It is a special honor for me to be able to speak to you this morning at a time when we are celebrating my father's 60th birthday. Dad has frequently invited me to preach for him. I have made a very strict rule to decline these invitations, though I have occasionally been tempted.

This, by the way, is a rule that I haven't broken, since Dad didn't invite me this morning.

I want to preach my favorite kind of sermon this morning. It is a type of sermon classified according to a system that has been independently invented by hundreds, if not thousands seven or eight year old children over many centuries of church attendance. The worse sermons, according to this system, are the ones that go on and on and on. Each point leads tediously to another, more esoteric, or perhaps ominous observation, followed by renewed exhortations to goodness, faithfulness and perseverance. Ending, finally, with a brief overview of everything that had been said, and perhaps a mildly apologetic reference to the nature of time and its elusiveness, and the movement of the spirit and it's neglect for that elusive entity, time.

This is, of course, classified by these 7 and 8 year old multitudes as the Long Sermon. By implication, it is also known as the bad sermon. The second type of sermon in this classification system is the medium sermon. This is the type that goes on just as long as everyone expects. It stops three minutes before the designated closing time, and gives just enough time to squeeze in the final hymn, allowing the faithful to make it home in good time for the roast, the ball game or that all important afternoon nap.

Finally there is the short sermon. This sermon is usually preached on special occasions, or on hot summer days, or when there are special fun events to follow the service. This type of sermon is, to the vast number of the young and to some not so young, known as the great sermon. This is a special occasion. And it is a hot summer day. And there are special fun events to follow. So let me make an attempt at a great sermon.

I am a psychologist, preaching on the occasion of the celebration of my fathers 60th birthday. My topic was as immediately apparent to me as it probably is to all of you. This occasion calls for a sermon on role models.

You remember what role models are. It is, by the standards of the infant science of psychology, a relatively old concept, numbering some 40 or 50 years. The idea is that when people chose how to act or believe they often think of other people that they know and respect. Sometimes these people are there with them, sometimes they are separated by great distances either over land or over time. Regardless, the example of these role models is followed.

The concept of role model has been around by other names and in other contexts for many centuries. I can even imagine early cave fathers or mothers pointing and gesturing in pre-linguistic communications to their children: "Don't be like Thug, that bum, but like Thag, who is a gem of a man. Examples are mentioned frequently in the Bible. We have all grown up with the understanding that we should follow the good examples provided by others, some present and some gone. It says in Proverbs, (Chap 1, vs. 8) "Attend, my son, to your father's instruction and do not reject the teaching of your mother; for they are a garland of grace on your head and a chain of honor round you."

Paul exhorts the Philippians (3:17) to "Agree together, my friends, to follow my example. You have us for a model; Watch those whose way of life conforms to it." And he says to the Thessalonians (3:7-9) "You know yourselves how you ought to copy our example; we were no idlers among you; we did not accept board and lodging from anyone without paying for it; we toiled and drudged, we worked for a living night and day, rather than be a burden to any of you -- not because we have not the right to maintenance, but to set an example for you to imitate."

In 1st Peter 2:20 "What credit is there in fortitude when you have done wrong and are beaten for it? But when you have behaved well and suffer for it your fortitude is a fine thing in the sight of God. To that you were called, because Christ suffered on your behalf, and thereby left you an example; if is for you to follow in his steps."In the Christian faith, it is our neck." And in chapter 2, vs 20 it says "See then that you follow the footsteps of good men and keep to the course of the righteous;..."

In 1st Thessalonians (1:7) Paul writes, in regard to the faithfulness of the Thessalonians "And you, in your turn, followed the example set by us and by the Lord; The welcome you gave the message meant grave suffering for you, yet you rejoiced in the Holy Spirit; thus you have become a model for all believers in Macedonia and in Achaia."

Central and core belief that Jesus, who we call Christ, and who we worship as God, is the ultimate example, the prime role model for our lives. But before I talk more about this, I would like to talk about two other role models from the Bible.I chose these two Biblical characters because their stories were my favorites when I was growing up. This may have something to do with the fact that, as I remember, we had a record album with two Bible stories on it. There is another reason for why they are favorites of mine as well. As I remember this album, one side had the story of Ruth, and the other had the story of Joseph. We listened to it frequently. I hope Dottie will wait until after the service to correct me if I remembered wrong.

It was Ruth who spoke the heart rendering oath of allegiance to her mother-in-law Naomi that has become a paradigm of loyalty: (Ruth 1:16-17) "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. I swear a solemn oath before the Lord your God: nothing but death shall divide us."

The story of Ruth, that was read to us earlier, is that of a Moabite woman who marries into the family of the children of Isreal while they are in Moabite country. Her husband dies, and she returns with her mother-in-law Naomi to the land of Judah where she is embraced by Boaz and enters into history as an ancestor of King David. On the surface the story is a simple one of personal loyalty and of genealogy. A young woman is widowed. She choses to stay with her husbands mother, and remarries in the land from which her husband originally came. She bears children who are the forbearers of the people who remember her story.

Yet this story has come to mean far more when read with the eyes of faith. When seen in this light, Ruth was called by God from a foreign land. Her call was to faithfulness to the God of Israel. The shape of her call was Naomi's return to Judah. Her response came from her love for Naomi, and her loyalty to the people of her husband, the people of God. Her destiny was a great one, as a forbearer of David, who was, in turn a forbearer of Jesus. Her response of faith and commitment serves as a lasting example for all of us. She is a role model.

Another example to us is Joseph. The story of Joseph is also a simple one. He was his fathers youngest and favorite son, the object of the envy of his older brothers. He was sold into slavery in Egypt as a result of his brothers treachery. While a slave in Egypt he suffered further betrayal at the hands of Potiphars wife, and was imprisoned in the Round House, where the King kept his prisoners. There he interpreted two dreams, one of the King's butler and the other of the King's baker. His interpretations proved correct. Years later, the Pharaoh had two dreams that his wise men were unable to interpret. Pharaoh's butler remembered Joseph, and Joseph was called from the round house to Pharaoh's presence.

Pharaoh's two dreams were as follows: (Genesis, 41;1-7) He was standing by the Nile, and there came up from the river seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed on the reeds. After them seven other cows came up from the river, gaunt and lean, and stood on the river-bank beside the first cows. The cows that were gaunt and lean devoured the cows that were sleek and fat. Then Pharaoh woke up. He fell asleep again and had a second dream: he saw seven ears of corn, full and ripe, growing on one stalk. Growing up after them were seven other ears, thin and shrivelled by the east wind. The thin ears swallowed up the ears that were full and ripe. Then Pharaoh woke up and knew that it was a dream. Joseph, when asked to interpret these dreams says (41:16): Not I, but God, will answer for Pharaoh's welfare."

His interpretation: (Genesis, 41:25-36)

"Joseph said to Pharaoh, Pharaoh's dreams are one dream. God has told Pharaoh what he is going to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears of corn are seven years. It is all one dream. The seven lean and gaunt cows that came up after them are seven years, and the empty ears of corn blighted by the east wind will be seven years of famine. It is as I have said to Pharaoh: God has let Pharaoh see what he is going to do. There are to be seven years of great plenty through-out the land. After them will come seven years of famine; all the years of plenty in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ruin the country. The good years will not be remembered in the land because of the famine that follows; for it will be very severe. The doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that God is already resolved to do this, and he will very soon put it into effect. Pharaoh should now look for a shrewd and intelligent man, and put him in charge of the country. This is what Pharaoh should do: appoint controllers over the land, and take one fifth of the produce of Egypt during the seven years of plenty. They should collect all this food produced in the good years that are coming and put the corn under Pharaoh's control in store in the cities, and keep it under guard. This food will be a reserve for the country against the seven years of famine which will come upon Egypt. Thus the country will not be devastated by the famine."

This was what Pharaoh did, and Joseph was the one he appointed to carry out the plan. The seven years of plenty were followed by seven years of famine. And during the famine Joseph's brothers came to Egypt in search of food. They were met by Joseph, who they didn't recognize. Joseph did not initially treat them well, and played a series of tricks on them in which he maintained their physical wellbeing while heaping anxiety upon anxiety. In the end his family came to live with him, rescued from the years of famine. Like with the story of Ruth, this story is a simple one in which a young man has a series of misfortunes, but with luck, skill and a strong streak of opportunism, he recovers from them, achieves great power and wealth and is able to do something of great value for his family. In the eyes of faith, however, the story is changed. This is what Joseph says to his brothers when he finally reveals his identity to them: (Genesis 45:4-8) Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'Come closer," and so they came close. He said, "I am your brother Joseph whom you sold into Egypt. Now do not be distressed or take it amiss that you sold me into slavery here; it was God who sent me ahead of you to save men's lives. For there have now been tow years of famine in the country, and there will be another five years with neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me ahead of you to ensure that you will have descendants on earth, and to preserve you all, a great band of survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord over all his household and ruler of all Egypt."

The eyes of faith see the hand of God in both the great and small events of the world. The story of David is the story of a ruler of Egypt. The story of Ruth is the story of a widow who remarries. They differ vastly, yet they are the same: In these stories the eyes of faith can see the hand of God. It is the eyes of faith that Christians bring to their experience. The eyes of faith that see the hand of God in all of the events of our lives. These eyes of faith are both the instruments through which we see the lives of our predecessors in faith, and the primary gift these role models give to us.

When I think of role models, I think of many kinds of people. There are, of course, the role models that the media likes: the Michael Jordans and Mike Schmidts, and the Chris Everette's. There are the political role models: Nelson Mandela, the Bobby Kennedy, Gloria Steinam. And more importantly there are the role models in our families. I think of my father when I think of my role models.

It is in this way that I see my father's example to me. Throughout his life, both personally and professionally he has followed the path that he has seen with the eyes of faith. It was, at times a path that has caused him, and his family, some pain. In suffering, we are told by the wisdom of the world, we see death, and death is to be avoided. But the eyes of faith see God in all things, and the suffering of life is made sacred when it reflects the purposes of God.

So we can see a simple story in my father's experience. A farm boy, who would rather hide in the haymow reading a book then put more bails of hay into it, gets his big chance when he goes to IW service and has to move to the city. He marries a like minded woman, has two children, and gets a job that requires what he likes to do: reading and talking. He pursues an education, achieving first a Bachelors degree, and then a Masters degree. In the eyes of the psychologist he is a success. He has found satisfaction in love and work, has used the skills he enjoys most to make a living, and he has won sufficient friends and influenced sufficient people to make his life a busy and satisfying one.

But these eyes are not the eyes of faith, and this is not what happened. For in the eyes of faith, God called John Freed to a lifetime of his service. And John Freed has been a faithful servant of God, not only as a husband and father, but as a minister of the Gospel, serving others who are also called to God's service. God called John and Dottie to New York while the manure of Mennonite farms was fresh on their shoes. In the city they learned some of the language of the world, a world that few mennonites in the 50's would predict would soon be moving out into the country to encompass the bucolic lives of the traditional farming Mennonite Church. God had a purpose for their lives, and because of their faithfulness, that purpose was and is being achieved.

I promised you that I would tell you another reason why the story of Ruth and the story of Joseph stand out to me when thinking about preaching today. Both stories are of people called by God to leave their people and go elsewhere to serve God's purpose. My parents were called to leave the life of the farm, and go into the strange and foreign world of the city. Like Ruth, who left the Moabite country, like Joseph, who left Judeah, they left the Mennonite promised land because of God's call. It is for this reason that the stories of Ruth and of Joseph stand out for me this morning.

I also promised you that I would talk about one other role model. One that serves as the backbone of faith, who opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, who modeled beyond equal a life that followed God's call, who in death gave life, and who taught us how to see with the eyes of faith.

When I was young I would occasionally get into arguments or disagreements with my sister. My father was sometimes called to intercede. His response was, as I remember, very predictable, if sometimes impractical. His question to me was "What would Jesus do?" Usually I knew. Jesus would be generous, or kind. He would avoid hitting his sister, and he would also apologize for any transgressions, and he would forgive any of the faults of others. I would, of course, have preferred that Dad tell Dottie to leave my cars alone, or put the TV channel on the station I preferred.

Jesus is a role model. He exemplified a life of faithful obedience to God. In the eyes of the world, he was a failure. He assembled a rag tag group of disciples, dazzled a few peasants with tricks, and upset a couple of despots sufficiently to get himself killed before he reached his thirty fourth birthday.

But in the eyes of faith.

In the eyes of faith.

In the eyes of faith Jesus is not a failure.

Jesus is Lord.

Jesus took life from death.

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy from Isaiah: (Matthew 12:18) "Here is my servant, whom I have chosen my beloved, on whom my favor rests; I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim judgement among the nations. He will not strive, he will not shout, nor will his voice be heard in the streets. He will not snap off the broken reed nor snuff out the smoldering wick until he leads justice on to victory in him the nations shall place their hope.

We see Jesus as Lord. He is more than role model. He is inspiration, vindication and hope. As we look to other role models in our lives: the role models in history, like Ruth and Joseph and the role models that are immediately around us, our parents, other elders, other believers in the Church there is one thing that they model above all others: that thing is the eyes of faith.

Let's pray together:

Almighty God You have given us many gifts

You have given us our lives

You have given us many gifts

You have given us the story of the faithful in history

You have given us many gifts

You have given us the models of faith around us today.

You have given us many gifts

You have given us the life of your son as example

Everything we have has come from you

For this we give you thanks.

Amen