THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY

Thank You for the privilege of standing here before you tonight. In July 1998. 1 was not sure I could make that statement, even though God's call was impressed upon me so strongly. It is marvelous the way God can transform fear into joy as we give ourselves over to the Holy One in whose image we are Created. Thanks be to God for so great a gift!

The theme for this Annual Conference was given of God. in March of 1998, during one of my usual early morning walks.
An unseen Presence whispered, "The theme for Annual Conference 2000 will be LOVE."
"Wo-o. I thought, that's almost 2 1/2 years away, We don't know yet who the Moderator or Program and Arrangements Committee will be. They choose the theme."

It was as though I could feel a smile when the unseen Presence whispered again,
"The theme for Annual Conference 2000 will be LOVE."

And then the Presence was gone; but the words stuck in my mind, would not go away. They were both comforting and unnerving. I experienced both a quiet peace, yet a disquieting spirit of apprehension. What did this mean? Why didn't the Presence stick around and give me some answers?

Some weeks later the answer was simply, "Trust Me. Obey Me." That was the beginning of a scary, yet delightful and joy filled journey that brings me to this place tonight.

Are you looking for excitement, thrills, joy and fun? Just try following God's call. God has more surprises than a magician, provides more thrills than a carnival ride, MTV or computer games, and the joy increases with time. God provides a remedy for fear, doubt and feelings of inadequacy. What an awesome God has chosen to LOVE us!

Let us open our whole being to the words of our Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel according to John Chapter 13, beginning with the last sentence of verse 1 and then picking up at verse 33 through 34. The setting is the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples. Jesus' words are intended as surely for us modern day disciples as those 2000 years ago.

HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD
"Having loved his own who were in the world, (Jesus) now showed them the full extent of his love."
"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: where I am going, you cannot come."
"A new commandment I give you: Love one another."
"All (people) will know that you are my disciples if you love one another."

The word LOVE can be rather problematic for us in our culture. We use the word so causually.

And God? Do we love God? Like Peter, we quickly answer, almost in disbelief at the question...
"Yes, Lord, you know that I love you," (John 21:16b)
Jesus asks, "Do you love ME more than_______?" You fill in the blank. Is God your first love?

Remember the Pharisees and temple leaders? They had hundreds of laws and rules and they were looking for a way to trap Jesus. So they posed this question:

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke each records this important question, each from a unique perspective, yet Jesus' answer is the same.

The Gospel of Luke connects the question to the matter of eternal life. And Jesus responds with a question of his own:

They knew the scriptures. It was already part of their Law, our Old Testament. (Exodus 20:3-6 and Deuteronomy 6:4-7) Could our problem be we DON'T know the scriptures? Have we experienced them first hand... allowed God to speak to us? Have we relied on hearsay or depended on the word of "experts" as a substitute for a living, personal love relationship with God?

No matter from, which perspective the teachers of the Law come, Jesus' answer was the same, From the beginning, it has not changed. The first and, most important commandment, is:

Notice, it is not an option, there is no alternative. It is the only guaranteed recipe for a joy filled, productive life as measured in the light of eternity... not by the standards of the world. God's Love is the most excellent way.

But like the teacher of the Law in the parable of the Good Samaritan, we want to "justify" ourselves, We look for ways to by-pass this most important commandment. We too ask, "Who is my neighbor?" But in our heart of hearts we know as surely as the teacher of the Law knew. Like him, we choose avoid it, deny it, rationalize our way out of it... anything to not deal with it.

So what is LOVE? Nicodemus also had a problem understanding the power of love. Love has such transforming power. It is like being born again. Jesus compared it to the wind, when he said:

In other words, you can feel the wind, you can see its affects, but you can not contain, control or define it. Neither can we contain, control or define God's love, God's way.

The way of the world is power by force and control. Too often we, in the church, put more trust in the ways of the world than in the ways of God's love. Love may well lead to suffering and pain. Our tendency is to avoid pain at all costs. Love is willing to embrace suffering and pain– not as a victim, but by choice.

Remember Jesus' words... (John 10:16a)

Too often we look for and take short cuts for the sake of expediency, to escape suffering and pain. We live in such comfort and with such freedom that it is difficult for us to even imagine the pain and suffering many of our brothers and sisters choose to endure because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Part of the Nicodemus story is the all time favorite Bible verse John 3:16. I will say a phrase and I invite you to repeat it as you hear me say it.

How does that feel compared to way we often rattle it off without taking a breath? We love to quote that verse, but seldom include the companion verse.

Too often, we assume the fight, even the responsibility of condemning, thinking that is the way to save people, to bring them to Christ. We have not understood Jesus' way of love... the most excellent way, when he said:

Or again when Jesus said:

Although love can not be fully defined, it is experienced by actions and attitudes. The apostle Paul gives a wonderful description of love in his letter to the church at Corinth. If we were to practice this kind of love in our churches, I believe our buildings would burst at the seams with people eager to experience such Christ-like love.

A camp counselor once challenged us to test our love quotient by inserting the pronoun "I" in place of the word "love". A practice I recommend to couples anticipating wedded bliss.

Can you say?

Love is so intangible. Sometimes we need something tangible to remind us of what love is like. The story I want to share with you illustrates the power of love... God's love. It is true and I have permission to tel1 it.

There is a woman in the congregation I serve that has a neurological disease of unknown original and with no known remedy. Carol is NEVER without pain. After years of living with such intense pain, she was ready to call it quits. She called me on the telephone saying that she was going to end it all, she just wanted to say good-bye.

"Carol, I don't say good-by by phone. I'm on my way over and you will let me in!"

Carol felt utterly useless and was convinced that she was of no value to her husband, to her children or grandchildren. But most of all she felt of no use to God. Having recently been baptized, she wanted more than anything else to serve God, to know that she was doing something important for God.

After about 6 hours, she remembered the story of the FUZZIES. There are many adaptions of the original story by Richard Lessor.

The essence of the story is about a people so plain, so ordinary, so simple that they gave away Fuzzies just for the delight of it and to let people know they were loved.

Carol believes this is her ministry, to share God's love through the giving of Fuzzies. So she makes them and packs them with God's love. They are made with such care. Not just any old yarn will do, She chose this yarn for its softness and resiliency.

Most yarns packed as these have been packed would be flat. Notice how nice and round these are, That's the way with LOVE. It doesn't get all bent out of shape when it is stepped on or hurt. Love is resilient! It bounces back.

These Fuzzies are made to represent in every way possible God's love.

Isn't that the way with God's love, once you've experienced it? You want to pass it on...

Love is the only thing that multiples as you give it away. That's God's economy, the most excellent way.

Chorus of Magic Penny...Organ play softly
THE USHERS WILL HELP DISTRIBUTE

Carol's goal was 10,000 by this Conference. She has sent them with me everywhere I have gone during the last year and a half. Let's see how many here tonight have already received a Fuzzie. Will you raise a hand?

Carol accomplished her goal, with the help of some friends because of her worsening condition during the last couple of months. These are Carol's gift of LOVE to the church and to the Annual Conference.

Her fondest hope was to have been here tonight and then to spend some time in the hospitality booth sharing with others the joy of sharing god's love, of giving it away. Love is the most excellent way.

CONGREGATION join in singing....2-3 times

USHERS: Make sure everyone has at least one

Scriptures are from the New International Version and Good News bible, except where indicated.

Emily Mumma, Moderator, 2000