We went with the theme this Sunday of a homecoming dinner. So I decided to take a break from our study on our spiritual armor and speak today about coming home.
There is something within God’s creatures that drives them to go back to a place they call home. We see it in salmon, which spend their early lives in rivers. Soon they swim out to sea and live their adult life. Once fully matured they return to the very spawning ground of their birth, swimming up river, up waterfalls, becoming a food source for bears, other animals, and fisherman. After they spawn, the adults will remain there and die.
We have the American Cliff Swallow that spends its winters in Argentina. But in the springtime, these birds make a 6000-mile trip to San Juan Capistrano often rebuilding the nests they had left behind.
The Pocossin Lake Wildlife Refuge is witness to thousands of Tundra Swan and Snow Geese that travels 4 to 5 thousand miles each summer.
When I delivered bread for a living, I could tell when winter was immanent by the arrival of the seagulls at the Waffle House parking lot. I would feed them bread during the winter months. There was one particular gull with only one foot that I saw for at least four years in a row. I am convinced these gulls returned every winter to their favorite feeding spot.
Even family pets seem to have this homecoming instinct. There have been numerous stories of pets lost on vacation or moved to a new location that have returned to their old homes.
There was the story of Skittles the cat. Skittles got lost while on vacation with his owners in the Wisconsin Dells. After a frantic search, the owners were resigned to give up and return home, certain they would never see Skittles again. But 140 days later after traveling 350 miles, Skittles showed up at the door. His paws were raw and his ribs were protruding from his side. He was nursed into a full recovery
The record for a lost pet goes to Jimpa, a Labrador/boxer cross. His owner had taken him with him when he got a job on a farm 2000 miles away from his original home. Although the owner had accepted the relocation, Jimpa undoubtedly hadn’t. Jimpa disappeared and was discovered 14 months later at his old home.
We also have that desire to return to our home. I remember when I worked I just looked forward to the end of the day and going home. It is seems like every vacation I say I had fun but I am ready to get home and into my own bed. Sometimes the place you were born is not your hometown. I was born in Charlotte but grew up in Parkersburg, W.Va. Therefore, I consider Parkersburg as my hometown.
Sometimes going back home just doesn’t seem the same. I had two found memories of Parkersburg. One was the floodwall. It was a huge hill designed to keep the Ohio River from flooding the city of Parkersburg. The other was Big Walker Lookout Mountain, a tourist attraction that we would pass on Hwy 21 when headed for Charlotte on vacation.
One year I decided to treat my children by sharing my childhood memories with them. They had heard the stories so many times that I was sure they wanted to witness first hand my marvelous experiences. However, 30 years later the floodwall was nothing more than a mound of dirt. It was nowhere near as high as I remembered it. In addition, Big Walker Lookout had been closed for a very long time. All the attractions were rotting and rusting away.
Sometimes church homecomings can be that way. We left our original church when we moved to Denver. We explained why and everyone prayed for us and blessed us. A couple of years later we went back for a homecoming Sunday and the reception was less than friendly. I was a bit confused by it.
But churches can be strange organizations. When I became pastor, 90% of the congregation left. However, I knew why they left and actually expected it. Those 90% were the other pastor’s family members. However, we parted ways with blessings and hugs.
The last five years, however, have been strange. We have had folks come, visit, and leave. I can understand that. It’s the ones who come, partners with us for a while, and then just disappears. Those bothered me somewhat. I invited all of those folks to our dinner today but none responded. I wondered why. If they felt guilty for leaving, I wish I could assure them that there was no reason to feel that way. If they were upset with us, I wish they had shared with me the problem. I want you guys to know I have no animosity toward anyone who left.
It’s like the story of Jacob and Esau. Jacob tricked Esau into giving his rights as the first-born. Jacob then fled for his life. He was away from his brother for 20 years. Now he is returning home, fearful of his brother killing him and his family. He sends gifts ahead. However, instead of killing Jacob, Esau throws himself around Jacob’s neck and both men weep. That is a homecoming. Jacob realizes he can’t live with his brother so he settles elsewhere. But the relationship was re-established and both found comfort that had eluded them for 20 years.
When Crystal first brought up the idea of a homecoming type dinner I was a bit apprehensive. I felt certain that my reaching to those who had left would go ignored. I am certain that some wondered about the motive behind it. But, as Crystal said, it would be a chance to catch-up with each other’s lives. You see, that’s one of the purposes of homecoming- To reflect on where we’ve been.
Acts 14:26-27 “Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed. Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too.”
In Acts 13, we read of the commissioning of Barnabas and Saul (the Apostle Paul) to go preach the gospel in the areas around the Island of Cyprus. Cyprus was the area to which Barnabas called home. John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin accompanied them.
As everyone settled in, they began sharing their stories of the trip. They began on the Isle of Cypress preaching the Gospel. In the city of Paphos, they met a false prophet calling himself Bar-Jesus, which meant the son of Jesus. He tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from them.
From there they traveled to Perga. It was here that John Mark got homesick and left them. Barnabas would have spoken gently of John Mark’s departure. Paul would have been a bit less understanding.
When they left the Island of Cyprus, they went to another city called Antioch of Pisidia. It was there that Paul would contract malaria. Yet in spite of his illness, many Gentiles became Christians. Therefore, the Jews stirred up a riot and ran them out of town.
They traveled to Iconium, then to Lystra. In Lystra, Paul was stoned, drug outside the city, and left for dead. After he recovered, they stopped at Derbe than back to Antioch for the homecoming.
So this left me to ponder about my trip with you guys over the last 5 years. In my office is a wall clock. It plays a few notes from old hymns every hour. It was given to me by one of three ladies that were coming to our church at one time. Every time I hear it play, I am filled with joy of the lovely intention behind the gift.
I have performed three marriages and a funeral for people in our church. I have witnessed growth through the birth of five children since I have been here. In fact, our participation in the Denver Christmas Parade helped to speed Ava’s delivery according to Crystal.
We have been in several Christmas Parades. The one I remember best was when they were calling for sunny weather and we were putting the final touches on the float in the sleet. We have done Denver Days. One year we were evacuated to the school gym because a sever storm with high winds were bearing down on us. Luckily, nothing blew away. Nevertheless, we have had a few muddy weekends at Denver Days. Our participation in Love Denver has become a high light for us every year. Plus feeding the street people at the Freestore is always fun.
We have had great times with our Chili Cook-offs. It has been very competitive I must admit. I came real close to that first place trophy last year. But my second place trophy looks good.
I have watch many of you grow spiritually. God has used me to challenge you to think more about his Word and your ministry. Some of you have come to me and relayed how the sermon that day was just for you and I have assured you that it was. I have had the pleasure of ministering to some during difficult times. And you have helped me to grow. There is not a sermon I prepare that does not minister to me first. And for that, I thank you for that privilege.
But there is also a sense of sadness for those who have left. There are still moments when I ponder those that I loved who chose to walk away. Some left in anger although I made every effort to help mend any hurt feelings between them and us. Some left in bitterness because I would not compromise the truth of God’s Word and give my approval for a sinful lifestyle. Some just disconnected. The strange thing is I could see that one coming. It was in their eyes and their actions. And some just never felt at home. I knew they weren’t staying long.
However, I sowed seed in every life that has heard me preach. I sowed seed into every life that I have ministered. I just pray that these who left are at a place that this seed is now being watered.
Another reason for homecoming is to reflect on where we are.
Acts 14:28 “And they stayed there with the believers for a long time.”
Paul and Barnabas would spend a year unwinding in Antioch. While there, they continued to shepherd the elders of the churches they had planted through letters.
So let’s reflect on where we are now. We are at the lowest level in attendance that we have been in the five years I have been the pastor. I rejoice in seeing the faces of those who attend regularly. I rejoice in seeing the faces of those who attend sporadically. I rejoice in seeing the faces of those who left and came back. But it has been over a year since a new face has visited with us. I am not sure why. We have a nice web page. Every Saturday I advertise on three Facebook groups about our Sunday service. Some people hit the like button. Some people go to our website. But what they don’t do is come through the doors.
As far as finances, we took a hit when someone decided to leave our fellowship. It was a substantial hit. But God has been gracious. Even with losing a faithful thither our bank account is about the same as it was last year. I am able to continue receiving my housing allowance. In the past it was agreed that any funds left in the budget for Pastor’s Housing would be given to me as a Christmas bonus. That item has dried up but I am okay with that. I am not asking you to give more money. My desire is to be open about where we are now. We are not in any danger of closing shop. I am not so discouraged that I am ready to quit.
God set before me this ministry and told me “As long as there is one needing to be fed, you feed them.” As I said last week, there is no power in hell that can close a church. That is a decision made by the builder of the church, Jesus. Therefore, I am here for the long haul.
And the last reason for homecoming is to reflect on where we are going.
Acts 15: 36 - 41 “After some time Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.’ Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.”
This may very well be the first authenticated record of a church split. Paul is ready to go back to the church plants and so is Barnabas. But Barnabas wants to give John Mark a second chance. Paul is absolutely against it. By the fact that the church placed Paul and Silas in the Lord’s gracious care, it seems that the church agreed with Paul.
So Barnabas went to one group of churches and Paul the other. However, time can be a healer. We read in the letters that Paul wrote from prison that John Mark is a prisoner with him. And in a letter to Timothy, Paul asks him to bring Mark because he is helpful to his ministry. John Mark would eventually write the Gospel of Mark found in the Bible.
So going back to the split, Paul had no idea where things were going. And neither do I. I prepare a sermon every week that will speak to 100 as easy as it does 10. Teri and I pray for 15 minutes every Sunday. During that time we pray for whomever God will send. Numbers no longer bother me.
Will we be here next year? I believe we will. Some new faces maybe here. Some old faces may be gone. I can’t see what God has planned. When I became pastor, I thought we were done in three months. I missed that guess by 5 years and 1 month. But I’m planning on winning the next Chili Cook-off. And I’m planning to have our Second Annual Homecoming Dinner the last Sunday of October next year. So mark it on your calendar and get ahead of the game.
