“Resurrection and Three Experiences”         Easter III         April 30, 2006

Three weeks ago, we celebrated Easter, the most important story in the Bible. He is risen from the dead, from the cross of execution, he has given us the victory over all sin and death. Now we can look forward to the next resurrection, when Jesus comes again to establish his kingdom.

We don’t know exactly what this second resurrection will look like, nor do we know exactly when Jesus will come. But I love this line from the reading in first John, which gives us an image of the eternal kingdom that is waiting for us.

“Beloved, we are already children of God, although it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when Jesus appears and we see him as he is, we will be like him. Whosoever has placed this hope in Jesus is purified, so as to be pure as he is.”

These words are delicious! I have pondered them for year. The best answer I can give is this. As God’s children, this is the inheritance God has guaranteed for us. Even with all our lumps and bruises we get from living in a world not yet redeemed, God has sealed the covenant with us. As children, God expects us to grow and mature. When he does appear, we will be like Jesus Christ is now and forever.

Do you remember waiting to grow up. When I was 4, I really wanted to be five, so I could go to school. When I was 15, I really looked forward to becoming old enough to drive. I had no idea of what would become of me. Now, I driving is simply something I have to do to get somewhere.

So what will we look like when the Risen Christ appears again? We can’t get that picture by looking inside ourselves, we have to look around and see where the kingdom is growing and the goods news of Jesus Christ is changing people’s lives for the kingdom. These past two weeks since Easter, I’ve had three experiences that have given me view of people growing and being transformed for the sake of the kingdom.

The Monday after Easter Sunday, four other pastors and I went for a retreat to Oaks Indian Mission. The Mission is an orphanage ministry of the ELCA. The mission began in 1804 in the Eastern United States by Moravian missionaries who taught Indian children how to read, and brought them the good news of Jesus Christ.

During the Trail of Tears, (1830 and a few years after) the Moravians (mostly women) followed the Indians to Indian Territory, which later became Oklahoma. Thousands died in the Trail of Tears due to lack of basic human needs. Some of the missionaries died with them. About the turn of the twentieth century, the Moravians could no longer handle the mission and turned it over to the Danish Lutheran Church. Today it remains a vital ministry of the ELCA, where the children are growing in a loving, Christian family.

The children really value any attention we gave them. I played basketball with four highschool boys, and actually lived to write about it! They really enjoyed it, too. Each time I have gone, I am impressed with the genuine hospitality and love extended to us. The children, the adults on staff, even the people from the Cherokee community. The children often do special things for us, the visitors. This time, three high school girls sang a table grace in Cherokee. The love and peace I saw at the Mission gave me a glimpse of what will become of all God’s children when Jesus comes again.

After the three day trip to the Mission, Marilyn and I went to Lutheran Marriage Encounter for the weekend. We both recognize that we have a good marriage, a real gift of God. I realize that living out my baptism, and as your pastor, I am called to lead a life worthy of my calling. This includes my calling as a husband. But we hoped that we could make it even better. The Encounter weekend far exceeded our expectations.

The focus of the Encounter is enhancing communication in marriage, both verbal and non verbal. The process began with a presentation, then they asked us questions to answer individually by writing a letter. After that, each couple came together and read the letters and have a dialogue together. Then we heard another presentation, and wrote letters, and repeated the process. This went on late into the night Friday, all day Saturday and half of Sunday, with brief breaks for meals. It was hard work, but good for both of us.

Finally at the end of the weekend, we celebrated Holy Communion with an affirmation of marriage vows. For Marilyn and I this was very affirming and strengthened our marriage tremendously. I think that because we’ve both changed considerable since the day we first married.

One thing I would like the share with all of you our commitment to pray together regularly as husband and wife. Prayer develops our spiritual intimacy in our marriage. We were amazed how awesome it is when we hear prayers offered by our spouse. I say that if you are not married, find someone you trust intimately to pray with you. That’s where you will feel the presence of Jesus as you pray together. When Jesus appears, we will have learned what it means to love each other as he has loved us, especially in our families. We will have a glimpse of the total reconciliation we will have when he appears, and we will be like him.

Then on Friday and Saturday we went to synod assembly, Marilyn and I, and our representatives, Della and Chris South. Early in the assembly, we re-elected Bishop Kanouse on the first ballot, which means that he had no real opposition. I’m glad, because he provides our synod with leadership. He has a vision of the future God has in store for us, and our synod is growing in Christ.

We heard youth from Sierra Leone. We heard their stories of the war that ended just ten years ago which our national media never reported in any detail. But they told us. They told us a little about the violence and personal suffering and death that happened to each of the youth. The stories are so horrendous, I can’t tell you from the pulpit. I might be able to speak about this in the Bible study on Wednesday night. And today, they live in what looks like poverty to me, but to them is just life.

they are proud of themselves as a nation. They welcome us to visit their country, and they are proud of their nation and their political leaders.

The Lutheran churches are rather new. We started just a few years ago, and Bishop Kanouse went on the first rip to ordain five pastors. The now have about twenty eight congregations and pastors, and they are baptizing scores of new Christians each Sunday. They told us that some of the converts come from the Muslim religion, but like what they see in the churches. What they see is what I saw, the love, peace and joy of Christ in them.

For many years the church has been sending Missionaries to Africa. At the assembly, I joked with Della and Chris that maybe we should have some of them come as missionaries to our synod to convert those that find the gospel irrelevant.

Of course I find the message of the gospel very relevant. In our country marriages are falling apart, where more and more children are poor and virtually orphans, and many can no longer trust our leaders. Some wonder why God is not doing something. but I have evidence to the contrary.

The words written in John letter are true. “Beloved, we are already children of God, although it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that when Jesus appears and we see him as he is, we will be like him. Whosoever has placed this hope in Jesus is purified, so as to be pure as he is.”

Let us live as God’s people purified by the water of our baptism. Let us be proud of who we as God’s children. And above all, let us reflect the joy and peace that comes through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen

Amen