Death of a Sermon

In spite of the fact that I do enjoy a good train wreck - I shudder when I witness one from the pulpit!  And as I paw through my notes from my Colorado trip, I am again reminded of the first such I have had the discomfort to sit through in very many years!

Aaaaaargh!

The pastor is hardly to blame, he paced, he stuttered, he threw in dramatic pauses - he just was not Adrian Rogers, whom he was desperately trying to mimic ... as if success in ministry is approach and not the content.  (one of my real issues with seminaries anymore!)  The best part was that as he reached the point where a wrap up might have occurred - he said, "Oh man!  I am ten minutes over ... Guess that is it.  Your dismissed."  I felt so very sorry for him.  It was so apparent that he was called by his parents to the ministry, well educated and apparently several years in the pulpit.  Yet ... he knew the problem ... God needs to call you, not your parents checkbook.

But, I am not here to bash him, I kind of liked him and would love to help him find a solid career test!  Actually, with his energy, youth ministry screams to have him!  But, there are no youth ministry rock stars, everyone wants to be the senior pastor rock star - sigh .

So, what was he going for?

2 Samuel 4:4
2 Samuel 9

Two obscure references and an equally obscure man named Mephibosheth.

People looked confused, who the heck was this guy and what the heck did the pastor have to say about him?!?!?!!?

And believe it, or not, I knew exactly whom he was!  Remember those pills I was taking in May and early June that was supposed to trigger memory?  Well, it did and as I had been driving to this random church (I always go to church on Sunday no matter where in the world I am, not because I have to, but because I enjoy searching for that real church ... the one that wants me.) - I had been thinking about Mephibosheth and how oh so very similar he is to me!

He was born handicapped, I would guess some sort of foot, ankle or knee issue.  He was further handicapped when a nurse dropped him.  He could not stand, he could not walk, and in his culture he had no basis for hope ...  I was born club footed as are most of the Spencer family, it was surgically corrected.  I lost my knees at 16 in a horrible skiing accident, surgically corrected. And then,  lost a leg ...  Like Mephibosheth, life seems to have few options now and be over.  Yeah, stark reality there.

Now, Mephibosheth had one thing going for him, he was the son of Israel's future King David's best friend, who was the son of the current King of Israel.  So, King of Israel marches off to an ill conceived war, takes his son Nathan along with him and both are butchered in the ensuing blood bath.  And what is to become of Mephibosheth?  Their is no one to protect him, no one to provide for him and the royal line is always cleansed to take care of any future embarrassments like usurping the throne.

King David remembers his best friend's death and wonders how he can honor his memory ...  ?  And has the crippled son brought to him and vows his care of the man for life ...

Well, if you have read your history of Israel, you know that David's Kingdom was an absolute zoo as far as peace or stability were concerned.  Everyone betrayed everyone, even David betrayed God on multiple occasions.  And in his last appearance in history, Mephibosheth, is in a plot, turns on David - whom had saved him!

So, what is there to learn from this?

David did the right thing by honoring his friend's memory.
But it would appear that Mephibosheth was not cut of the same cloth as David and Nathan had been.
David's failure with God, led to failure of his kingdom and rule.
It cost him his family, the lives of his children.
It cost him his home for many years.
It cost him losing God's Spirit.
And suddenly he realized what he had done and not done!

If you are a Mephibosheth, learn, remember and cherish gratitude.
For anything, everything you have is because the generosity of others ... and God.
For me it means placing myself below all others, with or without my leg attached.
I cherish each day, no matter how empty it is.

If you are a Nathan, cherish your friendships, they are only good for life - yours!
Build up and not tear down others around you.
Trust others as they trust in you.

And if you are a David ...

You did well to remember your friend from troubled times.
You will well to offer life to someone all others would executed.
You kept your promises.

Now earnestly remember  your God .... when times are easy ...

With the recent death of the man whom has been a role model in making whatever I am today, I am forced to think how can I honor him?

God will provide that answer in due time I imagine ...