"Prepare Ye the Way"

St. Luke 2:1-6

The year was 1966. The Bi-Centennial General Conference of the Methodist Church was meeting in Baltimore. Papers were read. Exhibits were everywhere. Part of the celebration were the experiences of 11 modern day circuit riding preachers. They had ridden horses from as far away as Louisiana, and as close as Washington, D.C. to re-enact the life style of the early circuit riders.

One of the highlights of the experience was an expected address by the then president of the United States...Lyndon Johnson. However, the day before his coming word had come of a threat to his life. The FBI was reluctant to have him be in such a large gathering of people in a public facility.

Finally, it was decided that preparations would be made for his coming, and if he did not, the vice president was coming in his stead. The FBI decided that the Circuit Riders should sit on the stage and surround the president. If, anyone happened to want to shoot at him or hurt him they would be in the way.

I was one of the circuit riders. We were given instructions on what to do. We were told that we would be watched very closely. We should not make any sudden moves. No pictures, no standing, no leaving our chairs.

At the last minute the Vice Presidents medallion was taken off of the speakers podium and the presidents placed there. Then the president came on stage. With him, somewhat unexpectedly was Lady Bird, his wife. She choose to sit between me and a friend from Pennsylvania.

We knew who was supposed to come. We had seen him on TV.. He was here in person. The atmosphere was charged with electricity.

The lesson of the morning has something of the same energy in it. Prepare the way of the Lord. He's coming.

The people knew what he was talking about. Each one of them knew that when the word came out that the king was coming they were responsible for sprucing up the area of the road through their property.

Digging in the dirt is difficult. Thirty five years ago I had been appointed to the Christ Church/Cedar Cliff Charge in Burlington. The charge was newly formed, and without a parsonage. Cedar Cliff decided to build one. There was a country builder in the church. He gave the labor on the wood work free. Others, who were knowledgeable in the building gave other things...one and electrician, another was a plumber. It looked like we were going to build a $25,000 house for about $12,000.

The Men's Bible Class donated the digging of the foundation footings. The soil in that part of the country is clay, with rocks. We met on a Saturday Morning. Probably 15 showed up. Everything was laid out. Young men jumped in and dug away. In thirty minutes they were tired and needed a Pepsi break. After the break they goofed off until a respectable time. Two elderly men and myself were left. Mr. Coble, and Clyde Allen. We worked until late. Mr. Coble said we'll just have to finish up Monday. Monday came and the three of us showed up. I had sore muscles. These two elderly gentleman gave me some advice before we started. Take your time preacher. Pace yourself. Let the Maddox do the work. Just lift it and let it fall. At the end of the day I was surprised. We finished the whole job. I was not exhausted.

We live in a TIME when we are getting ready for our spiritual king. The way we make preparations is to spruce up our lives.

Getting ready to receive the Christ is difficult.

There are some hills ... arrogance, and self-centeredness that must be brought low.

There are some valleys to be filled in ... sins which we have committed that have to be forgiven.

There are some crooked ways that need to be straightened out ...Wrong perceptions.

Only then can he come.

Oh how we need the king in our lives... everyone of us.

She had just moved to the Cary Area from Colorado. She was a United Methodist. In her middle forties, a very stately lady with singing eyes, and a glowing complexion. I went to visit. She lived in the top Surburban Sprawl in town ... $300,000 house. She invited me in. We talked a few minutes and I became overwhelmed by a feeling of pain.

Peggy are things going well with you, I asked. Her lights went out, and her countenance fell. For the next hour I heard hurt and pain. Then her lights came back on! She became a member of the church. There was always a kindred touch as she left on Sunday after the sermon.

I was no super sensitive person to feel her pain. No greatly gifted Intuitive person. All of us carry a load of physical, emotional, financial, or social baggage with which we need help. The preacher and the choir can not entertain it away. We can encourage you to open up to a king who will come into your life and with a great deal of work on your part can make you a truly happy person.

He can't do it in a twinkling of an eye. He can only clean out the pain. If, you don't work at replacing that pain with something good and wholesome. Evil will come back 3 times stronger than that from which you were given relief.

Religious entertainment will not fill that void.

Works of charity will.

Serious Bible Study will.

Dedicated prayer life will.

The days are getting fewer and fewer between now and Christmas.   Lets make our preparations.  In so doing God will bless us and His church.   Amen