Reverend Raymond Osborne, Pastor

Please Note That Most Messages Follow
The Revised Common Lectionary

I have some wonderfully close friends in the mountains of North Carolina who Baptize a bit different than we Methodists are accustomed to. They immerse their people in a river, and they put them under the water three times, once for each personality of the Trinity. The story goes that there was a young man who was scheduled to be baptized one beautiful Sunday morning. He was a bit like me in that he loved to eat. Being all hurried to get ready for his baptism he didn’t quite have time to get all he wanted for breakfast so as he went out the door he stuffed his pockets with what biscuits were left on the kitchen counter.

Well the worship service went wonderfully and everyone left the church headed for the New River just outside Sparta, North Carolina. The congregation gathered on the riverbanks and began to sing, “Shall we Gather at the River” as the pastor and the young man waded down into the waters of the river.

Standing slightly behind the man the pastor put one hand on the young man’s back the other he lifted into the air, “I baptize you Ronald W. Smith in the name of the Father,” he lowered the young man under the water and low and behold some of those biscuits went floating down the river!”

The pastor raised his hand into the air again, “and in the name of the Son,” some more biscuits went floating down the river!”

The pastor raised his hand into the air again for a third and final time, “and in the name of the Holy Spirit!” You guessed it some more biscuits made it out of that young man’s pockets and down the river they floated!

As the young man came up the pastor said, “Amen.” To which the voice of an elderly saint of God could be heard to yell, “DON’T STOP NOW PREACHER!! THE DEVIL’S COMING OUT IN LUMPS!!!”

What does that have to do with today’s message? Sometimes it’s good to be able to stop all that we are doing and enjoy life a while! You know what I’m talking about don’t you? Our lives have become so packed with “stuff” that we often feel our schedules are like the whale that swallowed Jonah and we are being eaten alive by the busyness of life. I don’t know how many times I have sought the Lord and truthfully I couldn’t find Him for all the other “stuff” that was in my life.

Let me tell you about a typical week at the Osborne household. Mondays Paige has ballet in Albemarle, Tuesdays Seth has ballet in Albemarle, Wednesdays we have church somewhere, Thursdays Seth and Paige have gymnastics in Albemarle and all that does NOT include all Stephanie’s motherly duties, and wifely duties and it still hasn’t included all my daddy duties and hubby duties and pastoral duties.

Sometimes I find myself saying, “Lord you sure you don’t have my plate mixed up with someone else’s because it seems like the one I have right now is a bit too full!”

I realize that I am connecting here. You have experienced the same kind of things at your house and you have probably asked the Lord the same question.

Let me give you some reassurance this morning – Jesus knows exactly how you and I feel. In fact when I say, “Lord you sure you don’t have my plate mixed up with someone else’s?” I hear His reply, “Been there, done that, wore the t-shirt, signed the autograph!” In today’s Gospel lesson we see Jesus and the disciples who have become so busy in the business of ministry that they didn’t even have time to eat! Now you can tell by looking at me that I haven’t missed too many meals! I can cook real well – 3 hotdogs for $1 at the WILCO or I can sure slap a slice of bread around a banana and eat it as out the door I go.

Jesus says to His disciples, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." Isn’t it good to know that when you and I feel like we’ve had all we can stand Jesus says, “Come to a deserted place and rest.” I am reminded of some more of His words, “"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

When I look at my heavy schedule I have to claim responsibility for it. I am busy for I have chosen to involve myself, my family, my children in activities that I believe will prove beneficial to them and others. I know that if Seth decides to play football he has a far better chance of being a good athlete by developing his balance through the venue of ballet. I also know that a male dancer can write his own scholarship to any college he wants to attend therefore – ballet.

But there is something I notice about Jesus today that demands my attention. In the midst of His busyness He does not neglect caring for His disciples. Now I find myself convicted in His presence. How many times have I become so busy, so wrapped up in my schedule, that I have neglected Him? How often do I find myself studying for sermons, or preparing lectures, or in biblical research yet I have gotten so caught up in studying that my personal time, my quality time spent alone, just Jesus and me has fallen by the wayside? I hear Jesus saying to me, “Come over here my child, rest a while and spend some time with me. Let me tend to your wounds. Let me share with you some words of wisdom and direction.”

There is another thing I see about Jesus this morning and that is no matter how busy He was or is He always has time for others.

As He tried to make time to rest the crowds saw Him and followed Him, and brought to Him their sick loved ones. Jesus could have said, “Go away I need rest!” He could have said, “I’m sorry I haven’t eaten come back tomorrow.” The whole point here is that He didn’t! We are told, “as he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.”

In the midst of all that He had to do that day He recognized a people who needed a Savior, a people who needed a special word that only He could give. They had a need and He met it.

Again I find myself convicted in His presence. How many times have I neglected others because of all the busyness of my life? I have to admit there are times when I get a bit impatient with the masses. I kind of feel like the gentleman who stood next to me in my home church. The pastor walked out of the pulpit and placed his hands around the person sitting on the end of the first pew. He looked them in the eye and said, “God loves you, Jesus loves you, and I love you. Pass it on.” The person turned to the one next to him and repeated it. It was such a neat thing! I could hardly wait for my turn! When it finally came the man sitting next to me turned and wrapped his hands around mine, looking me in the eye he said, “Ray God loves you, Jesus loves you, and I’m REALLY trying!” But whenever I get to feeling that way about the masses Jesus shows me a deeper reality and that is that the people of the world are really like lost, helpless sheep. It is here that I become ashamed of my hostility, my attitude, and my impatience.

Here is a learning opportunity for us today from Jesus’ example. It’s that you and I should be driven by compassion. The masses of people who surround our church and us are just lost sheep in need of a shepherd. We should have compassion on them as Jesus did. Then we can follow Jesus into the masses of suffering humans to bring His healing presence and the power of God that lives in us.

Since I have come here there is a song I have heard you sing that I have fallen in love with. Its words are:

“O let the Son of God enfold you with His Spirit and His love. Let Him fill your heart and satisfy your soul. O let Him have the things that hold you, and His Spirit like a dove will descend upon your life and make you whole.

O come and sing this song with gladness as your hearts are filled with joy. Lift your hands in sweet surrender to his name. O give him all your tears and sadness; give Him all your years of pain, and you’ll enter into life in Jesus name.

Jesus, O Jesus,
Come and fill your lambs.
Jesus, O Jesus,
Come and fill your lambs.”

I’m not sure but I think we’ve connected this morning. Let’s just stop right now and realize that we are here in the bulwark, the safety of our Lord. Let us forget for a moment about the busyness of our lives and let’s experience the reality and the presence of Jesus. Let’s sing Spirit Song together this morning and as we do if you want to come and pray do so, if you want to simply praise the Lord do so. Feel His presence as we sing.

Amen.

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