Not long ago I heard one parent say to another, "I can't wait for the holidays to get over so things can get back to normal."  Well, friends, I've been waiting for things to get back to normal since I left home almost 40 years ago.  What is "normal" anyway?  In our English language, some words radiate feeling.  Nice words like: love, wedding, baby, friend, God -- these words are good.  But others are not so good: layoff, bankruptcy, accident, failure, cancer -- these words leave us fearful and empty.  How about the word "normal"?  How do you react to that?  "Normal" is a wonderful word -- "Your child is normal."  "Your test results are normal."  "Such feelings are normal."

          Normal means you can predict what will happen next.  Normal means good routine, knowing what you'll do today or where you'll shop or what you'll eat or where you'll sit in church.  Normal means knowing what comes next.  And though normal for some might be tedious, it helps keep us sane.  Normal is good.  In this day and age we all need more things we can call "normal."

          Often it takes time for things to get back to normal.  Life for Mary and Joseph was quite normal until the Angel showed up.  His message changed everything.  The coming of the Christchild changed everything.  His message changes things for the rest of us too.

          From the first angel vision, their plans for a normal life were forever altered.  Embarrassment of the unexplainable pregnancy, a hasty wedding, an unexpected trip south, the birth in a stable, foreign visitors bearing gifts, a quick trip to Egypt.  And finally coming back home to face the relatives.  Maybe then life got back to normal for Mary and Joseph, though I doubt it ever was.  Nothing gets back to normal when your first child arrives, especially if that child is the Son of God.

          Normal is a great word when you're worried or afraid.  If you visit the clinic because something seems wrong, it's like music to hear the doctor say, "Everything's normal."  That's good news! - you can relax because you're okay -- you're normal!

          But for some "normal" is boring.  It's living in a rut.  It's the "same old, same old" and it's no good.  It's tedious and deadly.  For many, "normal" is a pain.  And for others, normal is just a lot of sin.  Their life is filled with sinful deeds they consider normal:  misrepresent the facts a little -- hey, others do it - it's normal!  Under-report the results a little, fudge a little on the truth -- cheat a little here, steal a little there.  "Hey, don't look at me -- that's normal."

          But that's not normal.  It's sinful.  And compared to God, we're all sinful.  As good as we may try to be, we're not good enough.  As hard as we try, it's not hard enough.  Everything we do is tainted by sin.  The best marriage has its warts, the best kids do stupid things, and the best job is still hard work.  The best church is still filled with sinners, and the best pastor or teacher will disappoint you.  To our holy God, the best deeds are still imperfect.  Without a Savior, we're stuck in sin.  We're in a rut too deep.  Without Jesus to lift us out, we'll stay there forever.

          Some will try to get out of their rut with knowledge.  "Educate them and they'll improve."  But the problem isn't ignorance;  it's sin.  Some say it's oppression or poverty.  "Give them more choices, redistribute the wealth."  But an empty bank account isn't the problem; it's an empty soul.  Others say it's because people have too much guilt and don't think highly enough of themselves.  "Help them feel good about themselves."  But our problem isn't lack of self-esteem.  It's lack of God-esteem.

          The only real solution for our emptiness is the fullness of Christ.  The only way to find inner peace is by trusting the Prince of Peace.  The only way to eternal life is through Jesus, the "Way, the Truth and the Life."  The only way to normal is trusting in God -- and for humans, that's abnormal.

          On May 21, 1946, a daring young scientist was carrying out an experiment to learn more about atomic energy.  Louis Slotin had done this experiment many times before to determine the "critical mass", the amount of radioactive uranium necessary for a chain reaction to occur and explode.  He would push the two portions of uranium together slowly, then just as the mass became critical, push them apart -- all from a safe distance.  But one day something slipped and the two portions of U-235 rolled together.  Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling bluish haze.  Instead of ducking or running, the young man leaped up into the path of the two portions, keeping them from exploding.  He had broken the chain reaction and saved the lives of the other people in the building, but he had doomed himself.  Nine days later he died in terrible agony from intense radiation exposure.

          1970 years ago the Son of the Living God walked directly into the path of sin's deadly forces.  He jumped between mankind and Satan and was touched by the deadly power of sin.  On the cross He let sin take His life, and by His willing sacrifice, He broke the chain reaction.  Christ broke the power of sin and set us free.  Now we don't have to fear sin's power.  It's been broken for all times.

          Because Christ stepped between us and eternal death, things are different now.  It's no longer normal that we should act according to our sinful nature.  God has given us new definition of normal.  Live by the Spirit, not by the flesh.  St. Paul said it plainly:  "Those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24)

          For you and me, normal doesn't mean the same as it did before.  "Normal" used to mean sinful.  Now it means walking in step with the Spirit.  For when you trust Jesus Christ, NORMAL CHANGES.  It moves to a higher level.  Normal will always include change, but it will be change with Christ firmly holding our hand in faith.

          It's fashionable to make predictions for the New Year, so I'd like to do it for us here at Epiphany.  Think of this as Godly guessing at the future.  Here are what some NEW kinds of normal will be for us at Epiphany in the new year of 2000:

1.       In 2000 we'll have some growing pains as new folks join with us.  In 1999, we experienced our most radical growth and change, as God brought into existence our new congregation.  New folks will keep coming to us.  They will bring new attitudes, new expectations.  How will we welcome them?  How will we involve them in ministry?

2.       In 2000 we'll get more personally involved in outreach into our community.  Last year we were blessed with the efforts of the Ongoing Ambassadors For Christ, but they will not be making visits for us this year.  We must enhance our visibility so that people can see who we are, what we stand for and where we worship.

3.       In 2000 we'll need to manage our financial resources even more carefully.  God really blessed us with some fine gifts at the end of the year, but now we, the members, must step up to the plate.  God willing, more of us will learn the grace of giving a proportionate share of our blessings, perhaps even giving God a full tithe.

4.       In 2000 we will probably begin paying rent, especially if Drinkwine Family sells the facility.  We may have to move, but God will be with us and show us a new place that will better fit our needs.

5.       In 2000 we'll need to provide Small Group experiences for our members, and especially form a youth group.  When a church is small, people get to know each other quite well.  But the larger we become, the more easily people are lost.  Small Groups, whether planned or unplanned, provide opportunities for members to become better acquainted.  These days, people are able to know fewer church members, but we must know each other and care for each other in a better way.

6.       In 2000 we will need to find a permanent land site.  And that will mean we take on some debt that will become the responsibility of us all.  But with a major capital effort, this debt can be smaller.  Such new responsibilities will be startling at times.  But that happens when normal comes to a congregation.  And God will bless it all.  Things may change in our lives, but God will remain constant.  And He will make things normal once again.

          You see, it's not the change, but what we do with change that will make year 2000 special.  In 1636, in the midst of the Thirty Years War, a Lutheran pastor, Martin Rinkart, saw such hopelessness and disaster as can only be imagined.  As village pastor, he often conducted burials for 15-20 people a day, and he saw 5000 of his fellow villagers die in one year.  In the heart of that darkness, with the cries of pain and death outside his window, he sat down and wrote this table prayer for his children:  (German) "Nun danket alle Gott, mit Herzen, Mund und Handen.  Der grosse Dinge tut, an uns und allen Enden.  Der uns von Mutterleib, und Kindesbeinen an, unzahlich viel zugut, und noch jetztund getan."  (English) "Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices;  Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices.  Who from our mother's arms hath blessed us on our way, with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today."

          Here was a man who knew that peace with God and a normal life comes not from outside circumstances, but from inside, from a heart filled with love and faith in Jesus Christ.  God willing, we'll never have a year like that, but many things will happen in 2000 -- Godly things, surprising things, blessed things, normal things.  All by the grace and love of Jesus, our Lord!  I can't wait for normal to return.  I just wonder what it will be like.  Amen.

Copyright © 2000 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.