Bible Reference: James 1: 17-27; Psalm 45:1-2, 6-9

As my daughter will tell you, I like electronic gadgets. If I stop the service for a few minutes and turn my back on you I am answering my cell phone. I like computers. When I was serving a congregation in Pennsylvania I had a contest with one of the members as we acquired the latest gadget for our computers. I don't know who won but we both had fun in the process. In that sense it has been a good week for me. Although I was not sure it was worth the cost, my daughter and son have been pushing me for some time to change from my slow telephone internet service to high speed service. This week the people from Comcast came out and installed their high speed service on my computer. I haven't had time to work with it but I have the latest "toy" for computers.

In the 1970s, futurist Alvin Toftler coined the phrase "culture shock" to describe the effect rapidly advancing technology was having on civilization. But in truth, what Toffler described wasn't so much a shock to our "culture" as it was the flowering of technological "geewhiz" gadgetry that worked to change the face and pace of society. Basically, people are not "shocked" by technological advances as much as they are intrigued by them. People love to "play." Is there anything quite so enchanting as a new electronic "toy"? I dare say that most of you have a cell phone in your possession. Just a couple of years ago most would have said no if asked if they had a cell phone, but we now expect everyone, adult and child, to have a cell phone.

Ever wonder why "science fiction" stories and movies are so wildly popular? It's not because the alien worlds our imaginations envision are so weirdly different or unexpected. The "Star Trek" genre thrives because they tell tales laced with all the culturally familiar values and notions we can identify with. The difference is they get to have lots more elaborate toys to play with than we do.

Adaptive human beings can easily deal with gadget changes. It's only when we begin to experience genuine cultural changes - changes in moral codes, basic values and guiding principles - that we finally begin to feel the tremors of a serious "culture shock."

I. Shocking

We see it all around us, the changing of our culture that is more basic than the technology, the adding of gadgets. We are changing our basic moral codes, our values, the guiding principles on which our lives have been based.

It's a shock to our system when we hear about a group of 12 year olds brutally gang raping and then murdering an 8 year old girl. We are shocked to hear of the arrest of several young boys who were plotting to kill their teacher. We are shocked when a UT student can be taken from her apartment, raped and killed. We are shocked to hear of parents keeping their children in cages, simply because the parents are old and can't cope with the normal exuberance of the children. I could go on but you get the picture of the changing culture around us.

It's a shock to our system when "protective" authorities return an abused child to her abusive mother where she is then suffocated at the hands of that parent.

It's a shock to our system when we see people living their whole lives - birth to death - on top of a garbage dump in Manila.

It is a shock to our system when we are told years later how AIDS- contaminated blood was allowed to continue as a part of the French national blood supply as well as our own.

It's a shock to our system when a young, unmarried college student couple deals with an unplanned pregnancy by delivering the child in a Motel 6 and then dumping the baby out in the trash to die.

These are real culture shocks- events still too far outside the realm of what our cultural psyche deems acceptable that they send tremors through our souls. Each one of us has his or her own threshold of "shock-ability."

Some changes in our culture roll right off your back. Other changes merely annoy you. Others disturb you down to the depths of your soul. But did you ever notice that those people who seem most sensitive to every little cultural change, every lifestyle blip are the same people who yearn the most for the long-awaited peace and stability of a future heavenly existence?

II. Heaven Shock

Hello? Talk about culture shock! You tell me why it is, when we have a terrible time adjusting to the whole notion of an automated teller giving us our cash, we are convinced that we will feel completely comfortable in a new existence where there is no such thing as a credit card!--We blithely assume heaven, living in the presence of God, will be so, well, "heavenly" that we never even consider what kinds of a "culture shock" we will encounter there:

You know:

--where we turn the other cheek instead of getting even.

--where gold is as dust while goodness is treasured.

That is what the description of heaven means when it talks about the fact that the streets are paved with gold. I remember the story of the man who did not want to die and leave his possessions. He struggled with God and finally, God agreed that he could bring one suitcase to heaven. When the man died he carried his one suitcase with him to heaven and was met at the gate by St. Peter. St. Peter said that he understood about his agreement with God but he was interested in his treasure. The man put down the suitcase and opened it up. St. Peter stared in amazement and then finally said, "Why would you want to bring paving blocks to heaven?" Human treasurers have little value compared to the value of living in the presence of God.

--Where love is neither a full-body contact sport nor a winner take all competition, but is the atmosphere we breathe.

--Where instead of struggling to gouge out a niche for ourselves, we are enfolded by the unity of peace.

--Where the only designer label to be found reads "Graced by God" and is found on everyone and everything.

If the truth be told, won't this place called "heaven," this presence of God, in actuality be utterly foreign to us and our experience? Won't we experience a form of "culture shock" greater than any we have ever known before?

III. But Wait!

But wait! Before you decide to be buried with a bottle of Extra-strength Tylenol by your side to help you cope - consider what James was saying to the church in what we read this morning.

The text from James declares that heaven should not be such a "shock" to our systems after all. First the writer reminds us that every "Generous act" and "every perfect gift" we experience on earth are in fact heaven-sent from God. Each moment of grace and goodness we experience during our lifetime is a tiny glimpse, a momentary preparation, a "prolepsis," James says to the church, for the heaven that awaits us. In stunning fashion, James' epistle counts our very existence - as flawed and frail as it is - as one of those heavenly glimpses, for God has created men and women to be an example of eternity, a "kind of first fruits of his creatures."

Let's push the repeat button on that scripture. You and I were created as "first fruits" - not scooped up from the bottom of some cosmic barrel. Heavenly ways and divine ordinances should not bring any great cultural shocks to our spirits - but should strike a resonance of familiarity and well being within us. When we experience "heavenly moments" here on Earth, they should pluck a chord of response in our souls - reminding us that this is the way God intended our lives to be experienced.

That is why James' text goes on so stringently, even stridently, to urge believers to act as God's first fruits -- not merely accept that designation as a static identity. "Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers," insists the epistle writer. Once hearers become doers, we can play fragments of heavenly music throughout our earthly existence.

If you haven't already heard today some strains of heavenly melodies? If you haven't experienced any heaven-on-earth, then something's wrong with your soul.

Conclusion:

You and I are gifted with the capacity to taste of "the powers of the age to come" -- NOW

You and I can experience the foretaste of eternity. -- NOW

There is a new label being attached to people. "Had to"

When asked why they tried something unusual, difficult, challenging, strange, they can only respond, "Had to." The whole trust of James' epistle is to enable the church to produce "had to" people.

As God's "first fruits," "had to" Christians do everything they can to make heaven as present as possible here on earth. "Had to" Christians live out the meaning of these words when they pray, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."

If you are serious about preparing for a future heavenly existence with God, you're a "Had to " believer. "Had to" Christians are laboring to construct here in their life on Earth as many roughed-out models of that heavenly home as possible. To be sure, every attempt will be incomplete, every model will lack scale and power, yet each and every genuine attempt truly brings a portion of heaven onto this earth.

James concludes with a simple, practical, straightforward directive for a Christ like life by every believer,

--"Care for orphans and widows in their distress." - "Had to."

--Why are you volunteering to help with the scouts? --"Had to."

--Why are you taking time to read to children in Sunday School or to lead the

children's message on Sunday morning? "Had to."

-- You don't have the resources to allow many community groups and day care

operations to use your facilities, but you do it and simply work your program around the. Why? "Had to."

--It's a waste of time to work to have legislation passed to protect the rights of

the disadvantaged. But you do it. Why? . "Had to"

-Busy but still willing to volunteer to help the church in its outreach ministries.

Why? "Had to."

--Your Alzheimer's parent/friend/neighbor doesn't even know you're there. Why do you bother to spend so much time with him or her? "Had to."

-- Do you really tell your children you love them every day? "Had to."

--If you think being kind to people at work who undercut you is going to get

you anywhere. "Had to"

--It's no use pushing this church into the 21^st century. It will never change.

"Had to."

--You know how much it costs to feed the birds in your yard this winter? "Had

to."

--Why do you serve as an officer of the Church? "Had to."

--Why do you smile or say something nice to everyone you meet? "Had to."

--You never waste an opportunity to proclaim Christ's love to others. "Had to."

You want to escape the real "culture shock"? Then bring heaven to earth. Be a "had to" Christian.

A preacher was in the midst of a fiery revival, and he was at the height of oratory and exhortation. He described the terrors of hell and then with rapturous tones described heaven. Then be abruptly asked the congregation: "How many of you want to go to heaven?" All of the faithful held up their hands except one old deacon, a veritable saint of the church. This surprised the preacher and he inquired, "Brother Davis, don't you want to go to heaven?" "Yes, I do, Preacher, but you sound like you want to get up a bus-load tonight."

The goal is for the Christian to make a heaven here on earth with all their might. How are you doing?