“I
Have a Religious Dream”
a condensed version of the
sermon delivered by John Kendall on Sunday, August 26th, 2007 at
the Granville UCC
August 28th is a special day. Not only is it when yours truly was born, but on August 28th, 1963, The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his most famous speech. He had a dream that one day men and women of all ages, no matter what color they were, would combine in an effort to become brothers and sisters. He had a dream that day.
Now, what people don’t know about this speech, is that Mr. King did not write the "I Have a Dream" Speech as it was given. In front of 200,000 people in our nation’s capital, King laid out his vision of a world freed of racism and other problems which faced our nation on that sweltering day. It was a speech that was a huge part of the Civil Rights Movement, and one that is among the top-100 speeches ever delivered.
I will be turning 19 in 2 days. As many of you know, I am very involved in my faith, and my faith has driven me towards helping out in youth ministry. Within the programs I am involved in, such as TEC and the Illinois Conference Youth Initiative, the dream of having youth from all areas and backgrounds serve among seasoned individuals to drive and serve our LORD the way he wants. Like Jeremiah in our Old Testament reading, this is a direction GOD has called me towards, one that I will accept and continue to work till until I am called elsewhere.
People are called to different places at different times, mostly, when we least expect it. Before 2005, many people thought being called to New Orleans was a call to enjoy a few bourbons and have a fun time for vacation. However, exactly two years ago, many people received a call to head to New Orleans to do what no one thought they would be doing: picking up after the worst hurricane in United States history. Several members of our church received a call from GOD to head down to Biloxi and the neighboring communities to pick up last December, and will head back this upcoming February to continue in that effort.
God has a funny way to calling people, or calling them somewhere. It isn’t a dream situation sometimes, such as being sent to a disaster area, or to a place that has less than ideal living conditions. However, he calls his own there to do his will and what he wants done. He has a dream for everyone of us, and it is sometimes, what we drive for. We drive to figure out what we have set out by GOD in our lives.
However, ladies and gentlemen, I come here today, noticing that we have not reached or answered some calls that our LORD has given us. To be honest, I KNOW we haven’t answered most of those calls. We are so egoistical, thinking of ourselves, and only helping out the people we want to help out, not those who are in the most need of help.
We have sick members of the congregation and of the community. Do we reach out to help them by maybe fixing them a meal, or going to give them an uplifting visit, or maybe even giving them a phone call? It doesn’t have to be much, but we don’t do that. Someone loses a close friend or family member. We may go to the wake, but that is it. I could go on for days and days on stuff we miss, and calls we have missed, but that would take to long.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as I said, I am only going to be 19 here soon. I may not have gone through the times of World War, or Vietnam, or even a missile crisis. I may not have been there when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream "Speech that 28th day of August, 1963, but I do know one thing. We are placed here on this Earth to do one thing, and that thing is not what we are being called to right now.
I have a dream today that youth, no matter what their background or current situation is, will head the LORD’s call to do good in this nation, not only to themselves, but others as well. I have a dream today that they will, while not only giving their own ideas, listen and take the advice given to them, and make a positive on that. I have a dream.
I have a dream today that everyone, no matter what the age difference may be, that young and old alike will work towards a common cause, spreading God’s Still Speaking word throughout the world.
I have a dream that when someone is ill or in poor health, that they will not be forgotten. They will not be forgotten as they will always have someone making sure they are alright, and reaffirming God’s unconditional love to them, no matter what the circumstance is.
I have a dream today that despite age difference, people will gear time and effort to helping youth ministries, not only at a national level, but at a local level, showing not only them, but their parents, that God is speaking to everyone, as he has a plan for them, just like he has a plan for all of you today.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I DO have a dream. It maybe a dream that will take time. It maybe a dream that will require work. However, it is a dream that is attainable. As I come to you today, I see a time that our church is splitting over differences we can not control. We have done some very good things in our community and beyond, but it is our misses that show up more than the accomplishments we have made. However, if we come together despite our age differences, we can achieve one main goal. Our goal is to serve our LORD and Savior the way he wants us to, the goals of not only us, but his. Let us be Jeremiah. Let God put his words on our mouths, and let him place us where needed, to continue spreading his word, and sharing his goal with everyone we meet.