| SERMON PULPIT EXCHANGE JANUARY 18 2009 | | | | Christ to my right side, Christ to my left side |
| While leprechauns are ubiquitous, children are | | | | Christ in his breadth, Christ in his length, Christ in |
| regaled with tales of banishing snakes, and adults | | | | depth |
| sit back to drink green beer, the truth is that | | | | Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of |
| Saint Patrick suffered much, inspired much and | | | | me |
| taught the world some of the most timeless | | | | Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks to |
| principles about love and life. | | | | me |
| Saint Patrick (385-461 A.D.) was taken into | | | | Christ in every eye that sees me |
| slavery as a teenager. During that time his | | | | Christ in every ear that hears me. |
| comfort came from above as he often prayed a | | | | Saint Patrick's life and voice brought comfort to |
| hundred times a day for God's presence. Several | | | | millions who learned the truth that Jesus is not |
| years later a voice called out to him, "Ship is | | | | just the Savior of sinners, but that he is the |
| ready." Escaping from his slave master in Ireland, | | | | friend of sinners as well. His all encompassing love |
| Patrick would travel seventy miles to the coast to | | | | bids each of us to come and know the promise |
| find a ship waiting for him at the dock. Finally free, | | | | of "Christ ever with me." |
| he sailed back to his home in Britain. | | | | Erwin McManus once shared about a time he |
| After a time of spiritual growth, the voice he | | | | dropped his reluctant son off at camp for a |
| once heard now returned in a vision in which the | | | | spiritual retreat. Once there his son almost got |
| people of Ireland begged him to return to their | | | | into a fight with another boy who teased him. |
| country. At the time Ireland was a land filled with | | | | As Erwin sat with him his son told him, "You said I |
| mysterious people that the Greeks had labeled | | | | don't have to do this church stuff if I don't want |
| "Barbarians" because their strange language | | | | to. I am only sorry that I didn't get to him. I am |
| sounded like "bar-bar" when they spoke. For Saint | | | | going home." For the next few minutes they |
| Patrick, it was a chance to return to the land of | | | | packed up and loaded the car. |
| his captors and tell them about the love of God. | | | | Standing beside the running vehicle, Erwin asked |
| Using a shamrock as a way to illustrate the | | | | him, "Is there a voice inside of you?" |
| mystery of the Trinity, he and his followers would | | | | "Yes," his son replied. |
| cross the country helping to build churches as | | | | "Can you identify it? What is the voice saying?" |
| entire kingdoms converted upon hearing him | | | | "Yes, it is God. He is telling me to stay, but I am |
| preach the gospel. His compassion and passionate | | | | still going home." |
| faith literally changed the face of a nation. | | | | Erwin then told his son, "You can treat that voice |
| He is credited with leaving one of the most | | | | as sacred, or meaningless." His son chose to stay. |
| moving prayers history has ever known: | | | | Amidst the fun and celebration of Saint Patrick's |
| Christ ever with me, Christ before me, Christ | | | | Day, may we remember the love of God for |
| behind me | | | | each one of us, and perhaps pay a little more |
| Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above | | | | attention to his voice…and treat the message |
| me | | | | we hear as sacred. |