"Opening Faith's Door" 10/23/05 Isaiah 61:1-4

Tonight I want you to begin to think about doors How many times during a day do we open up doors to go in some place? How many times do we close doors behind us when we leave some other place? Doors-lead us into some place. Doors- close other places behind us :.Some doors we open lead us into closets, other doors open to the outside world. Doors- some are locked and we can't enter without a key. Others doors are revolving and we can get in and keep going around until we end up where we started. There are huge doors Like the ones at the Heinz Chapel in Oakland. There are tiny doors like those in a tool chest or jewelry box. Doors - every day we go in and out of many doors and don't really think a lot about it. Every once in a while we encounter a door that is closed to us. Maybe the business is closed for the day, maybe the door figuratively won't open because of our sexuality, color, gender, or for some other reason Doors- they let us in- they keep us out. Doors are the passageways to new and exciting opportunities. Doors can be shut that keep out danger or harm. Doors- some of them we can see through to get a glimpse of what's on the other side. Others doors don't have glass so we have to guess what's on the other side Door'.

Two Sundays ago I talked about "Opening Church Doors" and we celebrated the anniversary of the rounding of our denomination and how the doors of MCC were opened for all of us to enter in. Last Sunday I talked about "Opening Closet" and how vital it is for us to accept and celebrate the wonderful person that God has created us to be Tonight I want to talk about "Opening Faith's Doors". How is it that we go about opening faith's doors to the people we meet in our lives?

The scripture reading for this evening is taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah. And it talks about opening faith's doors... opening the doors of good news to a people who had been oppressed and held in captivity... opening the doors to those who had been broken hearted and in mourning... opening doors to those in need and helping them to rebuild the ruins of their lives. As I read this scripture it reminded me of our call to share the good news of liberation for all people... to open faith's doors so that those in the closet can find community... to open faith's doors and claim that our lives are good and holy... to open faith's doors to be freed of old habits and unhealthy ways of living that keep us bound... to open faith's doors that allows God to lead and guide us into new and exciting horizons. The day we came through the doors of MCC Pittsburgh we were called out to open faith's doors for those still held in captivity.

Opening faith's doors means we reach out to the people that sends through the doors of our lives. It could be the person next to us at work. it could be the cashier at our bank. It could be the person sitting next to us this evening. It is that person who needs what we have. It is that person who needs to know the good news that God cares and wants what is best for us. The scripture for this evening tells us, as translated in the Message Bible: "We are to care for the needs of people - give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of joy instead of news of doom, and a praising heart instead of a weak spirit." Imagine what our world would look like if every person who entered the doors of our life when away carrying a dozen roses... roses of fragrant caring and compassion. If every person we talked with tomorrow left them with words of joys ringing in their ears, hearing words of life and hope. And imagine them walking away with gratitude in their hearts, because we gave them the strength to know they were not alone. Opening faith's door gives us the opportunity to touch our world into wholeness and holiness.

There is a poem that has been circulating around the Internet for some time about the people who come into our lives, but as well can talk about why we are placed in other peoples lives. It goes like this:

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People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work ‘s done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

Then people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons: things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

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