In the 1890’s a conversation took place between the President of Harvard University and a Bishop in our United Methodist Tradition. The President of the University said, (remember this is the 1890’s) “I feel like we are on the verge of remarkable discoveries, remarkable breakthrough’s. I believe the next 25 years will allow us to see things we can’t even imagine today.”

      The Bishop of the church, who was seen as a highly intelligent, forward looking man said, “I don’t believe it. I really don’t think there is anything left to be invented. I think we have already seen the most remarkable things in the world. There will be nothing new under the sun.”

      Undeterred, the President of Harvard said, “It’s true. We are doing incredible things. Why, I believe that during my lifetime we will see men (sic) fly.”

      The Bishop responded by saying, “Men, Fly? No. It will never happen. If God wanted us to fly, God would have equipped us differently.”

      This conversation took place in the 1890’s. Do you have any idea who that Bishop was?

      His name is Bishop Milton Wright. He was the father of Orville and Wilbur Wright. In less than ten years after his comment that nothing new would be invented, his very own sons invented a flying machine that launched the aviation age. I would say that Bishop Milton Wright suffered from what many suffer with, an unwillingness to learn, an unwillingness to change, and unwillingness to grow.

      Today we are continuing our sermon series called Momentum for Life. Last week we talked about how building momentum for life properly begins by growing in our devotion to God. We talked about the importance of making God a priority and taking time with God. Today, we are going to talk about how we can commit ourselves to Living and Learning for Life.

      What you might not know about me is that I like technology. My family and our staff will give me a bad time about the technology that I use, especially my Blackberry. They will call it a “crack berry”.

      When I first became more electronic, I thought it was a big deal to get a digital Calendar, called a PDA. Within a short time my First digital calendar gave way to a Palm Pilot, which gave way to a more sophisticated Palm Pilot, which eventually gave way to the Blackberry I use. My children liked to call me gadget guy.

      I want to tell you, that even though I like technology, I feel like I am light years behind so many people. I really know very little about the computer, about the internet, about MP3 players.

      The other day, I was visiting with Susan about the internet and communicating over the internet and I said to her, almost exasperated. “Susan, the world is changing so quickly. Our children are learning ways to communicate that we haven’t even thought about. How are you and I going to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ, in ten years, so people will hear it? Or are we going to become obsolete?”

      That is my fear. That I will fall so far behind in learning to communicate the gospel, that I will become obsolete.

      If you would ever ask me why learning and growing is important, for me it is important, because it helps me do my best for God. I believe that you and I need to develop and attitude, a willingness to learn for a lifetime, so that we can give our very best to God. Are you willing to develop an attitude of learning? Are you willing to change and grow?

      In our scripture for today, Timothy is reminded of where he has come from. You’ve been raised on the Message of faith and have followed sound teaching. He is reminded of where he roots are. If you and I are going to develop the habit of learning for a lifetime, it is important to understand where we come from. It is important to understand what our roots are. Not so that we get stuck there. But so that we can use them as a spring board to new learning’s, new growth, new faith for a new day.

      Sometimes, in the church anyway, we become afraid of change. We are afraid that if we embrace something new, that we will turn away from God. If we can remember our roots, if we can remember where we come from, then we can embrace those roots and allow them to launch us into the future.

      Let me give you an example. When this Church was built at this location. There were many people who were afraid to move here. At that time, it was the end of town. It was out of the way. The building and the land seemed to be much bigger than what was needed. There was a fear that if the move were to happen, something vital about being a small church right off the main drag would be lost.

      But many people embraced the vision that if we moved to this new location on the edge of town, God would do something new, something remarkable. They believed, (some of you believed) in that vision so much that several people took out a second mortgage on their home, they placed their trust in God and they moved out here.

      Now, 40 years later, we are full up in this building that has been added on to. Our forebears in the faith of this church, used the roots of our faith as a springboard into a new future. Becoming a lifelong learner, means being rooted in our tradition.

      Being a lifelong learner means that we are willing to share who we are and the gifts we are learning with others. Timothy, now pass on what you have learned to the followers of Jesus there, and you’ll be a good servant of Jesus. As a lifelong learner, we don’t learn for the sake of gaining knowledge and holding it as a private possession. We learn, so we can grow and be better. We learn, so we can contribute to the community and make our Church and our world a better place to live.

      I am reminded of a story of Brother Juniper who once asked St. Frances, “Teach me to preach as eloquently as you. I am not good with words.”

      “I will teach you to preach more eloquently than I,” said Francis. “Meet me tomorrow, and I shall teach you to preach.”

      Brother Juniper dutifully met Francis early the next morning. To Juniper’s surprise, they began walking. They walked through the marketplace, smiling at the laborers, the merchants, the children. They helped an old woman carry her wash up a set of stairs. They walked. Finally, an exasperated Brother Juniper asked, “Francis, when shall you teach me to preach?” Replied the saint, “Why, we are preaching.”

      St. Frances understood that our lives show the measure of faith by which we live and learn (and preach).

      Are you willing to let what you learn be seen? Are you willing to live and preach with your life, so others can see God in you?

       We live in a world of change. It is happening all around us. It is scary and it is real. We can ignore it. We can find a way to embrace it. The choice is really ours.

      For me, I want to take the advice that was given to Timothy. I want us to remember our roots and allow them to spring us into the future. A future where God is seen by who we are and how we live. Are you willing to let God be seen in you? Are you willing to become a lifelong learner?

      May God help us live lives of faith.

Amen