Preached at Hallam and Martell UMCs August 5^th, 2007.

As most of you know, I spent last weekend in Chadron at the Walk to Emmaus. I had a wonderful time and God was active and moving while I was there. But I have to tell you about my trip there.

So there I was, in my pickup on the way to Chadron. I was focused on the trip, I knew where I was going, and I knew what time I had to be there. But, somewhere between Grand Island and Kearney, my pickup started sputtering. I decided to stop in Kearney and replace the fuel filter. While I was underneath, I noticed that the transmission was leaking severely. I had replaced a seal there some time ago, but since the output shaft was worn, it still leaked. I went back into the parts store, bought some grease and put it in, and was back on the road.

A little further down the road, west of North Platte, I heard a strange sound underneath my pickup. I pulled over to check it out and my exhaust pipe had fallen off and was dragging! I pulled it off, through it in the back of my truck and kept going—I was on a schedule!

Aren’t the problems I had with my pickup similar to life in the church? Sometimes it seems as though things and people keep falling off. You are sometimes afraid that you might not make it to the next destination. But you will make it, you just have to keep eyes focused on where you’re going. That’s what Paul said in his letter to the Colossians: So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4).

All the things that went wrong with my pickup could have been avoided with a little regular maintenance—just like the church, and honestly in our own personal lives. Think about the things that went wrong:

The fuel filter plugged. In order for the pickup to run right, you need a steady flow of fuel. We need a steady diet of Holy Spirit to run right. How do we get that? Through steady diet of bible study.

I had a bad seal on the transmission. In order to find out that the level of grease was low, I had to stick my finger in and poke around a little. In our own lives, we need to have a little self-examination. We need to open up our hearts and minds and ask the hard questions: do I spend enough time in prayer; Do I need to study more; have I wronged anyone; do I need to forgive someone, etc. Further, we need to have prayer in our life because it is the grease that makes life work—so add some today!

My exhaust fell off. The exhaust pipe makes sure all the noxious fumes from the engine are safely out of the vehicle—without it, poison builds up in the cab—and it will kill you! Paul addresses this as well: Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things -- anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:5-10).

In our personal life, there are things like Sin, and foul thoughts and attitudes that, if we don’t get them out of our lives, will build up and kill us. In the church, we have the same things: our attitudes, actions, if they are not in check, guided by the Holy Spirit, will build up and kill the church! Confession makes sure all the poisonous thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and words are safely out—you are forgiven, alive and free.

This morning you have an opportunity

- To change the filter - commit to dedicate time to study

- To check the transmission - spend time in prayer

- To make sure the exhaust is secure - to confess and repent

The opportunity for all of this is right here, at the table of our Lord.