Stoned by a Sermon

Vacation is a time that typically I like to escape sermons (at least the ones that I preach). For me, when I am listening for words from God (rather than trying to speak them), I am much more changed.

The words of a couple thousand year old sermon still intrigue me. Yeah, I know that is a little strange in a world of high-tech movies with computer graphics and best-selling, page-turning novels. This sermon was spoken on a mountain in Israel by Jesus and it was preserved on 4-5 pages by Matthew. He was a follower of Jesus who spent all his time with Jesus during his three year ministry.

The words of the Sermon on the Mount have haunted my soul all my life and now they really seem to fill my mind. I memorized the entire sermon. Ok, now I have lost you. Too much work. Too weird. I have been practicing on my wife and kids and whoever would sit still long enough to listen. My kids are actually the best targets. When we are in the car, they are strapped in with five point harnesses. I control the wheel and the stereo. Needless to say the family has heard this sermon many times.

Well, here is the story. Last night I was putting a very tired kid into bed. We had done literally a million things together all day: fishing at a pond, Independence Day parade, swimming, eating and playing at McDonalds, a long nap (for the others in my family), changing the oil in the Camry, shooting fireworks, playing games and running through the house playing shoot the rabbit. It was a full, full final day of vacation.

When I put this tired kid in bed after a "great, great, great day" he asked for a drink of ice water because he was thirsty. Initially I tried to brush it off and say that it was time for bed, yet even I was thirsty from all of that running and hiding all over the house. Nathan was insistent to get ice water. I told him that I would get water in a cup from the bathroom, but he wanted ice water. I gave him a 'love and logic' choice. Either you get no water or water from the bathroom. He reluctantly chose water from the bathroom.

When I brought it to him, he said "Daddy, do you want to hear something funny?" I nodded. So, Nathan says, "If your son asks for ice water would you give him a stone?"

Nathan has heard me do the sermon on the mount so many times that he used Jesus' words on me! He adapted this line from the Sermon on the Mount "if your child asks for bread will you give a stone?" (Matthew's gospel 7)

We laughed and laughed. What can you do? I told Nathan that he is a smart boy. I went and got the stone (I mean ice cube), told Donna that I had a story for her and gave him the ice. Then, he told me another joke. "If your child asks for pizza will you give a door?" And then on and on it went. He really cracks me up.