This summer I have harvested quite a bit of produce from my garden.
\nTomatoes and peppers and cucumbers in particular.
\nI put up 7 quarts of salsa, 4 quarts of spaghetti sauce, 8 quarts of dill pickles, 4 quarts of sweet and spicy pickles, some pickle relish, and I\u2019ve frozen 10 bags of roasted tomatoes.<\/p>\n
My pantry is literally overflowing with the bounty from my garden, and you want to know what thought crossed my mind after this week?<\/p>\n
Pickles and salsa won\u2019t feed us if there is a disaster.<\/p>\n
As I thought about all of the folks in Puerto Rico who are struggling with access to food and water and electricity, I tried to imagine what my family would do in that situation.
\nAs the rhetoric has continued to rise with North Korea, I wondered what you actually could do to prepare for if the unthinkable happens.
\nAs I sat and listened to colleagues at a Creation Care conference in Indianapolis yesterday, I heard them say that the UN no longer talks about climate change mitigation or prevention, but climate change adaptation\u2026 I began to think about how I personally need to start adapting.<\/p>\n
If you turn on the television or scroll through your facebook feed or listen to the radio, there are a thousand threats to our health, safety, and security.
\nWe lost 59 people last Sunday to a violent rampage from a man whose only motive appears to be that he wanted to shoot as many people as possible.
\nOur hearts began to race when a traffic accident in London outside of a museum yesterday was initially thought to be an act of terrorism.<\/p>\n
The simple truth is that we have no clue what might be lurking around the corner. We can\u2019t see what the future might hold and sometimes we allow fear to be the defensive mechanism that either keeps us from moving forward or which guards our hearts from those around us.<\/p>\n
We aren\u2019t the only people in history to have been afraid.<\/p>\n
The scripture that Don read as a part of the drama just a few minutes ago comes from the 41st and 42nd chapters of Isaiah.
\nThe people of Israel had sinned against one another and God and the prophet was called upon to bring judgment.
\nAnd for 39 chapters, Isaiah lists the sins of the people and names all of the things that would happen to them as a result.
\nAnd they did.
\nEverything they feared came to pass.
\nJersualem was destroyed.
\nThe people were carried off to Babylon.
\nLife as they knew it ended.
\nAnd they weren\u2019t quite sure what to make of their new life.
\nBut then Isaiah speaks into their midst once again:
\n\u201cComfort, comfort my people!\u201d says your God.
\n\u201cSpeak compassionately to Jerusalem and proclaim to her that her compulsory service has ended.\u201d
\nThe turnaround from chapter 39 to 40 is abrupt and stark. Christopher Seitz notes that this is because \u201c a word is being spoken from the void, against all hope and all expectation, by God.\u201d (NIB \u2013 VI \u2013 328)<\/p>\n
Against all hope and expectation.
\nWhen everything appeared to be the darkest.
\nWith the future completely up in the air and uncertainty around every corner.
\nGod speaks:
\nDo not be afraid, I am with you.<\/p>\n
God is inviting the people of Israel to not only trust in God\u2019s presence in the midst of a difficult time\u2026 but God is inviting them to transform their fear into curiosity and purpose and assurance.<\/p>\n
First, rather than be afraid of the things that is happening, the people are invited to become curious and inquisitive and to allow God\u2019s power and majesty fill them with awe.
\nIn fact, if you read through chapters 40-48, you will find God asks a heck of a lot of questions!
\nWho measured the waters in the palm of a hand or gauged the heavens with a ruler? (40:12)
\nTo whom will you compare me, and who is my equal? (40:25)
\nWho has acted and done this, calling generation after generation? (41:4)<\/p>\n
I think one of the ways we can respond to the fears that creep into our lives is to be curious as well.
\nIn the midst of a changing neighborhood and world, instead of walling ourselves off in fear, we can ask questions about what is happening and why. We can get to know our neighbors and read up on the roots of conflicts that we experience.
\nOne of the things churches often struggle with is finances \u2013 always fearing that we will not have enough for the next year.
\nThat fear can stun us into silence or it can keep us from taking risks and stepping out in faith.
\nSo one way that we can turn that fear into curiosity is to look deeper into trends in giving and learn about ways to reach new people and we can invite one another to think about stewardship in new ways.
\nCuriosity, learning, exploration \u2013 these are all antidotes to fear.<\/p>\n
Second, God gives the people purpose in the midst of their fears.
\nAs our reading continued into chapter 42 of Isaiah, God tells the people that he has a job for them to do.
\n\u201cI have called you for a good reason\u2026 I will give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to lead the prisoners from prison.\u201d<\/p>\n
When we look out at all of the things in this world that might cause us to be afraid \u2013 it would be easy to hunker down in our homes or within the walls of this building.
\nBut God has given us a vision and a purpose, too!
\nGod is calling us to engage deeper, to build partnerships and get to know our neighbors, to live a life of love, service, and prayer\u2026
\nAnd just like the Israelites were not only supposed to be a light, an example, but were supposed to get out and heal and set others free\u2026 we believe God is calling us to help heal the lives of our members and friends and neighbors and community.
\nGod wants us to be a part of restoration right here in this place.<\/p>\n
Finally, God gives the people assurance.
\nDon\u2019t be afraid, for I am with you.
\nYou are not alone.
\nNo matter what you are going through, I\u2019m right here beside you.<\/p>\n
I think this is perhaps the most important part of this message.
\nBecause you know, fear can keep us from a lot of things.
\nIt could keep us from visiting museums or hanging out in public places.
\nIt could keep us from going to concerts.
\nIt could lead us to build bunkers in our basement and never leave them.
\nIt could keep us from doing the work of God in this world.<\/p>\n
Every so often, folks stop in here to Immanuel and ask for some gas. We take them up the street to the Git-n-Go and fill up their tank.
\nNow, I\u2019m a young woman, who doesn\u2019t know much self-defense, and one of our previous Administrative Assistants was always afraid for my safety as I walked up the street to the gas station.
\nShe was worried that the person might do something bad to me, or kidnap me, or some other unknown thing.<\/p>\n
But you know what?
\nGod is with me.
\nGod has given me (and us) work to do.
\nAnd disaster and tragedy and violence might strike any person, at any moment, in any place.
\nIt is all completely out of our control.
\nWhat is in our control is the work of Jesus Christ in this world.
\nAnd if something happened to us while we were trying to live that life of love, service, and prayer\u2026 well, God is with us.
\nGod will be with us if the unthinkable happens.<\/p>\n
Do not be afraid, I am with you.
\nI have called you each by name.
\nCome and follow me.
\nI will bring you home.
\nI love you are you are mine.<\/p>\n
We are God\u2019s.
\nAnd we have work to do.
\nIn fact, in the midst of a world filled with fears and brokenness, we have even more work to do.
\nGod has called us for a good reason\u2026
\nWe have the work of healing and wholeness and hope to do.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This summer I have harvested quite a bit of produce from my garden. Tomatoes and peppers and cucumbers in particular. I put up 7 quarts of salsa, 4 quarts of spaghetti sauce, 8 quarts of dill pickles, 4 quarts of sweet and spicy pickles, some pickle relish, and I\u2019ve frozen 10 bags of roasted tomatoes.…<\/span><\/p>\n