A Place Where Everybody Knows .  .  . and Loves

A message for The First Baptist Church in Essex on May 13, 2012

Scripture: John 15:1-17

______________________________________________________________________

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

_____________________________________________________________________

Leonard Sweet did a sermon several years ago on the same scripture we have heard read for us this morning.  It was titled, "I love you, man .  .  . And I don't want your beer."

You probably remember the Budweiser commercial in which a group of fishing buddies are sitting around a campfire sharing stories and one of them suddenly becomes emotional and hugs one of the other guys and says, "I love you, man!".  The guy on the receiving end of the hug has just taken the last beer out of the cooler, and he says, "That's great, man.  But you still aren't getting my Budweiser.".   He saw right through this phony expression of love which really had no purpose but to pilfer the last beer from his buddy.   Such a scene could make us ask where we might find the real, honest expressions of love.  .  . and since this is Mother's Day, we would have to say that one of the places that kind of love is found is in a Mother's arms.   Admittedly that doesn't happen for everyone, but thankfully it happens often enough that we have set aside a day to remember it.  

Between a Mother and child there is a special bonding that takes place during breast feeding.  While a Mom is breastfeeding, there is a release of a powerful chemical called oxytocin in both the mother and the infant which nurtures the emotional bond between the two.  Maybe you didn't breastfeed your infant - but over time you became an expert in the relationship between the two of you.  

In Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers, he suggests that the person who becomes an expert on some musical skill or athletic ability will have put in 10,000 hours of practice.  In parenting time that's 417 twenty-four hour days.  Over 18 years, those attentive parents will have become experts by Gladwell's standard over 18 times - fully entitling them to  be called grandparents when the time comes.

 This week I was watching an old PBS Nova episode called Dogs Decoded.  They cited some research having to do with the strange bond between dogs and their owners.  One study showed that during a petting session between a dog and it's owner, that same chemical - oxytocin - which is released while a Mother breastfeeds her infant is present in both the dog and it's owner in increased levels.  The suspicion is that this deepens the bond between these pets and their owners.   No wonder people like Mark and Nina Stiber whose 13 year old German Shepherd died recently grieve so deeply.  Research also showed that people who have dogs live longer.  I suspect it also works for the dogs.   There is a lot to be said for that twice a day walk in the way of exercise.  

 Now, back to the beer.  I don't even like beer, but I suspect that some of you were hoping we'd get back there.   Surely you remember the classic sitcom Cheers with its theme song that touted this bar as a place where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.  And then the character Norm would come in the door and everybody would, in greeting, say, "Norm.".  It was almost like a liturgical "and also with you.".    Bruce Larson, a former Presbyterian pastor turned writer suggests that the local tavern is probably the best possible counterfeit for the church Jesus meant to establish.  Here is a place where people really do know your name, they're glad you came, there is little likelihood that you'll be judged, and you can make your confession or get some pretty decent counsel from the bartender who isn't likely to go and blab your sins to the other patrons.    

So how can we in the hopefully non-counterfeit church convince the world that "we love you, man, . . . and we really don't want your beer" ?  Is there a spiritual equivalent comparable to breastfeeding or scratching your dog behind the ears to be found in our relationship to those Jesus calls us to serve?   Could it be that while Jesus was washing the feet of his disciples both he and they experienced  something similar to  that rise in oxytocin levels.   Could it be that there is a similar spike in that chemical between those volunteers who prepare and serve us each week in our Coffee & .  .  . times or among those who prepare and serve our Monday night soup kitchen meals and those who come to eat; some chemical change enhancing the bond between those who will live in a Habitat built house and those who built it; some invisible bond between those who will enjoy a week of camping at Camp Wightman and those who worked there yesterday getting things ready for summer?    And if you have trouble seeing those kinds of ethereal connections, let's ask just how practiced is our discipleship.  How does the rule of 10,000 apply here?   Maybe this is where all of the repetition of the phrases about remaining in me, in my word, in my love, remaining in the vine begin to mean something.   Baptists and others in the Protestant and Free Church traditions don't use the expression as our Catholic brothers and sisters do when they speak of being a practicing Catholic.   We should all be practicing Christians - practicing until we get it, (perfect - as our Father in heaven is perfect) as scripture says.  How much do we have to practice before the world believes us when we say "I love you, man - and I really don't want your beer!".   If it's 10,000 hours - let's be aware that it is going to take more than an hour on Sunday morning  and 30 minutes at coffee hour, the once a month committee meeting that lasts maybe 2 hours, and the occasional volunteer effort of a few hours.  Calculate 3 hours per week for a total of 156 hours a year.  If we have a 10,000 hour goal it will take us 65 years to get there.  But Jesus doesn't give us a set number of hours, he just asks that we stay connected to him, reminding us that he is the vine and we are the branches and that we will only bear fruit if we abide in him as a branch abides in the vine.   At one point in today's scripture Jesus speaks about his word remaining in us.  This will help us know and keep his commandments.  Did you know that you can read through the entire Bible, all  31,102 verses in 359 days by reading for just 12 minutes a day at an average reading speed?  When God's word abides in you,  even put there in little 12 minute infusions, it begins to seep out in acts of love and service and the vine begins to bear fruit because people come to believe that  we love them and we really don't want their beer.".  

What a shame it would be if all of those musicians and athletes and others who had put in the requisite 10,000 hours never shared their accomplished status with an audience who could appreciate the command they had of their instrument, or their athletic reflexes.    But if they do, they may become an inspiration to another who will join in the music or the sport and begin to put in their own 10,000 hours.   The same may be said  of  being a  practiced and practicing Christian.   It is important to share your  gift of faith with others  who may also decide to seek proficiency in loving and serving their neighbors.    Then the church will be known as a place where everybody knows . . . . And loves.

A Place Where Everybody Knows .  .  . and Loves

A message for The First Baptist Church in Essex on May 13, 2012

Scripture: John 15:1-17

______________________________________________________________________

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

_____________________________________________________________________

Leonard Sweet did a sermon several years ago on the same scripture we have heard read for us this morning.  It was titled, "I love you, man .  .  . And I don't want your beer."

You probably remember the Budweiser commercial in which a group of fishing buddies are sitting around a campfire sharing stories and one of them suddenly becomes emotional and hugs one of the other guys and says, "I love you, man!".  The guy on the receiving end of the hug has just taken the last beer out of the cooler, and he says, "That's great, man.  But you still aren't getting my Budweiser.".   He saw right through this phony expression of love which really had no purpose but to pilfer the last beer from his buddy.   Such a scene could make us ask where we might find the real, honest expressions of love.  .  . and since this is Mother's Day, we would have to say that one of the places that kind of love is found is in a Mother's arms.   Admittedly that doesn't happen for everyone, but thankfully it happens often enough that we have set aside a day to remember it.  

Between a Mother and child there is a special bonding that takes place during breast feeding.  While a Mom is breastfeeding, there is a release of a powerful chemical called oxytocin in both the mother and the infant which nurtures the emotional bond between the two.  Maybe you didn't breastfeed your infant - but over time you became an expert in the relationship between the two of you.  

In Malcolm Gladwell's book Outliers, he suggests that the person who becomes an expert on some musical skill or athletic ability will have put in 10,000 hours of practice.  In parenting time that's 417 twenty-four hour days.  Over 18 years, those attentive parents will have become experts by Gladwell's standard over 18 times - fully entitling them to  be called grandparents when the time comes.

 This week I was watching an old PBS Nova episode called Dogs Decoded.  They cited some research having to do with the strange bond between dogs and their owners.  One study showed that during a petting session between a dog and it's owner, that same chemical - oxytocin - which is released while a Mother breastfeeds her infant is present in both the dog and it's owner in increased levels.  The suspicion is that this deepens the bond between these pets and their owners.   No wonder people like Mark and Nina Stiber whose 13 year old German Shepherd died recently grieve so deeply.  Research also showed that people who have dogs live longer.  I suspect it also works for the dogs.   There is a lot to be said for that twice a day walk in the way of exercise.  

 Now, back to the beer.  I don't even like beer, but I suspect that some of you were hoping we'd get back there.   Surely you remember the classic sitcom Cheers with its theme song that touted this bar as a place where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.  And then the character Norm would come in the door and everybody would, in greeting, say, "Norm.".  It was almost like a liturgical "and also with you.".    Bruce Larson, a former Presbyterian pastor turned writer suggests that the local tavern is probably the best possible counterfeit for the church Jesus meant to establish.  Here is a place where people really do know your name, they're glad you came, there is little likelihood that you'll be judged, and you can make your confession or get some pretty decent counsel from the bartender who isn't likely to go and blab your sins to the other patrons.    

So how can we in the hopefully non-counterfeit church convince the world that "we love you, man, . . . and we really don't want your beer" ?  Is there a spiritual equivalent comparable to breastfeeding or scratching your dog behind the ears to be found in our relationship to those Jesus calls us to serve?   Could it be that while Jesus was washing the feet of his disciples both he and they experienced  something similar to  that rise in oxytocin levels.   Could it be that there is a similar spike in that chemical between those volunteers who prepare and serve us each week in our Coffee & .  .  . times or among those who prepare and serve our Monday night soup kitchen meals and those who come to eat; some chemical change enhancing the bond between those who will live in a Habitat built house and those who built it; some invisible bond between those who will enjoy a week of camping at Camp Wightman and those who worked there yesterday getting things ready for summer?    And if you have trouble seeing those kinds of ethereal connections, let's ask just how practiced is our discipleship.  How does the rule of 10,000 apply here?   Maybe this is where all of the repetition of the phrases about remaining in me, in my word, in my love, remaining in the vine begin to mean something.   Baptists and others in the Protestant and Free Church traditions don't use the expression as our Catholic brothers and sisters do when they speak of being a practicing Catholic.   We should all be practicing Christians - practicing until we get it, (perfect - as our Father in heaven is perfect) as scripture says.  How much do we have to practice before the world believes us when we say "I love you, man - and I really don't want your beer!".   If it's 10,000 hours - let's be aware that it is going to take more than an hour on Sunday morning  and 30 minutes at coffee hour, the once a month committee meeting that lasts maybe 2 hours, and the occasional volunteer effort of a few hours.  Calculate 3 hours per week for a total of 156 hours a year.  If we have a 10,000 hour goal it will take us 65 years to get there.  But Jesus doesn't give us a set number of hours, he just asks that we stay connected to him, reminding us that he is the vine and we are the branches and that we will only bear fruit if we abide in him as a branch abides in the vine.   At one point in today's scripture Jesus speaks about his word remaining in us.  This will help us know and keep his commandments.  Did you know that you can read through the entire Bible, all  31,102 verses in 359 days by reading for just 12 minutes a day at an average reading speed?  When God's word abides in you,  even put there in little 12 minute infusions, it begins to seep out in acts of love and service and the vine begins to bear fruit because people come to believe that  we love them and we really don't want their beer.".  

What a shame it would be if all of those musicians and athletes and others who had put in the requisite 10,000 hours never shared their accomplished status with an audience who could appreciate the command they had of their instrument, or their athletic reflexes.    But if they do, they may become an inspiration to another who will join in the music or the sport and begin to put in their own 10,000 hours.   The same may be said  of  being a  practiced and practicing Christian.   It is important to share your  gift of faith with others  who may also decide to seek proficiency in loving and serving their neighbors.    Then the church will be known as a place where everybody knows . . . . And loves.