Broadway Christian Church · Columbia, Missouri

Morning Worship · September 14, 2008

Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Prayer of the Day

Lord, as we come, we come contemplating the changes that have already occurred in our lives and anticipating the changes that will come as we follow God’s holy plan. Help us to discover through your Creative Word and Holy Sacrament the possibilities for our lives in the present and the bold new future you are bringing. We are celebrating the marvelous past of this great community and, based on your promises and what you have already done for Broadway Christian Church, we know you are opening future possibilities that astonish us as we get a glimpse of the vision you are providing. Thank you. Amen.

Scripture

Luke 8:26-35

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Message

A New Script

Dr. Larry E. Gallamore

Imagine a famous Hollywood producer acquired the rights to your life story.  He or she is making a full-length feature film about your life.  Of course, you would have the option to commission one of three writers to write your script.  The first writer would write your script exactly as it is now.  Nothing would change.  The second writer would make only one or two changes; either you would meet a new person or move to a new location, and your life would change.  The third writer would be the most outrageous of all.  You would become a totally-new person, the person you’ve always wanted to be, doing the things you’ve always wanted to do.  There are days when that third new script sounds pretty appealing.

In today’s Scripture lesson, Jesus encounters a man who desperately needed a totally new script.  The Bible describes him as a demonic.  No doubt, he was in need of some psychological help.  Confronted with the word “demonic,” I consulted my Diagnostic and Statistical Manual which is a bloated psychological catalogue of what’s wrong with people.  It doesn’t even list a category called “demonic.”  Perhaps he’s off the charts.

When professional analysis fails, I’ve learned to go to Mr. Webster.  I guarantee you, if you can’t find something in Webster’s Dictionary, it doesn’t exist.  As usual, Webster explains a demonic as someone possessed by demons, someone who needs all the help he can get.  

Let’s examine this fellow named Legion.  His mind had succumbed to evil.  He no longer had control of his mind.  He was demonized and governed by outside powers that had gotten into his head.  He was at rock bottom.  He started his conversation with Jesus using self-condemnation.  Listen to his words.  He said, “Jesus, what have you to do with me?”  Little did he know that Jesus could heal him.  He had no idea Jesus would cleanse his heart, heal his mind, and restore his spirit.  According to the Bible, his friends found him sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.  How’s that for a new script?  Before, he was a demonic, living in the tombs, not exactly first-class accommodations.  Wearing no clothes, everyone was afraid of him.  He had broken chains when they tried to chain him.   Shackles wouldn’t even hold him.  Everyone’s safety would have been in jeopardy just having this guy around!

A few weeks ago, our six-year-old grandson Seth, who lives in St. Louis, was visiting us.  We were talking, and Seth started telling us about an annoying kid at school.  Some of you know my doctoral work is in psychology, so I couldn’t resist asking Seth, “What do you mean the kid is annoying?”  Seth replied, “Trust me.  You wouldn’t want him for your grandson.”  And I say to you this morning, “Trust me.  You wouldn’t want Legion for your neighbor.”  At least, not before Jesus saved him.  Jesus changed his script so radically that those who knew him were astonished when they discovered the change that had come over him.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that Jesus is a master at changing people. The Bible is full of examples.  He gave a poor, repentant thief a place in paradise.  He turned a vengeful murderer into an apostle.  He dramatically changed a prostitute into an example of divine love.  We’re talking major changes in scripts. You may remember how he changed the woman at the well (John 4:7-26).  She went from a fallen woman hiding out to avoid being taunted, living in sin, married five times, and living with her potential sixth husband to a bold, new woman excited about life, witnessing and inspiring her friends to follow Jesus.  Friends, we’re talking major changes in scripts with incredible results.

I love these stories, and so do you.  Do you know why?  Because we know Jesus can do the same for us.  He’s ever willing and ready to save us and give us a new script.

I want to tell you three reasons why you should consider Jesus’ offer of a new script this morning.  Some of you are wondering why three reasons?  Everything good comes in threes. I’ll prove it.  We are taught to think in threes starting in childhood: Three little pigs, three blind mice, three Marx brothers, The Three Stooges, Three Tenors, and for all of you theological types, the Trinity-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Here are three things I want you to remember.  First, by following God’s script we can become a lot more of what we were meant to be.  Secondly, by following God’s script we can focus on our strengths since he has already forgiven us of our weaknesses.  Thirdly, the minute you start following God’s script, your spiritual health improves 100%.  You can hand over the weight of the world to Jesus.

By following God’s script, you lose that feeling that life is passing you by.  You focus in prayer on that higher voice that keeps calling you to be all you were meant to be.  You start taking steps to achieve things you value.  You are called to a life of joy, peace, and enthusiasm – not just for the present moment but for the rest of your life.  If you want your life to be all it was meant to be, follow Jesus.  If you feel you are fighting a losing battle, try following Jesus.  As you have already heard this morning, following God’s script makes possible an abundant life for you.  With God, there are no losing battles.  In fact, God guides us through our struggles into new life, new directions, and new possibilities.  Your future is always open as you follow Jesus.

Let me tell how God opened the future for a pharmacist named Mary.  Mary was a pharmacist for a large drugstore chain.  I first met Mary when I went in to fill a prescription in St. Louis several years ago.  As she filled my prescription, no one else was in the pharmacy so I asked, “How do you like your work?”  She said, “Oh, it’s fine.  Between my salary and good benefits, with any luck I’ll be able to retire while I’m still young enough to enjoy life.”  Her response struck me as an unusual one.  I asked, “Was that the way you thought it would be as a child?”  Many people in areas of science start seeing themselves in professions as children.  When I asked, “Is that the way you envisioned your work,” Mary’s face grew troubled.  “Well, no,” she replied, “I guess not.  I dreamed of owning a pharmacy in a small town.  I’d get up in the middle of the night to fill prescriptions for people who needed them.  Everyone would know me, as I walked down the street.  That’s the way I thought it would be.”

I said, “Mary, don’t lose that dream.  I feel God has something like that in mind for you.  Some day you’ll own your own pharmacy.”  Mary said, “But I don’t have any money.  I’m just getting by month to month with my family.”  I responded, “Mary, don’t ever lose that picture of owning your own pharmacy.”  I left Mary that day with a picture in her mind of owning her own pharmacy.  

Approximately six months later, Mary and her husband went on vacation.  As they drove through a small town, they stopped at a local pharmacy.  It was the only one in town.  It was a lot like Mary had pictured in her mind.  They started a conversation with the elderly pharmacist.  Mary told him she dreamed of owning a pharmacy in a small town like this.  He told Mary, “You can buy this one.  It’s for sale.”  Mary responded by saying, “I don’t have the money.”  The owner said, “That doesn’t matter.  You can make payments.  You’ll be helping me with my retirement.  You can make monthly payments, run the business, and make a good living.”  To make a long story short, Mary talked it over with her husband and her children, and they moved to that small town, and Mary’s dream came true.  By following God’s script, she became the owner of a small-town pharmacy; exactly what she had dreamed of being.  With God’s help, you can see similar results in your life.

This is the first reason you should follow God’s script for your life.  The second reason is God will help you focus on your strengths.  Isn’t it wonderful that God focuses on your strengths?  God sees the best in you.  Aren’t you tired of living in a world that revolves around fixing your weaknesses?  Focusing on shortcomings has become a global obsession.  We’ve finally discovered that people have several times more potential for growth when they invest energy into developing their strengths instead of correcting their weaknesses.  I’ve noticed people do better, feel better, and live better when they pay attention to their strengths.  Have you noticed how Jesus always focuses on the best that is within you?  That’s why your life starts to improve immediately when you follow God’s script.

You may have heard the story of the military history buff who died and, as he went through the gates of heaven, asked St. Peter who was the greatest general of all time?  St. Peter pointed to a man in the corner and said, “That man right over there.”  The military historian said, “St. Peter, there must be some mistake.  I knew that man over there.  He was just a common laborer!”  To which St. Peter replied, “You are right, but if he would have focused on his strengths instead of his weaknesses, he would have been the greatest general of all time.”  

That story illustrates a truth that is all too common.  Often we focus on our weaknesses, but when we follow God’s script, God points us in the direction of our God-given strengths.  The talents that God gives us last for a lifetime, but all too often, they go untapped.  If I were you, I wouldn’t leave here this morning without asking God to show you what God has in mind for you.  God will show you your strengths, and you can be a lot more of what you were meant to be.

If you are not already convinced, there is one more thing you need to know. You’ll discover immediately when you begin to follow God’s script, you can hand over the weight of the world to God.  Let me explain.  If you are tired, driven, worried, weak, or depressed, it may be because you are trying to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders.  We break down trying to carry the burdens of the world.  Let God help you carry those burdens.  Turn them over to Jesus, the Tireless One, the All-Powerful One, the Wise One, the Resourceful One.  Your best days are ahead.  Some of you may remember the stunning movie Life is Beautiful.  A father finds himself and his young son in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany during World War II.  Trying to shield his son from the horrors of the camp, he tells the boy that it’s all a game and the first one who gets scared loses.  Somehow he is able to continually convince the boy that none of the cruelty they are seeing is real, but only a play that is taking place.  He even predicts the ending of the play saying, “At the end of the game, son, a big tank with smiling men will be coming into the camp and declare the winners.”  When, indeed, the American tanks pulled into camp, the boy runs leaping and yelling in joy to greet the Americans, yelling at the top of his voice, “We won!  We won! We won!”  Your destiny is not determined by the circumstances of the world. Your faith in God determines your destiny, or your destiny is determined by your faith in God.

Just a slight change of script shielded the child from immense mental and emotional harm.  By following Jesus, a change in script can shield you from the burdens and weight of the world, and you, too, will declare, “We won! We won! We won!”  Make sure God is the One directing and you are the one starring in your life story.

So be it. Amen.

Benediction

Directing Lord, in this stage that is your world, prompt us to play our part. Help us to develop meaningful roles. In this story where you are Star, call us to choose best-supporting actions. Amen.