Sermon No. 1

I Think It's Downboy

An over-sized, over-friendly sheep dog was sent to a kennel where his owner hoped he would learn some dog manners.

At the kennel, the sheep dog met and fell in love with a perky little poodle. When the poodle asked, "What's your name?" the sheep dog answered, "I'm not really sure. I think it's Downboy!"

We laugh, but there's a rather pathetic lesson in that story.

The sheep dog likely needed to hear, "Down, boy," but he also needed to hear, "Good boy."

God says "Thou shalt not . . ." but he also says, "Rejoice . . ." Jesus said "Deny yourself . . . take up a cross." But he also said "I came to give you life more abundantly."

It is too bad that we say "Down, boy" so often and "Good boy" so seldom. It is so sad that we criticize too often and compliment too infrequently. And it is unfortunate that we "hear" the negative too much and the positive too seldom.

The lesson in the story is two-edged: First, as ambassadors of the Good News we need to offer more positive perks to others. The good news Jesus offered was healing and acceptance and forgiveness and love -- and he offered it to outcasts, men and women with bad reputations. Such people most need what Christ has to offer, and they often least appreciate help and encouragement! Appreciation or not, we must do for them what is right, just because it is right.

Jesus made his message of love available to the Pharisees, too, but they were so wrapped up in their prejudices and preconceptions that they could not accept it. Their hearts and minds were not open to anything but what they already believed. I guess they were the original triumphalists, the original self-righteous dogmatists.

Second, we need to think more positive tho'ts for and about ourselves.

In Hong Kong there is a window display of tattoo patterns from which to choose -- flags, mermaids, skulls, anchors . . . one is "Born to Lose."

Norman Vincent Peale asked the proprietor, "Why would anyone want a gloomy slogan like that on his body?" The tattoo artist answered, "Before tattoo on chest, tattoo on mind."

A researcher studied a group of anorexic girls. Each was shown a series of pictures with her own head superimposed on bodies ranging from what we would call normal, to skeletal. Then the girls were asked, "Which of the bodies do you like to see your head on?"

Every girl answered, "None of them. They're all too fat!"

"As a person thinks . . ."

What do you hear from God? Do you hear, "Thou shalt not" or do you hear, "I am come that you might have life more abundantly"? That is a very significant question.

Poor "Downboy" had obviously been scolded so often he tho't it was his name. He had also heard "Good Boy," I'm sure. His master apparently loved him enough to send him to dog school! Why did he remember "Down boy" but not "Good Boy"?

How do you feel about coming to church? Do you come to be scolded? Or do you come to be pacified? Do you come to be entertained? Or do you come to learn truth?

Believe it or not, there are people who feel a need to be harassed. "Down Boy" personalities -- hellfire and brimstone sermons we hear on the radio.

What is your concept of being a son or daughter of the King? Is your Christian walk a happy, joyful, positive relationship with a Father who wants you to be happy? Or do you perceive the journey as a morbid, dreary duty to be good and do good, so God won't have to say, "Down boy"?

Your relationship to God needs to be like the relationship of a child and his father. That's why Jesus prayed to his "Father."

Father is a metaphor. God is not male as opposed to female, not an old man with a long white beard, sitting on a golden throne, bestowing favors on those who are good and sending earthquakes, fires and floods on those who aren't! That, of course, was the Old Testament picture of God -- harsh, authoritarian. And it is the picture most fundamentalists have of God.

The metaphor Father makes it possible for us to understand love and concern and interest and relationship. (Yes, I know some of you did not have good father-child relationships)

William Barclay reminds us that a large crowd always shows up for a graduation ceremony. Everyone politely applauds each graduate. But any honest parent will admit to coming to see only one special person receive a diploma!

Thomas Campbell was a famous poet. His father was a simple, almost illiterate man who seldom read anything. His son sent him copies of his books as soon as they came from the press. One day someone noticed the old man holding one of his famous son's books.

"To think that our Tom made that!" It was Tom's book, he was Tom's father, and he was proud.

Barclay adds, "Has it ever struck you that God is like that, about you?"

"God is our Father, and we are his children; and all the time God looks down and watches what we do. It is not that he is watching like a policeman, or a vigilant schoolmaster, or like some snooper out to catch us, ready to pounce on us. He is watching as a parent watches his child, and when we do well it makes him glad, and when we do badly it makes him sad."

Augustine said, "God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love."

Robert Louis Stevenson was asked, "Is fame all it's cracked up to be?" His answer was, "Yes, when I see my mother's face."

Self-concept, self-image, self-esteem -- these form a concept important to personal fulfillment. Don't confuse that with selfishness, self-gratification and self-seeking.

The former is a form of pride -- positive pride. The latter is another form of pride -- evil pride! Pride can be dignity, self-respect, confidence. Or of course pride can be vanity, arrogance, ostentation.

As with pride, there is good humility, and bad humility! Humility can be grace, meekness, deference. Or humility can be cringing, cowering, crawling.

We are pretty much a reflection of what we believe we are, good or bad, competent or incompetent, humble or proud.

Everyone needs to be aware of his limitations, his weaknesses, his frailties. But everyone needs to be aware also of his gifts, strengths and talents. The one who says, "I can't," can't. The one who says, "I can" usually can.

Remember the little red train in the children's book? It went up the mountain, chugging "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . ." It went down the other side, "I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could."

Both positive and negative attitudes are learned behavior . . . which can be unlearned as well.

A study was done with rats. They were shocked by electricity, but could stop the shock by pressing a button. They soon learned to stop the pain every time they were shocked.

Then the button was deactivated so that they got shocked and could do nothing to stop it. Soon they gave up trying and just cowered in the corner in pain and despair.

Just so, humans tend to give up when we lose hope. I told you about the welfare lady who said her mother had told her all her life how poor they were, and that no matter how hard they tried, they would always be poor.

She went on to say, "You know what? She was right. There's no hope. That's why I don't overwork. It's not worth it!"

Just as a negative image, helplessness, can be learned, so a positive image, hopefulness, can be learned. If you have a poor self image, Jesus calls you to change, to accept the good news of hope. It is called repentance or conversion.

Jesus sent the disciples into the world to call boldly for repentance. Repentance means complete change, not simply a few external alterations in life-style.
Even tho he "gave them authority" Jesus did not promise them enthusiastic reception or success. Even Jesus was amazed at his own rejection. (Mark 6:6)

He did not come with threats and a sword, forcing people into submissive belief. The crowds who heard him were free to accept or reject him and his message. The good news (the gospel) moves forward by persuasion, argument, conversion, enticement, not by coercion.

He has called you and me to repent, and also to extend his invitation to others to repent. First, conversion; then, evangelism. Live the Good News; then extend the Good News. Practice what we preach; preach what we practice.

Each of us is a part of God's plan and purpose. Each is called. Each is gifted by the Holy Spirit. There is no such person as a Christian without a gift! And if we are Jesus-style Christians, we will use our gifts to make more abundant lives for others,

Our gifts and callings vary, but we are all called and we are all gifted. A few weeks ago I emphasized our freedom to accept or reject the call of God. You have lots of talent, which God expects you to develop and use. The Holy Spirit encourages you to use it, but never coerces. The development of talent is our responsibility. We leave the Holy Spirit to direct us how and when to use our talents, but the Holy Spirit leaves to us the freedom and the responsibility to be ready!

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will," (Ephesians 1:11)

The "plan" is not an indication of predetermination or machination. We are not robots. "God . . . wants everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (I Timothy 2:4) But we must choose to follow.

As God treats us, so we must treat each other. Walter Bruggemann says biblical communicators do not "beg or coerce," but state "the options and require a decision, but they can live with different choices."

The gifts of the Spirit are just that -- gifts. As with salvation, the decision to accept the gifts is ours. We cannot maximize our talents without him, but he will not do so without us! We cannot maximize our gifts, our talents unless we are aggressive and positive.

At the same time, we are to be so committed to the good news of Jesus that the listener's response is not the sole validation for telling the story.

There is a time to reach out, to intrude, to persuade . . . and there is a time to shake the dust from our shoes and move on.

Last week I told you about a concert pianist. After a performance a woman rushed up and gushed, "I'd give anything to play like that."

The artist smiled and said, "Well, you may do so. All it costs is 8 hours a day, 6 days a week for 20 years."

Nicolo Paganini, the great 19th century violinist, was once complimented on his "gift." He retorted, "Humph! Thirty years, 8 hours a day, and they call it a gift!"

An interesting sidelight: Paganini willed his violin to the city on condition that it never be played again. It has now rotted and is unplayable! So it is with our gifts. If we fail to use them, they will fail us when we try! The Holy Spirit does not give gifts to be admired, but to be used.

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13) is not a prideful boast, but an acknowledgment of God's claim on your life, and an acceptance of the Holy Spirit's challenge to work for him.

You have all heard someone say, "God surely gave her a beautiful voice." But of someone who does not practice, and thereby loses her voice quality, have you ever heard, "God surely took away her voice"?

Listen again to our Gospel for today: "They went out and preached that people should repent."

Right here I have to tell you a corny story Bill Jones told me: The deacons painted their church with latex paint. They ran short, so they added some water. They still ran short and added more water.

A big rain came; the paint washed off. As the deacons stood, looking at the church, a voice came from the clouds: "Repaint, you thinners!"

The message of John the Baptist, the message of Jesus and the message of the disciples was, Repent.

Change the direction you are going. Change your negative attitudes to positive attitudes, both in your own life, and in your relationships with others.

Someone described a pastor as one who tries to make nice people nicer. That was not what Jesus did, and it is not what he sent the disciples to do. They called for changes, major changes.

The biggest change we need to make is a change in attitude. There is entirely too much negativity in the world and in the church. We need to be and think and pray and talk in positive terms. It is called faith!

Faith is believing God can and will do with and for us what we need. But we can also "believe" that we are not worthy, and so will not be or have what we need. Remember, "what you think, you are!"

There was a farmer who always complained about lack of rain, or too much rain, or rain too late . . . Then one season the crops were abundant. Someone said, "I say, Ned, you surely can't complain this year. You have a good crop."

"Well, you know, such good crops as these is mighty hard on the soil!"
There is just no way negative attitudes will change to positive unless and until the negative person repents of his negativeness and decides to change. God gives us the freedom to make our own decisions, even when they are not wise decisions.

Once we have made the right decisions, we can depend on the Holy Spirit to empower us and to enlighten us.

We do not by nature like to change -- habits. beliefs, opinions . . . anything! That's not the way we've always done things . . . or When I was in confirmation class . . . or My favorite pastor said . . .

Have you tho't of the blessing the Jewish rulers missed because they would not consider new ways of thinking? The magi came hundreds of miles and saw the young child Jesus. That's what they were looking for.

The Jewish leaders did not go 6 miles to Bethlehem because "That isn't the way we were taught to believe the Messiah will come!"

"Downboy" thinking is a tragedy, because it robs you of joy and happiness, the very thing Jesus said he came to give us.

Christians are to demonstrate to the world a healthy, wholesome outlook. We are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, those who make a difference.
Negative, "Downboy" thinking is patently unchristian.

Exuding a "Downboy" attitude toward others is also unchristian.

Hagar the Horrible's wife Helga says, "Your outfits never match, your hats are all too shabby and that bearskin is out."

Hagar is hurt. "Hey, say something nice about me!"

She throws her arms around him and says, "You have great taste in women."

Isn't that the heart of Christian life and witness -- to throw our arms around each other with compliments?

"Go into the world and preach the good news . . ." (Mark 16:15) If necessary, use words!

Let us pray . . .



		I Think It's Downboy
		An over-sized, over-friendly sheep dog was sent to a kennel where his owner hoped he would learn some dog manners. At the kennel, the sheep dog met and fell in love with a perky little poodle. When the poodle asked, "What's your name?" the sheep dog answered, "I'm not really sure. I think it's Downboy!" We laugh, but there's a rather pathetic lesson in that story. The sheep dog likely needed to hear, "Down, boy," but he also needed to hear, "Good boy." God says "Thou shalt not . . ." but he also says, "Rejoice . . ." Jesus said "Deny yourself . . . take up a cross." But he also said "I came to give you life more abundantly." It is too bad that we say "Down, boy" so often and "Good boy" so seldom. It is so sad that we criticize too often and compliment too infrequently. And it is unfortunate that we "hear" the negative too much and the positive too seldom. The lesson in the story is two-edged: First, as ambassadors of the Good News we need to offer more positive perks to others. The good news Jesus offered was healing and acceptance and forgiveness and love -- and he offered it to outcasts, men and women with bad reputations. Such people most need what Christ has to offer, and they often least appreciate help and encouragement! Appreciation or not, we must do for them what is right, just because it is right. Jesus made his message of love available to the Pharisees, too, but they were so wrapped up in their prejudices and preconceptions that they could not accept it. Their hearts and minds were not open to anything but what they already believed. I guess they were the original triumphalists, the original self-righteous dogmatists. Second, we need to think more positive tho'ts for and about ourselves. In Hong Kong there is a window display of tattoo patterns from which to choose -- flags, mermaids, skulls, anchors . . . one is "Born to Lose." Norman Vincent Peale asked the proprietor, "Why would anyone want a gloomy slogan like that on his body?" The tattoo artist answered, "Before tattoo on chest, tattoo on mind." A researcher studied a group of anorexic girls. Each was shown a series of pictures with her own head superimposed on bodies ranging from what we would call normal, to skeletal. Then the girls were asked, "Which of the bodies do you like to see your head on?" Every girl answered, "None of them. They're all too fat!" "As a person thinks . . ." What do you hear from God? Do you hear, "Thou shalt not" or do you hear, "I am come that you might have life more abundantly"? That is a very significant question. Poor "Downboy" had obviously been scolded so often he tho't it was his name. He had also heard "Good Boy," I'm sure. His master apparently loved him enough to send him to dog school! Why did he remember "Down boy" but not "Good Boy"? How do you feel about coming to church? Do you come to be scolded? Or do you come to be pacified? Do you come to be entertained? Or do you come to learn truth? Believe it or not, there are people who feel a need to be harassed. "Down Boy" personalities -- hellfire and brimstone sermons we hear on the radio. What is your concept of being a son or daughter of the King? Is your Christian walk a happy, joyful, positive relationship with a Father who wants you to be happy? Or do you perceive the journey as a morbid, dreary duty to be good and do good, so God won't have to say, "Down boy"? Your relationship to God needs to be like the relationship of a child and his father. That's why Jesus prayed to his "Father." Father is a metaphor. God is not male as opposed to female, not an old man with a long white beard, sitting on a golden throne, bestowing favors on those who are good and sending earthquakes, fires and floods on those who aren't! That, of course, was the Old Testament picture of God -- harsh, authoritarian. And it is the picture most fundamentalists have of God. The metaphor Father makes it possible for us to understand love and concern and interest and relationship. (Yes, I know some of you did not have good father-child relationships) William Barclay reminds us that a large crowd always shows up for a graduation ceremony. Everyone politely applauds each graduate. But any honest parent will admit to coming to see only one special person receive a diploma! Thomas Campbell was a famous poet. His father was a simple, almost illiterate man who seldom read anything. His son sent him copies of his books as soon as they came from the press. One day someone noticed the old man holding one of his famous son's books. "To think that our Tom made that!" It was Tom's book, he was Tom's father, and he was proud. Barclay adds, "Has it ever struck you that God is like that, about you?" "God is our Father, and we are his children; and all the time God looks down and watches what we do. It is not that he is watching like a policeman, or a vigilant schoolmaster, or like some snooper out to catch us, ready to pounce on us. He is watching as a parent watches his child, and when we do well it makes him glad, and when we do badly it makes him sad." Augustine said, "God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love." Robert Louis Stevenson was asked, "Is fame all it's cracked up to be?" His answer was, "Yes, when I see my mother's face." Self-concept, self-image, self-esteem -- these form a concept important to personal fulfillment. Don't confuse that with selfishness, self-gratification and self-seeking. The former is a form of pride -- positive pride. The latter is another form of pride -- evil pride! Pride can be dignity, self-respect, confidence. Or of course pride can be vanity, arrogance, ostentation. As with pride, there is good humility, and bad humility! Humility can be grace, meekness, deference. Or humility can be cringing, cowering, crawling. We are pretty much a reflection of what we believe we are, good or bad, competent or incompetent, humble or proud. Everyone needs to be aware of his limitations, his weaknesses, his frailties. But everyone needs to be aware also of his gifts, strengths and talents. The one who says, "I can't," can't. The one who says, "I can" usually can. Remember the little red train in the children's book? It went up the mountain, chugging "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . ." It went down the other side, "I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could." Both positive and negative attitudes are learned behavior . . . which can be unlearned as well. A study was done with rats. They were shocked by electricity, but could stop the shock by pressing a button. They soon learned to stop the pain every time they were shocked. Then the button was deactivated so that they got shocked and could do nothing to stop it. Soon they gave up trying and just cowered in the corner in pain and despair. Just so, humans tend to give up when we lose hope. I told you about the welfare lady who said her mother had told her all her life how poor they were, and that no matter how hard they tried, they would always be poor. She went on to say, "You know what? She was right. There's no hope. That's why I don't overwork. It's not worth it!" Just as a negative image, helplessness, can be learned, so a positive image, hopefulness, can be learned. If you have a poor self image, Jesus calls you to change, to accept the good news of hope. It is called repentance or conversion. Jesus sent the disciples into the world to call boldly for repentance. Repentance means complete change, not simply a few external alterations in life-style. Even tho he "gave them authority" Jesus did not promise them enthusiastic reception or success. Even Jesus was amazed at his own rejection. (Mark 6:6) He did not come with threats and a sword, forcing people into submissive belief. The crowds who heard him were free to accept or reject him and his message. The good news (the gospel) moves forward by persuasion, argument, conversion, enticement, not by coercion. He has called you and me to repent, and also to extend his invitation to others to repent. First, conversion; then, evangelism. Live the Good News; then extend the Good News. Practice what we preach; preach what we practice. Each of us is a part of God's plan and purpose. Each is called. Each is gifted by the Holy Spirit. There is no such person as a Christian without a gift! And if we are Jesus-style Christians, we will use our gifts to make more abundant lives for others, Our gifts and callings vary, but we are all called and we are all gifted. A few weeks ago I emphasized our freedom to accept or reject the call of God. You have lots of talent, which God expects you to develop and use. The Holy Spirit encourages you to use it, but never coerces. The development of talent is our responsibility. We leave the Holy Spirit to direct us how and when to use our talents, but the Holy Spirit leaves to us the freedom and the responsibility to be ready! "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will," (Ephesians 1:11) The "plan" is not an indication of predetermination or machination. We are not robots. "God . . . wants everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (I Timothy 2:4) But we must choose to follow. As God treats us, so we must treat each other. Walter Bruggemann says biblical communicators do not "beg or coerce," but state "the options and require a decision, but they can live with different choices." The gifts of the Spirit are just that -- gifts. As with salvation, the decision to accept the gifts is ours. We cannot maximize our talents without him, but he will not do so without us! We cannot maximize our gifts, our talents unless we are aggressive and positive. At the same time, we are to be so committed to the good news of Jesus that the listener's response is not the sole validation for telling the story. There is a time to reach out, to intrude, to persuade . . . and there is a time to shake the dust from our shoes and move on. Last week I told you about a concert pianist. After a performance a woman rushed up and gushed, "I'd give anything to play like that." The artist smiled and said, "Well, you may do so. All it costs is 8 hours a day, 6 days a week for 20 years." Nicolo Paganini, the great 19th century violinist, was once complimented on his "gift." He retorted, "Humph! Thirty years, 8 hours a day, and they call it a gift!" An interesting sidelight: Paganini willed his violin to the city on condition that it never be played again. It has now rotted and is unplayable! So it is with our gifts. If we fail to use them, they will fail us when we try! The Holy Spirit does not give gifts to be admired, but to be used. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13) is not a prideful boast, but an acknowledgment of God's claim on your life, and an acceptance of the Holy Spirit's challenge to work for him. You have all heard someone say, "God surely gave her a beautiful voice." But of someone who does not practice, and thereby loses her voice quality, have you ever heard, "God surely took away her voice"? Listen again to our Gospel for today: "They went out and preached that people should repent." Right here I have to tell you a corny story Bill Jones told me: The deacons painted their church with latex paint. They ran short, so they added some water. They still ran short and added more water. A big rain came; the paint washed off. As the deacons stood, looking at the church, a voice came from the clouds: "Repaint, you thinners!" The message of John the Baptist, the message of Jesus and the message of the disciples was, Repent. Change the direction you are going. Change your negative attitudes to positive attitudes, both in your own life, and in your relationships with others. Someone described a pastor as one who tries to make nice people nicer. That was not what Jesus did, and it is not what he sent the disciples to do. They called for changes, major changes. The biggest change we need to make is a change in attitude. There is entirely too much negativity in the world and in the church. We need to be and think and pray and talk in positive terms. It is called faith! Faith is believing God can and will do with and for us what we need. But we can also "believe" that we are not worthy, and so will not be or have what we need. Remember, "what you think, you are!" There was a farmer who always complained about lack of rain, or too much rain, or rain too late . . . Then one season the crops were abundant. Someone said, "I say, Ned, you surely can't complain this year. You have a good crop." "Well, you know, such good crops as these is mighty hard on the soil!" There is just no way negative attitudes will change to positive unless and until the negative person repents of his negativeness and decides to change. God gives us the freedom to make our own decisions, even when they are not wise decisions. Once we have made the right decisions, we can depend on the Holy Spirit to empower us and to enlighten us. We do not by nature like to change -- habits. beliefs, opinions . . . anything! That's not the way we've always done things . . . or When I was in confirmation class . . . or My favorite pastor said . . . Have you tho't of the blessing the Jewish rulers missed because they would not consider new ways of thinking? The magi came hundreds of miles and saw the young child Jesus. That's what they were looking for. The Jewish leaders did not go 6 miles to Bethlehem because "That isn't the way we were taught to believe the Messiah will come!" "Downboy" thinking is a tragedy, because it robs you of joy and happiness, the very thing Jesus said he came to give us. Christians are to demonstrate to the world a healthy, wholesome outlook. We are the salt of the earth, the light of the world, those who make a difference. Negative, "Downboy" thinking is patently unchristian. Exuding a "Downboy" attitude toward others is also unchristian. Hagar the Horrible's wife Helga says, "Your outfits never match, your hats are all too shabby and that bearskin is out." Hagar is hurt. "Hey, say something nice about me!" She throws her arms around him and says, "You have great taste in women." Isn't that the heart of Christian life and witness -- to throw our arms around each other with compliments? "Go into the world and preach the good news . . ." (Mark 16:15) If necessary, use words! Let us pray . . .