For those of you who are reading Holy Adventure, 41 Days of Audacious Living, let's get going on our online discussion. We read chapter one. What do you think so far? Below are a few questions we can discuss. Post your comments and we'll get the conversation going. Answer any or all of the questions.
1. What spiritual practices or rituals do you regularly engage in? What are the challenges in maintaining a spiritual discipline?
2. On pg 14, author Bruce Epperly says "The God who touched Jesus' life also touches our own lives and every life. God is our everpresent companion, nearer to us than our next breath." Can you describe a time when God had "skin" for you?
3.On page 8 we read "Though the present moment and the immediate future are shaped by our previous decisions and a multitude of environmental factors, each choice we make can be the tipping point between health and illness, love and fear, and life and death in the unfolding adventure of a day or a lifetime. As spiritual children of Abraham and Sarah, we are called to listen and then say yes to the movements of God's holy adventure within the ordinary moments of our own lives." What might God be calling you to say "Yes" to?
4. What in chapter one spoke to you? Was there something you disagree with the author about? Is there something you especially agree with?
TOMORROW's READING IS CHAPTER TWO
For those who are reading Christianity for the Rest of Us, let's discuss the below questions. Answer any or all or share other thoughts.
1. Do you relate to the idea of being a "spiritual nomad?" Why or why not?
2. How do you think your childhood experience has shaped your spiritual longings?
3. What in chapter one spoke to you? Is there something you disagree with the author about? Something you strongly agree with?
4. On page 24 the author talks about churches that do not like change. What are your thoughts about the author's discussion of change on page 24?
TOMORROW's READIN is CHAPTER TWO
I look forward to chatting with you!
Peace of Christ, Pastor Deb
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Great quotes from General Assembly: Nashville
I've heard some powerful things in a few short days at the Disciple General Assembly in Nashville
Rev. Holly McKissick opened the assembly with an amazing sermon. A few of her tidbits were:
*The great thing about being a Disciple is that we know things aren't black and white. "There's a lot of gray."
*Disciples know that we don't have exclusive rights on Jesus.
*Disciples don't claim to have all the answers. We are humble thoughtful people who journey together as a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.
*The world needs a church like ours!
While preaching in worship Rev Bill Lee spoke about the church's call to be a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world of HIV/Aids.
*The church is called to bring healing and to use "any means necessary."
*Disciple preachers should stop sounding like Joel Olsteen and raise the roof of the church by speaking truth to power.
*Jesus didn't get permission to heal the sick and he didn't apologize for it when people became angry. He touched people and he used any means necessary to let people know they are loved.
General Minister and President, Sharon Watkins said in her state of the Church address:
*God is most fully known in the brokenness of our lives, not in the perfect unbroken loaf. We meet God in the crumbs of the broken bread.
*As Disciples, we are learning to fulfill our purpose from the edges of our culture. Isn't that where it all began and where we were always supposed to be?
And from Pastor Deb: I love being a Disciple, where we welcome all at the table of Christ, as God has welcomed us!
Rev. Holly McKissick opened the assembly with an amazing sermon. A few of her tidbits were:
*The great thing about being a Disciple is that we know things aren't black and white. "There's a lot of gray."
*Disciples know that we don't have exclusive rights on Jesus.
*Disciples don't claim to have all the answers. We are humble thoughtful people who journey together as a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.
*The world needs a church like ours!
While preaching in worship Rev Bill Lee spoke about the church's call to be a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world of HIV/Aids.
*The church is called to bring healing and to use "any means necessary."
*Disciple preachers should stop sounding like Joel Olsteen and raise the roof of the church by speaking truth to power.
*Jesus didn't get permission to heal the sick and he didn't apologize for it when people became angry. He touched people and he used any means necessary to let people know they are loved.
General Minister and President, Sharon Watkins said in her state of the Church address:
*God is most fully known in the brokenness of our lives, not in the perfect unbroken loaf. We meet God in the crumbs of the broken bread.
*As Disciples, we are learning to fulfill our purpose from the edges of our culture. Isn't that where it all began and where we were always supposed to be?
And from Pastor Deb: I love being a Disciple, where we welcome all at the table of Christ, as God has welcomed us!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Breath
breath
baby's breath
not the tiny white flower
the breath of an infant that smells so sweet
not sweet
unique,
human life
breath
as in breathing deeply
passionate breath
they say those are the moments that take your breath away,
those seconds of sighing, panting, breathing the breath of another
human
life
breath
labored breath
the breath of a life lived fully
coming to its rest
emptying oneself of breath
no breath
death.
baby's breath
not the tiny white flower
the breath of an infant that smells so sweet
not sweet
unique,
human life
breath
as in breathing deeply
passionate breath
they say those are the moments that take your breath away,
those seconds of sighing, panting, breathing the breath of another
human
life
breath
labored breath
the breath of a life lived fully
coming to its rest
emptying oneself of breath
no breath
death.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The March Pond
Standing on solid ground
ice firm beneath my feet.
soft shimmering sheet of snow sprinkled lightly
here
on the shady side of the March pond.
Tall naked trees on either side
branches lifted in praise.
Sun at my back
birds singing sweetly
traacks of the wild ones who walked before me.
Dare I follow them?
Step lightly sister, slow and steady, cautiously.
This is fragile ground...sacred ground.
Why so tempted to run?
It is good to be here on solid ground.
Yet, the deep calls.
I find my feet walking
stepping out
onto the sunny side.
See how the snow is melting around you?
small pools of water just ahead.
Why is the water so seductive?
Have you forgotten?
You were born to swim.
ice firm beneath my feet.
soft shimmering sheet of snow sprinkled lightly
here
on the shady side of the March pond.
Tall naked trees on either side
branches lifted in praise.
Sun at my back
birds singing sweetly
traacks of the wild ones who walked before me.
Dare I follow them?
Step lightly sister, slow and steady, cautiously.
This is fragile ground...sacred ground.
Why so tempted to run?
It is good to be here on solid ground.
Yet, the deep calls.
I find my feet walking
stepping out
onto the sunny side.
See how the snow is melting around you?
small pools of water just ahead.
Why is the water so seductive?
Have you forgotten?
You were born to swim.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Spirit Talk
Today is a beautiful day with a gentle cool breeze. How refreshing! I joyfully opened the windows of our home today so that we can breathe deeply of the fresh air, listen to the birds sing, and pretend as though fall has already arrived. The sound and feel of a gentle breeze or a strong wind reminds me of the Spirit.
Our scriptures tell us that the Spirit of God has been moving in the world since the beginning of time and that same spirit continues to move in our world today. The Spirit seems to be a mystery to us, although we have an abundance of Spirit stories in our scripture and tradition. Jesus spoke often about the Spirit, breathing the Spirit upon his followers, giving them peace and comfort. How does the Spirit speak to you? What do you feel, see, smell, hear, and taste when the Spirit is present? Do you have questions about the Spirit? Would you like to learn more about the Spirit? Would you like to feel comfortable talking about your spiritual experiences with people you trust?
As with most things in life, we have no hard and fast, firm answers or rules about how the Spirit of God acts in the world and in our lives, but we can learn from one another, scripture, tradition, and experience. We can become a Spirit filled church by becoming Spirit filled people. Does this mean that we will radically change our worship style, begin speaking in tongues of fire, reject reason and dumb down our theology or intellect? Absolutely not! Scripture tells us that the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Surely we could all use a little more of those things? Acts 2 paints a picture for us of a Spirit filled church. The Spirit filled church is a community of people who forgive one another. The Spirit filled church is a church where people are welcomed into the community with open arms, regardless of their status, class, race, or gender. According to Acts 2, the Spirit filled church is a community of people who spend much together. They break bread together, share their possessions, praise God, enjoy the goodwill of all the people, and they follow in the teachings of Jesus. A church that is Spirit filled is a church that is growing; growing in Spirit, theology, outreach, compassion and number.
This fall I will be offering a variety of experiences so we can grow in Spirit. You will have an opportunity to attend a workshop on Spirit, be part of group meditations, join a prayer group, study Spirit scriptures, hear personal stories, and ask questions pertaining to the Spirit. I hope you will choose to become involved in some of these activities, so your life and our ministry will be filled with the Spirit of Christ.
May we be open to the beauty, joy and mystery of the Spirit as we journey together in the days ahead.
Joy and peace of Christ,
Pastor Deb
Our scriptures tell us that the Spirit of God has been moving in the world since the beginning of time and that same spirit continues to move in our world today. The Spirit seems to be a mystery to us, although we have an abundance of Spirit stories in our scripture and tradition. Jesus spoke often about the Spirit, breathing the Spirit upon his followers, giving them peace and comfort. How does the Spirit speak to you? What do you feel, see, smell, hear, and taste when the Spirit is present? Do you have questions about the Spirit? Would you like to learn more about the Spirit? Would you like to feel comfortable talking about your spiritual experiences with people you trust?
As with most things in life, we have no hard and fast, firm answers or rules about how the Spirit of God acts in the world and in our lives, but we can learn from one another, scripture, tradition, and experience. We can become a Spirit filled church by becoming Spirit filled people. Does this mean that we will radically change our worship style, begin speaking in tongues of fire, reject reason and dumb down our theology or intellect? Absolutely not! Scripture tells us that the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control. Surely we could all use a little more of those things? Acts 2 paints a picture for us of a Spirit filled church. The Spirit filled church is a community of people who forgive one another. The Spirit filled church is a church where people are welcomed into the community with open arms, regardless of their status, class, race, or gender. According to Acts 2, the Spirit filled church is a community of people who spend much together. They break bread together, share their possessions, praise God, enjoy the goodwill of all the people, and they follow in the teachings of Jesus. A church that is Spirit filled is a church that is growing; growing in Spirit, theology, outreach, compassion and number.
This fall I will be offering a variety of experiences so we can grow in Spirit. You will have an opportunity to attend a workshop on Spirit, be part of group meditations, join a prayer group, study Spirit scriptures, hear personal stories, and ask questions pertaining to the Spirit. I hope you will choose to become involved in some of these activities, so your life and our ministry will be filled with the Spirit of Christ.
May we be open to the beauty, joy and mystery of the Spirit as we journey together in the days ahead.
Joy and peace of Christ,
Pastor Deb
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Love Sweet Love
In February we find hearts, flowers, candy, cupid, valentines, and of course, Love, sweet love. Our scriptures have much to say about love. "Love one another." "Love your enemies." "God is love." "Love those who persecute you." "Love is patient and kind, it is not envious..."
Remember the song, "What the world needs now, is love sweet love?" Perhaps what the world needs now is for those of us who call ourselves Christians to seek the wisdom of Jesus, concerning love.? Most of us would prefer to stick with our romantic love and family love over Jesus' radical love. Jesus was the living expression of Divine love. His love brought healing and welcome to the outcast and the oppressed. Jesus' love was extended to those most of us would find difficult to love. His love forgave time and time again. Jesus loved God with his heart, soul, and mind by loving his neighbor as himself. Jesus loved God by loving his enemies.
How will we love God in the month of love? Do we dare to love God by loving those difficult to embrace? Can we love our neighbor (or the estranged family member) by forgiving and then forgiving again? Rev. Senior Pulliam says this about love. "There is nothing in nature like love. Love is divine only and difficult always. If you think it is easy you are a fool. If you think it is natural you are blind. It is a learned application without reason or motive except that it is God."
What the world needs now is for Christians to love like the one they claim to follow.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Happy New Year!
Before leaping into a new year perhaps we should do a little remembering. The church is big on remembering. The act of remembering can be paralyzing if we choose to live in the past or it can empower us to live boldly in the future. Remembering can be an opportunity to learn from the good and the bad gone by. Our faith ancestors used the act of remembering to inspire them and give them courage in the days ahead. They remembered the many times God moved in their lives, passing on those stories of hope to the next generation. But their remembering didn't keep them from moving forward into new adventures. The Israelites didn't stay in the desert. Oh, they wandered around for a while, but eventually they moved on to the promised land where God blessed them with new stories and experiences. May our remembering of the past year be a time of giving thanks and sharing stories; a time of laughter and tears, a time of preparing for the future. Perhaps you and your family would like to come up with your own TOP 10 LIST for 2009 before moving bravely into the hope filled future.
DEB'S TOP 10 for 2009
1. Letting go so my daughter could move into a life of healing and growth.
2. A Spirit and joy filled vacation to Puerto Rico
3. Bittersweet good-bye gatherings with Missouri Friends
4. The New Beginning in Jefferson Iowa
5. Camron's Winning Football Season and awesome adjustment to Jefferson
6. Thanksgiving with Family in our new home.
7. Making New Friends
8. Good Health
9. The Raccoon River Valley Bike Trail (it is awesome!)
10. My Dad's Retirement Celebration in Missouri
I give thanks for all these things and for those that did not make the list, for it is from our past that we grow into the future.
Happy New Year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
