tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15302434621971180732024-03-05T12:05:07.367-08:00crossings:An emerging church in Davis, CASara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-14508049910187238022010-04-03T23:12:00.000-07:002010-04-04T00:09:59.075-07:00Easter Vigil<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He is risen! He is risen indeed!</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Tonight marked my first Easter Vigil service and my first Easter in Davis.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">From the fire in the front lawn, we began the service by entering into the darkened sanctuary. A solitary candle led the way, from which we lit our own.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then through liturgy, scripture, and hymn, the development of God’s covenant relationship with his people was laid out – from Genesis all the way through Isaiah.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The high point of the service was the baptism of baby Eddie, at which point we entered into the resurrection of Christ.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The first (official) statement of ‘alleluia’ of the Lenten season was proclaimed, and we rejoiced in the new covenant available through Christ.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">[And here’s to communal rejoicing over a shared plate of pork dumplings afterward!]</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In the course of this service, I was struck by the continuity of the Old Testament covenant relationship with the new covenant.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Putting Christ in context has been something of a mission for me since I came here to Davis.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The more I’ve found out about what his actions might have meant to his contemporaries, the more challenging and inspiring I have found Christ.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So often I think that I get sucked into solely thinking of the ‘cosmic Christ’ with the mental gymnastics that inevitably follow.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">While I do believe that this aspect of Christ is absolutely amazing in its implications for life, the universe and everything, the person of Jesus and the life that he lived seem to give so much insight into figuring out the walk that I want to follow in the here and now.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I believe that we are called to emulate the example that Christ gave us, as an ideal of how to redeem the surroundings that we find ourselves in as we make our way through this life.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Back to the question of context, though, how can we actually get at this issue of understanding Christ?</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I guess that the main impression that I am left with is a healthy dissatisfaction for my understanding of Christ. </span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I know that I will always be able to seek out new insight into the way we are to walk following him, much as we followed that first candle into the sanctuary this evening.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bible study at Steve’s this week should be a good time to get into that a bit – I’m hoping that we can start a good conversation about the personhood of Christ (and its implications) as we wind our way through Hebrews.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CCCCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Happy Easter, all!</span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Tyler Mackeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18188201560542522533noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-19152686247644251432010-03-04T14:29:00.000-08:002010-03-04T14:35:16.903-08:00lentThe 40 day journey to the cross that we take every year at lent always yields some of my most spiritual times, though in the midst of it, it rarely feels like it. Usually lent makes me feel a bit crazy - wondering if giving something up or taking on a new spiritual discipline was really that good of an idea.<br /><br />I find myself struggling with my faith, wondering at points if any of it is worth it and if I really do believe in God but as time moves on and I draw near to Easter I find life starting to spring up in the desert of my lent.<br /><br />I wonder what this year will bring...Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-85315758630899726182009-12-11T20:08:00.000-08:002009-12-11T20:08:00.417-08:00The second candle: Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyEL9Sr9_3W_SyFJ1VSJFnywEdowL5aLoj0zD4BOjOHAdArA4iV1IHRPj-sYpTupsPrxIciHWVt-hcXCPEsWQ1PTPGOXgapxQWY_-Opx2I9H8LmfaS9T-D6UmohhzN5DQj43YWouJ4XW9/s320/pic+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyEL9Sr9_3W_SyFJ1VSJFnywEdowL5aLoj0zD4BOjOHAdArA4iV1IHRPj-sYpTupsPrxIciHWVt-hcXCPEsWQ1PTPGOXgapxQWY_-Opx2I9H8LmfaS9T-D6UmohhzN5DQj43YWouJ4XW9/s320/pic+045.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The second candle on our advent wreath represents Love. We meditated on what God's love is. Can we grasp it? Tyler brought us a message on how God comes to us, where we are and meets us. When we read the words - "Prepare the way of the Lord." It doesn't mean, make everything perfect so that God can show up. Rather, as a statement - God is coming. Things are changing. He will make a way to us. What might God change in your life this advent?Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-55023172352359858492009-12-10T20:18:00.000-08:002009-12-10T20:18:00.924-08:00Noah: was there really a flood?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.answersingenesis.org/images/CEN213%2849%29.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 411px; height: 279px;" src="http://www.answersingenesis.org/images/CEN213%2849%29.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>So I've been thinking about Noah and our discussions on Genesis.<br /><br />Reading the wiki article about flood mythology, it seems that most of the world's cultures have giant floods as part of their tradition. In most of the stories someone builds a boat or goes to the mountains with "seeds of life" or a way to repopulate the earth.<br /><br />To me, oral tradition isn't usually factual truth but is usually based on a truth and is remembered in a meaningful way.<br /><br />Geology research shows that there is no evidence of a global flood, but instances of several major floods throughout the world at various times from 1,000 to 10,000 BC. <br /><br />So I wonder -- was there a global flood? Were there several floods that paralleled each other? Was Noah's flood a regional flood that covered the whole "known world" of Noah's time?Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-54119686288577545242009-12-08T20:51:00.000-08:002009-12-08T21:19:58.056-08:00All knowning, All powerful, All present ??This past week's biblestudy was quite interesting. We have been studying Genesis which gets at a lot of core issues -- Did God create the world? How? Did God know that man would fall? Was the fall part of his plan? Did Adam and Eve have a choice, or since it was part of God's plan it was inevitable that they would fall? Or do all of our choices lead to the same end?<br /><br />These questions are hard, but I think useful in helping us confront the limits of our ability to understand God. At some level we all struggle with a little bit of agnosticism. Can we fathom a God that exists outside of time, before time? Can we believe in a God that we can not fathom? Some how I feel that faith is deeper than this. I keep searching for words to describe what faith might be if not belief -- trust maybe? love? connection?<br /><br />Can we love God or have faith in God if we cannot know God? Do relationships begin with knowing each other? Or is it that God knows us and the relationship is one sided?Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-70662510168365691312009-12-08T19:52:00.001-08:002009-12-08T20:08:49.206-08:00Advent<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyEL9Sr9_3W_SyFJ1VSJFnywEdowL5aLoj0zD4BOjOHAdArA4iV1IHRPj-sYpTupsPrxIciHWVt-hcXCPEsWQ1PTPGOXgapxQWY_-Opx2I9H8LmfaS9T-D6UmohhzN5DQj43YWouJ4XW9/s1600-h/pic+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtyEL9Sr9_3W_SyFJ1VSJFnywEdowL5aLoj0zD4BOjOHAdArA4iV1IHRPj-sYpTupsPrxIciHWVt-hcXCPEsWQ1PTPGOXgapxQWY_-Opx2I9H8LmfaS9T-D6UmohhzN5DQj43YWouJ4XW9/s320/pic+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413079903853767346" border="0" /></a><br />Advent is a time to be still. To be quiet. To wait. We think of candles and evening secrets, stars and wreaths. We prepare for the coming of Jesus.<br /><br />This advent Crossings is making room for Jesus in our lives by taking time to be quiet and meditate. Our journey is marked by the four candles of our advent wreath, Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.<br /><br />The first candle, hope signifies the hope for the messiah. What sort of savior do we hope for? What do we hope God will fix in the world?Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-89774422892179180272009-12-02T18:42:00.000-08:002009-12-02T19:18:21.203-08:00Adam and Eve<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">I</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-size:85%;" > had some thoughts regarding the discussion on Adam and Eve, and, since unfortunately I can’t make it to Bible study on time, was not able to put out the ideas at Steve’s (and now that I’ve finished writing it all here, realized that perhaps it was better to write it out anyway, so you can read it or not, as you please!). I realize that this thought runs counter to what most people at the study seemed to be thinking, but in the spirit of good discussion and critical thinking, I will put it out anyway, and you can feel free to agree or disagree, and post a kind-hearted reply if you can add more light to my thinking. </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-size:85%;" ><span style="">:)</span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);font-size:85%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">I want to discuss the idea that other people besides Adam and Eve existed at the time of the initial creation of human beings. I realize that from a scientific point of view, the development of many human beings at once would be most sensible; and at first glance, it seems not to create any serious theological problems. On deeper reflection, however, I am disturbed by the possible implications of this hypothesis. For if not all humankind descended from Adam, then not all were subject to the same fall into sin. And if not all fell with Adam (being as yet inside him), not all were given the promise of redemption (crushing the serpent’s head as he strikes the heel, Gen. 3:15). And as Jesus is the second Adam, the life-giving spirit (1 Cor. 15:45), then only those descended from Adam’s sinful line would be saved through Christ. But in Romans 5:12-19, Paul seems to be saying that sin came to <i style="">all </i>through the one man, Adam, and reconciliation to <i style="">all</i> through the second Adam, who is Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">So, if other human beings were around but not in the line of Adam, then are they not saved through Christ? For the story only works when Christ is the savior of the entirety of Adam’s line. If others were there, but not part of Adam, is their redemption then outside of Christ? As in, they may be saved through Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, or whatever is indigenous to their culture? Is Christ only the answer and completion to the Hebrew “myth,” if that is what we’re calling it, or is He the savior of all? “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God,” said Peter (Jn. 6:68). Is this true? If other words of life, means of salvation, are out there, how am I to know that I am descended from Adam and therefore under the salvation of Christ? And what reason would Paul have had to spread the gospel to the Gentiles, if they perhaps had not even descended from Adam? Could not their gods save them, completing whatever creation myths they believed?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">This is where, it seems to me, this manner of thinking could go. Is this what we want?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">If not, I perceive several ways around it. First, to interpret the passage as meaning that Adam and Eve are indeed the father and mother of all the living (Gen. 3:20: “The man called his wife Havah [life], because she was the mother of all living” [CJB]). As they lived a very long time, they could have had many children (as is mentioned in Gen. 5:4). Perhaps not all of these children were born after Seth, and perhaps these were the people Cain feared as he left the presence of God and from among whom he chose a wife. It may not be extremely plausible to the scientific mind, but to my simple mind, it seems a possibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Another possible solution is to consider the flood. As Noah and his family were descended from Adam (and, by the way, not from Cain, whose descendants all perished in the flood), then of course all people subsequent to the flood would have been children of Adam (provided that we are considering the flood to have been an actual worldwide event). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">The third and most tenuous solution would be more philosophical than literal. That is the notion that Christ <i style="">is</i> the savior of all humankind (and indeed, all creation), but that he fulfills the mythology of each culture in a way unique and perfect to it. So to the Hebrew culture He is the Messiah prophesied in Isaiah, the sacrificial lamb of the Exodus, and the second Adam prefigured in Genesis. To another culture he may be the fulfillment in another way, of which I yet have no understanding, since my cross-cultural knowledge is limited. Yet for all cultures He would be the fulfillment, completion, Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">I am beginning to rather like the last option. However, I do have some trouble with it, as it seems dangerously close to what my atheist/Buddhist/Hindu/Jain friend said about Bodhisattvas. A Bodhisattva, as I understand it, is an enlightened human being who has escaped the wheel of suffering through good karma but chooses to postpone his or her entrance into nirvana in order to help the rest of the human race achieve the state of blessedness as well. In this view, Buddha, the Dali Lama, and other such revered teachers are considered Bodhisattvas. As my friend sees it, Christ is just another Bodhisattva, an incarnation of god among many others, and one can choose to follow whichever of these one likes—or to follow none at all, but simply trust one’s own inner enlightenment (inner god) through the practice of meditation. Books (and churches), my friend says, are a waste of time, and are just people trying to get you to believe whatever it is they believe so they can control you. So, is Jesus just another enlightened one, one among many that lead along the path of blessedness (which is, it seems, really a way to save oneself), or is He the true, literal, actual (and included in that is also metaphorical) Savior of all humanity?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: georgia;"></p> <p style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-family: georgia;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-69813053100823840432009-10-06T18:20:00.000-07:002009-10-06T18:38:58.178-07:00Some deep questions and froyoThis week at biblestudy we started reading Luke chapter 22 which is the start of the passion of Jesus. We read through how Judas decided to betray Jesus and the last supper. We had a lot of questions and interesting discussion. Here are some of the main ones that we talked about... interesting things to think about.<br /><br />How did the masses of people go from believing Jesus as the messiah to shouting Crucify him?<br /><br />If it was God's will for Jesus to go to the cross, why was it bad for Judas to betray him?<br /><br />Peter denies Jesus, Judas betrays Jesus... why is Peter restored and Judas not?<br /><br />Why did Jesus take bread and say - this is my body? What does that mean?<br /><br />When Jesus died on the cross, did God die? did a man die? did God leave the man of Jesus?<br /><br />When Jesus rose again - was it the same body? (people didn't recognize him, but he had scars, he could walk through walls, but he still ate food.)<br /><br />Our brains got tired, so we decided to go eat frozen yogurt. We'll continue to read this story next week so if you have comments to share, we'd love to hear em.Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-41213986623886430972009-09-25T15:26:00.000-07:002009-09-25T16:18:35.747-07:00Squatters rightsAt bible study this week, we read the parable of the vineyard... the basic plot is that a man owns a vineyard and has tenants. He sends people to go collect some of the harvest and the tenants beat them up. Finally he decides to send his son cause he thinks the tenants will respect him. But instead they kill him because they think that if he's gone they will get the property.<br /><br />Our initial discussion was about how Jesus told this parable to describe Israel and predict his death. It seemed pretty straight forward. But then we started thinking about the rights of tenants. These tenants felt that they had a right to decide how things would work on the property. They used violence to assert what they felt was their right. And their minds got twisted. Somehow they felt that they were entitled to ownership.<br /><br />Applying this to our own faith walks we discovered that sometimes we act like this toward God. When we work hard on something and put ourselves into it, we assume that it is ours and we get really upset when God intervenes and changes things. We assume we have rights.....Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-25195247474248460432009-09-23T11:32:00.000-07:002009-09-23T11:43:22.348-07:00What is wisdom?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://herokids.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/wisdom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 215px;" src="http://herokids.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/wisdom.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This past week we talked about what is wisdom. In the bible we read about earthly wisdom and Godly wisdom. It seems a bit confusing. Earthly wisdom says "be prepared" Godly wisdom says "have faith." Earthly wisdom says "be strong" Godly wisdom says "make sacrifices."<br /><br />Godly wisdom seems to go in the face of what we recognize on earth to be wise. Why is this? What is it about the spiritual realm that changes the nature of wisdom. Does Godly wisdom apply to earthly affairs or only spiritual ones? How do we discern what is wise to do in a given situation?Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-55901151835100240672009-09-19T09:54:00.000-07:002009-09-19T10:11:58.180-07:00Jesus loves a hussla'In biblestudy this week, we read a really interesting parable. The full parable is found in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2019:11-27&version=NIV">Luke 19</a>. In summary the story is about a powerful guy who leaves for a few months so that he could be made king. While he was gone, he trusted his money to his servants. He gave one servant $100,000, one $50,000 and the last one $10,000. When he came back he found that the first two servants had doubled their money but the last one was worried about losing the money and simply hid it because he knew that the man was a hard ass and that he'd be in some major hot water if he lost the money.<br /><br />We were thinking of this parable. In order to double someone's investment in a short amount of time you have to be out there really hussling. Looking for opportunities, taking risks, putting it into long shots and at the same time you have to have a great degree of discernment to know what's going to pay off in the long run.<br /><br />When we tried applying this to faith we thought of the guy who hid the money as someone who believes in God but doesn't share it with anyone. Doesn't go to church. Doesn't talk about it with friends or family. Doesn't do anything with it. In this way, their faith is never stretched and it never grows. The easy thing to do is at least find a few people to share your faith walk with who are close to you. This is a safe investment. It grows slowly but there is little risk involved.<br /><br />But the parables urge us to be husslers. To always have our eyes open. To always be willing to take risks and open our ideas about faith up to those around us who might challenge them. To share them with strangers. Jesus loves him a hussler.Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-56122815452755087892009-09-16T13:12:00.000-07:002009-09-16T13:35:28.340-07:00Pick up your cross and follow me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/antarctica/blog/images/cross-in-snow-350.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 267px;" src="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/antarctica/blog/images/cross-in-snow-350.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This week's verse at Crossings was a tough one. Jesus asks the disciples who they think he is. Peter answers, "the messiah." Jesus says, "yep, and here's a secret. I'm going to go to Jerusalem and the chief priests are going to have me killed."<br /><br />TIME OUT! If you are the messiah, the one who's going to save us. The one who's going to restore God's favor to the earth, why are you going to die? We were waiting for utopia. We don't get it...<br /><br />Furthermore, Jesus says to them. If anyone wants to follow me, he needs to pick up his cross.<br /><br />DOUBLE TIME OUT! Not only are you going to die and leave us in this miserable world but now you want us to die too? What is this, mass suicide? Why so much death? I was very puzzled by this. How could God's will be so seemingly destructive and pointless.<br /><br />Jesus knows life beyond death. God sees the past and the future and the present all at once. I remember as a child having a very painful splinter. My mom said, it had to come out and it would feel better. I didn't want her to touch it. Why would she make it hurt more? She's supposed to make it better. Like God, she knew that once I went through the pain of getting it out I would be healed.<br /><br />Death is a letting go. Picking up our cross to follow Jesus is a choice to let go of something in this world (a dream, a job, money, a relationship, a habit, a hobby) and follow what God calls us to do and be. To let our identity be changed by God. And if we do, let go and trust God, what life is waiting on the other side? Will it be better or worse? This is faith.<br /><br />Jesus choose to let go of his Godliness and to die, a man on a cross. On the otherside of death he found life and a the relationship between God and humanity restored. What will we find?Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-34487163141306793422009-09-09T22:04:00.000-07:002009-09-09T22:04:00.103-07:00Jesus has pissy days too...<a href="http://recollectionbooks.com/bleed/images/BB/bad_day.jpg"></a>This week at Crossings the gospel story portrayed a Jesus who seemed a little "off." His responses to people were more short than compassionate. We struggled with this text. Why is Jesus like this? Does he have something else to teach about these individuals? Is there a reason he is staying arms reach?<br /><br />Jason, the new intern at DLC, brought an interesting idea forward. Maybe Jesus was having a bad day....<br /><br />Did Jesus have bad days?<br /><br />Does God have bad days?<br /><br />Or does Jesus who is fully God and fully human experience his humanity like the rest of us and have moments where he is just fed up with people?<br /><br />In his message, Jason spoke a word of comfort to us, that yes, in his humanity Jesus experienced being "off" and "not being in the mood." So that when we also face inevitable bad days, we can take comfort in knowing that God is with us in them.<br /><br />But this has made me think about how God might feel watching mankind hurt the earth and hurt each other. Are there days that God just doesn't want to deal?<br /><a href="http://recollectionbooks.com/bleed/images/BB/bad_day.jpg"></a>Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-40055371039166011562009-09-07T22:21:00.000-07:002009-09-07T22:37:09.077-07:00Living in communityFor me, this evening fit the ideal description of labor day. A cool breezy afternoon in the park, BBQing, a game of ultimate frisbee, friends sitting around in fold-up camping chairs sipping on various drinks while kids did "performances" for us from just beyond the playground.<br /><br />I looked around, some people I had known for the entire 3 years that I have been involved with Crossings and some I've only met a few weeks ago. But somehow, this evening, it felt like we were at a family reunion and that we had known each other forever with a type of intimacy that is rarely experienced among a group of friends. It felt like my favorite pair of jeans after they've been worn a few times.<br /><br />This is what it means to be "church." to be the "body." One couple is getting married and we all gathered to support them in their wedding preparations. New students and professionals are settling into town to start a new life here and we gather to help them move in and feel welcome. My husband and I are expecting our first child and everyone gathers around us to help prepare for the new baby to come -- and not in a "this is a church duty" obligatory way, but in a comfortable, we count on each other the way we count on our family kind of way.<br /><br />This evening, as I watched everyone enjoy the night. As I sat with my feet up, peaceful with the world and not being anything but myself. I was very thankful that God has worked in us all to form "the church" among us and pray that this kind of "church" could exist for everyone.Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-17528037984624840492009-07-05T21:46:00.000-07:002009-07-05T21:53:14.815-07:00Thinking outside the box<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.small-business-ideas-branded-by-passion.com/image-files/outside-the-box.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 235px;" src="http://www.small-business-ideas-branded-by-passion.com/image-files/outside-the-box.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Today at Crossings Jen challenged our thinking about God and life. We talked about how people assumed they knew who Jesus was and because of that, they put him in a box.<br /><br />People do that with each other, with us. They think they know us and therefore know what we will do. But, sometimes people can surprise us. They can do something different than what we expect.<br /><br />This is especially true for God. We have an assumption about God and what he is and how he works but really, what kind of box is big enough for God?<br /><br />What do you assume about God? Do you put God in a box?Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-35467926648120275772009-07-02T06:56:00.000-07:002009-07-02T06:56:01.100-07:00Letting Go.In biblestudy, we talked about the parable of the man who had so much stuff that he needed to build a bigger barn. Year after year he accumulated stuff and built bigger storage spaces. Then, one day he said, "Ah, I have everything I need, I will rest and live happily." But God came and said, "Tonight your life will be demanded of you."<br /><br />Our initial discussion found this to be very straight-forward. Don't spend your life so pre-occupied with getting a better house, better job, better car, rather make sure that you keep your eyes open to others around you.<br /><br />But, the next section said, do not worry about what you will eat or drink, for the ravens do not worry and God provides for them. You are worth more than birds.<br /><br />We talked about poverty and God's provision. When some people starve, how can we believe that God provides?<br /><br />As we talked our conclusion was that these verses are about surrendering to God. That life is uncertain and bad things happen. We can do everything in our power to try to control that - buy insurance, get a good job, live responsibly, but at the end of the day, there is nothing we can do to prevent cancer or earthquakes or death. Those things are part of living in this broken world.<br /><br />But, if we surrender. If we let go of our worry and trust God day to day. Then we are free. Our lives become light and full of color.<br /><br />Of course, letting go of control is hard. Letting go of fear is harderSara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-76735166820129489192009-06-30T06:46:00.000-07:002009-06-30T06:56:00.555-07:00You gotta have faith....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.earthlight.org/images/meganne_forbes_sacred_relationshipS27.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 266px;" src="http://www.earthlight.org/images/meganne_forbes_sacred_relationshipS27.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This week at Crossings we read the stories of how Jesus healed several different people. What we noticed and discussed was that in each occasion, Jesus called the people to faith. He asked them to trust him, to believe him. They did and were healed.<br /><br />What does that look like for us today? What does trusting a God we can't see, and often can not hear look like? What does healing look like?<br /><br />We didn't have answers but we thought about the words Jesus shared with his disciples before he died. Two things he emphasized. First, that the holy spirit would come and second, that they were to love each other. From this we took that healing happens in relationship - with God and with each other. And that Faith and trust are about opening ourselves to that relationship.Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-69859159474799170982009-06-26T12:51:00.000-07:002009-06-26T12:51:00.732-07:00God tells Job to "get a pair"At biblestudy we have gotten to Luke chapter 11. You may wonder how this led us to God telling Job to "get a pair," I will explain. We ended spending a lot of time talking about the following verses:<br /><br /><span class="woj" style=";font-size:85%;" >30 As Jonah was a sign for those people who lived in Nineveh, the Son of Man will be a sign for the people of this time. <sup id="en-NCV-25334" class="versenum" value="31">31</sup> On the Judgment Day the Queen of the South will stand up with the people who live now. She will show they are guilty, because she came from far away to listen to Solomon's wise teaching. And I tell you that someone greater than Solomon is here.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">This led us to read the old testament to figure out what Jesus meant by this. The stories of Jonah and the Queen of Sheeba are very different, but at their heart they are both about gentiles recognizing the God of Israel as God. So, here, Jesus prophesies that he will finally break down the barriers and all gentiles will be able to see and recognize God.<br /><br />He continues after this to berate the pharisees and the teachers of the law, which got us going on just how good he is at ripping on people. I mean, it was brutal. He basically held them personally responsible for all the deaths of all the prophets in the old testement.<br /><br />Again refering to the old testament, we read many sections where God is rather blunt with people for being disobientiant or for questioning his authority.<br /><br />We ended up reading from the book of Job where God rips Job a new one for questioning him. Chapter 38 starts like this:<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> <sup id="en-NASB-13795" class="versenum" value="1">1</sup>Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,<br /> <sup id="en-NASB-13796" class="versenum" value="2">2</sup>"Who is this that darkens counsel<br /> By words without knowledge?<br /> <sup id="en-NASB-13797" class="versenum" value="3">3</sup>"Now gird up your loins like a man,<br /> And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!<br /> <sup id="en-NASB-13798" class="versenum" value="4">4</sup>"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?</span><br /><br />It is refreshing to see God's infinite grace and yet not a pushover.Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-27460883578141868292009-06-24T12:37:00.000-07:002009-06-24T12:51:00.245-07:00calming the storm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.companysj.com/v244/cuban-hurricane.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 177px;" src="http://www.companysj.com/v244/cuban-hurricane.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />At Crossings this week, we read the story where Jesus and his disciples are crossing the sea of Galilee. Jesus falls asleep and a big storm comes and threatens to destroy the boat. The disciples are terrified so they wake Jesus up. Jesus stands up and tells the storm to calm down, and it does.<br /><br />Ali gave a great message about storms and how life is full of them. She reminded us that all along, Jesus was with the disciples through the storm. God is with us and close to us during the storms of our lives and when we surrender to that presence, the storm can go on how ever wild it is, but we are filled with calm. God is in control and we have nothing to fear.<br /><br />Letting go is the hard part, particularly when we have a hard time trusting God, believing in him... that he is there at all. But even if we can't surrender, can't believe, can't let go of our fears, God is there anyways. That's grace.<br /><br />as we learn to accept it, it becomes all the more beautiful.Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-33243397345788601952009-06-14T20:19:00.000-07:002009-06-14T20:38:03.160-07:00The Kingdom of Heaven...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://spokanepublishing.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/pregnant-woman1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 273px;" src="http://spokanepublishing.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/pregnant-woman1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>is like a mustard seed that starts small and grows on its own.<br /><br />This is the verse we read at Crossings this week. It really touched home for me as I am 4 1/2 months pregnant which has given me a number of insights into faith.<br /><br />At first, I was agnostic about being pregnant. A little stick told me that it was true but I didn't feel any different and had a nagging sense that it wouldn't really "stick."<br /><br />Weeks passed and I had an ultrasound. Seeing a little body that moved and beating heart pierced me. But still I couldn't feel it. I wasn't changing that much and so emotionally, it didn't seem real. I was agnostic.<br /><br />I realized that sometimes, even when God presents us huge blaring signs that he exists and is out there. We find ways to dismiss them. But yet, this small thing is planted in our hearts and grows. And as it grows it takes hold of us. It changes us.<br /><br />And as I am now starting to believe in and connect to this baby that I can't see growing inside me, so in faith we find small ways to connect to and believe in God and to trust in Him.Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-7568384865486417802009-06-11T14:13:00.000-07:002009-06-11T14:13:00.128-07:00Feeding of th 5,000At biblestudy we are continuing to work through the book of Luke. This week we read chapter 9 which had a number of great stories including the feeding of the 5,000 and the transfiguration of Jesus.<br /><br />One thing that we really discussed about this chapter was how it was a time of teaching for the disciples. If you notice the words carefully, when Jesus feeds the 5,000, he actually doesn't do the work. He tells the disciples to "feed them." He blesses the bread and then the disciples go out and give it to the people.<br /><br />In this story, the disciples go from passive observers of Jesus's ministry to active participants who share in the work. What would you do, if Jesus turned to you and asked you to feed 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread?Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-5783739995585706132009-06-09T14:07:00.000-07:002009-06-09T14:13:15.604-07:00Peter 2.0The first chapters of Acts following the Pentecost focus on Peter as he assumes his role as the "rock" upon which the church begins to grow. Throughout the past year, we've read about Peter in the Gospel who was ordinary, thick-skulled, a little impulsive and poor with follow-through. But something happens to Peter.<br /><br />In Acts we find him eloquent, bold and full of integrity. What happened to Peter?<br /><br />Pentecost.<br /><br />The pouring of the Holy Spirit out on Peter filled him with boldness and truth and made him unafraid and able to lead the newly founded church.<br /><br />At Crossings, we reflected on how much we can learn from the fact that Jesus chose Peter dispite all of his flaws and that when the time came for Peter to carry out God's work, the Spirit was with him and gave him the courage and wisdom to do so. As we also, open ourselves to God and his work and will for us, we too can be changed and transformed to do more than we had ever thought possibleSara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-7041459294251370902009-06-01T13:26:00.000-07:002009-06-01T13:36:02.417-07:00Pour out your spirit in this place<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://theblackcordelias.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/venisanctespiritus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 184px;" src="http://theblackcordelias.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/venisanctespiritus.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This past Sunday was Pentecost, the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit. What the heck does that mean? As we review our Easter stories, we see a group of disciples who encounter a risen Jesus but are afraid, confused and not sure what to do next. As Jesus promised, following his ascent into heaven, the Spirit came.<br /><br />They were gathered in a room and a rushing wind blew through it and tongues of fire rested on each of their heads and they were empowered to speak many languages. And more over, they were emboldened to share the news of the Gospel with the whole world.<br /><br />At Crossings, we remembered the Spirit is still among us today. Taking various forms. Sometimes through flashy means of visions or tongues. And others through still means of discernment and a boldness to do God's will even when it's hard. Our prayer was that the Spirit come and guide us and strengthen us to carry out the work that God has set before us.Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-89114604537248673192009-05-17T20:31:00.002-07:002009-05-17T20:48:17.791-07:00Ruptures in our narrative<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.rdowens.net/images/markers/atlantic/unexpected/unexpected-01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 167px;" src="http://blog.rdowens.net/images/markers/atlantic/unexpected/unexpected-01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>On the road to Damascus Saul, who was actively persecuting the church, has an encounter with Jesus and becomes one of the most prolific evangelists in history. This is the ORIGINAL Born-Again story that we can point at and say, ah-ha, all you have to do is have this encounter with Jesus and your life will change dramatically.<br /><br />At Crossings today, we talked about how our life dramatically and permanently changes when we develop a relationship with Jesus, but not all of us have clear dramatic encounters. Some of our stories are more subtle.<br /><br />Katie in her message called these "ruptures in our narrative." God does small interesting interfering things in our lives which don't always fit neatly together into a cohesive faith story, but they do bring us along in our spiritual journeys.Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1530243462197118073.post-85665605671626854962009-05-15T15:37:00.000-07:002009-05-17T20:48:41.067-07:00Living by the rules<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:FCKt-DvuSdTK4M:http://www.sourcingcorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/10-commandments.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 122px; height: 122px;" src="http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:FCKt-DvuSdTK4M:http://www.sourcingcorner.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/10-commandments.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>At biblestudy we got into a discussion about rules... Why were the pharisees so bent out of shape about doing things on the Sabbath? People had to know exactly what they could and could not do so that they could make appropriate sacrifices to atone for their sins.<br /><br />Jesus was wreckless about the rules. He seemed to break them because he didn't follow the letter of the law regarding sabbath. But, he wasn't breaking them, he subsumed them. In speaking to his disciples, he boiled the law down to two rules - love God, love each other. All the other rules are there to help guide people on how to do this.<br /><br />As Christians, we try to follow these two big rules. We have the 10 commandments which help us understand how to do that. We have the the bible - the old testament and the letters of the apostles to help us understand stand what it means to do that. We are not burdened by the rules. They do not weigh us down as they did the pharisees. Why not? We recognize that we cannot follow the rules perfectly. The rules are there to show us how imperfect we are and how much we need God's help and forgiveness. We don't need to keep track of the millions of ways that we break the rules, because Jesus has already atoned for all of them.Sara http://www.blogger.com/profile/09131602899944266552noreply@blogger.com0