Sermon:
April 27, 2003
Morning Services 

Scripture:
2 Corinthians 9:9-12    
James 3:13-18

“Get a Life,” exclaimed the preacher to the congregation. “Get a Life,” responded the congregation to the preacher. “Get a Life.” This is where Dr. Ritter’s Easter sermon left us last Sunday and “get a life” marks the starting point for this week’s post-Easter sermon. Today’s worship is centered on what it means to “Get a Christian Life.” Because we are Easter people, we are called to get a life, a new life in Christ. 

It is appropriate today that we, as a community, celebrate the baptism of Cameron Edward Montgomery. Baptisms in the early church were traditionally done at the Easter Vigil so that Easter marked a day of new beginnings. Today, one week after the shouting has died down, we come to give illustration to what it means to get a Christian life. 

Much of Christian instruction contained in the Holy Scriptures is written in the form of letters. Today we have heard from Paul and James, often considered the yin and yang of the Christian journey. Paul stresses that we are justified by faith and it is out of faith we act.  James is more explicit in saying faith without works is dead. Their letters give us guidance about the Christian calling. Since letters have been a traditional source of instruction about life and since titling this sermon, I encountered a love letter from Michael Jordan. More about that later. Today, I have composed this sermon as a letter to Cameron in hopes that he will someday pass along his wisdom as a letter so that the chain of faith letters remains unbroken. I hope each of you has your own letter for the generations to follow. Therefore I am sharing with the whole community, Cameron’s new community of faith, his letter within a letter. 

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Dear Cameron, 

Today is a special day for you, your formal introduction by your parents and family to your new church family through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. You are joining a very special community. You will remember little of today’s events and will need to rely on the reporting from your parents. 

The world context in which you come to be baptized is war and its aftermath, especially in the Middle East, the cradle of your religious heritage. It is also a world frightened by the S.A.R.S. (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) pandemic. 

Much of the world is convulsed by religious, ethnic and economic conflicts. It is a world where terrorism is the number one concern and security—economic, physical and emotional—is a major issue. People are crying out for the security that only freedom can bring. A universal cry for justice and righteousness can be heard around the world as people seek economic security. We want security from violence in whatever form and safety for our families. It is a world in which people everywhere cry out, “Imagine Peace,” just as James cried out in his letter, “A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.” My prayer for you and your generation is that you might be more successful in achieving the true peace than this and preceding generations. Today in our worship we sang a chorus “to do God’s will.” People of good will have differing views on how this might come about, but the goal is the same. This is the context in which you are being baptized. When you revisit this letter years and decades hence, you will have perspective on these events. There is only one source of security in the midst of the world’s trials and travails, and that is faith in Jesus Christ wherein all things shall work for good. 

You are also being baptized today in the context of the word of God. Today, two passages from the Bible were read. The first was from Paul where he exhorts the Corinthians to sow generously, having faith that their generosity to the people of Jerusalem will result in a harvest of righteousness. The first message for the Easter people, be they of Corinth or Birmingham, is to give freely of your gifts. Cameron, think of yourself as a conduit for God’s grace. If you do the sowing, remember God does the harvesting. Giving is an attitude of abundance. For many it is an obligation, a duty, but for Paul it is a free choice in response to the good news of Jesus Christ. 

As one who grew up in the Pacific Northwest, I was told many stories by my grandfather, whom I called “Pop.” Pop shared his experiences among the North Coast Indians (now called First Nation peoples by our Canadian neighbors), especially the Haida and their ceremony called a “potlatch.” A potlatch was an elaborate ceremony associated with special occasions such as weddings, maybe even baptisms, and especially when a tribal leader was appointed. The sign of tribal leadership was to show how much one could give away. 

As a boy, I remember visiting a museum exhibit at the British Columbia Historical Museum in Victoria, Canada on the artifacts given at a potlatch. The show chronicled gifts from different eras. It was interesting to see the items given away: elaborate canoes, ornately-decorated fishing spears, beaded clothing, carved bowls and utensils. I was impressed by the beauty of the items. But what I failed to notice until I came to the display of present time items (which included a refrigerator, plastic cooking utensils, rifles, mail order fishing jackets and fishing poles) was that what was being given away through the ages were the necessary, everyday items needed for economic survival. The “aha” moment was my understanding that the Haida were giving away not surplus items, but the seeds for living. This spirit of giving is what Paul is talking about in his letter to the Corinthians. 

You are also being baptized in the context of a worshipping community. The community into which you are being baptized is a connectional community. Not only are we connected to each other by being members of First Church, Birmingham, we are connected to others around the world who call themselves Methodists and, in turn, we are connected to all those persons who call themselves Christians. Your parents have chosen this community of faith for you, Cameron, to get your start on getting a Christian life. My own experience of why people choose a church, Cameron, is because the basis of communities of faith is not theology, not charismatic preachers, not beautiful worship, but because they are communities into which we are accepted for who we are. The church community is one place where the system of values is not based on what we have, but whom we serve. To be is not to have. To be is to give. You are in one such community. There are many styles of worship, many styles of leadership and preaching, many songs, but one church. 

As we learn from the letters in the Bible and letters written by others down through the ages, including letters from loving friends, parents, grandparents and godparents, my cousin Stephanie Quainton has written a book, Harvest of Light, which is her love letter to a life lived enthusiastically in God’s world. In the book, she writes a touching tribute to a dead log, which saved her life. What she first thought was a dead log, a fallen tree, upon closer examination turned out to have signs of new life in it—new hemlocks, centipedes and moss. The tree was both dead and alive. “I  pulled out  my sketchbook... Immediately I began to draw the nursemaid log; its title already had formed in my mind. I’d call it Lifecycle… Turret Island is for the living after all, I told myself, not just for the dead.” (pp.34-35) Cameron, this is the Easter message. The wood of the cross, the place of death, is in fact our nursemaid, the source of new life. 

While on the topic of letters, last Easter Sunday, on the occasion of his last professional basketball game, a full-page ad appeared in the New York Times sports section in the form of a letter from Michael Jordan, addressed to Basketball, his profession. Who is Michael Jordan, you ask? Cameron, he is one of the greatest basketball players of all time as of this writing. It was a wonderful thank you note and love letter to basketball. Michael Jordan wrote: 

Dear Basketball: 

 It’s been almost 28 years since the first day we met... 28 years since my parents introduced us. 

If someone would have told me then what would become of us, I’m not sure I would have believed them. I barely remembered your name. 

Then I started seeing you around the neighborhood and watching you on television. I used to see you with guys down at the playground. But when my older brother started paying more attention to you, I started to wonder if maybe you were different. 

We hung out a few times. The more I got to know you, the more I liked you. And as life would have it, when I finally got really interested in you, when I was finally ready to get serious, you left me off the varsity. You told me I wasn’t good enough.

I was crushed, I was hurt. I think I even cried. 

Then I wanted you more than ever So I practiced. I hustled. I worked on my game. Passing. Dribbling. Shooting. Thinking. I ran. I did sit-ups. I did push-ups. I did pull-ups. I lifted weights. I studied you. I began to fall in love and you noticed. At least that’s what coach Smith said. 

Since then you have become so much more than just a ball to me. You’ve become more than just a court to me. More than just a hoop. More than just a pair of sneakers. More than just a game. 

In some respects, you’ve become my life. My passion. My motivation. My inspiration. 

You’re my biggest fan and my harshest critic. You’re my dearest friend and my strongest ally. You’re my most challenging teacher and my most enduring student. You’re my ultimate teammate and toughest competitor. You’re my passport around the world and my visa into hearts of millions. 

So much has changed since the first day we met, and to a large degree, I have you to thank. So if you haven’t heard me say it before, let me say it now for the world to hear. Thank you. Thank you, basketball. Thank you for everything.

Thank you for all the players who came before me. Thank you for all the players who went into battle with me… Thank you for the will and determination, the heart and soul, the pride and the courage. Thank you for the failures and the setbacks, the blessings and the applause… Thank you for the education and the experience… Thank you for teaching me the game behind, beneath, within, above and around the game…the game game. 

I know I’m not the only one who loves you. I know you have loved many before me and will love many after me… So as our relationship changes yet again, as all relationships do, one thing is for sure. 

I love you, basketball. I love everything about you. I always will. My playing days in the NBA are definitely over, but our relationship will never end. 

Signed: Michael Jordan

With apologies to “His Airness,” I hope some day you, Cameron, can write a Dear Jesus letter which begins: 

It’s been ___ years since the first day we met, on my Baptism Sunday: April 27, 2003. It has been ___years since my parents and godparents first introduced us. 

Someone told me then what would become of us, but I’m not sure I would have believed them. I barely knew your name. 

Then I started seeing you around the neighborhood, school, church and in our youth group, even on television. I used to see you with guys in the Family Life Center. But when my friends started to pay more attention to you, I started to wonder. Maybe you were different. 

We hung out a few times. The more I got to know you, the more I liked you. And as life would have it, when I finally got really interested in you, when I finally got serious, I didn’t know what it meant to play on your team.

But some teachers, coaches, parents, youth leaders, Paul and James taught me. So I practiced the faith. I hustled. I worked on my game—giving, sowing, helping, caring, praying, worshipping, studying your word. I did acts of kindness. I began to fall in love and you noticed.

You found me at confirmation. You found me in marriage. You found me in my work. You found me in parenting. You found me in retirement. And you became the Lord of my Dance. 

You’ve become my life. My passion. My motivation. My inspiration. 

You have been my biggest fan and toughest model. You’re my dearest friend and my strongest ally. You’re my most challenging teacher. You’ve been my passport around the world and my visa into the hearts of millions. 

So much has changed since the first days we met, and I have you to thank. So if you haven’t heard me say it before, let me say it now for the whole world to hear. Thank you. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for everything. 

Thank you for all the saints and sinners who came before me. Thank you for all the saints and sinners who do battle for me. Thank you for all the saints and sinners who will come after me. Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for the believers and doubters. Thank you for the failures and the setbacks. Thank you for the education and the experience. Thank you for teaching me the game behind, beneath, within and around the game of life.

I know I am not the only one who loves you. I know you have loved everyone before me and will love everyone after me. But I also know that what we had was unique. It was special. So as our relationship changes yet again, as all relationships do, one thing is for sure. 

I love you, Jesus. I love everything about you and I always will. My playing days in the game of life are almost over, but our relationship will never end. 

Much love and respect, 

Signed: Cameron  Edward Montgomery

Blessings, 

Rev. Rodney Quainton
April 27, 2003 

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What is your love letter waiting to be written?