaning, purpose and joy.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And when we give our lives to following Him, we will never be sorry.
I am so thankful to be with you, as we make our way down the road with the Master.
Thanks be to God. Amen.