This Is Not A Competition

Luke 10:1–11, 16–20 
Trinity Presbyterian Church (USA) 
Pensacola, FL – July 6, 2025 
Communion + Baptism Sunday 

Brief Summary

This sermon contrasts competitive eating (like Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Contest) with Communion and baptism, reminding us that faith isn't about competition or excess but about peace, simplicity, and sharing God's presence gently. Jesus sent out 72 disciples with minimal belongings to bring peace wherever they went. In the same way, Communion and baptism are small, simple acts that carry great spiritual meaning. We're called not to force faith like hot dog disciples but to share Christ's peace quietly and faithfully in our daily lives.

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Family Car Ride Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus told his disciples to travel light and focus only on sharing peace?
   (What does that teach us about how we should share God's love today?)

2. The sermon said Communion and baptism use only small amounts of bread, cup, or water.
   (Why do you think small, simple things can still be powerful signs of God's love?)

3. When have you felt God's peace this week?
   (How can our family share that peace with others in simple ways?)

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Luke 10:1–11, 16–20 

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 

He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 

Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 

Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 

Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you. 

Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. 

Do not move about from house to house. 

Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. 

Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' 

"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." 

¹⁷The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" ¹⁸He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. 

¹⁹Indeed, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. 

²⁰Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 

 

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This Is Not A Competition

If you're like me… and I know at least a couple of you are… and you admit it.

If you're like me, you spent time this weekend doing one of the most honored rituals of our nation. Together, we tuned in and watched the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Raise your hand. Don't deny it. I know you did.

Competitive Eating.

It makes Lee Greenwood even MORE proud to be an American.

Many who participate and/or watch from a safe distance are moved to place their hand over their heart, and claw at it. My country, my cardiologist.

Yes, the magnetic draw of this competition is one of the reasons we have to build border walls. Italy has its pizza. England has cold toast and beans. But nobody but nobody has Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Contest. More American than baseball and apple pie if it was made from various meat trimmings forced into casings formed by the small intestines of sheep. (At least the ones that "snap" when you bite them.)

God bless the USA.

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Speaking of food,

today, we're sharing an even more sacred supper. We're sharing Communion. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. But honestly, as suppers go, it's pretty lite. It wasn't always that way. Back in Bible times, it was more like an all-you-can-eat potluck dinner. Eating (and drinking) got competitive. Really.

The Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth that they need to stop behaving like wild hyenas and act more civilized at the Lord's Table. The wealthy one-percent were arriving early and gorging on all the good food. They got drunk on the wine. And when the commonfolk finally got to eat, the kitchen was closed. Instead of showing God's kingdom, The Lord's Supper was just one more example of social inequality amplified. The rich rubbed their bulbous tummies while the poor people's stomachs growled for a bite. Communion got turned into its own form of competitive eating. Paul was not proud to be a Corinthian.

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Jesus picked 72 disciples – just one and a half more than the number of hot dogs Joey Chestnut ate. Jesus sent 72 -- 36 preacher pairs – to be his advance teams. Sent them into 36 towns to scout out and prepare people for his FIRST coming. 

He said:

Go on your way; I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.

It's that new show "Barefoot and Afraid."

He was so strict he wouldn't even let them take their PHONES! Imagine traveling to some new town with nary a GPS. Not even a Triple-A Triptik. (Ask your parents. Triptiks were cool.)

72 preachers – with no money. No backpack. No shoes. Tell the truth. Would you want Trinity's search committee to pick a pastor who showed up to an interview like that? Holy Cow, indeed.

And then his next rule must have been super-size important, because he says it twice.

"Eat what is put before you."

"Only what they provide."

Don't be like your little brother and magically show up at the house with the best food. ("My mom said it was OK to eat here.") Pick a place at random and stay there. Be satisfied with whatever they offer you.

The only qualification – the only thing to look for -- is whether or not the people in the house have "peace."

"Whatever house you enter," he said, "first say, 'Peace to this house!' And if a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on that person, but if not, it will return to you."

The currency of these transactions – The one sign to look for – is NOT "Vacancy." Not "Air Conditioning." Not even the Ten Commandments in their front yard.

Let this ONE thing be a sign unto you. If you find a house of PEACE, with people of PEACE, where your blessing of PEACE is received, there's your sign. And it's a sign from God.

…eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 

And that's the plan, Stan.

--

I think sometimes, Christians believe that for the good of the heathen we bump into….

Or for us to get God's gold star of approval….

we think we have to cram Jesus down people's throats, because we're the hot dog disciples. Doesn't matter if the person's already full. Doesn't matter if their tastes are different than ours. Doesn't matter if they're on Ozempic.

And then we think we have to keep SCORE of the number SERVED, like it's a competition.

Evangelism, the way Jesus presents it, is about the gentle exchange of peace. Go about your ministry without your baggage. Leave your emotional, spiritual, competitive trappings at home. Do your ministry without illusions of what makes for success.

And that's like the intention behind how we share the Lord's Supper. You're not going to get stuffed here today. You won't be force-fed anything. We share small pieces of bread and small drinks of a cup – we share them in God's economy of peace. There's one thing on the menu. And the leftovers don't get counted.

Same with baptism. When we baptize, we don't haul in a firehose. Jim Green would have our heads. We sprinkle just enough water to be a sign of peace. We share the peace in promises. Child-size portions, baby-size. Peace be with you. And also with you. That's enough. And it is good. Very good. The peace of Christ in bread, cup, and baptism is enough to get you through your whole life.

And that's just delicious.

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On the Fourth of July, at the Nathan's contest at – where else? – Coney Island, the co-founder of major league eating (and I'm sure they'll put that on his tombstone) – co-founder Joe George Shea welcomed back (quote) the Michelangelo of competitive eating, Joey Chestnut, after his one-year suspension for eating a plant-based hot dog -- with these words:

"…there are those who stand immortal. Not through the grace of heaven but through their own triumphs. I speak of this man. Formed from the shards of shattered angels. Wielding the white sword of righteousness. Standing as quiet as truth."

I thought: Did I write that? Sounds like me.

The whole contest is silly. It's fun. We need that.

But we also need the opposite. Instead of the overblown and overeaten, we need the small. We need the simple. We need the freely available peace of Christ. Made holy in its modesty. We need to taste it. We need to feel it washing over us.

We need to know that unlike holidays that come and go, the peace Christ brings, the peace Christ sends us to share, the peace we can receive and accept when it's placed before us – unlike things that come and go, Christ's peace stays with us. Stays with us our whole lives long. And then some.

May the peace of Christ be with you.

Let's pray:

Location, Location, Location

A Sermon on Luke 9:51-56: "Location, Location, Location"

Composed and delivered by Rev. James McTyre at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Pensacola FL

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Luke 9:51-56

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.

🔥 An AI generated Short Sermon Summary: "Location, Location, Location"

This sermon reflects on the story of Jesus and his disciples passing through Samaritan territory, where they face rejection. The disciples want revenge, but Jesus rebukes them, reminding us that following him means choosing peace over retaliation.

It challenges us to think about the lines we draw between "us" and "them"—in faith, politics, and everyday life. We may not have the power to fix world conflicts, but we do have the power to bring mercy, cross boundaries, and reflect Jesus' love in our daily actions.

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🚗 And AI generated Three Car-Ride Home Discussion Questions

1. Have you ever drawn a "boundary line" in your life—someone you avoided or thought of as an outsider? How do you think Jesus would ask you to treat that person?

2. Why do you think Jesus rebuked his own disciples instead of the Samaritans? What lesson do we need to learn from that?

3. What does it mean to "bring heaven to earth" instead of calling down fire? What are some everyday ways we can do that this week—at school, at work, or in our community?

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Location, Location, Location
by Rev. James McTyre

The Jews hated the Samaritans. The Samaritans hated the Jews. Jews worshiped in Jerusalem. Samaritans worshiped on Gerazim. Same God, different places. Location, location, location. Samaritans also had a different revelation, revelation, revelation. The two nations maintained strict separation, separation, separation. There was generation, after generation, after generation of aggravation, confrontation, and altercation. Both prayed for the other's extermination, extermination, extermination.

Oh you know I found the rhyming dictionary. We're just getting started. Celebration, celebration, celebration.

Anyway, BIG complication: Samaria was like Atlanta. For Jews to get anywhere they had to go THROUGH it or AROUND it: navigation, navigation, navigation.

Jesus and the disciples must have been taking a shortcut through the Samaritan nation. The population gave them no accommodation. The disciples proposed annihilation.

And Jesus said: No! Do that, and you'll get my condemnation.

In summation:

If Jesus and his disciples pass through Pensacola looking for habitation, let there be no hesitation, hesitation, hesitation.

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Location, location, location. THE first rule of real estate. It's also a rule of religion. Psalm 16 knows it, too. It says,

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places

Well, that's nice.

But what do boundary lines have to do with faith?

Evidently Jesus and the disciples have made a shortcut through Samaritan land on their way to Jerusalem. They've crossed the border, the boundary line that separates the two lands. The disciples must have been holding their noses through this nasty part of the trip. And the Samaritans were likely doing the same when the gang of 13 rode into town.

"What are THOSE people DOING in OUR neighborhood? After dark? Blow out the candles. Hurry. They'll think we aren't home. Don't answer the door."

The disciples must have been wishing: "If only we hadn't crossed the boundary into this stinkin' hole of a country. I can't wait 'til we're back in OUR Holy Land."

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Religions always draw boundary lines. The Presbyterians (USA) don't mix with the Presbyterians of America. The United Methodists won't mix with the Global Methodists. The Roman Catholics are separate from the Eastern Orthodox. Same God. Same Jesus. But we maintain boundary lines. It's not that we're right and they're wrong. Is it?

And don't get started on the arguments churches have over real estate. Location, location, location. Argumentation, argumentation, argumentation. Churches split and they want to keep their property. Lawsuits. Endless Presbytery meetings. Sometimes even physical violence. Who's right? Who's wrong? How do you know – without boundary lines?

What are YOUR boundary lines? Do you guard them religiously? I'll bet you do. Maybe not invoking the name of God. Or maybe so. We all have lines we will not cross.

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I don't know if it's good news or bad news, but the churches of our generation, the faithful people of Jesus of our generation, are definitely NOT the first believers in the One God to get into these aggravations and altercations.

The disciples cross a boundary and, receive a predictably hostile reception from the Samaritans. The disciples ask Jesus:

"Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?"

We assume they're speaking metaphorically. Or, maybe not. Did the disciples really believe they had the power to call down fire from heaven to bring termination to the Samaritan nation?

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The scriptures today give me a lot of trepidation. Every now and then the Lectionary passages that we follow – and a lot of churches follow, too – every now and then, they seem as though they were chosen for this present day.

The Bible's like that. You open up this book that started being written two-and-a-half thousand years ago (give or take a century) and it seems like it was written with today in mind.

It wasn't. The people who wrote the Bible couldn't predict the future any better than we can. But sometimes the coincidences make you wonder.

Compare today's scriptures with what's on the news, the Breaking News. Maybe the Bible can help us understand what's happening in the world. But also, the world events might help us understand what's happening in the Bible.

When you think about the wars being fought or fixin to be fought this week – Ukraine, Gaza, Iran -- Los Angeles – at the heart of every conflict – on every side - is always… location, location, location. Land. Borders. State's rights, national sovereignty. Add in religion and there's even more escalation.

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I was writing this sermon with the TV on in the background. I could have been watching something wholesome, like "Bachelor in Paradise" or "Love Island." Something peaceful, like "Stephen A. Smith." Stephen A. really needs to ask his doctor if Xanax is right for him.

But no. I had the news on. I really try to avoid those channels. But it seemed important to keep up on events lately.

And every news channel was showing video of missiles raining down, their streaks lighting up the night sky. And more missiles rising up to intercept them. And cities below being flashed with terrible lightning.

And I settled on the verse where the disciples ask Jesus if he wants them to call down fire from heaven.

And I couldn't help but think. Two thousand years. 2000 years, and what's changed? We're still fighting over real estate. Over boundary lines. Over what's mine and what's yours, who's right and who's wrong, which God has the answers, and whether airstrikes from heaven are the right thing to do.

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But he turned and rebuked them.

When the disciples ask Jesus if he wants them to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans for being mean to them, the Bible says Jesus "rebuked" them.

For Jesus, a rebuke is a very special, very powerful thing.

A rebuke from Jesus is way more than just a "No." It's a – shall we say – very strongly worded no. A rebuke from Jesus leaves no room for ifs, ands, or buts. Let there be no doubt. Jesus is 100 percent against whatever's being rebuked.

In scripture, Jesus's rebukes are reserved for only a few select things. He only does it a few times. He rebukes Satan. He rebukes the murderous winds of chaos. He rebukes fatal illness. He rebukes demons. And that's it.

Oh, and, almost forgot. He rebukes disciples.

Isn't it strange that Jesus rebukes the worst evil AND rebukes the closest disciples?

Could it be that Jesus rebukes the disciples (and not the unwelcoming Samaritans?) because just a few pages earlier in your Bibles, he's just told them:

"Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you"??

When you have the power to call down fire from heaven to stop your enemies, to teach them a lesson, to preemptively stop them from bringing down fire on YOU…. When you have the power and DON'T use it?

Is that mercy? Or is that foolishness? Are there boundary lines that it's good to cross? Is Jesus right 100% of the time?

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I'm not smart enough. And I don't have the intelligence operatives to provide me reliable information about international conflicts. All I know is what I see on the news or read on the Internet. And I'm highly skeptical of both.

Unless you're getting daily security briefings, you probably don't have that knowledge, either. That doesn't stop either of us from having opinions. But as they say, opinions are like noses (or other body parts); everybody has one. I once knew a man who had two noses. This is true. Don't ask me about the location, location, location.

None of us have the power to call down fire from heaven. But we all can call heaven down with power. We can't influence international events. But with the power of Jesus Christ, we can bring mercy into our daily life. We can influence any number of personal events. Every day, we can choose to bring peace. Every day we can choose to bring goodness. We can bring not fire but heaven down to earth. We can bring heaven down upon even our enemies if we so choose. And – from time to time – we can, like Jesus, cross the boundaries, and rebuke the wrong. Especially we can rebuke the wrong that comes from within us.

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The scripture ends with the line,

Then they went on to another village.

The disciples were mistreated by the Samaritans. But they had also crossed a boundary into Samaritan territory. What did they expect?

They didn't call down fire. They didn't try to fix the Samaritans. Didn't try to teach them a lesson. After being rebuked, they moved on.

Did the Samaritans learn any lesson? Probably not. But the disciples learned THEIR lesson. From Jesus. And that day, this was enough. They learned their lesson. And then they went on.

Their little delegation moved past reciprocation, and let relocation bring de-escalation. Did they do some self-examination? Don't know. But Christ's rebuke and Christ's salvation found them, and can find us, in any location.

Law & Order SVU (Swineherd Victims Unit)

Luke 8:26-39

"Law And Order: SVU (Swineherd Victims Unit)"

June 22, 2025 Trinity Presbyterian Church

Recently, a team of archeologists unearthed a series of letters near the ancient town of Gerasa.

These previously unknown letters shed new light on the Apostle Luke's story of Jesus and the Gerasene Demoniac.

It's an honor to share them for the first time at this public reading, here at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Behold: History Revealed.

 

 

From: Porcus Maximus, Swineherd, Town of Gerasa,
Owner and Operator, "Porky's Pork Emporium"

 

To: Sanhedrin Council, City of Jerusalem

 

Regarding: Property Loss and Emotional Damages as result of actions by Jesus of Nazareth

 

 

Dear Honored Councilmen,

I write to inform you of a situation, an event which has not only caused grievous unrest across our entire community, but which has also resulted in a significant loss of income to myself and my family due to the willful destruction of personal property. 

I regret to inform you of these problems, but I trust that because of your great authority you will be able and willing to help bring about a remedy.

On the morning of the third day of the second week of the previous month, one Jesus of Nazareth, a rabbi with whom I believe you are already well acquainted, entered our town of Gerasa for the purpose of staging a religious demonstration, the nature of which I do not know, nor do I wish to know. 

(For your information, I am completely neutral on issues of religion, and, as is the Roman government, I am quite glad to afford freedom in such matters, so long as they do not interfere with the peaceful operation of public commerce and the prompt collection of taxes. 

I therefore hope that you will not interpret any of these complaints as being, in any way, offensive.)

On the morning in question, having arrived in Gerasa, the aforementioned Jesus of Nazareth proceeded to seek out a time-honored fixture in our public life, our town's one and only demoniac. 

Unlike metropolitan cities such as your Jerusalem, our town is very small and has only enough budget to support one demon-possessed public enemy, who, because of his violent nature, we have had to restrict to our town cemetery. 

We of Gerasa take pride in knowing that even though we may be able to afford only one demoniac, ours is possessed by multiple demons, and is thus especially frightening.

We find him quite suited for receiving the focused hatred of all of Gerasa's adults and children, alike. 

For years, his presence has served as a warning and as a source of civic unity. 

As you well know, a common enemy makes everyone happier.

Everyone hates the demoniac. 

At least, they did.

 

On the previously mentioned date, without any encouragement from our townsfolk, and despite repeated requests from the demoniac himself to cease and desist, this rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, cast aside all regard for public authority and/or municipal responsibility and proceeded, in one fell swoop, to cast out all the demons which the good people of Gerasa have worked so long and hard to cultivate.

Adding insult to injury, this Jesus enticed the demons to state their name, a name which sounded very much like the word, "Legion." 

My off-duty Roman soldier security guard took great offense at this slur, and may himself be contacting you in regard to this slanderous verbal abuse.

 

But placing all this aside for the moment, gentlemen, I am now compelled to share with you my own personal grievance in this matter. 

For several generations, my family has produced what we believe to be the finest pork products in all the Roman Empire. 

My father and grandfather before me were swineherds, and until the events of last month, I had fully intended to pass the family business on to my son, Porcus Minibus. 

Because of these unfortunate and, I believe, illegal events, my and my children's future lies in serious jeopardy.

 

For you see, gentlemen, not only was this Jesus not satisfied with robbing our humble town of its one point of unified disgust

(which, I and many others believe, is essential to the well-being of every community)

he then compounded this outrageous act by commanding the demons to enter every single one of my herd of swine.

Naturally, the herd began to stampede. 

Please bear in mind that a pig stampede is highly unusual, practically unheard of. 

Driven mad by the demons, my precious herd ran straight off a nearby cliff and plunged to their death in the waters below.

As you can well imagine, the financial and emotional hardship brought upon my family has been devastating. 

This, along with the general confusion and needless anxiety heaped upon our town, has created a climate which, I fear, will have dire consequences for the future  of Gerasa as a whole. 

I do not exaggerate when I say that this Jesus has left the entire Gerasene way of life in shambles.

 

Gentlemen, I know this Jesus is not officially one of your rabbis. 

Certainly the Jerusalem Council would not allow a renegade such as this among your esteemed ranks. 

However, since the Jesus in question is, by law, one of your own, I have no choice but to bring this complaint to you and to ask that you resolve this matter as soon as possible. 

I do not wish to involve the Roman authorities, but unless I hear from you within a week, I will be forced to obtain legal counsel.

I have enclosed an estimate of damages and income lost, as well as a medical statement documenting my family's emotional distress.

I feel compelled to inform you that the town of Gerasa is considering bringing charges.

I share your outrage at this Jesus of Nazareth and I trust that we will soon be able to come to a mutually satisfying arrangement. 

Again, I regret having to notify you in this way, and I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Porcus the Swineherd, Owner and Operator, Porky's Pork Emporium

enclosure: Hand-drawn pictures of pigs falling over a cliff.

copies to: Caiaphas, High Priest of Judea; Pontius Pilate, governor of occupied state.

P.S., Following his exorcism, our demoniac was commanded by his (quote) "savior" to remain in the city in order that he might share the story of his (quote) "salvation." 

We citizens of Gerasa fear his influence on our previously contented young people and ask that you send a proper rabbi to set him straight and/or bring a substitute demon to repossess him.

 

MEMORANDUM

To:         Porcus Maximus, Swineherd

From:        Henlai of Jerusalem

Chief Legal Counsel to the Sanhedrin Council

Regarding: Complaints and alleged damages

as result of actions by Jesus of Nazareth

Dear Mr. Maximus,

In response to your letter concerning the actions of Jesus of Nazareth and the alleged damages and hardships thus inflicted upon both yourself and the town of Gerasa,

please be advised that this so-called Jesus is not ordained by our council, nor has he ever been authorized to preach, teach, or cast out any kind of demon.

Therefore, it is our opinion that there was no exorcism. 

Perhaps your demoniac has an illness. 

We encourage you to find a less-unclean, swine-free form of employment, away from lakes and steep hillsides.

Because this Jesus acts without our licensure, and because Gerasa is beyond our jurisdiction, we believe your grievances would be better addressed by the Roman government at large.

Please know that we share your frustration and will certainly keep you and the souls of your deceased pigs in our thoughts and prayers. 

Yours sincerely,

Henlai of Jerusalem, Esquire, Council Counsel.

To: Jesus, John, Simon-Peter, Andrew, and all the disciples of our Lord and master,

From: "The Disciple Formerly Known as The Geresene Demoniac"

Dear Friends,

I send you my true greetings, my humble obedience, and my grateful love. 

I hope that this letter finds you in good health, wherever you may be in your service to the God and creator of us all.

I pray that your ministry continues to bring to others the blessings which you brought to me. 

I wanted to share with you my own progress, as well as bring you up to date on the happenings in our town.

 

In the months since you came to Gerasa, my days have been filled with almost equal amounts of joy and hardship. 

On one hand I have become alive, and I rise early each morning to greet the new sunrise… and to live. 

Each night I fall soundly and peacefully asleep, and for the first time I dream — no nightmares, no voices — I sleep well. 

And I'm no longer afraid of waking up. 

You gave me life.  

And I can honestly now say, I'm glad to be alive. 

I spend much of my time walking along the shore of the lake, watching, listening, and breathing in all the richness of the day. 

Sometimes I'll go up to the hill overlooking town and spend hours just listening to everything that's going on. 

The voices and the sounds — I've really never heard them before. 

It's amazing. 

It's life.

 

On the other hand, not much has changed around here. 

The people of Gerasa still won't be seen with me. 

Before you came, I knew they were afraid of me, but I didn't know why. 

Now, they're even more afraid of me, and I do know why.

 

There was comfort in having a shared enemy. 

There was comfort for the people in knowing that no matter how bad they had it, they were never as bad-off as I was. 

There was comfort in being able to blame all their sins on me. 

Until you came, Gerasa's evil was contained. 

The people put chains on it and locked it in a cemetery. 

No one else was anywhere near as bad as I was.

Now all that has changed. 

Now, people have to be responsible for their own wrongs.

Lord, I wish I could say that your coming made everyone happy, but instead, the people are quiet and scared. 

I believe they have discovered that mine weren't the only demons in town, after all. 

My demons may have been the ones they saw and talked about, but now, they're finding out that there are many more demons in Gerasa which until now lived unspoken and unseen.

I think Gerasa is discovering that behind their closed doors and locked away in their family secrets are many, many more legions of demons, just as bad as mine. 

And Lord Jesus, I think it scares them to death. 

I know because, every now and then, one of the people will come talk to me about it. 

They come at night, when no one will see us together, and they tell me things. 

They tell me about the damage their demons have done. 

They tell me about the damage they're still doing.

 

And so now, Lord, I know why you wanted me to stay here in Gerasa. 

I only wish I knew more about what to say to these people. 

I wish you could come back and do for them what you did for me. 

But until then, I will continue to listen to their stories. 

And to the ones who will hear me, I will continue to tell about your power, your goodness, and your love. 

Perhaps there is enough of your power leftover in me to heal a few of their demons.

 

Lord, I hope this letter reaches you. 

And I hope that someday you will return to the town of Gerasa. 

I hope that by the time you come back there will be fewer demons in this place. 

I know that there are already fewer in me. 

For that I will be eternally grateful.

 

Until I see you again,

Signed, yours faithfully, your disciple and friend:

A believer

This is OUR Day -- What Will We Do With It?

- John 16:12-15

12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

SERMON: This is Our Day. What Will We Do With It?

Today, the Sunday after Pentecost, on the church calendar, is Trinity Sunday. Trinity Sunday has a double-meaning for us here at Trinity Presbyterian Church (USA). Because not only are we celebrating the mystery of THE Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - Not only the idea that God is One but God is also Three, Three-in-one -- Not only are we wrestling that super-heavyweight religious concept -- Not only all that.

Today, we get to celebrate being TRINITY Presbyterian Church. Isn't it great that they named this special day after us? There is no "First Presbyterian" Sunday. There's no "Glorious Holiness Church of God in America" Sunday. There could be. No reason not to celebrate them, too.

But by the providence of God, there IS a Trinity Sunday. And wouldn't we like to think they all are? You've gotta toot your own horn when you can. Cause nobody else gonna toot it for you. Can I get an "Amen" from y'all Trinitarians? Nice try.

Trinity Church - This is OUR Day. Our Sunday. Our glorious moment in the spotlight of the Almighty. This is OUR day. WHAT will we do with it? What WILL we do with it? What will we DO with this one, special Trinity day?

--

Trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Or, as some say, Holy Ghost. Or as they have also been called, Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer. Or, Mother, Child, and Breath of God. These are the things theologians and seminary students and church members with too much time on their hands like to argue about. These are things centuries of church-goers have tried to define and explain because -- well, because the ONE thing churches love more than Jesus is: Being right. Our definition of Trinity's better than your definition of Trinity, so Jesus loves us, but he's not so sure about you.

Trinity - the word, Trinity, isn't in the Bible. The components of the Trinity - Father, Son, and Spirit are absolutely present in the Bible. But the mechanics of how the parts fit together came later. Today's scripture is one of the places where all three are referenced in sentences close to one another that we can pull out on Trinity Sunday. But the three-in-one, one-in-three mathematical formula never crossed the gospel-writer's mind. My guess is they were too busy feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and healing the sick -- and staying ALIVE -- to spend a lot of time on it.

Which is not to say -- at all -- that the Trinity's not important. It's a good tool for teaching and understanding. Having the right tool makes the job easier. And we at Trinity Presbyterian Church should rightfully be proud of bearing the name. 

When you think about it, that's a lot of pressure on us. There are Churches of God. There are Churches of Christ. There's the Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Gulf Beach Highway, and it's beautiful. But here at TRINITY we've got to be the church of all THREE. That's three times the responsibility of those other churches. No wonder these new kids have names like, "Echo," and "Encounter," and "Jubilee." Smart.

Representing the whole Trinity -- in name and in deed -- is a big responsibility. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are watching. But in my opinion, the person of God, the form of God, cares a whole lot more about whether we Love God, Love Neighbor, Make Disciples, and Make a Difference -- I think God cares way more about those things than whatever we do or don't call ourselves.

The question is not: This is our day, how big of a sign are we going to paint over our building? Or how many billboards can we put up? Or how many followers can we get online? The question is: This is our day, Trinity Presbyterian Church -- What are we going to do with it?

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I love the sanctuary banners at Trinity. Last week's Pentecost paraments, with the streaming colors that blew in the breeze were themselves a lesson in faith. Look over at the banner on your left. See the three rings? That's a symbol of the Trinity. They're separate, but also interlocking. Just as God is One, but also three. St. Patrick used the three-leaf clover in the same way. Three separate branches, joined as one. 

Some of the earliest explanations of the Trinity imagined the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit holding hands and dancing, in a circle. You may have seen paintings like that. I like that one. Because it thinks of Trinity not as a church doctrine, but as a living, moving, breathing being. When you're dancing, you're participating with partners. You're alive, with a beat, a heartbeat, a rhythm driving you. You're not thinking as much as you're doing, you're being -- alive with so much joy you just can't stand still. God isn't seated on a throne. God is on the move. Walking through a garden. Sparkling like stars. Crashing over us like an ocean wave. Lifting us, moving us, like a tide. Dancing. Alive.

The idea of the Trinity also means that God is not one-size-fits all. Some people relate to God as a heavenly father. Some as a teaching, talking, walking Jesus. Others think of God as a mysterious spirit that you know is there, but you can't explain in words. Who's right? They all are. Which means, you and I might disagree on the qualities of God. But we're still worshiping the same God. God is bigger than the human mind will ever understand.

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Psalm 8 is like the harmony to the words of the Gospel. 

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

    the moon and the stars that you have established;

what are humans that you are mindful of them,

    mortals that you care for them?

the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,

    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,

        how majestic is your name in all the earth!

One of the many reasons I love living in Pensacola is I'm fifteen minutes and two bridges from the sea. I have to be careful not to call it the ocean. I've been corrected several times. "It's the GULF." I'm catching on. Whatever its name, it's near.

I try, every day after work, to go to the beach and walk the shoreline at sunset. I've tried going at sunrise, but they schedule it so darn early. Jesus liked walking along the sea. I understand why. The Holy Spirit splashes over your toes. God's waters and dry land sing a pulsing song, high and low, high and low. Some evenings, the Trinity of it all sets me free of whatever else occupies my mind.

A week ago Saturday, I got to hang out beneath the iconic water tower. I got to hang with the E-triple-A, the Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association. Thank you, Dr. Wooten. We gazed up at the heavens, the work of God's fingers, the moon and the stars. And we got to be with other humans and share the wonder. The Creator's hand, the Savior's grace, and the Community of the Spirit. All beneath this twirling celestial dance above.

It was a good day.

--

The three-part God is inviting you to join the dance. God invites us all to join in, together. To be separate, yet one. Like a church. Like the Trinity. Trinity Presbyterian Church (USA), this is YOUR day. They named it after you. As far as you know. How are you going to spend it? How are you going to be with God and what part will be yours? 

And, I'm asking these questions, not personally. I mean, yes. We all have to figure this out. But I'm asking you, I'm asking Y'ALL in the very best Southern sense. This is Y'ALL'S day. What are Y'ALL going to do with it? Are you going to contemplate, going to discuss, the God who gathers us up? The God who lifts and twirls? Who tells the dark powers of chaos to hush? Who extends a hand to someone who can't stand on her own? 

It's Y'all's day. It's y'all's choice. Not just some, but all y'all. What one thing can you do to let the God of Trinity know the church of Trinity is joining in?

--

What are you supposed to say on Trinity Sunday? 

There's Merry Christmas. There's Happy Easter. Happy Halloween, or Spooky Halloween. What's the appropriate greeting for Trinity Sunday at Trinity Presbyterian Church? Happy... us? Happy Our day? Happy hypostatic doctrinal definition day? (That's how Jean and I greet each other. Seminary's good for something.)

Or do we just take a moment to maintain a little eye contact? To ask how you doing as more than a throw-away? Can we take a moment to reflect in prayer on the mystery of a God that's way too big for one person, one mind, one solitary human to contemplate on their own? 

I don't know.

But I'm glad for Trinity Church.

I'm glad for this Sunday.

I'm glad you're here to share it together.

And may the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ,

The love of God,

And the Communion, the common-union, the community of the Holy Spirit

Be with us all. Amen.

Let's pray:

Holy God—

Three in One, One in Three—

You are near to us, closer than our breath,

and yet You are beyond what our minds can grasp.

You hold galaxies in Your hand,

and still, You dwell with us in kindness and love.

We thank You for Trinity Presbyterian Church,

for this community of faith that bears Your name.

Thank You for the laughter we share,

the tears we carry together,

and the hope that binds us in Christ.

Make us one, even as You are One.

Help us to live in the unity of Your Spirit,

to grow in love,

to serve with joy,

and to bear witness to Your beauty and truth.

In the name of the Triune God—

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—

we pray. Amen.

What In The World Is Happening?

🔥 An AI Sermon Summary: "What In the World Is Happening?" (Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025)

The sermon explores the unexpected, powerful, and sometimes confusing nature of Pentecost—both in the Bible and in today's church. The sermon reflects on how Pentecost "snuck up" this year, just like it did in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit arrived with wind, fire, and strange languages. The message emphasizes that the early church didn't fully understand what was happening either—they were "amazed and perplexed"—but they didn't let confusion stop them from moving forward.

The sermon encourages Trinity Presbyterian Church to see itself at a similar threshold: ready for its own "Pentecost moment." The church is described as loving and familiar, but also self-aware and ready to try new things—to "speak new languages" to reach the modern world with the Good News. There's a call to embrace change, stay rooted in Christ, and trust the Spirit to lead even when the way is unclear. As new elders are ordained, the congregation is reminded that courage, faith, and fresh voices are all part of how the church continues to grow and proclaim God's deeds of power.

---

🚗 Three Car-Ride Home Discussion Questions

1. When have you felt "amazed and perplexed" by something God did—or something unexpected that turned out to be good?

(Bonus: What do you think the Holy Spirit might be doing in our church or in you right now?)

2. If we could tell people about God in a new "language," what would that look like today?

(Would it be music? Social media? Acts of service? Something else?)

3. What's one tradition in church you really love—and one new thing you'd be excited to try?

(Why do you think it's important to balance old and new in our faith?)

Scripture Reading                             Acts 2:1-21                             Pew Bible, NT, p. 119

2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 'In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

    and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

    and your old men shall dream dreams.

18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

    in those days I will pour out my Spirit,

        and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will show portents in the heaven above

    and signs on the earth below,

        blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

20 The sun shall be turned to darkness

    and the moon to blood,

        before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

Sermon                                  "What In The World Is Happening?                         Rev. James McTyre

2025-06-08 Pentecost Sermon: "What In the World Is Happening?"

Today is Pentecost. 

"Pentecost" really snuck up on me this year. Pentecost is a sneaky little day. Not really a holiday-holy-day. Like, Christmas. I get to wear my red stole. Pretty daring for Presbyterian clergy. 

The thing is, in the Bible, Pentecost snuck up on everyone there, too. Everyone -- the Bible says -- "Everyone was amazed and perplexed." Wind, flames, people speaking in tongues. It sounds like some kind of popup tent revival. What would you think? If something like that happened here at Trinity?

You'd think your GPS sent you to the wrong church.

At THE Pentecost, the crowd, the followers, even the Apostles were "amazed and perplexed." Wondering, "What in the world is happening?" 

The fire of the Holy Spirit, powered by winds of change, swept through. And the people of Jesus started talking in new ways.  Foreign words in strange ways. Jesus's people were energized to be different than they'd ever been before, whether they were ready for it or not.

I may not always know what day it is. Or month, or year. But I know. I can feel it.Trinity Presbyterian Church is on the verge of its own Pentecost level event. 

Your own church-wide Pentecost. 

You're ready to feel the fresh winds of the Spirit igniting this church. Visitors, people driving by, will say, "What in the world is happening THERE?" 

Young families with six children will come flocking in the doors.

Sorry, they're already Mormon.But I feel this readiness here.

I feel you're ready to start proclaiming the gospel in ways you've never done before.

You're ready for the winds of the Holy Spirit to fill your sails.I BELIEVE you're ready to.  I KNOW Jesus wants it to happen, too.

What in the world is happening, even here at Trinity?

Catch the wind. Let's find out.

--

It's the Second Chapter of Acts. The Apostles are coming to grips with the knowledge that Jesus - in bodily form - is gone. Their teacher, their preacher -- has moved on.

So what do they do? Well of course: They form a committee. What else would good Christians do? They elect a new member of Session to fill Judas's unexpired term. Matthias. They establish a quorum and call the meeting to order and then, it says:

And suddenly from heaven comes this rush of wind -- new spirit.

Tongues as of fire give them energy and courage to say what's really on their minds.

Each of them -- even the disciples themselves -- gathered and was bewildered.

Amazed and astonished -- AMAZED AND ASTONISHED -- they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?"

Now, I know. At the Pentecostal Churches in town they speak in tongues every Sunday. I don't get it, but I'd be willing to learn from their spirit.

In Acts, it says the Holy Spirit had the Apostles speaking in FOREIGN tongues.Suddenly, miraculously fluent in the languages of "Parthians, Medes, Elamites," and all the other countries Americans can't locate on the map. 

As if I were to suddenly start preaching in Spanish.

Or... Korean. Poor Hyunjoo might have a heart attack. 

Who knows what I'd be saying.

I sure wouldn't.--

Cam and I talked last week and she told me that during the Children's Sermon she was going to talk about the Tower of Babel. 

In that story, God identified the problem. All the people IN THE WORLD had been together since Adam was a boy. And they all spoke exactly alike. They acted alike.They all worked alike, and shopped at the same Target, and went to the same church together. They were overly similar.

--

Do y'all ever feel like you're speaking the same words you've spoken before?

I've been here two months. I've gone to every committee meeting, and class, and Bible Study I can. I have heard someone say it in almost every meeting. 

"Well, you remember when we used to..."

"You remember when we tried..."

Wasn't 1975 just a great time? Lemme tell you about it. Again.

You Trinitarians love each other. 

You know each other well.Some of you might know each other TOO well. 

You openly admit you've been together long enough that -- like that tower -- when it comes to church -- 

You open your mouths and the same old words come out.You talk the same you sound the same.

Some of you are even starting to look the same. Good thing we have name tags.

All churches do that. 

Churches do something once. It's a tradition.

But now you're worried -- worried that saying the same things and doing the same things is not telling the world of God's deeds of power like you want to. 

You're worried you're not speaking the language of whatever year of the 21st century this is. 

Here's the thing about the Bible's Pentecost. It never says WHAT the Apostles were saying in those different languages to all those new people. They were talking about God, yes. 

But it doesn't give us the content. It just says they spoke. They ministered. And people paid attention. People listened. People joined.

True then is true now. There is no magic bullet to church growth.  What we know about that Pentecost church is that they kept at it. They kept telling the stories of God. They kept talking, they kept welcoming the people who spoke different church languages. 

And -- miracle of miracles -- they didn't make the newcomers learn THEIR language. 

They spoke so even strangers could get it.

And this was so new.They didn't do it once and say, OK, been there, done that. Didn't say, "Hey. We put it in the NEWSLETTER. Once. 

Last October."

They kept at it. 

They listened. They learned.

And they let the spirit lead them.

--

Today, you'll be ordaining and installing a new class of Session elders. They'll serve three years, with good behavior. They are ready. They are ready to help this church have a Pentecost moment. They -- and all the session -- 

are ready to experiment, ready to keep the traditions that serve Jesus well, and ready to listen to the language of this day, this era, 

This neighborhood.

This Bayou Blvd.

This city.This WORLD - this world where so many are asking, "What in the world is happening?"

None of us know what the future's going to be. Three years, three months, three days, three minutes from now. We might get home and find out Elon's moved into Mar-a-Lago.

Who knows?

But things were changing pretty fast in Jesus's day, too. 2000 years, and people of faith, churches of faith, like Trinity, are still listening, still speaking, still following, and still reaching out to the world in all its different, unpredictable, strange and bewildering ways of having a Pentecost moment.

It's scary not to know what happens next. 

Even in a church.

It takes courage to be a church. It takes courage to take a leap of faith. But that's the starting gate of Pentecost. 

Red is the color that says "Warning!"

But Pentecost isn't just about the fun of wearing red.

It's being read-y. 

Being ready for whatever the Holy Spirit unleashes in this house, this church.

What in the world is happening?

What do you think God WANTS to happen?

At Trinity Church.

In your soul?

Let's pray.

Almighty God, give us your Pentecost moment. With power and courage, inspire us to step forward into the future. Help us to hold on the holy ways of our past. But help us discover new ways, new languages, and a new spirit of faith and truth. Bless Trinity Church. And bless us all with the fire of discovery. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Don't Wade in THAT Water

 Here's a summary of the sermon "Don’t Wade in THAT Water" (John 5:1–9):

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Summary:

This sermon creatively retells the story of the man healed at the Pool of Bethesda, using a fictional monologue that spans 38 years. The man starts with hope, believing in the healing power of stirred water touched by angels. Over time, hope becomes structure, then bitterness, and finally despair as he waits in vain for healing.

He organizes others, believes in his own system, resents newcomers, and questions God's justice. But after decades, Jesus arrives—not to help him into the water—but to offer healing directly. Jesus asks, “Do you want to be made well?”—a question that challenges the man’s entire identity, shaped by years of suffering and waiting.

In the end, the man is healed not by magic water, but by the presence and power of Jesus—the true "Water of Life." The sermon concludes with the powerful realization: we may be waiting at the wrong pool, when Jesus is standing right in front of us.

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Discussion Questions for the Car Ride Home:

1. What do you think Jesus meant when he asked, “Do you want to be made well?” Why might that be a harder question than it seems?

2. The man spent years waiting beside the pool for a miracle that never came. Can you think of a time when you were waiting for something, but God showed up in a different way than you expected?

3. The sermon ends with the idea that Jesus is the "Water of Life." What does it mean for us to "wade into that water" today—at school, at work, or with our family?

---

2016-05-01 John 5:1-9 Don’t Wade in THAT Water

2025-05-25 (Trinity Pres)

Wade in the water, 

wade in the water, children

Wade in the water, 

God's gonna trouble the water.

Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids--blind, lame, and paralyzed. 

This is the story of one man, how he got there, and how he left. He’ll tell you about it himself.

Year One: Grand Opening

I’m heading to the pool. 

And this is why.

There was a man. 

I don’t know his name. 

But my friends said they know people who are sure they know some folks who know his family. 

Doesn’t matter. 

What matters is the miracle. 

So, this man was at the Pool of Bethesda. 

Have you been there? 

It’s by the Sheep Gate. Nothing special. 

But I’ll bet you’ll remember that name, now. 

Bethesda. It’s gonna be famous. 

Do you know what it means? 

Sorry, you just look like foreigners to me.

Bless your hearts. 

Bethesda means, “House of Mercy.” 

Of course it happened there. 

Mercy! 

Only the most merciful act ever!

OK. I’m getting ahead of myself. 

So, what they’re saying is this man was beside the waters of Bethesda. 

Here’s the thing. And I don’t mean this in a bad way. 

He wasn’t “normal.” 

He wasn’t ordinary. 

You know. 

Not a healthy, clean, blessed man. 

He was unclean. 

He was sick. 

Like me.

So, what they say is this man was at the edge of the waters of Bethesda. 

He looks up, and he sees an angel. 

No, really. 

He sees an honest-to-goodness angel. 

And it flies down from heaven, right before his eyes. 

The most magnificent, heavenly angel. 

They say he said it shined like the sun. 

And as it flew, it dipped its wing in the water.

Well, obviously, it was a sign. 

The man knew it had to be a sign. 

He knew that this water was now anointed by the Lord. 

So he went to the water. 

He waded in. 

And as soon as he did, he could feel the change. 

He was healed! 

Just like that! 

A miracle!

Do you have any idea what this means? 

Probably not, because you all look nice and normal. 

Well, most of you. 

But do you know what the angel means? 

These waters, this pool? 

This is now the house – the home of mercy. 

These waters are hope. 

These waters are a sign for all of us, all of us who aren’t normal like you. 

There’s hope for people like me.

So, I’m going. 

I hear some generous people of means have already built five shelters around the pool. 

Porticoes. 

So not only is there plenty of room, there’s also shade in the day and warmth at night. 

It’ll be pure luxury compared to the beach.

The “House of Mercy.” 

The pool of mercy. 

Bethesda. 

Bethesda. Here I come.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;…. Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the Lord do sanctify them. And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

- Leviticus 21:16-24

Year Five: Community Organizer

Wade in the water, 

wade in the water, children… 

Oh, I’m sorry. 

Hang on just a minute.

[To off-screen] 

OK. He’s new. 

Let’s put him over there in Portico Number Three. 

Don’t look at me like that. 

There’s plenty of room. 

Sheesh.

I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but honest to Pete, these people couldn’t lift a finger without my help. 

I’m not judging. 

I mean, everybody’s got their problems. 

But you can’t let your limitations define you. 

We’ve been here five years, now. 

And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: 

That angel IS coming back. 

Bethesda is the House of Mercy. 

I will not let it become the House of Whining, or the House of Misery, or the House of Chaos. 

You’ve gotta focus on the positive. 

You’ve gotta have a plan. 

Otherwise, it’s just mayhem every time some lunatic shouts, “Angel!” 

People come here for healing. 

They come here for hope. 

It’s hard enough already; let’s not make it any worse.

So, I’ve worked out a triage system. 

We put the worst cases who’ve been here longest closer to the water. 

Then, you’ve got your non-life-threatening cases. 

Then, simple afflictions. 

And so on, back to the tents. 

We take turns on Angel Watch. 

If you hear anyone other than the official watcher, you know it’s probably just somebody hallucinating. 

Or teenage pranksters from town. 

Yes, we get that, too. 

Nothing like being sick AND being made fun of.

But we also get very kind people. 

The first Monday of every month, a group from the temple comes by and brings us food. 

They keep a safe distance, of course. 

That’s just for their own health. 

Plus, it’s the law. 

They can’t touch us and then re-enter the temple without a lot of ritual bathing. 

There’s also the worry they’ll catch our affliction. 

Look, we get it. 

It’s not personal. 

We’re thankful for the meals. 

Also, they pray for us. 

Again, from a safe distance. 

That’s nice. 

They mean well.

Someday that angel’s going to come back and dip its wing in the water. 

I might not be the first in the water, but I swear I’m wading in. 

And on that day, I’ll sing. 

I’ll sing like an angel. 

I’ll be free.

The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

- Numbers 14:18

Year Fifteen: Washed Up

If you get there before I do

(God’s gonna trouble the waters)

Tell all my friends I’m comin’ too.

Yeah. Sure. Right.

I have been here at the Pool of “Mercy” for a long time. 

I’ve lost track of the years. 

Lord, HAVE mercy. 

I’ve seen so many people come and go. 

A lot leave in the night. 

You just wake up and they’re gone. 

Sometimes you wake up and there’s a new one down by the water.

My “grand” organizational system went by the wayside a long time ago. 

Doesn’t matter. 

The new people watch for angels. 

Us old-timers? 

Well. 

Maybe the angel will tap us on the shoulder before it sweeps the water. 

The feeling here now is that the first person who gets to the pool after the angel dips its wing will be the one and only who gets healing. 

I don’t know if that’s tragedy or comedy. 

A herd of the disabled and unclean racing over top of each other to the water. 

If you get there before I do… 

which you probably will. 

But if you DO get there before I do, be warned. 

I will visit my wrath upon your soul to the third and fourth generation. 

The Lord’s got nothing on my justice. 

I meditate on it day and night.

They say, “The Lord is longsuffering.” 

Well, there’s one thing we’ve got in common: suffering long. 

They say, “The Lord is of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression.” 

I wish they’d tell me what my iniquity was. 

I wish they’d let me know why God made me this way, and put me at this pool of “mercy” when all the mercy I’ve ever known has dried up.

They say, the Lord visits “the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.” 

Maybe that’s it. 

Maybe this is my parents’ fault. 

Maybe THEY did something horrible, something worse than kicking their sick child out of the house. 

Or, maybe it was THEIR parents, or their PARENTS’ parents whose iniquity is shoveled on my head. 

Must have been something pretty awful. 

But we’ll never know.

Somebody came to the edge of the camp last week. 

It was just about nightfall. 

They sang a song. Psalm 13. 

My new favorite. 

I don’t know all the words, but it starts out:

“How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

“How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?”

I look at the people around me. 

I see enemies. 

I see people who haven’t done a thing, who just showed up expecting a miracle for nothing. 

Who’s been here since the beginning? 

Me, that’s who. 

Who’s organized watches and taught everybody to sing that horrible song about wading in the water? 

Me. 

That’s who. 

And what do I have to show for it? 

Healing?

Ha. I have nothing, except my resentment. 

I have my resentment for people and, I’ll say it, I have resentment for God. 

What more can He do to me? 

What more can he take from me? 

How long, O Lord, how long?” 

I don’t want to know.

If you get there before I do. 

If you get in those waters before I do… 

watch your back.

Year Thirty-Eight: Now, That Day Was a Sabbath

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"

Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk."

At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath.

Hello, again. 

Yes, it’s me. 

Still here. 

I would sing that song for you again, but, to be honest, I barely remember the tune. 

Thirty-eight years. 

Hope you’ve all been well. 

No, seriously. I do. I hope so.

Hope. 

Interesting word. 

Hope is such a luxury. 

Here at the Pool, hope is a toy you hand a child. 

It’s amusing. 

For a while. 

But then you put it aside. 

Because like all toys, hope breaks. 

To hope you need freedom. 

Another interesting word. Freedom.

Someday, someone’s going to say, “A puppet is free as long as he loves his strings.” 

I trace the strings on this threadbare old mat. 

Like me, it’s falling apart. 

Not much left of either of us.

I think the secret to a good, long life – 

that’s the part where you laugh, because what could I know about that? – 

I think the secret of a good, long life is having mercy on yourself. 

Learning to love your strings and accepting that this is all there is and ever will be. 

Have mercy on yourself and on whatever cruel god left you here, waiting for angels, chasing the waters. 

Having hope.

One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"

The sick man answered him, 

"Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." 

Jesus said to him, “That’s not what I asked.”

The sick man answered him,

Sir, I don’t think you heard me. 

I told you I have no one to put me into the pool when.”

Jesus said to him, “That’s not what I asked.”

The sick man answered him,

Sir, you’re not listening to me. 

I’m trying to tell you what I do. 

I’m trying to tell you about myself and my life. 

Will you please let me finish?

Jesus said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

I didn’t know what to say. 

I’ve devoted thirty-eight years to wading in this water. 

I’ve been here thirty-eight years. 

Being made well is my LIFE. 

I wanted to scream at him, “Of COURSE I want to be made well!! Are you blind?”

But I didn’t. 

Because. 

Because nobody ever asked me that before. 

And I realized, if I was well, I don’t know what I’d do. 

I’ve always been the man by the pool. 

What would I be? 

WHO would I be?

Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk."

So I did. 

I did. 

I just did. 

I picked up my frayed old mat. 

And I walked.

And do you know what I did then?

I took the deepest breath of my life. 

I felt the air, 

I tasted the life in it, 

I let it flow into my chest, and I looked up to heaven, and I sang. 

I sang from my suffering, 

I sang from my health, 

I sang from my soul, 

because I saw for the first time in thirty-eight years, 

I HAD BEEN SINGING ABOUT THE WRONG WATER.

Jesus. Jesus was the Water of Life. 

Jesus was the House of Mercy. 

Jesus was the baptism of new life.

And so with every breath in my body, I sang.

Wade in the water.

Wade in the water, children!

Wade in the water.

God’s gonna trouble the water.