(Matthew 28:16-20 ) RUMINATIONS AT MID-NIGHT

TO ONE WHO BELIEVES

JESUS IS LORD

 HIS CONDUCT IS GAUGED

BY THAT BELIEF

BUT WHAT SHALL WE SAY

ABOUT THOSE

 WHO DON’T BELIEVE

LIKE THE JEWS

WOULD I WILLINGLY CONVERT TO A CHURCH

THAT PERSECUTES ME

WHOSE NOBLE LEADERS

 HAVE OFTEN CALLED

 FOR MY ELIMINATION

OR AT LEAST MARGINAL LIVING

CAN WE BLAME THEM FOR NOT BELIEVING IN JESUS

WHEN CHRISTIAN CONDUCT BELIES HIS TEACHING

HINDUS

BUDDHISTS

SHINTOISTS

HAVE OFTEN FELT THE LASH OF CHRISTIANITY

MUSLIMS HAVE OFTEN BEEN ACCUSED OF FANATICISM

HAVEN’T CHRISTIANS ALSO

PRACTICED HATRED ON OTHER RELIGIONS

EVEN OTHER CHRISTIANS

EVEN TODAY

CHRISTIANS ARE KNOWN

MORE

BY WHAT THEY HATE

THAN WHAT THEY LOVE

THE GREAT COMMISSION

MAY EITHER BE

HISTORY REMEMBERED

OR PROPHECY HISTORIZED

EARLY BAPTISM WAS IN JESUS NAME

BUT CHARITY

DEMANDS

THAT WE GIVE OUR NEIGHBOR THE BEST

AND JESUS IS MY FAVORITE HOLY MAN

HIS MESSAGE NEEDS SAYING

BUT KINDNESS MUST BE SHOWN

TO ALL GOOD MEN

WHO SEEK GOODNESS

NO MATTER WHAT THEY CALL GOODNESS

WE MUST GIVE THEM THE RIGHT OF CONSCIENCE

FRANCIS OF ASSISI

IS QUOTED AS SAYING

PREACH THE GOSPEL

USE WORDS IF YOU HAVE TO

WE WOULD BE WISE

TO HEED HIS ADVICE

FRANK A VOLLMER

SUNDAYS OF ADVENT (SERIES B)

THE POTTER (Isaiah 64:1-9)

THE POTTER LOOKED AT THE WORK OF HIS HANDS

AND LOVED HIS CREATION

I SHALL CALL YOU

BELOVED OF MY HEART

SPOUSE …PARENT... FRIEND

YOU SHALL HOLD ALL THAT IS PRECIOUS TO ME

AND WHEN AS TIME WILL

THE VESSEL BREAKS

I SHALL CLAIM THE CONTENTS

AS MY OWN

EVEN THAT

WHICH YOU GAVE AWAY

AS SPOUSE …PARENT... FRIEND

INVESTING THE TALENTS I FILLED YOU WITH

AND YOU USED

HONORING MY NAME

FRANK A VOLLMER

********************************************* 

A VOICE  (Isaiah 40:1-11)

THE DRY SOUNDS OF THE DESERT

THE CEASELESS BLOWING OF SAND

THE VOICE

OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS

MAKE STRAIGHT THE PATH

LEVEL MOUNTAINS

AND FILL UP GAPS

THAT THE KING OF GLORY MAY COME IN

TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ANEW

HIS WAY WILL BE ROUGH ENOUGH

MAKE LEVEL HIS PATH

HIS WAY IS FRAUGHT WITH DANGER

SECURE HIS PATH

HIS ENEMIES MACHINE WILL CRUSH HIM

THROW YOURSELF BENEATH THE WHEELS

DO NOT LET THE APPEARANCE

OF THE MESSENGER

DETER YOU

THIS WILD MAN

WHO EATS LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY

WHO WEARS CAMEL HAIR FOR A CLOAK

WHO WON’T LET US BE COMFORTABLE

DO NOT FIND FAULT WITH THE MESSENGER

HIS MESSAGE IS TRUE

TOO OFTEN WE FIND FAULT WITH THE MESSENGER

AND DO NOT FOLLOW

LIKE

KING

BERRIGAN

BONHOEFFER

IT’S TIME TO ADMIT

WE HAVE BEEN COMFORTABLE

NOT ROAD BUILDERS

BARRICADE BUILDERS

NOT ROAD BUILDERS

WALL BUILDERS

THAT IMPRISON

THOSE WHO BUILD THEM

AND WHEN THEY FALL

THE JACKAL HOWLS AT THE MOON

AND THERE IS NO ANSWER

FRANK A VOLLMER

****************************************** 

FIRST SERMON (Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY.

MOST OF IT IS TRUE.

THE REST IS A PARABLE.

JESUS TOLD PARABLES.

THEY WERE

AND ARE

STORIES TO TEACH A LESSON.

JESUS

FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT

WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE

.

GOING FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE.

AND THE PEOPLE FELT HOPE

AND JOY

IN HIS MESSAGE

BUT THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE

AND THE WEALTHY AND IMPORTANT

FELT THREATENED

HE WAS NOW IN NAZARETH

AND HE AND HIS MOTHER

WERE WALKING TO THE SYNAGOGUE.

AT THE DOOR THEY PARTED.

MARY WENT TO SIT WITH THE WOMEN

BECAUSE THE SYNAGOGUE WAS SEGREGATED.

AT THE CENTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE SAT

ALL THE IMPORTANT MEN OF THE VILLAGE.

AROUND THEM SAT

THE OTHER MEN OF THE VILLAGE.

THE WOMEN WERE IGNORED

THEY WERE NOT IMPORTANT.

IN FACT THE JEWISH LEADERS SAID

THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER

FOR THE BIBLE TO BE BURNED

RATHER THAN BE TAUGHT TO A WOMAN.

THIS WAS THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN

AND HE DID NOT LIKE IT

.

HE ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE PRAYER

THAT JEWISH MEN SAID DAILY

.

THEY SAID

BLESSED BE GOD

THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME

A GENTILE

.

BLESSED BE GOD

THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME

A WOMAN

.

BLESSED BE GOD

THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME

A SLAVE.

THIS ALSO BOTHERED JESUS.

IT WAS NOT THE WORLD

THAT HE

OR HIS FATHER WANTED.

LATER PAUL

IN GALATIANS

WOULD ANSWER THAT PRAYER

WITH A NEW ONE

THAT REFLECTED

WHAT JESUS THOUGHT

WHEN HE WROTE

AS MANY OF YOU

AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST

HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES

WITH CHRIST.

THEREFORE

THERE IS NO LONGER

JEW OR GREEK

,

THERE IS NO LONGER

SLAVE OR FREE,

THERE IS NO LONGER

MALE AND FEMALE;

FOR ALL OF YOU

ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.

BUT THAT PRAYER WAS WRITTEN

AFTER JESUS HAD LIVED AND DIED

.

BUT TODAY IN OUR STORY

JESUS IS BEGINNING HIS JOURNEY

.

AS HE LOOKS AT THE ASSEMBLY

HE IS SADDENED

THAT THEY HAVE WANDERED

SO FAR FROM HIS FATHER'S DREAM

.

HE OPENS THE SCRIPTURES

AND READING FROM ISAIAH

HE DECLARES IN A STRONG VOICE

THE NEW/OLD VISION OF THE FATHER

FOR HIS PEOPLE.

TODAY HE SAYS

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME.

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

TO BRING GOOD NEWS

TO THE POOR.

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO CAPTIVES

HE HAS APPOINTED ME

TO TELL THE BLIND

THAT THEY SHALL SEE.

TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN

THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED

AND TO TELL

ALL PEOPLE

THAT THE TIME FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS

IS NOW.

JESUS CLOSES THE BOOK.

LOOKS AT ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE,

LOOKS AT ALL THE NOT SO IMPORTANT PEOPLE

LOOKS AT HIS MOTHER

AND ALL THE OTHER WOMEN

WHO DID NOT COUNT

AND SAYS

TODAY

THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED

IN YOUR HEARING

MEANING THAT THE TIME FOR CHANGE

WAS NOW

AND FOR THAT REASON

JESUS WAS PREACHING.

AND CALLING US TO MISSION

FRANK A VOLLMER

************************************** 

FEAR NOT (2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16)

IT WAS THE EVENING     

A COOL BREEZE WAS BLOWING

WELCOME RELIEF FROM THE SUN

THE BIRDS

HAD SETTLED

 FOR THE EVENING

PERCHING ON TREE AND HOUSE

SHE WAS FINISHING HER PRAYERS

WITH

MAY MESSIAH COME

WHEN SHE HEARD A SOUND

AS IF

A LATE ARRIVING BIRD HAD COME

SHE SAW AN ANGEL

SHE HEARD A VOICE

SAYING

GOD’S CONSTANT GREETING

BE NOT AFRAID

THE CHOICE WAS HERS

THE CHOICE IS OURS

TO LET GOD SWELL WITHIN US

WHEN WE SAY SON OF MAN

WE MEAN JUST LIKE HIS FATHER

WHEN WE SAY SON OF GOD

WE MEAN JUST LIKE HIS FATHER

 GOD WAITED

LIKE AN ANXIOUS SUITOR

FOR A YES

GOD WAITS

LIKE AN ANXIOUS SUITOR

FOR US TO SAY YES

AND BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

FRANK A VOLLMER

(MATTHEW 22;1-14) IMPROPERIA #1 & #2

IMPROPERIA #1

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME

I INVITED YOU TO MY SON’S WEDDING

BUT YOU DID NOT COME

WHY

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME

I SENT MESSENGERS TO TELL OF FATTED CALVES

YOU ABUSED AND KILLED THEM

WHY

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME

IN MY ANGER I SLEW THE GUESTS

HEART BROKEN I CRIED OUT

WHY

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME!

THEN IN REMORSE

I SAID GO TO THE HIGHWAYS

AND INVITE ALL YOU FIND

MY OTHER GUESTS HAVE PROVEN UNWORTHY

GATHER GOOD AND BAD

MY HOUSE WILL BE FILLED

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU,

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME!

HE CAME INTO THE HALL

AND FOUND A GUEST

WHO WAS NOT WEARING

THE SUPPLIED WHITE GARMENT

HE SAID TO HIS SERVANTS BIND HIM

AND THROW HIM OUTSIDE THE GATE

HE IS AS UNWORTHY AS MY FIRST GUESTS

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU,

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME

WHAT MORE COULD I HAVE DONE FOR YOU

THAT YOU WOULD REFUSE THE WHITE GARMENT

WHY

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

FRANK A VOLLMER

***************************************************

IMPROPERIA #2

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME

I INVITED YOU TO MY SON’S WEDDING

BUT YOU DID NOT COME

YOU WERE TOO BUSY

AM I NOT IMPORTANT TO YOU

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME

I SENT MESSENGERS TO TELL OF FATTED CALVES

YOU ABUSED AND KILLED THEM

THEN I KILLED YOU

NO WINNER THERE

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME

MY SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED

MUST HAVE A FULL WEDDING PARTY

WHOM SHALL I INVITE

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME!

I SAID TO MY SERVANTS

I SAID GO TO THE HIGHWAYS

AND INVITE ALL YOU FIND

MY OTHER GUESTS HAVE PROVEN UNWORTHY

GATHER GOOD AND BAD

MY HOUSE WILL BE FILLED

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU,

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME!

HE CAME INTO THE HALL

AND FOUND A GUEST

WHO WAS NOT WEARING

THE SUPPLIED WHITE GARMENT

HE SAID TO HIS SERVANTS BIND HIM

AND THROW HIM OUTSIDE THE GATE

HE WANTED THE FOOD

BUT NOT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A GUEST

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

MY PEOPLE, MY PEOPLE

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU,

HOW HAVE I OFFENDED YOU

ANSWER ME

WHAT MORE COULD I HAVE DONE FOR YOU

THAT YOU WOULD REFUSE THE WHITE GARMENT

WHY

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

THERE IS A RUMOR

THAT JESUS COMING TO THE BANQUET

INVITED THE MAN WHO WAS THROWN OUT

IN

IT’S NEVER TO LATE

AGIOS O THEOS, AGIOS ISCHYROS,
AGIOS ATHANATOS ELEISON IMAS.
HOLY IS GOD, HOLY AND STRONG,
HOLY IMMORTAL ONE, HAVE MERCY ON US

FRANK A VOLLMER

(MATTHEW 21:33-46) VINEYARD

I OFTEN WISH I WERE A JEWISH PEASANT

SITTING IN A CROWD

ON A HILLSIDE

HEARING JESUS TELL HIS STORIES

KNOWING THE FLAVOR OF THE WORDS

THE TENOR OF THE TIMES

CONDITION OF LIFE

FOR THE LISTENER

MANY TIMES

WE SPEND SO MUCH IN STUDYING THE WORD

WE MISS THE WORD

BEHIND ALL THE ERUDITION

ARE THE SIMPLE WORDS

LOVE ONE ANOTHER

IN THE GOSPEL STORY

OF THE TENANTS

WE FIND GOD

AS THE VINEYARD OWNER

THE VINEYARD IS GIVEN TO US TO WORK

TO MAKE AND SUSTAIN THE GARDEN

THE WAY GOD MADE IT

TO BE SHARECROPPERS FOR GOD

THEY KNEW HOW TO BE SHARECROPPERS

YOU WORKED FOR A SHARE OF THE PROFITS

BUT THERE WERE SOME

WHO FELT

BY PROMINENCE OF POSITION

THAT THE GARDEN WAS THEIRS

SO THAT WHEN SERVANTS

OF THE MASTER CAME

FOR HIS SHARE

THE ABUSED AND KILLED THEM

WHEN FURTHER SERVANTS CAME

THEY SLEW THEM TOO

FINALLY THE MASTER’S SON CAME

THEY SLEW HIM TOO

SAYING

WITH HIM DEAD

WE OWN THE GARDEN

IN WHAT WORLD WERE THEY DWELLING

WHAT FANTASY WAS THEIRS

BUT ISN'T THAT WHAT WE DO

WHEN WE SAY

SOMEONE

DOESN'T BELONG TO THE KINGDOM

AREN'T WE ACTING

LIKE WE OWN THE GARDEN

AND IT’S NOT OURS

AREN'T WE ACTING LIKE WE OWN THE GARDEN

WHEN WE DETERMINE

WHO SHALL EAT BREAD

WHO SHALL EAT CRUMBS

AND GUARD OUR TABLE JEALOUSLY

AREN'T WE ACTING LIKE WE OWN THE GARDEN

WHEN WE DETERMINE

WHO SHALL BE SLAVE

WHO SHALL BE FREE

SO THAT WHEN JESUS SAID

THEY WILL KILL THE SON

AND ACT LIKE OWNERS

THE CROWD LOOKED AT THE CHIEF PRIESTS

AND PHARISEES

AND US

AND KNEW IT TO BE TRUE

FRANK A VOLLMER

(MATTHEW 21;23-32) TWO SONS

ALL OF US AT SOME TIME OR OTHER

HAVE SAID TO THE FATHER

NO

I WILL NOT WORK IN THE VINEYARD

THEN HAD A CHANGE OF HEART

AND WENT

WE CALL IT REPENTANCE

GOD WELCOMES THE REPENTANT SON

THE OTHER

WHO ANNOUNCES HIS LOYALTY

BUT DOES NOTHING

WILL IF HE DOES

ENTER HEAVEN

(WITH THE OTHER PSEUDO GOOD PEOPLE)

WILL FIND ALL THE SINNERS

HAVE GONE IN FIRST

THEY CLAMOR

WHY NOT US FIRST

DO YOU BELIEVE

THAT I AM GOD

YES

THEN WHY HAVEN’T YOU LISTENED TO ME

WHY HAVE YOU NOT COME TO THE VINEYARD

PLEASE TELL MY BRETHREN

THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE

IF SOMEONE CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD

FRANK A VOLLMER

THE MESSAGE

Woe to those who make unjust laws...to deprive the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed. Isaiah 10:1-2

Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of
others. Philippians 2:4

I OFTEN WONDER

IF I’M USING THE RIGHT VERSION

OF THE BIBLE

IT DOESN’T RESEMBLE

THE MESSAGE

DELIVERED BY THE BIBLE THUMBERS

MY VERSION HAS QUOTES

LIKE THE ONES ABOVE

IN FACT

IT HAS MANY SUCH QUOTES

FROM ADAM TO CHRIST

CULMINATING IN CHRIST SAYING

(INCAPSULATING THE BIBLE)

WHATSOEVER YOU DO

 TO THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN

THAT

YOU DO UNTO ME

HE DIDN’T SAY

WEALTHY

WISE

IMPORTANT

BUT LEAST

HE DIDN’T SAY HIDE THEM

IGNORE THEM

KILL THEM

HE SAID

TREAT THEM AS ME

WHERE IS THAT MESSAGE PREACHED

WHERE IS THAT MESSAGE HEARD

WHERE IS THAT MESSAGE BELIEVED

WHERE IS THAT MESSAGE PRACTICED

WHERE ARE THE VOICES

CALLING FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND HATE

WHERE ARE THE CHURCHES

CALLING FOR GOSPEL LIVING

NOT A MUMBLE

I AM REMINDED

OF A QUOTE BY REINHOLD NIEBUHR

AND OTHERS WHEN THEY SAID

TO ANYONE WHO SAYS THAT’S OLD HAT

READ THE NEWSPAPER

TOLLE  LEGE

READ THE NEWSPAPER

FRANK A VOLLMER