October 29th sermon Are You The Blind Beggar Mark 10

October 29th sermon Are You The Blind Beggar Mark 10


One day this rich guy was having a party at his house. He was loaded, and he had everything; money, a big house in Beverly Hills, cars, planes; anything he wanted. The guy was also a little eccentric, and he had filled his pool with crocodiles. So there he was, he and his friends all standing around talking and partying next to the pool.
The guy gets up on the lifeguard tower and all his friends look up. He calls for silence and says, "OK, the first person that swims across my pool will get all my money."
No one moves. The guy looks over the crowd and says, "OK, the first person that swims across my pool gets all my money and my house."

Still, no one moves, not even an eye blinks this time. "OK then, all my money, my house, all my cars, all my planes, all my property, all my stocks and bonds and investments; everything I own."
"Splash!" Someone's in the pool. Crocodiles are all over him, but he rolls over like Tarzan, he's all over the place, fighting and dodging. Finally he gets out of the pool on the other side. The rich guy on the tower jumps down and runs over to him.
"That was incredible! I never thought that I would ever see that done. Do you want the money now or later?" "I don't want the money."
"Do you want the house now or later?" "I don't want the house."
"Do you want the cars and planes now or later?” "I don't want the cars or planes."
"Do you want the bonds, stocks and stuff now or later?" "I don't want that either."
The rich guy looks at him and says "Well, what do you want?!?!" "I want the guy that pushed me in."

Barking fills the air as Adam Bergin walks down the aisles. He checks the cards hanging from the cages to see how long each dog has been at the Willamette Humane Society.
Bergin, is scouting for talent for Project Pooch, a nonprofit program at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility.
As the kennel manager for Project Pooch, he often faces a daunting task as he sifts through unwanted dogs to find ones that can be trained to be good pets.
Each dog is tested for aggressive behavior.
"They have to be friendly and outgoing," says Bergin.
On a December day, his search takes him to the Humane Society in Salem.
He strikes gold.

Humane Society kennel manager takes him to Congo, who is in quarantine. The 1-year-old husky was picked up for chasing livestock in West Salem.
A court order by a Polk County judge stipulates that the friendly white-and-black canine no longer can live in a rural setting.
"This is a good dog," the manager says. "He just can't live on a farm."
Project Pooch could give Congo a new leash on life.
But first, he must undergo a series of tests.
The young husky prances anxiously as he's led to the testing area.
He's not interested in chasing balls.
He doesn't snap when Bergin grabs food from him.
He doesn't flinch when Bergin raises his hand or wrestles with him.
He passes the test.
A new beginning

Congo arrives at MacLaren -- a 460-bed state facility that houses older youth offenders up to age 25.
The boys surround the husky excitedly. Congo responds warmly, wagging his tail comfortably.
Ruben, who entered MacLaren in August 2002 at age 16, is assigned as Congo's trainer.
Ruben is no novice -- Congo is his fifth dog.
In fact, the decade-old program, which has trained 325 dogs, represents a new beginning for Ruben as well.
"I used to shut everything out. I didn't take the opportunity to have fun and enjoy the things that life had given me," says Ruben, who is scheduled to leave MacLaren this spring.

Ruben finds it easier to talk with people since he became involved with Project Pooch. He has a hearing impairment and would not initially speak up. But work required him to tell prospective owners about the dogs he was training.
Since he first started working in the program part-time a year ago, the teen also has received his high school diploma.

Now a full-time employee, Ruben works six to seven days a week. He's never called in sick.
The boys make a percentage of the adoption fee and also can make money from boarding and grooming services that are offered to the public.

"We're teaching these kids responsibility," Bergin says. When the boys get out into the community, he says, they have some money from the program to get an apartment and get on their feet.

Ruben has found new sight after a year of being in the Project POOCH program. The anger and despair are not in his life anymore. He can see his future with the training and skills he has acquired thru the program. The dogs are ready to be great pets, and their trainers are ready to reenter the community.


Bartimaus had been blind for years. What hope does he have? He can’t work! Bartimaus was a leather worker like his father. All during his younger days, he was able to cut and sew the leather garments or bags for his business. He had a good business going and had a happy marriage.

Every day he would get up and bring in the pile of leather. He would cut and sew. He would sell and profit. Then his eye sight started to fade. It got to where he could not see the needle on the table.

Then all his sight was gone. He became dependent on his wife. He became bitter, angry at God, angry at other people because of the pity, angry at his wife. He withdraws. Then she leaves. He is alone. The darkness and silence envelope him.

Bartimaus goes to the gates and sits asking for spare change. I’ll sing a sad song, tell a bad joke. Just give me some money so I can get a bite to eat later. But then he hears a commotion. Whispers all around him…”it’s Jesus. It’s the prophet. That guy who raised the little girl. I saw him open the ears of another.”

Hope beyond hope. Could it be? Could he heal me? Could I see again?

Janet was a young mother of two, combining a full time career and caring for her family. She and her husband Dennis were on a long deserved road trip to Washington DC to celebrate a new job for her husband that would allow her to stay home and raise the kids. But that night she awoke with a fright full of adrenaline.

She paced the floor until the panic attack subsided and went back to bed. Each night the attacks came back and grew stronger. Severe nausea invaded her body and she was admitted to the hospital. Nothing was found to be wrong with her so she went home. Then a week later she was back but still nothing.

A month later she awoke felling as if someone had injected her with toxic adrenaline. She got up pacing the floor sobbing. Once again she was rushed to the hospital and was finally diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety disorder. Could there be any hope for her.

Janet was heavily sedated in the hospital and went thru different treatments of antidepressant drugs. It was during this time that Janet was introduced to a wonderful support group for depressives. Not only did she find friends and support, she received life giving education and hope for a normal future. Her hope came. Her life came back to her.

Bartimaus was looking for hope. He had been blind so long; he did not remember what flowers looked like. He did not remember what his neighbor and acquaintances looked like. He had been blind for so long, he did not know what he himself looked like.

He calls out. “Jesus, Son of David. Jesus, over here.” Like the paparatsi trying to get a picture of the celebrity, Bartimaus yells above the crowd. The people around him are getting annoyed. “mama, who is that man? Oh, that’s blind Bartimaus.” Do you hear the labels put on him? “Have mercy on me your servant, Son of David.”

The people around him tell him to be quiet. “hush Bartimaus. Why would the prophet want to see a beggar like you?” “Just go back to your mat!!” But Bartimaus won’t stop. Ignoring the labels that have been so attached he pushes thru the crowd. “Let me see Jesus. I want to see him.”

The blind guy wants to see. Then it happens. “Send him over” says Jesus. Could it be? Did he hear it right? Now the crowd supports him. The labels are still ascribed to him by the people, but they push him forward. He throws off his cloak. That cloak has shown him to be the beggar, the needy, the less fortunate. That cloak shows him to want something. That cloak was one big label in itself.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks. “I want to touch your face Jesus. I want to see you the only way I can.” And Jesus allows it. Bartimaus runs his fingers over Jesus’ brow, over his eyelids, around his nose. He feels around those parched dry lips and protruding chin.

Bartimaus smiles. He is happy. But then Jesus asks of him “Bartimaus, let me touch your face.” Why? “You can see, Jesus. Why would you want to touch my face?” But he agrees. Jesus does the same as had been done to him. The loving touch and gentle kiss of his fingers. Oh what a feeling for Bartimaus.

And when he opens his eyes, Bartimaus can see the face of Jesus, not only in his head, but now with his eyes. “He healed me. I can see again.” Bartimaus starts jumping up and down praising God. Everyone is smiling. THAT label is gone now.

“stupid is as stupid does.” Remember that? Forrest Gump. The simple man who lived an interesting life. He has all sorts of labels attached to him. Slow, ignorant, hard headed, etc. He tells stories about his life and accomplishments. Most people just wanted to ignore him. Many didn’t believe him.

Despite his sub-normal IQ, Forrest lives a charming life. All thru his life and all thru the events, he never forgot about Jenny, the love he had as a boy. The last person he talks with on the bus bench gives him directions for the path he is seeking. She directs him so he can see again what he is looking for. He throws off the labels and runs to the Jenny’s house. “Run Forrest Run”.

Bartimaus is healed. What does he do then? He follows Jesus. The one who gave him hope. The one who gave him life again. The one who washed away all the labels that had been attached to him.

Has anyone attached labels to you? Are you labeled as The Kid, The Old Man, That annoying lady who always complains, Too Small, Too Short? What are the labels that have been put on you? Though some of these might be true, what do you miss out on because of these labels?? Do you want to get rid of these labels??

Peter was a loudmouth, Thomas was a doubter, James was a procrastinator. ALL of the disciples were cowards and failures. They all ran away when Jesus needed them most. Why would Jesus call them back and restore them?

Not sure but he did. And he can do the same for you. You can throw off your cloak and run to him. He will pull all those labels off of you. He will set you free. He will transform you.

If you have labels you don’t want, it’s time to get rid of them. No matter what it is, Jesus is ready to transform you. We’re going to say a prayer together and then sing our last hymn. If you have not experienced the transforming power of Jesus Christ and have not had the Holy Spirit come in to fill you to your soul, come to the prayer rail. Jesus is here to cleanse you. Pray with me.