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St. George's Episcopal Church Roseburg, Oregon Proper 15, 20 August 2006 Go To St. George's Home Page

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Psalm 89:20-37
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58
Collect of the Day
From the Revised Common Lectionary as Adapted for Use by the Episcopal Church
and Authorized by the 74 th General Convention of the ECUSA

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.(Ephesians 5:15-20)

Live In God
The Rev. Dr. Bill Stroop

     Have you ever day dreamed about the ideal job? I think we all have at one time or another – usually when we are at work! You know, a decent salary, good benefits, short hours, and somebody to blame when things go wrong. Sounds like the government!

     The U.S. Civil Service is an amazing structure – envied throughout the world for its ability to keep this country operating despite the vicissitudes of politics. As administrations come and go, as the winds of conservatism or liberalism shift in society, the U.S. civil service just keeps greasing and repairing the infrastructure of our government. Somewhere in that great structure we ought to find a pretty cushy, not-too-hard, high paying, government job with a good retirement plan and excellent health benefits.

     Well I found one. How would you like to be a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, VA responsible for evaluating new patents on wheels? I mean how hard could that be; we’re talking about the wheel after all!

     Thinking that being a patent examiner for wheels would be perfect, I looked up wheel applications at the patent office and was stunned to see that there were more than 1,723 entries for things ranging from wheel grips, to new machines to making rims for car wheels.

     The man who has my ideal job is Russell Stormer. He and his two assistants review all applications for wheels. Over the years they have received thousands of applications, amounting to about one application a day. In a typical year Stormer and his associates get through about 125 wheel patent applications and approve about 90 of them.

     Patent applications arrive with drawings, specifications, and descriptions. The “wheel team” has received proposals for things like plastic bicycle wheels with three spokes to inline skate wheels with little brakes inside them that are activated as the skater tilts his foot in certain positions. Stormer’s team has to decide whether the proposals reflect new and useful designs and whether they contain features different from ideas already patented. This is not an easy task, given that more than 30,000 wheel patents have been granted since 1790. The reason these patents go to the same team is to capitalize on their memory of previous applications. So much for the “easy” part of this job. But there is job security in Stormer’s work. As of 2004, he and his team had acquired enough applications to keep them busy for the next 17 years.

     The applications for new wheels received by Stormer’s office are not about replacing the wheel with another kind of contrivance to move heavy weights across linear, irregular surfaces. They are for modifications of the existing idea; maybe made from different materials, maybe made with different bearings, connected to the axle in a different way, maybe used in conjunction with gears or even small electrical generators like on my Prius automobile. Over the years, wheels have been modified by thingamabobs, doohickeys, whatchamahoozits, and gizmos. But in the end, the applications involve a circular device that revolves. The wheel has been modified; but it is not obsolete.

     Moving things from one place to the other using wheels is a very early invention to be sure – the oldest wheel found by archeologists is 5,500 years old – but there is another invention that really defines us as a species. And that is our use of language.

     The computer, email, and the internet has revolutionized our ability to communicate with one another. And not surprizing, there is a branch of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that deals strictly with communication inventions. As an inveterate computer user and a really bad typist, I get frustrated sometimes that I have to use the key board and the mouse to write. A few years ago, I was very excited to learn that voice recognition software was available for my computer, and I have used it with some success. However, a few years ago I saw the science fiction movie Minority Report starring Tom Cruise as a police officer. Standing before a huge computer screen, Cruise sifted through crime reports moving data from one column to another and deleting still other information simply by waving his gloved hands in front of the screen. He did not even have to touch to the screen with a stylus like we have to touch the keypad at the supermarket checkout when we use our debit card. Electronic sensors in his gloves checked the information on the monitor and followed his movements in order to obey his commands. Now that was an invention that had great appeal to me.

     Technology like this is called “gesture technology” and there are researchers working to make it a reality. The advantage of gesture technology is that large amounts of information can be moved around without the delay of human operators. The problem today is not with our computers – they are already capable of managing a lot of information. The problem is the interface between human beings and machine; mere mortals cannot function as fast as the computer.

     Although hand gestures may facilitate the interface of human being with machine, gestures themselves have been very much a part of human communication, probably well before the spoken word. When we talk, we oftentimes used our hands or our bodies to convey a complimentary – or sometimes a conflicting – message. We all know that actions mean more than words. Studies have shown that if a person in a conversation gets a non verbal message and a verbal message that conflict, the person will always believe the non verbal message over the verbal one. The apostle Paul and his followers seem to have understood this.

     Around the year 61 C.E., someone wrote a letter to the Ephesians using Paul’s style. Paul did not write this letter himself, but someone wanting to attribute ideas to Paul penned a letter telling the Ephesians how they could live a good and godly life.

     That letter says to “be careful how you live.” In other words, we are being told that we need to be sure that our gestures – that is whatever we do – and our faith – that is what we say we believe – actually match.

     In the early days of Christianity, the Christian way of life was viewed with suspicion. Paul’s people were concerned that outsiders not become confused. They were anxious that there be consistency between the Christian profession and the practice. Our world today is one where Christianity is still viewed with a jaundiced eye or in some places with outright hostility. When Christian people do bad things, behave unethically, or simply act immaturely, skeptics have that much more “I told you so” evidence that Christians are hypocrites saying one thing and doing another. This hurts the missions and ministries of the church. Our work is viewed with distrust or met with outright resistance. That’s bad enough, but what might be worse is what we do to each other when our gestures do not reflect our faith.

     So how do we go about making what we say match what we do? The last verse of today’s Psalm suggests that we can achieve this match by gaining a good understanding of God. That will help us to keep God’s laws. That sounds simple enough, but how do we acquire that kind of understanding? Our Old Testament reading from first Kings tells us that there is a very simple way: just ask.

     When David died, his second son, Solomon, became King; Solomon would eventually rule over both Judah and Israel and expand the borders of the kingdom to the farthest reaches they would ever achieve. But when Solomon took over, he did not feel at all capable of governing or leading with justice and equity. And so he asked for God’s help. “ O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this, your great people?” And God’s response was this: “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind.”

     By opening up his heart and soul to God, Solomon was able to open himself to the power of the spirit, and to listen not only to his own conscience, but also, I am sure, to the advice of other trusted and faithful advisers. In this way Solomon was able to achieve his legendary wisdom. If Solomon had relied on his own resources, his greed, his lust, and other similar human attributes, he would not have been able to make the brilliant and just decisions that made him famous.

     The writer of the letter to the Ephesians exhorted the people to be “filled with the Spirit, as they sang psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among themselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in their hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This kind of joyous behavior was possible because the church community in Ephesus felt itself grounded in love of God and one another.

     As I prepare to leave St. George’s Parish, I am aware of your disappointment and the fear some of you have that the parish will suffer. That might in fact happen to a parish that is not filled with the Spirit or does not have the desire to grow into the full stature of Christ. But that is not the case here. You are a people who show your deep wisdom and profound compassion for one another every day of the year. You do so in words, but you especially do so in actions. You do so because you are open to God’s help, and you ask for it.

     Over the next several weeks it is my hope and prayer for all of you that you remember who you are. You are children of God. You are St. George’s parish. You will not be reinventing the wheel, although you will likely add a few new modifications to make it work better. Ask, and help will be there. You will not have to rely on your own devices; you will be supported in your decision-making and your discernment process by your leadership and by the Diocese. And God will be there every step of the way. This will not necessarily be an easy job, but it is certainly one with security and an eternity of benefits.

     During this process I encourage you to continue to be the good people of faith that you are and let your actions and your gestures match your faith. To do otherwise is to risk internal struggle and potential harm. Recent studies in gesturing reveal that hand gestures are as close to a universal behavior as we know about in every culture throughout the world, people waved their hands while speaking. We even do it while talking on the phone when no one sees the motions. Even blind people do it. It seems that gesturing decreases the amount of mental effort needed to convey our thought. But when actions and faith don’t match, we experience an internal battle which is emotionally and spiritually and draining.

     Like letter to the Ephesians, I exhort you to live a good life, to be careful, and to live wisely. Trust in each other, and above all trust in God.

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1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14

Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established. Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”

Psalm 89:20-37

1 Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

2 Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.

3 Full of honor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
the LORD is gracious and merciful.

5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.

8 They are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever.

Ephesians 5:15-20

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 6:51-58

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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Copyright © 2006, William G. Stroop - All Rights Reserved.
20 August 2006

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