Friday’s thoughts
I thought I’d do something I haven’t done before for “Build a Sermon”; I am posting the sermon as it stands today. It is in a very rough draft state now and much will have to change between Friday and Sunday morning.
“The Art of Being Angry”
Sunday, November 11th
HOW DO WE ELEVATE ANGER TO THE POINT IT IS AN ART FORM? SOME OF THE WAY WE ARE EXPRESSING OUR ANGER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ART; IT’S JUST ANGER AND IT’S NOT BEING EXPRESSED VERY WELL.
EVERY NOW AND THEN WE’LL WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT MAKES US ANGRY AND HOW WE EXPRESS IT.
A CLERK AT A DEPARTMENT STORE SAID TO THE CUSTOMER, “DO YOU WANT THIS ON YOUR CREDIT CARD?” “NO” SHE SAID, “I’LL PAY FOR THIS WITH CASH.” SHE FUMBLED THROUGH HER PURSE AND THE CLERK NOTICED A REMOTE CONTROL FOR A TELEVISION SET IN HER PURSE. “DO YOU ALWAYS CARRY YOUR TV REMOTE?” “NO”, SHE ANSWERED, “BUT MY HUSBAND REFUSED TO COME SHOPPING WITH ME, SO I FIGURED THIS WAS THE MEANEST THING I COULD DO TO HIM.”
ANGER AND HOW WE EXPRESS IT? AND HOW DO WE DEVELOP A THE ART OF BEING ANGRY?
I DON’T THINK IT’S POSSIBLE TO GO THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT BECOMING ANGRY FROM TIME TO TIME. IN FACT SOMETIMES IT IS APPROPRIATE TO BE ANGRY. OUR OUGHT TO BE ANGRY. IT’S WHAT THE BUMPER STICKER SAID ABOUT IT, “IT SAYS IF YOU AREN’T ANGRY YOU AREN’T PAYING ATTENTION.” YOU CAN BE ANGRY ABOUT THE ECONOMY; ABOUT THE WAR; ABOUT PREJUDICE AND INJUSTICE. BUT STILL, HOW DO WE DEVELOP THE ART OF BEING ANGRY?
SOMETIMES IT’S GOOD, WHEN WE’RE ANGRY TO GET EVEN FOR THE FUN OF IT. A LITTLE BIT OF ANGER EXPRESSED FOR THE FUN OF IT IS IMPORTANT. JESUS WAS ANGRY AT THE LAWYERS FOR THE FUN OF IT. HE CALLED THEM A BROOD OF VIPERS; A BUNCH OF SNAKES.
IT WAS PAUL THE APOSTLE WHO SAID, “IF YOUR ENEMIES ARE HUNGRY GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT AND IF THEY ARE THIRSTY GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DRINK. THIS WILL BE THE SAME AS PILING BURNING COALS ON THEIR HEADS.”
SOMETIMES WHEN WE’RE ANGRY WE JUST HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET EVEN FOR THE FUN OF IT; FOR THE MISCHIEF OF IT.
TONY D’ANGELO WAS A TEACHING ASSISTANT WHEN HE WAS A SENIOR IN COLLEGE AND HE WAS ASKED TO MONITOR A FINAL EXAM. HE EXPLAINED TO THE STUDENTS THE RULES AND HE SAID HE WOULD ENFORCE THE RULES; ONE OF WHICH WAS THAT THE STUDENTS HAD TO STOP WRITING WHEN THE TIME HAD ELAPSED. HE GAVE THEM THE TIME AND WARNED THEM TO PUT UP THEIR PENCILS AND STOP WRITING IN THEIR BLUE BOOKS.
“THIS ONE STUDENT JUST KEPT WRITING AWAY. TONY TOLD HIM TO STOP BUT HE KEPT WRITING. “PENCILS DOWN EVERYONE.” TONY SAID, BUT THE SUDENT KEPT WRITING.
TONY BEGAN ORGANIZING THE STACKS OF EXAM BOOKS AND PREPARED TO WALK OUT OF THE ROOM WHEN THE STUDENT CAME TO HIM AND SAID, “HERE, MR. D’ANGELO, TAKE MY BLUE BOOK.”
“I CANNOT ACCEPT THIS. YOU KNOW THE RULES. PENCILS DOWN OR YOU GET AN AUTOMATIC F.”
“PLEASE MR. D’ANGELO, TAKE MY BLUE BOOK.” MY MOM AND DAD WILL KILL ME IF I HAVE TO REPEAT THIS CLASS. JUST TAKE IT, NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW.”
“I’M SORRY, I JUST CAN’T.” D’ANGELO SAID AS HE WALKED OUT THE ROOM WITH THE STACK OF 100 OR SO BLUE BOOKS.
THE YOUNG MAN CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, “MR. D’ANGELO DO YOU KINOW WHO I AM?”
“NO I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND FRANKLY IT WOULDN’T MATTER IF I DID. DON’T TRY TO USE YOUR FAMILY’S INFLUENCE ON ME.”
THE YOUNG MAN LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, “ ARE YOU SURE YOU DON’T KNOW WHO I AM? ARE YOU 100% SURE YOU DON’T KNOW WHO I AM?”
“FOR THE LAST TIME, NO, I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND IT WOULDN’T MATTER IF I DID.”
“WELL, THEN, GOOD”, HE SAID, AND HE SHOVED HIS BLUE BOOK INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STACK AND HE RAN OUT THE DOOR.”
SOMETIMES YOU’VE JUST GOT TO FIND A WAY TO GET EVEN FOR THE FUN OF IT WHEN WE ARE ANGRY.
I REMEMBER A SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN MAZDA FIRST CAME OUT WITH THEIR ROTARY ENGINE AND A MAN IN DENVER BOUGHT ONE AND IT DIDN’T WORK. HE KEPT TAKING HIS CAR BACK TO THE SHOP BUT THEY DIDN’T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT AND THEY WOULDN’T GIVE HIM HIS MONEY BACK AND THEY WOULDN’T CONSIDER GIVING HIM A NEW CAR. HE GOT EVEN. HE SPRAY PAINTED HIS CAR YELLOW, PARKED IT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WITH BIG BLACK LETTERS HE WROTE THE WORD “LEMON” ALL OVER IT. THEY TRIED TO GET HIM TO MOVE HIS CAR FROM THAT SPOT AND TOOK HIM TO COURT BUT HE WON THE CASE.
SOMETIMES WHEN WE’RE ANGRY WE’VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO GET EVEN. WE DO IT FOR THE FUN OF IT. IT’S MISCHIEF, AND IT DOESN’T REALLY HURT ANYONE. AND IT KEEPS US FROM LOSING IT ALTOGETHER.
AND THAT CAN BE DONE ARTISTICALLY AND CREATIVELY.
BUT SOMETIMES TO DEVELOP THE ART OF BEING ANGRY WE’VE GOT TO GET IT TOGETHER FOR OUR SAKE. WHEN WE’RE ANGRY WE MIGHT WANT TO GET IT TOGETHER.
IT HELPS TO CONSIDER WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON WHEN WE FEEL THAT THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS WE HAVE MISSED THE MARK WITH EACH OTHER. FOR OUR SAKE LET US GET IT TOGETHER.
THE WRITER OF MARK WAS TRYING TO DO THAT. THE CHURCH HAD BECOME ANGRY WITH THE ROMAN EMPEROR NERO. NERO HAD STARTED A FIRE IN ROME TO CLEAR OFF SOME LAND SO HE COULD BUILD A TEMPLE TO HIMSELF, AND HE BLAMED THE CHRISTIANS FOR HAVING STARTED THE FIRE. THEY HADN’T STARTED THE FIRE.
WHEN MARK TOLD THE STORY OF JESUS AT THE CROSS, AND THE CHRISTIAN PEOPLE WERE SO ANGRY AT THE ROMANS FOR THE TROUBLE THEY HAD CAUSED, MARK REMINDED THE PEOPLE THAT IT WAS A ROMAN SOLDIER WHO STOOD AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS, AND IT WAS A ROMAN SOLDIER WHO LOOKED AT JESUS AND SAID, “SURELY, THIS MAN IS GOD’S SON.”
AND THE CHURCH BEGAN TO SEE THAT THEY HAD SOME THINGS TOGETHER WITH THE ROMANS OR AT LEAST SOME OF THEM.
JACK KORNFIELD TELLS ABOUT A GYUTO TANTRIC CHOIR, A FAMOUS TIBETAN CHOIR OF MONKS WERE SCHEDULED TO PERFORM AT SAN QUENTIN PRISON AND THE SAN QUENTIN GOSPEL CHOIR WOULD SING IN RESPONSE. AS THE DAY APPROACHED IT BECAME CLEAR TO THE ORGANIZERS THAT THERE WAS A CULTURAL GAP TO OVERCOME.
THE PRISONERS WERE ANGRY AT LIFE AND FELT NO KINSHIP WITH THIS VISITING CHOIR.
WHEN THE MONKS ARRIVED THE SAN QUENTIN CHOIR STOOD BEHIND THEM IN A MENACING POSTURE.
THERE WAS ANIMOSITY IN THE ROOM UNTIL SOMEONE STOOD UP AND WALKED TO A MICROPHONE AND SPOKE, “ALMOST ALL THESE TIBETAN MEN WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY HAVE SPENT YEARS IN HARSH PRISONS. THE COMMUNISTS\ CHINESS ARMY NOT ONLY IMPRISIONED THESE MEN FOR EXPRESSING THEIR BELIEFS BUT THEY TORTURED THEM AS WELL. SOMEHOW THEY WERE RELEASED OR ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM PRISON. THEN, TO FIND FREEDOM, THEY WALKED ACROSS THE HIMALAYAS, THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS ON EARTH. SOME TIED RAGS ON THEIR FEET BECAUSE THEY HAD NO GOOD SHOES. BUT EVEN NOW THEY ARE IN EXILE. THEY ARE FORCED TO LIVE FAR FROM THEIR HOME, APART FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY, AND THEY DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WILL EVER BE ABLE TO RETURN. WHAT HAS KEPT THEM GOING THROUGH ALL OF THEIR STRUGGLE HAS BEEN THEIR SONGS AND PRAYERS. THIS IS WHAT THEY WILL SING FOR YOU TODAY.”
IN AN INSTANT THE GOSPEL CHOIR AND THE TIBETAN MONKS LOOKED AT ONE ANOTHER AND THEY FOUND UNDERSTANDING. EACH GROUP SANG TO EACH OTHER FROM THE HEART, AND WHEN THEIR MUSIC WAS FINISHED THEY CAME TOGETHER TO HUG AND EMBRACE LIKE LONG-LOST BROTHERS. THE SONGS THESE MEN SANG EXPRESSED THE EMOTIONS OF THEIR HEARTS. THEY CAME TOGETHER AND ALL DISTRUST DISAPPAITED.
LET US GET IT TOGETHER. LET US FIND WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON AS WE DEVELOP THE ART OF BEING ANGRY; AND OUR ANGER TURNS TO UNDERSTANDING.
JOHN ED MATHISON TELLS ABOUT A YOUNG PREACHER WHO ATTENDED A PREACHER’S MEETING AND UNFORTUNATELY, HE SAT NEXT TO THE BISHOP. THE BISHOP TURNED TO HIM AND SAID, “OUR TWO O’CLOCK SPEAKER ISN’T COMING. I WANT YOU TO FILL IN.”
“I CAN’T DO THAT. WHAT WOULD I SAY? I’M NOT PREPARED. I DON’T HAVE ANY NOTES.”
THE BISHOP LOOKED AT HIM AND SAID, “LOOK, JUST PRAY AND TRUST GOD AND GOD WILL PROVIDE.”
WHEN THE MORNING SESSION ADJOURNED THE YOUNG MAN WENT DOWN TO THE FRONT PEW OF THE CHAPEL TO PRAY AND HE DISCOVERED A FOLDER NEXT TO HIM. HE OPENED IT AND THERE WAS A SERMON INSIDE. IT WAS A GOOD SERMON SO THE YOUNG PREACHER SPENT THE ENTIRE LUNCH HOUR LEARNING THE SERMON AND AT THE APPOINTED TIME HE PREACHED THE POWERFUL MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE GROUP.
AFTERWORD, THE BISHOP RAN UP TO HIM AND SAID, “SON, WHAT WERE YOU DOING? THAT WAS MY SERMON, AND I WAS GOINT TO PREACH IT TONIGHT. NOW I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO PREACH. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO.”
THE YOUNG PREACHER SAID TO HIS BISHOP, “BISHOP, JUST PRAY, LIKE I DID, AND GOD WILL PROVIDE.”
WHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON? HOW DO WE CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER? IT’S HARD TO BE ANGRY WITH SOMEONE WHO IS A BROTHER OR A SISTER WHOSE LIFE STORY INTERTWINES WITH OURS.
FOR OUR SAKE WE SEEK TO GET IT TOGETHER. ANGER WILL EAT US UP IF WE CANNOT LET IT GO. ANGER WILL DESTROY US IF WE DO NOT FIND A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN CELEBRATE WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON TOGETHER.
THE CLASS I AM TEACHING ON THE SUBJECT OF ISREAL-PALESTINE IS AN INTERESTING STUDY. I DISCOVERED IN PREPARATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN MUCH MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIES OVER THE FOUNDING OF THE NATION OF ISREAL. STEPHEN GOLDSTEIN IS A UNITED METHODIST PASTOR, WHOSE FATHER WAS JEWISH AND WHOSE MOTHER WAS CATHOLIC, AND WHO MARRIED A UNITED METHODIST PASTOR AND WHO SPENT TIME GETTING TO KNOW THE PLIGHT OF THE PALESTINIANS. HIS POINT IS, “IF, IN THINKING ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST, IN OUR CONCERN FOR THE JEWISH ZIONISTS FAIL TO REALIZE WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE PALISTINIANS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LAND IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE A NATION OF ISRAEL, THEN WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD A HOLOCAUST ONTO THE PALESTINIANS. WE HAVE TAKEN A WRONG IN HISTORY AND HAVE PERPETUATED IT.
THE CLASS I’M TEACHING BEGINNING WEDNESDAY WILL SUGGEST, SOMEWHERE AND SOMETIME WE HAVE GOT TO STOP ADDING UP THE ACTS OF HOSTILITY COMMITTED IN THE PAST; AND MOVE BEYOND OUR ANGER. WE’VE GOT TO GET IT TOGETHER FOR OUR SAKE; OTHERWISE WE ARE DOOMED TO LIVE OUT OF AN OLD SCRIPT WE CAN NEVER CHANGE.
IN THE MIDDLE EAST A GROUP OF EX- ISRAELI SOLDIERS REALIZED WHAT HARM THEY DID TO THE PALESTINIANS, AND THEY HAVE FORMED A GROUP TO SUPPORT REFUGEES.
FOR OUR SAKE WE CAN GET IT TOGETHER AND REALIZE WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER LEVEL TOWARD WHICH WE CAN MOVE, AND IT IS FOR GOD’S SAKE. FOR GOD’S SAKE WE CAN LOOK BEYOND OURSELVES AND WE CAN GET OURSELVES CONNECTED TO SOMETHING GREATER THAN OURSELVES.
THE EARLY CHURCH HAD TO DEAL WITH NERO AND 20 YEARS LATER THEY HAD TO DEAL WITH A DIFFERENT EMPORER NAMED DOMITIAN. DOMITION WAS JUST AS RUTHLESS AS NERO BUT HE HAD THE POTENTIAL OF BEING WORSE. HE THREATENED TO TAKE THE TEMPLE TAX TO BUILD MONUMENTS TO HIMSELF, AND HE TRIED TO MAKE THE PEOPLE WORHSIP HIM AS A GOD.
THE CHURCH DEAL WITH HIM IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION. THEY CALLED HIM THE BEAST AND THEY HAVE GAVE HIM A CODE NUMBER 666. AND THEN THEY DID SOMETHING AMAZING.
WHEN THEY REALIZED THEY COULDN’T CHANGE HIS BEHAVIOR THEY BEGAN TO THINK OF WHAT THEY COULD BECOME. THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH. THEY BEGAN TO THINK OF GOD AS THE ALPHA AND OMEGA. THEY BEGAN TO CONNECT TO SOMETHING BIGGER.
JACK KORNFIELD LEARNED ABOUT A 14 YEAR OLD BOY WHO SHOT AND KILLED AN INNOCENT TEENAGER TO PROVE HIMSELF TO A GANG. AT THE TRIAL THE VICTIM’S MOTHER SAT SILENTLY UNTIL THE END AND WHEN THE YOUTH WAS CONVICTED OF THE KILLING SHE STARED DIRECTLY AT HIM AND SAID, “I’M GOING TO KILL YOU.” THE YOUNG MAN WAS THEN TAKEN AWAY TO SERVE SEVERAL YEARS IN A JUVENILE FACILITY.
AFTER THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR THE MOTHER OF THE CLAIN CHILOD WENT TO VISIT HIS KILLER. SHE WAS THE ONLY VISITOR HE HAD. THEY TALKED AND WHEN SHE LEFT SHE GAVE HIM SOME MONEY FOR CIGARETTS. THEN SHE STARTED STEP BY STEP TO VISIT HIM REGULARLY BRINGING FOOD AND SMALL GIFTS. NEAR THE END OF HIS THREE YEAR SENTENCE SHE ASKED HIM WHAT HE WOULD BE DOING WHEN HE GOT OUT. SHE OFFERED TOI HELP SET HIM UP WITH A JOB AT A FRIEND’S COMPANY. THEY SHE ASKED HIM WHERE HE WOULD LIVE AND SHE OFFERED HIM USE OF THE SPARE ROOM IN HER HOUSE.
FOR 8 MONTHS HE LIVED THERE, ATE HER FOOD, AND WORKED AT THE JOB. ONE EVENING SHE CALLED HIM INTO THE LIVING ROOM TO TALK. SHE SAT DOWN AND WAITED. THEN SHE STARTED. “DO YOU REMEMBER IN THE COURTROOM WHEN I SAID I WAS GOING TO KILL YOU?” “I SURE DO”, HE ANSWERED, “I’LL NEVER FORGET THAT MOMENT.”
“WELL, I DID”, SHE WENT ON. “I DID NOT WANT THE BOY WHO COULD KILL MY SON FOR NO REASON TO REMAIN ALIVE ON THIS EARTH. I WANTED HIM TO DIE. THAT’S WHY I GOT YOU A JOB AND LET YOU LIVE HERE IN MY HOUSE. THAT’S HOW I SET ABOUT CHANGING YOU. AND THAT OLD BOY, HE’S GONE. SO NOW I WANT TO ASK YOU, SINCE MY SON IS GONE, AND THAT KILLER IS GONE, IF YOU’LL STAY HERE. I’VE GOT ROOM, AND I’D LIKE TO ADOPT YOU IF YOU LET ME.” SHE BECAME THE MOTHER OF HER SON’S KILLER, THE MOTHER HE NEVER HAD.
WHAT DO WE DO WITH OUR ANGER? IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH TO BE CREATED?
WILLIAM BAUSCH HAS A LITANY OF DUST.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BETRAYED US..GOD FORGIVE THEM.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LET US DOWN.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INDIFFERENT TO US
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CRIPPLED OUR LIVES
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DOUBTED US
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ACCUSED US
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PREFERRED OTHER TO US
FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE HURT US
FOR FRIENDS WHO HAVE DENIED US
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM US
O GOD FORGIVE THEM
FOR OUR SELF PITY
FOR OUR LUKEWARMNESS
FOR TIMES OF DESPAIR AND DISTRUST
FOR OUR REFUSAL TO BE HUGGED
FOR OUR DISBELIEF FOR GOD’S LOVE
FOR OUR SEARCHING EVERYWHERE BUT IN GOD’S HEART
FOR APOLOGIES FROZEN ON OUR LIPS
FOR OUR WORDS OF LOVE UNSPOKEN
FOR COMPLIMENTS NEVER OFFERED
FOR A HEART CLOSED IN SELF-CENTEREDNESS
FOR OUR UNFORGIVING POSTURES
FOR NOT BELIEVING IN FORGIVENESS
O GOD FORGIVE US
AND THE GOLDEN RULES FOR LIVING
IF WE OPEN IT, CLOSE IT
IF WE TURN IT ON, TURN IT OFF
IF WE UNLOCK IT, LOCK IT UP
IF WE BREAK IT, ADMIT IT
IF WE CAN’T FIX IT, CALL IN SOMEONE WHO CAN
IF WE BORROW IT, RETURN IT
IF WE VALUE IT, TAKE CARE OF IT
IF WE MAKE A MESS, CLEAN IT UP
IF IT BELONGS TO SOMEONE ELSE AND WE WANT TO USE IT, ASK PERMISSION
IF WE DON’T KNOW HOW TO OPERATE IT, LEAVE IT ALONE
IF IT’S NONE OF OUR BUSINESS, DON’T ASK QUESTIONS
IF IT AIN’T BROKE, DON’T FIX IT
IF IT WILL BRIGHTEN SOMEONE’S DAY, SAY IT
IF IT WILL TARNISH SOMEONE’S REPUTATION, KEEP IT TO OURSELVES.”
IT WILL BE A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH WHEN WE CAN LOOK BEYOND THE WHAT MAKES US ANGRY AND DISCOVER THE ART OF BEING ANGRY.
SOMETIMES IT’S FOR THE FUN OF IT THAT WE ARE ANGRY AND WE ACT.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT’S FOR OURSAKE THAT WE GET IT TOGETHER AND SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON AND REALIZE THAT WE CAN GET OVER IT.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, FOR THE SAKE OF GOD, WE CAN GET BEYOND IT ONCE WE REALIZE THERE IS AN ART TO ANGER THAT LEADS TO HOPE THAT WHATEVER IT IS; WE CAN CHANGE IT; AND WHOMEVER PEOPLE BECOME THERE IS FORGIVENSS.
REMEMBERING HOW JESUS SAID, “IF YOU LOVE GOD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART AND SOUL AND MIND AND OTHERS AS YOURSELF, THEN YOU ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
If you have thoughts about this sermon or suggestions write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If this email address does not appear just click on the spot where it should be and it will draw up my email. If you are willing to allow others to read your response click on the “comments” box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
