Us, as a people...

We, as a people, a human race, have done some terrible things. One has simply to watch the news or crack a history book to learn of how we have treated our fellow man (and woman) as less than human. Part of what we are called to as Christians and as people in a faith community is to see, acknowledge and love the image of God in all people. This can be a huge undertaking, but it will also change the face of our neighborhoods, churches and our world.

In Colossians 3:12-15, Paul urges us to bear with one another with an attitude of forgiveness, grace and love. To acknowledge our faults encourage one another in uniting with Christ in God's mission in redeeming the world. It is this mission that drives our need for a close community.

Everyone needs friends and people around them, we have an intrinsic desire for intimacy on many levels. But, our mission in joining with Christ in His plan for redeeming the world puts us in many rough, challenging, and often precarious situations, and it is because of the risky nature of our faith that we NEED this close community.

Does your lifestyle reflect a faith that lives counter culturally and therefore is in need of constant companions on the journey?

Are we opening ourselves up to be a people that journeys together in deep encouragement of one another? In grace, acceptance and love?

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The old has gone and the new has come…

Recently, my brother had the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time in Berlin. Germany. Although much of his work centered around a small café’ in East Berlin, during his time there he heard many stories and saw remnants of the Berlin Wall, which was torn down in 1989. It was said that life in Berlin changed drastically at this time, especially in the eastern half. The wall was now torn down, no longer were friends and fellow citizens kept apart by the decrees of man. Following, and as part, of the joyous celebration of reconciliation – many symbols of the communist regime were destroyed.

In Colossians 2:8, Paul says: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

Paul is using this statement to again, declare freedom to those in Colossae. They had been under the deceptive influence Rome and the emperor, a system that degraded their status as image bearers of the living God. He goes on to say that when the old has gone, we are made fully alive in Christ. We are free to enter into the story of Christ and His creation. This is a beautiful narrative of Creation, Fall, Redemption and Re-Creation.

We are now free to be re-created in Christ and to no longer live under human judgments. We are no longer held in judgment…

How often do we let what others might think of us get in the way of living a full life?

How often might we be the judges? Possibly holding back someone else from experiencing life as God may have intended it for them?

Faithfulness...

As one of the fruits of the spirit, Faithfulness, is a two way street with God. He promises to be faithful to both us and his promises - thus we continually pledge our faithfulness to Him.

It is so easy to loose sight of the many ways in which the Lord has been faithful to us personally. So many things seem to distract us and often current issues/problems shape our perspective on God's faithfulness to us and our situation. It is so important to remember what Christ has done in our lives, in order to see what He currently may be doing.

A key phrase in the Old Testament is "Remember..." Whether the speaker is referring to the Sabbath, the Lord, or your time in Egypt... We are called to remember how God has worked in our lives and history - this helps keep our identity firmly rooted in God's identity.

This Sunday, as we look back on what the Lord has done in our lives and in our faith community, let us be joyful and thankful, as well as expectant. "For greater things have yet to come and greater things have yet to be done here..."

Meditation: Psalm 31: 1-8.

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Suffering together...

As portrayed in the 2004 film "Miracle," the 1980 US hockey team is a ragtag bunch of college kids, all from different teams from around the country. Their new coach is charged with making them a team, a single functioning unit. There is a memorable scene where coach Herb Brooks orders the team to skate punishing fitness drills until the players, voluntarily, state their name and identify themselves as members of Team USA. Through their collective suffering and trials they were brought together for a greater purpose

A similar thing happened after the hurricanes of 2005 - people from all across the nation were rushing to the aid of the people along the Gulf Coast. There is a sense that suffering, trials and tests bring us closer together as people.

Take a minute and think of the people in your life who have stood with or journeyed alongside of you through the tough times in your life...

Maybe some of these people you still keep in contact with daily, and maybe others have fallen out of touch through the years. But, many of these friends would still greet you with a hug. Our collective trials bring us together in a way that time and space cannot always overcome. We are called to suffer along with our brothers and sisters in the church, as well as know that while we are suffering - we are in a sense becoming closer to Christ, our long suffering Lord.

Meditation: Col. 1:24-27
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"...I call first captain!"

There is a sense on every elementary school playground that each student must rush out and try to be first on the field to declare "first captain!" They would then be able to pick whom they wanted on their team; they were the leader.

The desire in many young kids (and adults) is to lead the way into something great - to head off first into the adventures of touch football, or even leading a hike. In many ways this urge toward initial leadership can be seen as a clear reflection of Christ in our young people. In Colossians 1:18, Paul continues to share that Christ is not only the creator, the sustainer, and head of the church, but that he is also the "firstborn from among the dead."He is the one who will lead the way into eternal life, in the way of resurrection from the dead!

With his resurrection having already occurred, Christ is leading the victory parade right now, he invites us to join. To join in his redemptive work in our hearts and those of others, in our world/culture and in creation. Our hope of eternal resurrection is secured in Him but in our lives now, what might it look like for us to live as though we truly knew that Christ is victorious over all the powers of death and destruction?

Are there areas of our lives that need Christ's redemptive healing?

Are there people or situations in our lives where we need to call "first captain" and lead the way into bringing Christ's love there?

300 ??

Have you heard about the Spartans? The ancient warriors who wore long red capes, had 6 packs, bulging muscles and lived only to fight. They were hardened warriors, from childhood they were taught skills in weaponry and survival. Even a recent History Channel show called the Spartans- "pure bred fighting machines." But, although historically renown, the Spartans were only one of the many peoples of ancient Greece. Another famous city-state of ancient Greece was Athens.

Athens still stands today and one can go take in the sights of ancient temples and ruins. Held almost in sharp juxtaposition to Sparta, the culture of Athens was one of beautiful art and thoughtful philosophy. The men of Athens were known to be thinkers who held logic and reason in very high regard.

In Acts 17, Paul finds himself in Athens. As Paul does, he begins talking to people about Jesus and the Greeks begin to take interest. The funny thing is, the men of Athens were much like many of us are today - very interested in spirituality, religion and multiple worldview ideas. In a way, our culture is also primed to hear the ideas and teachings of Jesus. The debate in America is no longer Atheism verses Christianity, but now, people wondering if the teachings of Christ really ring true in our lives and culture. Paul was simply talking about Jesus in a "pre-Christian" world, and people were amazed, inquisitive and surprised. Today, if we can simply talk about Jesus in our "post-Christian" world - might we have similar results??

"You're dead in your tracks, pilgrim..."

Well, I guess everyone's life is not like a scene out of an old western movie, but there is a some truth to when the villain says "Hey Blonde', you're a dead man."

If we take a quick look at Ephesians 2:1-2, Paul is saying, or observing, that we were dead in our sins when following the ways of this world. He doesn't say "just passing through our sins," or that we were in a "sinful stage." But that we were dead-

not moving,

unable to get out,

hopelessly struggling,

in our sin. In a way, lets not simply think of "sin" as specific actions here, but more of a state of being. Being in sin: disconnected from Christ or taking away from God's vision of Shalom for the world. Things were way out of balance and there was nothing we could do about it.

Enter Christ.

He who brings live from death - redeems our lives from the depths of disconnectedness (sin) and despair. Having someone help you like this is very humbling. Often times we might rather struggle needlessly on our own than have someone save us or help us. This often leads us, a people preaching Grace, to be a people who leave little time to simply "be" and receive grace because we are so busy trying to work our way our of "sin." Christ says something different. Christ comes to us in our inability and rescues us from a life that we, on our own, could not change.

What might it look like for you to rest in Grace? To simply sit at the feet of the Father and soak up his love?

We are helpless apart from his grace, in what ways have we seen or felt grace in action this past week?

How can we better tell our stories of receiving Christ's grace and life changing power?