Happy Anniversary!

Well, here we are, April 30, 2011. Two years ago today I was receiving paperwork that indicated that I was terminated, and several of us were preparing for a congregational meeting. That seems many worlds away in so many ways, and yet the wounds and scars from that experience can become visible in just a nano second.

I love all of you and am so thankful for the lessons that God has taught me in the last two years in your midst. But I still mourn for the lost relationships, and the lack of trust for fellow Christians that still creeps into my heart. I mourn for a Church that can never again be mine, and an innocence and purity about life and community and Church that is forever gone to me.

It is interesting that our scripture tomorrow is about David and Bathsheba. I didn't plan it that way, but here we are. The chapter begins by stating that in the Spring when Kings went off to war, David stayed behind. Exactly what that signals in David's life, I can't tell you, but I know that if he had been where he was supposed to be, he would never have looked over that balcony at Bathsheba, and the course of his life would have been changed. By the same token, had I not been fired from Park Row, I would never be where I am today, surrounded by such a wonderful community of believers.

So much of what it means to be a follower of Christ is being where we need to be...which is in the company of Christ. To go where He goes, to say what He says, to do what He does...to follow our rabbi in all things. Almost all the problems I have experienced in churches over the years have stemmed from people not obeying these simple 'rules.' Folks may have had all the 'right' answers about Acappella music, or the role of baptism, or how often to attend worship services or take communion, but they did NOT have hearts that were in tune with Christ's heart...who, though being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God as something to be clung to (Philippians).

And so as we move forward, may we be in concert with the Father, the Son and the Spirit, and seek to do ONLY the things that they would have us do.

Videos to make you think

Bill and Greg shared a couple of really cool videos on their FB pages yesterday and I wanted to share them with you, in case you missed them! Thanks for sharing today in an awesome and joyous time as we celebrated the resurrection power of Christ.

Resurrection

Tomorrow is the biggest day within the Christian faith. The acceptance, and trust in, the physical resurrection of Christ is the peripety of the faithful life. To quote the homework my friends from the PUMP Church of Christ in Portland gave their kids each Sunday: God loves me, Jesus died for me, and I can have hope in the resurrection. (This is simply a restatement of Paul's words in I Corinthians 15)

Tomorrow we will be discussing the resurrection of Christ as well as the resurrection of another Old Testament family (King Saul) in the form of his crippled grandson Mephibosheth. We will consider the times when we all, like Thomas, have troubles remaining faithful when all seems lost.

This will be a jubilant, triumphant time...as we welcome back Bill and Donna, and also Daniel's mom, Marilyn. If you are a bluegrass fan, click here to see a video of a great song called I am the Man, Thomas! See you tomorrow!

Some notes from Jessica about Spiritual Disciplines...

Thoughts from Jessica Colvin...

I went with my sister to her church. She’s becoming an Antiochian Orthodox. The Orthodox church is known for its de-emphasis in evangelizing. There was a guest speaker that day, however, that was speaking on missiology. He said that the main way he believes evangelism should be done is through living a life with Godly character, and by our example, people will come to want to know Christ. And what they do in the Orthodox church is eat and breathe spiritual disciplines—not at all that that’s what we should become but they may have something to teach as (as might many other denominations).

If we are transformed by the renewing of our minds through meditations, prayer, and ancient disciplines, we are working closer to the goal of loving God with all of our hearts, minds and souls and loving one another as ourselves.

For more info on the Antiochian Movement, click HERE!