Friday's thoughts on Sunday's Sermon

The following is a rough draft of the Sunday sermon. It is in capitol letters and it needs lots of help. If you have ideas email me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.

If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below. Here is the sermon that is trying to suggest "We are rejected but often we are selected for something better when we are rejected.


I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE ELECT AND THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE. THEY WALK IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND WITH A DIFFERENT STRIDE. THEY SPEAK WITH A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE. THEY ARE THE ELECT. THEY ARE THE ONES CALVIN THOUGHT WERE THE PRIVILEGED.


THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE ARE THE ELECT. MAYBE IT WAS LITTLE LEAGUE AND SOMEBODY THOUGHT WE COULD PLAY RIGHT FIELD AND WE DID AND WHEN THE TIME CAME AND THE CATCH NEEDED TO BE MADE WE MADE IT.

THERE WAS A TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THERE WAS A TEACHER WHO BELIEVED THAT THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE AND THE TESTS SCORES REALLY DIDN’T MEASURE OUR ACADEMIC ABILITY AND THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVE THAT WE COULD BE THE STUDENT THAT, FROM TIME TO TIME, WE BECAME. AND WE WERE THE ELECT.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A TIME WHEN WE FELT THE SUPPORT OF FRIENDS AND WE PUT OURSELVES IN LINE WITH THE STRUGGLES THAT EVERYONE FACED AND WE WERE THE ELECT AND WE HELPED MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THE DIFFERENCE WE MAKE WAS DECISIVE AND IT FELT SO GOOD.

THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE FELT SO GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES LIKE WE HAD BEEN SINGLED OUT AND PUT ON A PEDISTAL; LIKE WHEN THE ROLL WAS CALLED UP YONDER WE WERE THERE; LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT US AND WE ROSE TO THE OCCASION.

IT’S SUCH A GOOD FEELING AND ONE WE WILL NEVER FORGET, BUT IT DOESN’T LAST.

THE BEST WE CAN HOPE FOR IS THAT WE EXPECT RESPECT. IF WE ARE NOT THE ELECT WE CAN AT LEAST EXPECT RESPECT. WE EXPECT RESPECT. WE WOULD LIKE, IF WE ARE NOT AMONG THE ELECT THAT WE WOULD FIND RESPECT.

NICE PEOPLE GET RESPECT. THEY DON’T DO SPECTACULAR THINGS AND THEY ARE NOT IN THE HEADLINES BUT THEY GET RESPECT FOR THE LITTLE THINGS THEY DO.

IT’S THE BEHIND THE SCENES KIND OF THINGS. IT’S THE SORT OF THING THAT HAS TO BE DONE AND IT DONE WELL BUT IT DOESN’T DRAW ATTENTION TO ITSELF.

SOMEONE HAD TO MODEL WHAT A GOOD SHEPHERD WAS SO WHEN JESUS THOUGHT ABOUT HIS LIFE’S MISSION HE KNEW ABOUT THE SHEPHERD WHOSE VOICE THE SHEEP RECOGNIZE; THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO TENDS THE FLOCK GETS RESPECT FOR WHAT HE DOES.

THAT’S THE LEAST WE CAN HOPE FOR THAT WE WOULD BE THOUGHT OF AS GOOD WORKERS WHO DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN.

TO BE REPECTED BY THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW US IS A GREAT THING AND IT IS SOMETHING WE ASPIRE TO.

IT IS OUR HOPE. IT IS OUR DESIRE.

SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, WE ARE DEJECTED BECAUSE WE ARE REJECTED. SOMETIMES WE DO NOT RECEIVE RESPECT AND WE EXPERIENCE REJECTION.

AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY OR HOW WELL WE DO. MAYBE IT’S SOMETHING ABOUT US THEY DON’T LIKE AND WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS. MAYBE IT’S SOMETHING WE SAID. MAYBE IT’S THE WAY YOU LOOK OR THE WAY YOU ACT. MAYBE IT’S SOME PAST HISTORY YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN OR A PRESUPPOSITION PEOPLE HAVE THAT IS BASED ON NOTHING THAT IS TRUE.

LEONARD SWEET REMEMBERS THE STORY OF A LITTLE GIRL NAMED THELMA. SHE WAS 8 YEARS OLD. SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRL TO ATTEND A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN MISSISSIPPI. BEFORE SHE LEFT TO GO TO SCHOOL THAT FIRST DAY HER MOTHER DRESSED HER IN A CUTE PINK DRESS. WHEN THELMA SHOWED UP AT SCHOOL THE TEACHER SAID, “THELMA, I WANT YOU TO STAND RIGHT THERE BY YOUR SEAT. YOU ARE NOT TO SIT.”

THELMA DID AS SHE WAS TOLD, SHE STOOD AS THE REST OF THE THIRD-GRADE CLASS MARCHED PAST AND SPAT IN HER SEAT. AFTER THE OTHER CHILDREN REACHED THEIR SEATS, THE TEACHER INSTRUSTED THELMA, “YOU CAN SIT DOWN NOW.”

WHEN ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL OFFERED THE RIGHTS TO THE TELEPHONE FOR $100,000 TO CARL ORTON, PRESIDENT OF WESTERN UNION, ORTON REPLIED, ‘WHAT USE WOULD THIS COMPANY MAKE OF AN ELECTRICAL TOY?”

WHEN STEPHEN KING ALMOST MADE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MISTAKE WHEN HE THREW IS CARRIE MANUSCRIPT IN THE GARBAGE BECAUSE HE WAS TIRED OF THE REJECTIONS, “WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN SCIENCE FICTION WHICH DEALS WITH NEGATIVE UTOPIAS. THEY DO NOT SELL.” HIS WIFE FISHED IT OUT OF THE GARBAGE.

IN 1998 SERGEY BRIN AND LARRY PAGE APPROACHED YAHOO WITH A SUGGESTED MERGER WITH THE GOOGLE WHICH THEY HAD COFOUNDED. THE YAHOO EXECUTIVES COULD HAVE SNAPPED UP THE COMPANY FOR A HANDFUL OF STOCK. BUT THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE YOUNG GOOGLERS KEEP WORKING ON THEIR LITTLE PROJECT AND COME BACK WHEN THEY HAD GROWN UP.”

WAS REJECTED FOR HIS BROTHER ABEL AND IT ENDED IN AMURDER AND A QUESTION, “AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?”

THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES AS THE CHOSEN PEOPLE UNTIL THE EXILE AND SOME OF THEM THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES AS THE REJECTED PEOPLE. ONE OF THEM WROTE A POEM TO THAT FACT, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU REJECTED ME?”

IT WAS JEREMIAH WHO FELT REJECTED WHO PRAYED TO GOD SAYING, “WHY DOES THE WAY OF THE WICKED PROSPER?” WHICH IS TO SAY, “WHY DO WE KEEP LOSING AND THE PEOPLE WHO DON’T DESERVE IT, WHY DO THEY KEEP WINNING?”

JOB NOT ONLY FELT REJECTED BY GOD FOR ALL THE BAD LUCK THAT HE HAD; HE LOST HIS FAMILY, HE LOST HIS HOME, HE LOST HIS CHILDREN, AND IT GOT SO BAD FOR HIM HE WAS READY TO CURSE GOD AND DIE.

WE EXPECTED TO BE RESPECTED, BUT AT TIMES WE WERE DEJECTED BECAUSE WE WERE REJECTED.

AND THEN WE CAME TO SEE IT. OUR REJECTION WAS A SELECTION. WE WERE REJECTED IN ORDER TO FIND OURSELVES AGAIN. THE STONE THAT WAS REJECTED BECAME THE CORNER STONE. JESUS WHO GAVE HIS LIFE AND WAS REJECTED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS SELECTED BECAUSE HE WAS REJECTED.

HIS REJECTION LED TO HIS SELECTION AND HIS LIFE’S PURPOSE CAME BECAUSE OF HIS BEING TURNED DOWN BY THE VERY PEOPLE WHO HE THOUGHT WOULD HAVE STOOD UP FOR HIM.

MOSES WAS A MURDERER AND HE RECYCLED HIS RAGE AND BECAME THE GREATEST LEADER IN ISRAEL.

JACOB WAS A THEIF AND A SCHEEMER AND HE RECYCLED HIS CUNNING AND BECAME THE FATHER OF A GREAT NATION.

DAVID WAS AN ADULTERER AND HE RECYCLED HIS PASSION AND BECAME ISRAEL’S GREATEST KING.

PETER WAS AN IMPULSIVE BOASTFUL FISHERMAN AND HE RECYCLED HIS PRIDE AND BECAME THE ROCK UPON WHICH THE CHURCH WAS BUILT.

MARY MAGDALENE RECYCLED HER UNDICIPLINED HABITS AND BECAME A COMPASSIONATE LOVER OF GOD.

SAUL OF TARSIS WAS A PERSECUTE OF CHRISTIANS AND HE RECYCLED HIS HATRED AND BECAME A GREAT MISSIONAL LEADER.

RUTH WAS AN IDOL WORSHIPPER AND SHE RECYCLED HER PAGANISM AND BECAME ONE WHO BECAME A PROGENITOR OF JESUS THE CHRIST.

JESUS WAS A FAILED MESSIAH WHO BECAME A MESSIAH OF ANOTHER WAY.

JANE PAULEY REMEMBERS THE DAY IN HIGH SCHOOL SHE TRIED OUT AS CHEERLEADER. IT WAS THE DREAM SHE ASPIRED TO AND SHE JUST KNEW SHE WOULD BE GOOD AT IT.

THE REMEMBERS IT VIVIDLY. THE YEAR WAS 1965. SHE WRITES: “IN SEPTEMBER OF TENTH GRADE, I TRIED OUT FOR JUNIOR VARSITY CHEERLEADER IN THE GYM. SHRIEKS OF TEENAGE JUBILATION REVERBRATED AROUND THE CINDER-BLOCK WALLS WHEN THE NAMES OF THOSE CHOSEN WERE CALLED—BUT NOT MINE. NAMES WENT CARTWHEELING DOWN THE HALLS MY NAME FOLLOWING ALONG IN A WHISPTER SUMMONING THE ONE PERSON WHO WAS LISTENING FOR IT—MY SISTER, IS DISSOLVED INTO HER ARMS; SUCH A SCENE. IT WAS THE SADDEST DAY OF MY LIFE—AND THE LUCKIEST.

IT WAS MY INTRODUCTION INTO THE VAST VARSITY SISTERHOOD OF DASHED DREAMS. SINCE 6TH GRADE I HAD WORN THE COVETED SWEATER EMBLAZONED WITH A LARGE LETTER. THE WHITE PLEATED SKIRT THE TENNIS SHOES THAT PRACTICALLY GLOWED AFTER EVERY COAT OF WHITE LIQUID SHOE POLISH—THEY WERE MINE. THOUGH I COULDN’T DO FLIPS OR SPLITS OR EVEN JUMP VERY HIGH I HAD MADE NO OTHER PLAN.

THEY SAY THAT WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES ANOTHER DOOR OPENS. THE PROBLEM IS THE FIRST ONE DOESN’T CLOSE; IT SLAMS SHUT IN YOUR TEAR STREAKED FACE, WHILE THE OTHER ONE OPENS SO UNEVENTFULLY YOU DON’T KNOW YOU’VE PASSED THROUGH A GOLDEN DOOR. THAT’S HOW IT WAS FOR ME IN 1965 AND SO OFTEN SINCE. LIFE COMES OUT OF THE BLUE.

I SIGNED UP FOR A NOVICE DEBATE TOURNAMENT. THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE FOR A YOUNG WOMAN WHO BECAME DEBATE CHAMPION UNDEFEATED; GOVERNOR OF GIRL’S STATE, THE FIRST WOMAN CO-ANCHOR AT NBC, MEMBER OF THE TODAY SHOW CAST, NEWSMAGAZINE DELIVERER ON DATELINE. SHE IS AN AUTHOR WHO WROTE A BOOK DEALING WITH HER BI-POLAR DISORDER CALLED SKYWRITING, SHE HAS WON MANY AWARDS INCLUDING THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM.’

REJECTED BUT SELECTED BECAUSE HER REJECTION OPENED UP FOR JAME PAULEY A PATH THAT TOOK HER LIFE IN AN EXCITING DIRECTION.

WE CAN LOOK AT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUCCEEDED AND EVERY ONE OF THEM REVEALS WHAT IT MEANS TO SEE REJECTION AS SELECTION.

ONE MAN WROTE, “WE KEEP GOING BACK, STRONGER, NOT WEAKER, BECAUSE WE WILL NOT ALLOW REJECTION TO BEAT US DOWN. IT WILL ONLY STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE. TO BE SUCCESSFUL THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.”

MARK HANSEN WHO PUT TOGETHER THE CHICKEN SOUP BOOKS HAS A MOTTO FOR HIS LIFE THAT IS LISTED IN THE LETTERS SWSWSWSW WHICH STANDS FOR “SOME WILL, SOME WON’T SO WHAT—SOMEONE’S WAITING.”

AND BARBARA KINSOLVER BEST SELLING AUTHOR HAS THIS ADVICE, “THIS MANUSCRIPT OF YOURS THAT HAS JUST COME BACK FROM ANOTHER EDITOR IS A PRECIOUS PACKAGE. DON’T CONSIDER IT REJECTED. CONSIDER THAT YOU’VE ADDRESSED IT TO THE EDITOR WHO CAN APPRECIATE MY WORK AND IT HAS SIMPLY COME BACK STAMPED “NOT AT THIS ADDRESS.” JUST KEEP LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT ADDRESS.”

AND SYLVESTER STALLONE WHO SAID, “I TAKE REJECTION AS SOMEONE BLOWING A BUGLE IN MY EAR TO WAKE ME UP AND GET GOING, RATHER THAN RETREAT.”

HER NAME WAS MEIP GEIS. SHE KNEW A FAMILY YEARS AGO. IN FACT IT WAS DURING A VERY DARK TIME IN HISTORY AND MEIP AND HER HUSBAND KEPT THIS FAMILY THEIR HOME SHELTERED FROM THE NAZIS BUT EVENTUALLY THEY WERE DISCOVERED AND TAKEN TO A PRISON CAMP WHERE THEY ALL DIED.

MEIP FOUND THE DIARY THAT SHE THOUGHT THE WORLD OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO READ. SHE SUBMITTED IT TO A PUBLISHER. THIS IS THE LETTER SHE RECEIVED;

THE REJECTION SLIP READ, “THE GIRL DOESN’T, IT SEEMS TO ME, HAVE A SPECIAL PERCEPTION OR FEELING WHICH WOULD LIFT THAT BOOK ABOVE THE CURIOSITY LEVEL.”

THE DIARY OF ANN FRANK IS ONE OF THE MOST UPLIFTING AND INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS EVER WRITTEN. IT CONTINUES TO GIVE HOPE TO THE WORLD AND THE BOOK HAS BECOME A PLAY AND A MOVIE.

THE NAZI’S TRIED TO SILENCE THE TRUTH. THE PUBLISHER TRIED TO LIVES AND SPEAKS THROUGH HER PROFOUND WORDS.

EVEN DEATH COULD NOT DENY ANNE FRANK THE VOICE THAT HAS SPOKEN THROUGH THE AGES UNTIL OUR DAY. IT WAS A REJECTION THAT BECAME A SELECTION AND IT ALWAYS DOES IF WE WAIT LONG ENOUGH WE CAN SEE IT.

ESTELLE FRANKL WAS RIGHT WHEN SHE WROTE IN HER BOOK SACRED THERAPY , “WHEN ADVERSITY AND ILLNESS ARE VIEWED AS AN ESSENTIAL AND VITAL FORCE IN HUMAN GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION, NOT JUST THINGS TO BE ENDURED OR OVERCOME, THEY ARE GRANTED A SACRED ROLE IN OUR LIVES.”

EVERY TIME WE ARE REJECTED ON ONE LEVEL WE ARE SELECTED ON ANOTHER LEVEL. EVERY TIME THERE IS A INITIAL NO GIVEN TO US THERE IS AN ETERNAL YES TO FOLLOW.

EVERY TIME LIFE REDUCES US IN STATURE AND STRENTH THERE IS SOMETHING OF THE SPIRIT THAT RISES TO THE OCCASION AND HELPS US UNDERSTAND THAT MEANING COMES TO US WHEN WE LEAN INTO OUR PAIN; WHEN WE BEAR UP UNDER OPPRESSION AND CONQUOR IT BY BEING PRESENT TO AND THROUGH IT.

REMEMBERING THE PROTOTYPE OF IT ALL AND THE ONE WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH, CHRIST JESUS WHO WAS “THE STONE THAT WAS REJECTED BY THE BUILDERS THAT BECAME THE HEAD OF THE CORNER.”

HIS NAME WAS JOHN; WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN HE WAS CONSCRIPTED BY THE BRISTISH TO SERVE IN THE NAVY. HE ROSE TO BECOME THE CAPTAIN OF HIS SHIP. ON A PARTICULARLY STORMY NIGHT AND THE SHIP ALMOST LOST AT SEA JOHN DID SOMETHING HE HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE, HE PRAYED TO GOD. AND THEN HE DID SOMETHING ELSE THAT SURPRISE EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM. HE STUDIED FOR THE MINISTRY. AS A PART OF A SERMON AND A WORSHIP SERVICE AND IN REFLECTING UPON HIS ROLE IN THE SLAVE TRADE HE WROTE A SONG.

HIS REJECTION, LED TO A SELECTION AND IT REMINDS ALL OF US THAT THERE ARE BAD THINGS THAT HAPPEN AND GOOD THINGS THAT COME. ALWAYS; ALWAYS; FOREVER.