Creekside Church Sermon of May 29, 2005 "Are You Looking Through the Wrong Window?" Psalm 19:7-14	Rev. David Bibbee
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Years later, I made up for my breakage. I worked in a glass shop where I repaired windows by the hundreds. Some windows came with stories of how they were broken. I remember the guy who brought in a window and said his wife broke it. "How did she do it?" I asked. He replied, "She threw a coffee mug at me!"

Windows are our eyes into the world. The question before us today is, "What do you we see through OUR windows? I'm not talking about the neighbor's satellite dish that blocks your view of the sunset, or the "NO TRESPASSING!" sign on the fence next door and the Doberman patroling the perimeter. The window I have in mind is one that looks out upon a much larger vista.

Some don't offer much of a view. Some people can't see anything beyond their own needs and concerns. Others see much see much further. They see their own behaviors and motivations. They notice the forces that influence our lives. They see through things in our society that are trivial and superficial. If they are Christian, they behold the biggest panorama of all. They see life through the window of God's Kingdom, and order their lives around an entirely different set of contrary assumptions than those who can't see it.

Asking what is outside your window is another way of asking, "What's your world-view?" Of all his letters to churches in Asia Minor, Ephesians is Paul's most heartfelt. He cannot say enough good things about the Ephesians faithfulness under fire, their love for each other and for him, and above all, their loyalty to Christ. "I do not cease to give thanks for you in my prayers," he said. In the course of praying for the bestowing of revelation, and wisdom, and knowledge upon the church, Paul used an interesting image about, "… having the eyes of your heart enlightened."

On our recent trip to Wisconsin we took a stroll through the woods. Spring comes later at that latitude, so the trees had just started turning green. Other things were at full stride. Along the way we spotted ticks on each other. I hate ticks. But I respect their tenacity and their very focused worldview. In order to reproduce, wood ticks require blood from a warm-bodied animal. They attach themselves to tree bark and wait for a host to pass. Compared to the numbers of ticks, there aren't many warm-blooded animals in the forests. Wood ticks must therefore remain patient for very long periods until a host comes along. An entomologist reported a wood tick lived seventeen years through heat and cold and rain and snow, waiting for a ride. The worldview of a tick is not a bad thing to possess.

What worldview is visible through your window? This isn't just a Sunday school discussion starter. It's a serious question. How we answer will shape the character of our church, reveal our true loyalties, and determine whether we flourish or flounder. For the remainder of my message I will identify seven windows and the biblical and opposing worldview seen through each. As you know, Christians see things differently in many areas. This sometimes leads to conflict. At times we must deal with conflict that is the result of unbiblical worldviews that weaken the church's witness. I've taken these categories from a book titled, Discover Your Window: Lining Up with God's Vision.

First is the window of PURPOSE. The biblical view is: "The main purpose of Christians in the church is to make disciples." The opposing view is: "The main purpose of Christians in the church is to provide a place of fellowship and share God's love with each other." At first glance both views seem compatible. Disciples practice spiritual disciplines they learn with other believers. It's vital to enjoy fellowship and express God's love with each other.

The purpose of worship, prayer, witness, and service, however, is to draw our attention OUTWARD. If we only look INWARD we may become close, but we will also be closed. The last time I read Matthew 28, Jesus did not say, "Go therefore and organize little fellowship groups where you can enjoy the company of like-minded people." He said, "Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations." The principle purpose of our lives is to demonstrate what life dedicated to Jesus and his love looks like.

Second is the window of COMFORT. The biblical view says: "God is more interested in your character than your comfort." The opposing view is: "You want comfort at all costs." Our faith is God is a source of comfort and solace. Handel's Messiah wraps music around God's promise spoken through the prophet Isaiah, "Comfort, comfort O my people…" Personal peace and comfort may be one RESULT of following Jesus, but it is not the GOAL.

Jesus did not call anyone to a life of comfort. He did call them to a life of commitment. "Pick up your cross and follow me." He said that the only way to find our lives is to lose our lives by turning them over to him. We sacrifice immediate gratification to all that the world says we should want, in order to possess a life of far greater value. I do not regret the sacrifices I made on behalf of my children. None of the opportunities I declined over the years could compare to what my sacrifices have given.

Part of our job as Christians is to share with others that pursuing a life of ease is a prescription for a life of dis-ease. We have the opportunity to show others that all the things of this world are passing away… except God. Our task is to tell others what we are learning day by day- that God is all we need, and God is all there is.

Third is the window of IMAGE. The biblical view says: "You are to go into the world." The opposing view is: "You expect the world to come to you." Ralph Waldo Emerson gave us wonderful poetry, but he wasn't thinking clearly the day he penned the words: "Build a better mousetrap, and the world will be a path to your door." Ask the CEO's of Fortune 500 companies what would happen if they adopted this as a business philosophy. No one will know how good a mousetrap you've got until you show them.

Last summer my son John earned money selling Cutco knives. Several of you were customers. He did a good job considering his only sales experience up to that point was selling candy bars and cheese for school fundraisers. John wouldn't have made a red cent had he not known his product, practiced his presentations, developed a list of prospective customers, and gone to their door with the product.

It seems like common sense. So why do churches think they are exempt from going where the message needs to be heard? Why do we wait for people to show up and then scratch our heads wondering why when they don't? Our new building might bring in people who are interested in a facility tour, but it won't bring people into the fold of faith. This week, I want you to drive one square mile around our property and notice the housing developments and the new ones under construction. The biblical view says to us, "Okay Creekside… this is your world. Get into it."

Fourth window is the window of FINANCING. The biblical view is: "You believe God pays for what God orders." The opposing view is asking: "How much does it cost?" I abide by the wisdom that says, "If you are in a restaurant that doesn't print prices in the menu, don't bother asking. If you have to ask, you can't afford it." The church is no different from any organization in that there are costs associated with doing business. The church is no different in that it, too, must abide by sound, responsible financial practices. Yet one of the most effective vision killers is a premature posing of the question, "How much does it cost?" which usually isn't a question, but a statement-"We cannot afford it. End of discussion."

There come times when the church faces choices it can't afford NOT TO TAKE. What is the cost of not planning for the future? What is the cost of decisions based upon what WE want rather than upon what OTHERS need? What is the cost of sacrificing quality and excellence in ministry? What is the cost of endorsing a ministry and not financially supporting it? What is the cost of stressing obedience to God's will but choosing something less? What is the cost of choosing stability and a balanced budget over venturing out in trust that God will pay what God orders?

Fifth is the window of CHANGE. The biblical view is: "You are encouraged by tradition-the living faith of the dead." The opposing view is: "You're caught in traditionalism-the dead faith of the living." There are two certainties in life. Scott Peck identified one of them in the first sentence of his book, The Road Less Traveled-"Life is DIFFICULT." Along side this truth is another-"Life is CHANGE."

Life is in a constant state of change. I was reminded of this yesterday at Mark Arnold's graduation reception. When I became your pastor, Mark was five. While I was doing my job, he turned eighteen! How did that happen? In the time it took Mark to grow up we have changed as a church. We don't agree about whether all the changes have been good. They have certainly not been easy.

We are doing what Christ's church has always done-adapt to the world's changes without adopting its changing values. This is testimony to God's guidance. The church has outlasted every worldly power that tried to destroy it. The genius of the church is its ability to adapt and evolve while holding on to its life-giving traditions, and letting go of traditions that have no life left in them.

Security isn't based on resisting change. Its based upon the truth we sing: "Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father, there is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not, as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be…"

Sixth is the window of TEAMWORK. The biblical view is: "Your spiritual gifts empower you for God's work." The opposing view is: "You serve because you've been drafted or elected." We continue to be blessed in coming together and meeting challenges. We are learning that when we work together and aren't dissuaded by negative voices saying what is wrong and what won't work, we succeed.

The joy of undertaking big jobs is the discovery of gifts that have been concealed. You know what it's like to do something when your heart isn't into it, but do it out of obligation. If it doesn't employ the gifts God has given you, it sucks the life right out of you.

But if we operate out of our spiritual gifts we don't dread taking on tasks. We aren't depleted but are energized. Instead of generating meetings and piles of minutes, we accomplish goals, we find our purpose, we watch people come alive, and witness what God can do among us.

Let me leave you with just one more window. It is ATTITUDE. The biblical view is: "You know God can." The opposing view is: "You believe God can't."

I want to tell you about a young African-American woman who stood before a crowd of thousands, staring in disbelief as Queen Elizabeth II approached to crown her the tennis champion of the world. She was born into a poor family, was critically ill most of her early years, and lived on a dilapidated farm outside New York City.

One day her mother called her over to the window. "Do you see that stone down by the barn? I want you to go down there and bring it up here do we can use it as a step to the kitchen door." Her daughter sobbed, "Mommy, I'm so weak I can hardly walk down there, let alone move the stone!" But her mother insisted. "You go down there child, and if necessary, move it just a half an inch at a time, but you move it." Inch by inch over the next days she did as her mother said, often in tears. It took her two months to do what a healthy child could have done in minutes. But she struggled with the stone, and in the process she grew strong. Over the years she tried paddle tennis, and eventually she made it to Wimbledon. You know her as Althea Gibson.

Attitude is a powerful thing. So is purpose, comfort, image, financing, change, and teamwork. Do you believe God can, or do you believe God can't? What do you see through your window?

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