tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5985781812152918922024-03-04T23:18:58.572-08:00Fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Romans 12:2 MSGAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-44149880673217754742019-02-23T07:05:00.000-08:002019-02-23T07:05:03.558-08:00Loving Your Enemies<div>
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"Loving Your Enemies," Sermon Delivered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church</div>
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Author: King, Martin Luther, Jr.</div>
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Date: November 17, 1957</div>
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Location: Montgomery, Ala.</div>
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Genre: Sermon</div>
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Topic: </div>
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Martin Luther King, Jr. - Career in Ministry</div>
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Martin Luther King, Jr. - Political and Social Views</div>
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Nonviolence</div>
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A week prior to delivering this sermon at his church, King had given a similar version at Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel in Washington, D. C., at the conclusion of Howard University School of Religion’s Forty-first Annual Convocation.1 Using Matthew 5:43-45 as his text, King emphasizes that “hate for hate only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe. . . . The strong person is the person who can cut off the chain of hate, the chain of evil. . . . and inject within the very structure of the universe that strong and powerful element of love.” This transcript is taken from an audio recording.</div>
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I am forced to preach under something of a handicap this morning. In fact, I had the doctor before coming to church. And he said that it would be best for me to stay in the bed this morning. And I insisted that I would have to come to preach. So he allowed me to come out with one stipulation, and that is that I would not come in the pulpit until time to preach, and that after, that I would immediately go back home and get in the bed. So I’m going to try to follow his instructions from that point on.</div>
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I want to use as a subject from which to preach this morning a very familiar subject, and it is familiar to you because I have preached from this subject twice before to my knowing in this pulpit. I try to make it something of a custom or tradition to preach from this passage of Scripture at least once a year, adding new insights that I develop along the way, out of new experiences as I give these messages. Although the content is, the basic content is the same, new insights and new experiences naturally make for new illustrations.</div>
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So I want to turn your attention to this subject: “Loving Your Enemies.” It’s so basic to me because it is a part of my basic philosophical and theological orientation: the whole idea of love, the whole philosophy of love. In the fifth chapter of the gospel as recorded by Saint Matthew, we read these very arresting words flowing from the lips of our Lord and Master: “Ye have heard that it has been said, ‘Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.’ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.”2</div>
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Certainly these are great words, words lifted to cosmic proportions. And over the centuries, many persons have argued that this is an extremely difficult command. Many would go so far as to say that it just isn’t possible to move out into the actual practice of this glorious command. They would go on to say that this is just additional proof that Jesus was an impractical idealist who never quite came down to earth. So the arguments abound. But far from being an impractical idealist, Jesus has become the practical realist. The words of this text glitter in our eyes with a new urgency. Far from being the pious injunction of a utopian dreamer, this command is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization. Yes, it is love that will save our world and our civilization, love even for enemies.</div>
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Now let me hasten to say that Jesus was very serious when he gave this command; he wasn’t playing. He realized that it’s hard to love your enemies. He realized that it’s difficult to love those persons who seek to defeat you, those persons who say evil things about you. He realized that it was painfully hard, pressingly hard. But he wasn’t playing. And we cannot dismiss this passage as just another example of Oriental hyperbole, just a sort of exaggeration to get over the point. This is a basic philosophy of all that we hear coming from the lips of our Master. Because Jesus wasn’t playing; because he was serious. We have the Christian and moral responsibility to seek to discover the meaning of these words, and to discover how we can live out this command, and why we should live by this command.</div>
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Now first let us deal with this question, which is the practical question: How do you go about loving your enemies? I think the first thing is this: In order to love your enemies, you must begin by analyzing self. And I’m sure that seems strange to you, that I start out telling you this morning that you love your enemies by beginning with a look at self. It seems to me that that is the first and foremost way to come to an adequate discovery to the how of this situation. Now, I’m aware of the fact that some people will not like you, not because of something you have done to them, but they just won’t like you. I’m quite aware of that. Some people aren’t going to like the way you walk; some people aren’t going to like the way you talk. Some people aren’t going to like you because you can do your job better than they can do theirs. Some people aren’t going to like you because other people like you, and because you’re popular, and because you’re well-liked, they aren’t going to like you. Some people aren’t going to like you because your hair is a little shorter than theirs or your hair is a little longer than theirs. Some people aren’t going to like you because your skin is a little brighter than theirs; and others aren’t going to like you because your skin is a little darker than theirs. So that some people aren’t going to like you. They’re going to dislike you, not because of something that you’ve done to them, but because of various jealous reactions and other reactions that are so prevalent in human nature.</div>
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But after looking at these things and admitting these things, we must face the fact that an individual might dislike us because of something that we’ve done deep down in the past, some personality attribute that we possess, something that we’ve done deep down in the past and we’ve forgotten about it; but it was that something that aroused the hate response within the individual. That is why I say, begin with yourself. There might be something within you that arouses the tragic hate response in the other individual.</div>
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This is true in our international struggle. We look at the struggle, the ideological struggle between communism on the one hand and democracy on the other, and we see the struggle between America and Russia. Now certainly, we can never give our allegiance to the Russian way of life, to the communistic way of life, because communism is based on an ethical relativism and a metaphysical materialism that no Christian can accept. When we look at the methods of communism, a philosophy where somehow the end justifies the means, we cannot accept that because we believe as Christians that the end is pre-existent in the means. But in spite of all of the weaknesses and evils inherent in communism, we must at the same time see the weaknesses and evils within democracy.</div>
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Democracy is the greatest form of government to my mind that man has ever conceived, but the weakness is that we have never touched it. Isn’t it true that we have often taken necessities from the masses to give luxuries to the classes? Isn’t it true that we have often in our democracy trampled over individuals and races with the iron feet of oppression? Isn’t it true that through our Western powers we have perpetuated colonialism and imperialism? And all of these things must be taken under consideration as we look at Russia. We must face the fact that the rhythmic beat of the deep rumblings of discontent from Asia and Africa is at bottom a revolt against the imperialism and colonialism perpetuated by Western civilization all these many years. The success of communism in the world today is due to the failure of democracy to live up to the noble ideals and principles inherent in its system.</div>
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And this is what Jesus means when he said: “How is it that you can see the mote in your brother’s eye and not see the beam in your own eye?” Or to put it in Moffatt’s translation: “How is it that you see the splinter in your brother’s eye and fail to see the plank in your own eye?”3 And this is one of the tragedies of human nature. So we begin to love our enemies and love those persons that hate us whether in collective life or individual life by looking at ourselves.</div>
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A second thing that an individual must do in seeking to love his enemy is to discover the element of good in his enemy, and every time you begin to hate that person and think of hating that person, realize that there is some good there and look at those good points which will over-balance the bad points. I’ve said to you on many occasions that each of us is something of a schizophrenic personality. We’re split up and divided against ourselves. And there is something of a civil war going on within all of our lives. There is a recalcitrant South of our soul revolting against the North of our soul. And there is this continual struggle within the very structure of every individual life. There is something within all of us that causes us to cry out with Ovid, the Latin poet, “I see and approve the better things of life, but the evil things I do.”4 There is something within all of us that causes us to cry out with Plato that the human personality is like a charioteer with two headstrong horses, each wanting to go in different directions.5 There is something within each of us that causes us to cry out with Goethe, “There is enough stuff in me to make both a gentleman and a rogue.” There is something within each of us that causes us to cry out with Apostle Paul: “I see and approve the better things of life, but the evil things I do.” 6</div>
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So somehow the “isness” of our present nature is out of harmony with the eternal "oughtness" that forever confronts us. And this simply means this: That within the best of us, there is some evil, and within the worst of us, there is some good. When we come to see this, we take a different attitude toward individuals. The person who hates you most has some good in him; even the nation that hates you most has some good in it; even the race that hates you most has some good in it. And when you come to the point that you look in the face of every man and see deep down within him what religion calls “the image of God,” you begin to love him in spite of. No matter what he does, you see God’s image there. There is an element of goodness that he can never slough off. Discover the element of good in your enemy. And as you seek to hate him, find the center of goodness and place your attention there and you will take a new attitude.</div>
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Another way that you love your enemy is this: When the opportunity presents itself for you to defeat your enemy, that is the time which you must not do it. There will come a time, in many instances, when the person who hates you most, the person who has misused you most, the person who has gossiped about you most, the person who has spread false rumors about you most, there will come a time when you will have an opportunity to defeat that person. It might be in terms of a recommendation for a job; it might be in terms of helping that person to make some move in life. That’s the time you must do it. That is the meaning of love. In the final analysis, love is not this sentimental something that we talk about. It’s not merely an emotional something. Love is creative, understanding goodwill for all men. It is the refusal to defeat any individual. When you rise to the level of love, of its great beauty and power, you seek only to defeat evil systems. Individuals who happen to be caught up in that system, you love, but you seek to defeat the system.</div>
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The Greek language, as I’ve said so often before, is very powerful at this point. It comes to our aid beautifully in giving us the real meaning and depth of the whole philosophy of love. And I think it is quite apropos at this point, for you see the Greek language has three words for love, interestingly enough. It talks about love as eros. That’s one word for love. Eros is a sort of, aesthetic love. Plato talks about it a great deal in his Dialogues, a sort of yearning of the soul for the realm of the gods. And it’s come to us to be a sort of romantic love, though it’s a beautiful love. Everybody has experienced eros in all of its beauty when you find some individual that is attractive to you and that you pour out all of your like and your love on that individual. That is eros, you see, and it’s a powerful, beautiful love that is given to us through all of the beauty of literature; we read about it.</div>
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Then the Greek language talks about philia, and that’s another type of love that’s also beautiful. It is a sort of intimate affection between personal friends. And this is the type of love that you have for those persons that you’re friendly with, your intimate friends, or people that you call on the telephone and you go by to have dinner with, and your roommate in college and that type of thing. It’s a sort of reciprocal love. On this level, you like a person because that person likes you. You love on this level, because you are loved. You love on this level, because there’s something about the person you love that is likeable to you. This too is a beautiful love. You can communicate with a person; you have certain things in common; you like to do things together. This is philia.</div>
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The Greek language comes out with another word for love. It is the word agape, and agape is more than eros. Agape is more than philia. Agape is something of the understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill for all men. It is a love that seeks nothing in return. It is an overflowing love; it’s what theologians would call the love of God working in the lives of men. And when you rise to love on this level, you begin to love men, not because they are likeable, but because God loves them. You look at every man, and you love him because you know God loves him. And he might be the worst person you’ve ever seen. 7</div>
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And this is what Jesus means, I think, in this very passage when he says, “Love your enemy.” And it’s significant that he does not say, “Like your enemy.” Like is a sentimental something, an affectionate something. There are a lot of people that I find it difficult to like. I don’t like what they do to me. I don’t like what they say about me and other people. I don’t like their attitudes. I don’t like some of the things they’re doing. I don’t like them. But Jesus says love them. And love is greater than like. Love is understanding, redemptive goodwill for all men, so that you love everybody, because God loves them. You refuse to do anything that will defeat an individual, because you have agape in your soul. And here you come to the point that you love the individual who does the evil deed, while hating the deed that the person does. This is what Jesus means when he says, "Love your enemy." This is the way to do it. When the opportunity presents itself when you can defeat your enemy, you must not do it.</div>
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Now for the few moments left, let us move from the practical how to the theoretical why. It’s not only necessary to know how to go about loving your enemies, but also to go down into the question of why we should love our enemies. I think the first reason that we should love our enemies, and I think this was at the very center of Jesus’ thinking, is this: that hate for hate only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe. If I hit you and you hit me and I hit you back and you hit me back and go on, you see, that goes on ad infinitum. It just never ends. Somewhere somebody must have a little sense, and that’s the strong person. The strong person is the person who can cut off the chain of hate, the chain of evil. And that is the tragedy of hate, that it doesn’t cut it off. It only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe. Somebody must have religion enough and morality enough to cut it off and inject within the very structure of the universe that strong and powerful element of love.</div>
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I think I mentioned before that sometime ago my brother and I were driving one evening to Chattanooga, Tennessee, from Atlanta. He was driving the car. And for some reason the drivers were very discourteous that night. They didn’t dim their lights; hardly any driver that passed by dimmed his lights. And I remember very vividly, my brother A. D. looked over and in a tone of anger said: “I know what I’m going to do. The next car that comes along here and refuses to dim the lights, I’m going to fail to dim mine and pour them on in all of their power.” And I looked at him right quick and said: “Oh no, don’t do that. There’d be too much light on this highway, and it will end up in mutual destruction for all. Somebody got to have some sense on this highway.”</div>
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Somebody must have sense enough to dim the lights, and that is the trouble, isn’t it? That as all of the civilizations of the world move up the highway of history, so many civilizations, having looked at other civilizations that refused to dim the lights, and they decided to refuse to dim theirs. And Toynbee tells that out of the twenty-two civilizations that have risen up, all but about seven have found themselves in the junkheap of destruction. It is because civilizations fail to have sense enough to dim the lights.8 And if somebody doesn’t have sense enough to turn on the dim and beautiful and powerful lights of love in this world, the whole of our civilization will be plunged into the abyss of destruction. And we will all end up destroyed because nobody had any sense on the highway of history. Somewhere somebody must have some sense. Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a descending spiral, ultimately ending in destruction for all and everybody. Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love.</div>
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There’s another reason why you should love your enemies, and that is because hate distorts the personality of the hater. We usually think of what hate does for the individual hated or the individuals hated or the groups hated. But it is even more tragic, it is even more ruinous and injurious to the individual who hates. You just begin hating somebody, and you will begin to do irrational things. You can’t see straight when you hate. You can’t walk straight when you hate. You can’t stand upright. Your vision is distorted. There is nothing more tragic than to see an individual whose heart is filled with hate. He comes to the point that he becomes a pathological case. For the person who hates, you can stand up and see a person and that person can be beautiful, and you will call them ugly. For the person who hates, the beautiful becomes ugly and the ugly becomes beautiful. For the person who hates, the good becomes bad and the bad becomes good. For the person who hates, the true becomes false and the false becomes true. That’s what hate does. You can’t see right. The symbol of objectivity is lost. Hate destroys the very structure of the personality of the hater.</div>
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And this is why Jesus says hate, that you want to be integrated with yourself, and the way to be integrated with yourself is be sure that you meet every situation of life with an abounding love. Never hate, because it ends up in tragic, neurotic responses. 9Psychologists and psychiatrists are telling us today that the more we hate, the more we develop guilt feelings and we begin to subconsciously repress or consciously suppress certain emotions, and they all stack up in our subconscious selves and make for tragic, neurotic responses. And may this not be the neuroses of many individuals as they confront life that that is an element of hate there. And modern psychology is calling on us now to love. But long before modern psychology came into being, the world’s greatest psychologist who walked around the hills of Galilee told us to love. He looked at men and said: “Love your enemies; don’t hate anybody.” It’s not enough for us to hate your friends because—to to love your friends—because when you start hating anybody, it destroys the very center of your creative response to life and the universe; so love everybody. Hate at any point is a cancer that gnaws away at the very vital center of your life and your existence. It is like eroding acid that eats away the best and the objective center of your life. So Jesus says love, because hate destroys the hater as well as the hated.</div>
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Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. That’s why Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” Because if you hate your enemies, you have no way to redeem and to transform your enemies. But if you love your enemies, you will discover that at the very root of love is the power of redemption. You just keep loving people and keep loving them, even though they’re mistreating you. Here’s the person who is a neighbor, and this person is doing something wrong to you and all of that. Just keep being friendly to that person. Keep loving them. Don’t do anything to embarrass them. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with bitterness because they’re mad because you love them like that. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. “love your enemies.”</div>
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I think of one of the best examples of this. We all remember the great president of this United States, Abraham Lincoln—these United States rather. You remember when Abraham Lincoln was running for president of the United States, there was a man who ran all around the country talking about Lincoln. He said a lot of bad things about Lincoln, a lot of unkind things. And sometimes he would get to the point that he would even talk about his looks, saying, “You don’t want a tall, lanky, ignorant man like this as the president of the United States.” He went on and on and on and went around with that type of attitude and wrote about it. Finally, one day Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. And if you read the great biography of Lincoln, if you read the great works about him, you will discover that as every president comes to the point, he came to the point of having to choose a Cabinet.10 And then came the time for him to choose a Secretary of War. He looked across the nation, and decided to choose a man by the name of Mr. Stanton. And when Abraham Lincoln stood around his advisors and mentioned this fact, they said to him: “Mr. Lincoln, are you a fool? Do you know what Mr. [Edwin M.] Stanton has been saying about you? Do you know what he has done, tried to do to you? Do you know that he has tried to defeat you on every hand? Do you know that, Mr. Lincoln? Did you read all of those derogatory statements that he made about you?” Abraham Lincoln stood before the advisors around him and said: “Oh yes, I know about it. I read about it. I’ve heard him myself. But after looking over the country, I find that he is the best man for the job.”</div>
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Mr. Stanton did become Secretary of War, and a few months later, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. And if you go to Washington, you will discover that one of the greatest words or statements ever made by, about Abraham Lincoln was made about this man Stanton. And as Abraham Lincoln came to the end of his life, Stanton stood up and said: “Now he belongs to the ages.” And he made a beautiful statement concerning the character and the stature of this man. If Abraham Lincoln had hated Stanton, if Abraham Lincoln had answered everything Stanton said, Abraham Lincoln would have not transformed and redeemed Stanton. Stanton would have gone to his grave hating Lincoln, and Lincoln would have gone to his grave hating Stanton. But through the power of love Abraham Lincoln was able to redeem Stanton.</div>
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That’s it. There is a power in love that our world has not discovered yet. Jesus discovered it centuries ago. Mahatma Gandhi of India discovered it a few years ago, but most men and most women never discover it. For they believe in hitting for hitting; they believe in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; they believe in hating for hating; but Jesus comes to us and says, “This isn’t the way.”</div>
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And oh this morning, as I think of the fact that our world is in transition now. Our whole world is facing a revolution. Our nation is facing a revolution, our nation. One of the things that concerns me most is that in the midst of the revolution of the world and the midst of the revolution of this nation, that we will discover the meaning of Jesus’ words. History unfortunately leaves some people oppressed and some people oppressors. And there are three ways that individuals who are oppressed can deal with their oppression. One of them is to rise up against their oppressors with physical violence and corroding hatred. But oh this isn’t the way. For the danger and the weakness of this method is its futility. Violence creates many more social problems than it solves. And I’ve said, in so many instances, that as the Negro, in particular, and colored peoples all over the world struggle for freedom, if they succumb to the temptation of using violence in their struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and our chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos. Violence isn’t the way.</div>
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Another way is to acquiesce and to give in, to resign yourself to the oppression. Some people do that. They discover the difficulties of the wilderness moving into the promised land, and they would rather go back to the despots of Egypt because it’s difficult to get in the promised land. And so they resign themselves to the fate of oppression; they somehow acquiesce to this thing. But that too isn’t the way because non-cooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good.</div>
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But there is another way. And that is to organize mass non-violent resistance based on the principle of love. It seems to me that this is the only way as our eyes look to the future. As we look out across the years and across the generations, let us develop and move right here. We must discover the power of love, the power, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that we will be able to make of this old world a new world. We will be able to make men better. Love is the only way. Jesus discovered that.</div>
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Not only did Jesus discover it, even great military leaders discover that. One day as Napoleon came toward the end of his career and looked back across the years, the great Napoleon that at a very early age had all but conquered the world. He was not stopped until he became, till he moved out to the battle of Leipzig and then to Waterloo. But that same Napoleon one day stood back and looked across the years, and said: “Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have built great empires. But upon what did they depend? They depended upon force. But long ago Jesus started an empire that depended on love, and even to this day millions will die for him.”</div>
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Yes, I can see Jesus walking around the hills and the valleys of Palestine. And I can see him looking out at the Roman Empire with all of her fascinating and intricate military machinery. But in the midst of that, I can hear him saying: “I will not use this method. Neither will I hate the Roman Empire.” [Recording interrupted] [ . . .] just start marching. 11</div>
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And I’m proud to stand here in Dexter this morning and say that that army is still marching. It grew up from a group of eleven or twelve men to more than seven hundred million today. Because of the power and influence of the personality of this Christ, he was able to split history into A.D. and B.C. Because of his power, he was able to shake the hinges from the gates of the Roman Empire. And all around the world this morning, we can hear the glad echo of heaven ring: “Jesus shall reign wherever sun does his successive journeys run. His kingdom spreads from shore to shore, till moon shall wane and wax no more.”12</div>
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We can hear another chorus singing: “All hail the power of Jesus name.”</div>
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We can hear another chorus singing: “Hallelujah, hallelujah! He’s King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah, hallelujah!”</div>
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We can hear another choir singing: “In Christ there is no East or West. In Him no North or South, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide world.”13 This is the only way.</div>
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And our civilization must discover that. Individuals must discover that as they deal with other individuals. There is a little tree planted on a little hill and on that tree hangs the most influential character that ever came in this world. But never feel that that tree is a meaningless drama that took place on the stages of history. Oh no, it is a telescope through which we look out into the long vista of eternity, and see the love of God breaking forth into time. It is an eternal reminder to a power-drunk generation that love is the only way. It is an eternal reminder to a generation depending on nuclear and atomic energy, a generation depending on physical violence, that love is the only creative, redemptive, transforming power in the universe.</div>
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So this morning, as I look into your eyes, and into the eyes of all of my brothers in Alabama and all over America and over the world, I say to you, “I love you. I would rather die than hate you.” And I’m foolish enough to believe that through the power of this love somewhere, men of the most recalcitrant bent will be transformed. And then we will be in God’s kingdom. We will be able to matriculate into the university of eternal life because we had the power to love our enemies, to bless those persons that cursed us, to even decide to be good to those persons who hated us, and we even prayed for those persons who despitefully used us.</div>
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Oh God, help us in our lives and in all of our attitudes, to work out this controlling force of love, this controlling power that can solve every problem that we confront in all areas. Oh, we talk about politics; we talk about the problems facing our atomic civilization. Grant that all men will come together and discover that as we solve the crisis and solve these problems—the international problems, the problems of atomic energy, the problems of nuclear energy, and yes, even the race problem—let us join together in a great fellowship of love and bow down at the feet of Jesus. Give us this strong determination. In the name and spirit of this Christ, we pray. Amen.</div>
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1. King, “Love Your Enemies,” 10 November 1957. King also worked on a version of this sermon for the Journal Of Religious Thought; the reprint did not appear until 1970 (Journal of Religious Thought 27 [Summer Supplement 1970]: pp. 31-41).</div>
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2. Cf. Matthew 5:43-45.</div>
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3. Cf. Matthew 7:3 and Luke 6:41; see also James Moffatt, The Bible: A New Translation by James Moffatt (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1922).</div>
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4. Ovid, Metamorphoses, VII, 20: “I see and approve better things, but follow worse.”</div>
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5. Plato, The Phaedrus, part II.</div>
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6. King mistakenly repeats his paraphrase of Ovid. In the Howard University version of this sermon, he quoted Paul: “‘The good that I would I do not, and the evil that I would not, that I do”’ (Cf. Romans 7: 19).</div>
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7. Cf. Fosdick, On Being Fit to Live With: Sermons on Post-war Christianity (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1946), pp. 6-7.</div>
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8. Arnold Joseph Toynbee (1889-1975) was an English historian. In his Howard sermon King told the audience, “Oh, my friends, it may be that Western civilization will end up destroyed on the highway of history because we failed to dim our lights with the great light of love at the right time.”</div>
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9. When King delivered this sermon at Howard he invoked a 1927 essay by African-American sociologist E. Franklin Frazier, who wrote: “Southern white people afflicted with the Negro-complex show themselves incapable of performing certain social functions. They are, for instance, incapable of rendering just decisions when white and colored people are involved” (Frazier, “The Pathology of Race Prejudice,” Forum 77 [June 1927]: 856-862).</div>
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10. King likely refers to Benjamin Thomas’s Abraham Lincoln: A Biography (1952).</div>
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11. In his Howard sermon King said: “I am just going to use love as my ammunition, and I am going out and put on the breast-plate of righteousness and the whole armour of God and just start marching.”</div>
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12. King paraphrases Isaac Watts’s hymn “Jesus Shall Reign.”</div>
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13. King refers to the traditional hymn “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name,” and quotes verses from the “Hallelujah Chorus” of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” and from the Christian hymn “In Christ There is No East or West.”</div>
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Source: </div>
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MLKEC, INP, Martin Luther King, Jr. Estate Collection, In Private Hands, ET-1; Atl-5A & 5B</div>
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© Copyright Information</div>
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</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-60859886599374496242019-02-09T16:03:00.002-08:002019-02-09T16:03:23.590-08:00Raise a Hallelujah<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The write and pastor Eugene Peterson once wrote:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“The moment we say no to the world and yes to God, all of our problems are solved, all our questions answered, all our troubles over. Nothing can disturb the tranquility of the soul at peace with God. Nothing can interfere with the blessed assurance that all is well between me and my Savior. Nothing and no one can upset the enjoyable relationship that has been established by faith in Jesus. We Christians are among that privileged company of persons who don’t have accidents, who don’t have arguments with our spouses, who aren’t misunderstood by our peers, whose children do not disobey us. If any of those things should happen – a crushing doubt, a squall of anger, a desperate loneliness, an accident that puts us in the hospital, an argument that puts in the doghouse, a rebellion that puts us on the defensive, a misunderstanding that puts us in the wrong – it is a sign that something is wrong with our relationship with God. We have, consciously or unconsciously, retracted our yes to God; and God, impatient with our fickle faith, has gone off to take care of someone more deserving of his attention.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Is that what you believe? If it is, I have some incredibly good news for you. You are wrong. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To be told we are wrong is sometimes embarrassing and humiliating. We want to run and hide our heads in shame. But there are times when being wrong is a sudden and immediate relief. We can lift our heads with hope. No longer do we have to keep doggedly trying to do something that isn’t working.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the midst of being wrong…..misunderstanding God…..losing our way…..we can Raise A Hallelujah! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Raise A Hallelujah in the presence of our enemies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Raise A Hallelujah that is louder than our unbelief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Raise A Hallelujah in pain and suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Raise A Hallelujah with everything inside of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Raise A Hallelujah until darkness flees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Raise A Hallelujah in the middle of the mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://youtu.be/awkO61T6i0k" style="color: #954f72;">https://youtu.be/awkO61T6i0k</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">Forever thankful for God’s grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1f497d;">pc</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-42570936578660100232019-02-04T13:05:00.001-08:002019-02-04T13:05:39.902-08:00Purposeful Action<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Dallas Willard once said, “A disciple is a person who has decided that the most important thing in their life is to learn how to do what Jesus said to do.” I hear John Wayne’s comment alongside that</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…..</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.”</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Following </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus….doing</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> what Jesus does….has always been important…..and I would advocate that today this is of urgent importance. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Radical inclusivity does not take place because we try to be nicer people. It happens when we give ourselves to the exact ways that Jesus poured out life and love for all. No hesitation. Authentic. Compelling. Honest. Vulnerable. No holding back. Life and love for all. The call for the church to live this has never been more urgent.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The call to care for creation is not some idle hoped for fairy tale. What we do with our planet – the resources that </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">we’ve</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> been blessed with – the mess that we leave behind – deeply matters. Tend to it…nurture it….grow and multiply it…leave it better than you found </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">it</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. The generations are to </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">be blessed</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> because of how we lived and </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">for </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">that which we cared for and shared. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">We are apprentices of the one who showed us HOW to LIVE. We are called to live….truly live! Saddle up. Set your minds on the most important things….Jesus is still calling today.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-37646369731701307972019-01-30T10:16:00.003-08:002019-01-30T10:25:30.674-08:00SOULS<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=598578181215291892" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
We all have them. <br />
<br />
Seattle souls.<br />
<br />
Suburbia souls.<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=598578181215291892" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><br />Farm country souls.<br /><br />Young souls and old souls.<br /><br />Where are they going? <br /><br />What do they yearn for?<br /><br />Can we lose them?<br /><br />Are they fit to be tied or mangled with minutia?<br /><br />Who are you? Who are we?<br /><br />Interesting...boring...?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />Simply…..souls.<br /><br />On the mountains and in the valleys.<br /><br />Souls….and prayer.<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=598578181215291892" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1QypagcxOYwSbPM-ibQ_irQrBgg6t_o-BVUYfVa0IALSLnJVnNSDFq-RLqcYDQzxwGS7tkRHwh1brVO5OdRaGdJo_Nmufd_XlGJSIO2yYRvip5xtdyGCrDyUG8WEhBzSH585-RAoVsKn/s1600/BOAT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="960" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1QypagcxOYwSbPM-ibQ_irQrBgg6t_o-BVUYfVa0IALSLnJVnNSDFq-RLqcYDQzxwGS7tkRHwh1brVO5OdRaGdJo_Nmufd_XlGJSIO2yYRvip5xtdyGCrDyUG8WEhBzSH585-RAoVsKn/s320/BOAT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-61070957228129754002019-01-22T18:52:00.000-08:002019-01-22T18:53:41.702-08:00CONNECTIONS<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Today Merritt stayed home from school with the crud. Susan is sick too. When I took the kids to school Holland stopped before jumping out to say with tears in her eyes, “but daddy Merritt and I always play together on the playground and I will miss him so much today.” Yes they are in different classrooms with different friends but the playground is their time to reconnect and celebrate their twin connection. Where is your playground and who do you love to connect to there? May the tears in your eyes and the smile on your face remind you of those important life connections.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4Vl4L5QG0-QNdYNHrzzsWqN69V6HTH2sy4UOIPqhhLqWFd1r8cwC1nTd2PoAcFo1OLREK5N_gF-V6_H3M_pY0J2Hso_i3Ge5IRDjzCIAe7EwufKSCIY05Lnvj3P5NBb_rNqBpVCPdDCU/s1600/chad+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4Vl4L5QG0-QNdYNHrzzsWqN69V6HTH2sy4UOIPqhhLqWFd1r8cwC1nTd2PoAcFo1OLREK5N_gF-V6_H3M_pY0J2Hso_i3Ge5IRDjzCIAe7EwufKSCIY05Lnvj3P5NBb_rNqBpVCPdDCU/s400/chad+kids.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-10430147413338103282019-01-22T18:44:00.001-08:002019-01-22T18:55:10.129-08:00YOU CAN BE OF SERVICE<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; margin: 0px;">A powerful reflection from David Cole on this MLK Day
2019. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #365899; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;"></span></span><br />
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<div style="line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 2px; vertical-align: middle;">
<b><span style="color: #616770; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/david.l.cole.12?__tn__=%2CdC-R-R&eid=ARC_GPExWO1IGYESlxWmTpB0RDz5WZJ4ePzb-v861Yd36EHDe7sCs4AlF-PqoS3xw1NoS6YnwaTyl60H&hc_ref=ART128en1FDIs1zSbTtxgeGg4qyUgbKDGHMpc-hnL7IKd1F0qcUVOaUHuiG0NYJZcYY&fref=nf"><span style="color: #365899; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">David L. Cole</span></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #90949c; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159994285070089&set=a.10150289570350089&type=3"><span style="color: #616770; margin: 0px; text-decoration: none;">January 15, 2018</span></a></span><span style="color: #616770; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px;"> · </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">He was a lifelong depressive, having first attempted
suicide before10. Although he graduated with a Doctorate before 30, he didn't
get hired as a Dean of Students at Xavier U., because he "didn't have the
qualities of a leader". Friends and family dissuaded his relationship with
his white girlfriend because stuff like that could get a black man hanged. He
smoked like a chimney, and could play pool till dawn--much to the displeasure
of his father with whom he argued over his life's direction.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 6px 0px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">From ages 26
to 39 he led a public life while he continued to struggle personally. He was
picked to lead the Montgomery boycott largely because he was new in town. He
turned down an enriching book and speaking deal early on and would die with
$5000 to his family's name. Drama at his church. Strain in the marriage. Hated
by as many who loved him...and the realization that he would likely not see 40.
He did not see 40.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 6px 0px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Martin
Luther King, Jr, is a hero not because he was brilliant, but because he decided
to say yes to things that benefitted others more than it would him. it. He is
great not because of some inaccessible quality, but because he decided that
GIVING was as important as having. Imagine if he'd stayed in Boston married
that girlfriend and became the academic. Imagine if he had taken that HUGE
book/speaking deal rather than march on. Imagine if he let his depression take
him. Imagine if he thought more about him less about us. Many of us don't have
to Imagine because we do it all the time.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 6px 0px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Let's do
this--this year as we mark 50 years since this flawed, BEAUTIFUL man was killed
fighting for you (and if you want a more perfect union, he was fighting for
you), let's take him down from the rarified air of worship. Let's ground him to
the foundation of example. Let's do what he did--work for a better world. You
don't have to go broke or risk your life--don't worry. But speaking Truth to
power, resisting intolerance, seeking and promoting solutions, and wait for
it...ACTIVELY LOVING EACH OTHER is a pretty good start.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 6px 0px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">My mother
used to keep a picture of King next to a pictures of her grandmother and me.
When at five I asked who he was she calmly said, "He is what Mama told me
we all should be--a light and help onto others." She said he worked to
make my life easier in a hard world and one day I will get to do the same
"in big ways or small--it don't matter, as long as you do something for
somebody". Frankly, I thought the cat was my uncle, but the idea that I
could be of service (and we SHOULD all be of service) never left. Imagine our
world, filled with people living those truths: We should be of service. You can
be of service.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.5pt; margin: 6px 0px 0px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; margin: 0px;">Brother Martin. Thank you for your example of stepping
up despite the twists, despite the storms. More than ever, we need to DO what
you and countless others have done to conquer the darkness. Rest easy, we'll
take it from here.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFKwdm1WuferEDEUrdHIv7ilJxCnMZW-DHyFXXGC04Ak2aBruOGEoeECeX08GJieuL2DCfRptlqz9IPi6EJ9P1oVRZbDA_rxO9hCtwQrEoc3oIEYXYjoc5h5Jc7utxpTuPQt4cyoyitkI/s1600/MLK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="956" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFKwdm1WuferEDEUrdHIv7ilJxCnMZW-DHyFXXGC04Ak2aBruOGEoeECeX08GJieuL2DCfRptlqz9IPi6EJ9P1oVRZbDA_rxO9hCtwQrEoc3oIEYXYjoc5h5Jc7utxpTuPQt4cyoyitkI/s320/MLK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We all got some serving to do.
Let’s get on with it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">pc</span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-37167728643163018782019-01-14T08:00:00.000-08:002019-01-14T08:00:06.189-08:00God's Got This!<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Have you ever heard that phrase?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Has someone spoken this directly to you in
the midst of a struggle that you were enduring?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Have you ever wondered if that statement is really true? </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I mean if it is, then why were things not fixed or healed up
or accomplished in the way that you wanted?<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>If God really had IT handled, then why do so many things seem so far
outside of our control?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I admit that I heard this phrase repeated many times over
throughout my life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When dad nearly died
when being hit by a drunk driver, when my mom was dying from brain cancer, when
my grandma was slipping away with alzheimers, when my uncle was diagnosed with
ms, when we were going through our difficult adoption processes, when the
Columbine shootings affected those that we loved, when our Haitian family lost
property and lives in the earthquake, when Susan lost a job.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We heard these words, “God’s Got This,” when
our friends lost their jobs, when divorces happened, when unexplainable
tragedies impacted their lives, when wars broke out and towers came tumbling
down and lives were forever changed. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’ve heard these words in the hushed tones
spoken at funerals and memorial services.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I’ve heard these words spoken aloud when new opportunities emerged
through the midst of loss, when new love was discovered after a time of
hopelessness, when new seasons and new insights were discovered.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God’s Got This!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I think this phrase was planted deep in my soul in my
childhood years as we stood in the midst of a rural congregation and sang loud
and proud, “God’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You too know that song well.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">God’s Got This.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God’s
Got This.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God’s Got This.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">What is THIS?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
THIS is not the situation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The THIS is
not the circumstance in which you find yourself. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The THIS is YOU!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">God’s Got YOU!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God’s
Got YOU!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God’s Got YOU!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">And YOU live in the midst of a messy world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You live in the midst of the out of
control.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>You live with the challenges
and the hurts and the sickness, unemployment, broken relationships, and
chaos.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And it’s there in the midst of
your THIS that GOD’s GOT YOU!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That is
God’s promise.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And that Church is Call
for Celebration!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This Good News Changes
our Lives!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We hear in the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 3, of the Baptism of
Jesus.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Jesus, down in the river Jordan,
was given a promise.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Holy Spirit did
not descend upon the situation – the issue – the concerns that Jesus would
face.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Holy Spirit descended upon
Him!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Holy Spirit entered his
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Why?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Because God’s Got Him!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God Holds Him!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God will Raise Him!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Did the Holy Spirit save Jesus from hardship, temptation, suffering,
and distress?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Did the Holy Spirit make his life
easier?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Was the Holy Spirit of God with Jesus in
every moment of every passing day.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Yes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Was that Holy Spirit there
on the Cross?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Was the Holy Spirit there in the cold dark
tomb raising him to life?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ahhhhhhhhh……..that’s why we can say with
faith conviction…..God’s Got This!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God’s
Got Him and God’s Got You!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is great
news!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is humbling news.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is hopeful news.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The writer of Isaiah 43 reminds us……God redeems, God calls,
and God promises to be with us through it all.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Redeemed from the pit….from despair and depression…from pain and
loss….from our mistakes and accidents…..redeemed from the beautiful mess called
us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Called….called to live by faith and
not by sight…called like Peter to step out of the boat and take on new
challenges….called to fully live life and pour out our lives so that others too
can experience life in all its beauty and splendor….called to never throw in
the towel and quit but to be empty tomb people in the midst of every
situation…the call of life is to live in the light of the resurrection.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All while living as redeemed and called
people….never forgetting who holds us and shapes us and refines us….God with us
through it all.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This redemption, call, and promise that we see in Isaiah and
see in the Baptism of Jesus, reminds me of the character Joshua in the
Bible.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The whole book is a powerful
read.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is filled with every dynamic of
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Many of the things we wish were
not part of the human ordeal and many of the parts that we also enjoy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>If you have never read Joshua, pick up your
Bibles this week and give it a read and see how God speaks to you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">In Chapter One we hear how Joshua is commissioned to takes
the reigns of leadership after Moses has died.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He is reminded that God promises to Moses still are intact and now given
to Joshua.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The Lord promises that he
will be with him and that God will not fail him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Over and over again he is told, “Be strong
and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, the Lord your God is with you
wherever you go.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Powerful words.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Maybe we need to hear that more in our lives
as well.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“Be strong and courageous; the
Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>A shorter version of that:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“God’s
Got THIS – God’s Got YOU!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The ensuing pages are filled with everything that life can
throw at a person.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the midst of the
challenges, Joshua stays the course, he holds onto the promise.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We get to Chapter 24 where Joshua’s life is coming to a
close.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On those pages we read of how the
Tribes all renewed with Joshua the same covenant God had given to him and to
Moses.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We read of God’s generosity, of
God’s leadership in their lives.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Then we
get to verse 14 and following:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #010000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">“Now therefore revere the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness;
put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and
serve the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #010000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Now if you are unwilling to serve the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>, choose this day whom you
will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the
River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me
and my household, we will serve the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>.” Then the people answered, “Far be it from us
that we should forsake the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>
to serve other gods; for it is the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span> our God who brought us and our ancestors up from
the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs
in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the
peoples through whom we passed; and the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span> drove out before us all the peoples, the
Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>, for he is
our God.” But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>, for he is a holy God. He is
a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you
forsake the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>
and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you,
after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, we will serve
the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>!”
Then Joshua said to the people, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you
have chosen the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>,
to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.” He said, “Then put away the
foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>, the God of Israel.” The
people said to Joshua, “The <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>
our God we will serve, and him we will obey.” So Joshua made a covenant with
the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a large
stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>. Joshua said
to all the people, “See, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has
heard all the words of the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>
that he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, if you deal
falsely with your God.” So Joshua sent the people away to their inheritances. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #010000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">After these things Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>, died, being
one hundred ten years old. They buried him in his own inheritance at
Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
Israel served the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>
all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and
had known all the work that the <span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps; margin: 0px;">Lord</span></span>
did for Israel. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #010000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">We are witnesses to this same faith and same promise of
God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Over and over the words jump off
the page:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“God’s Got THIS!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“God’s Got YOU!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So……All of YOU……US Together…..no matter what
the world seeks to throw at us or whatever the challenges to come may be, “Be
strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is
with you wherever you go!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
Israelites were Redeemed, Called, and God was ever present.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For Moses and Joshua the same was true.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Dare I say, I believe it is true for us as
well.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #010000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">A vision was birthed through the challenges the Israelites
faced.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The vision: “All the days of our
lives we will serve the Lord!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And they
did.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Never perfectly, but
faithfully.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And it wasn’t easy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #010000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Hear today, “You are God’s kids……God loves you….God is proud of
you!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Trust the promise: “God’s Got
THIS…..whatever your THIS is…..because God’s Got YOU!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #010000; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Pastor Chad </span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-57779302179941881412018-11-19T12:13:00.003-08:002018-11-19T12:16:34.375-08:00Faith Responsiveness in a Turbulent World<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
vision and voice of Martin Luther King Jr. is as needed today as ever.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He led with passion and purpose in taking on
systemic racism and blatant injustice.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>He was battered and beaten down but he never quit.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He had his eyes set on a vision worth giving
his life to.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
the midst of our world’s turbulent dysfunction, his principles of nonviolence
and steps for nonviolent social change can lead the way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The key is getting folks to gather at table
and map a future together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A
lie of this world is that we can be totally independent from one another and to
hell with the rest.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That does not work
and it has never worked.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We need each
other.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We need to walk together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We need to work together in creating a better
world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Demeaning, dismissing, and ostracizing
the other – no matter the other – leads to separation and loss.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Working together, building each other up,
listening deeply and then diving in to work hand in hand will lead to life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On
this week of Thanksgiving, for which there is so much to be grateful and yet so
much to work for, I offer these words from the King Center website. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SIX PRINCIPLES OF
NONVIOLENCE</span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fundamental tenets of Dr.
King’s philosophy of nonviolence described in his first book, <i>Stride Toward
Freedom</i>. The six principles include:</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">PRINCIPLE ONE: Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous
people.</span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 11px -10px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is active nonviolent resistance to evil. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 11px -10px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is aggressive spiritually, mentally and emotionally. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">PRINCIPLE TWO: Nonviolence seeks to win friendship and
understanding.</span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 11px -10px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The end result of nonviolence is redemption and
reconciliation. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 11px -10px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved
Community. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">PRINCIPLE THREE: Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice not
people.</span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nonviolence recognizes that evildoers are also victims and are
not evil people. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 11px -10px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nonviolent resister seeks to defeat evil not people.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">PRINCIPLE FOUR: Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and
transform.</span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nonviolence accepts suffering without retaliation. </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 11px -10px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unearned suffering is redemptive and has tremendous educational
and transforming possibilities. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">PRINCIPLE FIVE: Nonviolence chooses love instead of hate.</span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 11px -10px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the
body. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 11px -10px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nonviolent love is spontaneous, unmotivated, unselfish and
creative. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">PRINCIPLE SIX: Nonviolence believes that the universe is on the
side of justice.</span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 11px -10px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The nonviolent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually
win. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 16.5pt; margin: 0px 0px 11px -10px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nonviolence believes that God is a God of justice. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="sub3"></a><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SIX
STEPS OF NONVIOLENT SOCIAL CHANGE</span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Six Steps for
Nonviolent Social Change are based on Dr. King's nonviolent campaigns and
teachings that emphasize love in action. Dr. King's philosophy of nonviolence,
as reviewed in the Six Principles of Nonviolence, guide these steps for social
and interpersonal change.</span></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: 13.4pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">INFORMATION GATHERING:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">To understand and articulate an issue, problem or injustice
facing a person, community, or institution you must do research. You must
investigate and gather all vital information from all sides of the argument or
issue so as to increase your understanding of the problem. You must become an
expert on your opponent's position. </span></span><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 13.4pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">EDUCATION:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">It is essential to inform others, including your opposition,
about your issue. This minimizes misunderstandings and gains you support and
sympathy. </span></span><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 13.4pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">PERSONAL COMMITMENT:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">Daily check and affirm your faith in the philosophy and methods
of nonviolence. Eliminate hidden motives and prepare yourself to accept
suffering, if necessary, in your work for justice.</span></span><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 13.4pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">DISCUSSION/NEGOTIATION:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">Using grace, humor and intelligence, confront the other party
with a list of injustices and a plan for addressing and resolving these
injustices. Look for what is positive in every action and statement the
opposition makes. Do not seek to humiliate the opponent but to call forth the
good in the opponent. </span></span><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 13.4pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">DIRECT ACTION: </span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">These are actions taken
when the opponent is unwilling to enter into, or remain in,
discussion/negotiation. These actions impose a "creative tension"
into the conflict, supplying moral pressure on your opponent to work with you
in resolving the injustice. </span></span><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 13.4pt; margin: 0px 0px 0px -10px; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a6a8ab; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">RECONCILIATION:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;">Nonviolence seeks friendship and understanding with the opponent.
Nonviolence does not seek to defeat the opponent. Nonviolence is directed
against evil systems, forces, oppressive policies, unjust acts, but not against
persons. Through reasoned compromise, both sides resolve the injustice with a
plan of action. Each act of reconciliation is one step closer to the 'Beloved
Community.' </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<i><span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Based on Martin Luther
King, Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in Why We Can't Wait,
Penguin Books, 1963.</span></span></i></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="color: #444444; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We often view the Six
Steps as a phases or cycles of a campaign rather than steps because each of
them embodies a cluster or series of activities related to each of the other
five elements.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The above cited from the King Center website.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.thekingcenter.org/king-philosophy?fbclid=IwAR1TGUVldmpHk_zyFjCBjUEfMdEbSHdc-WHEKr4mf4DiUCQrO73RYtFzLmA"><span style="color: #0563c1;">http://www.thekingcenter.org/king-philosophy?fbclid=IwAR1TGUVldmpHk_zyFjCBjUEfMdEbSHdc-WHEKr4mf4DiUCQrO73RYtFzLmA</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May we the church, through nonviolence, create a Beloved
Community for the sake of all!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In
Gratitude for all those who pour out their lives in service to humanity and all
of creation.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pastor Chad </span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-68729209531073528662018-11-16T14:31:00.002-08:002018-11-16T14:35:01.795-08:00A Hive of Endless Thanksgiving<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We the church are a Hive of endless thanksgiving - each and
everyone here gathered into community where all are blessed and all are
fed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Take a moment and just consider the activity that buzzes
around this place of Grace.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is an
unfolding work that takes place every day that in turn builds up the life of
the body.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Each person – each ministry –
each mission – creatively working together.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Moment by moment – person by person – the Hive generates life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It is God at work within us that makes this possible.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God picking us up – God giving us faith – God
growing perseverance – God making something of us for the sake of the
world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&blogID=598578181215291892" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">One of the songs by U2 and Bono that I love is a song
entitled “40.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is written as a Song
of Thanksgiving - <span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XzHlySYR_Y"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XzHlySYR_Y</span></a></span>.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As you listen what hope and life is grown within
you?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What are you and we most thankful
for?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Great questions to consider as we
gather around tables this Thanksgiving.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Thanksgiving is an extra special time in our home.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For the last twelve years it seems there has
always been an international ministry focus that has blessed us during that
week.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Several of those years filled with
travel to India to accompany ministry partners in the outreach and compassion
work of Titus and his family.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In India,
Feed the Hungry programs, Aids Relief Nutrition Food Packet Distribution,
Sewing Center Graduation Blessings and Dedication, After School Tutoring
Programs, Worship and Dance, time spent exploring the World Religions and their
Holy Sites, learning about Gandhi and the way of peace, and shared inspiration
while visiting the Taj Mahal.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All of it
blessed because of the shared time as God’s family and friends.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Another year spent in Ethiopia and South
Sudan dedicating the work of the ELCA and Reconciliation Lutheran Church and
Medical Center.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In 2015, traveling home
on Thanksgiving Day with our daughter Jewel.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We landed at Washington Dulles at 8 am, her papers stamped by US Customs
as a future US Citizen, and landing in Denver to a joyous homecoming and first
ever turkey dinner.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Oh the memories of
this time of the year are rich with so much life transformation and
blessing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This Thanksgiving Day, after a
banquet with our family here, Susan and I will be flying to India that evening
to preside over the wedding of our Indian daughter Maraline.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We have watched her grow up and we now get to
participate in a joyous occasion of her life.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>What a precious and thank-filled time!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Hive called the
Church has been the collaborative swarm that has made all of this life
possible.</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&blogID=598578181215291892" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCb9dmvWZlluGtc6YIGZKHR2DTkZZ_Toq0aXtAjQ9cmfQ90IPLi-kUs2fWGTfoDhtUFjfaTfNk1NC1eRVdlIlBsUxs8VGwA82Ors_c6Z2SOO_6OSWxPL7N2YWT3PHNbAuJaqFyFnzV2CS/s1600/hive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCb9dmvWZlluGtc6YIGZKHR2DTkZZ_Toq0aXtAjQ9cmfQ90IPLi-kUs2fWGTfoDhtUFjfaTfNk1NC1eRVdlIlBsUxs8VGwA82Ors_c6Z2SOO_6OSWxPL7N2YWT3PHNbAuJaqFyFnzV2CS/s320/hive.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">(this
pic taken at the Glass Museum in Tacoma – it gave me the idea of the Hive and
the Church)</span></span></b></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I hold
this very idea of the beautiful work of the church in the world in tension with
an article I read this past week.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
article was published by the New York Times and the title is: <span style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;">‘Toxic’ Is Oxford’s Word of the Year. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>No, We’re Not Gaslighting You.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Here is the link:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://apple.news/ACe1Es1KNSKW0FDKq2_ktfA"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://apple.news/ACe1Es1KNSKW0FDKq2_ktfA</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;">.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?rinli=1&blogID=598578181215291892" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Toxic?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The word of the year?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While I understand the dynamics out of which
this word was chosen I simply refuse to accept this as the core narrative out
of which we live.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes it is part of our
human experience.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes it seems that a
toxicity has infiltrated so many aspects of our lives, but there is so much
more!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I admit that I do not know how to
live by the conditions and terms of a toxic world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are made for so much more than that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I also get to participate in the work of the
local church where I see and know the stories of thanksgiving and generosity
that are leading the ways of our life.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The swarm of the disciples of Jesus are seeking to make an impact and to
take on the ills and broken places of this world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The energy and spirit is there to do it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The compassion and faith to do it is alive
and well in God’s people.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we see
the heartbeat of God alive within the Hives of the church we celebrate it.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We shout it from the rooftops.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We draw others into the blessed work of being
the church.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We catalyze one another and
the entire body for blessing.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<span style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">One
example at Grace is that the hungry are being fed and provided for, the systems
of injustice that keep people poor and hungry are being addressed, the
resources needed are being given, the network of partnerships are being
continually knit together, stories of transformation are being told, and others
are being drawn into this good work.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Little by little, day by day, person by person, the hive is nurtured and
lives are being changed.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<span style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Toxic
will get us nowhere.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A Hive of endless
Thanksgiving will generate life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What
will you and I dedicate our lives to this Thanksgiving Season?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whatever you are rejoicing over, I rejoice
with you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whatever you are weeping over,
I weep with you.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>May we be open to the
story of life that God is writing with us – right here – right now – for the
life of ALL!</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<span style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">With
Gratitude,</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Pastor
Chad<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0px 0px 16px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-82059169672539157652018-11-05T15:02:00.000-08:002018-11-05T15:04:15.452-08:00A Charmed Life? and the Aha’s of God’s Grace!<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">On Sunday, two of our daughters were
blessed to attend the Birthday Party of some dear friends here at Grace.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>While they were in the midst of their fun, I
drove the side roads of the surrounding area, took in the sights and sounds of
the beautiful hillsides, and stopped by Elliot Bay Brewing to read a book.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The next two hours rushed by as I viewed one
TV with three different games playing on the screen, two TV’s with the Seahawks
game, and two additional TV’s with the Sounders soccer game.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All while, music from the 70’s and 80’s
played over the loud speakers.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I was
able to get through about 100 pages and jot down some journal thoughts on life as
well but by the end of two hours I was tapped out with the noise and activity around
me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>On the drive home thoughts of the
last week flooded my brain as our daughter’s shared their love and laughter
with me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I love when the spirit moves and the
right words seem to just flow out from the mouths of babes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>There is innocence – wonder – and
surprise!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our daughter Norah, while
sitting at the dinner table, with her inquisitive mind whirring, stated boldly,
“we all need each other!”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes, yes we
do!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">She went on to articulate how the grocery
store depends on the ice cream maker to make the ice cream and that the ice
cream maker relies upon the farmer and the cows and that they all depend upon
the truck drivers and that we all need jobs in order to have the money to buy
the ice cream that makes it possible for everyone to experience life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whew!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We went on to add several more links in the chain, which brought even
more laughter to the table.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We need to remember, “We need each
other.”<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Life is not meant to be lived
alone or in isolation.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Life is not a
pull yourself up by the bootstraps and hope for the best exercise.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Life is not about a declaration of independence
but rather a humble and vulnerable experience of grace.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are interdependent.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We need each other.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We need God.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We need grace.</span></div>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">I saw this quote this week and it grabbed
me by the gut.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>"There is no culture
that can fully keep out the descent of God. And when God comes, stuff
happens." -Dr. Esther Meek, in conversation with Chelle Stearns and Dan
Allender at the Stanley Grenz Lecture Series.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In the midst of our human madness, God
comes here and stuff happens.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is the
experience of grace that keeps us going.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>It is the shared experience of grace that draws us together.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is the never throw in the towel spirit of
God that changes us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How often we forget
that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How often we rebel and desire to
go it alone.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How often O Lord have we
missed the grace amongst us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">In our family’s recent journeys of
endings and beginnings, several who have gotten to know us have stated how it
seems that we live quite the charmed life.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Each time that the words were stated I busted out in a fit of
laughter.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Yes, we are surrounded with
much joy and grace AND we are no picnic of perfection.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the midst of the madness called US, we try
as much as we can to choose joy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Not
always easy and we often miss the mark.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Try riding in a mini-van of madness with
our five and you will soon discover that it is close to an experience like the
movie A Night at the Museum.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>All hell
breaks loose early and often.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When we
arrive at our destination, it takes a good five minutes for mom and dad to
compose ourselves.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">The pace of life for a family of seven is
intense.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We spin the plates called
homework, housecleaning, laundry, dishes, arts and crafts, a home based
business, a pastor, lawn and garden, fish and a favored dog, bedroom messes
galore, after school activities, and the making of family memories – and
sometimes the plates come crashing down.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>We stopped buying glass dishes and are into cheap but durable.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The crashing of the plates seems a bit more
bearable that way.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the midst of the
hive of busyness, there is grace.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Our oldest really struggles in
school.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Academically yes.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Relationally even more so.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The daily rodeo of bull riding for her is
going to be a challenge.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our prayers a
bit longer and yes a bit more intense.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Recommendations are helpful and the list of decisions to make is
long.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Which pathway do we take O
Lord?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sometimes those school fights come
home to our doorstep and they spill into the evening of relating to one
another.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Where did I put my zebra
striped shirt and whistle?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wait, I can’t
whistle because our dog barks and freaks out to that blowing sound.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The last thing we need is more barking.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Sometimes one of our littles will climb up on
one of our laps and offer up suggestions on how we failed as parents and how we
can do better tomorrow.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Ahhh, to be
understood and corrected at the same time.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Keep spinning, and transforming, and moving forward.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Leaving friends and family behind in our
moves, it bites.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Having two mortgages
the past seven months is dizzying.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I tip
my hat to those who can manage two homes with grace.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>For us it is stressful.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Feeling angry comes easy.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The first week of every month I find myself a
bit grumpy and a little less willing to laugh.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>As the month progresses I sing “Let It Go” on repeat and de-ice a bit
with each passing day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Just as I begin
to emotionally regulate that all is well the first of another month rolls
around.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My joke of owning a vacation
farm home in a county without a natural lake doesn’t tickle my fancy as
much.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This financial stuff has long-term
consequences on our kid’s future education choices and on our ability to be a
blessing to others in the here and now.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The good news is we can cover the bases and that certainly means we are
spoiled.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We live in an area of
increasing homelessness.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Folks sleep on
our church floor each night because they have no place else to lay their heads.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That reality smacks us in the face every
day.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The old adage of focus on what you
can control and let go of that which you cannot crosses my brain daily just
like the old Good Year blimp crossing the field with an advertising banner
during the holidays.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Okay, I will
remember – I will remember – I will remember – and I keep telling myself
that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Family and friends dealing with physical
and medical challenges, Parkinson’s disease, a heart attack, home health care,
pregnancy struggles, cancers, retirements, college funding, relationship hurts
and hopes, and the list is endless.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The
world continues to spin.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>New Life. Life
Struggles.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Transformed Life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>End of life.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Parts of our life are charmed.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>All parts of our life are graced.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Can we see and hold on to that?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">We all need each other!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We all need God.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the silent, momentary, laughter-filled,
stress-induced, pauses of each day I want to remember that.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Will you remember that with me?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Will we each remind others all along life’s
way that God’s grace is here – in the place we find ourselves – wherever that
place may be?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Little by little the bird builds the
nest.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>One little offering at a
time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Onward,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">pc</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-82787479156002222912018-11-01T16:08:00.002-07:002018-11-01T16:09:36.594-07:00Living Saints<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A few years back I was traveling in Tennessee and ended up
one night at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>With a bit of luck I ended up with a ticket to the evening show.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is the longest running live radio show in
America.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As part of the entrance fee, we
got a backstage tour and got to stand on the stage and hold the mic that most
sing from.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was pretty cool to stand
where so many have stood and performed their greatest life’s work.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Later that evening, Randy Owen came on stage.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He was the lead for the band Alabama.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I remember listening to his music as a young
man and would often run the section with his tape playing in my
headphones.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That evening the Grand Ole
Opry was raising funds for St. Judes Children’s Hospital.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Randy, through his band and his life’s work,
had spearheaded an effort that has raised over 400 million for this work.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>So he talked about that blessing and then he
brought his children and their children on to the stage.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And then, two children who were patients from
St. Judes came forward and stood with him as they all sang together, Angels
Among Us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This was one of my childhood
favorite songs of Alabama. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">It was powerful.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Tears streamed down my face as my mind ran like a motion picture of
those heavenly saints and angels who have gone on before us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The earthly saints and angels danced in my
mind as I thought of how they continue to teach us to live, pray, give, and
guide with the light of love.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Take a moment today to watch this video and reflect on the
Saints both in heaven and on earth.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Our call to action??????<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Be
living saints with the life that we have been given!</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_4Xfj2LRSA"><span style="color: #0563c1;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_4Xfj2LRSA</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Peace and Hope</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Pastor Chad </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 10.66px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-76708365910792571162018-10-23T15:50:00.001-07:002018-11-01T16:11:24.817-07:00REFLECTIVE NATURE<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">After the flurry of birthdays
and anniversary that run intensely from August to the end of October for our
family each year, my soul always deeply reflects on the gift that life brings
to all.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I say life I mean both the
life that is lived here and now and the life that is to come.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whatever that looks like.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Tomorrow.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Next Week.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Next Month.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Next Year.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">Moments matter.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Every single moment matters.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The call is to not miss it!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Oh how so often do I – do we – miss it!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">This morning I was blessed to
share in conversation with a young adult that is so wise, discerning, and ever
thoughtful.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As we shared our stories of
life I was so thankful for the gift of just that – a shared story.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The world – education – travel –
relationships – struggles – hopes – all of part of our shared story on this
planet.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Tears of my own struggles
spilled out for a few moments as I reflected on the inner parts of my own soul
in this hot bed of a mess world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">And then I read of the story
of Teddy, a young boy who invited 30 kids to join in a birthday party and how
not one – not even one – showed up to celebrate with him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Wow just wow!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>In a world that suffers from a culture of loneliness, isolation, and
despair, even our youngest children are suffering the effects of such a
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Come on world we got one job –
just one job – love love love – and we do that most by showing up for one
another!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is getting me so wound up
I want to become a birthday party crasher!<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Let me know and I will come eat cake with you!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To reflect on the story the link is copied
here:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://nypost.com/2018/10/23/kindergartener-parties-alone-after-no-one-shows-up-to-birthday-bash/?fbclid=IwAR3bKwwqgQwBtCSpnE_XDLGBT-8aO08OG9UZFRMsgE_sXzyUFZ49iwYSmjM"><span style="color: blue;">https://nypost.com/2018/10/23/kindergartener-parties-alone-after-no-one-shows-up-to-birthday-bash/?fbclid=IwAR3bKwwqgQwBtCSpnE_XDLGBT-8aO08OG9UZFRMsgE_sXzyUFZ49iwYSmjM</span></a></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">And then I saw the note about
a dear friend from my doctorate program who passed away today.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Too young.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Too full of life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Diagnosed with
cancer just a few short months ago and today were his final breaths here in
this place.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I think of Terry I
think of life life life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He gave it to
all and he gave it his all!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We are
better because of him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Our world will
greatly miss him.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">As I approach my 45<sup>th</sup>
birthday this Sunday, I was blessed to see this article last week.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It is time for me to build a reflective tool
that honors the gift and blessing of this life.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Each stone a reminder – of what is – of what can be – and of what is to
come.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But ever reminded, that I may
never get to hold each of the stones.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The odds are high that many of those stones will never be held in my
hand.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Such is the journey of this
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We know not when or where or
how?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We only know the end comes for all
of us.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The death rate is and has always
been, one per person.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">Here is the article from
ESPN:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">EAGAN, Minn. -- In front
of </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt; color: #0066cc; font-family: "inherit" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/14880/kirk-cousins" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc; margin: 0px;">Kirk Cousins'</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;"> home, in between a few
shrubs, stands a curious tower. No more than four feet tall, it's filled to the
top with stones. Inspired décor? Sort of.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">"It's there to remind me
how brief life is, and how important the time we have here is," the </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="border: 1pt; color: #0066cc; font-family: "inherit" , serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"><a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/min/minnesota-vikings" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc; margin: 0px;">Minnesota Vikings</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;"> quarterback says.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">But ... a tower of stones?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">Cousins laughs. "Oh, it's a little morbid," he admits,
"but it's a tool my Bible teacher taught me in high school, and I'm
carrying it with me."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">The stones were inspired by a Bible verse, from the Book of
Psalms, first shared with Cousins while attending Holland Christian High School
in Holland, Michigan.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<em><span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.</span></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">"It's about the importance of leaving a mark and making a
deposit in people's lives in a way that matters," Cousins says. "In
other words, when you have an understanding that life is coming to an end
someday, and that we only have so many days? There's wisdom in that."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">For Cousins, it was important to transform the verse into a
visual reminder: 720 stones.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">"Let's say I live to 90, that would be a pretty good
run," he says. "We went month to month, and we added it all up, and
it was 720 stones because I turned 30 this year.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">"Every month I'm going to take out a stone, put it in my
pocket, and think: 'Once this month is over, this is gone. You can't get it
back, it's gone for good.'"</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">The stone for each month represents the amount of time he likely
has left, but it also serves as a reminder to Cousins on how he is spending
that time, both on and off the field.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">"Like everybody else, I am naturally selfish, and so I'm
going to think about myself," he says. "And I think at the end of my
life, it's not going to be about what I did for myself, but what I did for
others. Maybe it's staying after practice to do hand signals with the guys to
help them get caught up to speed. To make it about others -- I think that's
what leadership is all about, quarterbacking is all about."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">As Cousins removes a stone each month, the feel of it in his
palm is a reminder of the time passing. But it's the questions that come with
each stone that perhaps carry more weight.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">"What impact are you making, not only today, but for
eternity? What impact are you making to leave a legacy?" he says.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">He pauses.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">"It's just a healthy reminder, make life about other
people, invest in other people, knowing that in the end, that's a life
well-lived," he says.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">A life well-lived – a well-lived day – moments – our life
moments deeply matter.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">Yesterday was my daughter Jewel’s 5<sup>th</sup> Birthday party
– she was not alone – and party we did with unicorns and all!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>She teaches me daily that moments matter.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">Today E, Teddy, Terry, and Kirk have all taught me lessons about
life.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">If blessed with another moment, there will be more learning to
experience – more love to share – and more life to be lived.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">In this moment – as you pick up and put down those memory stones
- know that you are loved – neighbor – friend – world.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">Onward</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #48494a; font-family: "georgia" , serif; margin: 0px;">Pastor Chad<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-88189672693583035602018-06-27T06:59:00.003-07:002018-06-27T06:59:42.613-07:00TRUST<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span class="s2" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 28.799999237060547px;">TRUST</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Some of my favorite stories from Scripture come from the disciples when they are out on the seas with Jesus. Rare are the moments where there is peace and quiet. There is chaos. There is stress. There is </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">uncomfortability</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. Jesus may be restful. Jesus may be walking on the water. Jesus may be instructing the wind and the waves and the </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">fishermen</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> but rarely do we see the disciples enjoying those moments. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">In one particular sea </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">story</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> the disciples are freaking out and they cry out, “Jesus, do you not care?” Whoa! A big question. A gutsy in your </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">face moment of questioning whether</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> their Lord and Savior cares about their lives. Dare I say that we have all asked that kind of question? In the midst of our chaotic lives and </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">world</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> we too wonder where Jesus is in the midst of it all. All too </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">often</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> it seems God is silent or that God has simply gone away and left us to figure it out on our own. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">And</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> yes that is one of those lies that we tell ourselves. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">In the midst of our </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">storms</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Jesus speaks a word of loving support, “Peace Be Still!” I think he speaks these words not just to the winds and the waves </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">but</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to each of our souls. We need peace. We need centeredness. We need comfort in the midst of unruly chaos. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus is saying, “Don’t let fear paralyze and rule your life.” “Trust that I am in the midst of your storm!”</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">You see peace </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">isn’t</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> simply meant to be something that we experienc</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">e as a feeling. Peace is not a</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> passive emotive response to an impending disaster. Peace for Jesus is a relationship. Jesus is saying, “</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">trust</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> me.” Whatever you are going through, “trust me.” Whatever storm is </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">reigning</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> down, “trust me.” Whatever fear you are facing, “trust me.” Jesus is not saying just have a little faith or grow up and get over your fears. He does say </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">over and over</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> and over, “trust me!” </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Where is our faith? I think we ultimately know it is not in things. It is not in the stuff we fill our lives </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">with</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. It </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">is not found</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">in the principalities and powers of this world. Our faith, our trust, is in a Lord and Savior named Jesus. Jesus, “I trust you.” Jesus, “I trust you.” Jesus, “I trust you.”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">This is deeply profound to consider. We </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">are told</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> repeatedly by this world that we are good enough, smart enough, w</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">ealthy enough, and that we can take on any storm of life if we just have enough belief in ourselves. Not true. We </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">are not made</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to do life alone. We </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">are not outfitted</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to stand in isolation within the storms of life. We </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">are made</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to do life together. We are made to see Jesus active in each other’s lives and while doing so able to put our trust into one another. The Jesus community, the church, is a living embodiment of that trusting relationship in Jesus and in each other. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Yes</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Jesus holds the past present and future. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Yes</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, our beginning and end. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Yes</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus is right here and right now within us and drawing out into the winds and waves as we take of the storms of life together. Trust in Jesus. Trust in each other. What a gift!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">A great story of how a person’s life </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">was transformed</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> due to that trusting relationship was between Lt. Dan and Forrest Gump. Lt. Dan </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">was literally saved</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> by Forrest. A bomb destroyed his legs and Forrest carried him out of battle. While life got increasingly difficult for LT. Dan for many years after that, Forrest and he matched up to start up Bubba Gump’s shrimp. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">There is a scene from that movie where Lt. Dan and Forrest were out on the seas.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Lt Dan asked Forrest where </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">this</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> God of his was. Immediately the winds and the waves picked up and tossed their boat about. Lt. Dan, instead of hunkering down in fear, was up </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">in </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">the </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">crow</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">s</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> nest yelling out to God</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">, “is that all you got – nothing will destroy this boat.” They survived the night. The rest of the shipping </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">vessels </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">were destroyed</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. Many during the storm sat</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">idly in the marina </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">and </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">were crushed</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> between the waves and the land. Other</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">s</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> sank t</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">o the bottom of the ocean. Forrest and Lt. Dan in faith </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">rode the high seas and survived. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">That night of the storm</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">,</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Lt. Dan had some of his faith restored</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. Afterwards he experienced a peace that he had not felt in a </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">very </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">long time. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Forrest </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">and Lt. Dan </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">went full til</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">t</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> into catching as much shrimp as they could.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Sometimes we have a spirit that </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">is filled</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> with fear and timidity. Other times our spirits may cry out in reckless abandon. Both are normal responses to the storms of life. Our challenge during all times is to lean into our relationships with Jesus and one another. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">I have been changed by this Jesus</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. Along the </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">journey</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> I have not always received the answers or outcomes that I wanted. That is so often the case! I remember well back in 1997 when my mom </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">was diagnosed</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> with a brain tumor. Almost </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">immediately</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> we were thrown into a storm that we did not see coming. One day she was out living her life to the full and the next she was on an operating table with a stage four cancerous brain tumor. The next day she was </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">told</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> she had six months to live. She fought the good fight. We prayed mightily for healing and hope. She went to speech therapy to regain her voice. She took the chemo and radiation. She was riding the waves of the storm. Seven months later</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">,</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> we knew full well</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">,</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> that our boat </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">was being swamped</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. We cried out, “Jesus don’t you care?” Through community, through Jesus relationships, through the chur</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">ch, we began to hear our prayers anew. You see we prayed, “God save our mom, God heal my mom, God give our mom her life back.” God was doing that – not how we had hoped – but our prayers </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">were being answered</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. Mom’s life was resting in the peace that surpasses all human understanding. God was going to do God’s greatest work in raising her up. Exactly ten months after her surgery – and just 15 days after our wedding – my mom passed on to the heavens. A dear high school friend of mine – who lives in Montana </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">- </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">came to the memorial service. I was able to say hi to him before the service but </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">missed out on</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> saying goodbye. As we closed up the church and began to head home, I opene</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">d</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> the door to my old Pathfinder </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">and </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">there on the driver’s seat was a quilt that </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">had</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">he left for me. On a </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">crumpeled</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> up </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">envelope</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> he had written the words, “the storm is over, it’s time to look for the rainbows.” </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Church</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">……that</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> right there was a gift of peace. Yes Jesus, you are in the midst of all of this. You promise to never leave or forsake us. You have given us each other – the church – to do the good and necessary work that needs to be done – building trusting relationship</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">s</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> where we truly can put our trust into one another all while putting our ultimate trust in Jesus. What a beautiful vision of peace and hope! </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Now if you have forgotten all that you have read above, remember this. I think Bob Marley stole these words from Jesus when he wrote the song: “Don’t worry, about a thing, because every little thing is </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">gonna</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> be alright!” Yes, yes it is! </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">That is a Jesus promise! </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">We are counting on Jesus and Jesus is counting on us! </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Peace</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Pc </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-22997614521309334382018-06-19T09:20:00.001-07:002018-06-19T09:20:39.431-07:00BEING<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Our Being </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">is often defined</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> by our Doing. We get so busy Doing we tend to lose our sense of Being. When we l</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">ose our sense of being, we listen to the voice that says, “</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">try</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> harder,” “work more,” “do, do, do.” </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">We end up exhausted and burned out because our doing lost its sense of purpose.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Our Being is to define our Doing and not the other way around. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">What happens when we deeply listen to our soul or how does God speak to you through the following:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Be still and know that I am God</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…….</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Be still and know that I am</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">……</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Be still and know</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…….</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Be still</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…….</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; padding-left: 36px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Be</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">……</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Frederick </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Buechner</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> once said, “The place God calls you to </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">is</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">May we align those hurts and hopes in our lives </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">so that our Being is fully enlivened as we go out to serve</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Onward</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">pc</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-89262743002735079542018-06-11T15:30:00.003-07:002018-06-11T15:30:59.763-07:00Jesus Gets Passionate<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">In 2015, I </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">was blessed</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to hear Dr. Mark Allan Powell present on the driving concerns that determined Jesus life (and death). Dr. Powell was one of my seminary professors and one who leaks the Jesus spirit wherever he goes!</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Dr. Powell addressed a handful of concerns </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">that appear to have motivated just about everything Jesus said and did</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. These driving concerns shaped the faith of Jesus into a powerful dynamic that would survive his horrific death and ultimately make him the most influential person that ever lived. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Here are the points Dr. Powell addressed:</span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus was passionate about God! </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Mark 1:15 offers a one verse summary of the central message that Jesus called “the gospel” or good news. “God is ready and willing to rule your life – believe this – and act accordingly!” </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus was more about surrender than seeking. </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus was passionate about love!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">All that God wants or expects of us can be found in two commandments: “</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Love the Lo</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">rd your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">all your</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> mind!”</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">and “Love your neighbor as yourself!” (Matthew 22:34-40; </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Deut</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> 6:5; Lev. 19:18).</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> When you hug a </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">child</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> you hug Jesus. When you beat a </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">child</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> you beat Jesus. We </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">are called</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to love </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">love</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">love</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">love</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">love</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus was passionate about community!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus wanted everyone to be a part of a loving community – a community where people prayed for each other, forgave each other, and worshipped God together. (Matthew 16:18; 18:12-22). Did you know that in Jesus time when he was preaching and teaching, one out of four people were slaves? Jesus was constantly working to restore all into loving community! </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus was passionate about service!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus maintained that the one who was the greatest was the one who served others – and he insisted that power </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">be used</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> not to control over people, but to serve them. (Mark 10:42-44). Jesus was turning upside down the paradigm of coercive power into a power to serve! </span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus was passionate about justice!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus took his “mission statement” words from the prophet Isaiah, claiming that he had been anointed by God to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and to set free all who were oppressed (Luke 4:16-21; Isa. 61:1-2).</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Justice breaks out when God is on the loose in our lives. This justice is not justice as the world gives but justice as only Jesus through us can give! His body broken and poured out as we serve as the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus is passionate about God, love, community, service, and justice! </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Church</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">……live</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> with Jesus passion!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">pc</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-1307191785952595612018-06-05T15:43:00.002-07:002018-06-05T15:43:24.682-07:00Fair Winds and Following Seas
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Leonard Sweet’s book entitled “I am a Follower,” he works
to inspire us to live out of our given identity.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That identity is as a Follower of Jesus who
leaves a wake!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To follow a person means you are a following someone who is
alive in you!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone follows someone
or something.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only question is, who
or what will we follow?</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone’s life
vibrates to some tune.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only question
is, who is the singer?</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The old sailor’s
blessing went like this: “Fair winds and Following Seas.”</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When you are sailing in the winds of the
Spirit, there will indeed be “following seas.”</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus makes waves.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t make a
splash with Jesus.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Make waves.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the church we make waves in the Jesus spirit of life when
we work to transform this world.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we
engage the hurts and hopes of people we are making waves.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we seek to overturn systems of injustice
we are making waves.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we worship and
serve out of passion and purpose we are making waves.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we go to live faith in every sphere of
our lives we make waves.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those waves
enable others to experience life.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those waves
make possible what was once thought impossible.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those waves equip others to make waves wherever they find themselves.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An old camp song verse had this line…. “waves of mercy,
waves of grace, everywhere we look, we see your face.”</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Indeed, we are called to see and experience
Jesus in all we do.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Where is he most
active?</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Where does he need our hands and
feet?</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When we come alongside humanity
and all of creation, we are to bring that witness of light and life to
all.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are called to see Jesus in each
other.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s his waves of mercy and grace
that make this possible!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is a day to ride the waves.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is a day to make waves.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is the day for the church to chart its
course upon following seas.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Soren Kierkegaard said, “A believer, after all, is
someone in love.”</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love Jesus.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love All.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we make waves just watch what that love will do!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Peace and Hope,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">pc </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-39711680012199221062018-03-29T16:32:00.003-07:002018-03-29T16:32:24.295-07:00How He Loves Us<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
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<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The theme of David Crowder’s song brings tears to the eyes every time. As the words sing out the heart wells up with joy. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzfPHnoT0-0"><span class="s2" style="color: #0563c1; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzfPHnoT0-0</span></a></div>
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<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">When I think on these Three Days of Holy Week that culminate in resurrection, </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">it is </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">God’s Yes</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> that breaks through for all of creation. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Oh how he loves us! Oh how he loves us! </span></div>
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<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Love most often looks like laying down our lives. Love most often looks like letting go. Love most often involves suffering and pain and tears. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus gathers at the table……and he feeds all of them. He withholds not one ounce of himself from the gathered community. Jesus </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">kneels to serve as only Jesus can. He washes</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…..</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">makes clean….blesses….encourages….models…..witnesses to the way we are to live our lives. </span></div>
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<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus prays….and we sleep</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….Jesus</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> prays through blood, sweat, and tears….and we lazily engage in faith….Jesus wrestles deeply with the call on his life….and we take for granted this one life that we have been granted to live. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
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<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus is arrested….and we watch and wonder. Will the same happen to us? Would we bear the cost that Jesus bears? We betray in small and significant ways. The world barely notices….and so we continue in our betrayal. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Jesus is mocked and ridiculed in the kangaroo court. Jesus is beaten nearly to death. Why? Because we would rather have God in a box versus God unleashed. God far removed versus God incarnate. God that mimics our self-made world view versus a God that radically reshapes and transforms lives. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Love</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….no.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> A life of service</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….no.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Grace upon grace</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….no.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Bearing the cost</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….no.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Suffering and pain</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">....no.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> Death and resurrection</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….no.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> One humanity</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….no.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> One world</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….no.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></div>
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<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Military might…yes. Country al</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">legiance</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….yes</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> God on our terms…yes. Religious persecution</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….yes</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. Racism, sexism, every human made ism</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…..</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">yes. Judgment and condemnation</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…..</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">yes. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The Cross is raised because the world constantly demands pounds of flesh in our brokenness. Nails piercing his body…holding him there for all the world to see. The stone is rolled shut. Away with him. Finally we are done with his vision and voice</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…..</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">we can listen to the idle chatter of our own.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">And yet</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…..</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">God’s Yes is bigger than our No! God speaks</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…..</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">the earth quakes….an unshakeable God shakes the earth to the core and rattles the cages that seek to hold us back and down. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Even death</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….stinking</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> death…</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">.will not have the last word. Jesus leaps up off that cold hard granite and breathes deeply in….and out</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…..</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">inhaling and exhaling in new found life. Jesus alive</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….for</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> you and me. Jesus alive for all of creation. The angels</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….the</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> women….the disciples…..forever changed. A new thing has taken place. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">You cannot go back to the ugliness of that day. You can only move forward from that place of death knowing with full conviction that God is up to something beyond compare. Resurrection</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">…..</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">in the here….in the now….lives forever changed. All of creation</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">….given</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> this gift in order to be made fully alive. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Love often is like letting go, laying life down, dying to self, dying to the ways of the world, being emptied, SO THAT God can take that empty tomb space and fill it to the brim with new life. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Are we fully alive? If not, why not? Jesus was raised for you! </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Oh how he loves us! Oh how he loves us!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">May we squeeze every ounce of life out</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> of the resurrection of Jesus and may it radically shake us and our world to full and complete life!</span></div>
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<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-14216012890860964572018-03-13T20:53:00.003-07:002018-03-13T20:53:52.154-07:00Resurrection Faith<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">The church </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">community will shine </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">the brightest and best when </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">all unite as the body of Christ. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">The resurrection of Jesus is to be the vision that unites all people. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
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<div style="font-size: 18px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">
<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">The Apostle Paul talk about being united in ministry. Most of his letters to the various Christian communities were based upon that one fact</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">….we</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> are made to join around the vision of Jesus for the sake of the world. Whatever the world throws at us that seeks to </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">dimish</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">, divide, or conquer us needs to be removed from our lives. Jesus even talked about being ONE as the Father and he were one. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="s3" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">M</span></span><span class="s3" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">ay</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">all </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">be </span></span><span class="s3" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">one</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> (Greek: </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">ἵν</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">α π</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">άντες</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">ἓν</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">ὦσιν</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">, </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">ina</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"></span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">pantes</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> hen </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">ōsin</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">) is a phrase derived from a verse in the Farewell Discourse in the Gospel of John (17:21) which says: that they </span></span><span class="s3" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">may</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> all be </span></span><span class="s3" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">one</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">. As you, </span></span><span class="s3" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Father</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">, are in me and I am in you, </span></span><span class="s3" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">may</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> they also be in us, so that the world </span></span><span class="s3" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">may</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> believe that you have sent me.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Those first disciples of Jesus were contagious! They were fired up but the Spirit of him.</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> They were one with Jesus and one with each other and one for the world. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Will you allow God to do this with you? Will you dream big and boldly? Will you fling wide the</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">doors and draw all people </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">together to be the church that God has in mind? This is solely up to you and the power of God that needs to b</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">e lived within your lives. Disciples of Jesus cannot look backward. Disciples of Jesus</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> cannot</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> relive the past. Disciples look to t</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">he future. They create anew. All </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">are</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> freed to create anew.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">One of </span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">those prayers that Susan and I pray often is f</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">rom Ephesians 3:14-21:</span></span></div>
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<span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">14 </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">For this reason I kneel before the Father,</span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">15 </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">from whom every family</span></span><span class="s7" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">[</span></span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+3:14-21"><span class="s8" style="color: #b34b2c; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">a</span></span></a><span class="s7" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">]</span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> in heaven and on earth derives its name.</span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">16 </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,</span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">17 </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,</span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">18 </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">deep is the love of Christ,</span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">19 </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">20 </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,</span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><span class="s5" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 10.800000190734863px; vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 16.200000762939453px;">21 </span></span><span class="s6" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Just think on these words:</span></span></div>
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<span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Every family……Jesus is for every family</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">….every</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">church….every people. There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, but all are one in Christ Jesus our Lord. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">He may strengthen you</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">…..</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">he is the power source….he is the light….he is the transformer….the electricity…..for your life. Count not on yourselves but count solely on him. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Inner being</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">…..</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">you have an inner being….a soul…..a spirit…that needs to be nurtured and loved. God gives us the church to do that for each other. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Dwell in our hearts through faith</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">….Christ</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> dwells in us. Christ grows us</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">. If we hold on to tightly to the past – to our own ideas – then we are limiting what God can do. Laying down our life</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">…..</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">our jobs…our identities…..</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">giving up our selves…..is the beginning of new life.</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> Those who lose their life for Jesus sake will find their lives! Losing is winning in Jesus. Totally counter to the world</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">’s story</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> but we are made for more than this world!</span></span><span class="s4" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Pray to be rooted and grounded in love</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">…..</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">a tree has roots – the roots are often larger than what you see above th</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">e surface…the roots span out</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">underground….a network of roots to make the tree strong….to withstand the wind….the trials…the storms…..Pray</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">er</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> does that for the church….praying for each other…praying for the world…..praying for our church…..we need God and God needs us….we are made to do life together. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">The power to comprehend the love of Jesus</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">…..</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">it is hard to imagine…but it is not impossible to believe. The love of Jesus is so vast….it is to draw us together. That love when shared shapes and defines everything else. Without love in our faith lives we are a noisy gong and a clanging symbol…but with that love the church experiences life. May your minds be stretched to imagine the inf</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">inite God possibilities for us </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">and for the world. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Be filled with the fullness of God……imagine your life overflowing with God…what would that look like? What would a life like that be able to do? That to me is a vision of heaven on earth…I want that full life…that meaningful life</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">….that</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> purposeful life in all that I say and do. This means being more tomorrow than we are today….and more the day after the next…always growing and living into the people that God has created us to be. Be not full of yourselves. Be not full of anxie</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">ty and fear. Be full of God.</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">God will do immeasurably more than we would ask for or imagine</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">…..</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">WOW! Just think…not with your head…but your heart. Dig into your soul and be blown away by the fact that God will do greater things with us than we think possible. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">The challenge…do we really believe that with God all things are possible? Do we really believe that God is capable of producing an abundance in us? God believes in us! God believes in us! Make plans</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">…..</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">and then make them bigger than that…because that is our God. If God were fully </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">in charge of shaping our communities</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">and world </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">what could that look like? If God were shaping a</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">worldwide vision </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">what would that be? Nothing is off limits for God. Be bold in believing in this! And then give yourselves to this brand new life that is to come!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">All generations</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">…..</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">we live not for ourselves…but for those who come after us. Will our children experience faith and life and hope because of our trust in Jesus? Will they see Jesus in us? The only chance they have for a living faith is to see Jesus alive in us! May it be so.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Jesus came to his disciples after his resurrection and he showed them the wounds on his hands and his side. He did not come back whole. He came back wounded. Jesus teaches us that in our weaknesses we are made strong. Our wounds are ever present but our new life is even stronger than that. Jesus commissioned them….do not stand here</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">….but</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> go…get out there into the world….and create….stir up life….be my people….be radically joy-filled….be contagious in faith….be an empty tomb people. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">If Jesus has been raised from the dead</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">…..</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">then we need not fear. Life and love are going to win. I am confident of this. Life and love are going to win. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">As a pastor </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">I have been challenged. I have been broken. I have been disappointed. </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">But never have I doubted the ability of God to raise up a people for resurrection living in this world. I see it in your eyes. I see it in your hearts. I see it in the journeys that you have been through. God is her</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">e – alive and well in each of you.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Do not let</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> the voice of the devil get into your heads and tinker with your minds. Jesus says I will not leave you orphaned</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">….I</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> have sent you an advocate….and the one who will always be with is goes by the name….Holy Spirit. You got that Spirit…yes you do! You got that Spirit …yes you do. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">None of </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">us </span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">can ever fully know what the future holds</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">…..</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">but we know the one who hold the future…his name is Jesus. And it does not matter whether we are in the right hand or left hand of God, all that matters is that we are in God’s hands.</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> This is resurrection faith!</span></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">May the Lord bless you and keep you. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">May the Lord make his face shine upon you. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">May the Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span class="bumpedFont15" style="font-size: 1.5em; line-height: 25.200000762939453px;">Alleluia. Alleluia. Amen.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-87326033106045711662018-03-08T19:56:00.003-08:002018-03-08T19:56:45.865-08:00Rising Strong<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: garamond, "new york", times, serif; font-size: 13px;">
Brene Brown is an incredible writer and one that I often look to for words of encouragement along life's way. </div>
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The following are a few excerpts from her book Rising Strong.</div>
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"The irony is that we attempt to disown our difficult stories to appear more whole or more acceptable, but our wholeness and even our wholeheartedness, actually depends on the integration of all of our experiences, including the falls."</div>
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"Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to live our values rather than simply professing them."</div>
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"Love and belonging are irreducible needs of all people. We're hardwired for connection. It's what gives purpose and meaning to our lives. The absence of love, belonging, and connection, always leads to suffering."</div>
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I find strength in each one of these musings. </div>
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Who likes to fall or fail? No one that I know and certainly not myself. A reminder that in order to be whole it takes all the pieces and parts, the successes and failings, of this life journey. We are invited to be whole and well in this life.</div>
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Practicing courageous leadership often proves costly. The cost often stings deep within the soul. That sting runs much deeper and lasts a whole lot longer than simply being tazed (as I witnessed this afternoon at Leadership Austin). </div>
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In a fast paced and often superficial world, there is a great absence taking place within each of us. We are relationally suffering. Can we be connected in purposeful and living ways? Of course. Am I and are you ready for that type of hard work that produces meaningful life? </div>
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Rising Strong.....more than a good idea!</div>
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Pastor Chad </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-39879172168624344972018-02-21T16:57:00.000-08:002018-02-21T16:57:07.534-08:00Practice Resurrection Now<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Richard Rohr, in his book Immortal Diamond, identified twelve ways for us to practice the resurrection right now. As I read each one I shouted a loud Amen! to this God of life that we are called to serve. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">1. Refuse to identify with negative, blaming, antagonistic, or fearful thoughts (you cannot “stop” having them).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">2. Apologize when you hurt another person or situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">3. Undo your mistakes by some positive action toward the offended person or situation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">4. Do not indulge or believe your false self – that which is concocted by your mind and society’s expectations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">5. Choose your true self – your radical union with God – as often as possible throughout the day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">6. Always seek to change yourself before trying to change others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">7. Choose as much as possible to serve rather than be served.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">8. Whenever possible, seek the common good over your mere private good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">9. Give preference to those in pain, excluded, or disabled in any way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">10. Seek just systems and policies over mere charity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">11. Make sure your medium is the same as your message.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">12. Never doubt that it is all about love in the end.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">May Jesus lead us to live into his resurrection hopes for the world – where lives are transformed and changed – where we experience victory even in the midst of suffering!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Pastor Chad</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-15633552153259477532018-02-13T14:22:00.002-08:002018-02-13T14:22:53.252-08:00Lent is...<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I can’t remember where I read the following…credit goes out to whoever it was in this universe that wrote these powerful words…I needed to hear them…I think we all do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is a 40 day season dedicated to repentance, fasting, and prayer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is the season of interior descent, examination, and reflection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is forty days because Jesus was tested for forty days in the wilderness. It takes intentional time and focus to deconstruct our denial, pretense, and posturing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is the season we die to our hopes, our dreams, and our agendas, to empty ourselves out that we might be filled with new life, see with new eyes, live with a whole heart, filled with God’s strength to live an abundant life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is the season you come clean.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent: It’s time to get real with God, to Fast, Pray, Weep, Morn…to let go and let God be God in our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is the season where we might be laid bare to God’s grace, mercy, and light. We are naked before God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is the church season dedicated to falling apart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is the time we rip our clothes, throw dust into the air, and cry, "Oy Vey." Seriously, we live in a culture of denial. We will die.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is dying before we die, so that we might live.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is when we lay things down, to recover those things which should never have been forgotten.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is when we die to the spirit of this world, so we can plug into the Spirit of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is the season for cleaning out the springs of our heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is the season for spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical detox.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is the season to Reboot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is a trust fall into the arms of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is the divine interrupt you’ve been waiting for.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">· Lent is deconstructing into wholeness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Come and be marked with the Ashen cross on your forehead <a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824); color: #333333; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; line-height: inherit !important;" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">on Wednesday night</a>. Come be the dust you were created to be. Come dive into Lent and receive a New and Right Spirit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Pastor Chad</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-57875666949539112922018-02-08T12:53:00.002-08:002018-02-08T12:53:12.052-08:00Being Healed<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">We hear powerful words from the writer of Isaiah…..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">“Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">they shall mount up with wings like eagles,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">they shall run and not be weary,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">they shall walk and not faint.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The creator cares for the powerless. The Lord lifts us up. I don’t know about you but those words bring light and life into my soul. It’s like a drink of water for the thirsty. Good, good news for those wondering about God’s work in this life. God lifts us up! Jesus lifts us up. The Spirit lifts us up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Gospel begins with that Good News for Peter’s mother in law. Jesus is making Peter a champion! “Hey mother-in-law, I brought my friend Jesus over, he’ll heal you!” And boom…..Jesus does. It says she immediately got up and began to serve. Wow, right?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">And Mark goes on to say that these kinds of events go on all around Jesus because the word on the street is that Jesus is active in changing people’s lives. An encounter with Jesus….and you are changed. You are not the same as you were before meeting him. Not because you did something great or filed the correct request……I believe it is because Jesus simply desires to lift you up, to free others to be whole and well, to get them back to real living for the sake of the community and world. The God of Jesus desperately wants us to be whole and well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">And Jesus…so busy raising people up….does exactly what he needs to do in order to continue to bring about life….he prays…and he prays…and he prays. Over and over again…the disciples are wondering, “Hey, where’s Jesus?” “Oh look, he’s over there praying again!” Yes Jesus is predictable! He wants to raise us up and he prays a lot! He wants to raise us up and he prays a lot!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I believe he prays a lot because raising up people is hard hard, hard work! Getting a human being to the point of soaring in life…..is hard hard work. Getting an infant to the point where they can finally walk….hard hard work. Getting a soul that is so burdened and weary by the ways of the world to not feel faint….is hard hard work. Talk to our doctors and nurses at Mayo. Curing and healing is hard hard work. Talk to our teachers and cooks and janitors and administrators in our schools. Raising up kids is hard hard work. Talk with people beaten battered and abused in life…work on feeling safe and trusting again…..hard hard work! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Church….we are called to be about the hard hard work of raising each other up! Wherever that needs to happen….here…there…everywhere….raising people up! And we need to pray all along the way!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Peter’s mother-in-law is healed….not just for self…but healed into community. She is restored to the whole. It is a beautiful scene for sure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">And sometimes it doesn’t look like that! Sometimes it looks completely different – completely chaotic – completely and utterly despairing. Sometimes healing doesn’t happen how we want it to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">That was true with my mother back in 1997 and 1998. She suddenly collapsed in our yard. Dad drove quickly to the emergency room. Within hours mom was diagnosed with a stage 4 cancerous brain tumor. She endured an extensive surgery just hours later. The next morning, about <a dir="ltr" href="x-apple-data-detectors://0" style="-webkit-text-decoration-color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.258824); color: #333333; font-family: inherit !important; font-size: inherit !important; line-height: inherit !important;" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">6 am</a>, the doctor informed my mother that she only had months to live. I had to tell each of my family members this news when they arrived later that morning. We were devastated.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Where was God in the midst of this? We weren’t soaring…we were despairing. We weren’t walking…we were fainting. What do prayers mean when this kind of news is handed to you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Surrounded by the love of community….we did what we were called to do. We fought lovingly. We went to physical and speech therapy. We went to radiation. We went to chemo. We did special cancer diet programs. We got 2</span><sup style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0;">nd</sup><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> 3</span><sup style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> and 4</span><sup style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 0;">th</sup><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">opinions. We cried. We laughed. We prayed. We questioned. We trusted God to lead the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Susan and I got married ten months after the diagnosis. My mom was there. She had beaten the 6 month prediction. Two weeks later, however, my mom passed away. The longest walk of my life thus far was from that hospice room to our car…I still remember the sights, sounds, and feelings of that day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">One of the many changes we experienced during that time with my mom….our prayers changed. Our prayers changed from cure my mom to heal us all…..cure my mom to heal us all. This video illustrates what I mean by that……</span></div>
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<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tVfPeBCjaJ8FPle7IMfYXEMOEOONcXSO9JEOvnk2qiaZUsg_LYTYqecqws-c4FLN-hNd-MGEN1ZcP32ylMb4dbQq1oxbD847uGJj5Iy6Ipd8K705PSd3QNwCWWoKpxedWV2ffcaUt1gntX1KHVjqTebl2az-4Phkg1KeMAzclm8P7oZpKKLyFkendA4TNNOx&c=gCOLLurVp4zOmwICP_RARxUeUSQBcUOEeVHJNaqEBhdmVy44_hPAZA==&ch=tyVOUaxVLdK_JW0hQrkrKjnA3lJv-RnA4C4siRuGCN_W_vinapqoCQ==" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;">Healed Into Community</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Yes I too believe it is possible to not be cured….but healed. My mom and so many others have taught me how to fight to be cured, but even more so to be Healed Into Community. To be restored altogether differently. To see Jesus as the One who so yearns to raise us up that he goes to the greatest of lengths to show us that life and life will win…that death will not have the last word….that the church will always be the resurrection community that sings an Hallelujah! Even if…we can’t sing it ourselves. Even if….we stopped praying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Jesus will not stop…Jesus will not stop…..May we never stop……May we never stop…..until all are healed…both here in this life and in the life that is to come. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">“Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">they shall mount up with wings like eagles,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">they shall run and not be weary,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">they shall walk and not faint.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">God lifts us up! Jesus lifts us up! The Spirit lifts us up! May we the church lift each other up! Alleluia Alleluia Amen.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-24958395132793544292018-01-31T06:47:00.000-08:002018-01-31T06:47:16.383-08:00Walking On Water (not on ice)<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The words found in the 14th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew tell a story of Jesus walking on the water and commanding Peter to do the same. As Peter tries that defying task, he is successful for but a moment before sinking. Of course Jesus reaches down to save him and restore him to a place of safety, the boat. We can muse over the audacity of Peter to think he could do such a thing, the crazy talk of Jesus in encouraging someone to do such a thing, the other disciples for not trying themselves and for letting Peter attempt what seemed impossible by himself, and the sheer grace and power of Jesus and his ability to do what seems so incredible and against all odds. As our minds wander between these thoughts and questions, the one vision is clear. Jesus believes that Peter can do this, and because Jesus believes in him, it can be not just probable, but God-inspired possible. The ancient saying rings true, “With God all things are possible.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I have often mused over this story in trying to figure out all that Jesus is teaching us. At this point in the life of this congregation and with the momentum for missional living that I see taking place, four words come to mind in light of this text. Those words are: Poise, Power, Passion, and Perspective. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When Jesus believes in us, our </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">Poise </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">can be strengthened. I am not talking about physical ability, but rather the poise that comes when our faith and confidence in something beyond ourselves is imagined and held onto. Certainly, without Jesus, Peter would not have come to the conclusion that he could walk on water, but with Jesus, the idea ushered forth from him was possible. The poise of faith that I have seen grow in people when serving others is nothing short of God-inspired. Thank you to those who step up and out to serve! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When Jesus believes in us, our </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">Power </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">can be increased. I’m not talking about muscle, might, sheer brute strength, but rather the power that comes from the inside out. A spiritual power that is greater than one, and exponentially increased with each Christ-like relationship. Our power comes from God, our power comes from the living Christ, our power is generated by the fiery Holy Spirit. I see this in Peter in his first steps, and I have seen this in the active participation of so many in the acts of love that provide life. Power is grown in all and for all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When Jesus believes in us, our </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">Passion </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">can be multiplied. I am not talking about passion as love for football or your favorite pair of jeans or for more stuff, but a passion that multiplies and grows with each passing day as we live out our faith callings. Peter was called to walk on the water. What are we all called to be about in our world? What is the voice of Jesus crying out to us? Does love, hopefulness, joy, need an increasing place in our world? I believe they do. We are the ones in whom this passion can be witnessed and through us living out passionate faith-filled lives we can bring that passion to bear in all things. I have been witness to an ever increasing passion within those who find themselves investing in their faith lives and others' faith journeys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When Jesus believes in us, our </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">Perspective </span><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">can be clearer. When Jesus first called out to Peter, he squinted into the storm. So he asked again. Only then in hearing His voice could he take those first steps. The same is true for us. We need a Jesus perspective. We need his lens, his viewpoint, his desire, his vision, to be ours. Jesus seeks to give that to us. It is why he empowers us with each passing moment in his life. It is why God continues to come and dwell among us today. With a Jesus perspective, we can cast off that which holds us back or down, and we can be free to step out in faith and really live. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">We all are invited into a faith-filled journey of growing ourselves and this entire community in a discipleship faith. You cannot do that on the sideline. You cannot do that by yourselves. You cannot do that by staying the same. We do this together. We, like Peter, are invited to step out in trust and watch what God will do. I can say with confidence that you will be blessed with a strengthening poise, an increasing power, a multiplying passion, and a clearer perspective. What a gift that will be!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Step out…...Step up…...Step forward…...and trust Jesus to do the leading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Pastor Chad</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-61509608993104317562018-01-26T05:30:00.001-08:002018-01-26T05:30:20.551-08:00A Living Testimony<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #333333; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">So many questions. The world is filled with them. It seems the more we know the less we know. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Of utmost importance, when it comes to Jesus, what do we say and how do we respond to the following: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I love you Lord because…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I need you Lord because…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I praise you Lord because…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I obey you Lord because…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I thank you Lord because…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I hope in you Lord because…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I trust in you Lord because…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I find joy in you Lord because…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">I find peace in you Lord because…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">We are made to be in relationship with Jesus and one another. How we articulate that relationship to others is very important. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">One key piece of every wedding that I am invited to preside over is to invite the couple to write a love letter to each other. I share snippets of those love letters during the wedding ceremony. In the love letter I invite them to address the following, “Why do you love each other so much? What are your hopes and dreams for your marriage relationship? What made it possible for you to give your lives to each other?” While challenging to do, the couples later express the meaning this brought to their wedding day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">You have heard the phrase, “Keep the main thing the main thing!” Jesus is the main thing. Agape love is the main thing. Relationship is the main thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">God give us the words to express our love for you and the purpose you have for our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Peace and Hope ,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Pastor Chad</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-598578181215291892.post-34089353318496913582018-01-22T18:57:00.001-08:002018-01-22T18:57:23.483-08:00The Whole World 1-16-18<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="galileo-ap-layout-editor" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; min-width: 100%; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Jesus sends us into the world – the cosmos – the entire universe – to love and serve. There is no place that we will go to that God is not already there. And yet, we are called to be there…to go there. Where will God inspire you to love and serve this year? How will the Spirit stir you up for life and service in God’s world? Think Glocal (local and global) and share with others your spirit's stirrings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">This week, a team of ten are serving with Mission Jamaica. Please hold that ministry in your hearts and prayers as lives are being impacted and forever changed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">We the church sing a song of familiarity for many…… </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">“He’s got the whole world in his hands,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">he’s got the whole world in his hands,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">he’s got the whole world in his hands,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">he’s got the whole world in his hands!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Then you and me sister, you and me brother, you and me neighbor, etc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">How are we challenged by this song knowing full well that the world is messy and broken? Is God with us? Does God care? Why do some have so much and others so little? What does it mean when we can’t fix or clean up the mess? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">When you look out at our world…what do you see? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">What is your greatest hope for the world?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Where do you see God most active?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Peace and Hope,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Pastor Chad</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05220496568299109943noreply@blogger.com0