Date:  October 9th, 2011

Speaker: Pastor Kevin Snyder

Title:  Thanksgiving Sunday

 

PART 1

I have here one of Canada’s signature and favourite items.  Very popular. Worldwide, coffee  is one of the most consumed beverages.  (4 billion cups/year) Average = 4 kg /year

Average: admits to 3.4 cups /day

Poll: How many of you would have had a Tim Horten’s coffee or other item there this past week?

 

Anyways, I want to take a few minutes to reflect on this cup of coffee. Bear with me for a few minutes and we will get to the point.

 

I want you to reflect on all it took for this Tim Horten’s coffee (or any coffee) to get here this morning. 

a. Somewhere  there grew some coffee trees. Coffee trees will grow 15 – 30 ft  and will begin to produce about 3 -4 years into their growth.  They need plenty of water to grow (60 – 120 in) /year.

b. When the fruit is ripe the coffee cherry  or coffee berries are generally hand picked.  These cherries commonly contain 2 stones which are called beans. 75% of the coffee beans are Arabica beans.

c. Now, there is a coffee bean known as the Kopi Luwak.  It is the most costly coffee bean in the world.  It costs about $300/pound to buy. Only about 1000 lbs make it to market each year.  It comes from only one place on earth: the island of Sumatra in Indonesia in a region knownas Java.  Kopi is Indonesian word for “coffee”. “Luwak” is Indonesian for cat, a palm civet , that is involved in the process of harvesting this bean.  About the size of a fox , the luwak is a nocturnal fruit-eating animal that roams over the region and only picks the most perfect, ripe coffee cherries to eat.  The luwak then defecates the undigested coffee cherries in sausagelike links and local harvesters dig in the forest floor and river banks looking for luwak dung.  They wash the clumps until only the beans are left which are then dried in the sun.

d. The berries are then picked.  Often selective picking where only ripe berries are picked and tree can have both ripe and unripe. Or strip picked and then sorted.  Very labor intensive.

         -   Nabob commercial  years ago – where only the best beans are taken…rest go to church coffee

e. The berries then begin to be processed:

• Berries separated from the seeds.  Either soaked in water until pulp is soft and removed -   Or laid in sun for 2-3 weeks to dry and then pulp removed
• Roasting- Roasting transforms the chemical and physical properties of green coffee beans into roasted coffee products.  The roasting  is what gives the flavour to coffee  In fact, apparently coffee has over 800 flavor molecules as opposed to 400 for red wine.

The coffee is roasted to different degrees.

• Light – 400F and will emit a cracking sound like popcorn .  The 1st crack  marks the beginning of light roasts.  Light roasts will carry more of theindividual flavors of the beans from the region (Uganda)
• Medium (435F) is when 2nd crack happens.  Dividing point to Dark roasts.  French roast is used for many espressos.
• Dark roasts  - blends the flavors more and so no longer carry the specific flavour of the region.

 

• The beans then are ground into different sizes – fine, medium, course….
• They are mixed into different blends.
• Packaged & shipped. 

Then, they get to the coffee shop.  Now, I don’t know about Tim Horten’s but at some specialty coffee shops the server has to take up to a month of training….2nd cup ( founder of 2nd cup was an alcoholic street person as a result of being  sexually abused by 4 different authority figures –, priest, police officer & 2 others.

Actually in recovery that idea for 2nd cup was born…started with bean store….no money.  Offered free samples….nothing.

Took off when they charged 3x times the price for the specialty samples.

A month of learning what is the best way to brew the best cup of coffee.  I mean we perhaps know not all coffee makers are created equal…Some  swear by their Tassimo’s & Keurig’s etc.

 

Perhaps you are saying “So what?  I came to hear about God not coffee.”

 

Point:

Joyce & I take turns of brewing a pot of coffee every morning before we go to work.  Occasionally I will get it right (even though I think I do the same thing every morning) and she will say “Good coffee.”

And in those moments I will feel this momentary slice of pride and think “I did it myself.”

 

Really???

When you think of all the processes to get that coffee into your cup how arrogant to think that I did it by myself.

• I didn’t plant the trees.
• I didn’t pick the berries.
• I didn’t husk the fruit.
• I didn’t roast them
• …I didn’t package or mix the blend…
• I didn’t set the brew time.

I bought a can and put 2 scoops in a paper filter and waited 3 minutes.

 

Transition

 I wonder if that thought about my coffee isn’t a little bit how God sometimes sees us.  We do so little , but think smugly like we are the masters of our fate.

• You didn’t choose where you were born.
• How you would look.
• What family you were in.
• What part of the world.
• What IQ or abilities you were given.
• What you inherited as far as health and wealth in your family …

And yet, we can get filled with pride for the measely 2 scoops of coffee and paper filter we put in to get who we are today.

 

You see, our thankfulness is largely determined by this simple continuum

 

__________________________________________

Pride                                                                                                 Humility

 

Our thankfulness increases as we move right on the continuum and decreases as we move left.

i.e.

Athiest – hardest moment – “when feels thankful & he has no one to thank.”

 

i.e.

3 biblical examples

a. Nebucchednezzer –

Daniel 4: 29 – 33

Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

31 The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.  

b. Rich Fool – “I” problem

Luke 12:16 (The Message)

Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’

     20     “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’

     21     “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”

 

Uses “I” or “my or referring to Self - 11x in 3 verses

Somehow he came to see himself as invincible – the bank account was flush; the portfolio plump; he was the master of his fate. 

But God reminded him that all of this is pretty fleeting without your health and breath.  

c. Deut – warning as they move into the Promised Land.

A perspective we would do well to remember

Deut 6:10 – 12

10 When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

 

Deut 8:10 - 18

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. 12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, 13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 15 He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. 16 He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. 17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth...  

• We appreciate this coffee more when we recognize all that went into making a great cup.
• We appreciate our life more when we think of all the things, all the people, all God has done to contribute to where we are. None of us are self-made.  We are the result of God’s grace, and mercy, and blessing.

No matter who you are…I dare say, your part is little more than my part, on those “good” coffee mornings of simply adding 2 scoops, a paper filter,   and some tap water. You have had such a small part in a good cup of coffee.

 

Exercise

Take a moment  & reflect on what has God done, this has nation done, your has family done, the land itself has done…to contribute to where you are today.

 

Part 2: Let Me Be the One

• What do you say when someone gives you something special?
  What do you say when someone does something for you that makes you feel happy?
  What do you say when someone does something to show they love you? 

Did you ever forget to say thank you? I bet your mother said, "What do you say?" and reminded you to say thank you. Our story today is about some men who forgot to say thank you. But there was one special man who remembered.

Our story today comes from Luke 17.

Once there were ten very sad men. (Point to the paper dolls.) They were sad because they all had a terrible disease called leprosy. Leprosy was a terrible disease because they didn't have a cure for it and it was very contagious. That means that it could be spread from one person to another very easily. If someone got leprosy, they had to leave town and everyone they loved, and go live with other people who had the disease. The leprosy would make their skin turn white and eventually they would lose their fingers and toes. These men where sad because they didn't have much hope.

But things would soon change for these sad men.

One day they saw Jesus walking down the road on his way to Jerusalem. They couldn't come close to Jesus, but they called out to him, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When Jesus saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." They did as Jesus told them and went to the priests. On their way to the priest, they were healed! All ten of them were healed! They were so excited. They didn't waste any time going back to their families.

But one of the men was different than all the rest. When he was healed, he was very excited, but he remembered to do something very important. He ran back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God, I'm healed!" He fell, face down, on the ground by Jesus' feet, and thanked Jesus for what he had done.

Jesus looked around and asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine men who were healed?" Jesus said to to the man, "You may get up and go. Your faith has made you well."

• 10 lepers – “you be the one who comes back”
• 1 Jesus - robe
• 1 Priest – sash, by prayer room

Ten Sad Men
Written by Carolyn Warvel

Ten sad lepers all in a row,
covered with spots from head to their toes.
(Kids cover them with stickers. Tell the 10 to make crying and whining noises like they are in pain.)

 

Then they saw Jesus walking by.
They got excited and started to cry.

"Help us Jesus. Please help us!" they cried.

 

Then Jesus told them to “go to the priest.”
They ran off towards the northeast.

 

On the way their leprosy disappeared.
They ran home both far and near.

 

They forgot about Jesus and didn't look back.
But one young man didn't follow the pack.

 

He went to Jesus and fell down on his face.
He gave him thanks  for his saving grace.

This past week in our staff meeting Arlene shared with us this quote:

What if you woke up today with the things you thanked God for yesterday?

I want us to take a moment to refresh our memories of what we can be thankful for today.

This morning some of you were given some pages with words and a number on back. 

I want us to pray with our eyes open this morning.  I want to invite those people to stand in the order of their number.  Count to 5 before the next person stands up.  Stay standing. Move the sign so everyone can see the words.

As you see the words I want you to silently express a personal prayer for that item. Practise being the Ones who come back and say thanks today. 

What are some things we can be thankful for?

• Friends & Family.
• Freedom
• Shared Faith
• Joy & Laughter
• Leaders in our land. 
• God’s Word.
• God’s Provision
• Health & Abilities
• Help & Healing
• Hope
• Grace & Forgiveness
• Comfort in Trials
• Unconditional Love
• God’s People
• Life!
• 2 Corinthians 9:15 - Thanks for his unspeakable gift - Jesus.

Father, today we want to be  the One who comes back & says thanks!

 

Part 3:  Thanks- GIVING 

What is today called ? – Thanks-Giving. 

 

The first step is feeling thankful but today is a day of expressing that thanksgiving?

• Sometimes we have trouble with expressing our feelings of affection

i.e.

Man – told his wife 27 years ago he loved her….tell if something changes 

• Sometimes we have trouble expressing our apologies  the words “Im sorrrrrrry” get stuck. 

• Sometimes we have trouble expressing our feelings of gratitude.

But it is healthy for us…it acknowledges and reminds us we are recipients of God’s grace and blessing.

• It forces us to take a step away from pride toward humility.
• It unblocks our hearts & opens the conversation with God.  In fact, that really is where our relationship with God starts.  It starts by acknowledging what he has done…by expressing our need and thankfulness for that gift we didn’t deserve.

 

And so this last part of the message this morning is an active part.

 

It is where we participate and express our thanks back to God.  This is your time to act on the message in a tangible way.  Your time to come back and say “thanks” 

 

• Whiteboards – We want to give you the opportunity to come up front and use one of the dry erase pens and write something you want to thank God for today.  May be 1 word.  Might be a phrase, a sentence.  Express it.
• Offering Plates – Today we want to get biblical and encourage you to come and give your offerings…give a thank offering…a tangible expression of your gratitude.
• Perhaps like to come and kneel here at altar and offer a prayer of humble thanks to God… an acknowledgement to God and others  that you recognise he is the giver of all good gifts.

• Sing – not just mouth words without them going through heart… picture singing it to him…(encourage you to raise hand….expression of These are my words”)

 

Over next 5 -7 minutes want to invite you to visibly express your thanks in one of those tangible ways.

 

Click here to return to sermon page

 

 

 

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Da 4:29-33

Peterson, Eugene H.: The Message : The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, Colo. : NavPress, 2002, S. Lk 12:16-21

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Dt 6:10-12

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Dt 8:10-18