Sermon for 17 Oct 2021

Sermon Fred on Prayer Scripture Mark10: 35-45

Hi for those of you who don’t know me yet – I’m Fred – same as I was before. I have to look at this paper sometimes cuz I don’t always say everything I wanted to . My second cousin on my father’s side twice removed by marriage told me that my memory isn’t bad, it’s just full.
I come here sometimes. But I didn’t come here to tell you that. I came to relate an experience I just had.

You see the other day I got to thinkin’ (That wasn’t the experience – but it is a notable event). Anyway I got to thinkin that it had been a long time since I Prayed. I guess you could say I was feeling a little guilty. You see I hadn’t been keeping God informed of all the good things I had been doing. How can I expect God to give me credit it I don’t say how good I am.

So I decided I would pray. Well I’d forgotten how. I was going to start out by gettin down on my knees – but with the price of jeans and all I figured it wasn’t worth it.

So next I tried to close my eyes, but I was afraid of what I might miss and even more afraid of what I might see, if I did close them. So I figured I would just start right in.

Well the first thing I remembered that you do is – like in a business letter – you start with a salutation. That’s not some new vegetable. That’s like addressing God. But since I didn’t know God’s address I just began by saying “God”. That’s about as far as I got. I couldn’t remember the rest. I was a little embarrassed but at least I was trying.

I heard somewhere that the words in a prayer aren’t so important. You just say what you feel. So I said “God – I’m good.” Then I waited and waited. There was no answer. So I figured maybe God wasn’t listening (heaven forbid) or maybe (and this is more likely) I didn’t say anything God didn’t already know.

Anyway I was just about to stop praying – having said everything that was important, when all of a sudden I heard this voice. (I guess God had been thinking) The voice says “Continue”

Now I didn’t know if the voice meant that I was to continue doing the good deeds or whether I was to continue praying. I figured that since God knew I was going to continue doing the good deeds ( I helped an old lady – she was about 50, across the street – and back. Turned out she didn’t want to go in the first place. I thought she was doing the pedestrian point thing and I stopped to tell her which finger to use. Turned out she was just giving a special salute to some preacher on a motorcycle)
So I figured God wanted me to continue praying.

So I said “We;; God I pretty well summed it up when I said “I’m good”. In fact I’m so good I want to sit at your right hand in the hereafter. God said “Is that all you’re hereafter? (I don’t know if God knew that was a pun but it was funny) I said “No God, that is not all I am here after ( I tried to use the pun again so God would have a chance to see it) I just stopped by to tell you I good. The voice said “No you’re Not”.

At this point I got a little mad. Up until now I thought I was talking to God but I knew God wouldn’t say that to me so I figured it must be the neighbours peeking I while I was praying and making fun of me. I mean I may have peaked in at the neighbours sometimes but that is a different story. It’s just for research,
But I looked around and realised no one was home. (Sometimes people say that about my place even when the lights are on)

So I tried again “God I’m good”. I was getting pretty good at saying it by now. The voice again said “No you’re not”. By now I figured it must be God. Who else speaks in an empty room?
I was getting a little frustrated. I thought well maybe God doesn’t hear so well. The hearing tends to go after a while and God was pretty old. So I said my prayer one more time in a very loud voice, “God, I’m Good!”

This time the voice came back “Not as good as you think you are”. That is when I realised it wasn’t God’s ears. It was mine. I hadn’t heard right. What I thought I heard was “You’re not as good as you think you are” Probably what God meant to say was “You’re as good as I think you are”.
Since God knows everything and God thinks I am perfect. I must be. I had been trying to say that all day.

Well again I figured I was finished when suddenly God starts asking questions. The first questions was “Do you think you have all the answers to faith?”
I said “Sure – in my humble opinion I am as near perfect as one human can get” (I didn’t want to seem too proud but it never hurts to sell yourself well)

Then God says “Do you ever read the bible”? Ha ha I couldn’t believe the question. Of course I read the bible. I read it in Sunday School and any other time I need to prove someone else wrong. In fact I pretty much have it memorized. See the first thing in September, God creates the earth with Abraham and Jean. That took seven Sundays. Then there is the section on propheteering. Then Jesus is born, coincidentally around Christmas. Then Daniel chooses the five Rolling Stones and throws them at his Samsung. Then it’s Easter. Then it’s summer. I know that’s right because I read it out of the King James Version just like Jesus did.

Then God says to me “Have you ever read any other books about your faith, or anyone else’s faith?

I started to wonder if this really was God. I said “Of Course not God. You know there is only one book worth reading and that is the bible and I just proved how much of it I read”. I guess I was getting a little upset until I realized that God was just testing me.
I added that when I read the bible, I interpret it myself because there is no one who understands things the way I do. As far as reading about other people’s faith, I don’t have time. I am too busy reading about my own.
So I said “You see God I really am good”

Then the voice says to me (and this was a really dandy) Have you ever listened to someone with a different opinion than yours?” Well I laughed right out loud.

I said “God I am here for such a short time that I don’t have time to waste. Anyone with a different opinion than me is just wrong. Listening to them would just be a pointless waste of time. As for me having a second opinion on something, I never change my mind. I believe in inspiration not perspiration. My first opinion is my only opinion.

Well the questions went on and on. It was almost as if God doubted my perfection. So finally I decided to lay it all out. I said listen God. There are ideas in this world that are not mine and they are wrong. There are people in this world that are not like me and they are just wrong. And if you think I can change my mind or if you think I can love people who I have decided are unlovable, then you are wrong and so you must not be God.

There was a silence. So I said “God with your limited understanding – you cannot be God”.
This time it wasn’t a question that came back. It was statement. God said “We’ll see” I have no idea what was meant
I do know that if I am going to get answers when I pray then I better stop praying. I always thought the purpose of prayer was to tell God what to do, not the other way around.

It’s almost as if God wants to be in control.
God should know by now that I have all the answers

PRAYER
God we give you thanks that you have given us the ability to think and create. You have given us wisdom to make decisions and you have given us the freedom to follow whatever path we choose. Help us to choose a path that give fulfilment to every human being. Help us make decisions that enhance the ability of nature to live and grow. Help us to share our faith so that all people may not only have the ability to lie but also the reason to celebrate each day.
Your son, brought life. May we do the same.

Now we pray in the way Jesus taught us.
Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. lead us not into temptation. but deliver us from evil. for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory. forever and ever Amen

SERVICE October 17, 2021
Announcements
Etransfer info at bottom of page
Info about Services
Opening Prayer
Hymn – G – 697 O For a World
C – 409 Morning has Broken
Music – Brent Cheryl and Glen
Scripture Mark 10: 35-45
Reflection Fred “God I’m Good”
Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Hymn G -716 My Life Flows On
C567 Will you come and Follow Me
Benediction

Go now in Peace
Go now in peace, Never be afraid
God will go with you, each hour of every day
Go now in faith, steadfast strong and true
Know God will guide you in all you do,
Go now in love and show you believe
Reach out to others so all the world can see
God will be there, watching from above
Go now in peace, in faith and in love
Amen, Amen, Amen

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send to Doris Coborn at 1468 Gilford Rd, Gilford. L0L1R0

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