Which kind of cloud do you trust? Based on Hebrews 11 and 12 By Rev. Larry Fry College Avenue UMC August 18, 2013 The clouds in the Kansas sky can be amazing. They can be like giant puffs of cotton, or spread out on the horizon to bring a beautiful sunrise or sunset to take your breath away. I know of a man who has one who computer storage full of nothing but images of clouds. I cannot remember where I read it but one great writer said: “Whenever you see something of great beauty, that is the handwriting of God.” I agree with that. Over the years, one picture of heaven has been a place where people float on white clouds in white robes and playing harps. That image of heaven never did much for me. The world of computers has given us another kind of cloud. I receive computer messages often that want me to try the ICloud. For some time you can buy a computer that stores all of your created data on a “cloud.” I cannot manage the documents on my own computer. Having all of my stuff on that kind of “cloud” scares me. And to add to the confusion, those invitations to try the ICloud on my computer come to Penny S. Fry????? This Bible passage gives us another image is of a cloud of witnesses: that is, a large group of witnesses in heaven and on earth. These faithful Christians include all those who have gone before; it includes us and our children, and generations to come. It includes our youth who gave their powerful witness today. We are part of the cloud that goes all the way through time and history. I am going to trust this cloud for the witness of all gives me inspiration and hope. This is the cloud I trust in. I get asked to witness about what makes this church so vital. I can talk about the activities and programs. I can talk about the Harvester’s Food Distribution we do this Tuesday. But more than anything I like to talk about people, the cloud of witnesses here. Often people hear about our youth and their football parking grants reviewed in their presentation today. I would like us to think of a giant flash mob, or track meet. And we are in the saints relay race. People have been running around and around the track for years receiving the baton and passing it on to others. Those we remember from time to time passed it on to us. It is not end with them. We are participants and we the ones to carry it to the next time. We get the baton and race and we have it. We do our best. And then we get ready to pass the baton on to those who are next. Those who come after us will carry on the race. Our hope is that they too will look to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. BEING WATCHED A cloud of witnesses entered the giant new building at the corner of College Ave. and Claflin last night. The addition to the football stadium was unveiled at an open house. A cloud means a giant group, like would fill a stadium. Another term might be a mob of witnesses…a big group. A cloud of people contributed to that new portion of the stadium. Soon we will have parking on church property a cloud of witnesses, headed to watch the football games. Soon the stadium will be filled with people watching football. When the football team takes to the field for the first game and the crowd roars with approval and excitement. Thousands are watching. A witness someone who sees something. Each fan at the stadium will be a witness to what happens. WITNESSES OF THE GAME And once they leave the stadium each fan could be a witness to tell what happened. After that first game, every coffee group, every tailgating party, will tell others what happened. They become witnesses, tellers of the story. The news media will send all over the world statistics and stories about the game. Who were the most valuable players and how many yards did they carry the ball. WITNESSES WATCHING US FROM HEAVEN The book of Hebrews lists a bunch of our heroes of faith celebrating what God did through them. They were not perfect superheroes. But they contributed to the work of God for the kingdom of God. One way to look at this is like we are on the field, and thousands of people, the saints who have gone before, are looking down on us, so to speak, seeing how we do as we carry on in the Christian faith. We are the ones who are to run our race set out before with faith and courage. WITNESSES TELLING THE STORY THROUGH OUR WORDS AND ACTIONS The movie, 42: the Jackie Robinson Story. We loved it! The owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Richey, was the one who changed baseball when he hired Mr. Robinson to play, breaking the color line in professional baseball. The movie is not a baseball movie; it is story about overcoming racism and establishing justice. Jackie had to endure the racism of fans, other players, other coaches, and his own difficult days wanting to give up. We can, if we have faith in Jesus, expect some opposition and bad treatment. The world is threatened by those who do not share its values and the world around will lash out at us. And thank God for the faith helps us persevere when this comes. Jackie Robinson received death threats and a constant barrage of racist slurs. Jackie was able to persevere with courage, faith, and his love of baseball that won over his critics and fans and teammates. To decide who was going to be this first rookie, the owner chose a younger man from the Kansas City Monarchs. He was looking at characteristics that would make him a responsible player. You will be surprised that Branch Richey looked at Robinson’s denomination. (Let’s watch.) On almost every part of this movie the owner is a great witness to his Christian faith. One of the reasons he picked Jackie Robinson using his own words: “He is a Methodist. I am a Methodist. God is a Methodist.” We laughed and laughed. In several major decisions, he did biblical insights, stories, and guiding values that he learned from Jesus. I am not sure he is on safe ground in saying that God is Methodist. God may be, but God is also other denominations and faiths. I am grateful for a movie that shows faith in a very positive light, without being rigid. Another hero: “Buzz” Aldrin was on the moon 44 years ago. Many people do not know that before he left he got permission to take the Lord’s Supper on the moon. He took a small container of wine and bread. Neil Armstrong was the first one on the moon because he did not want to participate. Aldrin, who followed Armstrong out poured the leftover wine on the moon. The first liquid poured on the moon by humans and the first food eaten there were communion elements. His idea was to give people on earth something to think about. But those in charge of the broadcast chose not to air it…just a few moments of silence were aired. The silence was to invite each person listening in, wherever and whomever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours, and to give thanks in his or her own way. He read a bit of John “I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit.” The cloud of witnesses has gone far above our earthly clouds. As Christians we look to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Our goal in this race is to become like Christ. This is the race set before. I don’t care who comes in first in this race. The important thing is to get on the track, to take the baton, and do our part and pass it on to a new generation. We have a cloud of witnesses watching us and that makes us want to do our best. That cloud includes those who have gone before and now inspire us through our memories of them. There are people who have inspired us and inspire us now. Prayer Lord, help us to get rid of our excess baggage in order to travel light. Thank you for the power which sustains us. Thank you for the presence of your Holy Spirit. Amen.