DuBUQUE

FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, CHICAGO
JoHN M. BUCHANAN, PASTOR
SCRIPTURE

CD Mark 1:16-20

(CD Aoskue Ve

MOSES IS DEAD. |Arres FORTY YEARS
ee

-

OF WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS THE
fee ss

PEOPLE OF ISRAEL HAVE ARRIVED AT A
oS | iia)

river.\ ON THE OTHER SIDE THEY CAN SEE Fur fu Gat)
a ee

4 wwe ==
THEIR DESTINATION,\ THE PROMISED LAND, "

JOSHUA SENDS OFFICERS THROUGH THE

ENCAMPMENT: \ To THE ANXIOUS PEOPLE THEY
ANNOUNCE:
"PREPARE YOUR PROVISIONS, FOR
IN THREE DAYS YOU ARE TO CROSS
OVER THE JORDAN, TO GO IN TO
TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LAND

THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD GIVES

Ye...
There \s _ WO ace — haw be ma Muited
ty swore feuaily's or ComMuvaty 5 twacte

OwA 7 ees \ Sut + S are Wowored + blessed ns ar
pee Murr b yo \pe gerd o— Mus Yorn scguctt cod

occ|@ Sew ~
Avd we sore iP of You! Tp inciers i. Ap pds "

wa ade ovr Cogetlates, prayes, Wypes + lou
2-76 A Yo me MMe Your gradveim.,

YOU TO POSSESS." [JOSHUA

1:11]

You MAY NOT IDENTIFY WITH MUCH IN

THE BIBLE. | You MAY NOT EVER HAVE SEEN A

BURNING Busi, \aNp THE VOICE OF GOD MAY

baa

NEVER HAVE SPOKEN DERECTLY TO YOU, AND
*~orve Vow vuhek “Ao ds Weeb

weter. AND YOU MAY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT
MN (ETT
WHATEVER IT IS THAT THE BIBLE IS ABOUT,
REE Lsteetstaiiiniene sy
IT IS ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO OTHER
be eR
PEOPLE.
However’). THERE IS NOT_A ONE OF
US WHO CANNOT IDENTIFY WITH THOSE PEOPLE
Seo eT RIS

GATHERED ON THE BANKS_OF_1HE..vW

Rrver,\ ALL THEIR BELONGINGS, ALL_THEIR

TRADITIONS LL THEIR HISTORY BEHIND
seeroracacecteah le cinema ea iad

rien, [reenanc THROUGH MORNING MIST INTO
Sr

TSED LAND.

on 1's ae
IN FACT, THOSE PEOPLE AT aE MOMENT

THE FUTURE, \rHe PR

ao

AND PLACE IN THEIR JOURNEY, REMIND ME A
L semenaitaten en: al

LOT OF THIS MOMENT AND THIS PLACE AND

_ Woe eee Ln A,
THIS PARTICULAR ENCAMPMENT QAZEE BANKS
ae

OF ANOTHER RIVER.
RE

How ARE THEY FEELING THAT MORNING,
Sener

FORTY YEARS OF NOMADIC WANDERING ABOUT

Ls sienteniaiet inn dl

TO COME TO AN END ... FOUR DECADES OF A
ROUTINE THEY HAD LONG AGO ACCOMMODATED |
ee — * wd »

ABOUT TO CONFRONT A RADICALLY NEW
er ont

rorure?|| MY GUESS IS THAT THEY ARE
=r,

ANXIOUS, scarep. \ Tuey FEEL LIKE GOING
f —,;

BACK, AND IF THAT IS NOT POSSIBLE, THEY
a
ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING GOING NO
Pa irae

FURTHER. \ THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT
mre” pesiielveaity

Gd
You Wow feel

OR Nee ts

Jee GMa of YOUs
ficky years 1T de
rereualee «_ few
referers Ye G-"l0

STOPPING RIGHT THERE wane THE VERGE OF

JORDAN" -) AS THE OLD HYMN PUTS IT.
Bs oreo

W IS TO SAY, THEY ARE FEELING A LOT
Pen Yl
~
LIKE .

WHO CAN'T IDENTIFY WITH THEM? ; IN

STEPHEN AMBROSE’S FINE NEW BOOK,

UNDAUNTED COURAGE, A CHRONICLE OF THE
ed
“nere
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION, +R IS AN

ACCOUNT OF MERRIWETHER LEWIS’ WRITING AN

ELOQUENT AND POIGNANT ENTRY IN HIS
Sea

JOURNAL ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 7, 1805.

Lae)

HE WAS IN HIS BUFFALO SKIN TePee,| IN THE

WHAT IS NOW CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA, WHERE

==
THE KNIFE RIVER JOINS THE MISsouURI.
EE eS ee

THAT DAY HIS TINY EXPEDITION HEADED INTO

A WILDERNESS NO EUROPEAN AMERICAN HAD

es

EVER SEEN sone | LARGE KEEL BOAT,
ee

WHICH HAM SERVED TO CARRY SUPPLIES,

WEAPONS, \AMMUNITION ,\ FOOD AND A SECURE

PLACE FROM ATTACK, WAS TURNED AROUND AND
MEE

Cn]

SENT BACK DOWN THE RIVER TO ST. Lours.
eet tet

Sere

THE LITTLE BAND WOULD HEAD FOR THE

Pacrrire OCEAN ALONE.

LEWIS WROTE:

"OUR VESSELS CONSISTED OF SIX
SMALL CANOES (AND TWO LARGER
ROW poats). | Tuzs LITTLE

i.

FLEET, ALTHO’ NOT QUITE SO

RISPECTABLE (SIC) AS THOSE OF

COLUMBUS, OR CAPTAIN COOK,

eee

WERE STILL VIEWED BY US WITH

AS MUCH PLEASURE AS THOSE

i

DISERWEDLY (STC) FAMED
ADVENTURES EVER SUFFERED
THEIRS: [a I DARE SAY WITH
AS MUCH ANXIETY FOR THEIR
SAFETY AND PRESERVATION. | We
WERE NOW ABOUT TO PENETRATE A
COUNTRY AT LEAST TWO THOUSAND
MILES IN WIDTH, ON WHICH THE
FOOT OF CIVILIZED MEN HAD
NEVER TRODDEN: | THE GOOD OR
EVIL IT HAD IN STORE FOR US
WAS FOR EXPERIENCE TO
DETERMINE, AND THESE LITTLE
VESSELS CONTAINED EVERY
ARTICLE BY WHICH WE WERE TO

EXPECT TO SUBSIST OR DEFEND

OURSELVES. "

AND THEN LEWIS BECAME REFLECTIVE,
WRITING BY CANDLE LIGHT IN HIS TEPEE ON
ie

THE EDGE OF THE UNKNOWN:

"THE PICTURE WHICH NOW
PRESENTED ITSELF TO ME WAS A
MOST PLEASING ONE,
ENTERTAINING AS I DO, THE MOST
CONFIDENT HOPE OF SUCCEADING
{sic} IN A VOYAGE WHICH HAD
FORMED A DARLING PROJECT OF
MINE FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS, I
COULD BUT ESTEEM THIS MOMENT
OF MY DEPARTURE AS AMONG THE

MOST HAPPY OF MY LIFE.” | ———}

[STEPHEN E. AmBROosSE, UNDAUNTED

Courace, New YorK, SIMON AND

ScuusTer, NY, 1996, p. 212]

LEWIS SHOULD,—<aMiiigm, HAVE BEEN

SCARED TO peatu. \ IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE

rerio

A MORE FRAGILE OR VULNERABLE PROJECT.
el

WHAT IMPRESSED ME ABOUT HIS JOURNAL

bea ed tena Cb ateanian |

ENTRY IS ITS EXPRESSION OF PLEASURE.

LEWIS WAS HAPPY WATCHING ALL VISIBLE
MEANS OF SUPPORT, ALL SECURITY, ALL

CONTACT WITH THE WORLD, SAIL DOWN THE

rrver. | IT'S ALMOST AS IF HE KNEW THAT

a te)

IT WAS. THE DEFINING MOMENT IN HIS LIFE:

A CONVERGENCE OF HUGE DYNAMICS -- HIS

ee

PARTICULAR GIFTS, AND A SPECIFIC
Pee rn irnanispmeiemdimndainiiddaiianaens a

ATT,

SITUATION, A NEED, A CHALLENGE, WHICH

REQUIRED HIS GIFTS. \ IT'S ALMOST AS IF

LEWIS KNEW THAT HIS BEING THERE, | eapane
Ee SSS

GE wee

THE EXPLORING PARTY INTO THE NEW

LOUISIANA PURCHASE ON BEHALF OF THOMAS
JEFFERSON AND THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
WAS WHY HE HAD BEEN BORN, THE VERY

PURPOSE _OF HIS urre.\ IT’S ALMOST AS IF

LEWIS KNEW, IN THAT MOMENT OF RADICAL

xunmngrieys;| RGXEAL. TRUST,\ KNEW HIS
ere

a Ti |

CALLING, HIS vocarz0n. | "I COULD ESTEEM

THIS MOMENT AS AMONG THE MOST HAPPY OF

MY LIFE." |

My PROPOSAL THIS MORNING IS THAT

=e

THE LIFE OF FAITHFULNESS IS A JOURNEY, A

oO led

gio

MOVING FROM PLACE TO PLACE AT THIS

EXPERIENCE -- SO VERY COMMON IN LIFE

ee

ITSELF + BECOMES RELIGIOUS, | BECOMES AN
Se i "==,

EXPERIENCE OF GOD’S PRESENCE, GOD'S

Lenom, (G0o"s GRACE FOR us,| FAR MORE
2 —

or
FREQUENTLY THAN BURNING BUSHES, VOICES
ivy vs sQeci fic. sinew, ,

OUT OF THE BLUE Of =aymics
Daa |

It IS ONE OF THE MOST CONSISTENT

MOTIFS IN THE TRADITION OF JUDEO-

fee Er
CHRISTIAN RELIGION, ( THE BIBLICAL

SS
TRADITION.

THE STORY IS ABOUT PEOPLE MOVING
fa aaa a

a

FORM SECURITY TO FREEDOM, |[FROM CERTAINTY
De ed

TO RISKINESS,HFROM PREDICTABILITY TO

Lda

LT]

naperness.f SAFETY TO SALVATION.
enseeniiee Leet ine ncthiniamea 1

THAT'S THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING
RT oe IE_WBEGINNING,

THINK OF ot, \rae PROTOTYPES, | ADAM

¥
AND Eve, | MoTHER AND FATHER OF US ALL,

eee § #8 Hee

GET KICKED OUT OF THE GARDEN, WHERE
Fa ee ad

EVERYTHING IS SAFE AND SECURE AND
mpmsiconiconyp.

preozcraste \\ HUMAN HISTORY STARTS WHEN

10

THEIR SECURITY enos..| Now TRADITIONALLY
a, BY
THAT STORY IS EVIDENCE OF Gop's
eee
DISPLEASURE AT THEIR pasongpzeure, aur
i, ee

THE BEST OF OUR THEOLOGIANS HAVE ALWAYS
ee Pane eared
TH ERT
. f
SUSPECTED THAT 730NBE ISN'T ROOM.IN THE

GARDEN OF EDEN FOR HUMAN wxsror;| THAT
= scence

HUMAN BEINGS HAVE TO TAKE cHARGE,\START
secret ca wy emtatza

RCL rat ty

MAKING DECISIONS -- INCLUDING SOME VERY

BAD ones \\Have TO BE THROWN OUT OF

PARADISE BEFORE THEY CAN BE WHOLE AND
2

Baar pana

HAPPY AND saveo .\\ Goo, THE OLP STORY

Wem

REMINDS US, NOT ONLY THROWS THEM OUT,

GOD KNITS THEM GARMENTS FOR LIFE OUTSIDE
SRN

al

PARADISE.

CAND THEN,/IN WHAT BIBLICAL

SCHOLARSHIP _KNOWS IS THE PRIMAL BIBLE

tal

story, \ABRAHAM AND SARAH, ELDERLY,
. Ds a aprtiteabiorets Maewia

12

SETTLED, STABLE,
es eee

SOMETHING PREPOSTEROUS: | "GO FROM YOUR

HEAR A VOICE THAT SAYS
Lee

COUNTRY AND YOUR KINDRED, | AND YOUR
eee TS

PARENTS’ HOUSE TO THE LAND I WILL SHOW

vou." |

CAN YOU IMAGINE THE DAY THEY TRIED

TO EXPLAIN THAT TO THE NEIGHBORS?
a Sa

ABRAHAM IS SEVENTY-FIVE. \ He AND SARAH
pone — =o EET

HAVE NO curoren. \ THEY HAVE LIVED IN
eee een | cial miata)

ONE PLACE FOR FIFTY vears.\\ Tuey ARE

comrorraate; \| uP at 7:00 FOR COFFEE AND

THE NEWSPAPER AT 7:30;| vax THE DOG AT

BET SE ie ig

8;00,| ncn, NAP, \cocyrazes, DINNER, TV

TILL BEDTIME, THE BUFFET AT THE CLUB ON
Renner

ae

Tuurspay.|[ CaN YOU IMAGINE THE. DAY SARAH

AND ABRAHAM TELL THEIR NEIGHBORS THEY

eee gh

ARE SELLING THEIR PLACE, HAVING A_ GARAGE
EE =.

12

SALE, CASHING IN THEIR C.D.’S AND

LEAVING?

(“Wiere ARE YOU GOING, arana? >

To A RETIREMENT VILLAGE?”

C Wen, ACTUALLY wor. \ ACTUALLY WE

eecceeierans

DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE gone. | WE'RE

HEADED FOR THE PROMISED LAND, BUT WE

REALLY DON’T KNOW WHERE IT rs.\ So we’ RE
bei

TRUSTING GOD TO SHOW US AND TO PROVIDE

See Be

FOR us \{ Ano WE HATE TO BRING IT UP, BUT
Saal

WE'RE EXPECTING THAT SOMETIME SOON,

1 AGE TLE

BE PARENTS, NOT JUST OF A CHILD, BUT AN

SARAH’S GOING TO BE precnanr|

ENTIRE watzon \\ THat's A WHOLE OTHER

story! \ anyway, WE'RE OUT-OF HERE."

THINK ABOUT WHAT_THAT PR STORY

IS SAYING ABOUT HUMAN LIFE AND ABOUT GOD
7 Dana nt

13

AND ABOUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED FOR THE
Dna es aad 7k is
JOURNEY,

THINK ABOUT THE ASSERTION <<

BREATHTAKING ASSERTION }- THAT THE
CREATOR Goo, | THe ONE WHO CALLS BEING OUT
F NOTHINGNE FORM OUT OF CH

oO HI ss,| ORM O oO AOS, |

PENETRATES HISTORY AND HUMAN ENTERPRISE
feta rit

AND CA

ASSERTION THAT GoD’S REALITY IS

oe
ACCESSIBLE NOT MERELY IN HISTORY --
See 5
TRADITION -- CUSTOM -- BUT THR, FUTURE; >

THAT GOD'S REALITY IS NOTU PUSHING US
hibaiitocelo EN

Freon .
RAeRmM BEHIND,| BUT GUT AHEAD; PULLING us

INTO THE rurure. \ Tan ABOUT THAT
F Dee na te tab ear

INCREDIBLE THEOLOGICAL ASSERTION THAT

Gop IS MAKING(NEW AND UNLIKELY THINGS

warpen:| char Gop EXPECTS PEOPLE NOT TO
eee

14

LE ENQUGH TO

BE TOO serrieo,|{ ro BE

RESPOND. | frars IS, THE STORY WILL TELL
ai Da

US, A PECULIAR Gop WHO PREFERS TENTS TO
See

BUILDINGS; & GOD WHO IS SUSPICIOUS OF

pee
TEMPLES AND RELIGION BECAUSE TEMPLE
be aa | Pe ecard come

RELIGION HAS A WAY OF BECOMING SO TIED

[EE

UP IN ITS TRADITIONS, IT FORGETS ABOUT

Gop, /A GOD WHO LIKES TO BE ON THE WAY --
a cic we

al

IN THE WILDERNESS WITH THE peopte;\a Gop
ee erat

WHO PROMISES TO PROVIDE LOVE AND COURAGE
: “2 AT,

SUFFICIENT ENOUGH FOR THE JOURNEY.

IT EMERGES AGAIN sacnrn,\ x THE EXODUS AND

IN THE EXILE WHEN GOD CALLS PEOPLE

: See er a

TO BREAK OUT OF THE OPPRESSIVE ROUTINE

Pen

oF BABYLONIA CAPTIVITY.

15

("00 nor REMEMBER THE FORMER THINGS” )

Gob SAYS THROUGH THE VOICE OF THE
Ce

PROPHET.

(00 NOT CONSIDER THE THINGS OF OLD,

I AM ABOUT TO DO A NEW THING. | Do you

NOT PERCEIVE IT. I WILL MAKE A WAY IN

i eaanmnnemmel

THE DESERT ay

THE STRONG IMPLICATION BEING THAT

Car RE eta vf

THE NEW THING, THE WAY IN THE DESERT, IS
SDE 7

ACTUALLY @ HIGHWAY. UPON WHICH GoD’S

Lane arc J

PEOPLE ARE TO WALK, TO MOVE.

==) AND, OF COURSE, THERE IS THE
ommz,

CHAPTER OF THE STORY TO WHICH WE HAVE

| BEGINS
OUR CLOSEST AFFINITY WHICH WENMWGS WHEN A

MAN WALKS BY A GROUP OF FISHERMEN

bn

MENDING THEIR NETS AND SAYS:

Bn |
(Come, FOLLOW ME.” )

16

IT OFTEN SEEMS THAT MOVING,

TRAVELING, | GETTING UP AND GOING
exnonernh

asa

SOMEWHERE NEW IS WHAT FAITHFULNESS MEANS

a eine il

IN THE Breve,| | Ano IT IS ALWAYS AN
meciercrrardt

EXPERIENCE OF EXHILARATION AND ENERGY

=n oe

ULTIMATELY, BUT FIRST IT IS AN

EXPERIENCE OF ANXIETY AND FEAR AND

(ely chawnee,
Ponape.

IN FACT SOMETIMES_IT SEEMS THAT THE
OPPOSITE OF FAITH IN THE BIBLE IS NOT

SIN OR unpeLrer\ aut THE REFUSAL TO

MOVE.
6 gee

THE TITLE OF THIS S3RMEN COMES FROM
eer Se

Pana ene bsh DearS TR

A DISTINGUISHED MAN OF verrens| A

COMMENTATOR ON MODERN uare,| THE LATE Dr.
EET,

seuss. | pe. SEUSS WROTE WONDERFUL
Be sen AP taka

CHILDREN’S BOOKS WHICH $OMEHOW ALSO

a

L?

MANAGED TO BE WONDERFULLY ADULT BOOKS.

ONE OF THE Feereeeaes OF NOT HAVING
Ey
LITTLE CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE IS THAT YOU
an

NO LONGER HAVE A SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE
See

REASON FOR READING THE CAT IN THE tar. \

REEN Ecos & Haw \ YenrLe THE Tuerte, | our

Ou, THE PLtaces You'’Ltt Go/Is A

of BOOK FOR GRADUATES OR FOR ANYONE ABOUT

TO MOVE INTO A NEW curure | I FOUND IN

IT, A WORD FOR THOSE PEOPLE _PEERING

ov? —

ar : owl THROUGH THE MIST OF THE RIVER INTO THE
glk fee

PROMISED Law \ ano A WORD TO THIS

Va
oe" CONGREGATION OF GOD'S PEOPLE AS IT
eee aa

PREPARES TO LAUNCH INTO A NEW FUTURE,
EEE

Ser

AND A PERSONAL WORD FOR EACH OF US.
eras

“CONGRATULATIONS!

TODAY IS YOUR DAY.

18

You'RE OFF TO GREAT PLACES!
You'RE OFF AND Away!

YOU HAVE BRAINS IN YOUR HEAD
You HAVE FEET IN YOUR SHOES
You CAN STEER YOURSELF

ANY DIRECTION YOU CHOOSE.
You’RE ON YOUR OWN.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW.
AND YOU ARE THE GUY WHO'LL

DECIDE WHERE. TO Go."

THERE ARE SOME RISKS. lor. SEUSS

WARNS THAT THE GOING WILL NOT ALWAYS BE
er ee

SMOOTH OR EASY. \

"IM SORRY TO SAY $O

BUT SADLY, IT'S TRUE

19

THAT BANG-UPS
AND HANG~-UPS

CAN HAPPEN TO YOU.

"YOU WILL COME TO A PLACE WHERE
THE STREETS ARE NOT MARKED.
SOME WINDOWS ARE LIGHTED.

BUT MOSTLY THEY'RE DARK.

A PLACE YOU COULD SPRAIN

BOTH YOUR ELBOW AND CHIN.

Do YOU DARE STAY OUT?

Do YOU DARE GO IN?"

A FRIEND OF MINE DESCRIBES HIS

ENDING UP IN MINISTRY AS GOD PULLING HIM
=a aaa aErcimcmes

across 1,000 mILes oF pRazere | Hrs HEELS
ae 00

DUG IN, \PLOWING UP A PAIR OF FURROWS

20

FROM COLORADO RIGHT UP TO THE FRONT DOOR
Da nel eo
oF McCormick THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY." \

Dd el

SOMETIMES IT SEEMS THAT THE
leer
OPPOSITE OF FAITH IN THE BIBLE IS NOT
bs dese ieihmruieracenens aor)
SIN OR HERESY BUT THE REFUSAL TO GET UP
AND MOVE. l\oe. SEUSS PUT IT THIS WAY:
=e ee
"YOU CAN GET SO CONFUSED
THAT YOU'LL START IN TO RACE
TOWARD A MOST USELESS PLACE --
THe WAITING PLACE
FOR PEOPLE JUST WAITING
FOR A TRAIN TO GO
OR A BUS TO COME,
OR A PLANE TO GO
OR THE MAIL TO COME,

OR THE RAIN TO GO,

OR THE PHONE TO RING

24

OR THE SNOW TO SNOW

OR WAITING FOR THEIR HAIR TO GROW.”

ALVIN TOFFLER TAUGHT US THAT IN A
ey,

TIME OF RAPID SOCIAL CHANGE.| WHEN

EVERYTHING IS MOVING AND NOTHING IS
eee

ee
PINNED DOWN YOU AND I ARE INCLINED TO
ee, ee
CREATE FOR OURSELVES WHAT TOFFLER CALLED

{ "PERSONAL SECURITY zones," Janes OF LIFE
PROTOS Ie Onere

THAT ARE STABLE, UNCHANGING, OFTEN
Sie Dna ny

NOSTALGICALLY, \ BASED ON THE past. \ [ano
eee f

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ("PERSONAL
mem

STABILITY ZONES," }I SUBMIT, IS RELIGION.
bmi

ep,
REGARDLESS OF THE FACT THAT FAITH

Repro
IN THE BIBLE IS DESCRIBED AS A WALES
Ra é

A MOVING FROM HERE TO ruere.| we WANT

Ta

STABTL TTY =} "GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME

eer tre

22

RELIGION. Fir IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR

MOSES, IT’S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME," we

DON’T WANT TO FOLLOW JESUS INTO A NEW
areal

rurure. \ We WANT HIM TO COME TO US AND
=" - ana

WALK IN A GARDEN WHERE THE DEW IS ON THE

See ‘ Re SRR pany,
ROSES AND HE CAN TELL US. THAT WE ARE HIS
— Tid Tl defect hat Wt
AND HE IS OURS ALONE. > oe ports a
MARTIN MARTY, IN A NOW FAMOUS QUIP, ek a £
REE partial, «
ONCE SAID THAT THE LAST WORDS OF THE your lage
INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH WILL BE, ye Worse P
a
"WE NEVER DID IT THAT WAY
BEFORE.”
} THE STORY IS TOLD OF A LITTLE GIRL
WATCHING HER MOTHER -- OR HER FATHER --
PREPARE TO BAKE A HAM. \\ AT THE END OF ?
= a Deiat ae
THE PROCESS, JUST BEFORE PLACING THE HAM

ee.

2s

IN THE BAKING PAN, SHE CUT A SMALL
eer
SECTION OFF EACH END.
"WHY DO YOU DO THAT, Mommy?" )
THE LITTLE GIRL asxeD.|( "WHY
DID YOU CUT THE ENDS OF THE

HAM?"

HER MOTHER ANSWERED:

44
THAT'S HOW MY MOTHER DID iT.

LET’S ASK HER.” )

SO THEY CALLED ON THE GRANDMOTHER
Senos

AND ASKED HER WHY SHE CUT THE ENDS OFF
a ._ minnie |
THE HAM AND SHE RESPONDED,

“Woy, I’m not sure I KNOW.
et .

aes af

THAT'S HOW MY MOTHER DID IT.”

ferme cer aor chase

So, OFF THEY WENT TO SEE GREAT-

-_

GRANDMOTHER, AND THEY ASKED HER WHY SHE

CUT THE ENDS OFF THE HAM BEFORE BAKING

ran

24

re. | ao THE OLD WOMAN, IN HER NINETIES,
eee
THOUGHT FOR A LONG TIME AND FINALLY
SAID,
[tons
*T REMEMBER NOW. | I CUT THE
qe

So

ENDS OFF THE HAM BECAUSE My)
peat Aah

BAKING PAN WAS TOO SMALL.”
Dees

oe

SOMETIMES THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH DOES

THAT SORT OF THING. | LYLE SCHALLER, ONE

OF THE VERY BEST THINKERS ABOUT HOW

ber A

CHURCHES LIVE IN THES CULTURE, ASKED
eerie

REcENTLY,| "WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE

FACING CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS ON THE

NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT? | vayoums
eee

Numers? | MONEY? | Soczat JUSTICE?
Pe ee ae

ane

LEADERSHIP? \ Tevevrszon? SEXUALITY?"
aoe UU Cc RR

AFTER THREE DECADES OF STUDY, HE WROTE,
SERRE rE urmoneren--

25

"THIS OBSERVER PLACES A ONE
SENTENCE XSSUE AT THE TOP OF

THAT LIST + THE NEED TO

INITIATE AND IMPLEMENT PLANNED

—

CHANGE FROM WITHIN,"

[STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE, P. 10]

IT tS A CRITICAL TIME FOR THE
Seo

CHURCHES IN OUR CULTURE, PARTICULARLY
Rite ERE

THOSE OF US WHO CALL OURSELVES MAINLINE

ero ™
OR vans WE CONTINUE TO DECLINE

IN NUMBERS AND IN PRESENCE IN THE CITIES
Dt | eee

eS

ANB RURAL TOWNS AND VILLAGES. \\i

PROSPER IN URBAN CATHEDRICAL SITUATIONS

AND VIGOROUS AND GROWING SUBURBAN

nexcuaornoons.\\ IF WE DO NOT THINK ANEW
See : eee eel

WE WILL SIMPLY DISAPPEAR BEFORE A

26

GENERATION OR TWO FROM THOSE PLACES

WHERE WE USED TO BE sTRonG,| gut BECAUSE

OF MASSIVE CHA

robe a Tas

NGE IN POPULATION, IN

Sey - faethe A TTLOF IMS Bn BA

Pa Sa Es

Democeapurcs, |r ECONOMICS, WE ARE NOW

FIGHTING FOR sunvrvat..|\ We NEED TO LEARN
Sis

HOW TO BE A CHURCH IN A NEW way \\ THE

Be =

OLD MODEL WHICH SERVED US WELL FOR

SEVERAL CENTURIES DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE,

I$ NOT workxng,|\ We -- YOU -- MUST BE

COURAGEOUS AND FAITHFUL ENOUGH TO LEAVE

meee

THE SECURITY OF THE OLD PARISH-

NEIGHBORHOOD MODEL WHICH DEPENDS ON AN
Arenperret ete

EXPENSIVE PIECE OF REAL ——") AND A

BUILDING CONSTRUCTED TO RESPOND TO

REALITIES WHICH HAVEN’T BEEN SEEN FOR A

—

CENTURY.
mee

27

IT IS A VERY CRITICAL TIME FOR THE
ee soap

PRESBYTERIAN CHuRCH (U.S.A.),/A TIME I

Se
BELIEVE GOD IS CALLING US TO THINK ANS’,
DS

N@w#t, TO LEAVE OLD secunrrzes.| |haye

EVEN TO LEAVE WHAT, FOR ALL THE WORLD,
———. Sy

FEELS LIKE OUR INSTITUTIONAL
—-——wy

oi | en DISCUSSIONS OF HUMAN
SEXUALITY™=- TO EXTRICATE OURSELVES FROM
es
ial reer

THIS PLACE WE HAVE BEEN ENCAMPED SINCE
=

1978,) TO CROSS THE RIVER, 1 AND GET ON

Ge a a Soe

WITH BEING A FAITHFUL CHURCH OF JESUS

CHRIST IN A NEW CENTURY.

ONE DAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE

STORY, HE WAS WALKING BESIDE THE SEA OF
Eo

=~

Garter.) He SAW TWO MEN CASTING THEIR

NET. | THEIR NAMES WERE SIMON AND ANDREW.
aw

Ea

HE SAID TO THEM, |'FOLLOW ME. "| AND THAT
ore

acs

28

IS WHAT THEY DID ... LAID DOWN THEIR NETS
AND FOLLOWED. | He SAW TWO MORE, JAMES
eT Me

AND JOHN, MENDING THEIR GEAR,| WITH THEIR

wee

FATHER SITTING IN THEIR FISHING BOAT.
ron,

.” |AND THAT IS WHAT
es

OL

HE SAID, "F
mo

THEY DID.
WE WISH THERE WERE MORE LQ IT THAN
Tuar. \ We WISH WE KNEW ABOUT THEM AND

THEIR LIVES AND WHAT MADE THEM SO READY
ieee

TO nove, |s0 WELLING TO ACCEPT THE RISKS

AND UNCERTAINTIES AND INSECURITIES
ae

IMPLIED IN WALKING AWAY FROM JOB AND
Reese oer urgent

FAMILY AND TRADITION, INTO _AN UNKNOWN
ieee

FUTURE. JAWE WISH WE KNEW THAT THEY KNEW

HIM AND HAD REASON FOR CONFIDENCE IN
Sa IA,

Him, \KNEW WHERE HE WAS LEADING THEM.

Cd

BuT WE pon’

29

EVERY TIME I READ IT WITH ITS LEANNESS:

Canvrtatzon € COMMAND -— RESPONS AND
a=)

I HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THIS IS WHAT THE
Qe Ee

BIBLE (Hants ZO SAY AND THAT THIS IS A

WORQ_ FROM THE LORD TO ME_AND TO THE

Crioltd er eh 5

-- TO ALL OF US AND EACH OF

us.|\ to LIVE YOUR LIFE FAITHFULLY BEGINS
‘ eanmmaaniiiaiadl i reer cameras

WITH A SUMMONS TO FOLLOW,)| AND CONTINUES
‘Sine a LS

IN A_LIFE WHICH IS MOVING Piette MORE

DEEPLY INTO THE LIFE OF THE WORLD, A

JOURNEY THAT CAN END UP AT THE cnoss|f a
SS as =e —

PILGRIMAGE CHARACTERIZED BY LIVING FOR

oTHERS, |py LOVING THE WORLD FOR CHRIST'S
exe = ”

SAKE,\ BY GIVING ONE'S RESOURCES, [skrus,

PASSION, LOVE AND LIFE ITSELF -- TO THE
err... EE a

CAUSE OF CHRIST.

Pail

30

JESUS CALLED HIS DISCIPLES TO GET
tonatae Pee Saran prc strvimratacran |

UP FROM WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND TO

——
FOLLOW uzn.\\ HE PROMISED THEM NEW LIFE.
See

CHARACTERIZED BY_GIVING LIFE AWAY.

THAT IS OUR SECRET. 2 =peqaer--enNLy

fer ormaneal
. Vie

PROMISE IS ADVENTURE, SURPRISE,
eee ee eee

CHALLENGE, AND THROUGH IT ALL - LIFE.

| "OUT THERE THINGS CAN HAPPEN

AND FREQUENTLY DO

TO PEOPLE AS BRAINY

AND FOOTSY AS You."{ DR. Seuss
ADVISES.

"AND WHEN THINGS START TO HAPPEN,

31

DON'T WORRY. DON'T STEW.

JUST GO RIGHT ALONG, rv

You'LL START HAPPENING TOO, !

OH, THE PLACES YOU WiLL Go! LIkE
the Reikisk poet,

Dr. Seuss, W. H. AUDEN THOUGHTABOUT THE

JOURNEY AND AT THE END OF HIS "CHRISTMAS
ttle

re

ORATORIO,” WROTE WHAT I THENK ARE AMONG

THE MOST HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL LINES ...
sere

"HE IS THE WAY

FOLLOW HIM THROUGH THE LAND OF
UNLIKENESS

YOU WILL SEE RARE BEASTS,

AND HAVE UNIGUE ADVENTURES.

"HE IS THE TRUTH.

32

SEEK HIM IN THE KINGDOM OF ANXIETY,
YOU WILL COME TO A GREAT CITY

THAT HAS EXPECTED YOUR RETURN FOR
YEARS.

"HE IS THE LIFE.

Love HIM IN THE WORLD OF THE FLESH.
AND AT YOUR MARRIAGE ALL ITS

OCCASIONS SHALL DANCE WITH JOY."

nee

us ;
(Jesus sazp,) Come" Foilow Me *

Wi ecrerat 4 Pe Mtoe lust of
University, \ Subuque cikeleoet lu sical Saw,

"PREPARE YOUR PROVISIONS, #@é

boy
Lh EREMPYS YOU ARE TO CROSS

OVER THE Jonoan,|\ ro GO IN TO

TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LAND
THAT THE LORD your GOD GIVES
YOU TO POSSESS." | [JOSHUA

1:11]
Go VA peace Courage . \|Ge Mm fe UA
om deuce Wat th om wh _ Called You
+ proved You a foe \\wu be. be

e (Well VWless You pra ume Wey,
at — “Thawlhs Te + Gi.