Grandfather Mountain, Nature on a Whole Different Level

FREIDA HARTLEY HOBSON'S SERMON FROM THE 85TH ANNUAL SINGING ON THE MOUNTAIN

Freida Hartley HobsonListen to the Scripture reading from Hebrews 11:1 and 12: 1-2

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

You would think that being surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, I would be okay, but I must tell you: "Y'all are making me nervous!" I thought I better admit that up front.

I've done everything to prepare for today. I've got on my best blue suit. I bought sheet protectors for my sermon, in case it rained. I brought my dress raincoat, and my big umbrella. I printed my sermon up in big print, in case my bifocals failed me. I even got my teeth cleaned!

And what about you? To whom am I preaching? Are you a crowd of Christians?

Let's find out. Would you raise your hand if you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

That is what I thought! I'm preaching to the choir!

Every time I prayed about today's sermon, I felt led to prepare a sermon which encouraged Christians to share their faith.

First I have to acknowledge that when Catherine first asked me to preach for the Singing on the Mountain, I wanted to say no. Think about the great preachers that have stood at this pulpit. How could I preach behind this pulpit?

But, you see, I could not say no, because, like you, I have been blessed by a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. This beautiful gift was given to me because I grew up hearing the faith stories of grandparents and parents. From the time I was an infant until I started school, while Dad and Mom were at work, it was my privilege to stay with Granddad and Grandma Zora.

I have fond memories of life on Granddad's farm, of people singing in the front yard, visiting preachers, and prayer meetings in the living room. Each person I encountered told a unique and individual faith story about their experience of encountering the living Christ. And each one of you have a different and unique faith story of your encounter with Jesus.

As I began working on this sermon, I thought about these old Singing Grounds, and I was flooded with precious memories. Every summer, as soon as school ended, preparations began for the Singing on the Mountain. Granddad, Dad, Uncle Robert, and Mr. Morton had already lined up speakers, singers, and vendors.

This air was filled with the smell of new mown hay, and the sound of hammers beating out their own song of praise, as platforms were being prepared. Everyone was busy getting this old meadow ready for the crowd that would gather to offer a gift of praise and thanksgiving before a loving, mighty and awesome God.

At home, freshly laundered sheets hung on the line, waiting for the aunts, uncles and cousins that would pour in from all over the southeast, coming home for the reunion. The smell of pound cakes baking, green beans simmering in the deep well cooker, and hams roasting in the oven, filled Mom's kitchen. As a child, you had better be busy, or you better be out of the way!

And you knew something really important was about to happen.

For Granddad, this Singing on the Mountain, as our family reunion, was the legacy that he would leave to his children and grandchildren as a reminder that the most important gift that he could give them, was his faith in Jesus Christ.

This place is still filled with their presence for me. The old platform was up beside that rock, and if I close my eyes for just a moment...

I can see Granddad moving across the meadow in his short quick steps and Dad laughing with Uncle Robert, Uncle Paul, Uncle Charlie, and Uncle Shell, as they reminisce about the adventures of their youth.

I can see Mr. Morton sitting on that outcropping of rock, with a camera cradled in his hands, and to the right, the air lifts Mrs. Morton's red gingham table cloths, and they drift gently down, landing perfectly square on the picnic table.

Aunt Pearl is lifting a huge tray out of her car with fresh sliced home grown tomatoes, cucumbers, and spring onions on a bed of crisp green lettuce.

Aunt Jewel is setting up her yard chair, getting ready to listen to the old hymns she loves. To the left in a large shelter, Grandma Zora gathers with the Holiness Christians, who are singing and dancing before the Lord. Arthur and Ralph Smith are tuning up their guitars and banjos, and Tommy Faile is waiting in line for some fried chicken. And for some reason, I have just received the look from Mom which means "Wait until I get you home." Maybe I was not supposed to tell Fred Kirby that his nose sure did not look that big on TV. …

Today, I feel surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

In Celtic Christianity, they have a name for places like this: thin places.

A “thin place” is a place where the veil between heaven and earth is so thin, so sheer, you can almost step right through to the other side. For me, these old Singing Grounds are a thin place. And I feel bathed in the prayers of those we love who surround God’s throne, encouraging us, urging us on, calling us to be strong in our faith.

Listen to Revelation chapter 7: verses 9 - 17

9:After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10: And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11: And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12: Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. 13: And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, Who are these which are arrayed in white robes, and whence came they? 14: And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15: Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth upon the throne shall dwell among them. 16: They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. 17: For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Folks, surrounding that throne, and praising God with us today, are our own saints, our own ancestors in the faith calling us to live as they did, to struggle as they did.

Would you raise your hand if you have a loved one in heaven?...

Look how we have been blessed. We have been given this wonderful legacy of faith.

Someone in our past shared the unique story of their faith in Jesus Christ, and we know that they are among those who surround God's throne.

The question for each and every one of us is this: what legacy of faith will we leave to the next generation?

Like our ancestors, each and every one of us has this beautiful and unique faith story of our encounter with Christ and our journey with Jesus. There is that moment when we first received Jesus as Lord and Savior, there are those stories of times in our lives when we had great faith, and those low moments of great fear. There are those times when we were not the disciple of Jesus that we should have been, and the moments when we rededicated our lives to the Lord with great joy.

There are those times when we fell short, and sometimes fell flat on our faces. And through it all, we learned to trust in Jesus. We need to share the stories of our faith, both our mountain top experiences of triumph, and our deep valleys of trials and tribulation.
I believe the call of God on our lives today, and the prayers of the saints that surround God’s throne are summoning us to share our faith.

So, let's start today, right now. Turn to your neighbor, and say, "Proclaim the great things God has done for you!"

Now, turn to your neighbor, and say, "God has done great things for me." Good. Now, we have begun. Does your life and conversation still reflect the truth that God is still doing great things for you!

It is through these faith stories that God's glory shines through in our lives. Our world is in dire straits! All around us, people are desperate to believe. All around us, people are searching for a Savior. In the midst of economic meltdown, or devastating illness, in burdens, or worries, through every trial and tribulation, we have been given this faith which strengthens and sustains, and which we are called to share.

As we share our faith, we might stumble over our words, but we soon discover that the more we share our faith, the easier it gets, and that each time we share our faith, the Holy Spirit is there to guide. And those saints that are gathered around God's throne are praying for us, and praying with us.

When we feel hesitant to share our faith, we need to remember the words of the old hymn, "Balm in Gilead," "If you can't preach like Peter, If you can't pray like Paul, just tell the love of Jesus, and say he died for all."

Today, you are called to share your faith, to leave the legacy of your faith story to your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors and friends, so that someday, they will know that your prayers have joined the prayers of the saints in heaven, singing: "Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb," and praying, "Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever." For we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses. Amen.

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