Act or React?

Do you ever ponder whether you are acting or reacting? I suspect if we get technical about it we are all reacting to one stimulus or another, how could it be any other way? But, on a relationship level, are we choosing our responses to one another and circumstance, or are we simply going with the flow of the response around us?

I wonder if Cleopas and his Companion were caught up in the crowd response about the news surrounding Jesus, so they were sad...and disappointed that Jesus wasn't what they thought he was. Of course, if we would continue reading on in this passage they have their eyes opened to who Jesus is as they break bread with him later on. They have that "ah-ha" moment.

*If you are able to do so...pause for a few minutes in this day and ask yourself if you are acting or reacting to the people around you.
*What would you like to change in your relationships? Today is a great day to shift your thinking...and to have a new beginning!

Sons of Thunder

I love that James and John are referred to as "the sons of thunder"! In my head when I say that I hear an echo "thunder, thunder, thunder"....kind of like in big time wrestling, you know? Anyways...The fact that they are a bit impulsive...when people don't accept Jesus their solution is to rough them up... Now, you need to know that I'm not fond of this because I like violence and I think it's the answer to solving problems...because I don't. However, I love that these guys are normal and are shown in that way. They are human. As a matter of fact, in the book POP by Bishop-Driver he points out that John is transformed WHILE serving Jesus...not before. Well then...I guess I fit in just fine!

*What do you think of "the sons of thunder"?
*Do you find yourself thinking that you need to "transform" before you approach God or the church?

Seeker

Seeker. The term has been used so much in "churchy" circles...we have attempted to make our churches seeker-sensitive, paying attention to those who are not familiar with our customs/traditions and being thoughtful of their experience and entry into our worship times and gatherings. I'm certainly all for that...I get irritated when we use christian-ese... sometimes I think we should include a glossary of terms tucked inside our bulletins!

However, I also feel like we separate ourselves from folks when we place a label on them...we name visitors or those who aren't regular attenders in any congreagation "unchurched" or "seekers"...and I have also heard the term "pre-christian". I understand the need to classify so we can understand and reach out...I get it...I just really, really don't like labeling folks. Somehow it seems to place us in a superior role. And if I really get at that frustration I will admit that I don't like being labeled. Bishop Rueben Job in his book Three Simple Rules speaks of this and how painful it is for us and for the church. (This is a very small, but very amazing book by the way. I am including a link for the book right here .)

Nicodemus comes to Jesus as a "seeker" (oh...there's that word again!), or one who is open to seeing truth from a different angle than what he is used to. He is a leader of the Pharisees...and yet....he greets Jesus with "Rabbi" and seeks to understand the wisdom that he can share. Okay...so I'll admit it...if you HAVE to give me a label I think seeker would be all right. I WANT to be considered a seeker...to always want to expand my knowledge of Christ and faith....to learn from those that God places in my path on a daily basis. I want to see faith with brand new eyes. I'm so thankful for what I've learned, but there is so much more to experience! Thanks be to God for Nicodemus, the seeker.

Only one question today.....

*Are you a seeker?

A NEW DAY

It's a brand new day...in the moment that I write this the sun is rising (one of my favorite things in the world is a beautiful sunrise, by the way), I see BLUE sky, I have gotten enough sleep last night, our house is clean, my child is peacefully sleeping, my husband has kissed me goodbye and gone off to work...all feels right in my world in this moment. I want to freeze time...just freeze it for a bit....to enjoy the bliss.

I wonder if that is what Simeon felt...the fulfillment of God's promise to him had happened...he was meeting the Saviour, Jesus. What an amazing event...to be present at the consecration of Jesus...I thought Caleb's baptism was really amazing...can you imagination the blessing of Jesus???!!!!

I really believe that God intends good things for us all, for us to be fulfilled and happy. That doesn't mean that we won't experience suffering, but we should remember that sorrow may last for a night...but JOY comes in the morning.

*What do you have TODAY to be thankful for?
*Have you had a "Simeon" moment, when your hopes/plans were fulfilled?

ps...thanks for reading the blog!!!

Sacrifice

I say that I will sacrifice, but I truly don't understand what that means. Oh, I give so much time and energy, because that's what I have to offer God. But Stephen...what a sad, frustrating, amazing story. And we catch a glimpse of Paul...well, at the time he is Saul...talk about a life change.

I don't believe that we all have to give or do the same thing...we are who we are and we give what we can at any given time of our journey...I'm not about comparing myself to others, but it is important for me to know that I am doing what I am able and called to do....to live for God in the best way that I know how. God help me.

*What do you think of sacrificing for God?
*How do you "live for God"?

An Open Heart

Lydia...we don't have much information about her. She was a merchant that sold very fine cloth, she was curious about faith and Jesus, her heart was opened and she received the news of Jesus as God's son...she followed him and introduced others in her sphere of influence to do the same, she was hospitable and invited the followers on Christ to stay with her in her home.

Simple...she was seeking faith, seeking truth...she was gathered with others for prayer and discussion. She hears Pauls message and her life changes forever. Sometimes the stories we hear about faith are so amazing and BIG...and sometimes they are amazing and really quite...normal (whatever normal might be?!).

*How did you encounter Christ for the first time? Was your heart opened and did you receive him right away...or did it take some time for you to process it all?

*Lydia is so faithful in sharing her faith with other in her life...how are you doing with that?

Mercy, Not Sacrifice

Is it just me, or does this text about Matthew just scream “STOP BEING SO JUDGMENTAL??!!!” Is it the mood I’m in this morning as I compose this? Could it be that I’ve overhead a conversation that irritated me in regards to this…or read a newspaper…or even worse…could it be that I experienced this within myself?? Heaven help us (and I DO mean ALL of us)!

Jesus reminds all of us this morning to be merciful, to stop dividing us versus them. To live together in Christian fellowship…for those of you who were at COS yesterday morning this might start sounding familiar, apparently I wasn’t quite done preaching yet!

Jesus says to Matthew “Follow Me”, and he is still asking us today, “Follow Me”. When we do just that we are not given an exclusive pathway that is just for us alone…no, we join many others on a pathway that is beautifully scattered with other souls that we have the privilege to journey beside. Thanks be to God we are not on the pathway alone!

*In the text today which person do you most resonate with?
*Have you chosen to Follow Christ?