Luke 4: 14-21

“Food, Prison, Prayer, and Money”

Have to admit deciding on this week’s sermon was a challenge.  I mean I had just come back from an inspiring four days at San Quentin prison. 

But then there was our Harvest Dinner last night and the beginning of our Stewardship campaign – I probably shouldn’t ignore that. 

Then Cathy reminded me that today is “Bread for the World” Sunday – which came on the heels of World Food Day on Thursday. 

And finally we are in the midst of our series on Prayer!  What is a pastor to do??? I really pondered on this one … and the answer came back – do all four! 

So… today’s sermon is going to be about an hour.  I hope you don’t mind… JUST KIDDING!

So … in no apparent order let me start with FOOD.  It often starts (and ends) with food for me. J

As I just mentioned, Thursday was World Food Day … recognizing the food crisis around the world.  In conjunction with that, today is also Bread for the World Sunday … Cathy talked eloquently about why we are ardent supporters of Bread for the World.

As you heard our scripture texts being read you had to feel like we NEED to be not only aware but we NEED to be doing SOMETHING about hunger in this country and around the world. 

Here are some facts about hunger: In 2000 every 3.6 seconds someone died of hunger. Some 75% of them were children under the age of five. In 2006 that number has dropped to only one every five seconds. 

We are making progress … but still that means that while we sit in church this morning 800 people will die of hunger. 800!

Almost 20,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes. This is down from 35,000 ten years ago, and 41,000 twenty years ago. But 20,000? Every day???

Today 10% of children in developing countries die before the age of five.

Amazing fact: Famine and wars cause just 10% of hunger deaths, although these tend to be the ones you hear about most often.

The majority of hunger deaths are caused by chronic malnutrition. Families simply cannot get enough to eat. This in turn is caused by extreme poverty.

Besides death, chronic malnutrition also causes impaired vision, listlessness, stunted growth, and greatly increased susceptibility to disease. Severely malnourished people are unable to function at even a basic level.

It is estimated that some 923 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition.

In the United States, 11.7 million children live in households where people have to skip meals or eat less to make ends meet.

As distressing as those facts are, we can beat hunger! We have the means. The financial costs to end hunger are relatively slight.

The United Nations Development Program estimates that the basic health and nutrition needs of the world's poorest people could be met for an additional $13 billion a year.

We are spending $10 billion a month in Iraq! Animal lovers in the United States and Europe spend more than that on pet food each year.

I hope you take the time to fill out the enclosed insert.  There is so much more we can do.  

That being said, I really appreciate and am amazed at your generosity at bringing food for the pantry.  Big success … and very needed.  Thank you!

Jesus also talked about setting the prisoners free.  Now I am not suggesting we fling wide the prison doors … but we do need to minister to those who society has locked away and has tried to forget. 

In Matt. 25 – how we meet Jesus. Kairos – 4 day course in basic Christian Love.  Most in prison … all they know is fear, rejection, anger, mistrust … they don’t know or feel love.

2 Great Commandments: love God and love one another.

Not asked to condone what they’ve done …we are asked to love them.  Amazing what a little love and attention can do.

Ex. B-day cake … celebrate NEW LIFE … “my name on cake!” Amazing that ALL came forward to see their name on the cake. That little gift of attention and love made a difference.

Forgiveness of self and others … dozen cookies … give away to those they have a beef with.  Selfless actions bring amazing results… healing wounds … Not all gave away … but most did … and it makes a difference!

Doesn’t take much to make a difference.  1^st time many of these men have felt real love with no strings attached.  First time they have felt cared about in a place that is about anything but.

Great opportunity to meet Jesus inside the walls of San Quentin.  God’s love changes lives.  It is changing the men inside and it can change ours … if we open up to it. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our great event on Saturday evening… HARVEST DINNER.  Great food, great entertainment, great company … great spirit!

We have a great need in the coming year.  We have lost NLC … their attendance has dwindled and will soon be meeting at Tony and Monica’s home.

We have lost some very good and faithful members – like the Olanders.  The economy has hit many of us very hard. 

We have a great need for folks to step up in faith and support this church.

HOWEVER, God doesn’t need you money … he wants your heart.

If God has our heart – prisoners will be ministered to, our food pantry will be constantly full, our budget will be balanced. NOT because we will feel guilty … but because we love God and love one another. 

It’s scary to give our heart to God … it should comfort us that God already knows us completely … that there is no where we can go that God isn’t already there… Maybe that’s scary too.

BUT that’s why we have this PRAYER SERIES … As we learn how to get to know God better … as we learn more about how to get into relationship with God … our trust increases.

As we learn to trust God, we can believe that God really loves us and all our warts.  Nothing we have done/will do can affect God’s love for us (hard for inmates to believe).  God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us.

This coming week we will be learning HOW TO PRAY.  Philip will give us helpful hints … ie how to plan for prayer … Remember prayer isn’t natural for us … will take time and practice.  This series gives us a chance to do just that.

Do you want to give your heart to God?  Do you want to lose the fear of giving your heart to God and to enter into a new and gentler way of life … full of love and compassion and joy?

Starts with relationship – it is all about connecting with a God who can’t wait for you to open the door.

We’re on our way … but remember this is just the beginning, but friends, it  is worth the journey! 

Okay … there it is … and just under an hour. J  We are being  invited to be doers of the word, not hearers only.  We are being invited to put our money where our hearts are. And at the same time we are being invited to sit with God and just be.

We can do it … AMEN!