During the season of Lent, we have been reflecting on variations of the phrase, "the old has died…the new has come." As we listen for God's words in the words of scripture each week, I hope we are discerning invitations in the texts. In these scripture passages, it is entirely possible that the Spirit of the Living God is at work… Nudging us, prodding us, challenging us, pulling us, encouraging us, inviting us… To let go of the old-and to welcome the new, life-giving gifts that God offers.

In recent weeks, we have been invited to let temptation be replaced by trust and to let darkness give way to God's light. Next week, we will try to hear again for the first time the story of the prodigal son-a message about rejection and reconciliation. During Holy Week, even as we contemplate passages about despair and fear, we will also hear "hosannas and hallelujahs" as the Good News of hope and faith and new life are proclaimed. Today, our topic is "Pride has died…new perspectives have come."

SPEAKING OF DYING, HAVE YOU EVER GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO WHAT YOU WANT ON YOUR TOMBSTONE? And I'm not talking about the pizza company and commercial. If you visit any of the local cemeteries, most of the messages on the tombstones are short and simple. Usually you will just see the person's name, the birth date, the death date. Sometimes there are scripture passages or short poetic phrases.

And every once in a while, you'll find one that is a little more creative. For instance, there is one for an elderly spinster, whose cousin was a sportswriter: "Here lie the bones of Mary Jones, her life it knew no terrors. Born an old maid, died an old maid; no runs, no hits, no errors." I like this one for a woman named Matilda: "Matilda Graham has gone to rest; she now reclines on Abraham's breast." "Peace at last for Matilda Graham-but not for Father Abraham." And attention Wal-Mart shoppers! Here is one for a woman who spent way too much time at the store. Her tombstone reads: "Gone to Wal-Mart."

But there are some tombstone messages that are much more profound-messages that continue to speak volumes through the ages. In a small cemetery of a parish churchyard in Olney, England, stands a granite tombstone with the following inscription: "John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and Libertine, servant of slavers in Africa… "Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the Faith he had long labored to destroy." These words were written by Newton himself prior to his death. And they vividly describe his incredible life. Some of you know Newton's story. His mother, a very faithful woman, died when John was just seven. John left school and joined the crew of his father's ship-at the age of 11! His early years were one continuous round of rebellion and debauchery. Newton began to work with the slave traders, and eventually became the captain of his own ship. Needless to say, the capturing, selling, and transporting of slaves to the plantations of the West Indies and America was a cruel and vicious way of life. But on one particularly stormy voyage back to England, Newton began reading Thomas a Kempis' classic book, The Imitation of Christ. The ideas in the book planted some seeds for Newton's eventual conversion. During the next several years, Newton tried to justify his terrible treatment of the slaves. But God's Spirit kept tugging on his soul. Newton finally gave up the slave trade. And then he began to crusade against it. He was ordained at the age of 39 by the Anglican Church. For the next 15 years, he was an influential minister of the church in Olney, near Cambridge, England. During that time, Newton often attracted large crowds who came to hear the stories of the old converted sea captain. Until the time of his death at the age of 82, Newton continued to marvel at God's great mercy and grace. That was the dominant theme of his preaching and writing. Even when his memory was failing, he proclaimed: "My memory is nearly gone, but I can remember two things-I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior!" And Newton was also a bit of a radical when it came to worship! He kept introducing new, contemporary hymns to worship! And since he couldn't find that many-he began writing his own-hundreds of them. His most beloved hymn was originally titled "Faith's Review and Expectation." The song describes blindness giving way to sight…human hubris and pride giving way to new perspectives about God's love and mercy. We know it today by the name "Amazing Grace." It was a graceful coincidence that the year of Newton's death, 1807, was the same year that the British Parliament finally abolished slavery.

IF THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD WRITTEN A MESSAGE FOR HIS TOMBSTONE, I WONDER IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SIMILAR TO JOHN NEWTON'S? Both of them had rather remarkable transformations in their lives. They both could tell similar tales about blindness and sight. They both had incredible "before and after" testimonies about what God had done to change their perspectives. In today's passage, Paul begins by reviewing the resume of his past religious life. Some scholars speculate that he is offering a rebuttal to some people who have questioned his reputation. Paul makes it clear that there is nothing to hide, unlike some of the politicians who have been in the news lately! His background could easily provide a person with an immense source of pride, to boasting and religious bragging rights! He says, "If anyone has confidence in their religious track record, I have more!" In a word, he describes himself as "blameless!" And yet, in verse 7, Paul's story takes a tremendous twist and turn! He says, "Yet, whatever gains I had, whatever records for righteousness I have set, whatever resumes I have written, whatever reasons I have to boast… "Forget them-they are simply 'rubbish, trash.'" A more literal translation could be "dung" or a similar synonym! Because of Christ…Paul's perspectives have changed! Because of Christ, this one who had been persecuting the Church…has now become one of its most powerful proponents! Because of Christ, now he knows that he is not saved by works-a righteousness of his own-he is saved by the grace of God through faith. Because of Christ, now he knows that his righteousness is not based on some ethical standard-but on a loving relationship with God.

Some of you have had the opportunity to hear the powerful, prophetic preaching of Dr. James Forbes of Riverside Church in New York. Forbes talks about the relationship that we are offered in Christ. He says, "Jesus is my friend; I like Jesus." "I like his willingness to suffer for things he believed in. "I like the evidence I get that the God of the universe honored him because he was faithful to what he was about." "Jesus is also the one in whom I find the invitation to wholeness and a clue to forgiveness for my sins." In Jesus, there is "the promise that I can live a life that increasingly honors God and loves community and serves the world-rather than being a person who continues to spoil the dream of the Creator." Paul turned his life around and entered into that kind of loving relationship with God. And because of Christ, Paul wants to know the power of his resurrection-and wants to share in his sufferings. The first part sounds OK-the second is more challenging.

Rev. Barbara Sloop came to know more clearly what Paul is describing. She was a midlife graduate of Louisville Presbyterian Seminary. But before she began to serve the church, she was a retired captain in the U.S. Public Health Service. She worked 20 years as a physical therapist, administrator, and educator-then God began nudging her in a new direction. Her sense of vocation came from working with the Surgeon General, helping persons suffering from leprosy and then AIDS. She says, "I began to see that for some people, healing could come only through a relationship with God and a life beyond this one." Sloop's medical career certainly gave her valuable skills for helping people in need. But her education in church and seminary enabled her to understand that complete healing requires a relationship with God and a caring community. She began to see that since we are, together, the body of Christ, then it follows that our own suffering is Jesus' suffering. She began to see that the hope of our resurrection is grounded in Jesus' resurrection.

And finally, because of Christ, Paul uses the image of an athlete, a runner; he wants to "press on toward the goal of God's heavenly call." During my sabbatical, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Fred Craddock lead a study of Philippians at Christmount Christian Assembly in Black Mountain, North Carolina. In his typically eloquent fashion, Craddock captures the spirit and intensity of Paul's words. "His language is vivid, tense, repetitious: pressing, stretching, pushing, straining-in his words the lungs burn, the temples pound the muscles ache, the heart pumps, the perspiration rolls!" "Trust in God's grace now frees Paul to run without counting his steps, without competing with other servants of Christ. "To that end, he can seek, because has been found; he can know, because has been known; he can apprehend, because he has been apprehended. "In a word, Paul sought to lay hold of the One who had already laid hold of Paul."

And Paul encourages all of us… Let those who are mature… Those who are seeking to grow closer to God… Those who are looking for a more significant life in the Spirit… Live the same way…and do the same things.

Let's return for a moment to an earlier scene in this sermon-to the author of that beloved old hymn, "Faith's Review and Expectation"-"Amazing Grace." After Newton's ministry at Olney, he spent the rest of his 28 years as pastor of the influential St. Mary Woolnoth Church in London. There, he came to know William Wilberforce and others who were engaged in the crusade to abolish the slave trade. Some of you have seen the movie, Amazing Grace, which depicts Wilberforce's tireless efforts, as well as his relationship with Newton. Early on in the story, Wilberforce senses a call from God-he confesses, "God found me." He tells his friend, William Pitt, that he wants to serve God through the church. But Pitt, who later becomes prime minister, urges him to stay in Parliament because he is such a gifted orator. Pitt asks, "Will you use your beautiful voice to praise the Lord or change the world?"

Later, when in the company of other abolitionists, one of those present says, "We suggest you can do both." There are a number of powerful scenes in the film-but one of them really stands out for me as we think about pride giving way to new perspectives. In the scene, a group of well-to-do, exquisitely dressed, English upper-crusters-are on a pleasure cruise. These are people of power, position, and political influence. There is beautiful music playing, abundant food and drink, laughter-they're all having a delightful time. We might envision something like a night out on the "Belle of Louisville," I suppose. But Wilberforce prearranged for them to come alongside a slave ship-the Madagascar. The stench, the smell of death, is overpowering-the men and women cover their faces. Wilberforce appears on the deck of the Madagascar and exhorts the people on the other boat to breathe deeply-and remember-remember the Madagascar. It was one of countless steps in an 18-year crusade to abolish slavery. It was one of innumerable incidents where old, cruel, ungodly perspectives gave way to the ways of God.

What about us? If God can change a crusty, old slave-trading sea captain like John Newton… If God can change a persecutor of the church like Paul… If God can capture the hearts of people like William Wilberforce and Barbara Sloop and give them a renewed sense of vocation… If God can transform those who pride themselves with power and position, prestige and possessions… What in this world can God do with you?