This week begins sixteen days of the International Olympics.  These games are being conducted this year in Greece - the origin of the games.  In fact, when we think of athletics and Greece, we immediately think of the marathon, the long distance runners.  I have never run a marathon, but I remember in high school it was mandatory to run a mile to pass the physical education class.  The time was not essential, but completing it was.  For someone who was not a track and field person, this seemed like an IMPOSSIBLE task.  It took more than one attempt to achieve, and I don’t know if I ever would have if I hadn’t had people there encouraging me and urging me to do so.  You will never know how hard it was to hold out to the very end.  Every ounce of my body said, quit; stop this torture you are doing to me.  It would never have happened without some careful planning.  I had to dress properly - this was not a time for hiking boots and heavy clothes.  Shorts and running shoes were needed.  Then came the stretching and conditioning exercises.  I practiced shorter runs at first to build endurance.  And finally the attempt.

          It is a strange coincidence that this week’s scripture lesson falls at the very beginning of the Olympics.  I would like to give credit to those planning the lectionary, but I seriously doubt they took that into consideration a few years ago. 

The scripture lesson calls us to run with perseverance the race set before us.  This race is run in the presence of a cloud or host of witnesses.  But these are not just any spectators who enjoy a race;  these are veterans of our race.  Names like Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Samson, David and Samuel and others.  All these ran the race of life and have been entered into the Hall of Faith.  Hebrews 11 is a great chapter spelling out the faith of those that faced severe challenges in life and dealt with the challenges.  None of them lived lives of ease.  Each had to deal with real life like you and I do.  Abraham became a nomad even though he was wealthy in livestock and possessions.  But God came to him and asked him to move his family and his wealth, and he responded by packing up all that he had and began traveling even though he didn’t have a clue where he was going.  All he knew was that God wanted him to relocate and he followed.  I don’t know how many of us would pack up the moving truck and head out without knowing more details.  But Abraham is in the Hall of Faith. 

          Moses was called away from tending sheep to lead a grumbling, complaining people for forty years to a country that he never got to experience.  He overcame obstacles and obstinate people to bring them to the brink of the promise land into which Joshua finally led them. Moses, even though less than perfect himself, is in the Hall of Faith.   And  the  list  goes on . . . .  These were people our scripture says of whom the world was not worthy.  It was clear by their lives that they were not formed and molded by the values of this world but had discovered another guiding star.  

          Last week we were invited to Listen to our God as the prophet challenged the people of God to learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.  While God desires to be worshipped, that worship is to lead to lives of justice and fairness.   I  suspect  that  call does not fall on deaf ears in this congregation!  What might be harder for us (and for most congregations) is to be as financially committed as we are intellectually to the idea of justice.  Especially when we are already dealing with a tight budget.  As I have looked over the adjusted budget for 2004, there is not much wiggle room for additional programming.  If we add any more to it, we may need to restore some of the cuts we have made, AND we need to remember that staff raises will be in order.  I can freely talk about this because my salary is already established!  So how do we commit ourselves to programming that will serve our neighborhood that will surely cost more money?  I DO NOT KNOW.  It doesn’t look possible from this perspective.  Sound fiscal policy (which I endorse, by the way) says “stay pat, don’t start anything new, yet.”  Is that where we want to leave it? Where does faith come into play, or do we leave faith out of talk about money? 

          But moving ahead is not just a matter of money.  Are we as a congregation ready to move on?  You have gone through some very difficult times.  The wounds and hurts are not totally healed.  Do we have the strength to continue ahead?    

We have been struggling with opening the denomination to an accepting and affirming policy regarding gays and lesbians, transgender and bisexual persons.  We had hopes for this past General Assembly, only to get them dashed.  And some have wondered, how long do we wait?  Michael Adee reminds us that change comes gradually, and systemic change occurs slowly. 

           And then we look at the national scene and wonder,  too.    Is   the   economy   heading   the   right direction, is the involvement in Iraq being handled the way we want, is the environment being cared for adequately, are the right values being championed?    

We have personal challenges.  Personal races to run.  It might be a marriage, a holy union, and a relationship with a family member.  It might be concerns regarding employment or finances.  It might be the challenge of one’s own contribution in life and whether we are pleased with what we are doing or have done.  Is our personal life where we want it? 

Life is a long distance run.  Are we hanging in until the very end, or do we want to sit down on the edge of the road and let life go by?  This text calls us to be single-minded, clear-focused on a solitary goal: the life of obedient faith.  That is what separated those listed in the Hall of Faith from the rest.  They were willing to trust even when things looked bleak.  David had to flee out of town for his very life because his own son wanted to kill him and take over the nation of Israel.  Yet, he continued to trust God. Samson had his eyes plucked out and died in his effort to defeat the enemies of Israel.  Samuel, the prophet, who served both King Saul and King David, had two sons turn against him by being disobedient to God in taking advantage of the very people they were to serve. Yet, he is in the Hall of Faith. 

          Each of those listed in Hebrews stood out for having faith even in the midst of unfulfilled promises.  For faith is just that, believing when the object of faith is not visible.  It does not require faith to spend a hundred dollars if you have a hundred-dollar bill in your hand.  Or it does not require faith to set the table for dinner if  you  have  a  pantry full of food; it is quite another thing to do so if you have not food in the house. 

          Faith is required when we are called to do something for which we do not see the resources.  When we look at where we want to go or what kind of church do we want to become, do we have the faith to proceed in that direction even if we don’t have the resources at the time? 

          What is our test of faith?  What seems impossible for you to complete?  Imagine with me our running the race and along the side of the road are those members of the Hall of Faith mentioned in Hebrews 11, those of whom the world was not worthy, and they are calling out your name and mine and encouraging us to finish the course.  They are telling us not to give up but to run with perseverance the race that is ahead of us.  And they point out to us the lead the runner.  The one who is setting the pace.  He, too, is in the Hall of Faith, but he is in the race with us, too: Jesus.  We are not in this by ourselves.  We have company, expert company, and the crowd from the Hall of Faith, and a lead runner who will never desert us.  In fact, the lead runner is running with joy.  Even though he suffered the cross, he runs with joy because he knows what lies ahead. 

          Yes, we have challenges; yes, we have nay sayers and opposition; yes, we have our own imperfections and setbacks; but thanks be to God, we have a promise that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  WE SHALL OVERCOME!  Thanks be to God! Let’s run the race, WITH JOY, knowing who is with us and where we are going.