revbry's Journal

Paying it Forward Beale Sermon 

I’ve enjoyed a lot of firsts since being a preacher of the word, the sermons I’ve preached, the ways I’ve delivered them and the very subjects themselves, a variety of firsts at other churches and here at Beale. Today however is a very special first. This is the first sermon, I have ever delivered, that revolves entirely around one person. A person I have never met, but who is a very good friend to Lisa and I. To describe him in both my words and his, will take up the entire sermon. To describe him adequately to you, in my opinion, would take a lifetime. To fully understand how much he means to both Lisa and I, and the many other friends he has, I felt it necessary, no rather an obligation to share him with you this morning. By the end of this sermon, you will be changed. That’s a strong statement to make, but trust me, you will be changed.

To give you some background on this sermon, we have to go back 8 years, to the summer of 2000. I saw a movie at the theater that had some favorite actors in it, namely Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment-the young actor who played the part of Forrest Gump’s son in Forrest Gump. The movie changed my life. And that is another sermon, but the central theme of that movie was a youngster in middle school, came up with an idea that would change the world and he put it into action. The action is known even today as “Paying It Forward”. In the movie it relates to 3 big favors done for 3 other people. Today it can mean one big favor or action that can have a life altering effect on another. I became obsessed with the movie, I paid for everyone at my church to see it. I bought a  movie poster autographed by all the stars and Lisa had it framed and here it is.

Recently the notion of paying it forward has come back to me within the last 6 months or so. It came back to me in the form of Chris1981. Chris is the person I referred to at the start of this sermon. Chris is 27 years old and lives in Connecticut. I came across him on the website DailyStrength.org. You’ve heard me talk about this site before. It’s a place where people go to get help and support for all manner of life’s problems including mental, physical, social, spiritual, and so on. Chris deals with anxiety and panic and depression, shyness that keeps him out of  public interactions. Fears that can become so severe, leaving the home can become very difficult. I understand these fears as I also suffer with panic and anxiety and depression. We didn’t become friends right away, I chose to observe his interactions with other friends of mine and when I learned more about him, there was no question, we were going to become friends.

The biblical and spiritual lessons from the movie are numerous, but here are the 3 most important:  Themes

Doers of the Word, Righteousness

This is a great movie about living generously, of the debt we owe to Christ that is to be repaid in service to others. James 1:22

 

Forgiveness/Reconciliation

Acts 13:38
"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

 

Sacrifice Genesis 22:2
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

I told Chris that his life reminded me of the movie Pay it Forward, his life also reminds me of the way we, as children of God, should conduct ourselves on a daily basis.  Chris accomplishes this better than anyone else I know. And so this morning I dedicate this sermon to you Chris, God bless you and thank you. Here now are passages from a daily journal written by Chris: (July 7, 2008, a Monday) This one journal can be described in 3 parts. The proclamation, the giving of thanks and the sharing of his words and deeds. I could not have written a better sermon:

This is a very special day, in the garden. :)

 

Today, a sunflower completed it's journey, to growing strong and tall, and blossoming, and smiling at the sun. :) This is very special to me, and i am so very happy, and thankful, and blessed, to have the wonderful opportunity, to share my love of gardening with you all. :) Over the course of the day, a sunflower fully blossomed in our garden area. :) it is the first 2008 sunflower blossom, in our garden. :) i dedicate the sunflower to my mom. :)

*gardening/sunflower news!* :) a sunflower, is completing it's journey!!! :) oh my! a sunflower will be arriving today! :) This is wonderful! :) It's a very special day in the garden. :) a new sunflower friend, we all get to meet. :) Early this morning, i made my breakfast, and got some peanuts (we didn't have many peanuts, so i brought out some sunflower seeds too), and i went outside, to feed the squirrels and bluejays, and to have breakfast with the sunflowers! :) and oh my! what a sweet breakfast it was! :) i put some peanuts and sunflower seeds out front, and out back. :) It's a beautifully sunny day here in CT! :) a perfect day, for a sunflower's arrival! :) i am so very happy, excited, and hyped up right now!!! :) Our first sunflower of the 2008 gardening season, is completing it's journey today. :) a wonderful moment,  in the garden! :) i checked the sunflowers. :) The sunflower in sunflower row, that is blossoming, is about 99% blossomed this morning, and with the sunshine today, the sunflower will fully blossom today! :) On a sweet blue sky, and sunny summer day! :) It's beautiful! :) a sunflower completing it's journey, brings so much wonderful joy, happiness, and peace, to my heart, spirit, and soul. :) and the most wonderful exciting thing, is that it's only the beginning! :) lots more sunflowers, will be blossoming too! :) i am going to greet the sunflower, mid-day, and introduce myself! :) awww! :) i love meeting the blossomed sunflowers! :) It's such a lovely sight to see. :) The sunflower's petals, are burgundy and gold, and it looks a lot like my mom's sunflower, that blossomed last year. :) It's a fantasia mix sunflower. :) such a beautiful sunflower! :) and oh my! on a nice sweet sunny summer day, the sunflower will fully blossom! :) i am smiling!!! and the sunflowers are smiling too! :) This is very special day in the garden. :) a sunflower blossoming!!! oh my!!! i am so very happy and excited! i could do a sunflower dance! :) i am going to take a picture of the sunflower, smiling at the sweet summer sunshine today. :)

The plants are doing well. :) they continue to grow, and flourish. :) i was taking a close look inside the sunflower field of hope and unfailing faith, as i looked at the cayenne pepper plants. :) i was standing amongst the sunflowers on this beautiful sunny summer day! :) i am surprised, at how many cayenne peppers we have! :) There are so many of them! :) oh my! It's incredible!!! :) They are green now, and will turn red as they ripen. They are very hot right now, and once they turn red, they turn even hotter! oh my! the most hot parts of the pepper, are the seeds. there have been times in the past, where i didn't put plastic baggie of my hand while cutting the peppers to make salsa, and the juice from the peppers, got under my finger nails, and it burned for 3 days! oh my! The peppers are super hot, and we have a nice crop of them this year. :) We are so very blessed! :) i was talking around the yard, checking the plants. :) listening to the sweet sounds of birds singing, enjoying a lovely summer day! :) The birds, are all happy! :) i saw those cute little rascal bluejays flying around, and flying into our tree, and they were looking down at me, as i put peanuts and sunflower seeds outside. :) they know, it's time for yum yum breakfast! :) i was walking near the bird feeders in our backyard, and i saw a squirrel on one of our feeders! :) i looked closely, it was Mr. Nut squirrel! oh my! i was worried! he was on the feeder, facing other way, and wasn't moving. i got closer, and got my camera, and he then began to move! :) he's alright! :) i think that cute little rascal was sleeping! hehe! :) and probably dreaming about the peaches! hehe! :) oh my! :) He jumped into the peach tree, and then into one of our pine trees, and he climbed up! :) i checked the plants in my mom's peace flower garden. :) The sunflower that is blossoming there, is about 80% blossomed! :) It's so very nice to see, a blossoming sunflower! :) That sunflower, could blossom fully today too! :) 2 sunflowers blossoming! :) oh my! this is wonderful! :) There are lots of nasturium dwarf jewel flowers, and cosmos flowers blossoming in our yard. :) They are beautiful flowers, and we love seeing them. :) they add such beautiful colors to our yard. :)

i checked the fruit trees. :) the fruit trees are doing well. :) i took a picture of some of our granny smith apples. :) It's incredible, seeing the fruit grow. :) it seems like yesterday, when the fruit was smaller than the size of a pea, and now, they are getting closer to being full sized apples! :) We are so very happy and excited!!! :) my dad has some baskets, that we wil be using, to put the apples, pears, and peaches in, when we have fruit picking adventures in September/October. :) It's wonderful, to see all of the plants growing, and flourishing, and a very special day in the garden! :) sunflowers blossoming! :) i feel this wonderful joy, happiness, and peace within. :) The plants are healthy, happy, and smiling! :) i took lots of new pictures of the plants, to share with everyone, and will be taking picture of the sunflower in sunflower row, that will fully blossom sometime day. :) oh my! sunny sunflower smiles and blossoms! :) This is amazing!!! :) i am in gardening heaven! sunflower heaven! :) i gonna introduce myself to a sunflower today!!! :) i can't wait!!! :) Thank you everyone, so very much, for giving me the wonderful opportunity, to share my love of gardening with you all. :) i love sharing my gardening news, adventures, stories, and pictures with you all. :) Thank you everyone, so very much, for all of your wonderful comments, and for joining me on this wonderful 2008 gardening journey. :)

 

i can't stop smiling!!! :) for me, this is the biggest gardening moment, so far in 2008 gardening season. :) a blossomed sunflower. :) i tended the plants this afternoon. :) they sure were thirsty plants! :) i showed my mom the sunflower. :) She said, it's beautiful. i said, "this is your sunflower mom" :) She and i both smiled. :) i called my friend Emma (sissy831) while i was tending the plants, giving them nice water nourishment. :) i asked Emma, if she wanted to say hi to the sunflower. :) She said, "sure! why not!" :) hehe! :) awww! :) i put the phone right next to the sunflower, and Emma said hi! :) Emma, thank you so very much, for the great talk! :) i always enjoy talking. :) i gave the plants nice water nourishment. they soaked up the nice water, and are all smiling. :) i watered all of the plants at once, watering one garden area at a time. :) i took my time, and paced myself. it sure is hot and humid, and hazy outside. i always enjoy tending the plants. :) The sunflower that is growing in my mom's peace flower garden, and is blossoming, is about 95% blossomed now! :) It should be fully blossomed, by tomorrow morning. :) i'm in gardening, and sunflower heaven! :)

So in case you haven’t guessed by now, Chris is a master gardener. You can tell by looking at the photos he posts that he takes good care of his plants. He provides that extra special care that provides extra beautiful plants and flowers. So you’re probably wondering, does Chris have this same enthusiasm, joy and love in any other aspects of his life? The next part of his daily journal has to do with something that is very close to all of our hearts and that is food!

 

 

i did some baking today! :) i baked butter cookies! :) my friend Kim's (tigger48) birthday is this friday, July 11th. :) She mentioned, that she loves butter cookies, and i love butter cookies too! :) mid-morning, i began to get everything set up, and i baked some butter cookies, and will be putting together a  goodies/treasures package to send to my friend Kim. :) my mom and i are going to the post office tomorrow, and i am going to 2 day priority ship her happy birthday goodies/treasures package to her. :) It was so much fun, baking butter cookies for Kim. :) i tried a cookie, they are delicious! :) i'm feeling well, i'm in good spirits. This is wonderful day! :) i feel this wonderful peace, and happiness within. :) i sure do love the summer time! :) all of the gardening fun, great memories being made, to always cherish, and treasure. :) i can't wait until tomorrow's early morning gardening adventure!!! :) another sunflower, will be fully blossomed! :)

 

You all are wonderful. :) You all are so very sweet, kind, and thoughtful. :) all of your beautiful comments, and wishes, and hugs, and messages, and for everything that you all do for my family and i. :) You all are amazing, and i am so very blessed, with your beautiful friendships. :)

 

i love you all, very much, and i care about you all. i think of you all every day. Thank you everyone, so very much for everything! All your kind words, support, well wishes, advice, positive vibes, guidance, keeping me balanced, hugs, comments, messages, texts, treasures, everything! i appreciate everything, with all of my heart, spirit, and soul. :) You all are in my heart, always, and forever. i adore you all, and i cherish, and treasure our friendships, with all of my heart. :) You all help uplift me, and keep me in good spirits every day, giving me strength, and hope. Thank you, so very much. :) You all give me wonderful guidance, and help guide me through the experiences. :) my ds angels :) You all will always have a very special place in my heart. :) You all inspire me, giving me hope, and strength, keeping me strong, focused, determined, and motivated, to work hard toward achieving my goals, and fulfilling my dreams. :)

 

We hope everyone is having a wonderful day. god bless. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. :)

 

my mom says hi :) She says, "it's been busy day. hope you all are having a good day" :) Kayla says hi :) We hope everyone is well. :) We thank you all, for everything. :) my mom and i want everyone to know, we'll always be here for you all. :) i tell my mom and family your wonderful messages. Thank you so very much, for being a very special part of our lives. :)

 

 

stay strong angels, think positive, keep determined, motivated, focused, and lets continue to move forward together, one positive step at a time. :)

 

 

my family and i send our love, warm friendship wishes, and caring thoughts :) We think of you all, often. :)

 

 

much love and big warm sunny sunflower hugs for everyone here from Connecticut! :)

 

 

BIG GROUP HUG! :)

 

"Together we are united from one side of the world to the other and have made such great friendship from the love and encouragement our highs and lows triumphs and tragedies but we can stand tall as you and i have realy achieved so much from our friendship our encouragement and your inspirational journey for 2007 that has just touched my heart so much as i took that journey in 1987 and like you i fought hard and won!Stay positive
Love mum xoxoxoxoxoxoxo"- my lovely ds mum :)

 

 

"in the garden, my soul is the sunshine." :)

 

 

"sunflower, i support you as you bend, you support me as you make me smile, you and i stand strong together, even if it takes a while. from seed, to sprout, to beginning your journey rising tall. i know that we have eachother, we will never fall." :)

 

 

"true peace comes from above. It's like the sound of falling snow" :)

 

 

"where there's a sunflower, there's a smile" :)

 

 Here are the thanks:

i'm so very thankful and blessed with many wonderful things in my life. :)

 

family, friends, dailystrength, visits with grandma, grandma's smile, my mom's smile, birthday lunch with my mom, spending my birthday with family and friends, talks with my mom, my mom's homecooked meals, baseball talks with my dad, memories of when my dad and i would buy sports cards, memories of my dad teaching me how to garden, and gardening with my dad, my dad and i playing basketball together, walks with my mom, pictures colored by my little niece, playing in the snow with my little niece, building a snowman with my little niece, Christmas gatherings with grandma, helping my grandma decorate her tree, decorating Christmas tree with my family, Christmas gatherings with family, my ds angels, opening gifts with my family, holiday talks with family and friends. birthday rainbow, wonderful happy birthday wishes, and treasures, Easter egg coloring adventure, enjoying a wonderful Easter dinner with my family, and friends, Easter angel, getting a Christmas tree with my family, baking friday memories, game days, having a home, making other's smile/laugh, seeing someone smile, uplifting strength and hope that i recieve everyday from everyone here, hope and unfailing faith, prayer, memories, my mom's love, care, support, talks with my mom, walks with my mom around the neighborhood and our yard, my mom's hugs, my mom giving me advice and guidance, my mom's encouragement, the strength and hope my mom gives me, my mom coming on field trips with me while i was in kindergarten as we went to the apple orchard, and farm, my mom holding my hand, memories of cooking food on the grill with my mom, when i was younger, as she taught me to how to cook, memories of picking dandylions for my mom, giving my mom tour of the gardening areas, my mom being with me, every step of the way, memories of when i was younger, my mom and i would walk across the school bridge, and we'd collect pinecones, my mom always giving 150% effort to make me happy, my mom's laugh, gardening with family, discussing gardening with family and friends, look for ladybugs in the garden with Kayla, writing, pumpkin carving adventures, halloween excitement, spring excitement, fresh crisp warm spring air, cleaning gardening areas and getting them ready for gardening, big gardening weekend, surprise gardening blossoms, feeding the squirrels and bluejays and watching them enjoy their yummy foods, bird watching with my dad, writing in my journal, talking with family and friends on the phone, exchanging text messasges with friends, spring returning, the smell of flowers, fresh cut grass, and mulch, the smell of food cooking on the grill, the spring excitement in the air as spring is here, and many are into the gardening spirit, my plants, tending the plants, gardening, beautiful views, sunshine and rain to nourish the plants, sunflowers, treasures, excitement of seeing someone open treasures packages, excitement of opening treasures packages, blossoming sunflowers, sunflower smiles, sunflower dreams, early morning visits with my sunflowers and hearing songbirds singing and enjoying breakfast as the sun rises, spring time gardening adventures, leaves changing color, fresh crisp autumn air, goals, dreams, beautiful, peaceful, and relaxing countryside rides, very special visit by owl, nature, listening to birds sing, photography, bird watching, the first sip of a fresh iced coffee and thinking, this is great!, hot chocolate and hot tea on a cold day, adventures in the kitchen, going for nice relaxing and peaceful car rides with my family and looking at the Christmas decorations, a view of winter's beauty, Christmas excitement, holidays, cooking/baking, baking friday's, sharing baking friday stories/pictures with family and friends, nice relaxing and peaceful countryside rides, breakfast with my sunflowers, first signs of seeing plants sprout, talking with friends, talking with friends while walking around the yard, giving everyone a tour of the gardening areas, watching a sunflower make it's journey to growing strong, and tall, and blossoming, and smiling at the sun, breakfast with the squirrels and bluejays, animal friends, pumpkin picking adventures, holiday shopping, Thanksgiving excitement, helping my family prepare a Thanksgiving meal, the scent of a Thanksgiving meal being prepared as the parades are on tv, laughter, Thanksgiving parades, the first snowfall of the season, BBQ cookouts, sunrises, sunsets, beautiful letters/cards, snowfalls during the night, where it doesn't feel cold, and the snow is calm and peaceful, nice relaxing sunday's, sweet blue sky and sunshine days during winter, Valentine's day messages/goodies/treasures, visiting the beach and collecting seashells and rocks, holding a seashell close to my ear, and hearing the ocean, seeing the water when the sun is shining on it creating a sparkle, the fresh crisp winter air during late winter where it feels like Spring is coming, new experiences, social interaction, sunny sunday mornings, indoors gardening, wonderful simple pleasures, great shopping experiences, making eye contact, enjoying shopping, and smiling! :)

 

 

Enjoy the simple pleasures in life. They truely are, simply wonderful! :)

Chris writes in every journal, what he is thankful for. This is what I find so extraordinary, he takes the time to remember all that he is thankful for, I just read a small portion. This truly amazing young man, has a firm understanding of what it means to not only live his life, not only to share it with others in which in a lot of cases, especially mine, lives are changed, but he has learned to give thanks for what is most important to him. And Chris writes with an awesome pen that describes how he feels at these moments, he is able to, with just a pen and paper (or computer and a keyboard) to paint such lovely images, through his descriptions and just in case you are unable to see his portraits, he includes photos of that which makes him happy.

It’s absolutely incredible

 

 

-never lose hope