Proper 6
June 15, 2008

Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35-10:23

Some of you may have wondered what happened this past week. It is rare if I don’t post if I am anywhere near a computer with internet access. Let’s just say it’s been a very interesting couple of days. This week’s scriptures are inspirational in that respect. In the Psalms, we are reminded of God’s love and God’s salvation. We are reminded that God cares for us. Paul picks up on that same theme several hundred years later, this time in relation to what Christ has done for us. For me, today these words resonated big time with me. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Yes, I know it is difficult to praise God at times. We are reminded that when we go through difficulties they are designed to strengthen us. I am reminded as I read verses 6-8 of Romans shows how much Christ has loved us by coming to die for our sins. I know I would find it hard to die for someone who was my enemy and yet that’s exactly what Christ did for us on the cross. Christ did not die for the goodness in us. Christ died for the badness – the sin in us. He died while we were sinners – not when we were His friends – For that I say, “Praise the Lord!” Christ died to redeem us from our former ways – Christ came to free us from the chains of sin.

When we consider all of that (That God loves us and that Christ came to die for us) what should be our response? Jesus told us in Matthew to go and preach the Good News of the Kingdom. The Good News is the Gospel. I was thinking of this ancient litany as I was walking over to church for our Men’s Breakfast – Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ has risen! That is the Good News – That is the hope that we need to give to people who so desperately need Good News.

This week I finished my second week with Salvation Army. It has been an extremely rewarding week. On Friday, I was asked to pray for someone – which I considered a privilege. There are so many hurting people out there – there are so few workers in the field – we need everyone doing their part. So many times we think teaching the Good News is difficult, so complicated but it is not. Jesus commanded his disciples to Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Unlike some in our area, I do not believe that these commands became null and void when the Bible was completed. I find it interesting that Jesus sent his disciples out to minister without any money – now that is faith – probably the faith that Jesus talks about – the faith of a mustard seed. Jesus told his disciples that they would be taken care of. He warned them they would need wisdom and be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. These are trying days – inflation, high gas prices, needy people around every corner – And Christ has called us to go preach the Good News of the Kingdom. Let’s go!

I thought that this week I would write a little bit about my father, Rev. Dick Christman. He was an evangelist for 16 years and spent most of his life ministry. He has traveled all over the United States and has traveled to India and the Caribbean too. That is what most people who know my father would think about when they think about him. Most of them would know me as Dick Christman’s youngest daughter.

I would like you to see the other side of my father — the dad he was and is today. When I was young, we would watch the news and talk politics. If he was home on Monday, he would be the motivation of getting to school. I knew when I heard his footsteps upstairs, it was time to go to school. I hated school and on Mondays, I would give my mother a hard time and would try to talk my way out of going to school. He was and is a fun guy. One of the things that would happen occasionally at the dinner table would be water fights. It would start with one person putting water on someone’s chair when that person left the table. That would start water being thrown across the table and all of us getting wet. It would end with one of us children being thrown in the shower by my father. My dad did all kinds of great things in the ministry and led thousands to the Lord. In my father’s eyes, one of the greatest things he has done is his life was being the men’s basketball team coach for United Wesleyan College. I traveled with him and the team for three years and we enjoyed that time together. When we get together we talk about those times together. My mother did not enjoy us talking about traveling because she was not a part of that event. If I had any one who put the thought of being a pastor. I would have to say it started when I was in college and helping my father out at Vera Cruz EC church.

I am a lot like my father — that is what most people tell me. To be honest, I have put some of the white hairs on his head. I remember one of those moments was when I was 15 years of age. Our school played their basketball games at a Marine Armory. My mom was in the hospital and my father came home to take care of my brother and me. I thought I was not getting enough attention from my father. So I decided to dress up and try to pick up a Marine to get my father’s attention. Well, let just say I did get my father’s attention but I did not get any Marines’ attention.

So that is a little view of the real Dick Christman. Happy Father’s Day, Dad!