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May 31st, 2017

5/31/2017

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For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13) 

Listen:  Matthew West, Strong Enough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knuHDPbE5es&feature=fvwp&NR=1


 "What we have to remember is that we can still do anything," Marina Keegan wrote to fellow Yale University graduates. "... We can't, we must not lose this sense of possibility because in the end, it's all we have."
Not too long after writing those lines for her school newspaper, Marina died in a car accident. Before her death, she was planning to move to Brooklyn, to continue her life as a writer and play-write. 

Thanks to the internet, Marina's last words have been read, as far away as Asia.  

Marina's words to her fellow students can apply to us as well: "We're in this together. Let's make something happen to this world."

We all have heavy crosses to bear, from time to time.  Some of us, the unspeakable burden of loosing a child. Or heavy responsibilities at work -- church -- deadlines that are looming and we don't know how we're going to get there.  Conflicts we don't know how to resolve. 

Scripture teaches us over and over again, that we can't do things on our own.  It is God's strength that carries us through the changes, hardships and transitions of life.  God is present to us in spirit. God is also present to us through the love and support of our friends and family.

Recently I had to attend a difficult meeting.  My stomach was in knots over it.  A friend of mine dropped everything, and insisted on going with me.  She waited in the lobby, hungry and thirsty as the meeting wore on.  It was a painful meeting, but I got through it, because of the love of God that worked through her actions. I knew I wasn't alone. It made all the difference in the world.

That's the kind of faith we are called to. That's the possibility we are called to reach for. That's what we can make happen in the world.
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We have many heavy burdens to face as a church, especially in June, with the move and the ongoing redevelopment of the sanctuary building, and renewing the mission of the Church.  Let us be Christ for each other and carry the burdens together.  We can do this.  We are in this together! It is Christ who gives us strength.

 
PRAY:  "God, help me to lean on your strength in whatever I face.  Help me to give strength to others who need extra help."

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"Be The Change"   May 24, 2017

5/24/2017

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"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8)

Listen to:  Mark Harris,  One True God, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HXWbYzYucs&feature=related

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You know you might be Presbyterian if you can name some or all of the following:


 PCA, PCUS, PCUSA, PC(USA), PC(U.S.A.), PCUSA(NS), PCUSA(OS), RPCES, RPCNA-GS, RPCNA, EPC, OPC, ARP, NAPARC, CRC, RCA, BPC, BPC-Collingswood, BPC-Columbus, CPC, TE, RE, WCF, WLC, WSC, BCO, UPC, UPCNA, UPCUSA, NPC, COM, CLP, CPM, NFoG, ECOP.

Presbyterians. We even do change "decently and in order!"  Think of all the change in denominations and committees this list represents -- including the latest new denomination 'Evangelical Covenant Order of Prebyterians" formed in January, 2012.  

We are a world in flux, in a denomination facing enormous change, a congregation in time of significant transition, each of us is facing change in some area of our lives.  Life seems to be falling apart, when in reality it is reconfiguring, in order to move forward more alive, more whole, more vibrant.  Thank God we have a God who is eternal, and can change us, mold us  in the image of Christ, loving and serving others.  Thank God we can turn to Christ as our rock. His example and help will hold us steadfast and guide us through whatever we face.

The Bible is a change document. It teaches us how to embrace change (and sometimes how not to!) with discernment, trust, faith and hope in God, the author of the future.  Think of, for example: Abraham and Sarah, Jacob, Moses, Joseph, Ester, Ruth, Peter, Mary, Paul -- and the change they lived through following the Lord. So pick your favorite character this week, study it, and you will find some challenge to grow and change. Name the choices and actions that made a difference. So what is your challenge? How can you change, and help the church to change in a spiritually healthy manner?


Remember Charles Darwin's observation: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." 

PRAY:  "God, show me where I need to change"



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May 18th, 2017

5/18/2017

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"However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way (Acts 24:14)"

LISTEN: Brandon Heath, "Your Love"   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vbg2dpX-EY


For most of us, Easter is long gone.  Summer's beckoning, and vacation plans are in the works.  Yet the church insists we remain in the season of Easter several more weeks, until June 8 (the feast of Pentecost).  We are called to reflect on the Risen Jesus and the process of resurrection in our own lives.  So we are invited to reflect and connect to the stories of Scripture.
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One of the most amazing Easter stories is the walk to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). This is the only time Emmaus is mentioned in the bible.  We are  introduced to an unknown disciple, Cleopas and his unnamed companion, some think may be his wife.  Jesus appears to them at the start of the seven mile journey, but he is not recognized. They start chatting, there are questions, and soon they're talking about Jesus, and the "stranger" is opening their eyes to the scriptures about the messiah.   For hours they talk.  Finally when they hit Emmaus they invite Jesus in for a meal; Jesus blesses and breaks the bread -- and suddenly their eyes are opened -- it is the Lord! At that moment Jesus vanishes.  A journey that began with sadness and fear ends with joy.

The Emmaus Journey is a part of our spiritual lives.  In times of sadness or fear, it is difficult to recognize that Jesus is walking with us.  Life throws us questions that sometimes we are too preoccupied to hear.  "What are you talking about?"  "What things are happening?"   It is in the walking that the issues come out, everything starts to get sorted, the story begins to make sense.

When I was in seminary, I was blessed to have Dr. Kosuke Koyama, a Japanese theologian, as a teacher (Dr. Koyama also preached at my ordination service, a memory I will always treasure).  One concept Dr. Koyama taught frequently about was "the three-mile-an-hour God."  Humans naturally walk on average three miles an hour.  So that is the pace God has adapted in his journey with us.   Not faster not slower.  It's the pace of where our brain in turn is able to slow down, push aside distractions and begin to focus,  to connect, to relate. It's the time needed for a stranger to become friend.  For sadness to open to joy. For eyes to help the heart to open.  Journey becomes sacrament as the small company arrives to Emmaus and Jesus is recognized in the breaking of the bread.

The Emmaus journey is a precious gift of Easter.  What sadness lingers in your heart?  What is unresolved? 
Engage in the spirituality of walking.  Let the walk inform the talk.  Let the experience of walking without answers guide you.  It is for a good reasons early Christians called their faith "The Way."  Named for Jesus, ("The Way, the Truth and the Life" John 14:6), it reminds us life is journey, faith is journey, and the Risen Lord is there, walking next to us, each step of the way.   

In the beauty of Spring, walk.   If Walking is impossible, "walk" on the interior.  Walk with the questions, the sadness, the stories, the hopes and dreams. Emmaus is there, waiting for you. And then, hearts filled, return filled with good news to share.


Prayer:  "Jesus, walk with me as I walk this way. Lead me to bigger picture of my life -- help me find your love as I seek the purpose and journey of my life."

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"Gone Fishin'!" May 10, 2017

5/11/2017

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"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people!"  Mark 1:17




LISTEN:   Building 429, "Press On" (Wrecking Ball)
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlCSd2zUkGI


We have been reflecting on encounters with the Risen Lord this Easter season.  Now we turn to Peter, who with six other disciples  returned to Galilee (John 21:1-13). 

We are told that Peter has seen the empty tomb (Luke 24:12), and twice he has seen the Lord appear to the inner group, including directly to Thomas.  In Mark 14:28; 16:7 and Matt.26:32, 28:7; 28:16  the disciples are told that Jesus would go ahead of them to Galilee.  Perfect! Because Peter couldn't wait to get away from Jerusalem, the place of his most dismal failure, his betrayal of his divine friend, Jesus.


So there they are.  Where's Jesus?  For the first time Peter speaks in scripture since that night everything unraveled and he denied Jesus. He says "I'm going fishing!" No waiting around for Peter.Too much has happened. He can't sit still.  Remember how Peter boastfully said he would stay at Jesus' side to the bitter end?  Instead he denied him and left, weeping bitterly.  He had failed, big time.   Not even the empty tomb, seeing Jesus -- could erase that pain. 

When failure and disappointment hits, it's natural to go back to where we are comfortable. The Sea of Galilee was a second home to Peter.  Peter had been a fisherman all his life.  It was in his blood. That's where he was successful-- not this following Jesus business. But.....it also was the place where Peter met Jesus. It was the place where Jesus revealed the first abundant catch to Peter, and where Peter responded, "leave me Lord, I am a sinful man!" (Luke 5:8), and Jesus told him "Don't be afraid, for now on you will fish for people!"  So many memories.  So many dashed hopes.  In the dark, on the water, filled with remorse, Peter finds himself stuck.  The Sea hasn't eased his pain; it has brought it to the surface and he can't escape it.

They fished all night, that first, very long night back in Galilee, and caught nothing. It symbolized life at that point for Peter -- which amounted to a big fat "0."  As the realization of futile effort hit, a "stranger" on the beach, says, "children, have you caught anything?" then some advice, "cast the net on the right side."  So they did -- and the catch was abundant.  

Jesus knew where to find Peter.  Jesus knew what Peter felt.  Jesus knew about about hard work and no catch.  He knew the confusion and guilt in Peter's heart. So he tells Peter to do something counter intuitive.  Through the nets off the right side of the boat.    The side he hasn't tried.  In this way Jesus begins the process of healing Peter's heart, helping him back up, and starting over.

At one time or another, we have all let someone down.  Guilt has created barriers.  There are people we haven't talked to, or issues we haven't worked through because of shame or pride. We aren't who we want to be, like Peter.  We are ready to give it up, go back.  It's just too hard.

The Easter season tells us that while we may give up on ourselves, God never gives up on us.  God will find us, as he found Peter.   God will work through whatever we are doing to show us the other way. A different way. It's the way to have the spiritually abundant life, rooted in the love and grace, the forgiveness of God.  God finds in the darkness, when we are empty and shows a new way to live where we are blessed and become a blessing to others.

Where have you given up?  What do you feel ashamed or guilty about? What feels empty?
God will find you -- for Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!

Prayer:  "God, please find me and free me from whatever binds me.  Break through the walls of guilt, shame and failure that keep me from living the resurrected life. Help me remember that even with my imperfections, you make me a blessing to others. Thank you!"




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"Beloved"   May 3, 2017

5/3/2017

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"How great is the love that God has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1)

  Jason Gray, "Remind Me Who I Am" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSIVjjY8Ou8

Remember the parable where Jesus speaks of the Realm  of God being like a person who, having found a treasure in a field, sold everything he or she had in order to buy the field and gain the treasure.(Matthew 13:45-46). We are usually taught that we are the person in the story who needed to give up everything in order to gain the Realm of God. However, in the other parables surrounding this one, the “person” in the story is always God. 

What if God is cast as the person in this parable, too? 

Is God the one who gave everything in Jesus in order to recover us? 

Could it be that we are God’s treasure? 

Could we be God's Beloved?
 
Beloved is one of the most  beautiful words in the Bible. It's a key principle God teaches us about Godly love.The word "beloved" derives from the Hebrew meaning "to breathe" to "long for."  It is used of human love as well as divine love. It is a word indicating an action on the part of the one doing the loving. The God of the universe, the same God who paints a sunset, shapes a mountain and plans the waves at the beach -- longs for us. Our role in this is to BE-LOVED.  As automatic as it is for us to breathe, so God loves us. Can we stop ourselves from breathing, under normal circumstances?  No. So God doesn't stop loving, caring longing, for us.
  
So our spiritual task is to daily open to divine presence so we can live in such a way that God's love "breathes" through our actions and words. This is, in part, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision of his social justice work: the creation of a "beloved community" where we would all live by the dictates of this God-breathed love--which translates into justice, fairness and integration, mutual care, in our community life. 

Everyday, remember you are God's Beloved. So take action -- make your corner of the world a Beloved place!


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PRAYPra

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    Author

    Moirajo is a minister, social worker, wife, mother, writer and animal lover. That's just for starters. Join the story, there's so much we can share together! 

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