Thank God for Lois and Eunice
II Timothy 1:1-14
September 29, 30, 2007

Some of you may have heard the story about the young man who stopped by Kroger’s one day. He needed to pick up a few things on the way home. While he was shopping, he noticed an elderly woman following him around. Her behavior seemed odd, but he didn’t think anything of it. When he made his way to the check-out line, there she was again—right in front of him! She said, “Pardon me.” “I’m sorry if I have made you feel uncomfortable by staring at you.” “It’s just that you look so much like my son.” “I don’t see much of him anymore.”

The young man said, “I’m so sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do for you?” She said, “Well, yes.” “As I leave the store would you say ‘Goodbye, Mother!’” “It would make me feel so much better.” He said, “Sure. I’d be glad to.” As the elderly woman was leaving he called out, “Goodbye, Mother!” She waved back at him and disappeared. As he finished checking out, the cashier said, “That’ll be $127.50.” He gasped, “How can that be? I only bought a few things!” The clerk replied, “Your mother said that you would be glad to pay for her items.”

I feel very confident that the woman in the story was not Lois or Eunice. And I want to echo the words we have heard from the scripture lesson today. “Thank God for Lois and Eunice!”

HOW MANY OF YOU KNEW OR KNOW YOUR GRANDPARENTS VERY WELL? Did they play a part in your journey of faith? What spiritual gifts did they pass along to you? Who have been the women and men in your lives that have led you and guided you to grow closer to God? It is often the case that we are influenced by the weaknesses and strengths of our parents and grandparents. Dysfunctional people generally come from dysfunctional families. And usually people of faith and love and integrity pass along these qualities to their children. We have heard it said, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Clichés don’t become clichés without having some degree of truth to them. We may tire of hearing them, but they are often true.

I regret that I was not all that close to any of my grandparents. When I was a child growing up on the south side of Chicago, I remember that our family only took a few trips to see them. My mother’s parents lived in Mexico, Missouri, and I just have faint memories of them. My father’s parents lived in Carrollton, Ohio. My dad’s dad, Everett, was a quiet man with red hair, which popped up from the gene pool in two out of three of our children. But he didn’t talk much at all when we visited.

My dad’s mom, Edna, was a tough, hard-working woman who lived well into her nineties. She kind of scared me—I didn’t feel like I could have much fun around her. But I thank God for Edna—even though I didn’t know her very well. Any time we went to Ohio to visit her, if we were there on Sunday do you know where we would be? We’d be sitting very quietly in the pew with her at church on Sunday morning. Her faith was strong. I have memories of seeing her reading the Bible during our visits. She would take time each day to pray. And my dad’s mother was a wonderful letter writer. “Edna’s Epistles” arrived on a regular basis—especially after I followed in her son’s footsteps and began my seminary education in 1980. Although my grandmother was very stern and strict and reluctant to pass along praise or compliments, when I entered the ministry her letters became a steady source of encouragement and strength. Thank God for Edna and Lois and Eunice!

Last Wednesday evening Steven Straub asked a group of adults to participate in the children’s program. He was teaching the children about Passover and about passing along stories of our faith. He asked us to share some of our important childhood memories. Steven’s question took me back to people and places that I had not visited in some time. I remembered Mrs. Olson, the Sunday School superintendent at Morgan Park Christian Church in Chicago. When I was about eight years old, she gave me a job. She asked if I would be willing to water the plants around the building—and she made it seem like it was a big deal and really important. And I thought it was—I knew that if I didn’t get there on Sunday those plants would dry up and die! So I told the children Wednesday night that I was so thankful for Mrs. Olson. She taught me about the importance of being at church. She helped me realize that even young children can have significant responsibilities in the church. Thank God for Mrs. Olson and Edna and Lois and Eunice!

Piano virtuoso, Linda Gentille, will be presenting a concert Sunday afternoon in our sanctuary. I hope you’ll be able to attend—I think you will be blessed and inspired by her incredible talent and ministry—especially her work in China. And I’m also curious about one of the hymns that Linda will play. The title of the hymn is Rebecca at the Well, which was composed by Anna Deal—Linda’s great-grandmother. There has to be a wonderful story there somewhere! I’m looking forward to hearing it. Thank God for Anna and Mrs. Olson and Edna and Lois and Eunice!

AND WHAT ABOUT LOIS AND EUNICE? If we use the tree and apple analogy, Timothy was their “apple” and “grand-apple.” Timothy was also the Apostle Paul’s “apple” in faith. Timothy was a young man who had become a minister of the Gospel. Throughout the latter part of the New Testament, it is clear that the Apostle Paul trusted few people as much as he trusted young Timothy. Timothy was Paul’s emissary and his close associate. And even when Timothy did not have the success Paul had hoped for, Paul kept on encouraging him. In our text today, we get some insight into the factors that played a part in Timothy’s spiritual journey. Paul reminds him of his great heritage. Timothy’s grandmother, Lois, had been a person of great faith. Timothy’s mother, Eunice, had been a person of great faith. So Timothy represents the third generation of Christians in the early Church!

Being aware of one’s spiritual heritage can become a source of strength and power for us. Beargrass Christian Church has been around long enough that we are blessed with many families who have three or four or more generations who have been a part of the congregation. Several families here have been connected to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for three or four or more generations. And for every connection to that previous generation, there are names—names like Lois and Eunice, grandmothers and grandfathers and fathers and mothers and others.

PAUL REMINDED TIMOTHY OF HIS HERITAGE, BUT ALSO URGED HIM TO REMEMBER HIS CALLING AND HOLD FAST TO HIS FAITH. In verse 6, Timothy is challenged to rekindle the gift that God had given to him. A more literal translation might be to “fan the flames!” Keep that gift glowing and burning within you. For the first time in my life, the couple who is getting married this weekend selected this verse to be included in their wedding ceremony. Mark and Melissa realize that they have to continue to rekindle their love for God. They know they have to “fan the flames,” even as they rekindle their love for one another. Timothy is also urged to “guard the good treasure” that had been entrusted to him. The word for treasure in verses 12 and 14 can also mean “tradition” or “deposit.” This is something not only to be preserved but to be passed on. Remember your calling, treasure it, keep the faith, pass it on. It is a wonderful thing to know that you have been called by God.

I wish more people did not associate a call from God with becoming a pastor or working full-time within the church. Now, don’t get me wrong—we need more young men and women to serve in full-time ministry in the church. We have many young people in our church family who would make outstanding ministers. But the truth is that every person of faith receives calls from God. The phone is set on automatic redial—and God is just waiting for people to answer!

I know of a woman in a local congregation who had been feeling for some time that God had called her to be a friend to those in the hospital. She felt a great sense of fulfillment when she visited patients. She shared God’s love through friendship, concern, thoughtful gifts, and prayers. Although she did not have any special training in counseling or pastoral care, although she had not received any degrees in this area or attended seminary—she had a gift. One day she presented herself to the administrator of the local hospital and offered to serve as a chaplain—unpaid of course. To her amazement, he responded positively. He said, “That’s just what we have needed here.” “I’ve been looking for someone like you. Let’s give it a try.” That was over ten years ago—but she continues to spend several days a week doing what she loves to do the most.

You may not be able to make that same kind of time commitment. But I believe that if you have the eyes to see and the ears to hear and a heart that is open—God is calling you to some kind of ministry! It could be a ministry of caring, a ministry of praying, a ministry of music, a ministry of teaching, a ministry of welcoming people, a ministry of giving. There are countless ways to serve. But an integral part of living a fulfilling life is to treasure that call and give yourself to something that is God-grand and glorious. If someone were to sketch out their family tree of faith, if someone were to write a spiritual autobiography—would your name appear on anybody’s lists?

Friends, we have an amazing opportunity to become spiritual parents and grandparents. Who will become the Lois or Eunice, the Timothy or Paul for Jack and Cole, the children we’re dedicating this weekend—and all the children in our church family? Who will become the Lois or Eunice, the Timothy or Paul for the members of the new refugee family? Who will become the Lois or Eunice, the Timothy or Paul for our children and our children’s children? Who will be so bold and courageous to serve as spiritual mentors for those beyond the walls of the church? Thank God for Paul and Timothy and Lois and Eunice and Mrs. Olson and Edna and Anna! I’d like for you to help me close this time together. As the Spirit moves you, call out the names of the women and men who have been your spiritual mentors and guides… You don’t have to raise your hand or take turns—just call out their names… For all these names and more, we give you thanks, O God. Amen.