This was given at the Lynnville (IL) UMC on July 06, 2003. I had actually written it for the Sunday before, but had convinced our new District Superintendent to join us for his very-first Sunday in our District and thought he would get-a-kick out of it, so I wrote a different one for that Sunday and gave This one for Him to hear!!

I will also note that, since he was there I had asked him to serve Communion, so I added the last two paragraphs to address That part of the Service… Just F.Y.I…

 

One of the traditions observed at the Edwardsville High School during my years there was for the senior class to take off one day close to graduation and go on a ‘Class Picnic’. And since even in 1971, the year of my graduation, most of that area had already begun to ‘grow’ into one big ‘city’, it was not unusual for these picnics to be held wherever there might be a park large enough to accommodate all of us. (To refresh my memory I hand-counted everybody in my yearbook – there were 428 of us!) So it was that my senior picnic was held at a park just north of Roxana.

Obviously, parking 300 – 400 cars anyplace at one time could present a problem, let alone in a park, so we had all been encouraged to ‘carpool’ as much as possible, and I had opted to ride along with two of my friends, each of which was named Dave.

Now, it is important to point out here that due to the work that I did as a technician and projectionist during my high school days, not to mention singing in various choruses and performing in plays, I was probably known by most of the kids in school. But that doesn’t mean that I was one of the ‘popular’ kids. I was far too conservative for some groups and far too radical for others. For example, I used a pocket-protector for most of my earlier high-school years that was filled with a small assortment of writing utensils, but primarily contained various screwdrivers and such. But on any given day it might be covered up by the peace-emblem that I had made myself out of balsawood and hung around my neck with a piece of dog chain that I had dipped into a can of gold paint! It really looked neat when I wore it with the black Nehru shirt that I had back then.

Having said that, a person might well assume that the three friends in that ’52 Buick that beautiful spring day in 1971 were probably similar in character in that we were not part of any ‘elite’ group, and were probably just a little bit ‘nerdy’… and you’d be right!

After the picnic had broken up, we opted to cruise around Roxana and the surrounding area for a while… after all, ’52 Buicks with a straight-8 were a very uncommon sight even then, and you never knew when some group of girls might be attracted to it! As we drove past the football field at the Roxana High School we noticed the cheerleading squad practicing out on the field. After driving around the block three-or-four times to confirm that, yes, they were cheerleaders and, yes, they were on the field I was ‘dared’ to go talk to them. Dave pulled into the lot and parked where each of them could watch, and I got out. The girls had seen us pass, and at this time were taking a break and sitting and standing together in a group right in the center of the field. I could see them looking our way as I got out of the car and then turn to say something to one another… just what, I could only imagine.

Steeling myself, I began walking towards them. Afterwards, both Dave’s told me that my whole body was tensed in an attitude of determination! I cannot remember any other walk being as far and taking as much time as that distance to the center of that football field! But there was no backing down! I literally marched across the field as I watched the cheerleaders watch me coming and continue to make comments to one another. And all of the way there, my only thought was, “What Am I Going To Say!” To say I was worried would be an untruth… I was petrified! But I kept going! Marching up to them I stopped, said “Hi”, and then asked the only thing that I had been able to come up with. After politely listening to their replies… most of which were wrong, I might add… I thanked them and marched my way back to the car.

Dave and Dave were still sitting in the car and watching me, and as I got closer, I could see the surprise and excitement on their faces that I had, indeed, walked up to and addressed a group of Cheerleaders! As I climbed in, each of them where clamoring, “What’d you say? What’d you say?” …

 

“ I asked them if they could tell me how to get to Edwardsville from here?”

 

I have never lived that down!

In our Gospel reading today, Jesus calls the twelve Apostles to Him and sends them out two by two. The Life Application Commentary says that, “(The Apostles) had been trained in both the teaching they should give and the reception they could expect. It was time for them to do their “student teaching.” Jesus could only travel so far and do so much. This sending out of six groups of disciples geographically multiplied his efforts. Jesus gave his disciples responsibility and authority to act as his representatives in both teaching and power. This was in keeping with the Jewish idealism that saw someone’s representative as being the very presence of that person. The Jews would understand the teaching and ministry of these disciples to be as if Jesus himself had come to them. This was why they had been chosen. Also, by sending them out in pairs, Jesus was satisfying the Jewish demand for two witnesses. After all, Jesus was sending them out to witness.

I’m sure that this partly accounts for why some religious orders send their young people out to go door-to-door in groups of two. But the Life Application Commentary also points out that by traveling in pairs they can strengthen and encourage each other…they can provide comfort in rejection… they can give each other discernment, and fewer mistakes will be made… and, they can stir each other to action as a counter to idleness or indifference.

As Jesus sent the Apostles out, He also instructed them to, “Take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bread, no bag, no money in your belts,” and to, “Wear sandals but not an extra tunic.” His point was that they must learn to put their faith in He who was directing their work, and not in worldly concerns. In fact, one of my commentaries lists five things that we can learn from this one action. The first is to focus on God’s spiritual power, not on worldly goods and frills… We must also go further and do more than current supplies might seem to allow… We must learn to worry less and trust more… We must keep our lifestyles simple and efficient… And lastly, we must all remember that when our mission is over, the only achievements worth talking about will be stories of faith tested, enlarged, and affirmed.

What a difference it might have made on that spring day back in 1971 if either, or both, of my friends had come along with me! I might have been ‘strengthened’ enough to have actually said something intelligent… something meaningful… something of impact… like, ‘do you come here often?’ My point is, however, that we DO draw strength from one another. That is one reason why it is important for Christians to attend services regularly… it is important to take part in Christian activities, whether at the church or in the community. Being together strengthens us… refuels us… and helps us get through those periods when we might feel like we are facing life all alone.

We Christians often must face and deal with the world on a day-to-day basis without another Christian nearby to strengthen and comfort us… but we are NEVER alone! God is with us! Not only that, but as we come together as Christians to Worship… to sing praises… to fellowship with each other and with God… we learn to appreciate one another… to support one another… to pray for one another… so that at those times when we seem most vulnerable and most alone… we might KNOW in our hearts and in our minds that we are loved… we are cared for… we are each valuable members of God’s family!

Another very vital part of coming together as Christians occurs when we partake of the Lord’s Supper together. For, it is at this time that we should all come together as one to share in the anguish that filled Jesus as He faced what He knew was coming… to feel the hurt and pain of knowing that one of His own would soon betray Him… that the agony of the nails through His flesh would soon become a reality… and yet to also feel… and share… the Unfathomable love that he had for each of us sitting here today. He was MORE than willing to face all of those things for our sake. And because of that, we can all also share the unbelievable joy in knowing that we are saved… that our sins are forgiven and the slate wiped clean… that God is in His heaven and all will be right with the world!

All will be right with the world when we accept the gift that God has offered us through His Son, Jesus. And as a sign of that acceptance, let us all come together and celebrate this very special occasion with our Lord.